          *APT] ,,III
          ,A ,,DIAMOND ,,RO2]Y

  ,,F T "T \1 WE 0 ) HM ,MO/ ALL ! "T1 &
"O OR T'O!R ( U SLEPT 9 8 UPP] B]?4 ,HE
SD HE _H BE5 S L"O"S1 & X 0 S* A -=T 6HM
6H -PANY1 & "SBODY 6TALK 6IN 8 TR\#S4
,WE 0 9 A SW1T 6F9D \ :AT 8 SECRET WAS1
B ,TOM SD ! BE/ WAY 0 N 6SEEM ANXI\S1 !N
LIKELY HE WD DROP 96X HMF 9 "O ( 8
TALKS1 B IF WE GOT 6ASK+ "QS HE WD GET
SUSPICI\S & %ET UP 8 %ELL4 ,X TURN$ \ J
S4 ,X W>N'T NO TR\# 6SEE T HE ,,WANT$
6TALK AB X1 B ALW AL;G AT F/ HE WD SC>E
AWAY F X :5 HE GOT ON ! V $GE ( X1 & G
6TALK+ AB "S?+ ELSE4 ,! WAY X -E AB 0 ?3
,HE GOT 6ASK+ U1 K9D ( 9DI6]5T L1 AB !
PASS5G]S D[N ON DECK4 ,WE TOLD HM AB !M4
,B HE W>N'T SATISFI$2 WE W>N'T "PICUL>
5\<4 ,HE TOLD U 6DESCRIBE !M BETT]4 ,TOM
D"O X4 ,AT LA/1 :5 ,TOM 0 DESCRIB+ "O (!
R\<E/ & RA7$E/ "OS1 HE GAVE A %IV] &A
GASP & SAYS3
  8,OH1 "LY1 T'S "O ( !M6 ,!Y'RE ABO>D
SURE--,I J "K$ X4 ,I SORT ( HOP$ ,I _H
GOT AWAY1 B ,I N"E 2LIEV$ X4 ,G ON40
  ,PRES5TLY :5 ,TOM 0 DESCRIB+ ANO!R
MANGY1 R\< DECK PASS5G]1 HE GIVE T %IV]
AG & SAYS3
  8,T'S HM6--T'S ! O!R "O4 ,IF X WD ONLY
-E A GD BLACK /ORMY NI<T & ,I CD GET
A%ORE4 ,Y SEE1 !Y'VE GOT SPIES ON ME4
,!Y'VE GOT A "R 6-E UP & BUY DR9KS AT !
B> YOND] =R>D1 & !Y TAKE T *.E 6BRIBE
"SBODY 6KEEP WAT* ON ME--PORT] OR BOOTS
OR "SBODY4 ,IF ,I 0 6SLIP A%ORE )\T
ANYBODY SEE+ ME1 !Y WD "K X 9SIDE ( AN
H\R40
  ,S !N HE GOT 6W&]+ AL;G1 & PRETTY
SOON1 SURE 5\<1 HE 0 TELL+6 ,HE 0 POK+
AL;G "? 8 UPS & D[NS1 & :5 HE -E 6T
PLACE HE W5T "R AL;G4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,X 0 A 3FID;E GAME4 ,WE PLAY$ X ON A
JUL]Y-%OP 9 ,/4 ,L\IS4 ,:AT WE 0 AF 0 A
C\PLE ( NO# BIG DI'MONDS Z BIG Z HAZEL-
NUTS1 : "EYBODY 0 RUNN+ 6SEE4 ,WE 0
DRESS$ UP F9E1 & WE PLAY$ X ON !M 9
BROAD "DLI<T4 ,WE ORD]$ ! DI'MONDS S5T
6! HOTEL = U 6SEE IF WE WANT$ 6BUY1 & :5
WE 0 EXAM9+ !M WE _H PA/E C.T]FEITS ALL
R1DY1 & ,,!M 0 ! ?+S T W5T BACK 6! %OP
:5 WE SD ! WAT] WASN'T Q F9E 5 = TWELVE
?\S& DOLL>S40
  8,TWELVE?\S&DOLL>S60 ,TOM SAYS4 8,WAS
!Y RE,Y WOR? ALL T M"OY1 D Y RECKON80
  8,E C5T ( X40
  8,& Y FELL[S GOT AWAY ) !M80
  8,Z EASY Z NO?+4 ,I DON'T RECKON !
