Part 1 (2/2)
Now Lasky was no friend of Billy Byrne; but the officer had been born and raised in the district and was attached to the Twenty-eighth Precinct Station on Lake Street near Ashland Avenue, and so was part and parcel of the natural possession of the gang Billy felt that it was entirely ethical to beat up a cop, provided you confined your efforts to those of your own district; but for a bunch of yaps from south of Twelfth Street to attempt to pull off any such coarse work in his bailiwick--why it was unthinkable
A hero and rescuer of lesser experience than Billy Byrne would have rushed melodramatically into the midst of the fray, and in all probability have had his face pushed couys from Twelfth Street were not of the rah-rah-boy type of hoodlum--they were badin the shadows until he was quite close to theathered up a cute little granite paving block, than which there is nothing in the world harder, not even a Twelfth Street skull He was quite close now to one of thethe officer's club to such excellent disadvantage to the officer--and then he raised the paving block only to lower it silently and suddenly upon the back of that unsuspecting head--”and then there were two”
Before the man's companions realized what had happened Billy had possessed hi, staggering blow across the eyes Then nuun and fired point-blank at Billy The bullet tore through the anized and nervously inclined anized nor nervously inclined, so that about the only immediate effect it had upon him was to make him mad--before he had been but peeved--peeved at the rank crust that had permitted these cheap-skates frohly aroused, Billy was a wonder Fro line of burly ancestors he had inherited the physique of a prize bull Froht, always unfairly, so that he knew all the tricks of street fighting During the past year there had been added to Billy's natural fighting ability and instinct a knowledge of the scientific end of the sport The result was soink from Twelfth Street
Before he knehether his shot had killed Billy his gun had been wrenched froranite with a hand as hard as the paving block scra his facial attractions beyond hope of recall
By this tiered to his feet, and most opportunely at that, for theLasky proun that he had been unable to drahen first attacked, then he turned to assist Billy But it was not Billy who needed assistance--it was the gentleed Billy froh of hion arrived Billy had disappeared, but Lasky had recognized him and thereafter the two had nodded pleasantly to each other upon such occasions as they chanced to meet upon the street
Two years elapsed before the event transpired which proved a crisis in Billy's life During this period his existence had beento him from careless and less muscular citizens He had helped to stick up a half-dozen saloons He had robbed the night men in two elevated stations, and for a while had been upon the pay-roll of a certain union and done strong arm work in all parts of the city for twenty-five dollars a week
By day he was a general utility ain Hilht, for he saw in the young giant the ht; but Billy couldn't leave the booze alone, and so the best that he got was an occasional five spot for appearing in preliminary bouts with third- and fourth-rate heavies and has-beens; but during the three years that he had hung about Hile of the s really began to happen in the life of Billy Byrne that esti in front of a saloon at the corner of Lake and Robey The dips that congregated nightly there under the protection of the powerful politician ned the place were co to assemble Billy knew them all, and nodded to them as they passed him He noted surprise in the faces of several as they saw hi there He wondered what it was all about, and determined to ask the next man who evinced evenhi toward him from the east It was Lasky When Lasky saw Billy he too opened his eyes in surprise, and when he ca to hih he had not seen Billy at all
In deference to the whispered request Billy presently strolled around the corner toward Walnut Street, but at the alley back of the saloon he turned suddenly in A hundred yards up the alley he found Lasky in the shadow of a telephone pole
”Wotinell are you doin' around here?” asked the patrolhts before old oaded to desperation by the repeated raids upon his cash drawer, had shown fight when he again had been invited to elevate his hands, and the holdup h the heart Sheehan had been arrested on suspicion
Billy had not been with Sheehan that night As a matter of fact he never had trained with hied, there had always been ill feeling between them; but with Lasky's words Billy knehat had happened
”Sheehan says I done it, eh?” he questioned
”That's what he says”
”I wasn't within a ht,” protested Billy
”The Lieut thinks different,” said Lasky ”He'd be only too glad to soak you; for you've always been too slick to get nicked before Orders is out to get you, and if I were you I'd beat it and beat it quick I don't have to tell you why I' you this, but it's all I can do for you Now take o soet-away now--every man on the force has your description by this time”
Billy turned without a word and walked east in the alley toward Lincoln Street Lasky returned to Robey Street In Lincoln Street Billy walked north to Kinzie Here he entered the railroad yards An hour later he was buht Three weeks later he found himself in San Francisco He had no money, but the methods that had so often replenished his depleted exchequer at ho unfamiliar with San Francisco, Billy did not knohere best to work, but when by accident he stumbled upon a street where there weremen Billy was distinctly elated What could be better for his purpose than a drunken sailor?
He entered one of the saloons and stood watching a game of cards, or thus he seemed to be occupied As aabout the roo for a round of drinks that a fat wallet ht be located
Presently one that filled hi rewarded his careful watch
Theat a table a short distance from Billy Two other men ith him As he paid the waiter from a well-filled pocketbook he looked up to meet Billy's eyes upon him
With a drunken smile he beckoned to the mucker to join them Billy felt that Fate was overkind to hi her call