"twogirlsmissing" - читать интересную книгу автора (Oliphant Ronald)

She went right on acting. I stayed at the door, taking in the conversation, just to find out
what things were all about.

You see, this little roadhouse had advertised for a girl to act as hostess--say hello
to the patrons when they came in--and sing, and play the piano during meals, and maybe dance
with those that wanted to dance to phonograph records.

Which was all right--except for the fact that, during the past month, two girls had taken
the hostess' job at this particular spot and had never been seen or heard of again. So I was
here to investigate.

"Look here, kid," Thick-neck was saying to Shirley, "gimme this straight: is that guy
sitting alone at a table a dick?"

Shirley shrugged her shoulders and made a queer sound in her throat.

"You don't know him. huh?"

Shirley shook her head.

"And you ain't a dick yourself?"

Again Shirley signified a negative.

The big man tapped the gun in his hand and leered at her knowingly. "I can't talk to you
this way. I'm going to ungag you, kid, so you can answer me. But if you try any screamin' for
help, this gat's got a silencer, and it'll blow you to hell before you can chirp!"

Shirley's gray eyes widened. But I knew she wasn't scared. She was just acting--and
making a good job of it. I don't think Thick-neck tumbled that she was kidding him.

He went over to her, unfastened the gag and took it out of her mouth. "I'll just make
sure you ain't packin' a hide out on me!" he said, and his stubby fingers began to explore
the neckline of her dress.

I took a step forward. My fist was clenched, and I had my eye on a point right behind
his ear. One good wallop on that spot would drop him like a steer in a slaughterhouse.

But Shirley had squirmed away from his groping fingers, and she was turned halfway
around. A harsh exclamation broke from her. Then--


The sharp bark of a weapon broke the silence. Looking down, I saw smoke coming from a small
gun in Shirley's right hand, which was still tied with the left one, behind her back. She
must have been hiding the gun in her sleeve, and slipped it out while he was questioning her.
And now, she'd let him have it--

He went down onto his knees, cursing and clawing at his right shoulder. He was hurt, but
not too bad.