Read 1944 - Just the Way It Is for Free Online Page B

he said. ‘What name shall I give him?’
    Duke put out a hand, took the man by the front of his coat and shoved him against the wall. ‘Go jump down a well,’ he said.
    Bellman was sitting behind a big desk. A number of papers were scattered in front of him and he was writing rapidly. He looked up with a frown as Duke kicked the door shut. When he saw who it was, his heavy, florid face lit up and he got to his feet. ‘Well, well,’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘Just the fella I wanted to see.’
    Duke ignored the outstretched hand. He pulled a chair towards him with his foot and sat down.
    Bellman glanced at his hand with an amused smile, raised his eyebrows and sat down again. He wasn’t as tall as Duke, but he was much heavier built. His hair was dark, parted in the middle and ran back from his forehead in a V. He was handsome in a flashy way.
    ‘I’ve been thinking about you for some time, Duke,’ he said, picking up a long paper knife and tapping with it on the white blotter. ‘Isn’t it time you and me got together?’
    Duke pushed his hat to the back of his head. He stroked his square jaw thoughtfully. ‘Is it?’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t know. From the look of this joint, you ain’t doing too badly. Why worry about me?’
    Bellman touched a buzzer. ‘Let’s have something to drink,’ he said. ‘I want to have a straight talk with you.’
    The thickset man came into the room quickly. His left hand was hidden in his pocket. A child could see that he was fingering a gun.
    Bellman said sharply, ‘Have some Scotch sent up.’
    When the man had gone, Bellman went on, ‘You’ve got a big reputation as a gambler in the district. Your name stands pretty high. Everyone knows you’re lucky. You stake big and you win big. When you lose, which isn’t often, you pay up and try again.
    The crowd that comes here are snobs. They like to feel that they’ve got something that other people haven’t got. That’s why I want you here. I want to put in lights that Duke, the famous gambler, is right inside, looking after my wheels. You’re as free as the air, just look in nights, have a wander round, then if you want to, blow. Do you get the idea?’
    Duke reached inside his coat, took out his flat cigar case and selected a cigar. He didn’t offer the case to Bellman. ‘Go on,’ he said.
    The thickset man came in with the drinks. Bellman told him to put them down and get out.
    When he had gone, Bellman mixed the drinks silently, gave a glass to Duke and lit a cigarette.
    ‘You being here will do my business a lot of good,’ he said. ‘I’m ready to pay you. What do you say?’
    ‘Kells came in tonight. He said you were offering five hundred bucks. I laughed at him’
    Bellman flushed. ‘I told the punk you could make your own terms. Listen, Duke, I need you and I’m not going to haggle. The point to be settled is, will you come?’
    Duke shook his head. ‘I guess not,’ he said.
    Bellman said, ‘We’ll split fifty-fifty on the wheels. They’re worth about eight grand a week. With you here, they ought to go to twelve. Six thousand dollars a week. Now will you come?’
    Duke took a long pull at his glass. His eyes were very intent. ‘That’s a hell of a lot of dough,’ he said.
    Bellman drained his glass and immediately refilled it. His hand shook a trifle. ‘It’s worth that to me,’ he said. ‘How about it?’
    Duke blew dark oily smoke across the room. ‘Spade wouldn’t like it,’ he said, gently.
    Bellman dropped the paper knife he was fooling with. His face went livid. ‘Spade?’ he said, leaning forward. ‘What do you mean - Spade?’
    ‘Suppose you talk. You don’t want me here to bring you trade. You want me here because of my rod. Why are you scared of Spade?’
    Bellman kicked back his chair. ‘You’re crazy,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I ain’t scared of Spade. I’ve offered you a proposition. Will you take it or won’t you?’
    Duke was