The Cowboy Returns Chapter 5: "Another Man's Dream"
At last, they slowed down. The girl stopped suddenly in the street, still holding Jack's hand like a leash. Jack looked at the surrounding buildings; most of them were closed offices. This was where she had taken him? Why? Not knowing if he was allowed to speak yet, he remained silent.
That's when Jack heard voices coming from the near distance; the volume increased with each moment that went by.
The girl turned around and reached her hands up to Jack's neck. Jack instinctively backed away, but she moved forward.
"We need to get this off you," she said as she stood on her tip-toes and again put her hands to his neck.
Within a second, the girl had united his bandana and stuffed in her pocket. The next second consisted of Jack being pushed against the wall next to them and being pulled into a tight embrace. The girl's head was hidden in his shirt. "Keep your head down," she said into his chest.
As the owners of the voices approached, Jack made an educated guess as to what the girl was trying to accomplish. He wrapped her up in his arms and tried to rest his head on her shoulder. He could feel his neck muscles as they stretched to their limit. He held her tighter.
"He said he wanted us back early tonight."
"Did he mention why?"
"No. He just said something 'bout important news."
As the man passed, Jack could feel the girl's body become tense. His mind reeled with questions. When the voices were a safe distance away, she let go.
"Those were Caps. You need to avoid them at all costs, Jack Kelly."
So this girl knew about the Caps. He hadn't been expecting that.
"Come on, we're almost there."
She started off again, but let Jack keep his hand to himself this time. He followed her without question, which wasn't something he would normally do. He trusted this girl- he'd trusted her almost immediately. Jack may not have always had brains on his side, but his intuition rarely steered him wrong.
It was the tiniest, most horrendous place Jack had ever seen. It might as well have been a tent; it barely even qualified as an apartment building. It made Jack sad to look at it. Most of the windows were boarded up, and cracks on the wall surface were far from scarce. It was one of those buildings he would not have even glanced at. It was old and faded into the background.
They entered through a back door. The girl led him up the stairs to the third story and into the fourth room on the left. Jack grew restless. He wanted to hear her answer so many of his questions that it was a struggle for him to comply with the girl's request... well, with her demand.
"Have a seat, Jack. I'll explain everything."
Thank goodness.
Jack sat on a couch that looked like I would crumble at any given moment. The girl plopped down to the floor and crossed her legs. She opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped, looking confused. Then she laughed.
"I don't... I don't even know where to begin."
Jack felt much more at ease. Her laughter brightened her eyes, her face... even the room.
"Maybe I should ask you what you wanna know first." She looked at him, ready for an inquiry. Jack simply chose the first thing that came to mind.
"Your name?"
"It's too dark in here," she said. She'd said it so quickly that Jack wasn't even sure if she'd heard him speak. The-girl-with-still-no-name stood and walked to a tiny table at the other end of the room. A few candles and matches were already ready for her to use.
"You'se been here before then?"
"I guess you could say this place is my second home," she replied, striking a match. "My name's Game. Gamester Cladsl, actually, but everyone calls me Game." She used the first lit candle to light the other two and returned to her spot on the floor. "And you're Jack Kelly, but everyone just calls you Jack or Cowboy. You left New York for Santa Fe, New Mexico on June 22nd, 1900 only to return on... well, today."
Jack wasn't sure whether to be impressed or terrified. Who was this girl?
"Do you know anything about the Caps, Jack?"
"Not a whole lot. Just what the boys told me."
"So you've seen the newsies already?"
"'Course I have. They told me 'bout them Caps trying to take over lodging houses. They told me what Capelli's been threatening. They told me 'bout Roller..." Jack went silent. The fact that Roller was dead became more real each time he mentioned it.
"He fought hard," Game said gently. "He didn't know what he was up against. We call them "Caps" Jack, but they're a lot more than just some guys who wanna sell newspapers.
"What do they want?"
"Power. They want to infiltrate the papers. You own the papes, you own the world."
Jack nodded. He was all-too-familiar with this concept.
"But why bother the newsies? Why doesn't Capelli just off Pulitzer and be done with it?" Better Old Man Pulitzer than Roller, he thought to himself. It sounded too cruel to say out loud.
"Gangwork isn't anything like a strike, Jacky-boy. A strike is loud and defiant. Strikes succeed because everyone knows about them. Gangs are the exact opposite." She glanced towards the kitchen. "You hungry?"
