Well—you know this here dumb gentleman—hands in pockets—this here------』
Mr. Singer.』
And he e along and just stood looking around to see what it were all about. And Mr. B-B-Blount seen him and eo talk and holler. And then all of a sudden he fallen down on the ground. Maybe he done really busted his head open. A p-p-p-polie up and somebody doold him Mr. Blount been staying here.』
Biff bowed his head and ahe story he had just heard into a pattern. He rubbed his nose and thought for a minute.
"They liable to pile in here any minute. Willie went to the door and looked dowreet Here they all e now.
They having t him.』
A dozen onlookers and a poli all tried to crowd into the restaurant. Outside a couple of whores stood looking in through the front window. It was always funny hoeople could crowd in from nowhere when anything out of the ordinary happened.
No use creating any more disturbahan necessary, Biff said. He looked at the poli who supported the drunk.
The rest of them might as well clear out.』
The poli put the drunk in a chair and hustled the little crowd into the street again. Theuro Biff: Somebody said he was staying here with you.』
No. But he might as well be, Biff said.
Wao take him with me?』
Biff sidered. He wo into any more trouble tonight.
Of course I t be responsible—but I think this will calm him down.』
O.K. Ill drop ba again before I knock off.』
Biff, Singer, and Jake Blount were left alone. For the first time since he had been brought in, Biff turned his attention to
the drunk man. It seemed that Blount had hurt his jaw very badly. He was slumped down oable with his big hand over his mouth, swaying backward and forward. There was a gash in his head and the blood ran from his temple. His knuckles were skinned raw, and he was so filthy that he looked as if he had been pulled by the scruff of the neck from a sewer. All the juice hadspurted out of him and he was pletely collapsed. The mute sat at the table across from him, taking it all in with his gray eyes.
Then Biff saw that Blount had not hurt his jaw, but he was holding his hand over his mouth because bis lips were trembling. The tears began to roll down his grimy faow and then he glanced sideways at Biff and Singer, angry that they should see him cry. It was embarrassing. Biff shrugged his shoulders at the mute and raised his eyebrows with a what-to-do? expression. Singer cocked his head on one side.
Biff was in a quandary. Musingly he wondered just how he should mahe situation. He was still trying to decide whee turned over the menu and began to write.
// you ot think of any place for him to go he go home with me. First some soup and coffee would be good for him.
With relief Biff nodded vigorously.
Oable he placed three special plates of the last evening meal, two bowls of soup, coffee, and dessert. But Blount would . He would not take his hand away from his mouth, and it was as though his lips were some very secret part of himself which was being exposed. His breath came in ragged sobs and his big shoulders jerked nervously. Singer poio one dish after the other, but Blount just sat with his hand over his mouth and shook his head.
Biff enunciated slowly so that the mute could see. The jitters------ he said versationally.
The steam from the soup kept floating up into Blounts face, and after a little while he reached shakily for his