
    ,,*APT] ,,IV
  ,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON 0 TALK+ :5 ! DOOR
OP5$2 HE C1S$1 &) 8 TWO -PANIONS GAZ$ )
3TROLL$ P]TURB,N AT ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T /RID+
96! ROOM4 ,! FREE1 SW++ MOVE;TS (!
TRAIL-TRAVEL] 7 UNCONSCI\SLY EXA7]AT$ 9
T /RIDE ( HIS4 ,9 TRU?1 X SEEM$ 6HM T HE
FELT ! TRAIL 2N 8 FEET4
  8,H[DY1 G5TLEM51 H[DY10 HE REM>K$1
IGNOR+ ! UNNATURAL CALM ) : !Y GREET$ 8
5TR.E4 ,HE %OOK H&S ) !M 9 TURN1 /RID+ F
"O 6ANO!R & GRIPP+ _! H&S S HE>TILY T
,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON CD N =BE> 6W9CE4
,"DLI<T FLUNG HMF 96A MASSIVE *AIR &
SPRAWL$ LAZILY1 ) AN APPE>.E ( FATIGUE4
,! L1!R GRIP HE _H BR"\ 96! ROOM HE
DROPP$ C>E.SLY 2S HM ON ! FLOOR
  8,GO4LE MI<TY1 B ,I'VE SURE BE5 GO+
"S10 HE SI<$4 8,WE SURE TRIMM$ !M
B1UTI;L4 ,X 0 R1L SLICK4 ,&! B1UTY (!
PLAY N"E DAWN$ ON ME TILL ! V 5D4 ,X 0
PURE & SIMPLE KNOCK D[N & DRAG \4 ,&!
WAY !Y FELL = X 0 AMAZ9'40
  ,! G5IAL;Y 9 8 LAZY ,WE/]N DRAWL
REASSUR$ !M4 ,HE 0 N S =MIDA#1 AF ALL4
,DESPITE ! ACT T HE _H E6ECT$ AN 5TR.E 9
! FACE ( ,LETTON'S 9/RUC;NS 6! \T]
(FICE1 HE %[$ NO 9DIC,N ( MAK+ A SC5E OR
PLAY+ R\<4
  8,WELL10 ,"DLI<T DEM&$ GD-HUMOR$LY1
8A9'T Y-ALL GOT A GD ^W = YR P>DN]8 ,OR
HAS 8 SURE 5 BRILLI.E PLUMB DAZZL$
Y-ALL80
  ,LETTON MADE A DRY S.D 9 8 ?ROAT4
,D[SETT SAT QUIETLY & WAIT$1 :ILE ,LEON
,GU75HAMM] /RU7L$ 96>TICUL,N4
  8,Y H C]TA9LY RAIS$ ,CA910 HE SD4
  ,"DLI<T'S BLACK EYES FLA%$ 9 A PL1S$
WAY4
  8,DIDN'T ,I1 ?\<60 HE PROCLAIM$
JUBILANTLY4 8,& DIDN'T WE FOOL'EM6 ,I 0
TOT,Y SURPRIS$4 ,I N"E DR1M$ !Y WD 2 T
EASY4
  8,& N[10 HE W5T ON1 N P]MITT+ ! PAUSE
6GR[ AWKW>D1 8WE-ALL MI<T Z WELL H AN
A3.T+4 ,I'M PULL9' ,WE/ ? AFN ON T BLAM$
,TW5TIE? ,C5TURY40 ,HE TU7$ AT 8 GRIP1
GOT X OP51 & DIPP$ 96X ) BO? 8 H&S4 8,B
DON'T =GET1 BOYS1 :5 Y-ALL WANT ME
6HORNSWO7LE ,WALL ,/REET ANO!R FLUTT]1
ALL Y-ALL H 6D IS :ISP] ! ^W4 ,I'LL SURE
2 "R "! )! GDS40
  ,8 H&S EM]G$1 CLUT*+ A GRT MASS (
/UBS1 *ECK-BOOKS1 & BROK]'S RECEIPTS4
,^! HE DEPOSIT$ 9 A H1P ON ! BIG TA#1 &
DIPP+ AG1 HE FI%$ \ ! /RA7L]S & A4$ !M
6! PILE4 ,HE 3SULT$ A SLIP ( PAP]1 DRAWN
F 8 COAT POCKET1 & R1D AL\D3-
  8,T5 MILLION TW5TY-SEV5 ?\S& & =TY-TWO
DOLL>S & SIXTY-EI<T C5TS IS MY FIGUR9'
ON MY EXP5SES4 ,( C\RSE T-ALL'S TAK5 F !