"Sure."
Game again stood up from the floor. She entered the kitchen and gathered things from various cupboards. The candlelight was dim, so he couldn't see what is was she was preparing. He was too hungry to care.
"Everything a gang does is... well, it's illegal, so it all has to happen in secret. Now, they could find a way to scare Pulitzer, Hearst, and all the others into caving in, but it's too risky. Those old crones are too protected, and they know too many people who can get them out of trouble. Besides, Capelli wouldn't be able to pull it off anyway."
"He wouldn't?" Jack was surprised to hear Game say that. Capelli had turned Jack's world up-side-down in just a few months. He'd killed a respected leader, taken over two boroughs (that he knew about), and had indirectly caused the Manhattan newsies to turn against their own leader. Jack was sure Capelli could do anything.
"No, he wouldn't. Capelli's good, but he doesn't have nearly enough experience to try something so complicated. He knows that, which is why he's starting at the ground level- with the newsies."
Game sat back down. Jack noticed the plates of food she brought back with her. They were filled with a slice of bread and some fruit. She leaned forward to give Jack one, which he took gratefully. He hadn't eaten anything since he left Santa Fe. Game kept one for herself, but she left the third sitting on the floor.
The third? Why did she prepare three?
Jack eyed the plate then looked at Game. She ignored his glance and continued with her explanation.
"If this were five years ago, Capelli wouldn't have looked twice at the newsies. But the strike changed the game. You're familiar with how power works, aren't you Cowboy? Winning the strike gave the newsies some power over the newspaper owners. Not a lot, but enough to make them a target. Capelli figures that a takeover of the newsies will allow him easier access to the big shots."
"He's right," Jack said. The strike really did change things, at least for the Manhattan newsies. Pulitzer was much more involved than he ever was before. In the year between the strike and Santa Fe, Pulitzer did everything he could to keep another strike from forming. He had even gone so far as to take the boys to shows at Irving Hall every once in a while. He ever actually stayed to buddy around or anything, but it was free, so they didn't care. The newsies had finally earned some respect in the world. Up until a moment ago, Jack saw it as a good thing.
"Yes, he is. Capelli is unfortunately very cunning. His plan to take out the leaders is almost flawless. He knows what he can and can't do, and he's not afraid to play to his strengths."
Again, Jack was surprised.
"Who exactly is Capelli? I mean, I know his name, but where did he come from? You said that he don't have much experience, so he has to have some. But at what? Controlling others? Making threats? Killin?!"
He felt that fire in his stomach grow. Game plucked a grape from the small bushel on her plate and popped it into her mouth.
"You ever heard of The Cosas, Jack?"
"'Course I have. Their that gang. The best in the city. Well, they were." Jack remembered reading a newspaper article about The Cosas not too long after he'd arrived in Santa Fe. The leader- a guy named Otto Paierno- had been arrested, along with a few handfuls of his right-hand-men. The rest of the gang went into hiding, assumed to be officially disbanded.
"Well," said Game, after swallowing another grape, "Capelli's full name is Roberto Capelli. And he used to be The Cosas's brightest up-and-coming leader."
"Capelli's a Cosa? But that don't make any sense. The Cosas always did their own thing. They never harmed anyone outside of their own circle."
"Exactly. What does that tell you about Capelli?"
"He's doing all of this behind Paierno's back."
"Right. The Cosas are an honorable gang- well, as gangs go, anyway. They weren't particularly violent or power-hungry. Paierno never hurt an innocent person- that was part of his code. When he and his men were arrested or went into hiding, Capelli saw this as an opportunity to pursue his own agenda. He gathered up some of the other Cosa newbies and began his siege."
As bothersome as all of this was, it comforted Jack a little to know that the enemy was a hot-headed break-off of the Cosas, instead of the gang itself. The newsies hand't mentioned any of this to him. It irked him until he realized that the newsies didn't know any of this. In fact, he remembered them mentioning that the reason they made up the name "Caps" was because they had no idea who they were, nor what they were actually called. Which begged the question...
"Game, how exactly do you know all of this stuff about Capelli? The boys don't even know!" He eyed her carefully.
Gamester looked amused. "Oh, I know almost everything about Roberto Capelli, Jacky-boy. He's my fiance."