JUL]Y P "K !Y'VE BE5 RO2$ YET4 ,B X
WDN'T 2 GD S5SE 6/AY >.D ,/4 ,L\IS1 (
C\RSE1 S WE 3SID]$ ": WE'D G4 ,"O 0 =
GO+ "O WAY1 "O ANO!R1 S WE ?R[$ UP1 H1DS
OR TAILS1 &! ,UPP] ,MISSISSIPPI WON4 ,WE
D"O UP ! DI'MONDS 9 A PAP] & PUT \R "NS
ON X & PUT X 9 ! KEEP (! HOTEL CL]K1 &
TOLD HM N 6"E LET EI ( U H X AG )\T !
O!RS 0 ON H& 6SEE X D"O2 !N WE W5T D[N
T[N1 EA* BY 8 [N SELF--2C ,I RECKON
MAYBE WE ALL _H ! SAME NO;N4 ,I DON'T "K
= C]TA91 B ,I RECKON MAYBE WE _H40
  8,:AT NO;N80 ,TOM SAYS4
  8,6ROB ! O!RS40
  8,:AT--"O TAKE "EY?+1 AF ALL ( Y _H
HELP$ 6GET X80
  8,C]T'NLY40
  ,X 4GU/$ ,TOM ,SAWY]1 & HE SD X 0 !
ORN]IE/1 L[-D[NE/ ?+ HE "E HE>D (4 ,B
,JAKE ,DUNLAP SD X W>N'T UNUSUAL 9 !
PROFES.N4 ,SD :5 A P]SON 0 9 T L9E (
BUSI;S HE'D GOT 6LOOK \ = 8 [N 9TRU/1 "!
W>N'T NOBODY ELSE GO+ 6D X = HM4 ,& !N
HE W5T ON4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,Y SEE1 ! TR\# WAS1 Y CDN'T DIVIDE UP
TWO DI'MONDS AM;G/ ?REE4 ,IF "!'D BE5
?REE--,B N"E M9D AB T1 "! W>N'T ?REE4 ,I
LOAF$ AL;G ! BACK /REETS /UDY+ & /UDY+4
,& ,I SAYS 6MYF1 ,I'LL HOG !M DI'MONDS !
F/ *.E ,I GET1 & ,I'LL H A 4GUISE ALL
R1DY1 & ,I'LL GIVE ! BOYS ! SLIP1 & :5
,I'M SAFE AWAY ,I'LL PUT X ON1 & !N LET
!M F9D ME IF !Y C4 ,S ,I GOT ! FALSE
:ISK]S &! GO7LES & ? C.TRIFI$ SUIT (
CLO!S1 & FET*$ !M AL;G BACK 9 A H&BAG2 &
:5 ,I 0 PASS+ A %OP ": !Y SELL ALL SORTS
( ?+S1 ,I GOT A GLIMPSE ( "O ( MY PALS
"? ! W9D[4 ,X 0 ,BUD ,DIXON4 ,I 0 GLAD1
Y BET4 ,I SAYS 6MYF1 ,I'LL SEE :AT HE
BUYS4 ,S ,I KEPT %ADY1 & WAT*$4 ,N[ :AT
D Y RECKON X 0 HE B"\80
  8,:ISK]S80 SD ,I4
  8,NO40
  8,GO7LES80
  8,NO40
  8,OH1 KEEP /1 ,HUCK ,F9N1 C'T Y1 Y'RE
ONLY J H5D]+ ALL Y C4 ,:AT ,,0 X HE B"\1
,JAKE80
  8,Y'D N"E GUESS 9 ! _W4 ,X 0 ONLY J A
SCREWDRIV]--J A WEE LL BIT (A
SCREWDRIV]40
  8,WELL1 ,I DCL6 ,:AT DID HE WANT ) T80
  8,T'S :AT ,I ?"\4 ,X 0 CURI\S4 ,X CL1N
/UMP$ ME4 ,I SAYS 6MYF1 :AT C HE WANT )
T ?+8 ,WELL1 :5 HE -E \ ,I /OOD BACK \ (
SI<T1 & !N TRACK$ HM 6A SECOND-H& SLOP-
%OP & SEE HM BUY A R$ FLANNEL %IRT & "S
OLD RA7$ CLO!S--J ! "OS HE'S GOT ON N[1
Z Y'VE DESCRIB$4 ,!N ,I W5T D[N 6! :>F &
HID MY ?+S ABO>D ! UP-RIV] BOAT T WE _H
PICK$ \1 & !N />T$ BACK & _H ANO!R /R1K
( LUCK4 ,I SE5 \R O!R PAL LAY 9 ,,HIS
/OCK ( OLD RU/Y SECOND-H&]S4 ,WE GOT !
