THE DETECTIVE
105
Mr. Acker tried to concentrate, tried to make himself clear.
He felt he knew all he needed to know, and need but speak to be
understood. "Davie, this is it, now. Important. I want you to
listen to me. You're a nice boy, I like you, the way you handle your–
self downstairs: no mess, no bossiness. I don't want you to go in
over your head. It's a hard world, I tell you. I know, it doesn't for–
give. You start off the wrong way, they'll never let you forget it. So
tay out of trouble."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Acker, wait just a minute. Why the
speech? It's too hot, and we're all tired out around here. Now
what's the matter-can't we have a party? Who's bothered?"
"Party? What's the party got to do with it? Who knows what
you kids are up to nowadays, anyway, and who cares?
If
I had a
kid, I wouldn't be able to look him in the face : after these goings
on tonight I have seen enough to make me ashamed forever.
Awful. But I'm not your father and you're not my son and it's not
my business. I just don't want trouble here. What's more, there's
going to be plenty, you'll see!" He felt tears of certainty and sorrow
filling him. The Nurse's hand was between his shoulders, smooth–
ing his back: he wanted her to stop, it was making him groggy;
but he did nothing. "Furthermore, guilty or not guilty, someone
always has to be blamed for it. And the man in charge is the best
choice to get it: it can't be helped. That's the way the world gets
run. So, as head busboy, you will have to bear the responsibility, let
me warn you, for what others may have done."
"Say, what's the matter with you, Mr. Acker? I'm just having
a good time like everybody else. What do you pick on me for? Why
me, out of all the crowds of fellas you seen all your life?"
"You want to know, eh? You really want to know? All right,
you will!" Acker pointed to the can of pears. "What do you call
this? Where, may I ask you, does this come from?"
"Oh, hell, so we picked up a can of fruit for the night. What's
the
big deal? Once in a while you take something. So what?"
"One can? Only one can, you say? Once in a while? What's
about that collection, that carload of stuff up and down this hall?
Am
I a blind man? Do you take me for a blind man,
and
a fool?"
"How should I know, for god's sake! Anna, Marie, tell
him
how long that stuff's been there, for god's sake! This crew came
in
