The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1950-01-14
BY KEN ADACHI

Joe Harrington sat on the iron-frame bed. Out
side the room. the rain beat mcessant tattoo on
the roof The walls covered with shabby, peel
ing dirty-grey paper that streaked with oil and
CRIME And Joe sat with his head in his hands.
He got up slowly stretched his lean, meagre legs
and then staked to the door Defeat, despair and all
the gamut of bitter emotion showed his grey face
Obvious of the rain Joe walked on his shirt becom-
ing drenched
Joe was not more than 25. he was not handsome
but he had clean rugged features crinky sandy hair
ana a tall well-proportioned frame. But he walked
like a man who had no aim in life like who
walking to his doom.
He stopped at a shabby little tavern, pushed aside
the door with his feet and gazed about the room The
usual patrons we're there, seemingly immersed in an
alcoholic dream, slumped the tables. Others were
takns loudly desperately about anything that came
10 taer minds.
His eyes took in the diapidated old piano that
on he small stage. Without a word he sat the
sto1 and his fingers caressed the keys lovingly and
he gan to tap out tune, haunting and sad Some
Of the looked up, listened iutenty as he played
september In The Rain. He had that innate feeling
ne could play his great Jazz which was now tinged
with rlelancholia And the men in the tavern knew
t. tlae -o,I5 sersa his mood and they quiet.
But Joe didn't notice them, through his mind ran
he tit-ta of the driving rain, the rain that numbed
lis feeling His fingers beat out the tune nstinctively
et his mind was filled with the rain.
For it was in the rain that he found her and it
II the rain that he lost her
]. seemed ages since he had first met her but ac-
tualy il only two years ago. Joe and the boys
wert beating out rousing jazz at the club when
he saw her She came in with another but Joe
didn't notice him. AS they danced the stage Joe
looked at her and she smiled back She was beautiful
Blonde hair trim ankles, blue eyes, and breath
skine figure.
They both stared at each other and she said Hi"
and al Joe could say was, Why, hello"
He watched her they went out of the tavern,
wanting to after her but knowing that that would
never do.
For Joe Harrington a Negro. At least his
}reat-grandfather full-blooded Negro So it
naturally his due 10 be branded as Negro. He
nght-skinned that he could have passed for white at
big city. But Joe was proud that he a Negro
h. know hat he as good any white. And he
loved this city where he born End here he was
content 70 stay. His life the piano he would spend
hours it. content with the little pattern of his
life He was content that is, until Laura into
his lie.
He would never forget the second time that he
saw her It wet night outside in the city's main
stem was raining. This cold impersonal rain that
Joe hated He didn't know why he hated rain, he just
hated i as long as he could remember They
beating out the Clam Blues and he playing the
melody and mproVisng riff figures it. This
just a small, cheap tavern but here he
oented not only q piano player but man.
She in then, alone and dripping with the
rain She sat at table him. Joe never did care
for any girl. OF course he took them when he could
but apart from that he never in love. But with
this girl there was something different magnetic that
Joe sensed about her.
Hmm neat stuff, he thought as he banged on
the KEYS AS she sat there musingy at the table sip
ping at Tom Collins, he couldn't restrain himself
from getting up from the piano and sitting beside
her She didn't smile she just looked at him, not with
ancor hostility but with certain strange GOODNESS
Iut there is certain come on" about some girls
about dance, sister?"
She said Why not?" and then they danced. Joe
never danced like that before They gided closely
smoothly effortlessly and without word
The dance was over and Joe said You dance very
nicely"
And she answered Thank you sir but guess
III have to go home now.
so soon?" Joe asked Let me take you home"
And she answered with that same, why not?"
Outside they did not talk and Joe unmindful
Of the an this time he took her warm little hand
in his and walked along.
She said isn't this rain nice? Lift up your face
it and let it splash your eyes and hair It's lovely
Joe. Your name is Joe isn't it? Mines Laura"
7 don't care about the rain, you're the one that's
wonderful Laura Joe said.
At her door he took her in his arms as if that
was the most natural thing to do He bent down and
touched mouth against his but she deity escaped
his embrace and slipped inside the door with smile
So began strange relationship, Whenever she