DI'MONDS & W5T ABO>D ! BOAT4
  8,B N[ WE 0 UP A /UMP1 = WE CDN'T G
6B$4 ,WE _H 6SET UP & WAT* "O ANO!R4
,P;Y1 T WAS2 P;Y 6PUT T K9D (A /RA9 ON
U1 2C "! 0 BAD BLOOD 2T U F A C\PLE (
WEEKS BACK1 & WE 0 ONLY FRS 9 ! WAY (
BUSI;S4 ,BAD ANYWAY1 SEE+ "! 0 ONLY TWO
DI'MONDS 2TWIXT ?REE M54 ,F/ WE _H
SUPP]1 & !N TRAMP$ UP & D[N ! DECK TGR
SMOK+ TILL MO/ MIDNI<T2 !N WE W5T & SET
D[N 9 MY /ATEROOM & LOCK$ ! DOORS &
LOOK$ 9 ! PIECE ( PAP] 6SEE IF !
DI'MONDS 0 ALL "R1 !N LAID X ON ! L[]
B]? "R 9 FULL SI<T2 & "! WE SET1 & SET1
& BY-&-BY X GOT 6BE DR1D;L H>D 6KEEP
AWAKE4 ,AT LA/ ,BUD ,DIXON HE DROPP$ (F4
,Z SOON Z HE 0 SNOR+ A GD REGUL> GAIT T
0 LIKELY 6LA/1 & _H 8 *9 ON 8 BR1/ &
LOOK$ P]MAN5T1 ,HAL ,CLAYTON NO4$ T[>DS
! DI'MONDS & !N T[>DS ! \TSIDE DOOR1 &
,I "U/OOD4 ,I R1*$ & GOT ! PAP]1 & !N WE
/OOD UP & WAIT$ P]FECTLY /2 ,BUD N"E
/IRR$2 ,I TURN$ ! KEY (! \TSIDE DOOR V
S(T & SL[1 !N TURN$ ! KNOB ! SAME WAY1 &
WE W5T TIPTOE+ \ ONTO ! GU>D1 & %UT !
DOOR V S(T & G5TLE4
  8,"! W>N'T NOBODY /IRR+ ANY":1 &! BOAT
0 SLIPP+ AL;G1 SWIFT & /1DY1 "? ! BIG
WAT] 9 ! SMOKY MOONLI<T4 ,WE N"E SD A
^W1 B W5T /RAI<T UP ONTO ! HURRICANE-
DECK & PLUMB BACK AFT1 & SET D[N ON ! 5D
(! SKYLI<T4 ,BO? ( U "K$ :AT T M1NT1 )\T
HAV+ 6EXPLA9 6"O ANO!R4 ,BUD ,DIXON WD
WAKE UP & MISS ! SWAG1 & WD -E /RAI<T =
U1 = HE A9'T AFE>D ( ANY?+ OR ANYBODY1 T
MAN A9'T4 ,HE WD -E1 & WE WD H1VE HM
OV]BO>D1 OR GET KILL$ TRY+4 ,X MADE ME
%IV]1 2C ,I A9'T Z BRAVE Z "S P1 B IF ,I
%[$ ! :ITE F1!R--WELL1 ,I "K$ BETT] ?AN
D T4 ,I K9D ( HOP$ ! BOAT WD L& SOM]S1 &
WE CD SKIP A%ORE & N H 6RUN ! RISK ( ?
R[1 ,I 0 S SC>$ ( ,BUD ,DIXON1 B %E 0 AN
UPP]-RIV] TUB & "! W>N'T NO R1L *.E ( T4
  8,WELL1 ! "T /RUNG AL;G & AL;G1 & T
FELL[ N"E -E6 ,:Y1 X /RUNG AL;G TILL
DAWN 2GUN 6BR1K1 & / HE N"E -E4 ,8,?"U0'
,I SAYS1 ,8:AT D Y MAKE \ ( ?8--A9'T X
SUSPICI\S80' ,8,L&60' ,HAL SAYS1 ,8D Y
RECKON HE'S PLAY+ U8--OP5 ! PAP]60' ,I
D"O X1 & 0GRACI\S "! W>N'T ANY?+ 9 X B A
C\PLE ( LL PIECES ( LOAF-SUG>6 ,,T'S !
R1SON HE CD SET "! & SNOOZE ALL NI<T S
-=TA#4 ,SM>T8 ,WELL1 ,I RECKON6 ,HE _H
_H !M TWO PAP]S ALL FIX$ & R1DY1 & HE _H
PUT "O ( !M 9 PLACE ( T'O!R "R "U \R
NOSES4
  8,WE FELT PRETTY *1P4 ,B ! ?+ 6D1
/RAI<T (F1 0 6MAKE A PLAN2 & WE D"O X4
,WE WD D UP ! PAP] AG1 J Z X WAS1 & SLIP
IN1 V ELABORATE & S(T1 & LAY X ON ! BUNK
AG1 & LET ON ,,WE DIDN'T "K AB ANY
TRICK1 & _HN'T ANY IDEA HE 0 A-LAU<+ AT
U 2H !M BOGUS SNORES ( HIS'N2 & WE WD
/ICK 0HM1 &! F/ NI<T WE 0 A%ORE WE WD
GET HM DRUNK & SE>* HM1 & GET !