Jack almost choked on the berry he just put in his mouth. He wasn't sure if he should stay put and listen for further explanation or book it out of there. He didn't have time to decide before the door opened and a figure rushed into the room.
"Dear me! I came here to tell ya Cowboy was back in town, but it seems like you'se already ran into each other."
It suddenly dawned on Jack just why that hat looked so familiar. He had seen it before- numerous times, actually- on the head of one of his favorite newsies.
"Racetrack! What are you doin' here?"
"This run-down room is mine and Game's secret meeting place. I come here almost every night."
"Confusing" didn't even begin to describe things.
"Sit down here, Race. I made you a plate," said Game, pointing to the spot next to her on the floor.
"So," said Race after he sat, "did Game here tell ya everything yet, Cowboy?"
"Not everything," said Game.
"When you'se came in, she was just tellin' me how Capelli is her fiance."
"If you want to call him that," said Race, with a slight tinge of jealousy in his voice. "Not that Game had anything to say about it. It was kind of... forced upon her."
"Forced?"
"Yes, forced. You see, Jack... my name- my real name- is Isabella Paierno."
The realization formed on Jack's face.
"That's right," she said, "Otto Paierno is my father. He's an intelligent man. He makes very few mistakes, but he did make a huge one in allowing Roberto Capelli to join The Cosas. Capelli charmed his way in and used his charisma to earn my father's trust. I could sense there was something wrong with him, but I just kept my doubts to myself. My father gave him more and more responsibilities and finally decided to offer him my hand in marriage. I went along with it for a while because I didn't want to hurt my father's feelings- he had high hopes for us. He was practically giddy about the engagement. I was working up a way to break it to him gently, but he was arrested before I had the chance to say anything.
"After the arrests, Capelli went into hiding for some months. I actually thought I was rid of him. Until he returned one day, with a few of his close buddies, plus some I did not recognize. He turned my house- my father's house- into the headquarters for his little gang. I would eavesdrop on their meetings, and when I learned what they had done in Queens and planned to do to the other boroughs, I had to do something."
"That's when she went looking for me," said Race with a cocky grin.
"I didn't know I was looking for you," she said, laughing, "I was looking for the newsie who'd I seen a few times before at the Sheepshead races. All the lodging houses and selling areas were being watch too closely to risk being seen. I waited outside the races until sunset."
"That's when she saw me and fell instantly in love."
Jack laughed as Game hit Racetrack on the arm. "So... you two are...?"
"Yes," Racetrack answered. "We are now, but we weren't then. I just remember this girl dressed in raggedy clothes coming up to me and telling me that she had information about the guys that killed Roller. She wrote down an address- this address- and told me to meet her here at 10 pm. I did. And, well, she told me everything, just like she's telling you now. The next night is when the Caps invaded Manhattan. I wasn't worried. Because we didn't have a leader, I knew they'd go easy on us."
Jack didn't like that comment. It brought him back to a few hours ago when the newsies were accusing him of not being there. At least Race saw this as a good thing- it kept them under the radar. He wished the boys would see it the same way.
"Why haven't you told the newsies?"
"It's best they don't know what they're up against. Gangs operate largely on fear. If your friends knew they were fighting against members of The Cosas, I don't think they'd take it very well," said Game.
"They're scared enough as it is," said Racetrack. "They don't show it, but they'se scared. Right now, they're trying to fight back with strategy- trying to outsmart 'em, ya know? Game and I agreed that if they knew they were fighting against an actual gang, they'd probably try to beat them... in other ways... and we know that would never work."
"We're also afraid that they will try to get the police involved. If that happens, any chance my father and his men have of getting out of prison is crushed. And that wouldn't be good for anybody. He's practically the only hope we have of beating Capelli."
Jack was silent as he bit into his bread. The only hope they had to beat one gang was the leader of one of the most successful gangs of all time, who was currently in jail? He couldn't believe it.
"Sounds crazy, right?" Game laughed. "But I know my father. He would not be happy with what Capelli's doing. If he found out- it would put an end to the Caps for good."
"If he found out? You mean you'se hasn't told him yet?"
"He's in the big house, Jack," said Race. "Nobody from the streets is allowed to see him or talk to him."
"They wont even let me- his own daughter- write him a letter. Nothing and no one from the outside is allowed in; his contact with other inmates is even limited. Every once in a while, they will allow him to send me a letter. Other than that, I have no communication with him whatsoever."
