The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-07-15
CALIBAN FROM
CALEB
Continued Frnm Psr. sirl
Nv NORMAN KAHI.

- aHAAaA 49, HHH6 ~ FAAA "
the bar Fets = coughing Ut ard
blows beer foam al over his vest.
Tie bartender = thinking how
he could have learned the plumb
ers trade 80 years ago II hid
used his head Look. saws he.
ARE you tryin' tbe funny? We
don't sell no cider here"
AL right, says Angus. Gin
ger ale"
The bartender squints AZ Angus
another full minute before he
pours something out Of a tall bot
tie under the bar and slides the
glass 70 Angus.
Il IL some time before AnEn,
notices the rst-face little man who
has left the table IN the dark cor
ner and is standing next n him.
Three big fellows are standing be-
hind the little guy.
Have one on me" saws IN.
little guy. whose gray hat is pulled
down halfway over his ewes.
Angus is glad to be neighborly.
He drinks up his ginger ale and
pushes his glass toward the bar
tender. Spike Nudge is the
name says the stranger. You
look like some body's been kicking
you in the teeth"
L don't feel so good" SAYS
Angus. Il amt got a job. and
I'm broke and l guess I lost my
girl and l Just got outs Jail"
"Nhew,' says Spike. respect
fully. Maybe You wsnta talk 1t
over with us. Maybe we kin
help you. These Is my huddiss.
l didn't get the name"
Angus MacPhillips.
Glad to know va, Angus This
Is Butch McGilicuddy and Hoi-
mon the Hoist and Trigger Tim
friends of mine"
Angus shakes hands all around.
Butch looks like a Texas steer. He
just makes rumbling noises
through his nose. Hoimon the
Hoist is not so big up and down.
but he has plenty Of padding to
the east and west and the top of
his head looks like the end of
soup bone. Trigger Tim is tall
and thin and businesslike.
Spike says, "A husky guy like
you don't needs worry about a
job How ia like to work for
me ,"
Angus looks suspicious. "A job,
you mean ,"
Sure. Easy work, good pay. 1t
isn't every day ! can find a guy
who's built like battleship."
Angus brightens up. What do
I do. Spike >"
Spike looks at the dead-pan
faces Of the other mugs who are
examining their drinks. I'm ex-
plain" says Spike. This burg
is filled with lots Of people who
amt got no scruples. They amt
got no respect for the law.
Now there are lot If conn
mission merchants in the CITY who
sell thousands of dollars worth Of
broccoli every day. Sometimes
these broccoli dealers get slugged
or their commission houses are
wrecked or someone pours kero-
sene over their broccoli. So the
Big Boss, Luigi Castaloni. forms
an association and the dealers pay
lis to protect them. Get it?"
Angus is looking thoughtful.
you want me to protect these
broccoli dealers like police
man >"
Spike drums on the table.
Something like a cop, yeah. Only
you won't have to do any of the
rough work-that is. the protect
ing All you'll have to do is 10
collect the money. See. sometimes
these bSccoh merchants forget
how much we protect them and
they wsnta welch about payin M.
Well, figger If they get one look
at vou-"
Angus spirits have scared. "1tll
feel kinda good dong some hon.
est work again. What are you
paying -
One hundred snsckers"
Angus frowns Gosh. Spike. I
was getting hundred and a quarter
back in Caleb"
"Oksy. No arguments. One and
quarter it is. Find a place 10
stay and meet me back here SAND
time tomorrow. I'll give you a
weeks pay in advance SO you can
find a bunk somewhere
Spike passes over five bills =
two flfties. two tens and five.
Angus counts them three times be-
fore he says. What did you say
you Was payin' me ?"
One hundred and twenty-five
berries week. Don't tell me
you're stIll not satisfied"
Angus is too weak In speak.
What no got IN Caleb for driving
Mr.. Wittsnbaum truck was ti25
a month
ITO BE Continued)