Dead Stay Dumb Read Online Free PDF

voice.
     Dillon looked him over, looked at his hand and ignored it.
     Butch moved his great paw impatiently. “Gimme your hand,” he said. “I wantta see what kind of a guy you are.”
     A gleam came into Dillon's eyes. He put his hand in Butch's. Then Butch squeezed. The tremendous muscles of his forearm swelled as he put all his strength into a crushing grip. The sweat suddenly jumped out of Dillon's face. He shifted his feet, then swung a punch at Butch with his left, coming up and hitting. Butch in his thick throat. It thumped into Butch like a cleaver into beef. Butch reeled back, making a croaking sound. Gurney sprang to his feet and saved him from going over.
     Dillon stood flexing his ringers. “That's the kind of a guy I am,” he said evenly.
     Butch put his fingers to his throat. He sat down a little heavily. No one had hit him so hard since he left the resin. He said, when he got his breath, “This guy's okay, he can punch.”
     Dillon came a little nearer. “Suppose we get inside where I can see you.”
     They went inside without a word. Dillon stood by the window. He said, “Sit down.”
     Gurney said, “There's some booze outside, want any?”
     Dillon looked at him. “I don't use it. Forget it! This is important. Franks has got your boy on the run. You're all backing Sankey for a win. Sankey ain't goin' to win unless Franks is so goddam bad that a child could push him around. That right?”
     Gurney nodded. “I guess that's about it.”
     “Any of you guys got any dough?”
     They looked at Morgan, a thin, cruel-faced little man who looked like a jock. He said, “Maybe I could find some.”
     “I'll fix this fight for five hundred bucks,” Dillon said. A little sigh went round the room. Gurney shook his head. “That's too much,” he said.
     Dillon rubbed the back of his neck. “You mugs dumb?” he said. “I said I'd fix this fight, and I mean fix it. Your man'll win You can back him for any money You can't lose.”
     Morgan leant forward. “I guess I'd like to know just who you are, mister,” he said.
     Dillon looked at him under his eyelids. “Maybe you'd like to know a lot of things... you ain't got to worry about me. I've done this sorta thing before What's it to be?”
     Morgan looked at the other three. Butch nodded. “We'll come on in with you,” he said.
     Morgan shrugged. “Okay,” he said. “I'll pay the money when Sankey's won.”
     Dillon showed his teeth. “You'll bet that five hundred bucks on Sankey for me. An' you'll lay the dough when I tell you.”
     Morgan thought a moment, then said, “Fair enough.” The four men began to catch some of Dillon's confidence.
     “Dig down,” Dillon said, spreading a fin on the table. “I want some working expenses. This is all I got. Dig down.”
     Each contributed. Between the five of them they put up a hundred dollars. Dillon put the bills in his pocket. Gurney went out on to the verandah and fetched in the drinks. They all had a shot except Dillon.
     Butch said, “How you goin' to handle this?”
     Dillon tapped on the table with his fingernails. “I'm goin' to tell Franks to take a dive.”
     Butch said, “For God's sake, he'll knock your guts out.”
     Dillon shook his head. “He won't.” He pushed back his chair. “I guess that's all.” The others, except Butch, got to their feet. Dillon said, “Suppose you boys blow, I wantta talk to Butch.”
     Gurney moved to the verandah. “Maybe we'll get together some other time,” he said.
     “Yeah,” Dillon nodded his head; “you might look round tomorrow.”
     Butch sat waiting until the others disappeared into the night. Dillon came back from the verandah. He stood looking at Butch thoughtfully. Then he closed the door and came