The Continuing Adventures of Slim McLeod

Cafe Society
21

Max carefully opened one eye and looked at his train companions. Slim and Everet were asleep. The sheriff was softly snoring. Max carefully got up and left the cabin.

His departure was noticed by Bill Tilghman who just about to drift off to sleep when he saw Max leave the cabin.

Up to no good, I bet, thought Tilgham.
Meanwhile back in the alley in San Francisco Evelyn looked at Big Deke who was still on the ground and moaning in pain. From what he had said to her earlier she gathered the big guy had mistaken her for her dear fraternal twin brother.

Everet, she thought, what on earth have you done now? Evelyn looked around the alley to make sure no one else was nearby.

“Hey, big guy, can you hear me?” she said the Big Deke.

He nodded.

“Just to prove I wasn’t lying about you mistaking me for someone else, I’m going to prove this is not, as you put it, a ‘ludicrous disguise’.” Evelyn unbottoned the top of her garment and proudly exposed her pair of lovely perky breasts. Big Deke stared with his mouth hanging wide open.

Evelyn let Big Deke have a good look for about twenty seconds.

“Okay, show’s over,” she said as she buttoned her garment. “Think I have a pretty good idea who it is you’re seeking. A fella by the name of Everhsham, right?”

Big Deke nodded.

“That would be my twin brother Everet. I’m Evelyn. He and I lost touch for the past few years. From what you said earlier I gather he’s on a train headed this way?”

Big Deke finally found his voice.

“That’s right. And I aim to meet him to give him what’s coming to him. I’ll hang him from a tree until he’s dead! Nobody cheats Big Deke at cards and gets away with it!”

“I take it you’re Big Deke?”

“That’s right.”

“You always refer to yourself in the third person?”

“Huh? What if I do?”

“I always wondered about folks who do that. Anyway, getting back to my brother. You’re going to have to take a number.”

“What in the sam hell are you babbling about?”

“I lost touch with Everet years ago when I disowned him. He stole from me, so I told him he was no longer my brother. But now that I know he’s headed here, I’m going to punish him the way I should have years ago.”

“What did he steal from you?”

“A valuable family heirloom I inherited from our grandparents. Everet felt it should have been left to him. So one day he stole it. And being the compulsive gambler that he is, he lost it in a game of cards.”

“What was this heirloom he stole?”

“It’s considered to be very bad luck to speak its name out loud,” said Evelyn. “I’ll whisper it to you ever so softly, but you must solemnly promise to never say the name of it out loud, or you will be cursed and will die a horrible painful death. At least, that’s the legend behind the heirloom. Do you promise?”

Big Deke was superstitious, so he promised. Evelyn knelt down and whispered very softly into Big Deke’s ear. Then she ran her fingers up and down his left arm. She smiled.

“My home is just a few blocks from here. Would you like to come over? I’m a lonely widow with certain needs. Needs that can only be fulfilled by a big, strong, verile man. Do you think you could be that man, Big Deke? Sorry I had to hurt you earlier, but I had to defend myself, you understand. There are ways I could help you be able to fulfill my needs, if you know what I mean.”

Big Deke stared at her and couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Uh, sure, Evelyn.” He thought again of the vision of her lovely perky breasts. The anticipation of being allowed to touch her soft skin excited him. And the thought of her doing what he had in mind to help get him ready to satisfy her excited him even more. Plus he was very amused by the thought of being able to gloat to Everet later by saying, “Hey, Everhsham, I did it with your sister! What do you think of that? Yeah, picture me banging her against the headboard. That’ll be the last thing you think of while I hang you by your neck until you’re dead!”

“Good. Let’s go,” she helped him get up and they walked toward her home. It was getting dark now.

When Big Deke and Evelyn arrived at her home they were greeted by James the butler.

“James, this is my guest Big Deke. He’ll be staying overnight.”

“Very good, ma’am,” said James.

“James, did you remember to polish the silver creamer shaped like a little cow?”

