Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-02-05

i EA-CONV1CT HIS CHANCE
TO BE AN HONEST CITI
ZEN
"NHE wind was raw and col.
from the backstretch toward IL
grandstand as the thorough
~ bredS In the fifth race filed on
Of the paddock. Benny Hv3
shivered and hunched his thin Shout
ders. This was Overcoat weather. Pad
dock spectators were drifting away
Benny spotted a face he knew. EeIin,
through the crowd he caught a camel
hair topcOat sleeve.
Say, Bill How're you. Bill?"
Bill looked around and down. III
was abruptly annoyed and wary
When did you get out?" he questioned
without enthusiasm.
Last month, BilI-Say-y, it's good
to see you, Bill. Been knocking EN-
! over, eh2"
mix" said Bill hastily. Things are
tough. See you again some time
Benny"
Listen, If it's a touch, I'm ready
to make one myself. Three times I'm
wrong already this afternoon"
Benny managed a grin. you got
me wrong, Bill. Who said anything
about a touch? I'm doing all right
What 1 wanted to know tS-have you
seen Harry Daniels?"
Bill grinned specifically. Looking
for Daniels, are you? He's around
somewhere. Good luck"
Benny stared after the warm over
coat. He sighed. Good luck!-if it
didn't cost anything. The old merry
go-round. Three years ago Bill would
have been good for a hundred.
The parade was over now; the thor
oughbreds we're finding their places in
the starting stalls. The crowd was
quieting expectantly before the start.
Benny looked around listlessly He was
small and couldn't see much. But the
fifth race didn't mean anything any
way-and the sixth and the seventh
wouldn't, either. And that was funny
for Benny Hyde.
Benny's glance met the cold scrutiny
Of Stocky man with pitted cheeks.
Casually Benny moved away. His
heart had started to thump. He was
expecting the heavy hand which
dropped on his shoulder.
Hello, Benny"
'FWhere'd YOU drop from, KellyP"
IT been watching you" said Kelly
colby. Why'd you sneak when you
spotted me? What're you up TOT"
Nothing" said Benny. His throat
felt tight. Kelly had hard look in
- SNutsl" said Kelly coldly. do +
look like sap?"
Benny grinned feebly.
'You look like trouble, Kelly. Listen
honest t. Cod Just dropped in to
smell a track once more"
Kelly's old SLOUGH hat was back on
his head. He was chewing gum
methodically. His eyes were gray and
cold in an expreSsionleSs face. Kelly'S
face had looked the same when he had
made his pinch three years ago.
''You look like you're smelling out
something" Kelly said, staring. q.
That's right"
Where you been since you got outP
Two months ago, wasn't it?"
yeah" said Benny. 81 been here in
own. MY wife's folks live here"
"Uh-huh, I know. Married a couple
Of weeks, wasn't you, when you got
tagged for hooking that sucker Tor
three grand, You staying with the
ssTJh-no. We've got a room"
Kelly gr1lnted and shifted his gum. |
mo welcome on the doormat, hey?P
Benny sighed. "She stuck by me
and got the door slammed in her face
or it, Kelly She's a great girl:
The loudspeakers Numbered, They're /
0ff!" The crowd caught up the last
word in its roar.
Kellv did not turn his head He had /
cen a thousand races start. Browning
It the noise, he bent closer. "Where
B Benny INV had been shrinking at the
,uestion. nowhere, Kelly. I've been
,ryin' to get a job. You know now
t is
yeah" said Kelly, unimpressed.
How you Iving?"
"Corfnne had a job"
where's she working?
Benny moistened his lips. "She got
'sHow YOU living then?"
aWe-Corrinne had some money
aved."
IN Maybe I will yet-n see any
eason to. Take my advice and stay
way from the tracks. II eaten you
lan9ing around, I'll know you're cnRS-
40 fall money again-and III roe you
ato real trouble"
Benny tried not to scurry away. A
not had wound up in his stomach.
Selly had a reputation. Local olcKS
lwavs backed him up. If you had bail
an YOU didn't have to worry mucn-
a again-out again; nothing much
ost but time. But when your over
oat was in hook and you couldn't put ;
x bits on the line, you would at least ]
0 workhouse time on Kelly's says-so.
Kenny felt colder at the thought.
The loudspeaker system was BOOM
lg: "On the backstretch, Sir Davld
.ading - Rumpah second - Cold star
Benny looked desperately for a IA
liliar face. He saw Sam ItrnsLal'
no made the circuit with the regu-
rs. sam saw him coming and started
) edge away. Benny caught up with
i'm.
aOkav." said Sam. His angular face
,oked resigned. Heres q five spot J
Benny started to shove the bill back
and then pushed 1t in his pocket
18th a panicly feeling. Thanks, sam (
CpA7TNC TRAT