Big Win by Masero Tony

Author:Masero, Tony [Masero, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing
Published: 2016-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

Padding barefooted and soaked through into the house, Joe found his gun belt lying on the side table in the parlor. Pulling the pistol free he strode out into the hallway.

‘Where are you?’ he bawled, standing dripping on the mosaic floor. ‘Come on out, Dupree. I aim to finish this.’

‘He’s gone,’ said a tentative voice.

Joe turned to see the maid, Justine.

‘He left the minute those two fellows were out of his sight,’ she explained.

‘You mean he’s lit out? Permanent?’

She nodded affirmation.

‘Damn!’ cursed Joe, sagging tiredly.

‘Owes you money, huh?’ asked Justine.

‘He sure does,’ snarled Joe. ‘Everything that paid to built this house and more.’

‘Me too,’ she sympathized. ‘I got over a month’s wages due.’

‘My end’s a sight more than that. You see where they put my boots?’

‘Boots? You want boots? Come on, follow me.’

She started up the stairway and slowly Joe followed on behind.

She led him into a bedroom and over to a tall, floor-to-ceiling cupboard, pulling open the doors she showed him shelves stacked with boots of all varieties and every color. Deep, thigh high ones and the shiny, lace-up patent leather variety. Solid high heeled Mexican boots with decorative leatherwork and handmade elastic sided two-tone shoes. A collection, the like of which Joe had only ever seen in a fancy store before.

‘Didn’t stint on the spending, did he?’ mused Joe.

‘Guess he wouldn’t if it wasn’t his money,’ she observed wryly. ‘Look here, your clothes are all wet, try some of these.’

With that she swung back more cupboard doors to reveal a hanging array of shirts, vests and suits, hats and a full array of accessories, from stiff collars to tie pins and cufflinks.

Gasping in awe, Joe crossed over and gaped at the collection, ‘All this for one man? Geez! How many clothes can a man wear in one lifetime.’

He pulled down a shirt and held it against the wet front of his tall frame. ‘Ain’t no good for me, the fools nigh on a dwarf, I can’t get into any of this gear.’

Idly he pulled open a drawer from the set at the base of the cupboard and his eyes widened as he saw the contents.

Dollar bills lay scattered inside, as if the departing Dupree had been in such a hurry he had not bothered to gather them all up.

‘These I can handle,’ said Joe, lifting a handful of notes.

‘He took most of it I guess,’ said Justine, looking over his shoulder. ‘Went off with a couple of packed holdalls and a small trunk, loaded them all into the surrey and rode away like the wind. Soapy Smith’s gang was leaning on him and holding him here against his will, I reckon. Once their backs were turned he made off.’

‘Least I’ll have some travelling money to catch up with him.’ Joe laid aside the pistol and tied up the cash in bundle made from the shirt.

‘Why don’t you get out of those wet clothes, I’ll dry them off for you. It isn’t worthwhile lighting out after him now, it’ll soon be dark and he’s got a good lead.

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