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Jewel sighed and turned over once more on her bed impatiently. "Where could he be? It's only been three hours when he said dat he'd come back. He cain't have gone far. It ain't like him ta be late dough. 'Course what do I know? I've only been his wife fer three hours. But I do wonder." Suddenly Tinker burst into the bedroom, his eyes wide with fright and something of anguish that struck Jewel to the heart. "Tinka! Doncha know how ta knock? Whassa madda?" She asked him. Tinker sat down on the bed and placed his head in his hands. "I don't know what we're gonna do Jewel! It's like da end of da woild I tell ya! I jest cain't belive he's dead!" Tinker said, his voice filled with anguish. Jewel's eyes widened and she placed her hand on his broad shoulder.
"Who's dead Tinka? Jack? Is Jack dead? Oh God say no!" She whispered anxiously. But Tinker ignored her and continued his lamenting. "I saw it Jewel. I saw da knife mark, made wid his own knife, right in his chest. I saw da blood all dried on his chest. An' his eyes, jest starin' up at da sky as if dey was still seein'. Oh Jewel what's we gonna do?" Tinker moaned again. "Tinka tawk sense! Who's dead?" Jewel asked, shaking the boy. "Spot! Spot's dead!" Tinker broke out. Jewel sat back on her heels in shock as she gazed at the boy. "Yer jokin'. Yer jest pullin' me leg aincha?" She said, her voice trembling. "I wish I was Jewel. He's dead. As dead as can be." He moaned. Jewel stared into nothingness and for a brief moment tears brushed her lashes.
"Who killed him?" She asked quietly. Tinker looked up and stared at her sympathetically. "Jack." He answered simply. A tear fell from the wide eyes and splashed on her white face. "Jack, Jack killed Spot?" She whispered. Tinker nodded. "In cold blood. Kid Blink said so." Jewel's eyes traveled about the room to keep her emotions from the boy in front of her. "What about Jack?" She said, trying to regain her composure. "Denton's sent out da bulls ta catch him if he comes anywhere near Manhattan or Brooklyn. He'll be put in da Refuge, or most likely a jail. I hope some bull gets a little gun crazy an' shoots him dead." Tinker said angrily. Jewel slapped the boy across the face, much to his surprise.
"Whatcha do dat fer Jewel?" He yelled. "Don't you eva say dat about him. Eva!" She hissed. "But he killed yer brotha! Ya gonna make excuses fer him?" He asked angrily. "No I ain't. Spot tried to kill MY husband rememba? My husband. I'm Jack's wife foist before bein' Spot's sista. If Spot hadn't been killed, he woulda killed Jack. Oh God, if it wasn't fer me husband would be here an' me brudda wouldn't be dead right now. But me brudda is dead an' me husband as good as banished. An' bein' banished is like dyin' while livin'. Oh what am I gonna do Tinka? What am I gonna do?" She whispered, hiding her face for the first time to hide her tears. "Listen, I'll git Jack. I know where he is." Tinker whispered in her ear. Jewel's head shot up. "He's in Fadda Lawrence's place. He's hidin'. I'll git him fer ya, jest don't cry." Jewel nodded simply. "Now, I don't know if I kin stop cryin'."
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Jack lay on the cot in Father Lawrence's room, his head in his arms. His brain was fuzzy and couldn't think, he was in a haze that he couldn't find his way out of.
I killed Spot an' I might as well have killed Race. I killed my kin, Jewel's brudda. An' I've only been a husband fer three hours! Is dis a sign of da pain dats gonna come ta me fer da rest of my life? What am I gonna do? Jack thought with a groan.
Father Lawrence unlocked the bedroom door and slipped in, locking the door as he came in. "How are ya Francis?" He asked, sitting on the bed. "What did Denton say Fadda? Jest spill." The priest sighed uneasily and his hands grasped his knees. "It's not good Francis. Not good at all."
