SHORT STORY
WOLVES' CLOTHING
"What I'd like more than anything is to meet a few real crooks," said Alfred Dawson innocently, “Not to be one of them, I don't mean. But just so that I could talk to them occasional ly and learn some of their secrets. Hobnob with them, I suppose you'd call it."
-
Bill Smithers chuckled heartily. The idea of this mild-mannered little man mixing in the society of the under world tickled him immensely.
"They would probably want you to muck in with them," he
declared facetiously, "There aren't any flies on you, Mister, I'll be bound.”
Oblivious of the sarcasm, Alf Daw son grinned self-consciously, and call- ed for another round of drinks.. Al- though it was out of his turn he felt that Smithers should be rewarded for his discernment.
A
man
Joined them.
"Do either of you' gents want a cert for the 2 o'clock to-morrow?" he ask- ed confidentially.
!
Joe Higgins accepted his cue with alacrity.
THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 19, 1940
By Captain A. O. Pollard,
*V.C., M.C., D.C.M.
"You mustn't never do that," he
He took a pull at his glass and it a protested. "It's quite all right," he
fresh cigarette.
Wo
Letting
“As I was saying," he resumed, "The graciously accepted Dawson's abject "Adventures, my dear boy? If you
apology. "I know you didn't mean cops have it in for us because only knew the half of them. I don't want to boast, but I doubt if there's made such utter fools out of them." nothing, but I don't never let anyone another man in London who's knock- He chuckled reminiscently. "The en- lay a finger on me-not while I've fifty cd about as much as I have. Adven- closure was thick with them. There Pun in me pocket anyhow. tures! Ha, ha! I give you my word.” was two on 'em especially detailed to people touch you's the way to get it
knowingly and half watch over the cup where it stood on pinched, Didn't yer know that?" He winked
a table surrounded by ropes-like a emptied his glass. Dawson followed
boxing ring, it was. sult.
"Tell me some of them," he begged. "I haven't had as much experience as you have.”
Joe became suddenly wary, "You ain't a rozzer?" he asked ap- prehensively.
Dawson giggled self-consciously.
"Fancy you thinking I might be con- nected with the Yard," he said proud- ly. "It's rather useful to be taken for a cop sometimes though."
·
"I'm afraid I didn't," admitted Daw- son. "I don't know much about pick- ing pockets."
Joe nodded sagely.
as easy."
"
a
A 'orse race holds everyone's attention; son felt a gentle tug in the region of cops are no. exception. All eyes were the heart, which he was much too loyal
was tapping 'is particular Joe produced the wallet in triumph. fixed on the course, In addition, both to acknowledge, and a moment later "There y'are me lad; that's how it's our two out the horses what they'd been argu-
"You couldn't take the skin off a: ing about.
"That were the very identical mo- ment it were done. The third of our rice pudding, Joe Higgins," broke in: party had a bag with a bottom like & scornful voice. "You're nothing but: a scoop, worked with a spring. The a great big softie. Fancy stuffing this moment he see everybody straining to gentleman up with your lying tales!” see who was leading, he slips inside She had come up to them unnoticed. the ropes, pops his bag over the Gold whilst Joe was doing his stuff. Now, Cup, presses the spring, and hops out despite her sex and the smallness of her stature, she dominated the two of them. again.
"And, we come along and lifted it right under their noses. One minute it were there; the next it had gone tell you how it's done, it's the easiest "No, I suppose you don't. Well, I'll Quarter of an hour later; when they. was just waking up to the fact that it thing in the world. All you have to weren't there, it was being melted do is to engage a chap in conversation. down so as no one wouldn't recognise Then raise a bit of a h'argument like and keep tapping him on the shoulder it no more."
to emphasise yer points; he gets used "That was pretty smart work," ap- plauded Dawson. "How was it taken?" to you touching him that way. Then For a moment he was afraid his all you have to do is to slip your fin- Joe nodded understandingly. This.
informant was about to dry up, but gers in and whip out his pocket book." The two men had scraped acquain-
"Do you mean-do you mean you tance on the train whilst returning guy was as green as they come,
my pocket book "I'm glad you ain't one all the same; the spirit he had consumed was hav- from Kempton Park and, at Smithers
whilst I was standing here talking to of caution. suggestion, had turned into "The Case I don't want to spill none of my secrets ing its effect, undermining all sense. could have taken
"It was the slickest bit of work you you? asked Dawson in an awed voice. is Altered" for a glass of beer before to the police. I been caught that way
"Bless yer heart; I could have taken once before." parting company.
