Part 39 (1/2)
She moved toward the door with her hand outstretched to the k.n.o.b.
”You better think twice, sister--but don't lemme keep you--there's other Red Widows as good and better'n you beatin' like an army at my door this minute. But don't lemme keep you.”
”Will--will you lemme alone?”
”Sure I will, if it'll make you feel any better--you cold little queen, you. Nervous as a unbroke colt, ain't you? Sit down there and watch.”
He touched a buzzer, and a uniformed boy sprang through the door to his elbow.
”Write Al Wilson to meet me here to-morrow at ten.”
”Yes, sir.” The uniform flashed out.
She moved around him cautiously, not taking her eyes from his face.
”Have I--have I got a job?”
”Sure you have. I'll send you out to Frisco in a chorus that'll limber you up, all right, but I won't let you stay long. I won't let a little queen like you run away for long.”
”Frisco--me--gee!”
”Gad! maybe I won't neither. How would you like to play right close to home over in Brooklyn? I've got a chorus over there that'll take the stiffness out of you. I don't want to let a great, big, beautiful doll like you too far away.”
”Frisco--I like Frisco.”
”But hold up your right hand. Don't you tell n.o.body I'm pus.h.i.+ng you for next season's feature--that's our little secret--between you and me and Al.”
”I was gettin' thirty dollars.”
”Don't you worry about that, Doll-Doll. You come back here to-morrow at ten. I wanna show Al how the Red Widow we've been lookin' for dropped right into my hands. He can't squeal to me no more about _types_.”
”I--I'm going now, Mr. Myers--to-morrow, then, at ten--”
”Where you goin', Doll?”
”Home. I guess I've lost my friend now.”
”Wait; I'm going your way.”
”You don't even know which way I'm goin'.”
”Sure I do. I'll drop you there in my car.”
”Oh--I--I want--to walk--I do.”
”None of that, sister. I'm treatin' you white, and you gotta do the same by me. I won't bite you, you little scare-cat! I'm goin' to make things happen to you that'll make you wake up every day pinchin' yourself.”
”My little sister, Mr. Myers, has got me beat on looks.”