Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1940-05-09

later, Cno TWO Irl0nOS were seat
ed at table, and Halle was
pounding Justify for service.
Hey, there, Madamgazelle, bot
tle-a-vin rouge, toot sweet" he
cried.
"Oui, monsieur" answered the
woman, who was probably old
enough to be Hallie's great
grandmother. 1t was the day
after pay day, and she was doing
a thriving business.
In due time, they received
their beverage with two glasses,
and no time was lost in draining
the first eight fingers on the
bottle. "Madamgazelle" was
rushing around like a mother
hen scratching for her brood. AS
she made one of her trips past
the table where Curly and Halle
sat, a handkerchief with key at
tached dropped to the floor. IN
mindful of her loss, she con-
tinued on. The two buddies
both saw it fall.
"Hey, there, you" began
Halle, when he was stopped sud-
denly by a none-too-gentle kick
on the shin by Curly, who
promptly placed his foot over
the key and as much of the
handkerchief as his broad num-
Der eight would cover.
Encore vim rouge" said
Curly pouring out what remain
ed in their bottle, as the French
woman turned around to see
what Halle was calling for.
'What did you kick me for ?"
asked Halle, belligerently.
"Not so loud, you mule head"
answered Curly. "You might
know | had a good reason, if
you'd only use your head to
think with occasionally instead
of as a funnel to pour liquor in.
Do you see that cupboard over
there, in the other room ?"
eyes, but what has that got
to do with kick on the shin
when a gentleman tries to tell a
lady she's dropped her handker-
chief?"
"Why that's where she keeps
her good liquors, and maybe we
can find a way to use this key
to our advantage, seem as how
the gov'ment won't allow her to
sell us anything but weak wine
and watered beer"
"Gee," said Halle; II never
thought of that. How we gonna
work it ?"
"Of course you wouldn't think
of it," answered Curly. Think
ing is for men with brains,
which same you amt got. Now
listen: You pretend your drunk,
and entertain the company with
a song. Heaven knows you sing
like a sick bovine, but you'll
serve here tonight all right,
even if the old woman leads you
to the door. While you've got
the spotlight, I'll see if l can
slip into the little room without
anyone else getting wise.
Savvy?"
Halle nodded, and got up,
staggered step or two and be-
gan, in a fair imitation of an
inebriated artilleryman, to sing
"The Old Gray Mare" After
finishing the chorus, that being
all he knew, he began all over
again, drawing slowly away
from the table where Curly was
awaiting an opportunity to get
up unnoticed.
1t came right away, for no
sooner had Halle begun the Sec
ond edition of the chorus he was
singing than the others in the
room started yelling for him to
sit down and be quiet. The
Frenchwoman, evidently accus-
toned to such scenes, took hold
of Hallie's arm and tried to lead
him to the door. Well she knew
that if her wine-shop became
boisterous, it would be closed
up.
This was Curly's opportunity,
and getting to his feet, he slow
ly walked toward the little side
room, pausing to loiter at the
door, and apparently enjoying
the scene of his buddy being
backed very slowly but surely
toward the street door, by the
unrelenting proprietress. Cast
ing a quick glance around the
room, Curly saw that everyone
was watching Halle and the
Frenchwoman, and he passed in
to the other room-a room that
was evidently used for special
parties. Working swiftly, he
opened the cupboard and grab
bed the first two bottles his
hands touched. Hastily placing
them in his two side-coat pocl
cts, he picked up one more, and
with his free hand closed and
locked the cupboard door.
Dropping the key and hand
kerchief on the floor where it
would appear to have been drop
ped by the Frenchwoman, Curly
was in the act of going back to
the other room, when he heard
the outside door bang shut and
rightly guessed that his cocoon
spirator had been pushed out.
Not daring then to return, he