A Dream Fulfilled by Al Lacy

Author:Al Lacy [Lacy, Al]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-78038-6
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2011-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

Russ Cullen was renting a small house near Broadway on Colfax Avenue, close to Denver’s business district and just a few minutes’ walk from the saloons and gambling houses.

He had just eaten supper at a nearby café and returned home to read the paper when someone knocked. As he opened the door, the lantern light from the parlor revealed the smiling faces of Jim Varner and Herb Louis. “Well, to what do I owe a visit from my employees?” Cullen then noticed a third man standing in the shadows.

“We got to thinkin’ that maybe you were bored and lonely here all by yourself, boss,” Louis said. “We’d like to invite you to spend the evenin’ playin’ poker at the Golden Slipper with us and a friend of ours.”

Cullen’s eyes flicked to the man in the shadows, then he said politely, “Fellas, I appreciate the invitation, but I’m not a gambler. That’s one thing I won’t do.”

The third man stepped forward, letting light flood his angular features. A slow smile spread across his face as he said, “Aw, c’mon, Mr. Cullen. Be a sport. Let’s play a little poker together. Be good for you. Your boys here just want to show you a good time!”

Louis and Varner noticed Cullen’s face turn pale as he stared at the man.

“Hey, you two know each other?” Varner asked.

Cullen continued to stare. The well-dressed stranger held Cullen’s gaze and said in a low tone, “I’ve never met Mr. Russ Cullen before.”

Russ flicked his tongue across dry lips.

The man extended a hand and said, “Mr. Cullen, my name’s Lowell Jessup. Your boys seem to think a lot of you.”

Cullen met Jessup’s grip solidly but did not reply.

Jessup chuckled hollowly. “I’d really like to play poker with a big construction mogul. How about it, Mr. Cullen?”

“Well, if you insist, Mister … Jessup, is it?”

“Yes. Jessup. J-E-S-S-U-P. I’m sure we’ll be good friends before this night is over.”

“Great, boss!” Herb Louis said. “Jim and I want you to know that tonight the drinks are on us!”

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