Gunman's Reckoning by Max Brand
page 83 of 342 (24%)
page 83 of 342 (24%)
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"You took considerable yaller to me," declared Lewis. He straightway chuckled, and his own keen appreciation of his wit softened his expression. "What you want?" Donnegan shivered under his rags. "I want to see Jack Landis," he said. It had a wonderful effect upon the doorkeeper. Donnegan found that the very name of Landis was a charm of power in The Corner. "You want to see him?" he queried in amazement. "You?" He looked Donnegan over again, and then grinned broadly, as if in anticipation. "Well, go ahead. There he sits--no, he's dancing." The music was in full swing; it was chiefly brass; but now and then, in softer moments, one could hear a violin squeaking uncertainly. At least it went along with a marked, regular rhythm, and the dancers swirled industriously around the floor. A very gay crowd; color was apparently appreciated in The Corner. And Donnegan, standing modestly out of sight behind a pillar until the dance ended, noted twenty phases of life in twenty faces. And Donnegan saw the flushes of liquor, and heard the loud voices of happy fellows who had made their "strikes"; but in all that brilliant crew he had no trouble in picking out Jack Landis and Nelly Lebrun. They danced together, and where they passed, the others steered a little off so as to give them room on the dance floor, as if the men feared |
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