W9N+S 2F WE-ALL GET 6FIGUR9' ON ! :ACK-
UP4 ,":'S YR FIGURES8 ,X M/ A' BE5 A
,GO4LE MI<TY BIG CL1N-UP40
  ,! ?REE M5 LOOK$ _! BEPUZZLE;T AT "O
ANO!R4 ,! MAN 0 A BI7] FOOL ?AN !Y _H
IMAG9$1 OR ELSE HE 0 PLAY+ A GAME : !Y
CD N DIV9E4
  ,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON MOI/5$ 8 LIPS &
SPOKE UP4
  8,X W TAKE "S H\RS YET1 ,MR4 ,H>NI%1
2F ! FULL A3.T+ C 2 MADE4 ,MR4 ,H[ISON
IS AT "W ^U X N[4 ,WE--AH--Z Y SAY1 X
HAS BE5 A GRATIFY+ CL1N-UP4 ,SUPPOSE WE
H LUN* TGR & TALK X OV]4 ,I'LL H ! CL]KS
"W "? ! NOON H\R1 S T Y W H AMPLE "T
6CAT* YR TRA940
  ,D[SETT & ,GU75HAMM] MANIFE/$ A RELIEF
T 0 ALM OBVI\S4 ,! SITU,N 0 CLE>+4 ,X 0
4CONC]T+1 "U ! CIRCUM/.ES1 6BE P5T 9 !
SAME ROOM ) ? H1VY-MUSCL$1 ,9DIAN-L MAN
:OM !Y _H RO2$4 ,!Y REMEMB]$ UNPL1SANTLY
! _M /ORIES ( 8 /R5G? & RECK.S;S4 ,IF
,LETTON CD ONLY PUT HM (F L;G 5 = !M
6ESCAPE 96! POLIC$ _W \TSIDE ! (FICE
DOOR1 ALL WD 2 WELL2 & ,"DLI<T %[$ ALL !
SIGNS ( 2+ PUT (F4
  8,I'M R1L GLAD 6HE> T10 HE SD4 8,I
DON'T WANT 6MISS T TRA91 & Y-ALL H D"O
ME PR\D1 G5TLEM51 LETT+ ME 9 ON ? D1L4
,I J D APPRECIATE X )\T 2+ A# 6EXPRESS
MY FEEL+S4 ,B ,I AM SURE ALMI<TY CURI\S1
& ,I'D L T]RI# 6"K1 ,MR4 ,LETTON1 :AT YR
FIGURES ( \R W9N+ IS4 ,C Y-ALL GIVE ME A
R\< E/IMATE80
  ,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON DID N LOOK APP1L+LY
AT 8 TWO FRS1 B 9 ! BRIEF PAUSE !Y FELT
T APP1L PASS \ F HM4 ,D[SETT1 ( /]N]
M\LD ?AN ! O!RS1 2GAN 6DIV9E T !
,KLONDIK] 0 PLAY+4 ,B ! O!R TWO 7 / OLD]
! BL&I%;T ( 8 *-L 9NOC;E4
  8,X IS EXTREMELY--]--DI6ICULT10 ,LEON
,GU75HAMM] 2GAN4 8,Y SEE1 ,W>D ,VALLEY
HAS FLUCTUAT$ S1 ]--0
  8,T NO E/IMATE C POSSIBLY 2 MADE 9
ADV.E10 ,LETTON SUPPLE;T$4
  8,APPROXIMATE X1 APPROXIMATE X10
,"DLI<T C\NSELL$ *E];LLY4
  8,X DON'T HURT IF Y-ALL >E A MILLION
OR S \ "O SIDE OR ! O!R4 ,! FIGURES'LL
/RAI<T5 T UP4 ,B ,I'M T CURI\S ,I'M J
IT*+ ALL OV]4 ,:AT D'YE SAY80
  8,:Y 3T9UE 6PLAY AT CROSS PURPOSES80
,D[SETT DEM&$ ABRUPTLY & COLDLY4 8,LET U
H ! EXPLAN,N "H & N[4 ,MR4 ,H>NI% IS
LABOR+ "U A FALSE IMPRES.N1 & HE %D 2
SET /RAI<T4 ,9 ? D1L--0
  ,B ,"DLI<T 9T]RUPT$4 ,HE _H PLAY$ TOO
M* POK] 6BE UNAW>E OR UNAPPRECIATIVE (!
