Halstead Street, Chapter 36
by Simahoyo
The railyard was quiet. The Bulls were looking elsewhere for men hitching rides or thieves. A full moon gave enough light that two boys walking up the side rails, where cars sat waiting fir someone to unload them.
Footsteps crunched and squeaked in the snow. It was once again too cold to snow. Hans and Tomaso were searching for one particular railcar.
"Are you sure the Alderman had firewood delivered?" Tomaso shivered, and looked around nervously.
"Ha. I heard it from Hugh. His father was bragging about it. All the way from Wisconsin, so I bet it was in the Great Northern. So, we just look for their cars."
A bit more looking, and one open car, with a tarp roped on top and bore the markings of the Great Northern Rail Road. Tomaso climbed up and looked under the tarp. "Firewood". After he climbed down, he looked at Hans. "Now what do we do?"
Hans tilted his head, thinking. "Let's see where it goes. Hugh believes it will go to his father's supporters–the people who vote for him."
"He should give it to the poor." Tomaso sounded very sure. This was why they had teamed up. Hans liked Tomaso's political views. Now if he wasn't such a dumkoff sometimes."He should, but he won't."
Tomaso glared at the rail car. "What should we do?"
Hans closed his eyes in thought. "I bet he saves some for himself. Let's watch and see. Then we can give him a little message.
"I can't paint his house. Papa will find out. I could get paint on my shoe."
Hans rolled his eyes. "I was thinking of a firecracker."
"Oh, That will be capital!"
"Tomaso be quiet.. The Bulls!" Hans hissed. "Let's go home."
Fin Martin's steps fairly bounced as he called a press conference to his office. He had asked two of his best supporters who lived in a tenement to stand on either side of him. A camera was set up to take a picture. The three men posed and waited as the photographer put in the film and the power flashed. Once that was over, the reporters pushed forward, pencils and notebooks at the ready.
Fin struck a pose. I just wanted to do something about this very bad winter. So, I invited some people I represent to a Christmas present from me on my own dime. There is a back room here filled with already chopped firewood. Will and Jeff here, are only two of fifty people here who will be able to keep warm this winter thanks to Senator Philetus Sawyer and me. The Great Northern Rail Road was good enough to get all this here in time for Christmas."
They all shouted questions at once. Fin listened for something friendly and easy to answer.
"What made you think of this?"
"I read about that woman who was frozen to death, and I knew people needed firewood. I can't give enough firewood for the whole city, but I could help out my needy constituents.."
"Are these men getting firewood?"
Fin motioned Jeff and Will forward.
"Yup. It's true. We was real happy to hear about it. Got a note io the mail and everything." Jeff shuffled his feet, shyly.
"I got a thing in the mail too. First, I didn't think it was for real. I mean firewood costs a bunch these days. It's real good of the Alderman to help us like this." He gave a hard look to the reporters. "Too bad Alderman Martin was the only one of 'em to think of helping us out like this."
"Well", thought Fin, "These two earned a larger portion.":
Fin took the reporters and photographer to the room filled with firewood ready to be given out by his most trusted workers. The invited voters lined up in a photogenic line, and pulling wheelbarrows, or in a few cases, children's wagons.. The workers dumped the wood in noisily, and made sure, after a wink from Fin, that Jeff and Will got just a little extra. After that, the room was empty.
As the reporters walked away, Fin asked, "Is one of you Kay Vann"" They all shook their heads. One fellow with star like hair turned back. "Rumor is that guy works in the lower ninteenth someplace. All the stories either come from there, or are about somebody from there."
"Yeah? Well, thanks." Fin walked away, relieved still a step or two behind his nemesis.
Hans had been watching across the street. This called for another trip to the railyard. Hans had found a good co-conspirator in Tomaso. He was starting to plan ahead a little better, and he could climb thinks Hans was too heavy for. The moon would be dark tonight, so a lantern was needed. Hans used the newsboy network to get word to Tomaso to meet him.
A quick rummage of the cellar yielded a railwalker's lantern, while Mother would be missing a few matches. There he checked the cigar box under his mattress. A dime would be enough to cover his purchase, should it be needed. He hid everything in the ruins of the carriage house.
Mother had made her delicious beef and grated vegetable soup, onion bread and strudel. Wanting to avoid suspicion, Hans loitered, taking his time helping clear up after eating.
He sneaked afterward.
Tomaso ate a nice dish of pasta with bacon and eggs in it. He ran out the door, calling back, "I'm going to see friends. I'll be back."
They met at the fence corner and Tomaso climbed into the railyard, slipped around and let the bigger boy in. "Back to the rail car?"
Maybe he wasn't such a dumkoff after all. "Yes." Hans lit the lantern and tripping was not a hazard. . They hurried to the Great Northern Railcar.
Once they found it, Tomaso climbed up, Hans passed the lantern up to him. Tomaso stuck his head under the tarp. "There's about a cord inside." Tomaso passed the lantern back and climbed down. They walked quietly to the fence and out.
