Daniel and the Angel Read Online Free PDF

that bait. "It's early yet."
    "I would think that looking for me isn't very profitable."
    "I have some spare time." He checked his gold watch. "It's ten a.m. The banks have been open for an hour. I've made nearly two thousand dollars in interest already today."
    She tugged on her glove but never missed a step. "How nice for you."
    "Do you want to know why I was looking for you?"
    "No."
    He watched her silently, tapping a finger against his thinned lips.
    After a few more silent steps she stopped, plopped her hands on her hips in frustration, and looked right at him. "I don't understand you."
    "Don't try."
    She pulled her gaze away and stared down at her tightly clasped hands. "I think I might have to try."
    He rested an arm on the window opening. "I have a proposition for you." He leaned a little closer. "Get in and we'll talk."
    She looked up at the sky, then sighed. "I don't think I can do this."
    "How do you know? You haven't heard my offer."
    She shook her head. "I can't explain."
    He paused to let the tension build. It was a tactic he used often. Time ticked by.
    She just stood there.
    "I'll give you a hundred dollars to get in this carriage right now."
    Her eyes narrowed suddenly and sharply. She squared her shoulders and began to walk away again.
    "Well?" he called out.
    "I don't think so."
    He watched her pass an alley crowded with immigrants. She said something to a woman holding a child, then reached into her pocket and handed the woman a bent tin can. The two of them spoke briefly, then Lilli turned around and went on her merry way.
    He tapped on the carriage roof again. "Stay with her, Benny." When his carriage was directly beside her, he leaned back again and counted to five before he said, "Two hundred."
    "No, thank you."
    "Five hundred."
    She shook her head.
    "A thousand."
    She ran into a streetlight and stepped back quickly —as if she hadn't done it.
    He did smile. "Two... thousand."
    She spun around.
    He couldn't tell if she was stunned or horrified.
    "You're serious?"
    "Very serious."
    "Two thousand dollars?"
    "Yes."
    She gave him a direct look. "Cash?"
    "Yes."
    "Now?"
    "Yes."
    She walked over to the carriage and held out her hand, palm up.
    He opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk, then peeled some money from a roll of bills and put them into her hand.
    "Count it, please."
    "What?"
    "You need to count the bills into my hand. Just to make certain it's correct. You wouldn't want to make a mistake."
    Irritated, he snatched the money from her and counted each bill.
    "Thank you."
    "Get inside." He held the door.
    "Wait just a moment." She hurried past him.
    "Now," he called out.
    She waved him away, already halfway back to the alley, and stopped in front of a child, who looked up at her with eyes too big in a thin and pale face. She put a hundred-dollar bill in his small hand and closed his fingers around it. She then did the same with each person huddled in the alley. Finally she stood in front of the woman with the baby and handed her the rest of the bills. "Merry Christmas. Fröhliche Weihnachten."
    The immigrants gaped at the bills in their hands, then looked at her as if she were God's own angel. He caught a whisper of a smile on her lips as she spun around and walked back to the carriage.
    Standing in front of him, she raised her chin. "Okay, Mr. Stewart. I'm ready now."
    He didn't know if he wanted to strangle her or congratulate her. He just stood there, surprised. Again. And he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Silently, he helped her inside, climbed in, and closed the door.
    They sat there measuring one another. Another kind of challenge. She appeared inordinately proud of herself. He could tell by her expression.
    He waited a moment, letting her bask in her victory. Casually, he looked out the window, then said, "I would have paid more."
    "Would you have?" she asked quietly.
    "Yes."
    "Interesting." She cocked her head and tugged on her glove. "I thought you needed a lesson on how to treat