Carmella Commands
“Beg pardon, Mr. Barrington,” said Dixon, keeping his eyes ahead and throwing his voice back. “This bird is good, but he don’t know it. And he has to do his stuff in dago talk. Why not let him get an interpreter? He’s got that kid girl that was over at your house for lunch a while ago, and sold you his lots. Ask him to get her aboard and see what you can do about this strike thing, why don’t you?”
“All right, Dixon,” said his employer. “I approve the idea. But can you jabber with him enough to get it across?”
“I can’t talk to him, but I can make him understand ideas of one syllable,” said Dixon. And then, to Tommaso, he said:
“Greendale! Mucha digga! Mucha da money! But—mucha to talk! Get Kid Kate—Carmella. She talk. She talk⸺”
“Agevolmente,” said Tommaso.
“Whatever that means, yes! She help getta da money. Get me?”
“Carmella, you say?”
“Sure! Carmella. Kid Kate. She talk. Get her.”
They rode a few blocks while Tommaso thought. Finally he said:
“He weesh talk?”
“He sure does,” said Dixon. “And Kid Kate—Carmella—will help you maka da mon.”
“He weesh talk?” repeated Tommaso, pointing to Mr. Barrington.
[145]