Jack saw Race squeeze Game's hand. He found it odd that the leader of a gang would have a daughter who was sad she couldn't speak to him. He didn't understand their relationship. He couldn't see how a man who could do such unlawful things could be capable of loving someone else. It didn't make sense to him.
"So it's hopeless?" he asked.
"Not entirely," sad Race. "You see, some of the Cosas- the good ones- were not arrested. They went into hiding, but no one knows where. If we can find them and explain the situation, Game is sure they will come to our rescue. With the actual Cosas on our side, we can't lose."
A surge of energy coursed through Jack as he imagined what it would be like to fight alongside the Cosas, to have his newsies (angry as they were with him)once again the Kings of New York.
"Alright. How do we find them?"
"That's the hard part. I made a list of places my Father favored, places he's held meetings before... but there's a lot of them. Race and I have been trying to hit them all, but he's being watched by Capelli's men and I'm always being watched by Capelli. He doesn't wish for me to leave the house. Ever. God, I hate him."
Race looked pleased.
"Look, Jack," she continued, "It's dangerous for you to be out and about the city. I was going to try and convince you to stay here, but I know what that feels like- and Race told me it would be pointless."
"He's right."
"Ha! You owe me two bits, doll!"
"We never shook on it, so it wasn't an official bet." She smirked at him and turned her attention back to Jack. "Anyway, it's important that you not be seen. The Caps know that you're in New York."
"What?!" said Race and Jack in unison.
"One of them must have seen you. Capelli views you as his biggest threat, no doubt because of your leadership during the strike. He has a newspaper from then, one with a picture of the newsies on the front page. You're wearing your red bandana. It's two years old and not in the best shape, but they have a good idea of your appearance. They'll be looking for you. That's what he called everyone back early for tonight, I'm sure of it. Just be careful."
On one hand, it was nice to be thought of as a threat. On the other hand, he knew this would make things much more difficult. But he was Jack Kelly. He was not about to give up, especially not out of fear.
"Where's my copy of the list?"
"Right here," Game said as she pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. "I've marked the ones that are the most likely. Try those first. Oh, and I guess you can have this back now." She reached into her other pocket and pulled out his bandana.
"I know I can't wear it... yet. Just leave it on the couch for now."
"Well, I think we should be going. Race, you'll want to get back to the lodging house before the meeting ends. They'll be keeping a closer eye on it until you convince them that Jack hasn't returned to the newsies."
"Ok, ok. Racetrack stood up and spit in his hand, offering it to Jack. Jack spit in his own hand and they shook. Jack wasn't sure what to make of it until Race spoke up.
"I was angry when you'se left us, Jack. But I ain't anymore. How could you'se have known what was gonna happen? I still don't know why, and I'se sure you'll explain it someday. For whatever it's worth, I'm happy you returned, Cowboy."
Jack wanted to thank him, but he couldn't open his mouth. He couldn't do much of anything. He was overwhelmed by how much everything had changed. He had expected to come home, but he found that the train had taken him to a different planet. It was somewhere unfamiliar and uncomfortable. He honestly just wanted to forget everything and run away. When Race spoke, however, he remembered why he had come back. He remembered why he loved this place. He remembered why he fought like hell for its working boys to be treated fairly, and why he was going to enter into battle for them again.
"Yeah, yeah," Race mumbled as he walked to the door. "See ya around, Jack."
"I should leave, too. Some of the staff will cover should Capelli decide to check on me, but you can never be too careful. You're welcome to stay here; I keep plenty of food around, so eat whatever you'd like. Don't worry, Jack, it'll all work out."
She sounded so sincere that it gave Jack just a tiny bit of comfort.
"Game?" Jack said, as she opened the door.
"Yes?"
"Why are you helping? I know you hate Capelli and you don't wanna marry him, but you'se didn't have to do anything."
"You're wrong, Jack. I was in a position to help those who were powerless in their current situation. I had to do something. Because I could. The other reason is... while I might not agree with everything my father does, I still love him. He may have little regard for the law, but he has a lot of regard for his morals. I respect that, and I would die before I would allow that piece of filth to ruin what my father built."
Once again, Jack found himself unable to understand her sentiment.
"See ya around, Game."
"Sleep well, Jack Kelly."