Part 51 (2/2)
”Twice!” nodded the Spider, ”with a F an' a L thrown in--that's what you'll be, Geoff, if you try t' buck Bud an' th' gang. So here I've s.h.i.+nnied up y'r fire escape to put ye wise an' lend a hand to make your swift get-away.”
Ravenslee sighed and settled his head more comfortably on his pillow.
”You think I ought to go, Spider?”
”I don't think--I know! Your number's up, Geoff--it's you against th'
field, an', bo--they're some field!”
”You think there's real danger, then?” enquired Ravenslee, staring up at the fly-blown text with s.h.i.+ning eyes.
”As real as--death, bo!”
”Not so long ago I regarded Death as my best friend--”
”How much?” demanded the Spider, suspending mastication.
”Nothing, Spider, a mere pa.s.sing thought.”
”Well, I'm tellin' ye they'll get ye sure--it'll be th' water or a forty-four bullet, or a blackjack or a knife--but you'll get it one way or another!”
”Sounds cheering!”
”An' it ain't over-pleasant t' be sandbagged.”
”No, Spider.”
”Nor t' feel a lead pipe wrapped round th' back o' y'r bean.”
”No indeed, Spider.”
”Nor yet t' feel a stiletta diggin' between y'r shoulders or over y'r collar bone.”
”Worst of all, Spider.”
”Well, you'd best pack y'r little trunk an' fade away, bo!” Ravenslee sat up suddenly and looked at the Spider with eyes very bright and wide.
”Not for all the gangs that ever ganged!” said he softly.
”Eh?” exclaimed the Spider, staring, ”what's yer game?”
”I'm going to try to buck this gang clean out of existence.”
”You are, eh?”
”I am.”
”Bo,” sighed the Spider, shaking his head, ”you ain't a ordinary fool--you're a d.a.m.ned fool!”
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