Ride the Pink Horse Page #4

clutter up my rooms.

I'll let the money around,

say, 7:
00. See you then?

Couldn't we find

someplace more public?

More public?

Yeah, it's a sensible precaution.

You know where

the Tip-Top cafe is?

I'll find it.

And you'll have

that little item.

Youll get the check

when I get the dough.

I don't even trust my mother.

And I guess a blackmailes

can't be too careful.

Must be an exciting way

to make a living.

I'll have to try it sometime.

I'll see you at the Tip-Top cafe.

At 7:
00.

Good morning.

Waiting for you friend?

Known him long?

Yesterday.

You like him?

Well, why don't you help him?

He's in trouble.

I know.

You mean you know the

kind of trouble he's in?

Yes.

What kind of trouble

would you say it is?

He will die, maybe.

Yeah?

When?

Soon.

How soon?

Before long.

How do you get that?

I saw.

What did you see?

I saw him dead.

Beats me how you get that.

You saw him dead?

Oh, you mean you dreamed it.

No... I saw it.

Yesterday when he came

to the merry-go-round.

I saw his face.

Dead.

His eyes were closed,

the skin was white.

He was dead.

Not a bad hunch.

I don't see things like that

but I got it figured my way.

Listen, I'm trying to help him.

Do you believe that?

If he tells me.

Hi, Retz.

Why, hello there.

I just been talking to your friend.

How'd you like to take a wald?

Lots of fiesta doings starting up.

No, I'm not here for

the fiesta either.

That's what I figured.

You didn't come for the show.

You come for the money.

You know, I been a

little slow on the pickup.

I don't know why.

I just didn't figure you

for a shakedown job.

I'm after Hugo.

You've got some evidence

that can help me send him up

but I haven't any idea

what it is.

You're trying to sell it to him

but the chances

are ten to one

you'll wind up like Shorty.

I'm asking you for that

evidence, officially.

See, I'm not talking for myself.

I'm talking, like you

say, for Uncle Sam.

You tell Uncle Sam to go

take a walk for himself.

And look Copper,

don't wave any flags at me.

I seen enough flags.

Well, I've spoken my piece.

I've heard enough pieces too.

They don't register anymore.

Okay... soldier.

I'll be seeing you around.

I'll be around.

What happened to you?

Do you like?

Do I look human?

Oh, brother.

What else should I do?

Well, you can't do anything

else-- you've done everything.

Are you hungry?

I ate an apple.

No, no, no, I mean food.

Come on, it's a little early

but we'll have some lunch.

Where?

In the restaurant.

Oh, no, I can't.

Why not?

What's the matter, don't

you answer questions?

Aw, you don't have to be

afraid of a restaurant.

All you have to do is

walk in, sit down

and pretend you're a human being.

Yeah, I want to sit over there.

Hey.

See anything you want?

Look, if you can't read, say so.

I can read.

Go ahead and read it.

See if there's anything

you want to eat.

I'm not hungry.

Uh... two fruit cocktails

two trout with au gratin potatoes

two orders of salad,

thousand island dressing

got that?

Yes, sir.

We'll order dessert later.

Yes, sir.

Where you been living,

in a barrel?

I live in San Melo.

You know, it's funny.

For a minute I thought I was

back in New Guinea, again.

Only in New Guinea they're darker.

Who is?

Girls.

You like them darker?

You going to laugh

at me, I''ll go away.

Nobody's laughing at you.

What a goon.

Lot of different kinds

of fruit, all chopped up.

Go ahead, eat it, it's good.

That smells very good.

That's to kep it cold--

that's very nice.

In San Melo ice is

very hard to get.

We put everything

down the well

by string and...

I must talk to you, Mr. Gagin.

It's very important

and I've only got a few minutes.

Frank is coming down.

You said you put things

down the well, huh?

Please, couldn't we

go to another table?

No, we couldn't.

Can't you see

we're having lunch?

But I must talk to you alone.

I'm terribly sorry.

Please, Mr. Gagin, I'm only

asking three minutes

but they're very important

minutes, for both of us.

Okay.

You go on over

and sit at another table

over there. I'll call you.

You will excuse us

for a moment, won't you?

What's on your mind?

Frank just told me what you're doing

and I rushed right down

here hoping to find you.

You don't know me.

You have no reason to

believe anything I say

but you can't lose

anything by listening.

All right, I'm listening.

He's very clever, Frankie.

He's seen to it I have

everything except money

But I could get out...

with money.

I know what you're thinking.

What's she up to?

Why do I even listen to her?

You said it, sister.

You're such a fool

asking for only $30,000.

Do you know what he'd

have asked for, in your place?

A million, and gotten it.

Let me do it--

I'll get you twice as much

and get what I want too.

How?

Will you let me?

I asked you how.

Don't give him the check.

Give it o a lawyer in Tulsa

or anyplace else, New York,

Chicago- some honest lawyer.

Put it in a sealed envelope

and pay him a thousand-dollar fee.

And tell him that if anything

happens to either you or me

he's to send the envelope to the F.B.I.

Then you tell Frank

what you've done

and ask for $100,000.

When that's gone, ask

for another $100,000

and we become sort of...

partners with Frankie.

I've learned this

sort of high finance

from Frankie himself.

Too rich for me.

But don't you see

it's more than the money?

It's only way to keep alive.

You don't think Frank's

gonna let you enjoy it

even if he gives it to you.

I'll enjoy it.

All right, I know you're not afraid

But why not get more?

It's so simple.

No, I don't play.

But why?

I don't trust that lawyer

The one who clips us

for a grand.

I said we've find

an honest one.

Hugo buys them all,

even the honest ones.

But he won't know who he is.

You'll know.

Oh, I see...

And of course

you can't trust me.

Right.

Then do it yourself.

I'll trust you.

Too many angles.

Please, it's tremendous

if you do it right.

He has millions.

You're a smart cookie,

aren't you?

But I'll do it my way.

But it's stupid.

So stupid.

Maybe.

I found out something though.

There are a lot of

people smarter than me

and they aren't up nights

figuring out how to help me.

But I'll buy you a drink.

What'll you have?

Nothing, thank you.

Hey!

Come on back.

What's your name?

Pila.

Pila? Yeah.

Pila, I want you to meet

Miss Marjorie Lundeen.

How do you do?

I'm terribly sorry

about intruding like this.

This must be dull town

after the fiesta

dusty and hot and full of flies.

I'm glad I don't live here

because I like bright lights

and nightspots and lots of people.

I'm afraid I wasn't cut out for...

I'll try to see you later.

Please think over what I told you.

It was nice meeting you.

She make you feel bad?

I guess you're not used to

her kind of ladies, huh?

She's very beautiful.

Yeah... they usually are.

She has very nice

clothes, and diamonds.

Diamonds... and a dead fish

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