James paused and smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Just like you asked.”

“Thank you, James.”

Evelyn turned to Big Deke. “How about some dinner before we head upstairs? Trust me, you’ll need all the energy you can get to satisfy my needs. I’ve been lonely for a very long time.”

“Uh, sounds good. Yeah. Dinner sounds great.”

“I’ll set another place at the table,” said James. “Dinner will be served in just a few minutes.”

“Thank you, James.”

Later in the dining room Big Deke slumped over in his chair dead to the world.

“Good work, James,” said Evelyn. “Can’t have this big fella harming my dear brother. He was actually going to hang Everet by the neck. No one threatens a member of my family and gets away with it.”

Evelyn and James had a system of secret code words that they used to communicate with each other. By asking James if he had remembered to polish the silver creamer shaped like a little cow, Evelyn was able to tell James that Big Deke was trouble and needed to be stopped permanently. Hence, the poisoned wine served to Evelyn’s guest.

“How long will it take you to bury the body?”

“Not long, ma’am.”

“Good. I’m going to turn in now, James. See you in the morning. Good night”

“Good night, ma’am.”

James is such a gem, thought Evelyn. She felt very fortunate to have James, as good help was so hard to find.

I’ll check with the train station to find out when Everet’s train is due to arrive, she thought as she got ready for bed.

22

Evelyn would be very surprised to know that the valuable family heirloom stolen from her by her dear brother Everet years ago was at this very moment back in her house. To be more specific, it was in the closet of her butler James who among other things enjoyed playing cards on his days off. James had won it in a poker game from someone who had purchased it from a pawn shop. The person who pawned it stole it from the card player who had won it from Everet.

But James did not know that the item he kept in his closet was the very same item in question that caused Evelyn and Everet to part ways. Evelyn never went into the details about the heirloom when she told James about why she lost touch with Everet years ago. The butler thought the item he won at cards was some interesting trinket that he could always sell later.

James had marked on his calendar the day of the big card game. It would be on his day off, so he should have no problem going.

The butler looked down at the burial plot. Rest in peace, Big Deke, said James silently to himself. He looked around at the four other burial plots. This basement is getting crowded, he thought.

James had developed feelings for Evelyn over the years. She was beautiful, clever, but also very dangerous. She was widowed three times as of this date. Each husband left her with a fortune. The deaths of her husbands were suspicious, but she always had a perfect alibi.

James had thought of revealing his true feelings to her, but he stopped when he wondered if he would end up as dead husband number four. So he decided to say nothing and be content with working for her as her butler.

Everet awakened. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself in Slim’s embrace. Slim appeared to be asleep. Everet looked across and saw Sheriff Cunningham asleep. Max was nowhere in sight.

Maybe I should introduce Abner to my sister, thought Everet. That is, if I can find her after all these years. I’ll send a telegram to Ma and Pa. They should be able to give me her current address.

The more Everet thought of it the more he felt it was a good idea. Yeah. Abner and Evelyn. Why not? Evelyn was beautiful and sweet. And Abner wasn’t too shabby looking. In fact when the light hits him just right, Abner’s a downright good-looking guy. But would Evelyn be interested in a gambler? Oh, well, thought Everet. The worst that could happen is that they don’t hit it off and just go their separate ways.

23

Evelyn asked James to prepare their finest guest room. She planned to ask Everet to stay in her home while he was in San Francisco. Evelyn realized she missed her brother. She looked forward to seeing him again. She decided to forgive Everet for stealing the family heirloom and losing it in a game of cards. After all, people are more important than mere things, she said to herself.

“The train is due to pull into the station within the next fifteen minutes, ma’am,” said James.

“Thank you, James. Let’s head over and see if Everet will be there.”

Evelyn was dressed in her finest outfit. She looked stunningly beautiful. James admired her and toyed again with the thought of telling her how he truly felt about her.

Evelyn and James waited at the north end of the train station.

