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Show page 157 a few minutes." Pruitt recradled the phone. "So?" asked Rathburn. "They had me up before the c i t y chairman of commissioners for the presentation. Say, you remind me of him a right smart." "I never been compared to a chairman of commissioners," Rathburn said. "Sorry, sorry," P r u i t t said, and r a t t l e d on: "Well, O'Connor didn't get that job by playing ring around the rosy. He's a smart boy and he knows i t . Nobody can t e l l me that he's not out for number one." . "He gave you a l l that p u b l i c i t y , " Rathburn said. " I t was kinda nice, but the mood d i d n ' t l a s t . I say I may need a favor." "I think the whole thing was pretty smart," persisted Rathburn. "Not up t h e r e with O'Connor. He put that hard stare on me, then reached in his pocket and pulled out that medal like i t was too hot to handle. Judy was standing beside me. I gave her a smile. There's one thing about Judy - " "Go back to the beginning," Rathburn interrupted. "That stuff was a l l in the papers." "Well, you know I was walking along West Freemason, by purpose, to check on the setup. I was about three doors from t h i s busdriver's place when I saw the t i p s of two cigarettes in the building doorway. I thought something was fouled up, but I heard shots before I reached the doorway. I should have cut out; sometimes these things backfire on you." "Tha^s r i g h t , " "Sat iilsurn agreed. |
