mark left runnin' wild, an' that he can
be caught an' made a goat of any time it's handy! Look at the crowd of
folks bunched on that crossing this afternoon! Why didn't yuh pick some
one else for the goat? Outa all them hundreds uh people, why'n hell
did yuh have to go an' pick on Casey Ryan? Ain't he had trouble enough
tryin' to keep outa trouble?

"Naw! Casey Ryan's went an' blowed hisself to show tickets, an' he's
headed home, peaceful an' on time, so's he can shave an' put on a clean
collar an' slick up to please his wife an' take 'er to the show!
Nothin' agin the law in that! Not a damn' thing yuh can haul 'im to
jail fer! So YOU had to come along, loaded to the guards with
hootch--stall your Ford on the car track right under m' nose, an' tell
Casey Ryan to git in! Couldn't leave 'im to go home peaceful to 'is
wife--naw! You had t' haul 'im away out here an' git 'im in wrong with
a cop agin! That's a fine game you're playin'! That's a DARNED fine
game!"

"Sure, it is! It's better than the game you've been playing," young
Kenner stated calmly. "Take your own story, for instance. You've been
dubbin' along, tryin' t' play the way the law tells you to. An' the
saps has been flockin' to yuh like a bunch uh hornets--every bird
tryin' t' sink his stinger in first. Ain't that right?

"Keepin' the law has laid yuh in jail twice in the last month, by your
own tell. Why, a clown like you, that's aimin' t' keep the law an'
live honest, is the easiest mark in the world. Them's the guys that do
the most harm--they make graftin' so darned easy! Them's the guys the
saps lay for and dust off regular in the shape of fines an' taxes an'
the like uh that. Oncet in awhile they'll snatch yuh fer somethin' yuh
never done at all an' lay yuh away fer a day or two, just t' keep yuh
scared and easy t' handle next time.

"Now, yuh take me, fer instance. I play agin' the law--an' I'm
cleanin' up right along, and have yet to take my morning sunlight in
streaks. I know as much about the inside of a jail as I know about the
White House--an' no more. I've hauled hootch all over the country, an'
I never yet was dusted off so hard by the law that I didn't come
through with a roll uh jack they'd overlooked.

"Take this highjackin' to-night, for instance. Look what Smilin' Lou
took off'n me! And yet," Kenner turned and grinned impudently at
Casey, "don't never think I didn't come out a long jump ahead! I carry
nothin' cheap;