When the train pulled into the station they looked for Everet.

Everet offboarded at the south end of the train station, so his sister and her butler did not see him. And since Everet was not expecting anyone to meet him there, he continued on his way to the nearest telegraph office to send a telegram to his parents to ask for Evelyn’s current address.

Slim did not notice Everet getting off the train, as he was busy finishing a quick bite to eat in the dining car. When he realized it was time to offboard, Everet was already out of sight.

“Darn! He got away,” thought Slim. He had planned to somehow convince Everet to share a room with him at the finest hotel in San Francisco.

Just then Slim looked over toward the north end of the train station. He breathed a sigh of relief. There’s Everet, he thought. Slim ran toward the north end of the train station.

“James, do you see him anywhere?” asked Evelyn.

“I’m afraid not, ma’am,” said James.

Suddenly Slim rushed over, embraced Evelyn and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Evelyn was so shocked that for a few seconds she just allowed herself to be kissed by this stranger. Then she quickly pushed him away and slapped him across his face.

“Sir, how dare you!” said Evelyn glaring at him.

James was taken by surprise, too, by this stranger’s audacity.

“Ouch!” said Slim. “Is that part of your stage persona? Slapping men who are overcome by your beauty?”

Evelyn responded with a very puzzled and confused expression on her lovely face. James looked puzzled, too, by this stranger’s words.

“Sir, your behavior is highly inappropriate. Please leave at once, or we shall summon the authorities,” said James. The sight of another man kissing Evelyn brought out strong feelings of jealously in James, for the butler had often dreamt of being the love of her life.

Watching all of this was Max. He, too, had lost track of where Everet had gone. And like Slim, Max mistakenly thought Evelyn was the card cheat sought by Big Deke, who unknown to Max, was dead and buried in the basement of Evelyn’s manor.

Slim looked up and down at Evelyn. He wondered when and where Everet changed into this new outfit.

“You look great,” said Slim. “Come on. Let’s find a hotel.”

Evelyn could not believe her ears. Now she was angry. She grabbed Slim by the lapels of his jacket and shook him as hard as she could.

“A hotel? What do you take me for? Some woman of the streets?”

Now it was Slim’s turn to look puzzled.

“Uh, now. I just thought it’d be nice to get settled in a nice hotel before we head over to see where the big card game is going to take place.”

“Card game?” asked James and Evelyn at the same time.

24

:smack:

Correction:

“Uh, no. I just thought it’d be nice to get settled in a nice hotel before we head over to see where the big card game is going to take place.”

“Card game?” asked James and Evelyn at the same time.

25

Max looked around the train station and wondered where Big Deke was. He saw Sheriff Cunningham getting off the train. Their eyes locked onto each other. The sheriff walked over straight toward Max.

Max tried to appear calm, but he was feeling nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Should he bolt or appear nonchalant?

26

Max didn’t need to worry about Cunningham for the time being. At that moment, an explosion rocked San Francisco and everyone headed toward it’s origin: the northeastern end of Market Street. The Palace Hotel had stood at Market and Second for thirteen years but now a fireball tore through its lobby. Somthing had ruptured a gas line.

27

As a crowd of curious onlookers rushed toward the Palace Hotel, James got knocked over and hit his head against a post. He fell unconscious to the sidewalk.

“Well, that’s a darn shame. I guess we won’t be staying at the Palace Hotel,” said Slim. “Not to worry. I saw a place over there, if you don’t mind settling for an inexpensive motel. The money we save by staying there we can put toward playing in the big card game.”

Before Evelyn could reply, Slim lifted her up, slung her over his shoulder and carried her toward the nearby motel.

Cunningham was wearing his badge on the lapel of his jacket. He had placed it there before he got off the train. Evelyn saw the badge and cried out to him, “You there! Sheriff! Stop this man! He’s taking me against my will to some seedy motel!”

