�Jack, we�re in the money! Look at this jackpot from tonight!� I told him, picking up all the coins that had been thrown to the stage during our last number. �I even got a rose.� He grinned at me.

�Sorry, Shoe, but I think dat rose wuz for me!� I swatted him playfully, then there was a knock at the door.

�Come in!� Jack yelled, and seconds later, Race popped his head in. Jack jumped up towards his friend and enveloped him in a hug. �Oh, man, RACE! I really missed you!�

�Hey, I missed ya too, Jackey boy!� He took a cigar out of his mouth and turned towards me. �So, you�re the star of the show, huh?� I stuck my hand out.

�ShoeGoil.� He stuck his hand out, too, and shook mine.

�Racetrack.�

�Oh, I know all about you!� He looked towards Jack and smiled sheepishly.

�He talks a lot about me, er whut?�

�NO!� Jack yelled and hit Race�s cheek, playfully. Then he sobered. �What brings you to Santa Fe, enyways, Race?� Race�s smile dissapeared quickly.

�Oh, Jack. It�s awful. I dunno what to do!�

�What�s wrong?!�

�All the boys are so lazy! They sit around all the time, never going out to sell dere papes or anything. I think dey just wanna be lazy bums fer the rest of dere lives!�

�Kloppman lets dem stay?� Jack asked, surprised.

�He�s given just �bout everyone one month to straighten up or move out. I�m real werried about most of dose guys.� Race cleared his throat. �Dat�s kinda why I came. I came to bring you back with me.�

�Well, we�re raising money to get home to New York!� Jack said, excited. �We can use the money you brought and get there sooner than we thought possible!� Race cleared his throat again.

�Uh, what money?�

�Race, you DID bring money wid you, didn�t you?�

�Uh, no. I kinda lost it. I was gambling on the train and-�

�Well, don�t worry!� I said, excited. �You can just win it back for us!� Jack wacked the back of me head.

�Youse crazy, Shoe!� he hissed. �Race has the worst luck with money and poker!�

�Hey, I hoid dat, Jack.� He shrugged his shoulders. �But yer right.�

�Well, maybe you can get in the buisness with us!� I said, with a lot of enthusiasm.

�Youse crazy! I ain�t eva gonna get on stage!� I shrugged.

�Den what do you propose ta do? Besides taking care of the money. I�m not letting you do that!�

�I�ll get you guys some gigs.� I looked at him like he was crazy, and so did Jack. �Come on, you guys! It makes sense!� I shrugged again.

�Whatever. I guess you can do that.� Jack agreed.

�So,� Race said. �Can I sleep here, too?� Jack grinned and slapped his shoulder.

�Aw, sure. We got a lot of room here.� Race looked at me for permission.

�Yeah, there�s lots of room, here. On the floor!� Race beamed at me. �I think I�m going to go to bed, though, guys. You two can catch up on your lives!� I took off my shoes and top layers of clothes, leaving on the heavy underclothes for pajamas. �Good night!�

***********

I woke up, at what I figured was probably two in the morning, and just as I figured, the guys were still awake, over in the corner of the room, talking. I decided to be nosy, so listened to what they were saying, with my back facing them so they wouldn�t know I was awake.

�I tole ya all �bout Sarah,� Race said, saying the girl�s name in a sing-songy voice, �but ya� haven�t told me �bout dis goil.�

�Shoe?� He chuckled. �She�s a great kid. I love �er fer a sister.� I smiled at his words.

�But where�s she frum?� Race persisted.

�West,� Jack answered shortly.

�West?� Race said surprised. �How much farther can you go west from here?�

�She�s frum California.� Race whistled.

�California, huh? What a traveler dat goil is. An� she�s headed ta New Yawk?� I heard a rustle, and assumed that Jack had nodded. �Why�s she goin� ta New Yawk? Does she like you?� Jack chuckled again.

�No, I think she feels da same way about me I feel �bout her.� I smiled at his words again. �I almost thought it could�ve been more, but she�s real peristant dat I go home ta� Sarah.�

�What a great goil,� Race said. �So, she doesn�t want ta be anyone�s goil?� This time Jack straight out laughed, and Race shushed him. �Don�t wake her up. I was just wonderin!�

�I don�t know what she wants, but I do know that she wants to meet da odder guys, too. She WUZ real happy ta meet you, dough.� I could picture Race�s face, beaming, and smiled, shaking my head. He sure was a sweetie.

Read Part 10

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