Read No Orchids for Miss Blandish for Free Online

Eddie.
    Slim made a sudden move. It was too fast for Johnny to follow. A knife suddenly appeared in Slim's hand. It was a thin bladed knife about six inches long with a black handle.
    "Look at it, Johnny," Slim said, turning the knife in his hand.
    "You're a lucky guy to have a knife like that," Johnny said, his face stiff.
    Slim nodded.
    "Yeah, I know. Look how it shines," The light from the sun, coming through the dirty window, reflected from the knife onto the ceiling. It made a dancing white pattern overhead. "And it's sharp, Johnny."
    Doc Williams who had been standing a little behind Eddie, nervously chewing a cigar, moved forward.
    "Take it easy, Slim," he said in a soothing voice. He recognized the danger signals.
    "Shut up!" Slim snarled at him, his slack face suddenly vicious. His eyes Crawled up to where Johnny stood, motionless. "Come down here, Johnny."
    "What do you want?" Johnny asked hoarsely without moving.
    Slim started to dig his knife into the table.
    "Come down here!" he said, slightly raising his voice.
    Doc signaled to Eddie who said, "Leave him alone, Slim. Johnny is a pal of yours. He's a good guy."
    Slim looked over at Riley.
    "But he isn't such a good guy, is he?"
    Riley sagged at the knees. The sweat glistened on his face.
    "Let him alone," Eddie said roughly. "Put that sticker away. I want to talk to Johnny."
    Eddie was the only member of the gang who could handle Slim in his bad spells, but Eddie was smart enough to know that he was dealing with explosive material. One day, he wouldn't be able to handle Slim.
    Slim grimaced, then the knife disappeared. He looked sideways at Eddie and then began to pick his nose.
    "We're interested in Riley's girl friend, Johnny," Eddie said. "Have you seen her?"
    Johnny licked his dry lips. He wanted a drink. He wanted all these men out of his home.
    "I wouldn't know if she's his girl friend," he said, "but she's in there."
    No one moved. Riley drew in a sudden short breath and Bailey turned a whitish green.
    "Let's see her, Johnny," Eddie said.
    Johnny turned and opened the door. He called and then stood aside. Miss Blandish came out onto the balcony. The men stared up at her. When she saw them, she started back and shrank against the wall.
    Woppy, Eddie and Flynn suddenly had their guns in their hands.
    "Get their guns," Slim said, staring up at Miss Blandish.
    "Go ahead, Doc," Eddie said. "We'll cover you."
    Moving gingerly, Doc went over to Bailey and jerked his gun from the shoulder holster. Bailey just stood there, licking his lips. Then Doc got Riley's gun. As he turned, Old Sam suddenly went for his gun. He was surprisingly quick. The heavy gun boomed as Woppy shot him through the head. Doc felt the slug fan his face. He stepped back with a startled grunt as Old Sam spread out on the floor.
    Riley and Bailey became livid. They stopped breathing for seconds.
    Slim looked at them and then at Old Sam's body. He had a starved, wolfish look on his face. Johnny pushed Miss Blandish, sobbing hysterically, back into the bedroom.
    "Get him out of here," Slim said.
    Doc and Woppy dragged Old Sam's body out of the shack. They came back quickly.
    Eddie walked up to Riley and dug him in the chest with his gun.
    "Okay, chum," he said, biting off each word, "the act s over. You're in a fix. Spill it. Who's the girl?"
    "I don't know," Riley gasped, his body shivering.
    "If you don't, I do," Eddie said. He took hold of Riley's shirt front with his left hand and gently jerked him to and fro. "She's the Blandish girl. You snatched her to get the diamonds. We're on to you, sucker. You have the diamonds on you right now." He felt inside Riley's coat pocket and fished out the necklace.
    There was a long silence while everyone stared at the necklace. Then Eddie released Riley.
    "I'm sorry for you, sucker," he said as if he meant it. "I can't see any future for you."
    He went over to Slim and gave him the necklace.
    Slim held the necklace in the sunlight. He was entranced.
    "Look