Jack groaned and fell back on the bed. "What is it? Jest tell me!" He said in an anguished tone. The priest sighed and placed his arm on the boy's back. "Mr. Denton has determined that it's only good and right that you be arrested if you come anywhere near Manhattan or Brooklyn. Basically banished." The priest said sadly. Jack's brown eyes were wide in shock as they stared at the priest. "You've got ta be kiddin' me. Banished? He might as well kill me!" Jack said angrily. "Francis he could have sent the police to come and take you away and THEN kill you! Don't you see? This is a better change, banishment rather than death." The priest tried to reason. "Fadda, banishment is like death while livin'! It ain't an improvment!" Jack said, jumping up and pacing around the small room.
"What am I gonna do? I've killed Spot, deprived Jewel of her love an' me of my best friend! I might as well jest die!" Jack said angrily. Father Lawrence jumped up suddenly and placed his finger on his lips as the sound of knocking rang loud and clear. "Hide yerself Francis. I won't have them find ya." He said quickly. Jack waved his hand at them. "Let 'em find me." He said disdainfully. The priest shot him a pained look and answered the door. "Where is he? Look, I'm from Jewel. I need ta tawk ta him." Jack stopped as he heard the sound of Tinker's voice echo in the stairwell. A few seconds later, Tinker walked down the steps and stared at him hard.
"Whaddya doin' Kelly? Cryin' like a baby? Aw git up an' act like a man! You an' Jewel, jest alike, 'cept she's supposed da be da goil!" Tinker said disdainfully. "What does she tink of me? Jewel? Does she regard me as da moidera dat I am? What? Tell me Brooklyn?" Tinker sighed and sat down on the bed. "She don't say nothin'. She jest sits on her bed an' bawls an' says Spot's name a couple times, den yers." He said, shrugging. "I might as well have killed her. I killed her brotha. Maybe I'll jest save da bulls da hona of killin' me." Jack said, taking a swipe at Tinker's pocket. Tinker jumped up, the knife in his own hand. "Are ya crazy! You'd kill yerself now of all times! You Manhattan kids have an awful sense of timin' ya know dat?" Tinker yelled. "Look! If ya kill yerself, ya kill Jewel. Spot's her brotha, but she wouldn't have him alive if he had killed ya. So if ya kill yerself, don't be surprised ta find her dead too. So don't be such an idiot Kelly!" Tinker finished, shaking Jack's shoulders for emphasis.
Jack slumped over on the bed, his head in his hands. "I'm such an idiot. Fer once Brooklyn's right." He said sadly. "Brooklyn's always right kid. Look, I'd stay longa, but I fear fer me life. Yer boys out dere would have me head if dey found me here now." Tinker said with a smile. Jack stood and placed his arm around the boy's shoulder, surprising Tinker. "Thanks kid. It took a lotta guts ta come out here an' do dis here. Take care of Jewel. Tell her dat I'll try ta see her tenite. I'll try." Jack said determindedly. Tinker grinned and for the first time in quite a few years, he spit in his hand and held it out to the leader of Manhattan. Jack smiled and accepted it. "See ya around Kelly." Tinker said, exiting the house. "See ya around Brooklyn." Jack murmured softly.
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Not far off in the Lodging House of Brooklyn, Spot's friend and confidant Ace stood with another boy in what had formerly been Spot's room. The other boy was tall and muscular, his skin tan and speckled with cunning freckles, these spreading across his nose as well. His brown eyes were flecked with gold and his windblown hair was fair. Ace was an obvious Italian with the run-of-the-mill brown hair and dark eyes and skin. He looked the boy over carefully. "It's a tragedy ya know. Jewel loved Spot very much. He was her brudda afta all. I mean, it's kinda late fer ya ta be wooin' her ya know?" Ace said sadly. Pairs nodded solemnly. "Yeah I know. It's awful. But tell her dat I was here an' dat I, well, tell her dat I was here. Ya know, Spot wanted da two of us married. What are we gonna do about dat?" Pairs asked uneasily.
