As Sunny came out of the house and ran lightly across the street, the youth wagged his cigarette from the corner of one side of his mouth to the other, squinted appraisingly at the hurrying girl, and then followed her across the street. Through the opened door of the kosher butcher shop, he heard the transaction, and noted the joy of Sunny as the great package was transferred to her arms. As she came out of the shop, hurrying to bear the good news to Katy, she was stopped at the curb by the man, his hat gracefully raised, and a most ingratiating smile twisting his evil face into a semblance of what might have appeared attractive to an ignorant and weak minded girl.
"I beg your pardon, Miss--er--Levine. I believe I met you at a friend's house."
"You are mistake," said Sunny. "My name are not those. Good-a-day!"
He continued to walk by her side, murmuring an apology for the mistake, and presently as if just discovering the package she carried, he affected concern.
"Allow me to carry that for you. It's entirely too heavy for such pretty little arms as yours."
"Thang you. I lig' better carry him myself," said Sunny, holding tightly to her precious package.
Still the pimpled faced young man persisted at her side, and as they reached the curb, his hand at her elbow, he assisted her to the sidewalk. Standing at the foot of the front steps, he practically barred her way.
"I believe I know Mrs. Munson, the lady that keeps this house. Relative of yours?"
"No, I got frien' live wiz me. Aexcuse me. I are in hoarry eat my dinner."
"I wonder if I know your friend. What is his name?"
"Ah, don't hurry. I believe, now I think of it, I know Katy. What's the matter with your comin' along and havin' dinner with me."
"Thang you. My frien' are expect me eat those dinner with her."
"That's all right. I have a friend too. Bring Katy along, and we'll all go off for a blowout. What do you say? A sweet little girl like you don't need to be eatin' dog meat. I know a swell place where we can get the best kind of eats, a bit of booze to wash it down and music and dancing enough to make you dizzy. What do you say?"
He smiled at Sunny in what he thought was an irresistible and killing way. It revealed three decayed teeth in front, and brought his shifty eyes into full focus upon the shrinking girl.