Cunningham, thinking it was Everet dressed as a woman, and still feeling embarrassed about kissing Everet’s hand earlier, simply smiled and said, “Mr. McLeod, enjoy your stay here in San Francisco. Maybe we can run into each other again before we leave this fair city.”

Then the sheriff tipped his hat to Evelyn and said, “Good day, Miss Everhsham.”

Evelyn gasped and wondered what on earth was wrong with the sheriff.

She struggled to break free from Slim, but he had a firm grip on her. Slim smiled and playfully slapped Evelyn on her bottom. “Oh, stop it, Everhsham. You’ve been sending me mixed messages ever since you boarded that train. Your words said no, but your body said yes. Well, I aim to find out once and for all what you really meant.”

They arrived at the motel.

“We’d like a room, please,” said Slim to the desk clerk.

Evelyn was furious, but she decided to play along for now.

Once we get into that room, Mr. McLeod (is that what the sheriff called him?), thought Evelyn, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget! No man treats Evelyn Everhsham Norrington Barker Wainwright like this and gets away with it!

28

Everet finished sending his telegram and strolled around. He heard the explosion at the Palace Hotel and saw the crowd heading over to see what had happened. Then he noticed a man lying on the sidewalk near a post. The man was not moving. Everet ran over to check on him.

“Mister? Are you all right?” asked Everet with genuine concern.

James slowly opened his eyes and looked up. Then he smiled at who he thought was his lovely employer.

“Not really, ma’am, but awakening to such a vision of loveliness does help,” he said.

Everet smiled back. James had hazel eyes and a lean face with aquiline features. Everet had a weakness for that look.

“Do you feel well enough to get up? Perhaps we should get you to a doctor. That’s quite a bump you have on your forehead. Does it hurt?”

Everet felt a strong desire to nurse this adorable man back to full health, and then some.

29

Max paused at the Palace to watch the spectacle then headed off for the docks. Arriving at a seedy dive, he rapped on the door three times. A pair of eyes peered through a hole in the door and a gruff voice asked, “Whaddaya want?”

“Chang sent me.”

“Who?”

“Chang!”

“Don’t know no ‘Chang’. Go 'way.” The hole in the door slid closed.

Exasperated, Max turned around and put his back to the door. Then he knocked again. “What…?”

Max stuck a Derringer through the hole. “Open the door or I’ll blow your nose off,” he demanded in an Cajun accent. This elicited a bit of laughter from inside.

A different pair of eyes peered out and looked Max over. “Antoine?” Max nodded, and the door opened. “Antoine, what in Sam Hill are you doing dressed as an Eastern dandy?”

“Long story, and call me ‘Max’.”

30

Evelyn thought carefully. From what Mr. McLeod had said earlier, she gathered Everet in full stage costume met this man on the train. Exactly what happened between the two of them was a mystery to her, but it was obvious to her that Mr. McLeod had her confused with her dear brother Everet. But how was she to convince him of this case of mistaken identity?

I guess I could show him my breasts, she thought, but it would be more fun to teach him a lesson he’ll never forget for treating me this way. Evelyn smiled to herself wickedly as she contemplated what she would do to Mr. McLeod.

Slim carried Evelyn into their motel room, placed her on the bed.

“Stay right there,” he said. Then he closed and locked the door. Slim turned to his new roommate.

“So it’s not the Palace Hotel. It’ll do. Besides, you make any room beautiful just by being in it.”

Evelyn was momentarily taken aback by that compliment. Snap out of it, she told herself.

Evelyn smiled coyly as she stretched out on the bed like a sleek graceful feline. “Why, I declare, Mr. McLeod,” she said in a warm friendly Southern tone. “You certainly do have a way with words."

Slim smiled and relaxed a bit. He felt relieved thinking he would not have to worry about this beautiful creature bolting from him.

“I’m going to freshen up in the powder room,” said Evelyn. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and get out of those clothes? You WILL be here when I get back, right?”

“Of course,” said Slim.

Slim watched her as she went to the bathroom and closed the door. He happily got undressed.