Ace sighed. "Well Spot didn't know dat he was gonna be killed by dose Manhattan scum! All in good time Pairs. We'll git ya hitched soon enough. I'll tell Jewel how you was here. An' as fer da weddin', Spot dying kinda put a glitch in tings if ya don't know what I'm tawkin' about. So it's our call." Pairs nodded. "Oh sure. You know what's best fer Jewel." Pairs said easily. "Teday's Monday. How 'bout Thoisday?" Pairs smiled and sighed happily. "Dat's good. I wish it was teday though." He sighed. Ace laughed and smacked Pairs' back. "It'll come soon enough lova boy. Soon enough."
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Jewel stirred in Jack's arms early the next morning. She sat up and blinked once or twice before looking down at Jack. He slept peacefully and a smile rested on his face. "Yer not asleep. Wake up!" Jewel said, smacking his face playfully. Jack sat up awake and grinned. "Yer very perceptive." He smiled. Jewel's smile faded. "When do ya hafta leave Jack?" She asked quietly. Jack's smile faded as well and his fingers played with the bed covers. "Soon. It's mawnin'." Jewel's eyes widened. "I wish ya didn't hafta go. I jest wish dat I could go wit' ya." She said sadly. "But I'll be back ta git ya. I promise. Den we kin leave dis place tegedda." Jack said gently, cupping her face in his hands. Jewel kissed him gently. "Jewel, I hate te bodda ya, but ya bedda git dressed 'cause Ace is comin' dis way."
Tinker stood in the doorway, his eyes downcast at the floor, averting his gaze from the bed. Jewel gasped and Jack leapt from the bed and to the fire escape. Jewel threw on a large shirt over her pants and followed him out. "I love ya Jack! You promise dat you'll come back? Promise?" Jewel whispered stealing one more kiss. Jack smiled and kissed her back swiftly. "I promise as sure as my name's Jack Kelly that I'll come back fer ya. Don't ya worry 'bout dat my darlin'." He said easily as she ran down the fire escape waving farewell. Jewel gave a small wave and rushed back into the room, pretending to be asleep.
"Hey Jewel! Wake up! Ain't ya supposed ta be up sellin' papes now?" Ace asked. Jewel pretended to wake from a great slumber and stretched her arms. "Ain't you too? Geez Ace, ya tink ya could give me a little time." She said with a yawn. "I know Jewel, dats why I let ya sleep late. I need ta tawk ta ya 'bout sometin'." Ace said as Jewel dangled her feet over the edge of the bed. "Yeah? But foist answer me sometin', who killed my brudda?" Ace was taken aback for a moment but bounced back with vigor. "Why yer very own enemy, Jack Kelly. Killed him in cold blood he did." Ace said with an enthusiasm that Jewel didn't appreciate. "Jack Kelly. If he was man enough ta stand in front of me here, I'd take a knife an' stab him an' see how he likes bein' dead! I won't rest till he's dead." Jewel said with vigor.
Ace grinned. "Dat's a good ting, 'cause um, dere's someone who's willin' ta protect ya while yer doin' dat, in fact fer all time." Jewel looked at Ace curiously. "It's Pairs. Yer gonna marry him next Thoisday! Ain't dat great? Den you AN' da Bronx kin go kill Jack Kelly." Jewel stared at Ace in shock, who was grinning for all he was worth. "I'd radda soon be married ta Jack Kelly." She said quietly. Ace stopped smiling and stared at her. "What are ya sayin'? You'd radda marry a moidera dan da leada of da Bronx?" Ace asked, his voice rising in pitch with every word. "Yes. Spot only did dat ta unite Brooklyn wit' a powerful ally. I'm not an object ta be toyed wit'." She said coldly. Ace shook his head and took a step backwards. "He was doin' what was best an' ya know it. Now you will marry him on Thoisday!" Ace said uneasily. "Then I will die on Thoisday." Jewel said coolly.
