Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/138

 "You showed 'im, eh, Georgie! You put 'im in the hospital, I'll say—teach 'im to hang 'round home for a change—teach 'im the ten commandments."

Russell gestured with a great hand for a chance to speak and his voice rose alone. "Did I do right, boys?"

"Eah! Yeah! Do 'im right now, Georgie. Hold 'im up! Tell 'im you've come back to give yourself to the police for shootin' 'im; charge 'im five thousand not to And 'ave it on your conscience for five thousand, George? Tell 'im ten and cheap at the price! Heh! Forget the shootin'; go back of it. Sue 'im for alienation of affection—never mind when he met her—say it was whenever you want—he'll pay before he'll 'ave anybody find out why he was at the 'ospital."

Simmons pulled Gregg into the group and pounded his back and Gregg pounded other backs in the celebration over the return of Russell to clean up; his friends were for him and no one was more inseparable from him than Hershy.

Indeed, Hershy evidently wanted Russell all to himself; he bought another round of colored alcohol and Simmons ceased even to splutter; a couple of the others got sleepy and Hershy started leading Russell away. That suited Gregg well enough, especially when he found that Russell refused to let Hershy push him into the cab which Hershy had waiting. It seemed Russell had been arrested once and taken to the station in a cab; Hershy was not quick enough to abandon his original plan, and Russell became frightened and suspicious of him.

"Wha'ziz man want o' me?" Russell appealed, grabbing hold of Gregg's arm. "I ask you, have I ever done anything but right? Was I justified or not?"