***********************
Pairs stood awkwardly in Father Lawrence's rectory, his hat in his hands. The priest watched Pairs with an uneasy eye. "But, um what did you say your name was?" The priest asked. "My given name is Gregory, but I prefer Pairs Fadda." He said. "Ah, I see. Pairs. Thursday is mighty soon to be married is it not? You tell me that you barely know the girl. Yet, you will marry her so early?" The priest asked, glancing at Pairs. "I love her. Dat's all I know. Spot arranged for it an' we both wanted it." Pairs said happily. "You and Jewel or you and Spot?" The priest asked. "Me an' Spot. Is dat wrong?" Pairs asked, casting a wary eye over the priest. Father Lawrence didn't answer, but grunted. "Why Thursday? Why not Wednesday, make it sooner?" Pairs sighed. "Well Jewel is kinda taken up wit' Spot's dying an' all, so we decided ta give her a little more time." Pairs replied. The priest nodded. "Yes, I'm sure she needed more time, but not for the reason you think." He murmured under his breath.
"Fadda? Fadda Lawrence?" The two looked up to see Jewel in the doorway. At the sight of Pairs, Jewel blushed, but walked down the steps toward the priest. "Hello Jewel. Nice ta see ya. I cain't wait fer dis Thoisday." Pairs said awkwardly, approaching her. "Oh? What happens Thoisday?" She asked, her face blank. Pairs looked at her in a confused manner. "Well, we get married." He stuttered. "I won't be married on Thoisday or any udda day Pairs. Now if you'll leave me alone, I've gotta tawk ta Fadda." Jewel said, brushing him aside. "You will be married on Thoisday Jewel! Ace said!" Pairs said, anxiety coming into his voice. "Is Ace da law now? Leave me alone would ya? I gotta tawk ta Fadda." Jewel said impatiently. Pairs nodded. "Fine, yer jest upset 'bout Spot. I'll leave ya alone. See ya on Thoisday." He said happily, rushing out the door. Jewel rolled her eyes. "What an idiot." She murmured before turning to the priest.
"Okay Fadda, I need yer help. Ya baptized me, ya married me, yer da only one who kin help." Jewel said. "I'll try my best." The priest said comfortingly. "Look Fadda, I dunno if I kin take dis. I mean, I am NOT gonna marry Pairs, no matta what anyone says! Okay! No one is gonna tell me what ta do! I cain't see Jack 'cause he got kicked out an' is as good as dead if he comes anywhere near me. So what's a goil supposed ta do! Da only ting fer me it seems is ta kill meself. I cain't live widout Jack Fadda." Jewel pleaded. The priest placed his hand on hers, but didn't speak, his forehead furrowed in thought.
"Jewel, what I can propose is something that takes great courage." Father Lawrence said finally. "I've got courage or spunk if dats what yer tawkin' 'bout. What do ya want me ta do?" She asked. "I've got a medicine that stills the blood and, well I won't bother with the medical terms, you will look and act as if you are dead once you drink it." Jewel paled. "But I'll still be alive?" She asked quietly. "You'll still be alive and you will wake up after the dreg has done it's job. Could you do that?" Jewel looked away from the priest, her face pale, but when she turned back her face was red with energy. "Yeah I kin do dat Fadda. What should I do?" She asked excitedly. "You go home, tell your friend that you will marry Pairs, then when no one is with you, drink it. The next morning you will appear as if you are dead. Then I will take trust of your body and keep you until I send a messenger to Jack to tell him of our plan." The priest said happily. Jewel jumped up and kissed the priest on the cheek as he handed her the vial. "Oh thank ya Fadda! Yer a blessin'! I've gotta go! Fer once I cain't wait ta die, 'cause I won't really be dead!" Jewel said, kissing him on the cheek once more and rushing out the door.