PSY*OLOGICAL FACTOR1 & HE H1D$ ,D[SETT
(F 9 ORD] 6PLAY ! DEN\NCE;T (! PRES5T
GAME 9 8 [N WAY4
  8,SP1K+ ( D1LS10 HE SD1 8REM9DS ME (A
POK] GAME ,I ONCE SE5 9 ,R5O1 ,NEVADA4
,X WA'N'T :AT Y-ALL WD CALL A SQU>E
GAME4 ,!Y-ALL 0 T9-HORNS T SAT IN4 ,B !Y
0 A T5D]FOOT--%ORT-HORNS !Y-ALL >E CALL$
\ "!4 ,HE /&S 2H ! D1L] & SEES T SAME
D1L] GIVE HISSELF F\R ACES (F5 ! BOTTOM
(! DECK4 ,! T5D]FOOT IS SURE %OCK$4 ,HE
SLIDES >.D 6! PLAY] FAC9' ! D1L] ACR !
TA#4
  8,8,SAY10' HE :ISP]S1 ,8,I SE5 ! D1L]
D1L HISSELF F\R ACES40'
  8,8,WELL1 AN0' :AT ( X80 SAYS ! PLAY]4
  8,8,I'M TRY90' 6TELL Y-ALL 2C ,I ?"\
Y-ALL "\ 6"K1' SAYS ! T5D]FOOT4 ,8,I
TELL Y-ALL ,I SE5 HM D1L HISSELF F\R
ACES40'
  8,8,SAY1 MI/]10' SAYS ! PLAY]1
,8Y-ALL'D BETT] GET \TA "H4 ,Y-ALL DON'T
"U/& ! GAME4 ,X'S 8 D1L1 A9'T X80'0
  ,! LAU<T] T GREET$ 8 /ORY 0 HOLL[ &
P]FUNCTORY1 B ,"DLI<T APPE>$ N 6NOTICE
X4
  8,YR /ORY HAS "S M1N+1 ,I SUPPOSE10
,D[SETT SD PO9T$LY4
  ,"DLI<T LOOK$ AT HM 9NOC5TLY & DID N
REPLY4 ,HE TURN$ JOVI,Y 6,NA?ANIEL
,LETTON4
  8,FIRE AWAY10 HE SD4 8,GIVE U AN
APPROXIM,N ( \R W9N+4 ,Z ,I SD 2F1 A
MILLION \ "O WAY OR ! O!R WON'T MATT]1
X'S B.D 6BE S* AN ALMI<TY BIG W9N+40 ,0?
"T ,LETTON 0 /I65$ 0! ATTITUDE ,D[SETT
_H TAK51 & 8 ANSW] 0 PROMPT & DEF9ITE4
  8,I FE> Y >E "U A MISAPPREH5.N1 ,MR4
,H>NI%4 ,"! >E NO W9N+S 6BE DIVID$ ) Y4
,N[ DON'T GET EXCIT$1 ,I BEG ( Y4 ,I H B
6PRESS ? BUTTON'''0
  ,F> F EXCIT$1 ,"DLI<T _H ALL ! SEEM+ (
2+ /UNN$4 ,HE FELT ABS5TLY 9 8 VE/
POCKET =A MAT*1 LI<T$ X1 & 4COV]$ T HE
_H NO CIG>ETTE4 ,! ?REE M5 WAT*$ HM )!