It hardly needed the persuasion of ever saw," he went on after another Occupied in paying for his order, Dawson did not see his companion a fresh drink to urge him to tell the pull at his glass. "Like every other your collar and tie and you'd never "My word;" exclaimed Dawson in make a sign behind his back and was story. One yarn led to another; Daw- success in life it was based on the have known."
Smithers son listened avidly, with scarcely an fallings of hopman nature, There was
begged. pleasantly surprised when leaned forward and whispered hoarse- interruption except to attend to the three on 'em in the enclosure at the wonderment. "Will you do me
eagerly. Will you-er-will you lift. solemn rite of refilling the glass which time, all toffed up fit to kill-two fel- favour, Mr. Higgins?" he
me so that I ly in his ear.
"Don't look round too sudden-like, lubricated the machinery of his hero's lows and a girl.
"Ten minutes or so before the big my pocket book from but there's one of them over there loquacity.
With such an attentive audience Joe race were to be run one of the fellows don't know you're doing it? Will you now," he confided.
At first reluctant, Joe at length al- He nodded towards the further end-felt that he could really let himself go, and the girl got into conversation with please?" of the bar and, despite the warning, Starting fairly mildly, his tales gra- the flatties who were guarding the
of dually became, more thrilling as he cup. Talking and arguing about what lowed himself to be persuaded to give Dawson turned eagerly. about fifty years of age was perched sounded the credence of his listener. chances the favourite had, and such an exhibition of his skill. He began "I wish I could take part in one of like. You see the idea? Each of the an argument about the merits of a on a stool engrossed with the racing
ostentatiously tapping his: these jobs," sighed Dawson regretfully cops had a bit on hisself, most likely, certain horse due to run on the follow- results in the evening paper.
Dressed in a black and white check when Joe had related the story of a it being hooman nature to back your ing day,
livered his opinion, g ́. Buit, with a rusty bowler tilted to the smash-and-grab raid in which he had fancy. Well, our two was still talking proposed victim's shoulder as he de- In the height of the discussion Daw- "Now that was all part of the plan. back of his head, he bore all the ear- filled the role of keeping a look-out when the cry come. "They're off!'
well-acquainted marks of one
with for the police. "You must have nerves
of steel, Mr. Higgins." turf lore.
Joe responded to the flattery with Realising he was the centre of their interest, he looked up and winked another expressive wink. He was en- solemnly. Then, finishing the drink joying himself immensely. It was an in front of him, he walked across and unusual experience for him to find flattie on the shoulder and point done. I could take anything else just.
anyone so bereft of common sense as to believe what he said and buy him unlimited drinks at the same time. They were on whiskies and soda now. "You remember the Gold Cup being His voice was slightly husky and he spoke out of one corner of his mouth pinched at Seven Queen's Park?" he without moving his lips. Dawson was asked softly.
He was referring to a notorious theft delighted: here was a member of the underworld without a doubt. This which had occurred earlier in the year and which had completely baffled man must be cultivated.
"Who doesn't?" he encouraged. Scotland Yard as well the local County
"When the leader passed the post he
Dawson looked keenly from one to Then, remembering that a man of the police. world
sceptical, he would appear
"Did you have a hand in that too?" was walking out of the enclosure gate
carrying his bag as innercent as you the other, waiting for Joe to give her. laughed, "I've heard that sort of thing asked Dawson breathlessly. before, you know. A cert indeed, what Joe glanced furtively over his shoul- please. The other two simply melts what she deserved. Instead the pseudo- into the crowd and there you are, hero collapsed like a pricked balloon.. der.
"I didn't know you were in the bar, do you take us for?"
"Yes, I was one of the gang what Simple, weren't it?" He spoke contemptuously with the
"I should think it was," agreed Nora," Joe, muttered sheepishly. Then, Intention
Dawson,
listened to the with a sly look at Dawson, he buttoned of rousing the tipster to took it," he confided out of the corner argue. Instead he shrugged his of his mouth.
"Really? That's a knock-out and no recital with breathless interest. "Fancy his coat. “I had no idea it was so late;: shoulders gloomily.
having the nerve to do a thing like I must be off," he excused himself, "I might have known gents like you mistake."