Jewel ran in through the door of the Lodging House and saw both Tinker and Ace talking heatedly in the entry way. Ace looked up at her disdainfully as she walked up to them. "Well? Whaddya want?" He asked coldly. "I'm sorry Ace. Fadda Lawrence tawked it all out wit' me an' told me what I was doin' wrong. I'll marry Pairs. It's right. I kin see dat now. We kin do it temorra if ya want." Jewel said humbly. Ace grinned and his face lit up. "Dis is great! Yer wondaful Jewel! Tinka, go tell Pairs! Tell him everytin'!" Ace said excitedly. Jewel looked up at him, trying to hide her glowing excitement at the success of the plan. "I'm gonna go up ta my room an' go ta sleep if ya don't mind Ace. Temorra's quickly loomin' on da horizon so ta speak." Ace barely looked at her as he nodded, for he was busy ordering another boy around.
Jewel smiled contentedly and walked slowly up to her room. She walked in and closed the door. She took the vial out of her pocket and held it to her chest, then laid down on the bed in the middle of the room. "Well Kelly, dis is da end of da line fer a while. Everytin' will be fine. Dis is fer you Jacky-boy. Ya darn well betta find me, uddawise I'll really kill meself." Jewel said with a smile as she unscrewed the lid of the vial and drank it. Then she laid down and smiled as she slowly drifted off into a deathly slumber.
The next morning Tinker knocked hard on Jewel's bedroom door. "Hey Jewel! Wake up! Time ta git up lazy! Jewel! Hey, don't make me come in dere! Fine it's yer own fault." Tinker yelled as he opened the door. "C'mon Jewel. Ya don't wanna be late ta git," Tinker's words froze in his throat as he gazed at Jewel. Her face was a deathly shade of gray, her lips in a ghostly smile, her eyes closed and her hands lying limp at her sides. "Jewel." He whispered softly as he touched her hand, shivering when he felt the coldness. "Hey Tinka! When's Jewel comin'? Pairs is already here!" Ace asked merrily as he walked in the room. "She ain't neva comin' Ace." Tinker said solemnly. "Whaddya mean she ain't neva comin'? She's," Ace stopped and stared in horror at Jewel.
He grabbed Tinker's arm and slowly backed down the stairwell. "Where's Jewel? Fadda Lawrence is here and we want to start the ceremony soon ya know?" Pairs said, stopping them at the bottom of the stairs. Tinker stared at him in horror. "What is it my sons?" Father Lawrence asked the two boys. "Fadda, she's dead. She ain't gonna be gettin' married afta all." Ace gulped. Pairs gasped and grabbed Ace's shirt. "Whaddya tawkin' 'bout she's dead? She cain't be dead! I jest saw her yestaday!" He asked, shaking his shirt. "My son, thing happen for a reason, this is one of those things. I will take her body and bury it for you if you like boys." The priest said solemnly, crossing his fingers. "I'd prefer dat ya did Fadda. I, I don't wanna share da house wid a, a, dead peison." Tinker gulped. Pairs hit him upside the head with his palm. "Have ya no sympathy? Yer friend jest died an' yer worried 'bout a dead peison in da house?!" Pairs asked. "I agree wid Tinka. If ya'd take her Fadda, we'd be obliged." Pairs rolled his eyes and sat down on the stairs with his head in his hands as the priest went up and retrieved the body for the next step in his plan.
***********************
Jack sat up suddenly in his makeshift bed with a frown. "Strange. Had a dream. An' as I know I rarely dream. If I do it's 'bout Pop takin' a swing at me, but dis, dis was different. Dis was stranga. I dreamed dat I was dead, an' dat Jewel found me like dat. Den she killed herself. Huh, wonda what it means. Of course, it's all jest stupid fantasy dats all. What I wouldn't give ta see Jewel now." Jack said with a sigh. "Heya Cowboy." Jack looked up and saw Snipeshooter standing in the darkness. "Snipeshoota! Hey good ta see ya! Ya know it was real nice of ya ta set me up here in Queens. How's tings goin' in Manhattan? How's Jewel?" Jack asked, jumping up from his bed.
