"Know him?"
"He runs a gambling house there."
"I'm not fool enough to monkey with Uncle Sam, so I didn't attempt to
open the letters. It's a bad game, fooling with the government. They
always get you. Anyway, I had found out all I wanted, so I let him
drop 'em in the office. I took the first train to Richmond and hung
around Brainard's place for a day and a half, playing a little but
watchin' the boss most of the time. The second day, your uncle came
in, loaded for keeps. Him and Brainard went into a side room. When
they came out later on, I was standin' close by. Your uncle says this
to him: 'Let me know the minute he gets here, that's all. He's sure to
come, sooner or later, curse him.' Then he went away. My job was over.
I'd laid the fuse. Nothing more for me to do but to take a train for
the 'great and only' Van Slye's. Here I am, and, Joey, here's that
envelope you took from David and hid so carefully in the lining of
your satchel. Also, David, permit me to restore to you your father's
watch and your mother's--Hey, don't blubber like that!"
The tears were streaming down David's cheeks.
Pages:
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282