Evelyn reached down under her skirt and pulled out a small pistol from its holster that was securely strapped to her leg.

She waited a couple of minutes before she emerged from the bathroom while carrying the pistol in her hand.

Slim was completely undressed and lying on the bed with his eyes closed as he happily anticipated what would happen next. He heard the bathroom door open, so he opened his eyes and was very startled to see ‘Everet’ standing there while pointing a pistol directly at him.

“Everet, this isn’t funny,” said Slim.

“Get off that bed, Mr. McLeod, and head toward the door.” Evelyn’s hand on the pistol never wavered. “Do as I say.”

Slim slowly and carefully got up from the bed.

“Unlock that door, open and it and step into the hallway.”

“But I’m naked!”

“Yes, I know,” smiled Evelyn. “Do it!”

Slim reluctantly obeyed her. As he stood in the hallway, he whispered so as not to attract the attention of the other motel occupants, “Could you please throw me a robe or something?”

Evelyn grinned and merely closed the door in his face. He heard it lock.

“Damn!” he said.

Evelyn moved quickly. She gathered all of Slim’s personal belongings and placed them into two pillowcases. Then she climbed out the window and onto the fire escape, taking the stuffed pillowcases with her.

Slim thought quickly. He picked up a throw rug and wrapped it around his waist. It was a bit rough on his skin, but it would have to do. Now to head downstairs to the desk clerk and get another key to the room, he thought.

31

Slim reached the desk downstairs, but the clerk was nowhere in sight.

“Figures,” muttered Slim. He turned toward the big window in the lobby and saw ‘Everet’ climbing down the fire escape carrying two stuffed pillowcases.

“Those better not be my clothes in those pillowcases!” said Slim. He angrily flung down the throw rug and ran outside. Modesty be damned, he thought to himself.

Evelyn did not see Slim silently waiting below. She let go to drop safely to the ground.

“Gotcha!” said Slim as he grabbed her.

Evelyn’s scream was cut short by Slim clamping a firm hand across her mouth.

“Quite the prankster, aren’t you?” he said as he lifted her and carried her back into the motel lobby.

The desk clerk returned by this time and was shocked to see Slim buck naked and carrying Evelyn into the lobby. She still held the two stuffed pillowcases.

“I need another key to our room, please,” said Slim. The clerk quickly nodded and handed Slim the key.

“Thank you.”

The clerk continued to stare at them as Slim carried his protesting roommate back upstairs.

32

When they got back to the room Slim threw Evelyn onto the bed. The pair of stuffed pillowcases bounced off the bed and on to the floor. He grabbed them and shook them open. His clothes and wallet fell out.

“I was going to give those back to you,” said Evelyn
shrugging. “Some day.”

Slim grabbed the hem of her skirt and lifted it.

“Hey!” she cried.

He quickly confiscated her pistol from its holster and placed it on top of the dresser.

“Don’t even think of moving,” he said in a steady angry voice. He quickly got dressed all the while keeping his eyes on the beautiful creature on the bed.

“So now what?” she asked.

In one smooth movement Slim picked up the pistol from the dresser and aimed it at ‘Everet’.

Evelyn gasped and stared in disbelif at Slim.

“Now it’s your turn to get undressed,” said Slim. “Do it.”

Evelyn meekly obeyed.

“Well, I’ll be goddamned,” said Slim softly when he saw Evelyn unclothed.

“Didn’t Everet ever tell you about his twin sister?” she asked.

“Actually, he did. But after all that heavy drinking we did, I guess I forgot.”

He sat on the bed and stared at her.

“I guess we should talk,” he said.

“I guess we should,” she replied.

But during the next hour they didn’t do much talking. By the end of that hour they were both under the sheets and had gotten to know each other very, very well.

Then they talked.

“Hold your horses for a second,” said Slim. “I just had a thought.”

“Really? Poor thing. It must be terribly lonely rattling around inside that empty head.”

Slim gave her a look that meant, “Watch it.”

