Only, be careful."
Dan the Dude left Billy, and Billy surreptitiously drew from under
his coat a dirty half loaf of bread. With a glance about, he
dropped it into the gutter close to the entrance to Elaine's car.
Then he withdrew a little distance.
When Elaine came out and approached her car, Billy, looking as
cold and forlorn as could be, shot forward. Pretending to spy the
dirty piece of bread in the gutter, he made a dive for it, just as
Elaine was about to step into the car.
Elaine, surprised, drew back. Billy picked up the piece of bread
and, with all the actions of having discovered a treasure, began
to gnaw at it voraciously.
Shocked at the disgusting sight, she tried to take the bread away
from him.
"I know it's dirty, Miss," whimpered Billy, "but it's the first
food I've seen for four days."
Instantly Elaine was full of sympathy. She had taken the food
away. That would not suffice.
"What's your name, little boy?" she asked.
"Billy," he replied, blubbering.
"Where do you live?"
"With me mother and father--they're sick--nothing to eat--"
He was whimpering an address far over on the East Side.
"Get into the car," Elaine directed.
"Gee--but this is swell," he cried, with no fake, this time.
On they went, through the tenement canyons, dodging children and
pushcarts, stopping first at a grocer's, then at a butcher's and a
delicatessen.
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