Ikey scanned the countenance of Mr. McGowan for the usual evidences of conflict, but found none.
Take your coat off, he ordered. I guess already that you have been stuck in the ribs with a knife. I have many times told you those Dagoes would do you up.
Mr. McGowan smiled. Not them, he said. Not any Dagoes. But youve located the diagnosis all right enough its under my coat, near the ribs. Say! Ikey Rosy and me are goin to run away and get married to-night.
Ikeys left forefinger was doubled over the edge of the mortar, holding it steady. He gave it a wild rap with the pestle, but felt it not. Meanwhile Mr. McGowans smile faded to a look of perplexed gloom.
That is, he continued, if she keeps in the notion until the time comes. Weve been layin pipes for the getaway for two weeks. One day she says she will; the same evenin she says nixy. Weve agreed on to-night, and Rosys stuck to the affirmative this time for two whole days. But its five hours yet till the time, and Im afraid shell stand me up when it comes to the scratch.
You said you wanted drugs, remarked Ikey.
Mr. McGowan looked ill at ease and harassed a condition opposed to his usual line of demeanour. He made a patent-medicine almanac into a roll and fitted it with unprofitable carefulness about his finger.
I wouldnt have this double handicap make a false start to-night for a million, he said. Ive got a little flat up in Harlem all ready, with chrysanthemums on the table and a kettle ready to boil. And Ive engaged a pulpit pounder to be ready at his house for us at 9.30. Its got to come off. And if Rosy dont change her mind again! Mr. McGowan ceased, a prey to his doubts.
I dont see then yet, said Ikey, shortly, what makes it that you talk of drugs, or what I can be doing about it.
Old man Riddle dont like me a little bit, went on the uneasy suitor, bent upon marshalling his arguments. For a week he hasnt let Rosy step outside the door with me. If it wasnt for losin a boarder theyd have bounced me long ago. Im makin $20 a week and shell never regret flyin the coop with Chunk McGowan.
You will excuse me, Chunk, said Ikey. I must make a prescription that is to be called for soon.
Say, said McGowan, looking up suddenly, say, Ikey, aint there a drug of some kind some kind of powders thatll make a girl like you better if you give em to her?
Ikeys lip beneath his nose curled with the scorn of superior enlightenment; but before he could answer, McGowan continued:
Tim Lacy told me he got some once from a croaker uptown and fed em to his girl in soda water. From the very first dose he was ace-high and everybody else looked like thirty cents to her. They was married in less than two weeks.
Strong and simple was Chunk McGowan. A better reader of men than Ikey was could have seen that his tough frame was strung upon fine wires. Like a good general who was about to invade the enemys territory he was seeking to guard every point against possible failure.
I thought, went on Chunk hopefully, that if I had one of them powders to give Rosy when I see her at supper to-night it might brace her up and keep her from reneging on the proposition to skip. I guess she dont need a mule team to drag her away, but women are better at coaching than they are at running bases. If the stuffll work just for a couple of hours itll do the trick.
When is this foolishness of running away to be happening? asked Ikey.
Nine oclock, said Mr. McGowan. Suppers at seven. At eight Rosy goes to bed with a headache. At nine old Parvenzano lets me through to his back yard, where theres a board off Riddles fence, next door. I go under her window and help her down the fire-escape. Weve got to make it early on the preachers account. Its all dead easy if Rosy dont balk when the flag drops. Can you fix me one of them powders, Ikey?
Ikey Schoenstein rubbed his nose slowly.
Chunk, said he, it is of drugs of that nature that pharmaceutists must have much carefulness. To you alone of my acquaintance would I intrust a powder like that. But for you I shall make it, and you shall see how it makes Rosy to think of you.
Ikey went behind the prescription desk. There he crushed to a powder two soluble tablets, each containing a quarter of a grain of morphia. To them he added a little sugar of milk to increase the bulk, and folded the mixture neatly in a white paper. Taken by an adult this powder would insure several hours of heavy slumber without danger to the sleeper. This he handed to Chunk McGowan, telling him to administer it in a liquid if possible, and received the hearty thanks of the backyard Lochinvar[122].
The subtlety of Ikeys action becomes apparent upon recital of his subsequent move. He sent a messenger for Mr. Riddle and disclosed the plans of Mr. McGowan for eloping with Rosy. Mr. Riddle was a stout man, brick-dusty of complexion and sudden in action.
Much obliged, he said, briefly, to Ikey. The lazy Irish loafer! My own rooms just above Rosys. Ill just go up there myself after supper and load the shot-gun and wait. If he comes in my back yard hell go away in a ambulance instead of a bridal chaise.