What's your
friend's name?" he demanded again of Strong.
[Illustration: "Who's your friend, Billy?"]
"Got lovely name," he averred eagerly. "Good ol' moth-eaten name. Name's
Schuyler VanCourtlandt Van de Water--ain't it Schuylie--ain't that
your name--or's that mine? I--I f'rget lil' things," he said in an
explanatory manner.
But the suicide spoke up for himself. "Tha's my name," he said
aggressively. "Knew it in a minute. Tha's my father's name and my
grandfath's name, and my great grandfath's name and my great-great----"
"Stop," said Rex tersely, and the man stopped. "Now tell me where you
live."
Billy Strong leaned over and punched the man in the ribs. "You lemme
tell 'em. Lives nine-thous-n sixt'-four East West Street," he addressed
Rex, and chuckled.
"Don't be a donkey, Billy--tell me his right address." Rex spoke with
annoyance--this scene was getting tiresome, and although Reed was
laughing hopelessly, he was on his mind.
"Oh! F'got!" Billy's tipsy coyness was elephantine. "Lives _six_ thous'n
_sev_'nty four North S--South Street," and he roared with laughter.
Rex was about to learn how to manage Billy Strong. "Bill," he said, "be
decent. You're making me lots of trouble," and Billy burst into tears
and sobbed out:
"Wouldn' make Recky trouble for worlds--good ol' Recky--half-witted ol'
goat, but bes' fren' ev' had," and the address was captured.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25