Snipeshooter didn't speak but ducked his head and turned away. "Whassa matta Snipe? Sometin' wrong? If dere is, tell me. C'mon now." Jack said, approaching Snipeshooter. "Cowboy, Jewel's dead!" Snipeshooter blurted out suddenly. Jack stared at him wide eyed. "Ya gotta be jokin' wit' me! Jewel ain't dead! She's waitin' fer me!" He said in disbelief. "She'll be waitin' fer ya when ya die Jack! She's dead!" Snipeshooter choked. Jack dropped his head. A few moments later, his head snapped up and he grabbed his coat and brushed past Snipeshooter. "Jack! Jack don't leave like dis! Lemme go wit' ya!" Snipeshooter called out. "I'm goin' alone. Don't worry 'bout me. I'm comin' Jewel." He whispered fiercely under his breath.
He turned down a few passages before stopping in a tavern. He hesitated only a moment before walking in. His brown eyes scanned the place and looked about for a certain personage. He found him and began to walk towards him. The boy in front of him was named Windy, an odd name, but he challenged anyone to call him WENDY. In fact, Windy was renowned in Queens, having the reputation almost equal to Spot Conlon. Looking at Windy, one would think that the two could have been twins, had Windy's eyes not been the color of a summer sky with gold flecks spattering the surface. Windy looked up at Jack, his red-rimmed eyes taking him in.
"Cowboy! What kin I git ya? Got a full house tenight an' don't got much time, but I've always got time fer an old friend." He said, his words slurred. "I need ta see ya alone Windy." Jack said softly. "WHAT?" Windy yelled, obviously drunk. "I need ta see ya alone, now don't make a scene!" Jack hissed in his ear. "Oh, okay. Yer da onliest one makin' a scene dough Cowboy. Ya dumb ol' Manhattan kids don't know what quiet is." Windy muttered as he stumbled to the back room. "Now Cowboy, what's you so fired an' anxious about? Whaddya need?" Windy asked, leaning up against the wall for support.
"I need sometin' ta, ta kill someone." Windy's eyes widened. "Ta kill someone Cowboy? Geez louiz, I didn't know dat you were da type! Who is it, huh Cowboy? Ya gonna take out a Newsie? Maybe Osca? Or even Morris? Dat'll be rich! Got jest da ting for 'em. Liquid poison. Ya take it an' it knocks 'em out cold. Dead as a doornail. Flat as a mat. Deader dan dead. Bluer dan blue." Windy rambled. "I git da picture Windy. Jest gimme it." Jack interrupted. "Oh ho, not so fast Cowboy. I got a good deal amount a money from da last guy who wanted ta play assassin. Yer jest gonna hafta pay like everybody else." Windy said. Jack rolled his eyes. Even in a drunken stupor, Windy still had his haggling skills. "Look, all I gots is a couple bucks. Nothin' much." Jack said. "I'll take it." Windy replied.
Jack stared at him in amazement. "You'll take it? You ain't gonna haggle or nothin' fer two hours over it?" Jack asked. "Hey I'm short on cash alright! I'll take whateva I kin git! I need sometin' ta bet so hand it ova." Windy hiccoughed. Jack grinned and handed him the money. Windy peered into his hand and nodded, stumbling to a cabinet. "Okay Cowboy, dis'll kill anybody. Dead as a doornail, flat as a mat," He began. "I know Windy. Danks. I owe ya one." Jack said, taking the poison. "Yeah, ya really do Cowboy. But I won't worry 'bout it tenight. Got some bettin' ta do." Windy said as he began to stagger outside into the bar. Jack grinned as he watched him and shook his head. "Good old Windy." He murmured. Then he dashed out the back door and headed to Manhattan.
*********************
Father Lawrence paced the small room in the rectory where Jewel's body lay on the bed. Suddenly the door swung open and a wide-eyed Skittery ran in. "Ah Skittery, you did deliver my message to Francis?" The priest asked, relief evident on his face. Skittery shook his head. "No Fadda, I couldn't let da boys ta let me inta Queens! I tried an' tried, but dey threatened ta bust my head in if I kept tryin'! I tried as hard as I could Fadda!" He said sadly. Father Lawrence turned away, his face a mask of shock. "I can't believe this. We are worse off than before. Come with me. We have to find him." The priest said firmly, taking the scared boy's arm. "But where will we go?" Skittery asked. "To the cemetary." The priest replied.
