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

way through the maze of whirling traffic down Fifth Avenue.

Rick ate dinner, or supper, as he called it, at the Croyville, and a little later sallied forth for a look
at the town by electric light. He had a sort of an idea that he might go to a show, but, having
perused the amusement columns of an evening newspaper, found himself embarrassed by the
superabundance of material. His final decision rested between a performance of Macbeth and a
Broadway dancing revue, and about half- past seven he dropped into a cafe to consider the matter
over a little of something wet.

It was there that he met a person named Henderson. One thing Rick must admit, it was he
himself who addressed the first words to the stranger. But then it is also a fact that the stranger,
who was standing next to Rick at the bar, started things by observing to the bartender and
whoever else might care to hear:

THE ROPE DANCE

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4

"We don't use those nonrefillable bottles out West, where I come from. We don't have to. We
know the men that sell us our drinks, and by --, they know us. But that's the way it is in New
York. You got to watch everybody, or you'll get your insides all filled up with water."

Rick turned and asked the stranger-- a ruddy- faced, middleaged man in a gray sack suit and soft
hat-- what part of the West he came from. That was enough. Ten minutes later they were having
their second drink together.

Mr. Henderson, it appeared, was from Kansas, where he owned an immense wheat farm. He was
much interested in what Rick had to say about Arizona. They discussed the metropolis, and Rick,
by way of comment on Mr. Henderson's observation that "you got to watch everybody in New
York," told of his encounter with the poolroom runner on Forty- second Street. Then, as it was
nearing eight o'clock, he remarked that he was intending to see the revue up at the Stuyvesant
Theater, and guessed he would have to trot along.

"That's a bum show," declared Mr. Henderson. "I saw it the other night. Lord, I've seen better
than that out in Wichita. Why don't you come with me up to the Century? A fellow at the hotel
told me it's the real thing."

So after Mr. Henderson had paid for the drinks-- despite Rick's protest--they left the cafe and
took a taxi to Sixty- second Street, where Henderson allowed Rick to settle with the chauffeur
while he entered the theater lobby to get the tickets.

Rick liked the man from Kansas. He appeared to be an outspoken, blunt sort of fellow who liked
to have a good time and knew where to go for it. Lucky thing to have met up with him. Mighty
pleasant to have for a companion a chap from the right side of the Missiiiippi.

The show was in fact a good one, and Rick enjoyed it hugely. Pretty girls, catchy music, funny
lines, clever dancing. Rick applauded with gusto and laughed himself weak. The only drawback
was that Mr. Henderson appeared to have an unconquerable aversion to going out between the