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Chapter 24
Twentyyoungmenloungedslowlyacrossthefloor.Thethreereachedthesquare.Andoneofthemsaid,«I’lldancewiththishere.»
Ablondboylookedupinastonishment.«She’smypartner.»
«Listen,youlittleson-of-a-bitch—"
Offinthedarknessashrillwhistlesounded.Thethreewerewalledinnow.Andeachonefeltthegripofhands.Andthenthewallofmenmovedslowlyofftheplatform.
Willieyelped,«Le’sgo!»Themusicshrilledout,thecallerintonedthefigures,thefeetthuddedontheplatform.
Atouringcardrovetotheentrance.Thedrivercalled,«Openup.Wehearyougotariot.»
Theguardkepthisposition.«Wegotnoriot.Listentothatmusic.Whoareyou?»
«Deputysheriffs.»
«Gotawarrant?»
«Wedon’tneedawarrantifthere’sariot.»
«Well,wegotnoriotshere,"saidthegateguard.
Themeninthecarlistenedtothemusicandthesoundofthecaller,andthenthecarpulledawayandparkedinacrossroadandwaited.
Inthemovingsquadeachofthethreeyoungmenwaspinioned,andahandwasovereachmouth.Whentheyreachedthedarknessthegroupopenedup.
Tomsaid,«Thatsurewasdidnice.»Heheldbotharmsofhisvictimfrombehind.
Willieranovertothemfromthedancefloor.«Nicework,"hesaid.«On’yneedsixnow.Hustonwantstoseetheseherefellers.»
Hustonhimselfemergedfromthedarkness.«Thesetheones?»
«Sure,"saidJule.«Wentrightupan’startedit.Buttheydidn’evenswingonce.»
«Let’slookat’em.»Theprisonerswereswungaroundtofacethem.Theirheadsweredown.