T5SE CLOSE;S ( CATS4 ,N[ T X _H -E1 !Y
KNEW T !Y _H A NA/Y FEW M9UTES 2F !M4
  8,D Y-ALL M9D SAY+ T OV] AG80 ,"DLI<T
SD4 8,SEEMS 6ME ,I A9'T GOT X J EXACTLY
"R4 ,Y-ALL SD'''80
  ,HE HUNG ) PA9;L EXPECTANCY ON
,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON'S UTT].E4
  8,I SD Y 7 "U A MISAPPREH5.N1 ,MR4
,H>NI%1 T 0 ALL4 ,Y H BE5 /OCK GAMBL+1 &
Y H BE5 H>D HIT4 ,B NEI ,W>D ,VALLEY1
NOR ,I1 NOR MY ASSOCIATES1 FEEL T WE [E
Y ANY?+40
  ,"DLI<T PO9T$ AT ! H1P ( RECEIPTS &
/UBS ON ! TA#4
  8,T-ALL REPRES5TS T5 MILLION TW5TY-
SEV5 ?\S& & =TY-TWO DOLL>S & SIXTY-EI<T
C5TS1 H>D CA%4 ,A9'T X GD = ANY?+ "H80
  ,LETTON SMIL$ & %RU7$ 8 %\LD]S4

,"DLI<T LOOK$ AT ,D[SETT & MURMUR$3--

  8,I GUESS T /ORY ( M9E _H "S M1N+1 AF
ALL40 ,HE LAU<$ 9 A SICKLY FA%ION4 8,X 0
YR D1L ALL "R1 & Y-ALL DOLE !M "R1 TOO4
,WELL1 ,I A9'T KICK+4 ,I'M L ! PLAY] 9 T
POK] GAME4 ,X 0 YR D1L1 & Y-ALL _H A "R
6D YR BE/4 ,& Y ;D-"O X-CL1N$ ME \
SLICK]'N A :I/LE40
  ,HE GAZ$ AT ! H1P ON ! TA# ) AN AIR (
/UPEFAC;N4
  8,& T-ALL A9'T WOR? ! PAP] X'S WRITT5
ON4 ,GOL DA/ X1 Y-ALL C SURE D1L 'EM
'R.D :5 Y GET A *.E4
  ,OH1 NO1 ,I A9'T A-KICK+4 ,X 0 YR D1L1
& Y-ALL C]TA9LY D"O ME1 &A MAN A9'T HALF
A MAN T SQU1LS ON ANO!R MAN'S D1L4 ,& N[
! H& IS PLAY$ \1 &! C>DS >E ON ! TA#1 &!
D1L'S OV]1 B'''0
  ,8 H&1 DIPP+ SWIFTLY 96HIS 9SIDE BR1/
POCKET1 APPE>$ )! BIG ,COLT'S AUTOMATIC4
  8,Z ,I 0 SAY+1 ! OLD D1L'S F9I%$4 ,N[
X'S ,,MY D1L1 & ,I'M A-GO+ 6SEE IF ,I C
HOLD !M F\R ACES-
  8,TAKE YR H& AWAY1 Y :IT$ SEPUL*RE60
HE CRI$ %>PLY4
  ,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON'S H&1 CREEP+ T[>D !
PU%-BUTTON ON ! DESK1 0 ABRUPTLY >RE/$4
  8,*ANGE *AIRS10 ,"DLI<T -M&$4 8,TAKE T
*AIR OV] "!1 Y GANGR5E-LIV]$ SKUNK4
,JUMP6 ,0,GOD6 OR ,I'LL MAKE Y L1K TILL
FOLKS'LL ?9K YR "F 0 A WAT] HYDRANT & YR
"M A SPR9KL+-C>T4 ,Y-ALL MOVE YR *AIR
AL;GSIDE1 ,GU75HAMM]2 & Y-ALL ,D[SETT1
SIT "R "!1 :ILE ,I J IRRELEVANTLY EXPLA9
! VIRTUES ( ? "H AUTOMATIC4 ,%E'S LOAD$
= BIG GAME & %E GOES (F EI<T "TS4 ,%E'S
A SURE HUMM] :5 %E GETS />T$4
  8,PRELIM9>Y REM>KS 2+ OV]1 ,I N[