Ace stared at her in disbelief. "What are ya sayin' Jewel?" He asked her. Jewel stared at him stone-faced and unmoving. "I refuse ta marry Pairs. I love Jack Kelly." She said coolly. Ace stared at her, his eyes wide. Then the eyes narrowed to slits as they stared at her. "Yer a traita. How kin ya do dis ta us, ta yer own dead brudda!? He's rollin' in his grave right now!" He hissed. "No amount of rollin' is gonna git Spot outta dat grave he's in. An' here's a clue, I ain't marryin' Pairs." Ace's face turned red with anger and he swung open the door. "Jewel, I don't know what's got inta ya, but you are gonna marry Pairs on Thoisday, wit' or widout yer consent." Ace rushed out of the room, slamming the door as he did so. Jewel stood quietly in the middle of the room before collapsing on the bed.
"Oh Tinka, what am I gonna do?" She moaned. The boy moved forward slowly, sitting on the bed beside her. "Well, ya know, Pairs is a nice guy. Ya know? He's got a nice face." Tinker stuttered. Jewel stared at him. "Yeah he does, but often da face don't match da peisonality." She said slowly. "Well yeah, but he'd protect ya. I mean ya don't really hafta love him. He could protect ya an' keep ya safe. Dats more dan Jack Kelly kin do. I mean, he's banished. He's as good as dead. He cain't see ya, cain't touch ya, cain't do anytin'. An' Pairs is here wit' you. He's as good a catch as Jack, maybe betta." Jewel stared at him, them smiled slightly. "Ya know Tinka, yer right." Tinker started. "I am?" Jewel nodded. "Yeah. Yer right. Jack Kelly's of no eaithly use ta me. He's banished an' here I am still young an' pretty. Look, go tell Ace I'm sorry. I was jest upset about Spot. I'm gonna go ta Fadda Lawrence's and ta ask his advice."
Tinker grinned and jumped up. "Dere ya go Jewel! Don't worry 'bout a ting! I'll go tell Ace." Tinker ran out of the room, leaving the door swinging on it's hinges. Jewel watched him grimly, putting on her shoes and socks. "Yeah, run an' tell Ace, Tinka. I thought ya undastood 'bout Jack. Ya ceitanly praised him enough. But now I know dat yer jest like da rest of 'em. I'm goin' ta Fadda's alright, but not fer da reason ya tink." She whispered to herself as she walked down the fire escape that her husband had left so soon before.
Jewel sighed and turned over once more on her bed impatiently. "Where could he be? It's only been three hours when he said dat he'd come back. He cain't have gone far. It ain't like him ta be late dough. 'Course what do I know? I've only been his wife fer three hours. But I do wonder." Suddenly Tinker burst into the bedroom, his eyes wide with fright and something of anguish that struck Jewel to the heart. "Tinka! Doncha know how ta knock? Whassa madda?" She asked him. Tinker sat down on the bed and placed his head in his hands. "I don't know what we're gonna do Jewel! It's like da end of da woild I tell ya! I jest cain't belive he's dead!" Tinker said, his voice filled with anguish. Jewel's eyes widened and she placed her hand on his broad shoulder.
"Who's dead Tinka? Jack? Is Jack dead? Oh God say no!" She whispered anxiously. But Tinker ignored her and continued his lamenting. "I saw it Jewel. I saw da knife mark, made wid his own knife, right in his chest. I saw da blood all dried on his chest. An' his eyes, jest starin' up at da sky as if dey was still seein'. Oh Jewel what's we gonna do?" Tinker moaned again. "Tinka tawk sense! Who's dead?" Jewel asked, shaking the boy. "Spot! Spot's dead!" Tinker broke out. Jewel sat back on her heels in shock as she gazed at the boy. "Yer jokin'. Yer jest pullin' me leg aincha?" She said, her voice trembling. "I wish I was Jewel. He's dead. As dead as can be." He moaned. Jewel stared into nothingness and for a brief moment tears brushed her lashes.
"Who killed him?" She asked quietly. Tinker looked up and stared at her sympathetically. "Jack." He answered simply. A tear fell from the wide eyes and splashed on her white face. "Jack, Jack killed Spot?" She whispered. Tinker nodded. "In cold blood. Kid Blink said so." Jewel's eyes traveled about the room to keep her emotions from the boy in front of her. "What about Jack?" She said, trying to regain her composure. "Denton's sent out da bulls ta catch him if he comes anywhere near Manhattan or Brooklyn. He'll be put in da Refuge, or most likely a jail. I hope some bull gets a little gun crazy an' shoots him dead." Tinker said angrily. Jewel slapped the boy across the face, much to his surprise.
