Never Love a Stranger Read Online Free PDF Page B

lesson.”
    Father Quinn looked at him. “Well,” he said to the boy, “don’t let him get too enthusiastic over the lessons. He sometimes forgets himself.” Then, in another tone of voice, the kind he used when you don’t show up for Mass, he asked: “What’s your name, son? I don’t remember seeing you in church.”
    “I’m Jewish,” the boy said quietly. “My name’s Martin Cabell.” “Oh,” said Father Quinn, “you must be Joe Cabell’s boy.” “Yes, sir.”
    “I know your father. He’s a good man. Will you give him my regards?”
    “I will, sir.”
    “Well, boys, I must be going now. Remember what I said: no fighting.” He turned to walk off and then stopped. “Francis,” he called to me, “you’d better take that cigarette out of your pocket before you burn a hole in your trousers,” and walked on.
    I took the cigarette out of my pocket. I didn’t think he saw me stash it when he came up. The Jewboy and I looked at each other and laughed.
    “He seems like a regular guy,” Martin said. “He’s O.K.,” I answered.
    We walked down the street together. “Live around here?” I asked.
    “Yes,” he answered, “my father owns the drugstore down at Fifty-ninth and Broadway.
    We live on Central Park West.”
    We reached the corner of Ninth Avenue. I looked in a jeweller’s window and saw it was after four.
    “I gotta beat it,” I said, “I gotta go to work.”
    “When you’re through come over to my father’s store and have a soda on me,” Martin said.
    “I will,” I said. “See ya around.” And I left him. A few feet later I broke into a run. I didn’t want to be too late or Keough would be sore.
    Chapter Five

    K EOUGH ’ S was empty when I got there. It looked like business was dead that afternoon. I quickly cleaned up the joint and grabbed his books and made up his figures as the results came in.
    About five-thirty a few customers came in to square up, and I was sent downstairs after some cold bottles of beer. When I came up, Silk Fennelli was there talking to Keough. He glanced at me and then said slowly: “Hello, Frankie.”
    “Hello, Mr. Fennelli,” I answered, proud to be noticed by the big shot.
    He went on talking to Keough and when he was through he came over to me. “How about one of those special shines, boy?” he asked.
    I gave him a really good shine. I rubbed till I could almost see my face in the leather.
    He was pleased. I could see that. He gave me half a buck and asked me if I had been thrown out of any saloons lately.
    I laughed my reply. Keough came over and Fennelli told him what had happened. They both laughed.
    I put the shine box away and started in again on the figures. Keough and Fennelli came and looked over my shoulder.
    “Does he do your figuring?” Fennelli asked Keough.
    “Yeah,” said Jimmy, “and damn good too. He knows his stuff.”
    Fennelli smiled at me. “Keep up the good work, boy. You’ll be a big man in the business some day.”
    He waved good-bye and went out. I saw him step into his car and ride off.
    “Big man in the business some day!” I thought, his words ringing in my ears. “That’s right, the biggest gambler in town— that’s what I’ll be. Only I won’t be gambling. I’ll run the business like Silk Fennelli does. The flunkies will do the dirty work and I’ll rake in the gravy. And I’ll have a bigger car than Fennelli’s——”
    And so with my dreams the afternoon passed and before I knew it it was time to go home.
    It had started to rain when I got outside. I didn’t feel like reporting back for supper; so I walked over towards Broadway. When I got to Cabell’s drugstore I was pretty wet. I went in. Martin came up to me.
    “I’m glad you came,” he said. “How about that soda?” He led me over to the fountain.
    I had chocolate. When we were finished we sat there talking. He was a year younger than me but in the same class at public school. After we had been talking a few minutes a girl came