"Now what do we do?" Tomasos face switched between serious and mischievous.
"It's obvious he held it back for his own use, so I think a well placed chinese firecraker should be hidden inside the cord of wood."
Tomaso's eyes got big. "Won't that kill him I don't want to make anyone dead."
"Naw, it will only make a big, lod noise, and maybe sent his stove door."
Tomaso's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?"
"Already did it to one of my meanest teachers."
"So, you'll buy the firecracker. I guess I have to put it in the wood cord."
"Good thinking, Tomaso. Remember to keep real quiet around your sister. She talks to my sister all the time, and Kate is very suspicious."
"Giovanna too. She has been asking where I am going at night."
Hans' voice rose. "You didn't tell her, did you?"
Tomaso waited, watching Hans panic, then smiled. "No. I pretended I didn't hear her."
"You really are no dumkoff."
"Is that like rimbambite? I play the fool so I can get away with things."
Hans grinned and shook Tomaso's hand. "You are my kind of friend."
Hans noticed Franz Georg following him. It took almost an hour to ditch him and get some Chinese firecrackers. Geez. Next thing he'd see Kate looking over his shoulder.
Sneaking out of the house was harder than ever. Father asked if anyone had seen his railwalker's lamp. Hans figured he'd better get it back in the cellar by tomorrow. Franz Georg kept looking at him suspiciously too. His pork chops and apple sauce was losing flavor fast. And the fried cabbage and noodles needed more pepper. Making a getaway was going to be a challenge.
Hans made a show of searching the cellar for Father's lantern. Then he took off for the railyard. Hans was surprised when he had to wait for Tomaso. When he finally arrived, Tomaso was walking fast. "Sorry I'm late. Francesco was suspicious."
"So was I. We's better take some time off after tonight. Ready?"
"Oh yes." and Tomaso went over the fence.
The railcar sat in the same place. Hans waited below, handing Tomaso several firecrackers, Tomaso climbed up to the top of the rail car, took the lantern from Hans, and climbed down inside. While Tomaso was placing the firecrackers into any cracks large enough to hold them, Hans stood a quiet lookout.
He heard men's voices and flattened himself under the railcar. A lantern flashed around the car, while Hans was silence in the shadows. He didn't move until the Bulls were gone. As the backs of their overcoats and uniform caps moved away, Hans slid out from under the railcar. He waitewd, then when it was safe, climbed up and motioned to Tomaso.
The two boys were as quiet as humanly possible as they sneaked out of the yard. Hans went first, and Tomaso was handing him the lantern when they heard a dog growl. Tomaso dropped the lantern into Hans' waiting hands and started up the fence. He could feel the hot breath of the dog on his legs. He hauled his waist up to the top of the fence as Hans pulled on him. Then Tomaso felt the dogs teeth on his pantleg. :Mama's going to kill me!", he thought. Between Tomaso's kicking and Hans' pulling, they got him over the fence.
"Are you hurt?", asked Hans.
"No, but Mama's going to kill me. It's the only warm pants I have."
As they ran, Hans turned toward Mrs. Fraiser's house.
"What are you doing? That's where your sister lives- and it's so late."
"She can patch your pants. That way your Mama will only yell at you."
"OH, Okay."
The house was dark. Hans went to the door and knocked while Tomaso hid just off the porch. A light came on and came to the door. Kate opened it cautiously. She glared at Hans.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed. "Do you know what time it is?" Tomaso stepped onto the porch.
"Johannes Munk what have you done now? Come in and be quiet."
The two boys followed her inside. "This had better be good."
When they got behind Kate's screen, Tomaso showed her his pant leg. "Mama's going to kill me."
Kate shook her head as she got out her sewing kit. "I wouldn't blame her. Is that from a dog?"
Tomaso nodded. Kate made him sit in her only chair as she threaded the needle, then she sat on her bed sewing up the rips. Luckily, Kate was a good seamtress and the repairs barely showed.
"That's so good Kate. Maybe she won't notice."
Kate gave him a stern look. "Yes she will. You had better tell her the truth too. Even if you could fool her, which I doubt, you can't fool your sister. Think of all the things she could make you do to you to make her keep quiet."
Tomaso paled at the thought.
Hans, walk him home, and return Father's lantern. You are getting old enough that the police will stop calling these pranks and put you in jail."
A much coed pair slumped outside into the dark, then lit the lantern. Kate closed the door, put out the light and went back to bed.
Two days later, Fin Martin added firewood to his woodstove, used the poker, and just had cloesed the door when a bang like a shot fired–bent the door and smoke came out.
Fin hit the floor automatically, as would any other veteran. He was shaking, his body remembering Vicksburg. When nothing else happened, he sat up, opened the stove door, and smelled gun powder/ He couldn't see a cartridge left behind. He tore apart the rest of the cord of wood. Tiny Chinese firecrackers were placed strategically inside, neatly labeled, Ching Chang's Chineze Dragons."
"Dang Kids!", shouted Fin.