Ronicky Doone's Reward by Max Brand (ebook offline reader .txt) ๐
And now he saw Blondy slowly produce cigarette papers and tobacco. He saw the cigarette manufactured; he saw it placed between Blondy's lips; he saw the sulphur match separated carefully from the rest of the pack; he saw the cigarette lighted; he saw the handsome head of Blondy wreathed in thin blue-brown smoke.
And every other person on the veranda was following every act with similar exactitude of interest and observation. For they had instantly seen the throwing of the gage. The unspoken challenge of Blondy, as plain as words could have stated it, was this: "I shall stand here calmly upon the veranda, roll my cigarette, light and smoke it, and then depart. And if I am able to do this in peace, then I shall consider myself at liberty to go forth into the world and tell other men that I have bearded the citizens of Twin Springs and come off unscathed."
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And to crown the horror, when the girl finally looked at her pseudo husband, she found him shaking and quivering and begging like a whipped dog. She got up from the chair, cold and perfectly calm, and walked straight to Ronicky and took his hand in both of hers.
โIโve been a great fool,โ she said, โand youโve saved me from myself!โ
So she turned and left the room, as quietly as though she were slipping out to let the patient get his rest undisturbed.
โAh,โ said the minister, โwhat a woman she is! And what a Godโs blessing, young man, that you came when you did. Now letโs find the sheriff!โ
But from that resolution Ronicky carefully dissuaded him in a long argument which lasted until the light burned low and until Christopher was nearly dead with fear and shame on the bed. Then the minister gave in, and he took Ronicky home with him.
At the gate they parted.
โItโs made me young again.โ said the minister, โlistening to you talk. Itโs made me young again. But what I continually wonder at, Ronicky Doone, is where you get your reward?โ
โWhy,โ said Ronicky, โIโve been thinking about that myself. I figure a gent gets his reward when he sees other people happy. As long as I can help other people to their happiness, I donโt require no other reward. But Iโm going to stay around here and wait.โ
He added this with a little emphasis, and the minister chuckled.
โI see,โ he said. โI see perfectly. Yes, I think that would be the best thing to do after all โ just wait!โ
And he was still chuckling when he went into his house.
But Ronicky went back down the street full of a sad happiness and with his brain full of Elsie Bennett. He could not guess โ that night โ that she was watching from an upper window of the hotel every step he took that night.
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