Read Online Longarm in Hell's Half Acre by Tabor Evans - Free Book Online Page B

and gaze on. Can you imagine—fifty thousand dollars in gold, Marshal Long? Must be an amazin’ sight.”
    Longarm swept an all-encompassing arm around the saloon’s grandiose entry, then pointed at the bar. “Forget the gold—take a long, lovin’ look at that, Willard. Ain’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? Sweet Jesus, she must be damned near fifty feet of polished mahogany and twinklin’ glass. My oh my, take a gander at all the liquor on the back bar. Splendid, ain’t it? Just damned splendid.”
    Allred removed his hat as though he’d just entered the sanctuary of a stone cathedral inhabited by the twin gods of drink and chance. He twisted the battered head cover in his hands and moaned like a man in the throes of malarial agony. “You sure about this, Marshal Long? Okay that I’m here?”
    Longarm took the old cavalry officer by the elbow and ushered him to a spot at the establishment’s magnificent, gleaming bar. He made a flicking motion at a slick-headed, smiling drink slinger, who quickly hustled over and wiped a spot off for them.
    Longarm turned to Tater and said, “What’ll you have, Mr. Allred. Pick anything they’ve got. It’s on me.”
    Allred’s withered, scar-covered hand came up to the bar’s surface and caressed the polished wood as though it were a living thing. Longarm barely heard the man when he said, “Kentucky bourbon and branch water, Custis. A double, if that’s alright.”
    A broad smile etched its way across Longarm’s face. “You heard the gentleman, barkeep. And you can bring me a double shot of your best Maryland rye.”
    When the liquor arrived, Longarm held his glass aloft, then said, “Let’s see if I can remember a toast, Willard. Ah, yeah, bet this’un will work just fine: Here’s to the man who makes me laugh; who makes me forget my sorrow. May he have a big, fat bank account, and friends who never borrow.”
    A flush-faced Allred offered up a gap-toothed smile, tapped his glass against that of his newly found friend, then took a nibbling sip. He ran his tongue across chapped lips. “Damn. Compared to what I usually drink, that’s mighty fine giggle juice, Marshal Long,” he said, then nibbled at the liquid fire again.
    Barely a minute after their drinks hit the bar, a handsome young woman dressed in a wine-colored evening gown touched Longarm’s elbow. Brown, almost black, eyes danced with promise when her gaze drank him in from head to foot. In a voice that sounded like a ten-pound cat purring, she said, “Would you like to have dinner with us tonight, sir? The White Elephant has one of the finest dining rooms in all of Texas.”
    Longarm flashed the girl a winning smile, then touched the brim of his hat. “That we would, my dear. My friend and I are hungry enough to eat the blades off a West Texas windmill. So, you just go on ahead and lead us to a proper table and bring on the beefsteak.”
    Allred refused to move from his spot. “You go on ahead, Marshal. Now that I’ve finally made it to Luke Short’s magnificent drinkin’ emporium, think I’d like to stay here at the bar for a spell. Kinda soak it all in for a bit, so to speak. Perhaps even have another glass of this fine tonsil paint, ’fore I trundle my way home for the evenin’.”
    Longarm glanced back and forth from Allred to the stunning young woman a time or two, then said, “Well, I’ve never been one to force food on anybody. But if you change your mind, Willard, just have this lovely lady bring you on back. Sure she can find a place for you to sit.”
    â€œI will, sir. I will.”
    Longarm took his drink and followed his beautiful guide. He’d taken only two or three steps before he stopped when Allred said, “Damned nice of you to bring me in here. Won’t forget this, Marshal Long. No