STUDS LONIGAN
of book-learning.
It
might make you into a high-hat snob liKe
it did Dinny Gorman. You don't need an education like that to
be a success. I didn't."
Studs wanted it to be over so he could get out of the damn
house.
" \Vhat you ne.-:d is hard work, and I'm going to give it to
you. Tomorrow you can come with me, and I'll put you to
work."
Remembering what Weary had said of his old man, Studs
felt that he'd be yellow if he took this. And he felt his courage
ebbing.
"I had to work a damn sight harder than you'll ever have
1.0. • ••
And I'll be damned if I let you become a poolroom
bum!" Lanigan said with sudden energy, banging his right
fist into his leh palm.
"I'm not a poolroom bum," Studs unconvincingly replied.
" I don ' t want you to become one)"
" I'm not)" Studs countered like a pouting child.
" I'm your father, and it's my duty to see that you amount
to something ana turn into a decent citizen. And, by God, I
will. You children are all your mother and I got. We worked
hard for you, and we don't want to feel that we done it all
for nothing. Yau
ow~
us something in return, and all we are
asking of you is that you amount to something, be decent citizens,
give us the right to be justifiably proud of you. We don't want
to have to hang our heads in shame because of any of our
children when we walk down the street. And, by God, I'll see
that we don't have to!"
Studs was sore, but words just choked up in him.
"You understand now. You come with me in the morning
I"
A dangerous pause.
"I can find a job maybe tomorrow," Studs said, imme–
diately perceiving that his words had weakly fizzled.
"I told you what you'd do)" the old man half-shouted.
21