"Whatcha do dat fer Jewel?" He yelled. "Don't you eva say dat about him. Eva!" She hissed. "But he killed yer brotha! Ya gonna make excuses fer him?" He asked angrily. "No I ain't. Spot tried to kill MY husband rememba? My husband. I'm Jack's wife foist before bein' Spot's sista. If Spot hadn't been killed, he woulda killed Jack. Oh God, if it wasn't fer me husband would be here an' me brudda wouldn't be dead right now. But me brudda is dead an' me husband as good as banished. An' bein' banished is like dyin' while livin'. Oh what am I gonna do Tinka? What am I gonna do?" She whispered, hiding her face for the first time to hide her tears. "Listen, I'll git Jack. I know where he is." Tinker whispered in her ear. Jewel's head shot up. "He's in Fadda Lawrence's place. He's hidin'. I'll git him fer ya, jest don't cry." Jewel nodded simply. "Now, I don't know if I kin stop cryin'."
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Jack lay on the cot in Father Lawrence's room, his head in his arms. His brain was fuzzy and couldn't think, he was in a haze that he couldn't find his way out of.
I killed Spot an' I might as well have killed Race. I killed my kin, Jewel's brudda. An' I've only been a husband fer three hours! Is dis a sign of da pain dats gonna come ta me fer da rest of my life? What am I gonna do? Jack thought with a groan.
Father Lawrence unlocked the bedroom door and slipped in, locking the door as he came in. "How are ya Francis?" He asked, sitting on the bed. "What did Denton say Fadda? Jest spill." The priest sighed uneasily and his hands grasped his knees. "It's not good Francis. Not good at all."
Jack groaned and fell back on the bed. "What is it? Jest tell me!" He said in an anguished tone. The priest sighed and placed his arm on the boy's back. "Mr. Denton has determined that it's only good and right that you be arrested if you come anywhere near Manhattan or Brooklyn. Basically banished." The priest said sadly. Jack's brown eyes were wide in shock as they stared at the priest. "You've got ta be kiddin' me. Banished? He might as well kill me!" Jack said angrily. "Francis he could have sent the police to come and take you away and THEN kill you! Don't you see? This is a better change, banishment rather than death." The priest tried to reason. "Fadda, banishment is like death while livin'! It ain't an improvment!" Jack said, jumping up and pacing around the small room.
"What am I gonna do? I've killed Spot, deprived Jewel of her love an' me of my best friend! I might as well jest die!" Jack said angrily. Father Lawrence jumped up suddenly and placed his finger on his lips as the sound of knocking rang loud and clear. "Hide yerself Francis. I won't have them find ya." He said quickly. Jack waved his hand at them. "Let 'em find me." He said disdainfully. The priest shot him a pained look and answered the door. "Where is he? Look, I'm from Jewel. I need ta tawk ta him." Jack stopped as he heard the sound of Tinker's voice echo in the stairwell. A few seconds later, Tinker walked down the steps and stared at him hard.
"Whaddya doin' Kelly? Cryin' like a baby? Aw git up an' act like a man! You an' Jewel, jest alike, 'cept she's supposed da be da goil!" Tinker said disdainfully. "What does she tink of me? Jewel? Does she regard me as da moidera dat I am? What? Tell me Brooklyn?" Tinker sighed and sat down on the bed. "She don't say nothin'. She jest sits on her bed an' bawls an' says Spot's name a couple times, den yers." He said, shrugging. "I might as well have killed her. I killed her brotha. Maybe I'll jest save da bulls da hona of killin' me." Jack said, taking a swipe at Tinker's pocket. Tinker jumped up, the knife in his own hand. "Are ya crazy! You'd kill yerself now of all times! You Manhattan kids have an awful sense of timin' ya know dat?" Tinker yelled. "Look! If ya kill yerself, ya kill Jewel. Spot's her brotha, but she wouldn't have him alive if he had killed ya. So if ya kill yerself, don't be surprised ta find her dead too. So don't be such an idiot Kelly!" Tinker finished, shaking Jack's shoulders for emphasis.
