"Stout, Rex - The Rope Dance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stout Rex)

THE ROPE DANCE

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1

The Rope Dance

By Rex Stout

Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com

THE ROPE DANCE

Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com

2

The Rope Dance
by Rex Stout

It was on a bright October afternoon that Rick Duggett got off at Grand Central Station, New
York, with eight hundred dollars in the pocket of his brand new suit of clothes. But first of all it
is necessary to explain how he got there and where the money came from.

He was one of those men who never do anything by halves. He ate prodigiously or fasted, he
slept eleven hours or not at all, he sat in a poker game only when it was expressly understood
that the roof was the limit anal you might blow that off if you had enough powder.

Whatever he did he went just a little farther than any one else, so it was only natural that he
should reach the top of his profession. He was the best roper in Eastern Arizona, which is no
mean title even in these days when good ropers are as scarce as water holes in a desert.

When a prize of one thousand dollars cash was hung up in the great roping contest held at
Honeville last October everybody expected Rick Duggett to win it, and he did not disappoint
them. He roped and tied ten steers in fourteen minutes and twenty- eight seconds, seven full
minutes better than the nearest competitor.

There had been considerable speculation as to what Rick would do with the money. Of course he
would entertain the crowd at Ogilvy's, but even a gang of thirsty ranchmen can't drink a thousand
dollars' worth of whisky. The rest would probably find its way into a poker game; but then Rick
Duggett was a surprising sort of fellow and you couldn't tell. He might get married, or even take
a trip to Denver.

As a matter of fact, Rick bought one round of drinks at Ogilvy's, made arrangements for his
horse to be returned to the ranch, and entrusted a comrade with the following note to the
foreman: