Девять рассказов

           Ijustsatdowninthemajesticshadowofagiantbillboardand,howevertearfully,openedmylunchboxforbusiness,semi-confidentthattheChiefwouldfindme.TheChiefalwaysfoundus.)

           InhishoursofliberationfromtheComanches,theChiefwasJohnGedsudski,ofStatenIsland.Hewasanextremelyshy,gentleyoungmanoftwenty-twoor-three,alawstudentatN.Y.U.,andaltogetheraverymemorableperson.Iwon’tattempttoassemblehismanyachievementsandvirtueshere.Justinpassing,hewasanEagleScout,analmost-All-Americatackleof1926,anditwasknownthathehadbeenmostcordiallyinvitedtotryoutfortheNewYorkGiants’baseballteam.Hewasanimpartialandunexcitableumpireatallourbedlamsportingevents,amasterfirebuilderandextinguisher,andanexpert,uncontemptuousfirst-aidman.Everyoneofus,fromthesmallesthoodlumtothebiggest,lovedandrespectedhim.

           TheChief’sphysicalappearancein1928isstillclearinmymind.Ifwisheswereinches,allofusComancheswouldhavehadhimagiantinnotime.Thewaythingsgo,though,hewasastockyfivethreeorfour—nomorethanthat.Hishairwasblue-black,hishair-lineextremelylow,hisnosewaslargeandfleshy,andhistorsowasjustaboutaslongashislegswere.Inhisleatherwindbreaker,hisshoulderswerepowerful,butnarrowandsloping.Atthetime,however,itseemedtomethatintheChiefallthemostphotogenicfeaturesofBuckJones,KenMaynard,andTomMixhadbeensmoothlyamalgamated.