The Washington times., 1938-10-24
By Shane O,NeiH

sitting beside the stove as though
he could never get enough warmth.
Then he unpacked his lunch and
began to eat.
Presently his eyes fell upon the
Calabrese. The man hadn't altered
his position, but his eyes were
cleaning, and it came to Jack that
he must be as hungry-hungrier
probably, than he was himself.
He held out two Of his four sand
wiches.
"Chew on these. Calabrese," he
invited.
For a space the others expires
sion stayed as it was, hard, tense,
and hostile, and then it was trans
formed, completely changed by a
smile that softened it and brought
light to it.
you're a good man." the Gala
brese said. That was all his thanks,
and soon afterward Jack left foc
his afternoon check-up. When he
returned the little man was gone.
GOING FOR A ride"
It was pitch dark when he left
the lot, and a car drove alongside
Hey, Mac" a voice came from
the car, "got a light?"
AS Jack stepped over, fumbling
il his pocket for a match, the
cars door opened and two men
jumped out. He was hustled into
the back seat and had only time
to recognize one Of them
as the man he had thrown off the
lot that morning, before a fist
crashed into his face and he went
out, cold.
When he came to he was sitting
in a chair in a drably furnished
room. The red-headed man was
standing. watching him, a gun in
his hand.
It was waitin' for you to wake
up, sweetheart" he said. Nov
you're gonna find out what it
means to get funny wit a Blue
Circle. We hadda wait for our
best man-he'n go to work on
you for tn fun of it,"
He opened the door and three
men filed in, each armed with a
thick whip.
One, apparently the lie "a der,
spoke.
well, sonny boy, in a few min
uteS when little Mike shows up,
you'll get your Jumps. Then may
be you won't cross us any more"
He laughed brutally. Nobody else,
he added.
Cold fear pressed against Jacks
heart, as he listened, but he did
his best to speak easily:
"Who are you guys, anyhow"
''You won't care after a while"
the leader answered, "and it's a
secret. But you won't tell any
body, so guess we can let you
know"
He told then, in a few, terse,
mocking phrases, of the Blue Cir.
lie, a group of thugs, organized
TO take advantage of the indus
trial revolution they felt was COM
ing, step into control, and gut
The country.
ONLY ONE CHANCE
''When we get crossed" he con-
I'VE see that the man that
,rosses us don't get another
chance"
There was step in the hall, and
he four men grinned. Little Mike,
whoever he was, must be close.
The door opened, and a bitter rage
filled Jack Teller. Little Mike was
;he Calabrese, who had warmed
himself at the shanty stove all day.
He looked at Jack with cold black
eyes.
"Give the gum" he said to the
redhead, maybe break his hands
With it first, no? II
The other grinned, and handed |
Little Mike his automatic. AS the
calabrese took it, he laughed.
"Big joke" he said, and he
swung the weapon around, cover
ing his four companions. 81 watch
this man all day for Blue Circle,
now I help him get away" He was
silent for a moment. II think I
kill you" The gun exploded four
times rapidly, and the four men
sank to the floor.
Look" Little Mike said to Jack
Teller, "Get the hell outa here.
was a. crazy fool to work for this
people. Now I gotta get away.
Beat it."
"But-but why?"
The Ca1abrese shook his head
impatiently.
"You break your bread with me,
don't you? I take it. I think a
lot, I see what fools Blue Circle
men are. So I kill them. You are
my brother. save you. Get the
he'll outa here"
Jacks back in the advertising
business, now. Whenever he hears
nnen-friends of his-talk about
the beauties of free enterprise,
and listens to them condemn the
idea Of finding work-work of any
kind for men who need it, in
stead Of letting them starve look
ing for it, he chuckleS.
wge V-nAV TEETH