J. Allan Dunn

“ Playing at make-believe, despite her surroundings, her fate, as a crippled child may pretend that it has wings?
The strangeness of the whole affair was emphasized in the preparation of dinner. Baldy himself took a hand, mashing the potatoes while Sperry concocted the salad dressing and Elizabeth broiled the thick steak and handled the rest of the concomitants. It was like a picnic, Sperry felt; the informal meals that attend great happenings. ”

“ Sperry flung his bitter mood aside.
“Why?” he challenged her with a direct glance. She did not evade it, though her face changed slowly to the transparent hue of the petals of an American Beauty rose.
“He let you take me out to-day,” she said slowly. “He has never let any other man do that.” Sperry wanted to take her in his arms. There was no one in sight but the gobbling bears, busy over the buns they had brought them. The girl knew it, and he saw her eyes thank him as he refrained and kept the faith that Baldy Brown of Chi, master crook, had reposed in him. ”

“ At eight o’clock they were through.
“You know my motto, son,” said Baldy. “Nothing like a full meal.” And, while Elizabeth was clearing and cleaning up, he gave Sperry final instructions.
“We’ll pick up a man on Bleecker Street,” he said. “I’ll show you where. He’s an outside man, like you. But not an active one. Now, when we arrive, I’ll show you where to park. You hang on there till some one comes up and says: ‘All right Duke.’ You come back with, ‘Duke Who?’ If he says ‘Manning,’ it’s all right. If any one comes up with a broken line of talk, you beat it. ”