И проиграли бой

           Whiletheyloitered,apolicemanapproached,andeyedthem.Macsaidloudly,"Idon’twanttogohometillIgetapieceofpie."

           Jimreactedquickly."Comeonhome,"hesaid."I’mtoosleepytoeat."

           Thepolicemanpassedthem.Heseemedalmosttosniffatthemashewentby.Macsaidquietly,"Hethinkswe’retryingtogetupournervetostickupthewagon."Thepolicemanturnedandwalkedbacktowardthem.Macsaid,"Well,gohomethen,ifyouwant.I’mgoingtogetapieceofpie."Heclimbedthethreestepsandslidopenthedoorofthelunchwagon.

           Theproprietorsmiledatthem."’Evening,gents,"hesaid."Turningoncold,ain’tit?"

           "Sureis,"saidMac.Hewalkedtotheendofthecounterfarthestfromtheothertwocustomersandsatdown.AshadowofannoyancecrossedAl’sface.

           "Nowlisten,youguys,"hesaid."Ifyougotnomoneyyoucanhaveacupofcoffeeandacoupleofsinkers.Butdon’teatupadinneronmeandthentellmetocallacop.Jesus,I’mbeingbustedbypan-handlers."

           Maclaughedshortly."Coffeeandsinkerswillbejustelegant,Alfred,"hesaid.

           Theproprietorglancedsuspiciouslyathimandtookoffhishighwhitecook’shat,andscratchedhishead.

           Thecustomersdrainedtheircupstogether.Oneofthemasked,"Doyoualwaysfeedbums,Al?"

           "Well,Jesus,whatcanyoudo?Ifaguywantsacupofcoffeeonacoldnight,youcan’tlethimdownbecausehehasn’tgotalousynickel."