DI'MONDS2 & ,,D = HM1 TOO1 IF X W>N'T
TOO RISKY4 ,IF WE GOT ! SWAG1 WE'D ,,GOT
6D = HM1 OR HE WD HUNT U D[N & D = U1
SURE4 ,B ,I DIDN'T H NO R1L HOPE4 ,I "K$
WE CD GET HM DRUNK--HE 0 ALW R1DY = T--B
:AT'S ! GD ( X8 ,Y MI<T SE>* HM A YE> &
N"E F9D--
  8,WELL1 "R "! ,I CAT*$ MY BR1? & BROKE
(F MY ?"\6 ,= AN IDEA W5T RIPP+ "? MY
H1D T TORE MY BRA9S 6RAGS--& L&1 B ,I
FELT GAY & GD6 ,Y SEE1 ,I _H _H MY BOOTS
(F1 6UNSWELL MY FEET1 & J !N ,I TOOK UP
"O ( !M 6PUT X ON1 & ,I CAT*$ A GLIMPSE
(! HEEL-BOTTOM1 & X J TOOK MY BR1? AWAY4
,Y REMEMB] AB T PUZZLE"S LL SCREWDRIV]80
  8,Y BET ,I D10 SAYS ,TOM1 ALL EXCIT$4
  8,WELL1 :5 ,I CAT*$ T GLIMPSE ( T BOOT
HEEL1 ! IDEA T W5T SMA%+ "? MY H1D WAS1
,I "K ": HE'S HID ! DI'MONDS6 ,Y LOOK AT
? BOOT HEEL1 N[4 ,SEE1 X'S BOTTOM$ )A
/EEL PLATE1 &! PLATE IS FA/5$ ON ) LL
SCREWS4 ,N[ "! WASN'T A SCREW AB T FELL]
ANY": B 9 8 BOOT HEELS2 S1 IF HE NE$$ A
SCREWDRIV]1 ,I RECKON$ ,I "K$ :Y40
  8,HUCK1 A9'T X BULLY60 SAYS ,TOM4
  8,WELL1 ,I GOT MY BOOTS ON1 & WE W5T
D[N & SLIPP$ 9 & LAID ! PAP] ( SUG> ON !
B]?1 & SAT D[N S(T & %EEPI% & W5T 6LI/5+
6,BUD ,DIXON SNORE4 ,HAL ,CLAYTON DROPP$
(F PRETTY SOON1 B ,I DIDN'T2 ,I WASN'T
"E S WIDE AWAKE 9 MY LIFE4 ,I 0 SPY+ \ F
"U ! %ADE ( MY HAT BRIM1 SE>*+ ! FLOOR =
L1!R4 ,X TOOK ME A L;G "T1 & ,I 2GUN
6?9K MAYBE MY GUESS 0 WR;G1 B AT LA/ ,I
/RUCK X4 ,X LAID OV] 0! BULKH1D1 & 0
NE>LY ! COLOR (! C>PET4 ,X 0 A LL R.D
PLUG AB Z ?ICK Z ! 5D ( YR LL F+]1 & ,I
SAYS 6MYF "!'S A DI'MOND 9 ! NE/ Y'VE -E
F4 ,2F L;G ,I SPI$ \ ! PLUG'S MATE4
  8,?9K (! SM>T;S & COOL;S ( T
BLA!RSKITE6 ,HE PUT UP T S*EME ON U &
R1SON$ \ :AT WE WD D1 & WE W5T AH1D &
D"O X P]FECTLY EXACT1 L A C\PLE (
PUDD'N-H1DS4 ,HE SET "! & TOOK 8 [N "T
6UNSCREW 8 HEELPLATES & CUT \ 8 PLUGS &
/ICK 9 ! DI'MONDS & SCREW ON 8 PLATES AG
@4 ,HE ALL[$ WE WD /1L ! BOGUS SWAG &
WAIT ALL NI<T = HM 6-E UP & GET DR[ND$1
& 0,GEORGE X'S J :AT WE D"O6 ,I ?9K X 0
P[];L SM>T40
  8,Y BET YR LIFE X WAS60 SAYS ,TOM1 J
FULL ( ADMIR,N4


