Wife or Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

the rain’s let up. Ardis, it’s been the nicest party …”
    The exodus began. Denton located Angel’s coat, helped her into it, then remembered his sword. He retrieved it from the corner in which he had set it down and returned to the crowded hall, where everyone was clustered around the Wyatts trying to say goodbye at once.
    Crosby chose that moment to make a last attempt to corner Angel Denton. He hastened across from the bar in a sort of lurching trot. Angel was hemmed in on three sides. Crosby, coming up fast from the fourth side, caught her by the shoulders before she could escape.
    â€œWhy’ve y’been ’voiding me all night?” he demanded, trying to control his thickened tongue. “Wha’ssa g’dam idea?”
    Angel was pale with indignation. “I don’t like drunks, Ralph. Take your hands off me, please.”
    The district attorney leered. “M’lady wasn’t so g’dam p’tic’lar—”
    Denton turned him around and gave him a light shove. Crosby reeled back, miraculously keeping his balance. He stood there swaying, glaring from Denton to Angel.
    â€œOh, the gallan’ cuck … cuckold.”
    â€œWhy don’t you go home?” Denton said.
    There was absolute silence in the hall. Then Norm Wyatt pushed forward. “Come on, Ralph—”
    â€œGet outa my way.” Crosby thrust his sweating face to within an inch of Denton’s. “Wanna talk to the naked tart this monkey’s married to—”
    â€œI’m afraid I have no choice, Norm,” Denton said. He handed his sword to Angel, reached out, grasped the district attorney’s chin with his left hand, and slapped the man very hard with his right. Crosby uttered a strangled sound and threw a wild punch. Denton released him and hit him on the jaw.
    Crosby sat down on the floor abruptly. He stared upward with glazing eyes for a moment, then fell back with a thump and lay still.
    Wyatt said in an awkward tone, “I’d better drive him home. Jim, you want to help me get him out to my car?”
    â€œI’ll pass, Norm, if you don’t mind,” Denton said mildly. “I’m a little tired of our legal eagle. Thanks for the party, and good night.”
    Taking Angel’s elbow, he steered her through the Wyatts’ guests and out the door.

5
    George and Corinne Guest had said their farewells and left the house before Denton’s clash with Crosby. Denton’s car was blocking the driveway and the Guests were in their car, waiting. The rain had settled down to a hard drizzle, and as Denton and Angel hurried through it George Guest wound down his window and grinned at them.
    â€œCome on, chum, let me out of here,” he called cheerfully. “Good do, wasn’t it?”
    Denton replied with a noncommittal grunt. It was Angel who shouted, “Wasn’t it, though! Night!” as they passed. She got in on the driver’s side, hitched herself past the wheel; and Denton got in after her, tossing his sword onto the back seat, and slammed his door and started the engine and released his emergency and backed out of the driveway. On the road George passed them, tapping his horn in a derisive goodbye, but Denton did not return the signal.
    Angel said, “You’re certainly in a mood.”
    She was an original, all right. One in a million. Or was there any other woman like her? Denton drove, sulking. It’s probably having to punch Crosby that made me rude to George, he thought. Poor old George. Have to apologize tomorrow …
    In a moment Angel would start speculating aloud about Crosby’s conduct, he told himself. From the start she had met his accusations with wide eyes, denying any wrongdoing, very nearly as if it were true. A female Jekyll-Hyde, by God! Denton thought. Or maybe it was all part of an elaborate act; maybe she wasn’t as stupidly naive as she seemed. In recent weeks, when he