The Washington times., 1938-03-12

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neutrality-suspicious. of Joe's Cafe.
He threw over his left shoulder
the red-bordered towel with which
he had been wiping bottles and
placed them in rows IN front OF
the enormous plate glass mirror
behind the bar.
Artie, q pale young chap who
sat at a table in the far corner
working with brush and water
colors, looked up in surprise. you
wasn't talkin' to me, was you,
Uncle Joe?"
"There amt nobody else here
I coulda been talkin to, is there?"
Joe rasped.
mo use gettin' ried up about
that, Uncle Joe. Who'd you eX-
pect to be here at midnight on a
rotten night like this?"
You oughta be glad it didn't
rain this afternoon or you
wouldn'ta won the daily double, !"
Artie chided. double Check
amt supposed to be no good on
a heavy track
"AN' 1 MEAN 1T"
'srryin' to git me off the sub
ject, amt you?" Joe gibed, sit
ting down on the high stool be-
mind the bar. But 1 amt gonna
git. I said I was through with
YOU an I mean it. I'm gonna
hire me Charlie Dennis. I gotta
have q hard guy around, then if
I need some bouncin' done or
whatever else I kin git it done"
You're sore on account Of this
cartoon I been maxim of you to-
night" said Artie. holding at
arms length a caricature of his
uncle.
II amt paid no attention to
you and your daubin'," said the
old barkeeper, Scowling.
well. what's the matter then"
demanded Artie. Il amt done
nothin'."
That's Just it, you amt done
nothin' but mess around maxim
them smears." He pointed at the
gay but crude caricatures stuck up
on the walls with thumb tacks.
II wait on customers an I take
care of the books" Artie said de
fensively. That's what you hired
me to do"
yeah, but you amt takin' care
Of the ledger now" Joe barked,
shaking a heavy finger at Artle,s
water color of him. "And that's
what want done last thing OF a
Saturday night"
"All right! All right! I'll do
It now" Artie got up quickly,
gathered up his paints and paper
and put them in the drawer of the
long pine table, got out the ledger
from under the bar and went back
to the corner table.
AS he sat down he saw car
come to a stop at the curb and a
man in a dark raincoat get out.
The man walked hurriedly through
the shining wetness to the door OF
Joe's Cafe. He pressed the latch
and stepped in.
Joe unfolded himself and got
down off his stool. I'll hang up
your coat" he offered, starting
around the bar.
st didn't come to spend the
night" the other snapped. II come
for a drink"
20. k" said Joe. just as short.
''What'll 1t be?"
Scotch and soda"
Joe poured a jigger of whiskey
and set out a glass and siphon
of soda on the counter. "Sit." said
Joe, pointing to a stool.
do I have to?" rasped the Gus
toner, glancing over to the corner
where Artie sat froWning over the
account book.
Nope" barked Joe, and stared
out the window.
Whats he do here?" The
stranger wagged the thumb of a
gloved hand at Artie.
"Artie keeps books for his Uncle
joe" the bartender answered
Sourly.
! PULLS OUT A .32
"Good stand you got here, amt
1t?" The customer drained his
glass and signalled for second.
"'Tis an it 'taint," Joe re-
sponded noncommittally.
you mean," the customer
winked, cts good all the time,
but sometimes it's better"
Joe didn't say anything and the
customer laughed. Hit the nail
on the head, didn't I, Joe?
He brought a 80 out of his
pocket and laid it on the the bar,
his hand resting lightly on it.
''Kind of swell, your winning the