Part 13 (1/2)
He faced an, ”I'll be damned if I'll let -”
I hit hih, because I hit hiain if he had wanted to I gave hiht with you?” I still could not see hiht,” he replied quickly ”I'll take care of of hiht”
”Thanks” I cli to get to town ahead of was beginning to fall A coupe with atoward town We followed the coupe across the bridge
The girl said, ”This is awfully kind of you I wasn't in any danger back there, but it was - nasty”
”They wouldn't be dangerous,” I said, ”but they would be - nasty”
”You know them?”
”No”
”But they knew you Tony Forrest and Fred Barnes” When I did not say anything, she added, ”They were afraid of you”
”I'hed ”And pretty nice of you, too, tonight I wouldn't've gone with either of theht with two of the in on ain and hunted for the curtain that belonged on her side of the car ”So your na it on
”And yours is Helen Warner”
”How'd you know?” She had straightened her hat
”I've seen you around” I finished attaching the curtain and got back in
”Did you knoho I hen I called to you?” she asked ere o out with the”
”It's chilly”
I said I was sorry my flask was empty
We had turned into the western end of hellman Avenue It was four minutes past ten by the clock in front of the jewelry store on the corner of Laurel Street A policeainst the clock I did not know enough about perfumes to know the name of hers
She said, ”I'et a drink?”
”Do you really want to?” My voice must have puzzled her; she turned her head quickly to peer at ht
”I'd like to,” she said, ”unless you're in a hurry”
”No We could go to Mack's It's only three or four blocks frohed ”All I ask is that I don't get poisoned” ”You won't, but you're sure you want to go?” ”Certainly” She exaggerated her shi+vering ”I'm cold
It's early”
Toots Mack opened his door for us I could tell by the politeness hich he bowed his round bald black head and said, ”Good evening, sir; good evening, one some place else, but I was not especially interested in how he felt about it I said, ”hello, Toots; how are you this evening?” too cheerfully
There were only a few customers in the place We went to the table in the corner farthest fro atvery round
”I thought you could see in the car,” I began
”How'd you get that scar?” she asked, interrupting me
She sat down
”That” I put a hand to ht to see the one onsoayly
”Please sit down and don't keepfor an to chant, keeping tiers on the table, ”I want a drink, I want a drink, I want a drink” Her roider when she smiled
We ordered drinks We talked too fast We hed too readily at them We asked questions - about the name of the perfume she used was one -and paid too luht ere hot looking at him It was all pretty bad
We had another drink and I said, ”Well, let's slide along”
She was nice about seeo nor to stay The ends of her pale blonde hair curled up over the edge of her hat in back
At the door I said, ”Listen, there's a taxi-stand around the corner You won't mind if I don't take you home?”
She put a hand on hted Her face was like a child's She took herhand off my arm ”But if you'd rather”
”I think I'd rather”
She said slowly, ”I like you, Jack Bye, and I'ht,” and we shook hands and I went back into the speakeasy
Toots was still behind the bar He cahtn't to do that tohis head htn't to do it to yourself,” he went on just as sadly ”This ain't Harlehter's running around with you and coh for both of us I like you, boy, but you got to reht your skin is or how er”
I said, ”Well, what do you suppose I want to be? A Chinaman?”
THE JUDGE LAUGHED LAST