Trouble in the Everglades by Lee Gramling

Author:Lee Gramling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pineapple Press
Published: 2020-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

21

THEY WAS THIS BIG OLE TWO-STORY FRAME HOUSE THAT HAD PILIN’S AN’ A dock stretched out in front of it ‘longside the water. Dock had posts ever five-six feet with coal oil lanterns hung, all burnin’ a bright yellow. In back of these ever single window of the house was lit up too. An’ ‘round the outside, in amongst the trees an’ Spanish moss, was dozens of them li’l colored paper lanterns like I seen one time in Denver when I went to a Chinese eatin’ place.

I mean it couldn’t of been much brighter if it had been downtown Jacksonville at noon—though just now I figured it were comin’ on to midnight. I could hear the sound of a pi-anna inside there too, playin’ a lively tune of the kind I’d heard somebody call ragtime.

We’d come up on that big stretch of water unawares, an’ Cameron started backin’ up from it right quick. Soon as I could get myself over my gawkin’ I pitched in to help him. Out in the open with all that light from the house an’ the moon we was feelin’ like a li’l fly settin’ down on a white sheet under a window.

We got ourselves back into the shadows of the trees an’ set ourselves to thinkin’ an’ talkin’ ‘bout what we’d found.

“Not exactly what I’d have expected to see,” Cameron said’ “out here miles from the closest city or town.”

I nodded, agreein’ with him but not havin’ nothin’ to say. ‘T’weren’t what I’d of expected to see ‘most any place a feller could name.

“I’ve an idea that’s the bawdy house we heard those men back there talking about. I can’t imagine what else it would be, so far from civilization and doing business at this hour.”

“I reckon maybe. But if it is they sure ain’t hidin’ none of their lights underneath a bushel.”

“It pays to advertise. I don’t imagine it’s any secret in this area. The sheriff probably knows all about it. He either doesn’t care what happens away from the homes of respectable citizens, or he may be getting paid to look the other way. He could even be a customer!”

“Makes sense I guess, when you ‘splain it that way.” I was quiet for a few seconds, bendin’ over to peer past the trees at all the lights of that li’l backwoods Babylon. “What you figure to do? If they’s any plumers inside there we might’s well just leave ‘em to their pleasures an’ go on back to the horses. We sure ain’t goin’ to sneak up on nobody in such a place.”

“No …”

There was somethin’ ‘bout the way he said that caused me to glance back over my shoulder. Doggone if the gent weren’t grinnin’!

“We’ll just go over there to the landing, climb out of this boat, and walk right in the front door!”

Well, we done it. Paddled acrost that stretch of water bold as you please an’ found us a rope hangin’ from a pilin’ at the far end of the dock.

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