Evening star., 1940-06-02


"and get to Bedford's Tavern before you and
Loud Mouth finish the interview"
thought it over for minute am not in
favor of assisting people who wish to commit
assault and battery, but in Eddies case
decided it was certainly justified Maybe pok-
ing Loud Mouth in the old kisseroo would
solve everything for him.
I'm do it on one condition." said. That
you take one poke, and no more"
"Okay." Eddie said, and he almost smiled
for minute. Il only want one shot at that
guy. Maybe it cure me of this jinx''
1t was during the seventh-inning stretch
that drifted out to the third-base beachers.
l sat down near where Loud Mouths voice
had seemed to come from, and waited.
l didn't have to wait long In the eighth,
Eddie Macklin came to bat And then, three
rows behind me and about Cen yards to my
right, Loud Mouth cut loose turned around
and stared Here's the leading ladyr' Loud
Mouth screamed The big bum from Wilkes
Barre. Two out! Two out!''
MEETING good look at Loud Mouth was
real shock. Somehow, from the volume of his
voice, had assumed that he was big guy.
But he wasn't big at ALL Loud Mouth was a
little skinny guy with horn-rimmed glasses
and kind of sad, beaten look on his face
when he wasn't yelling. But when he yelled,
all that changed His eyes got all bright then,
and almost happy. And his chest seemed to
swell out 50 that he looked cocky as rooster.
When the game ended followed him out
side and tapped him on the shoulder. He
turned around, looking sort of scared, and he
got all red in the face when l told him l
wanted to interview him.
When we went inside Bedfords Tavern, l
got the beers at the bar it was crowded
with the after game trade. As l turned
around, saw big guy bump into Loud
Mouth, who was standing in corner with
lost look on his face. The big guy looked down
at him and his hOrn-rimmed glasses and said,
Keep the hell out of the way, buddy, or
you're liable to get squashed."
Loud Mouth gulped and didn't say any
thing back to the big guy.
gave him the beer and we started to talk.
His name was Willis Pawson and he was
clerk in chain grocery store - he didn't
work Wednesday afternoons. 1t was not easy
to draw him out because he was shy and
apologetic about every opinion that he ex-
pressed. He sat there, slipping his beer ner-
vously and he suffered when he talked
A man walked by and called over: Hey
Willis-better not let Edna smell your breath
when you get home or you'll catch plenty"
Loud Mouth snickered in sick, embar-
rassed way and he didn't look at me. And
then, all of sudden, remembered that
Eddie Macklin was due to blow in any minute,
ready to knock Loud Mouths block off.
took another look at Loud Mouth and l knew
had the whole picture. complete. knew
couldn't 60 through with this.
But was too late - just then saw Eddie
Macklin stalking through the door, his big
fists doubled at his side, and an angry soowl
on his face l got up in hurry and turned to
Loud Mouth.
well - thanks very much for the inter-
view, Mr.. Pawson," said Il I'll have to
run along now"
Loud Mouth bobbed his head up and down,
swallowing. turned away from him, but not
quickly enough. Eddie had spotted us. He
stood by the bar. staring at Loud Mouth,
with those big fists still clenched at his sides.
walked over to him, fast.
Nov wait minute, Eddie -" l said