Jack slumped over on the bed, his head in his hands. "I'm such an idiot. Fer once Brooklyn's right." He said sadly. "Brooklyn's always right kid. Look, I'd stay longa, but I fear fer me life. Yer boys out dere would have me head if dey found me here now." Tinker said with a smile. Jack stood and placed his arm around the boy's shoulder, surprising Tinker. "Thanks kid. It took a lotta guts ta come out here an' do dis here. Take care of Jewel. Tell her dat I'll try ta see her tenite. I'll try." Jack said determindedly. Tinker grinned and for the first time in quite a few years, he spit in his hand and held it out to the leader of Manhattan. Jack smiled and accepted it. "See ya around Kelly." Tinker said, exiting the house. "See ya around Brooklyn." Jack murmured softly.
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Not far off in the Lodging House of Brooklyn, Spot's friend and confidant Ace stood with another boy in what had formerly been Spot's room. The other boy was tall and muscular, his skin tan and speckled with cunning freckles, these spreading across his nose as well. His brown eyes were flecked with gold and his windblown hair was fair. Ace was an obvious Italian with the run-of-the-mill brown hair and dark eyes and skin. He looked the boy over carefully. "It's a tragedy ya know. Jewel loved Spot very much. He was her brudda afta all. I mean, it's kinda late fer ya ta be wooin' her ya know?" Ace said sadly. Pairs nodded solemnly. "Yeah I know. It's awful. But tell her dat I was here an' dat I, well, tell her dat I was here. Ya know, Spot wanted da two of us married. What are we gonna do about dat?" Pairs asked uneasily.
Ace sighed. "Well Spot didn't know dat he was gonna be killed by dose Manhattan scum! All in good time Pairs. We'll git ya hitched soon enough. I'll tell Jewel how you was here. An' as fer da weddin', Spot dying kinda put a glitch in tings if ya don't know what I'm tawkin' about. So it's our call." Pairs nodded. "Oh sure. You know what's best fer Jewel." Pairs said easily. "Teday's Monday. How 'bout Thoisday?" Pairs smiled and sighed happily. "Dat's good. I wish it was teday though." He sighed. Ace laughed and smacked Pairs' back. "It'll come soon enough lova boy. Soon enough."
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Jewel stirred in Jack's arms early the next morning. She sat up and blinked once or twice before looking down at Jack. He slept peacefully and a smile rested on his face. "Yer not asleep. Wake up!" Jewel said, smacking his face playfully. Jack sat up awake and grinned. "Yer very perceptive." He smiled. Jewel's smile faded. "When do ya hafta leave Jack?" She asked quietly. Jack's smile faded as well and his fingers played with the bed covers. "Soon. It's mawnin'." Jewel's eyes widened. "I wish ya didn't hafta go. I jest wish dat I could go wit' ya." She said sadly. "But I'll be back ta git ya. I promise. Den we kin leave dis place tegedda." Jack said gently, cupping her face in his hands. Jewel kissed him gently. "Jewel, I hate te bodda ya, but ya bedda git dressed 'cause Ace is comin' dis way."
Tinker stood in the doorway, his eyes downcast at the floor, averting his gaze from the bed. Jewel gasped and Jack leapt from the bed and to the fire escape. Jewel threw on a large shirt over her pants and followed him out. "I love ya Jack! You promise dat you'll come back? Promise?" Jewel whispered stealing one more kiss. Jack smiled and kissed her back swiftly. "I promise as sure as my name's Jack Kelly that I'll come back fer ya. Don't ya worry 'bout dat my darlin'." He said easily as she ran down the fire escape waving farewell. Jewel gave a small wave and rushed back into the room, pretending to be asleep.
