| Show r the T jac jackpot beoo by ono F freeman e lathrop night was a murky one THE only the bilas sending their light through the steaming windows of 0 joe diner relieved the darkness bill owen lounged against the door wondering whet whether her to go in he lingered fingered the lone nickel in his pocket it would get him a cup ot of cof coffee fee anyway you here ag again aln joe kidded What ll it be bc porterhouse bill grinned hand me a menu I 1 might want breast of guinea then he noticed the girl she stood by the pinball machine watching the metal balls roll down as a fellow played there was something about her that made bill feel uneasy inside the rain had pelted belted her hair into thin honey colored wisps around her small face she hugged her old polo coat about her there was a searching look in her grey eyes as she scanned each face ace they made ade him think of somebody that was it she reminded him of f the way his kid sister kathy might have looked kathy had that same kind of hair and that same expectant look on her face ace even at twelve when he left home kathy was probably quinea girl by bowl it made him wince to think of home borne he watched this one fingering the change in her cheap purse it was only chicken feed but she selected a nickel carefully and put it in the slot somehow her eyes were too bright as she followed toll owed the dancing balls down the incline it looked as it if a lot depended upon whether or not she won bill slid off the stool and went over no kid should look like that he tish fish d out his nickel here kid its about due let me show you how he changed the lever down and gave the machine a little whack at the side the ne nickels poured out As he filled her hands with them she gasped sped but yours na ahl gwan and take ero em and then go across the street an and get yourself a room at ma johnsons its no night for or dames to b be out alone he added gruffly IV she hurried out an old softie loftie eh eha he could have had a bed himself and a blue plate s special fool cup a 0 java joe on the cuff ill be in the chips again soon joe grinned yeah not if you play sandy claus to all the dames that ones been hanging about all evening giving every guy that came in the eye looking tor for some one she said THE THE door slammed and bill looked around here she was back again she was coming straight toward him well he was through she try any more tricks she slid onto the stool beside him listen mister your name she asked breathlessly J pierpont morgan what yours barbara hutton Hutt cn no seriously you remind rne me of some one I 1 notice at first I 1 was so set on winning at the pinball could you be BW bill owen yeah I 1 could why he elec her curiously curio sly because ive been hunting you ive covered every joint like this hoping I 1 ind find you in such FA 4 X ly aj r 4 f 41 i t you here again joe kidded eliatu it be porterhouse aglace place but knowing I 1 would you always had the crazy idea could get rich the easy way avez since you hit the jackpot the firel time you played when you were a kid well where did it get you she was out of breath now iley hey how do you know sc c mucha he demanded im kaicy bour gister kathy bill biant sick and ashes been asking for you youve got to conic come home with me yeah you are kathy then and want me to come home ever I 1 this way na ahl he fe flicked at hit hi ragged cuff sure they knew you bereni making good or have beer back they just want you to com home to make mom better her big grey eyes were bellini with tears and her hair hung doar lispier wispier than ever but she wai wa kathy ka hy and his kid days and hom oil all rolled li it to one he slipped ofa 0 the stool and took her arm he 4 been placing out 11 of luck but at lasi iasi hed hit the jackpot come on then he be said whal whai are we waiting tor for |
