from the latrine and walked with as much dignity as he could muster back toward the bleachers.
Chapter Eighteen
The first money came in a steel box latched with a lock. A hefty man in a three-piece suit and a walrus mustache delivered it. Guild opened the door for him. The man stared down at Guildâs .44. âThat Stoddard, he donât trust nobody, does he?â the man said. He was laughing.
He brought the box into the office, walked over, and set it on the desk.
âThis is Stoddardâs son, Stephen,â Guild said, hoping the man would take a hint and not insult the father in front of the son anymore. Guild couldnât help it; he felt sorry for the boy.
âYeah, I met him,â the man said.
Stephen Stoddard pulled a piece of paper from inside his coat. He dropped to his haunches and held the paper up to the steel box. The paper held the combination to the lock. Stephen worked quickly, deftly. In seconds the lock was open and he was throwing back the lid.
The man whistled. âYour old man is having a good day, kid.â
The box was packed tight with greenbacks.
âThis is the biggest haul Iâve ever seen around these parts,â the man said.
Stephen slammed the lid and latched the box again. He carried it over to the comer and set it on a small desk.
âIâll be back in another hour or so with the next box. Itâs already half full.â He snorted. âThe way them yokels is streaminâ in, it may not take another full hour.â
He went to the door. âYour old man said we wasnât to be drinkinâ no beer today. That still hold?â
âYes, it does,â Stephen said.
The man offered them a sour expression and left.
Guild went over to the rolltop desk where heâd been sitting. He put his feet up and laid the .44 in his lap. He took a five-cent cigar from his pocket and lighted it. He watched the way the blue smoke turned the golden dust motes silver.
Stephen went over and stood by the money box. He touched it as if it were the most precious thing he had ever seen.
âBoth Dad and Victor are going to make out all right on this one,â Stephen said. âThis is the one theyâve both been waiting for.â
Guild took a drag on his cigar. âI donât think you should be here.â
âWhat?â
âYouâre not hired to be a guard. I am.â
âYou think Iâm afraid?â
âNo.â
âYou think I couldnât cut it if I had to?â
âNo.â
âThen why would you want to get rid of me?â
âBecause Iâve got a funny feeling is all.â
âWhat kind of funny feeling?â
âThe kind of funny feeling this kind of money always gives me.â
âIâm his son.â
âIâm surprised he would want you here.â
âMeaning exactly what, Leo?â
âMeaning if you were my boy, Iâd want you out walking around the stands. Putting a good face on things for the public. I wouldnât want you anywhere near the money.â
âDad trusts me.â
Guild didnât want to say what he thought: Your dad doesnât care enough about you to move you out of the way. Instead he said, âAnyplace in particular youâd want to settle?â
âBeg pardon?â
âAnyplace you been thinking of settling when the time comes?â
âI couldnât leave Dad.â
âI mean if something happened and you had to leave your dad. Where would you settle?â
He seemed afraid to even speculate. âIâve just never thought about it.â But his quickly averted eyes said that he was lying.
âYou ever seen the ocean at Atlantic City?â
âYes.â
âBeautiful, isnât it? And all those girls on the beach.â
Softly Stephen said, âItâs very nice.â
âYou ever seen Vermont in autumn? Iâve never seen anything like the leaves in the hills. Like
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