The Washington times., 1938-03-18

w was us ucdJHSSS. Ever
jim was about As, with heav.
though likable features, a bit red
dened now, for he was SUFFERING
from a heavy head cold. He knew
he should have stayed in bed al
day instead of going to work OF
the Buick, but his slogan had al
ways been: "Jim's Garage Give
Fast, Superfine Service"
Jim closed his eyes. They fell
heavy-lidded, but sleep eluded him
The venomous slam with which
he older brother Hank had just
punctuated his departure still
sounded in his ears.
HIS ONLY KIN
That Hank was riding an ex
press train straight to hell had
finally ceased to worry Jim. Let
Hank 60 his own way, but Jim
would be damned If he would con-
tinue to pay the need-do-Well'S fare
any longer. What was it Hank
had Sneered?
IF you die the money you got
seWed up in the bank will be mine
anyway. I'm your only Twink kin" "
Jim had looked up at his brother
at that.
"As for my dying, Hank. it looks
like I'll outlast you by 20 years,
sodden with drink as you are"
Hanks whisky-bedeviled temper
seemed to rise like the scum in a
boiling pot, but he had said moth
ing as he turned to the chair where
he had thrown his soiled over
coat and hat. Jim's eyes had
watched his brothers thick, bent
back as he fumbled for the coat.
After a long moment he had
wormed himself awkwardly, with
waving arm, into his coat.
NOTHING SERIOUS
Look out for that gas jet" Jim
warned.
"I never touched it," said Hank.
He turned for a last word.
"You got bad cold there. jim"
he said slowly. You'd best take
something for it so you can get
to breathe"
It was the last thing that Jim
had expected for Hank to ex-
press consideration for any living
soul.
Its just in my head, Hank.
Nothing serious, but it makes me
uncomfortable that I can't smell
or taste things"
Hank had grinned and gone out.
Hank Freeley loped down the
brownstons steps. His lips moved
spasmodically.
Rotten miser! What did he
ever get out of life?"
He looked about convulsively
when he realized that he had
muttered the words aloud. Not
only that, but he had used the
past tense as if Jim we're already
dead up there of gas in his room.
He couldn't be dead yet 1t
was only minute or two since
he'd turned on the Jet.
STORY IN PAPER
A cop turned the corner and
began to walk around Hank, who
tried to walk very erect. He
dragged his folded newspaper
from the pocket of his soiled
overcoat and pretended to scan
It. He found his swimming eyes
on the very story that had given
him the idea about killing Jim
that afternoon.
MAN FOUND DEAD IN FUR
NISHED ROOM Jacob
Mankin, 48, was found dead =.
landIady had door broken in
when she smelled gas. suicide
theory diSpeIled when landlady
told police that Mankin was in
the habit of hanging his over
coat over the gas fixture
coat must have fallen down dur
ing the night as it was found
lying ON the floor under the gas
Jet accidentally turned on
the cock 80.
He only had one relation" ,"
Jim's landlady would say. "A
brother. I saw him come to visit
this poor soul early in the after
noon" Somebody always saw you
go in or come out. So when the
cops came to his place and said:
Listen, your brothers dead over
In his room. Cas-" he'd fall into
his chair. MY God" he'd say.
II Just saw him this afternoon"
NOTHING TO FEAR
He'd just sit stunned, but he'd
answer no questions. He had moth
ing to be afraid of.
"Y'see, I went up to see my
brother, Jim, for a little talk, like
I do sometimes. Well, we talked
about this and that. When I left
I noticed his overcoat was hanging
E