Pairs stood awkwardly in Father Lawrence's rectory, his hat in his hands. The priest watched Pairs with an uneasy eye. "But, um what did you say your name was?" The priest asked. "My given name is Gregory, but I prefer Pairs Fadda." He said. "Ah, I see. Pairs. Thursday is mighty soon to be married is it not? You tell me that you barely know the girl. Yet, you will marry her so early?" The priest asked, glancing at Pairs. "I love her. Dat's all I know. Spot arranged for it an' we both wanted it." Pairs said happily. "You and Jewel or you and Spot?" The priest asked. "Me an' Spot. Is dat wrong?" Pairs asked, casting a wary eye over the priest. Father Lawrence didn't answer, but grunted. "Why Thursday? Why not Wednesday, make it sooner?" Pairs sighed. "Well Jewel is kinda taken up wit' Spot's dying an' all, so we decided ta give her a little more time." Pairs replied. The priest nodded. "Yes, I'm sure she needed more time, but not for the reason you think." He murmured under his breath.
"Fadda? Fadda Lawrence?" The two looked up to see Jewel in the doorway. At the sight of Pairs, Jewel blushed, but walked down the steps toward the priest. "Hello Jewel. Nice ta see ya. I cain't wait fer dis Thoisday." Pairs said awkwardly, approaching her. "Oh? What happens Thoisday?" She asked, her face blank. Pairs looked at her in a confused manner. "Well, we get married." He stuttered. "I won't be married on Thoisday or any udda day Pairs. Now if you'll leave me alone, I've gotta tawk ta Fadda." Jewel said, brushing him aside. "You will be married on Thoisday Jewel! Ace said!" Pairs said, anxiety coming into his voice. "Is Ace da law now? Leave me alone would ya? I gotta tawk ta Fadda." Jewel said impatiently. Pairs nodded. "Fine, yer jest upset 'bout Spot. I'll leave ya alone. See ya on Thoisday." He said happily, rushing out the door. Jewel rolled her eyes. "What an idiot." She murmured before turning to the priest.
"Okay Fadda, I need yer help. Ya baptized me, ya married me, yer da only one who kin help." Jewel said. "I'll try my best." The priest said comfortingly. "Look Fadda, I dunno if I kin take dis. I mean, I am NOT gonna marry Pairs, no matta what anyone says! Okay! No one is gonna tell me what ta do! I cain't see Jack 'cause he got kicked out an' is as good as dead if he comes anywhere near me. So what's a goil supposed ta do! Da only ting fer me it seems is ta kill meself. I cain't live widout Jack Fadda." Jewel pleaded. The priest placed his hand on hers, but didn't speak, his forehead furrowed in thought.
"Jewel, what I can propose is something that takes great courage." Father Lawrence said finally. "I've got courage or spunk if dats what yer tawkin' 'bout. What do ya want me ta do?" She asked. "I've got a medicine that stills the blood and, well I won't bother with the medical terms, you will look and act as if you are dead once you drink it." Jewel paled. "But I'll still be alive?" She asked quietly. "You'll still be alive and you will wake up after the dreg has done it's job. Could you do that?" Jewel looked away from the priest, her face pale, but when she turned back her face was red with energy. "Yeah I kin do dat Fadda. What should I do?" She asked excitedly. "You go home, tell your friend that you will marry Pairs, then when no one is with you, drink it. The next morning you will appear as if you are dead. Then I will take trust of your body and keep you until I send a messenger to Jack to tell him of our plan." The priest said happily. Jewel jumped up and kissed the priest on the cheek as he handed her the vial. "Oh thank ya Fadda! Yer a blessin'! I've gotta go! Fer once I cain't wait ta die, 'cause I won't really be dead!" Jewel said, kissing him on the cheek once more and rushing out the door.
