He lumped Peter on to the bed with an exclamation of relief. It groaned
beneath his dead weight. Mopping his brow and running his fingers
through a shock of thick, dry hair, the Irishman looked down at the
great body of his own customer's evening catch. "I guess I've seen a
good many drunks before," he said, "but this feller's fairly paralyzed.
It's a barrel he must have had, or perhaps he's shot himself with one of
them needle things. Anyway, he's a fine-looking chap."
Nellie Pope, who had heard these remarks as she was pouring out a bottle
of beer,--it was one of those apartments in which every sound carries
from room to room and in which when you are seated in the kitchen it is
possible to hear a person cleaning his teeth in the bathroom,--went in
and stood at the elbow of the chauffeur. Switching on a light over the
bed she peered into Peter's face. Her own lost most of its prettiness
under the glare. There were hollows and sharpnesses here and there, the
roots of the hair round her temples were darker than the too-bright gold
of the rest of it. There was, however, something kind, and even a little
sweet about her English cockney face and shrewd eyes. "Yes 'e's a fine
looking chap, isn't 'e,--a bit of a giant, too, and looks like a
gentleman. Poor boy, I wonder what that feller did to 'im!" She put her
hand on Peter's head and drew it back quickly. "'E's got a fever, I
should think. It looks as if I should 'ave to play nurse to-night. Oh, I
beg pardon, mister, 'ere's your beer."
The Irishman took the glass, held it up against the light, made a
curious Kaffir-like click with his tongue and threw back his head. "I
guess that went down fine," said he. "One dollar and ten cents from
you, Miss, and I'll make no charge for extras." He held out a great
horny hand.
Nellie Pope opened her imitation gold bag. "Bin out o' luck lately," she
said. "Don't know whether I've got--No, I 'aven't. Oh, I know!" With a
little laugh she bent over Peter again and hunted him over for some
money. Finding a small leather case she opened it. It contained a wad of
bills. With a rather comical air of haughty unconcern she handed the
chauffeur two dollars. "Keep the change," she said.
He laughed, pocketed the money, handed back the glass and went off,
shutting the door behind him.
Miss Pope, who had a tidy mind as well as an economical nature, took the
glass into the kitchen and finished the bottle herself. And then,
without removing her hat and gloves she sat down and counted the money
that was contained in the case. "One hundred and twenty-five dollars,"
she said. "Some little hevening!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account