The Definite Object: A Romance of New YorkFarnol, Jeffery
General
The Definite Object: A Romance of New York
Farnol, Jeffery
New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
"Bo," said the Spider as they went on again, "there's times when my
likin' f'r you gets a pain; there's times when y'r talk gives me th'
earache, an' y'r lovin' looks the willies. I ain't lookin' f'r no
gratitood, nor yet a gold dinner-set an' loominated address, but, not
ownin' a hide like a sole-leather Saratoga, I'll jest get on me way--S'
long!"
"Where are you going?"
"I dunno, but--I'm goin' there, right now."
But as the Spider turned away, his hand was caught and gripped, and
Ravenslee was smiling; his features looked a bit battered, but his smile
was pleasant as ever.
"Forgive my cursed temper, Spider. I owe you my life again and--I ought
to be grateful, I suppose. Forgive me, I'm--not quite myself to-night."
"Sure thing!" said the Spider, returning his grasp, "but, bo, I'm kind
o' wonderin' in me little mind what Bud's feelin' like! You sure swatted
him good an' heavy. I never seen cleaner footwork, an' them left jabs o'
yours--"
"The question is, how do you feel, Spider, and what are you going to
do?"
The pugilist scratched his rough chin. "Well, that's what gets my goat;
I dunno quite, bo. Y' see, I shan't be able t' get no more fights here
in the East now, not wi' Bud 'n' his old man against me--y' see, Bud's
old man's about the biggest--"
"I wonder if you'd care to come with me?"
"Whaffor?"
"Well, for one thing, I need another chauffeur and--"
"A--what?" The Spider halted under a lamp-post to stare at Ravenslee a
little anxiously. "Say, now, take a holt of ye'self an' jest put that
one over th' plate again--you need a--what?"
"Another chauffeur."
"Another shuvver--another? Bo, y' didn't happen t' get a soak on th'
bean just now, did ye?"
"No."
"Well, then, I guess you're some shook up; what you want's food, right
now!"
"Why, yes, now you mention it, I'm devilish hungry," agreed Ravenslee.
"Leave it t' me, bo--I know a chewin'-joint close by--soup, joint,
sweets, an' coffee an' only a quarter a throw--some feed, bo! Shin right
along, I'll--"
"No, you shall come home and dine with me."
"Home?" repeated the Spider, halting to stare again; "you're sure
talkin' ramblin'--"
"We can discuss the chauffeur's job then--"
"Shuvver?" said the Spider uneasily. "But what's a guy like you want
with a shuvver?"
"Well, to drive my car--and--"
"Car?" said the Spider, his uneasiness growing, "got a car now, have ye,
bo?"
"I rather think I've got six."
"Sufferin' Sam!" The Spider scratched his chin while his keen eyes roved
over Ravenslee's exterior apprehensively. "Say, bo, you quite sure none
o' th' bunch booted you on th' dome--eh?"
"Quite sure."
"An' yet you got six auter-mobiles. I say--you think so."
"Now I think again, they're seven with the newest racer."
"Say, now, jest holt still a minute! Now, swaller twice, think dam'
hard, an' tell me again! You got how many?"
"Seven!"
"Got anythin' else?"
"Oh, yes, a few things."
"Tell us jest one."
"Well, a yacht."
"Oh, a yacht?"
"A yacht."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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