PROCE$ 6D1L4 ,REMEMB]1 ,I A9'T MAK+ NO
REM>KS AB YR D1L4 ,Y D"O YR D>NDE/1 & X
0 ALL "R4 ,B ? IS MY D1L1 & X'S UP 6ME
6D MY D>NDE/4 ,9 ! F/ PLACE1 Y-ALL "K
ME4 ,I'M ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T--SAVVEE8 ,A9'T
AFRAID ( ,GOD1 DEVIL1 D1?1 NOR DE/RUC;N4
,!M'S MY F\R ACES1 & !Y SURE COPP] YR
BETS4 ,LOOK AT T "! LIV+ SKELETON4
,LETTON1 Y'RE SURE AFRAID 6DIE4 ,YR B"OS
IS ALL RATTL+ TGR Y'RE T SC>$4 ,& LOOK
AT T FAT ,JEW "!4 ,? LL W1PON'S SURE PUT
! FE> ( ,GOD 9 8 HE>T4 ,HE'S YELL[ Z A
SICK P]SIMMON4 ,D[SETT1 Y'RE A COOL "O4
,Y-ALL A9'T BATT$ AN EYE NOR TURN$ A
HAIR4 ,T'S 2C Y'RE GRT ON >I?METIC4 ,& T
MAKES Y-ALL D1D EASY 9 ? D1L ( M9E4
,Y'RE SITT+ "! & A4+ TWO & TWO TGR1 &
Y-ALL "K ,I SURE GOT Y SK9N$4 ,Y "K ME1
& T ,I A9'T AFRAID ( NO?+4 ,& Y-ALL A4S
UP ALL YR M"OY & "KS Y A9'T A-GO+ 6DIE
IF Y C HELP X40
  8,I'LL SEE Y HANG$10 0 ,D[SETT'S
RETORT4
  8,N 0A DAMN$ SI<T4 ,:5 ! FUN />TS1
Y'RE ! F/ ,I PLUG4 ,I'LL HANG ALL "R1 B
Y-ALL WON'T LIVE 6SEE X4 ,Y-ALL DIE "H &
N[ :ILE ,I'LL DIE SUBJECT 6! LAW'S DELAY
--SAVVEE8 ,2+ D1D1 ) GRASS GR[+ \ ( YR
C>CASSES1 Y WON'T "K :5 ,I HANG1 B ,I'LL
SURE H ! PL1SURE A L;G "T ( "K+ Y-ALL
B1T ME 6X40
  ,"DLI<T PAUS$4
  8,Y SURELY WDN'T KILL U80 ,LETTON ASK$
9 A QUE]1 ?9 VOICE4
  ,"DLI<T %OOK 8 H1D4
  8,X'S SURE TOO EXP5SIVE4 ,Y-ALL A9'T
WOR? X4 ,I'D SOON] H MY *IPS BACK4 ,& ,I
GUESS Y-ALL'D SOON] GIVE MY *IPS BACK
?AN G 6! D1D-H\SE40
  ,A L;G SIL;E FOLL[$4
  8,WELL1 ,I'VE D"O D1LT4 ,X'S UP 6Y-ALL
6PLAY4 ,B :ILE Y'RE DELIB]AT+1 ,I WANT
6GIVE Y-ALL A W>N+3 IF T DOOR OP5S & ANY
"O ( Y CUSSES LETS ON "!'S ANY?+
UNUSUAL1 "R "H & !N ,I SURE />T PLU7+4
,!Y A9'T A S\L'LL GET \ ! ROOM EXCEPT
FEET F/40
  ,A L;G SES.N ( ?REE H\RS FOLL[$4 ,!
DECID+ FACTOR 0 N ! BIG AUTOMATIC PI/OL1
B ! C]TITUDE T ,"DLI<T WD USE X4 ,N AL"O
7 ! ?REE M5 3V9C$ ( ?1 B ,"DLI<T HMF 0
3V9C$4 ,HE 0 FIRMLY RESOLV$ 6KILL ! M5
IF 8 M"OY 0 N =?COM+4 ,X 0 N AN EASY
MATT]1 ON ! SPUR (! MO;T1 6RAISE T5
MILLIONS 9 PAP] CURR5CY1 & "! 7 VEXATI\S
DELAYS4 ,A DOZ5 "TS ,MR4 ,H[ISON &! H1D
CL]K 7 SUMMON$ 96! ROOM4 ,ON ^! O3A.NS !
