The Washington times., 1938-01-21

irving to sponge something off OF
some one, particularly from bar
tenGers. You're the guy that
taught Minnie the Moocher all
her tricks"
Still no answer from the shah,
billy dressed bar fly.
johnson concluded with the air
of one unnasking the villain in a
mystery story:
Second, because you can sop
I'LL SO much likker You must be
plumb full of it inside. If you'd
cut yourself when you shave to-
ncrrow-that is, if you would
shave-the likker would run out
of the scratch like water out OF a
fountain"
BEST POLICY
Long experience with verbose
bar.enders h had convinc ce d
"SLonge" McGraw that the best
policy under the circumstances
was to maintain dignlfied ST.
lenCe.
Now get away from the bari"
johnson ord cred impatiently.
Saturday night is no time for you
to be mooching around.
MY bar has get to pay me cash
and stay away from the free
lunch until you can buy some beer
to wash it down with" he added,
as McGraW sided over to the ap-
petizing array OF tidbits displayed
on the bar.
"I don't want something for
nothing" onge" protested.
'Let me work for it."
Johnson laughed scornfully:
"What can you do? Be my off
cial likker-tester?"
McGraW continued: Il can clean
up around the place and I've
got a swell memory for faces,
Pete. once I see face I never
forget it."
johnson int rrupted impa-
tiently: whats that got to do
with it?"
McGraw explained: Its like
this, Pete. You're busy. you nave
lots of things to think about be-
sides remembering faces.
Nov, if a man comes in here
who has been here before and
you can't recall his name, can
tell YOU who he is so that you
can greet him by his first name:
The boys like that personal
touch, Pete. they like to think
that you remember their first
name"
Pete snorted with disgust: "Of
all the crazy ideas. trying to
mooch your way in here as an
Identification Bureau or some
thing like that. Now get away
before I get as goofy as you are. .
Undaunted, Graw hung
around the bar. People got liberal
like after a few drinks Saturday
nights, and ofttimes he would
gratefully participate when some
one ordered drinks for every
body in the house"
On the Saturday night previous,
"Sponge" had confided to John.
son: "Some day I'll be ordering
drinks for everyb in the
house; then you'll be sorry you
treated me so shabby"
To which johnson had replied
with cutting sarcasm: "Yeh?
Maybe you'll lay an egg some day
tool"
LUCRATIVE DAY
Tonight was the close Of lucra.
tive Saturday for Pete Johnson.
It was late and the crowd was be-
ginning to thin out.
McGraw was still on hand, bliss.
fully contented with the fact that
he had worked several of the
more inebriated patrons for a
round or two of drinks.
Then, too, he had filched goodly
portions of the free lunch while
Pete Johnson's wary eye was
turned for a moment.
No one took particular notice
Of the swarthy, stockily-built
stranger with the dark suit ano
slouch hat who entered about z
a. m. no one but Sponge
McGraw.
His dissipated, bloodshot eyes
studied the stranger minutely; his
befogged senses tried to conjure
memories of the past in an effort
to identify the face which to him
seemed familiar.
There was something about the
spasmodic twitch of the eyes
or was it the unusually large anc
cruel-looking mouth.
Suddenly the stranger drew q
revolver from a holster under hi.
left arm and flashed it before
the few patrons who were still
at the Oasis" but more Specif
ically at Pete johnson back of the
bar.
"Stick 'em up all of you!'
the swarthy stranger ordered, hi
eyes twitching more emphaticall!
than before. His voice was harsh
rasping, with an ominous not
that commanded respect.
Nov empty that cash regiSte
quick!" he snapped at John
son. Scoop up everything ant
drop it into this bag"
johnson obeyed, slowly and re
luctantly.
"Step on it, bartender ste,
on it," the holdup man growle
tmpstiently. jerking his revolve
significantly.
johnson hurried; it was toug,
TO lose Saturday nights receipt