“I told you to get wise to the game, too, didn’t I? Well, now that I’ve seen you, I’m goin’ to figure somethin’ for you, too. We oughta work together, Cliff, you an’ me!”
The words gave Cliff an inspiration.
“You’d like to work with me, would you, Nipper?”
“You bet I would, Cliff. If there ever was a square-shooter, you was the guy. When we was up in the Big House—”
“Let’s forget it, Nipper.”
“All right, Cliff. But I ain’t never goin’ to forget some of the things you done for me. If there’s anythin’ I can ever do for you, I’ll do it!”
“You can do something, right now.”
“Yeah?” Nipper showed an eager response. “Put me wise, Cliff.”
“You can start working for me,” said Cliff. He slipped his hand into his pocket. “Right now, Nipper, and maybe more later.”
He drew two fifty-dollar bills from his pocket and placed them in Nipper’s hand. The stooped man uttered an exclamation of surprise.