Jewel ran in through the door of the Lodging House and saw both Tinker and Ace talking heatedly in the entry way. Ace looked up at her disdainfully as she walked up to them. "Well? Whaddya want?" He asked coldly. "I'm sorry Ace. Fadda Lawrence tawked it all out wit' me an' told me what I was doin' wrong. I'll marry Pairs. It's right. I kin see dat now. We kin do it temorra if ya want." Jewel said humbly. Ace grinned and his face lit up. "Dis is great! Yer wondaful Jewel! Tinka, go tell Pairs! Tell him everytin'!" Ace said excitedly. Jewel looked up at him, trying to hide her glowing excitement at the success of the plan. "I'm gonna go up ta my room an' go ta sleep if ya don't mind Ace. Temorra's quickly loomin' on da horizon so ta speak." Ace barely looked at her as he nodded, for he was busy ordering another boy around.
Jewel smiled contentedly and walked slowly up to her room. She walked in and closed the door. She took the vial out of her pocket and held it to her chest, then laid down on the bed in the middle of the room. "Well Kelly, dis is da end of da line fer a while. Everytin' will be fine. Dis is fer you Jacky-boy. Ya darn well betta find me, uddawise I'll really kill meself." Jewel said with a smile as she unscrewed the lid of the vial and drank it. Then she laid down and smiled as she slowly drifted off into a deathly slumber.
The next morning Tinker knocked hard on Jewel's bedroom door. "Hey Jewel! Wake up! Time ta git up lazy! Jewel! Hey, don't make me come in dere! Fine it's yer own fault." Tinker yelled as he opened the door. "C'mon Jewel. Ya don't wanna be late ta git," Tinker's words froze in his throat as he gazed at Jewel. Her face was a deathly shade of gray, her lips in a ghostly smile, her eyes closed and her hands lying limp at her sides. "Jewel." He whispered softly as he touched her hand, shivering when he felt the coldness. "Hey Tinka! When's Jewel comin'? Pairs is already here!" Ace asked merrily as he walked in the room. "She ain't neva comin' Ace." Tinker said solemnly. "Whaddya mean she ain't neva comin'? She's," Ace stopped and stared in horror at Jewel.
He grabbed Tinker's arm and slowly backed down the stairwell. "Where's Jewel? Fadda Lawrence is here and we want to start the ceremony soon ya know?" Pairs said, stopping them at the bottom of the stairs. Tinker stared at him in horror. "What is it my sons?" Father Lawrence asked the two boys. "Fadda, she's dead. She ain't gonna be gettin' married afta all." Ace gulped. Pairs gasped and grabbed Ace's shirt. "Whaddya tawkin' 'bout she's dead? She cain't be dead! I jest saw her yestaday!" He asked, shaking his shirt. "My son, thing happen for a reason, this is one of those things. I will take her body and bury it for you if you like boys." The priest said solemnly, crossing his fingers. "I'd prefer dat ya did Fadda. I, I don't wanna share da house wid a, a, dead peison." Tinker gulped. Pairs hit him upside the head with his palm. "Have ya no sympathy? Yer friend jest died an' yer worried 'bout a dead peison in da house?!" Pairs asked. "I agree wid Tinka. If ya'd take her Fadda, we'd be obliged." Pairs rolled his eyes and sat down on the stairs with his head in his hands as the priest went up and retrieved the body for the next step in his plan.
***********************
Jack sat up suddenly in his makeshift bed with a frown. "Strange. Had a dream. An' as I know I rarely dream. If I do it's 'bout Pop takin' a swing at me, but dis, dis was different. Dis was stranga. I dreamed dat I was dead, an' dat Jewel found me like dat. Den she killed herself. Huh, wonda what it means. Of course, it's all jest stupid fantasy dats all. What I wouldn't give ta see Jewel now." Jack said with a sigh. "Heya Cowboy." Jack looked up and saw Snipeshooter standing in the darkness. "Snipeshoota! Hey good ta see ya! Ya know it was real nice of ya ta set me up here in Queens. How's tings goin' in Manhattan? How's Jewel?" Jack asked, jumping up from his bed.
