13 - Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson

Dive into the gripping narrative of Thieves Like Us, also known as Your Red Wagon. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, it tells the story of Bowie Bowers, a young prison escapee who, along with two accomplices, sets his sights on a daring bank heist. As plans unravel, Bowie finds himself entangled in a passionate love affair with Keechie, a relative of one of his partners in crime. This classic noir tale of doomed lovers on the run has been immortalized in film not once, but twice. Originally by Nicholas Ray in 1940s They Live By Night and later by Robert Altman in 1973s rendition of Thieves Like Us. Join us as we delve into this captivating tale. - Synopsis by Ben Tucker

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter thirteen of Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson. This
LibriVox recording is in the public Do mean read by
Ben Tucker, Chapter thirteen. On the fourth night, Chickamau came
his eyes like a dog sick with distemper his face
the color of ham rind. Bowie's head quivered on his neck,

(00:21):
and he called, but kee Chee left a bunk without
speaking to Chickamaw. You look like you've been making it
all right, Chickamau said, I've been all right. Well, I
haven't been doing so well. I've throw it every sin
I got. I'll swear, Chickamau, what's been the trouble. Chickama
said he had thrown it in a Tulsa hotel gambling.

(00:42):
He did have a new car, though, and some guns,
a Tommy gun too. By god, he had a big
pop out there now, and he was ready as anybody'd
start a little war. You didn't see your folks, chickamauv
shook his head and began plucking out a hair in
his nostril. I didn't want to go around him as
hot as I was. Bowie, Well, well you're not broke,
check them off. I still got it. See and you're

(01:03):
welcome to what you need. Sure makes me anxious to
get back with Tee Dub and Gusherton and get me
another piece of money. You're going to feel lot getting
up in a few days and running these roads again.
I guess I could go right now. No, I wouldn't
ask you to go now. If you'll let me have
five thousand, I'll go on over and see the folks
may get six thousand. Will you do that? Christ? Yes? Man?

(01:26):
Can you beat me throwing that much? Though? Bowie, you
know I'm a damn good poker player. They just took
me to a cleaning. When I get to thinking about it,
damned if I don't believe there was something crooked about it.
Them big gamblers, the thieves. You better stay away from them. Boy,
I guess you've been reading the papers all right. I
haven't seen anything, is that? So I've been just laying

(01:48):
right here. You mean Texaco city? Man, We're hot them laws,
We're hotter in the gun barrels. Boy. There was a
scratching sound, and Bowie looked toward the closed door expectantly,
but it did not open. It was the pecan tree
you touching the bunk. Check them all left the bunk
and returned quickly. Bowie had the brown back on the

(02:10):
bed and was taking money from it. Check them all
put the two forty five's on the bed. Sure glad
to see them guns, Bowie said, thanks for this loan.
Chickamau said, you know, I've been thinking about you, Bowie.
You don't throw your money away, and you don't get drunk.
You're just a big old country boy, Bowie. But by god,
I believe you're going to make it. You got something
and I just can't figure it out, and it didn't

(02:32):
do me no good in Texaco City. Well, I guess
I'll be shoving off Bowie. Now if I get jumped
and can't get back here in a couple of days,
or you have to rab it from here, I'll see
you in Gusherton. We sure can't let old t dub down.
You'll be careful, chick them all go a little easier
on the whist. Boy. Then if I don't see you
here in a couple of days, I'll see you in Gusherton.

(02:54):
What is it? Then? Mexicans say, when it's okay, Bowie said,
stop being Chickama said, stop be in. Bowie said, man,
I sure do want to get down there in that
Chili country. Some of these days a man can't live
like this's always Chickamau. You know that we'll make it
down there. Boy, don't you worry. In the chapter thirteen,