PI/OL LAY ON ,"DLI<T'S LAP1 COV]$
C>E.SLY 0A NEWSPAP]1 :ILE HE 0 USU,Y
5GAG$ 9 ROLL+ OR LI<T+ 8 BR[N-PAP]
CIG>ETTES4 ,B 9 ! 5D1 ! ?+ 0 A3OMPLI%$4
,A SUIT-CASE 0 BR"\ UP 0"O (! CL]KS F !
WAIT+ MOTOR-C>1 & ,"DLI<T SNAPP$ X %UT
ON ! LA/ PACKAGE ( BILLS4 ,HE PAUS$ AT !
DOOR 6MAKE 8 F9AL REM>KS4
  8,"!'S ?REE S"EAL ?+S ,I SURE WANT
6TELL Y-ALL4 ,:5 ,I GET \TSIDE ? DOOR1
Y-ALL'LL 2 SET FREE 6ACT1 & ,I J WANT
6W>N Y-ALL AB :AT 6D4 ,9 ! F/ PLACE1 NO
W>RANTS = MY >RE/--SAVVEE8 ,? M"OY'S
M9E1 & ,I A9'T RO2$ Y ( X4 ,IF X GETS \
H[ Y GAVE ME ! D\#-CROSS & H[ ,I D"O Y
BACK AG1 ! LAU<'LL 2 ON Y1 & X'LL SURE 2
AN ALMI<TY BIG LAU<4 ,Y-ALL C'T AF=D T
LAU<4 ,2SS1 HAV+ GOT BACK MY /AKE T
Y-ALL RO2$ ME (1 IF Y >RE/ ME & TRY 6ROB
ME A SECOND "T1 ,I'LL G GUNN+ = Y-ALL1 &
,I'LL SURE GET Y4 ,NO LL FRAID-CAT
%RIMPS L
Y-ALL C SK9 ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T4 ,IF Y W9 Y
LOSE1 & "!'LL SURE 2 "S S"EAL UNEXPECT$
FUN]ALS >.D ? BURG4
  ,J LOOK ME 9 ! EYE1 & Y-ALL'LL SAVVEE
,I M1N BUSI;S4 ,!M /UBS & RECEIPTS ON !
TA# IS ALL Y\RN4 ,GD "D40
  ,Z ! DOOR %UT 2H HM1 ,NA?ANIEL ,LETTON
SPRANG =! TELEPH"O1 & ,D[SETT 9T]CEPT$
HM4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 ,D[SETT DEM&$4
  8,! POLICE4 ,X'S D[N"R RO2]Y4 ,I WON'T
/& X4 ,I TELL Y ,I WON'T /& X40
  ,D[SETT SMIL$ GRIMLY1 B AT ! SAME "T
BORE ! SL5D] F9ANCI] BACK & D[N 96HIS
*AIR4
  8,WE'LL TALK X OV]10 HE SD2 & 9 ,LEON
,GU75HAMM] HE F.D AN ANXI\S ALLY4
  ,& NO?+ "E CAME ( X4 ,! ?+ REMA9$ A
SECRET )! ?REE M54 ,NOR DID ,"DLI<T "E
GIVE ! SECRET AWAY1 ?\< T AFN1 L1N+ BACK
9 8 /ATEROOM ON ! ,TW5TIE? ,C5TURY1 8
%OES (F1 & FEET ON A *AIR1 HE *UCKL$ L;G
& HE>TILY4 ,NEW ,YORK REMA9$ ="E PUZZL$
OV] ! A6AIR2 NOR CD X HIT ^U A R,NAL
EXPLAN,N4 ,0ALL "RS1 ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T %D H
G"O BROKE1 YET X 0 "KN T HE IMMLY
REAPPE>$ 9 ,SAN ,FRANCISCO POSSESS+ AN
APP>5TLY UNIMPAIR$ CAPITAL4 ,? 0 EVID;ED
0! MAGNITUDE (! 5T]PRISES HE 5GAG$ IN1
S* Z1 = 9/.E1 ,PANAMA ,MAIL1 0%E] WEI<T
( M"OY & FI<T+ P[] WRE/+ ! 3TROL AWAY F
,%IFTILY & SELL+ \ 9 TWO MON?S 6!
,H>RIMAN 9T]E/S AT A RUMOR$ ENORM\S
ADV.E4