“So what’s this thought you just had?”

“How do I know there really is an Everet?”

“What? Well, of course there is! How can you even ask? He’s my twin brother!”

“So you say. But I’ve never seen the two of you together in the same place at the same time. For all I know, maybe it was really YOU who won all my winnings with that royal flush. Yeah, the more I think of it, the more I believe that’s what’s really going on here. You never were a man. You only pretended to be a man who performed on stage as a female impersonator! And it was really you on the train with me cuddling close to me and brushing your hand now and then against my arm, all the while verbally denying you ever wanted to go to bed with me, but flirting with me with your gestures.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong in your life,” said Evelyn, trying her best to keep her voice steady. “Remember that man who was standing next to me at the train station? The one who hit his head against the post when the crowd rushed by? That’s my loyal butler James. He can tell you who I am.”

“That wouldn’t prove anything. Maybe you went away on vacation and your butler wouldn’t know what you did when you were away from home. Maybe you kept your male alter ego a secret from your butler.”

Evelyn stared at Slim in disbelief. “That’s quite an imagination you have, Mr. McLeod.”

“I think you can call me Slim by now,” he said.

33

“Who’s this guy?” Max asked, indicating the bouncer. “Where’s Lou?”

“That’s Sean, wandered in here one day and the boss took a liking to ‘im. Boss has been missin’ for goin’ on two days, picked up a telegram and nobody’s seen him since. Lou and some of the other boys been lookin’ for 'im.”

34

Dear Ma and Pa:

How are things back home? I know you’re disappointed that I chose not to work in the family business, but I just needed to be out here on my own. San Francisco is quite the booming town. You should come visit me here some time.

I got a job working as a junior henchman for a gang. The pay fluctuates depending on how much of a haul we take in on a job. Some of the fellows in the gang and I are currently looking for our boss (Big Deke) who mysteriously disappeared.

San Francisco sure has some odd things happening. Just earlier today I was searching one part of town for our missing boss when I saw the darndest thing. Oh, be sure to tell lil’ brother Ned about this ‘cuz he’s sure to bust a gut laughing about it. Okay, so I’m walking along the street when I notice up yonder coming out the front door of a motel is this naked guy. He stands there looking upward. I look up to see what it is that’s got his attention. It’s a fancy-dressed woman climbing down the fire escape. She drops down and he catches her. Then the naked guy carries her back into the motel with her wiggling to break free, only she can’t ‘cuz he’s holding her real firm-like.

Now I’m sure there is a mighty interesting story behind what I just told you about the naked guy and the fancy-dressed gal. Wish I knew what it was. If I ever do learn what it is, I’ll be sure to write you.

Have to go now. One of the fellows thinks he has a lead on where Big Deke might have gone.

Your loving son,
Hank

35

Lee Mai Siang barely escaped with his life from the gas explosion at the Palace Hotel. He could not say for sure who was responsible for that explosion, but he had a strong suspicion it was the same individual who was seeking the very same item sought by Lee Mai Siang.

“He will stop at nothing to prevent me from recovering the stolen artifact and returning it to its rightful place back at the Monks’ Temple,” Siang said softly to himself.

Siang had come a long way from China in search of the Jade Phoenix Medallion that had been stolen decades ago. It carried a curse, one that could destroy the lives of the unsuspecting and innocent people here in San Francisco this very day at the stroke of noon if Siang could not recover it in time and place it inside its original silk pouch. Siang prayed that he would not fail in his quest.

Siang now stood across the street from a three-story manor. The Jade Phoenix Medallion was inside that manor. Siang was certain of it. The premonition he had this morning clearly showed it to him.

Meanwhile inside the manor Everet was waiting hand and foot on James in order to nurse him back to full health.

“Sir, please,” said James protesting. “You’re very kind, but I assure you there’s no need to do this. I’ll be fine. Wouldn’t you prefer to get settled in the guest room I’ve prepared for you? Your sister will be delighted to see you once she returns.”

