European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 05, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse 1 the parting shot by Hank Fel Seix. Illustrations by Don Sheppard 1 Fol i r the minute this kid walked into the place i looked at the clock. It was three minutes after nine. Some time Between 10 15 and 10 30, i figured i Dhave my with him. Either he d be wanting to fight everybody Intlehouse and i d have to throw him out or else he d be trying to sleep under the brass rail and i d have to drag him to a cab i be been keeping bar for 20" years. I see All kinds. He was that kind he was a Nice. Looking kid maybe23 years old he was wearing a brow i $30 suit with a ruptured Duck in the Lapel a i shirt and civilian tie. The top Button of his shirt was open andhi�.4.ie was loosened and i was willing to bet that under his coat his shirt sleeves were still rolled up. He looked like a Nice Young fellow who had jus come away mad from someplace and was heading into the first bar to get mean mad and bitterly drunk. The kid climbed on a bar Stool and yanked a pack of Cigar ets out of his pocket he fired up with a hard Jerk movement blew out the match flame six times harder than she needed to and worked the dead match Between his fingers while he sucked in and blew out big angry Clouds of smoke. He leaned his elbows on the bar far apart Andt could see his hands were shaking. He was breathing Haid his nostril dilated and his face was angry. Not a red angry but a Pale tight bloodless angry. Once or twice he ran a hand through his Light Brown hair and he blinked his eyes a lot. I stood Back and polished a Glass with a soft Towel an looked at trouble and wondered if i would be Aole to handle him without sap. He was a big kid and looked like he carried a lot of red meat and no much lard. The kid stared at the bottles behind the bar As though he was trying to figure out which kind of whisky taste Good. I polished the Glass a Little More and wished he d gone into some other place. I saw the Gold ring on his left hand and that did t make me an happier. He had All the symptoms of a Young Man who d just had a fight with his wife and was going to drown his troubles the hard Way. I Don t min customers who come in to drink be cause they re thirsty or bored or Sador Happy. But i hate to see a Guy come in who drinks to spite somebody. That always Means trouble and i m not getting any younger. I gave the kid plenty of time to Calm Down waiting until he called me before i went to see what he of old Taylor he said grind ing his cig Aret into a tray like he was pushing somebody a face i gave it. To him. He pitched it downcast and hard and asked for another. I gave him that too. I was t Happy about if but i figured if i had to tangle with him i d rather do it. After the whisky. Had Donea Little work for me on his reflexes. He downed the second and a third. I poured that and went to take care of the Only other customer in the did t care for this other customer either. He was too quiet shadows i d tagged him earlier. He looked like the kind of Guy who never walked on the sunny Side of the Street he was smooth character about 30. Dark Brown hair sideburns a Little too Long rest less eyes that were a Little too narrow like he spent ten hours a Day looking in keyholes at things he did t care for. He. Was wearing a dark Brown suit something like the kids but his shirt was buttoned and his tie was in once when he d lifted his Arm i d seen that bulge under his coat,.it Wasa bad night for Rne at the Way around. As soon As i d served shadows the kid was calling me again. Hey he said when i came Over i want to ask you i leaned on the bar in front of him. Yeah he was getting a Little fuzzy enough to Start singing but not enough. To came away in a hurry be said. I did t bring any Money. Will you put my drinks on a chit i jerked my thumb toward a Signi be kept Over the bar for 17 years. A fancy sign Gold letters on White no completely covered by Fly specks. It said credit cheerfully Given to Al those Over ninety when accompanied by their \ House Rule i said coldly. You took Long enough to ," he said a Little thickly his eyes angry. Full pay you tomorrow. Ilive right around the Corner. This is no picked up his empty Glass. Neither is the sign i said. I be go two rules i usually Don t break. That sign tells one. The other is the kid s eyes Harrowe d. Very deliberately he put his left hand on the bar and spread his fingers. I looked Tosee if my sap was Handy. It was t. The kid reached Over with his right hand and worked the Gold wedding ring off. His left. He slapped it Down in front of me. Til leave that for he pushed the ring toward me. I won t be wearing it much longer. Solid Gold. Convinced i trying to chisel in t a Hock shop i said. Put your ring on. I la take a Chance on what s your name and where do Voulie in. I got out a Pencil and wrote the in formation of his chit. John vicar and All the rest while he watched me a cig Aret hanging from his lower lip French fashion i got out the phone Book and checked. Go on he said. Call and find out i put the phone Book away and John look another shot. He took More time with it and i began to breathe easier. It looked less like a tussle and More like having to help him Home. Iwas glad he lived close m Case i had to do it myself i was pouring John another drink when he said to me without looking up you married not right now i said. He wanted to talk. My feet Hurt and i wanted to sit Down and read the paper. And i did t want to hear his troubles. In-20 years i d heard All the troubles and Al the combinations. I figure for every fifth of whisky i be shoved across the. Bar the customers have poured me a quart of tears in return. And it s been ten years since i thought fights Between Young marrieds were interesting. Well the kid said in a husky confidential voice take it from me. Don t. Ever get i a on to i promised. Marriage is a trap the kid said pointing his Finger at me. he clicked his Teeth together. Man caught like a rat wings clipped. Can t go where he wants to. Can t be free. He a Man in name Only like a rat in a trap is a rat in name Only. i turned around to hide a Yawn. Wished a couple of customers would come in so the kid could talk to them. I m married the kid said. Showed you the ring did t i sure. Showed you the ring. Solid Gold. And you know what what i asked wearily. He leaned Forward his eyes Cloudy. 2s, i can t support my wife he whispered Hoai sely. I did t Register any Shock. He setback tasted his drink made a face and put the Glass Down. Worse than that he said dully. She s supporting me. She s got a Good Job. Nice Job. Know what i make want me to Tell you what do you make Jack i asked,.polishing another Glass. Twenty Bucks a week he said Ina hopeless voice. Twenty stinking Fucks a stinking you la get a raise i said looking to see what time it was. Work hard and Don t watch the raise the kid made a noise in his Throat and gulped the rest of his Bourbon. Raise hell. Uncle Sam gives me that dough. I m a Loyal member of the 52-20 club. What am i Gonna do when that s Over get a Job i suggested. I want to he said almost crying. My wife won t let a la of s that again Jack tasked ii it was the first time in seven years a customer had sprung anew trouble on me i want a Job he repeated. Pm not particular but my wife is. She says she s Makin enough to support us until find a Job in my own line and she wants me to hold out for that she sounds like a swell girl i said. You re lucky.". Lucky he repeated hating him self. I won t let any woman support me. But she s got me. Trapped me. She agreed to let me take any Job that came along that could support us but if i did t find one. To hold out until i found one in my line. I looked. Even put an and in the paper. Maybe you saw ," i said. It said tie recited thinking hard it said Veteran. Young ambitious hard worker pleasing Chance to learn business with a future you see that and it was Signedz-54." it sounds familiar i that was he said Fuz Zily. "z-54. Nobody never do i said. Trapped he muttered. Promised now i d wait until i found something in my line. Don t want to. Had a big fight about it tonight i won t live what is your line Jack i Don t know any More he an weekend june 5, 1s4&