"Hey Jewel! Wake up! Ain't ya supposed ta be up sellin' papes now?" Ace asked. Jewel pretended to wake from a great slumber and stretched her arms. "Ain't you too? Geez Ace, ya tink ya could give me a little time." She said with a yawn. "I know Jewel, dats why I let ya sleep late. I need ta tawk ta ya 'bout sometin'." Ace said as Jewel dangled her feet over the edge of the bed. "Yeah? But foist answer me sometin', who killed my brudda?" Ace was taken aback for a moment but bounced back with vigor. "Why yer very own enemy, Jack Kelly. Killed him in cold blood he did." Ace said with an enthusiasm that Jewel didn't appreciate. "Jack Kelly. If he was man enough ta stand in front of me here, I'd take a knife an' stab him an' see how he likes bein' dead! I won't rest till he's dead." Jewel said with vigor.
Ace grinned. "Dat's a good ting, 'cause um, dere's someone who's willin' ta protect ya while yer doin' dat, in fact fer all time." Jewel looked at Ace curiously. "It's Pairs. Yer gonna marry him next Thoisday! Ain't dat great? Den you AN' da Bronx kin go kill Jack Kelly." Jewel stared at Ace in shock, who was grinning for all he was worth. "I'd radda soon be married ta Jack Kelly." She said quietly. Ace stopped smiling and stared at her. "What are ya sayin'? You'd radda marry a moidera dan da leada of da Bronx?" Ace asked, his voice rising in pitch with every word. "Yes. Spot only did dat ta unite Brooklyn wit' a powerful ally. I'm not an object ta be toyed wit'." She said coldly. Ace shook his head and took a step backwards. "He was doin' what was best an' ya know it. Now you will marry him on Thoisday!" Ace said uneasily. "Then I will die on Thoisday." Jewel said coolly.
Ace stared at her in disbelief. "What are ya sayin' Jewel?" He asked her. Jewel stared at him stone-faced and unmoving. "I refuse ta marry Pairs. I love Jack Kelly." She said coolly. Ace stared at her, his eyes wide. Then the eyes narrowed to slits as they stared at her. "Yer a traita. How kin ya do dis ta us, ta yer own dead brudda!? He's rollin' in his grave right now!" He hissed. "No amount of rollin' is gonna git Spot outta dat grave he's in. An' here's a clue, I ain't marryin' Pairs." Ace's face turned red with anger and he swung open the door. "Jewel, I don't know what's got inta ya, but you are gonna marry Pairs on Thoisday, wit' or widout yer consent." Ace rushed out of the room, slamming the door as he did so. Jewel stood quietly in the middle of the room before collapsing on the bed.
"Oh Tinka, what am I gonna do?" She moaned. The boy moved forward slowly, sitting on the bed beside her. "Well, ya know, Pairs is a nice guy. Ya know? He's got a nice face." Tinker stuttered. Jewel stared at him. "Yeah he does, but often da face don't match da peisonality." She said slowly. "Well yeah, but he'd protect ya. I mean ya don't really hafta love him. He could protect ya an' keep ya safe. Dats more dan Jack Kelly kin do. I mean, he's banished. He's as good as dead. He cain't see ya, cain't touch ya, cain't do anytin'. An' Pairs is here wit' you. He's as good a catch as Jack, maybe betta." Jewel stared at him, them smiled slightly. "Ya know Tinka, yer right." Tinker started. "I am?" Jewel nodded. "Yeah. Yer right. Jack Kelly's of no eaithly use ta me. He's banished an' here I am still young an' pretty. Look, go tell Ace I'm sorry. I was jest upset about Spot. I'm gonna go ta Fadda Lawrence's and ta ask his advice."
Tinker grinned and jumped up. "Dere ya go Jewel! Don't worry 'bout a ting! I'll go tell Ace." Tinker ran out of the room, leaving the door swinging on it's hinges. Jewel watched him grimly, putting on her shoes and socks. "Yeah, run an' tell Ace, Tinka. I thought ya undastood 'bout Jack. Ya ceitanly praised him enough. But now I know dat yer jest like da rest of 'em. I'm goin' ta Fadda's alright, but not fer da reason ya tink." She whispered to herself as she walked down the fire escape that her husband had left so soon before.