“Where is my sister anyway?” asked Everet.

James was quiet for a moment. The last thing he remembered before hitting his head on that post was his lovely employer being aggressively pursued by some tall slender male stranger who apparently wanted to whisk her away to some hotel.

“No doubt to have his way with her, the scoundrel!” thought James.

James turned to Everet who looked at him expectantly.

“I don’t know where my employer is at the moment,” said James. “We parted ways right after that loud gas explosion and when that large crowd rushed past.”

“If she doesn’t turn up within the hour, we’ll head out and look for her. You still don’t look well, James. Let me get you some ice for that bump.”

Everet had changed out of his stage costume and into his regular clothes. He looked more like the card-playing Everet who had won Slim’s winnings that night long ago with a royal flush. He went to the kitchen to get some ice.

It was a few minutes before noon.

Unbeknownst to James and Everet, the Jade Phoenix Medallion that was on the floor of the closet in the butler’s bedroom began to glow.

Down in the basement of the manor something was stirring beneath the one of the four burial plots.

Lee Mai Siang’s heart was racing. There was no time to lose. He had to enter that manor and quickly recover the Jade Phoenix Medallion.

Everet had an eerie and odd feeling that eyes were upon him. He turned and saw the door leading to the basement swing open. A large looming male figure stepped out of the shadows and into the brightly lit kitchen.

Everet stared in horror. Big Deke stared back with a menacing grin. Or was it Big Deke? He looked like him, only twisted and dark with patches of dirt coating him.

“You dirty card cheat,” growled Big Deke. “Finally I can have my revenge!”

Everet bolted from the kitchen.

Slim and Evelyn were on their way to the manor.

Evelyn did not really want to invite Slim to her home, but she figured he might be able to shed some light on where to find her dear brother.

36

Siang climbed up the side of the manor and entered through an upstairs balcony window. He searched for the butler’s room.

Everet rushed out of the kitchen, grabbed James by the arm and pulled him toward the front door.

“Sir, may I inquire as to what you are doing?” asked James.

“Getting us away from one very large and angry man,” said Everet. He opened the door. There stood Evelyn and Slim. Evelyn was just about to insert her key into the lock when Everet opened the door.

“Well, I’ll be goddamned,” said Slim. “There ARE two of you.”

Slim looked at Everet, then at Evelyn, then back at Everet.

“Told you,” said Evelyn smugly.

“Evelyn, dearest, we simply must catch up on what’s been happening in our lives, but there’s not a moment to lose right now,” said Everet as he motioned for them to move away from the manor.

“Oh, my god,” said Evelyn. Big Deke appeared and stood in the doorway.

James turned and his eyes widened in horror at the sight of the man he had just buried hours ago.

“Big Deke?” asked Slim grinning. “Is it really you? How long has it been, you dirty dog, you?”

Big Deke peered at Slim. “McLeod?”

“That’s right, but call me Slim. So what have you been doing since we last met?”

“Been chasing after this mangy dirty little card cheat, that’s what!”

Big Deke had Everet by the collar of his buckskin jacket.

“Watch it! This jacket cost me a fortune!” said Everet. “And the words ‘mangy’ and ‘dirty’ certainly do NOT describe me! I always take pride in my appearance!”

“Big Deke, how’s about we head out and you let me buy you a drink?” said Slim in an attempt to make Big Deke let go of Everet.

“Later. Right now I’m going to string up this piece of scum by the neck until he’s dead.”

“Big Deke, can I ask you a favor before you do that?” said Slim.

“What?”

“May I have one hour with him before you hurt him?”

Big Deke looked puzzled.

“Why?”

“This maddening little creature got me all excited and aroused during our train ride last night, all the while saying he would never go to bed with me. Well, I think he’s just playing some sort of game.”

“You mean like ‘hard to get’?”

“Exactly. Don’t you just hate that?”

“Yeah, I do,” said Big Deke. “Why can’t people just be upfront about their intentions?”

