This Gun for Hire Page #2

not even him.

What do I do?

Can I show you

somethin'?

How much? $8.98. Isn't it beautiful?

It's one of our best numbers.

What size you lookin' for?

I've got all si... A girl

named Annie will be down for it.

Give her the change.

Mama.

Mama!

Mama, I just made a sale. The dress in

the window to a man! Can you imagine?

That dress?

Hey, Mama.

Mama, the number.

Oh, Mama.

I feel sick.

Are you sure?

Look.

Come on!

Come on, folks!

I'll be about five minutes.

If you need me, honk. Right.

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Over

here. Step up! Play the scale.

Eight shots, 10 cents.

Win a carton of cigarettes.

Come on, step up!

Hi, angel cake.

Hello, Michael.

Got some good news

for you, sugar. Me too.

Hello, Slukey my friend.

You're no friend of mine.

Go on, take the cigarettes.

Why bother to shoot?

What a beefer! I've only been

coming here once every other day.

That's twice too occasional.

Load for me, sugar, and

start with your news.

You don't know it,

but I'm in a big rush.

What do you mean, rush? Our

date's for the whole afternoon.

It was.

That's my good news.

Vacation's over

and I'm on a case.

Don't you get it?

I don't have to go back

to Los Angeles yet.

You're here.

Well, it's perfect.

Except for one thing.

I'm going to Los Angeles.

You missed!

Oh, I lived

to see the day!

What for?

A job.

That was my good news. I thought

we'd be down there together.

How long you gonna be there? I'm

not sure yet. I'm leaving tonight.

Look, sugar,

what does it take to get you

to darn my socks,

cook my corned beef

and cabbage...

and sort of confine your magic

to one place and one customer?

Oh, Michael, I would've died if you'd

let me go away without saying something.

I want my guy.

I want a home, some kids.

Honey, you've got your guy.

But I understand

kids take time.

...and the girl is expected

at the store.

Detective Crane,

proceed immediately.

Okay.

Do some magic.

Tell that horn to go

away. Go away, horn.

I didn't hear a thing.

I'm sorry.

I've gotta run, darling.

How 'bout it? Say when. Two bucks

and the justice of the peace, huh?

Sunday?

But my job!

No, no, no, that's out

now. I can't quit on them.

Why not? Just give them

a week's notice starting last week.

Listen, darling, it isn't really

the job. It's something else.

I'll marry you the minute you get

to Los Angeles, but it must be there.

Why?

I can't tell you why.

Well, this is a fine start!

Michael, listen!

One of the hot bills

was passed in a dress shop.

We've got to get there quick.

The guy's girl's coming up.

I've gotta leave,

darling. Come on. Michael,

I'm leaving on

the 7:
00 Southern Pacific.

Please come.

If I can.

He's acted funny

ever since he came here.

He don't talk to nobody, he don't

look at nobody. Like he's got a secret.

I haven't looked up his record

yet, but I wouldn't doubt it.

The girl ain't lyin';

His name is Raven.

Is he in now?

I think so, Officer.

What do you know about him?

I can tell you. He's no good.

You took a present from him,

didn't you?

It wasn't a present.

He tore my dress, that's why.

Anyway, I was gonna sell it back

and take the money.

How'd he happen

to tear your dress?

All I did was chase his cat

out of the room.

And you know what? Just for that,

he hits me right in the face.

He treats everybody

like that.

What's his room number? Room 9. Here.

Here's a key.

Okay.

And you, don't leave.

When I can see him in

handcuffs? Ha! Don't worry.

I'm going up to his room.

Wait here.

Annie, my wife would never forgive me.

She'd have triple fits if she missed this.

I'll call home, and you

try her at Sissie's. Okay.

Don't put in that nickel.

Lift the receiver.

Dial.

Pretend you're talkin'

to the old lady.

Say, " Hello, Mrs. Stewart.

" Hello, Mrs. Stewart.

Louder so the cop can hear

ya. Tell her what's up.

They're after Mr. Raven.

Why?

Because he passed

a stolen bill in a dress shop.

What do you mean,

stolen? You oughta know.

Talk into the phone.

Yes, Mrs. Stewart.

The dress shop had the number

from the police department.

Gates. Stolen from where?

I don't know, Mrs. Stewart.

You do know. I don't

remember, Mrs. Stewart.

You better remember!

I gave you a dress, didn't I?

Yeah. It could've landed

me in jail. Shut up!

He's not there.

Phone headquarters, Charlie.

Oh, that phone's busy.

There's one in my office.

Annie,

did you get my wife?

I'm tellin' her now

it's no use to come over.

That's right. Say, I know

something that'll help you.

His left wrist, it was badly

broken. The bone is big.

He never smiles, neither.

I wouldn't keep him, only he pays.

I'm respectable.

Hmm. Well, don't touch his

room. We want fingerprints.

I'm going to put a man in

the alley. If Raven comes in,

go to the window and give

it this with the shade. Huh?

Raise it and lower it.

Oh.

Okay, sir. I'll cooperate.

I'm respectable.

I heard you the first time.

Annie, what are

you gabbin' about?

And what's happened

to that light in there?

Get back!

I oughta plug

the both of ya.

Stay in there

and keep quiet.

Hey, wait a minute.

You're under arrest. What?

You're under arrest!

Southern Pacific.

Stay with that cab.

Yes, sir.

Compartment C, car 189. Through

to Los Angeles. Thank you.

'Board! 'Board.

Michael!

Hey, Michael!

Oh, honey,

I'm so glad you came.

Please say it's all right

for me to go.

Gimme a kiss.

Hey, where's your magic?

Stop the train a minute.

Say it's all right.

Sure.

I just got a little hot

under the collar.

You will hurry down, won't

you? Soon as I finish this job.

Why aren't you in a Pullman?

Did they chisel you out of a berth?

I took cash instead.

Why?

He has to go to college,

doesn't he? Who does?

Junior!

Oh!

Taken?

Are you that broke?

Come on.

I know you're not asleep.

You talkin' to me?

What do you want?

My five bucks.

It was the only one I had,

and one corner

was torn off.

Don't make me call the conductor.

Hand it over and we'll forget it.

I'm no pickpocket.

Gotta find somebody in L.A. Short

of cash, or I wouldn't have taken it.

Wanna borrow a dollar?

I'll get along.

Well, I hope your friend

owes you something.

I owe him.

I don't get it. If you're broke,

how can you pay him?

I can pay him. He's a fat man

who likes peppermints.

You're gonna pay a debt

with peppermints?

Yeah. First I find out

who his boss is.

Then I pay both of 'em, see?

I don't see.

That's all right.

Well, I'm turning in.

First call for breakfast!

First call for breakfast!

First call for breakfast!

First call for breakfast!

Morning.

You're sure this wire will reach

Los Angeles ahead of the train?

Oh, yes, sir.

Uh, keep it. Thank you very much.

Next stop, Los Angeles.

Let me see your left wrist.

Okay, thank you.

Wait a minute. Lookin' for me for a job

I didn't do, and they're not gonna get me.

You're gonna help. Can

we see your left wrist?

Can we see your left wrist? Let

me see that wrist. Thank you.

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