It had slammed behind him before: Thrilled at the prospect of learning that. And to think that it went off and shuffled rapidly towards the door. would be on to it," he grumbled. "My
Dawson mentioned his loss, name ought to be Stale News instead a secret unknown outside the under- like clockwork with never a slip up.
world, Dawson ordered fresh drinks. It was blinking well miraculous."
"He's gone off with my wallet!" he of Joe Higgins. Well, so long.”
"It ain't quite right to say it went
"exclaimed suddenly. He nodded and turned away; in This spree was worth every penny he
Nora chuckled. another moment he would be gone, was spending on it. But Joe must not off without any sort of 'itch at all," amended Joe, squinting into the bot- Dawson saw his chance of learning be heard by anyone else.
Fully realising the importance of the tom of his empty glass. "There was about the real thing evaporating before his eyes.
was then that he saw her. She them feel a bit uneasy. The girl what
The girl held out her hand. be in such a hurry-Have a drink?” was seated by herself at a table near was there went and dropped her
"Here you are, baby, here it is: He: The magic phrase halted Joe Hig- the door. Though overdressed and blooming powder box right in the
extravagantly made-up, there was a middle of the enclosurę.” gins in his stride.
"Whew! I suppose the cops traced got the wallet, but I got the money..
I'm going to keep it too. It'll teach "Will a duck swim?" he leered, certain amount of character in her face
"you" a lesson not to play with bigger pulling up a stool and settling himself which differentlated her from most of it to her and.
"No," chuckled Joe. They didn't.
boys than yourself. Now run along comfortably. "I suppose you gents her kind,
Catching Dawson's eye, she grimaced The luck held good and, even if they home and tell your mother you've been. are just back from Kempton like me?” he asked conversationally. "It's been disparagingly towards Joe's uncon- found it which I don't suppose they naughty,"
mention what I call a bookle's day, but they sclous back and raised a finger to her did, there's never been any didn't fool old Joe. I come away with forehead. Dawson turhed abruptly of it in any of the papers. Anyway, derision, but Dawson called her back. a cool fifty pun. That's something away to hide a smile, She might con- nothing's ever come of it."
"Fortune favours the bold,”. mis- sider Joe as no more than a garrulous like a day's racing now, ain't it?"-
"But have another: Dawson was filled with admiration, old fool, but she would form a very quoted Dawson, He was actually talking to a man who different opinion if she could hear drink, Mr. Higgins, I reckon you
deserve it after that." lived by his wits. £50 won in a day, what he was saying,
Joe smiled complacently. It was superb.
"Tell me about the Gold Cup," he "What's it to be, Mr. Higgins? And begged. "I bet the police wouldn't "Well, I don't mind if I do," he half like to hear what happened.” accepted. "It's thirsty work talking. you, Smithers?”.
But Smithers declined. He had had "They would that," agreed Joe em- We had a few that night though, and enough of this mug. When first they phatically. "Why, the Inspector in no error, Champagne, cocktails and met he had thought he might be a charge nearly lost his coat Lover it all the blooming lot. Here, what yer good prospect for a "touch," but a They moved him to another district, doing?”
who had
"You're green and no mistake. How- "Two pound notes and two ten shill-- ing notes."
"Half a minute, Mr. Higgins; donccasion he too glanced round the bar. just one little h'accident what made much was there in It?"
She turned away with a laugh, of
"Just a minute, my sweet.. How's: this for a lucky dip?”
In his turn he displayed a dirty en- velope which was fairly bulging with: crisp pound notes.
"Joe wasn't lying when he said had had a good day at Kempton," remarked smoothly..
Nora stared at him incredulously. "You took that off him? Then you're - not a mug after all!" wla napaj
glance at his wallet had revealed that and I hear the new man-he's from In turning from the bar after paying he was not worth bothering about. somewhere up north, I believe he's Dawson had once more encountered carryin
"You must have had a lot of in- sworn to get the gang if its the last the quizzical stare of the girl near the qu teresting adventures, Mr. Higgins," thing he ever does. Not that he's door. Thinking to ask Joe who she prompted Dawson when the two were likely to have his wish. It'd be a ten was, he laid his hand on his com- Jöé, angrily shook him alone. "I bet you could tell a thing or year stretch for any of us-If they even pion's arm, two if you, chose."'
guessed we had a hand in it."?
off,
such a mug as he was for
this he declared, and held. oman's powder box.
of it she uttered a sharp. avand attempted. to snatch.
nued on Page 17)