Gillis switched on his charm. It was remarkable how his face changed when he smiled. He looked almost boyish; certainly not twenty-five, and the worn-out look of dissipation seemed to melt away.
‘You’re on to a good thing,’ he said. ‘Zoe rates a little high, but she doesn’t shirk her responsibilities.
If she asks you home, you go. Of her kind, she’s unique.’
Dallas, who had seen the by-play at the bar, took out his cigarette-case and offered it.
‘As good as that, is she? I’m obliged to you. This is my first visit here, and I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot. I’m in town for a couple of weeks on business, and this seemed the place to come to.’
Gillis lit the cigarette and inhaled gratefully.
‘It is,’ he said. ‘If you want a little fun and an accommodating girl you couldn’t do better.’
They stood talking for a few minutes about the club, then Dallas said, ‘Wel , maybe I’l be seeing you again. My name’s Ed Dal as.’
‘Mine’s Adam Gil is. Sure, I’l look out for you, but don’t let me keep you away from Zoe. You have a treat in store. She certainly knows how to please a guy when she feels that way,’ Gil is said. ‘I’m here three or four times a week. Maybe we can have a drink together some time.’
‘Glad to,’ Dal as said, sure now this blond man was Eve Gil is’s brother. The likeness was remarkable. He had the same blue eyes, the same shaped face.
‘Before you go, I wonder if I could possibly ask a favour of you,’ Gil is said, smiling. ‘If you hadn’t been a member of the club I wouldn’t dream of mentioning this, but I’ve stupidly forgot en my wal et, and until my friends arrive I’m stuck for money. I suppose you couldn’t lend me ten dol ars for an hour or so?’
‘Why, sure,’ Dal as said, concealing his surprise. ‘I’d be glad to.’ He took out his wal et, extracted two fives and handed them to Gillis. ‘I’m in no hurry. Let me have it the next time we meet.’
Gillis slipped the bills into his pocket.
‘I can’t thank you enough. As soon as my friends arrive I’l pay you back. Thanks a lot. It’s real y very kind of you.’
‘Forget it,’ Dal as said, moving towards the door. ‘I’ve forgotten my wallet myself before now. It’s no joke to be stuck for money.’
They walked back to the bar.
‘Don’t let me take you away from Zoe,’ Gil is said as they entered the bar. ‘I’l buy myself a drink and wait for my friends.’
Dallas spotted Eve Gillis standing with Kile at the bar. She was wearing a sea-green backless evening gown, cut so low in front that he could see the deep furrow between her breasts.
He nudged Gillis.
‘Some girl,’ he said under his breath. ‘Some dress she’s nearly got on.’
Gillis looked at Eve, who glanced at him and then looked away. Neither of them gave any sign of recognition.
‘The club is noted for its beautiful women,’ Gil is said indifferently. ‘But you should remember, in the dark, one woman is very much the same as another.’ He gave Dal as’s arm a friendly pat and walked over to the bar, where he climbed up on a stool within a few feet of Eve and Kile.
Dallas returned to where Zoe was waiting for him, and sat down.
‘Sorry to have been so long,’ he said, smiling at Zoe, ‘but I got caught up with the blond profile. He has quite a way with him, hasn’t he?’
Zoe’s pert little face hardened.
‘That cheap chisel er?’ she said scornful y. ‘Al he’s got are his looks, and they won’t last him much longer from the way they’re wearing. Did he try to bite your ear?’
‘He did more than that; he succeeded to the tune of ten dol ars. At the moment he’s buying a double whisky with the proceeds. How do you like that?’
Zoe stared at him.
‘Wel , you don’t look a sucker,’ she said. ‘For heaven’s sake, why did you give it to him?’
‘Oh, I felt sorry for the guy. He was in a bad way for a drink, and I hadn’t the heart to refuse him,’
Dallas said, shrugging. ‘Besides, he said some nice things about you.’
‘Did he?’ Zoe said scornfully. ‘He once gypped me out of fifty bucks: the little rat!’
Dallas was eyeing Eve as she stood at the bar.
‘That’s a nice shape that girl’s wearing, or maybe you wouldn’t have noticed.’
Zoe looked Eve over critically.
‘She’s good,’ she said grudgingly. ‘At least she doesn’t have to wear falsies. In case you don’t know, she’s his sister, and it’s my bet they’re two of a kind. She was in the Fol ies for some time until she decided she could get along just as well in a bed.’
‘His sister?’ Dal as said, pretending to be surprised. ‘They don’t act that way.’
‘Maybe she doesn’t want to introduce him to Kile,’ Zoe said indifferently. ‘She’s Kile’s mistress, and she’s welcome to him. How about another bot le of champagne? I’ve a thirst that’d slay a camel.’
‘Sure,’ Dallas said, wondering what Purvis was going to say when he put in his expense sheet at the end of the week. ‘Everything I have is yours, honey.’
Zoe gave him a suspicious glance.
‘That sounds as if you haven’t so much,’ she said, signalling to the barman. ‘How about buying me a dinner, if you’re going to be al that generous?’
‘Just a figure of speech,’ Dal as said hastily. ‘Maybe I’l buy you dinner tomorrow night, but I’l run to a sandwich if you’re that hungry.’
Zoe sighed.
‘I’ll settle for a sandwich.’ She looked at him and smiled. ‘Are you working up to come home with me tonight?’
Dallas wrestled with the temptation, decided reluctantly not to spend any more of Purvis’s money, and shook his head.
‘That’s something I’l look forward to at a later date. I’l need to break into my kid sister’s money-box before I can go home with you.’
Zoe giggled.
‘You know, I like you,’ she said, and pressed her knee against his. ‘You leave your kid sister’s money-box alone. You won’t need it.’
Dallas was only half listening. He had seen Rico come into the bar.
Rico crossed over to where Kile and Eve were standing and said something to Kile in a low voice.
Kile’s face was flushed as if he had been drinking heavily. He turned to speak to Eve, who nodded.
Then he went out of the bar with Rico, leaving Eve alone.
Dallas saw Gillis raise his eyebrows at Eve and jerk his head to the door.
‘I’ve got to run away,’ Dal as said quickly. He took out a twenty-dollar bill and dropped it in Zoe’s lap. ‘Just remembered a pressing appointment. See you tomorrow night. Okay?’
‘You leaving me flat?’ Zoe asked, startled.
‘Got to,’ Dal as said, get ing to his feet. ‘Business. I’l dream of you tonight, sugar. So long for now.’
He walked quickly out of the bar as Eve finished her drink. He went into the gentlemen’s retiring room.
A moment or so later Eve came into the lobby. She collected her wrap and went out into the street.
Dallas reappeared and sauntered after her. He saw her get into the LaSalle parked in the big parking lot at the side of the club. He concealed himself behind another car and waited.
Five minutes dragged by. He saw Eve light a cigarette. The flame of her lighter lit up her face for a brief moment. Dallas decided she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
‘And where does that get you, Dallas?’ he said to himself. ‘She’s way out of your class. If you’re going to get those sort of ideas, you’d better stick to Zoe.’
Then he spotted Gillis coming into the parking lot. He saw him look to right and left, then walk quickly over to the LaSalle, open the door and get in beside Eve.