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"That bill belongs to him." Sadie Corn motioned to him. "Pick it up!" she said. "I don't want it!" snarled Two-twenty-three. "Pick it up!" articulated Sadie Corn very carefully. He came forward, stooped, put the bill in his pocket. "You check out to-night!" said Sadie Corn. Then, at a muttered remonstrance from him: "Oh, yes, you will! So will Two-eighteen. Huh? Oh, I guess she will!
The telephone bell had stopped its insistent ringing. Julia raised her arm and hurled at him with all her might the yellow-backed paper he had thrust in her hand. "I'll I'll get my man to whip you for this!" she panted. "Jo'll pull those eyelashes of yours out and use 'em for couplings. You miserable little " The outside door opened again, striking Two-twenty-three squarely in the back.
He crumpled up against the wall with an oath. Sadie Corn, in the doorway, gave no heed to him. Her eyes searched Julia's flushed face. What she saw there seemed to satisfy her. She turned to him then grimly. "What are you doing here?" Sadie asked briskly. Two-twenty-three muttered something about the wrong room by mistake. Julia laughed. "He lies!" she said, and pointed to the floor.
Julia had wheeled about. She stood staring at him, eyes and lips wide with fright now. One hand clutched the fur at her breast. "Why, what " she gasped. Two-twenty-three laughed. "I knew I'd find you here. I made an excuse to come up. Old Nutcracker Face in the hall thinks I went to my own room." He took two quick steps forward. "You raving little Cinderella beauty, you!"
Two-eighteen, in her shimmering, flame-coloured costume, was coming down the hall toward the elevators. She walked with the absurd and stumbling step that her scant skirt necessitated. With each pace the slashed silken skirt parted to reveal a shameless glimpse of cerise silk stocking. In her wake came Venner, of Two-twenty-three a strange contrast in his black and white.
He balanced a moment thoughtfully from toe to heel, his chin lifted inquiringly: "Keep your eye on Two-eighteen and Two-twenty-three this morning?" "Like a lynx!" answered Sadie. "Anything?" "Not a thing. I guess they just scraped acquaintance in the Alley after dinner, like they sometimes do. A man with eyelashes like his always speaks to any woman alone who isn't pockmarked and toothless.
You've been here long enough to know that you're not to listen to the talk of the men guests round here. Two-twenty-three isn't your kind and you know it! If I catch you talking to him again I'll " The telephone at her elbow sounded sharply. She answered it absently, her eyes, with their expression of pain and remonstrance, still unshrinking before the onslaught of Julia's glare.
The telephone bell sounded again. Venner, of two-twenty-three, plunged his hand into his pocket, took out something and pressed it in Julia's palm, shutting her fingers over it. Julia did not need to open them and look to see she knew by the feel of the crumpled paper, stiff and crackling. He was making for the door, with some last instructions that she did not hear, before she spoke.
What's a girl got her looks for if not to have a good time?" "Who's this you were invited out by?" asked Sadie Corn. "You must have noticed him," said Julia, dimpling. "He's as handsome as an actor. Name's Venner. He's in two-twenty-three." There came the look of steel into Sadie Corn's eyes. "Look here, Julia!
Her cheeks glowed rose-pink against the dark fur, as she had known they would. Her lovely little head, with its coils of black hair, rose flowerlike from the clinging garment. She was still standing there, lips parted, eyes wide with delight, when the door opened and closed and Venner, of two-twenty-three, strode into the room. "You little beauty!" exclaimed Two-twenty-three.
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