Snipeshooter didn't speak but ducked his head and turned away. "Whassa matta Snipe? Sometin' wrong? If dere is, tell me. C'mon now." Jack said, approaching Snipeshooter. "Cowboy, Jewel's dead!" Snipeshooter blurted out suddenly. Jack stared at him wide eyed. "Ya gotta be jokin' wit' me! Jewel ain't dead! She's waitin' fer me!" He said in disbelief. "She'll be waitin' fer ya when ya die Jack! She's dead!" Snipeshooter choked. Jack dropped his head. A few moments later, his head snapped up and he grabbed his coat and brushed past Snipeshooter. "Jack! Jack don't leave like dis! Lemme go wit' ya!" Snipeshooter called out. "I'm goin' alone. Don't worry 'bout me. I'm comin' Jewel." He whispered fiercely under his breath.
He turned down a few passages before stopping in a tavern. He hesitated only a moment before walking in. His brown eyes scanned the place and looked about for a certain personage. He found him and began to walk towards him. The boy in front of him was named Windy, an odd name, but he challenged anyone to call him WENDY. In fact, Windy was renowned in Queens, having the reputation almost equal to Spot Conlon. Looking at Windy, one would think that the two could have been twins, had Windy's eyes not been the color of a summer sky with gold flecks spattering the surface. Windy looked up at Jack, his red-rimmed eyes taking him in.
"Cowboy! What kin I git ya? Got a full house tenight an' don't got much time, but I've always got time fer an old friend." He said, his words slurred. "I need ta see ya alone Windy." Jack said softly. "WHAT?" Windy yelled, obviously drunk. "I need ta see ya alone, now don't make a scene!" Jack hissed in his ear. "Oh, okay. Yer da onliest one makin' a scene dough Cowboy. Ya dumb ol' Manhattan kids don't know what quiet is." Windy muttered as he stumbled to the back room. "Now Cowboy, what's you so fired an' anxious about? Whaddya need?" Windy asked, leaning up against the wall for support.
"I need sometin' ta, ta kill someone." Windy's eyes widened. "Ta kill someone Cowboy? Geez louiz, I didn't know dat you were da type! Who is it, huh Cowboy? Ya gonna take out a Newsie? Maybe Osca? Or even Morris? Dat'll be rich! Got jest da ting for 'em. Liquid poison. Ya take it an' it knocks 'em out cold. Dead as a doornail. Flat as a mat. Deader dan dead. Bluer dan blue." Windy rambled. "I git da picture Windy. Jest gimme it." Jack interrupted. "Oh ho, not so fast Cowboy. I got a good deal amount a money from da last guy who wanted ta play assassin. Yer jest gonna hafta pay like everybody else." Windy said. Jack rolled his eyes. Even in a drunken stupor, Windy still had his haggling skills. "Look, all I gots is a couple bucks. Nothin' much." Jack said. "I'll take it." Windy replied.
Jack stared at him in amazement. "You'll take it? You ain't gonna haggle or nothin' fer two hours over it?" Jack asked. "Hey I'm short on cash alright! I'll take whateva I kin git! I need sometin' ta bet so hand it ova." Windy hiccoughed. Jack grinned and handed him the money. Windy peered into his hand and nodded, stumbling to a cabinet. "Okay Cowboy, dis'll kill anybody. Dead as a doornail, flat as a mat," He began. "I know Windy. Danks. I owe ya one." Jack said, taking the poison. "Yeah, ya really do Cowboy. But I won't worry 'bout it tenight. Got some bettin' ta do." Windy said as he began to stagger outside into the bar. Jack grinned as he watched him and shook his head. "Good old Windy." He murmured. Then he dashed out the back door and headed to Manhattan.
*********************
Father Lawrence paced the small room in the rectory where Jewel's body lay on the bed. Suddenly the door swung open and a wide-eyed Skittery ran in. "Ah Skittery, you did deliver my message to Francis?" The priest asked, relief evident on his face. Skittery shook his head. "No Fadda, I couldn't let da boys ta let me inta Queens! I tried an' tried, but dey threatened ta bust my head in if I kept tryin'! I tried as hard as I could Fadda!" He said sadly. Father Lawrence turned away, his face a mask of shock. "I can't believe this. We are worse off than before. Come with me. We have to find him." The priest said firmly, taking the scared boy's arm. "But where will we go?" Skittery asked. "To the cemetary." The priest replied.