Samuel Hopkins Adams

“ On he hurried to his accustomed corner, behind the benches. To what went on about him, for once, he paid little heed. He heard the cracked voice of Crazy Meg exhorting her comrade and catch of the evening to "keep the drinks moving lively. Bill," and the wearier tones of Lib and Peaches who had just seated themselves at a table near him; but beyond subconsciously noting that they were there, he gave them not a thought. A new problem was in his mind, set to running amuck there by the simple creed of his friend in necessity, the sailor. He must help a fellow who was getting the worst of it. ”

“ Many a man he had seen get "the worst of it" with no particular thought of help.
"Course you would," said the rescuer earnestly. "If I come along here an' a couple o' coves pulled a gun on me you 'd jump in." He spoke simply, as one man to another.
And as one man to another: "You 're all right, Texas," said Heiny with one of his friend-making smiles, and was off.
The sailor's deep laughter followed him as he sped on his errand:
"Texas! Haw-haw-haw! An' me from Ohyer." ”

“ Profession or trade, Heiny had none. Odd jobs of a light and airy nature, such as running errands, he would do at inclination rather than upon the compulsion of necessity. Gambling at craps netted him a wavering income when he chanced to have the capital for an original "fade, "without which the crap-shooter finds no game open to him on the sidewalks of New York. ”

“ But Mother Nature (the only mother he had ever known) had blessed him with a smile of winning expansiveness which glowed in old-gold glory from every one of his thousand-odd freckles, and commended him to the friendly offices of the world at large by its irresistible earnest of good-nature and good-fellowship. ”

“ Now, when you fight with one opponent you may drop back the right foot, prance, feint, and cradle your fists in true prize-ring style. But when two enemies confront you the conventions of fistic warfare are as naught, and the Marquis of Queensbury might as well never have been born. Heiny rushed upon the elongated Skinny with flailing arms, then suddenly ducked and butted him in the stomach. Skinny sighed sadly, toppled over on the foe and embraced him. At the same moment his confederate pulled Heiny's legs out from under him and all three went down together. ”

“ Heiny waited in silence.
"You understand t'at? T'e Lone Pine business?"
"Nah; I ain't on," lied Heiny smoothly.
"All t'ose fellers an' t'e girls; t'ey are part of it. T'ey are t'e gang. You know what t'ey do?"
"They're bakers," said Heiny. He had heard Dolph tell a stranger that once. Dutch Gus smiled.
"When a man comes in with money, too much money, he gets a little someding in his drink. Like t'is." He showed the boy a small vial concealed in the palm of his muscular hand, and made a swift motion as of emptying it. "T'en he goes asleep an' we carry him out." ”

“ Pool 21⁄2 Cts. a Cue," through the smoke-blue atmosphere of a large room crowded with dilapidated tables and no less dilapidated players, whose accuracy of game was equaled only by the intensity of earnestness they evinced at it, and upon a raised platform where men and women sat drinking at small tables to the desperate music of a battered piano, manipulated by a still more battered pianist. Hither came Dutch Gus presently, and after a moment's talk with Lib, who intercepted him, glanced sharply at Heiny and took a table for all of them. ”

“ Heiny permitted himself his first and last question as to the ethics of the profession. "What you got ag'in' the guys you give the stuff to?"
Gus stared at him. "We need t'e money." he said softly. Then with a swift, savage change of tone: "Don't you get any fool t'oughts in t'e head. You stick by t'e gang. T'at 's all you haf to do. You be on t'e square with t'e gang, and t'e gang is on t'e square with you. Not—and you get killed. ”

“ He thrust a dollar into the boy's hand. Stupidly Heiny fumbled the bill. It was wealth to him. but what is wealth to one beneath whose feet the accustomed world has crumbled? Heiny had turned his back on the ideal of his life ”

“ The sailor started in upon a song. Dutch Gus glared at him with starting eyes.
"Was ist?" he cried. "T'e drink! T'ey have changed—I feel—" He stopped short, having caught sight of Heiny's terrified face raised above the benches.
"Get out, Texas! Skin fer your life!" cried the boy.
"T'at boy. T'at devil. He have changed t'e glasses. To-to-t'e Texas, t'e-Texas-t'e best-b-b-bo——"
Dutch Gus lurched forward and sprawled over the table. With a rush, Dolph Kleiner, Schild the wrestler, and two others made for the spot.
"Run, Heiny; they 'll kill you!" shrieked Lib. ”