Everet stared at Slim, then back at Big Deke.

“So what are you going to do with him during this one hour that you want?” said Big Deke.

“Take him upstairs and bed him senseless,” said Slim. Then he spoke to Everet. “I know you want me, Everet. And I know now why I lost my entire winnings to your royal flush that night long ago. I couldn’t concentrate on my game because I was distracted by your ethereal-like beauty. Damn, you drive me out of my mind. Teasing me by flirting with me like that all night, then bolting from the train this morning before I could take you to a hotel.”

“Abner, I didn’t bolt from you,” said Everet in all earnestness.

“No?” asked Slim. Big Deke looked at them, awaiting Everet’s answer.

“Not at all. I figured we’d both meet up at the big card game later. You still are planning to go there, right?”

“Well, yes.”

“Tell you what,” said Big Deke grinning wickedly at Everet. “I’m going to let Slim here take you upstairs. But after he’s done with you, I’m going to sample your wares myself before I take you outside and hang you by the neck until you’re dead.”

Everet panicked at the thought of being bedded by this scary-looking huge man. He is SO not my type, thought Everet.

Evelyn thought quickly, trying to come up with a plan to save her dear brother. Then she remembered her pistol. She quickly pulled it from its holster and aimed it at Big Deke.

“Let go of my brother,” she said sternly.

Big Deke chuckled. “What is that? A pea shooter? Say, don’t you and I also have a date for upstairs? I distinctly remember you asking me to help you with your ‘certain needs’, what with you being such a lonely widow. Well, honey, you just wait your turn. I’ll tend to your needs after I’m done screwing your brother.”

Evelyn repeated what she said. “Let go of my brother. NOW!”

Big Deke roughly shoved Everet at Slim who caught him. Then Big Deke lunged toward Evelyn who then pulled the trigger. Big Deke stopped momentarily, then grinned when he saw he was not injured by the bullet wound.

Big Deke was not quite the same now thanks to the power of the Jade Phoenix Medallion that was still glowing on the floor of the closet of James’ bedroom. There was only one way to stop him.

Fortunately, Lee Mai Siang found what he was looking for just in time. He snatched the Jade Phoenix Medallion, placed it into the silk pouch and pulled the drawstring shut.

Big Deke vanished before their very eyes.

Meanwhile, Lou and his boys were on their way to the manor. They had gotten a lead that Big Deke was last seen entering the manor and accompanied by a young woman.

37

Wyatt Saunters by with Sidney, the porter, eh, pushing the cart with his 16 cases of sarsaparilla …
“Sidney, I believe I’ve killed the thread.”
“Killed who, sir?”
“Not who, it! I believe I’ve killed the thread”
“Yes, sir.”

38

Slim said, “Well, no need to put this off any longer. I’ve always wanted to do it with twins. And you both are such lovelies!” He smiled at Everet and Evelyn as he took them both by the arms and led them upstairs.

Everet gave his twin sister a look that said, “Help me!”

Evelyn shrugged and whispered to her brother, “He’s actually pretty good in bed.”

39

With the Jade Phoenix Medallion safely in its pouch and tucked inside his pocket, Lee Mai Siang stepped out of James’ bedroom and into the hall. He headed for the large window at the end of the hallway that he used to enter the building. Then he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He quickly ducked into another bedroom and hid underneath the bed.

The next hour was a most uncomfortable one for Lee Mai Siang. He stayed hidden underneath the bed while the threesome took place right above him.

Meanwhile downstairs James the butler was beside himself thinking of his beloved Evelyn upstairs with that blasted Mr. McLeod and her brother Everet.

There was a knock at the door. James, not knowing it was Lou and his boys searching for Big Deke, went to answer it.

40

And down near the water front, at the Big Town Meeting Hall, the Special Delux Meeting Beautification committee was frantically putting up all the various decorations they’d prepared for the World 's Championship of Poker. There was crepe paper bunting strung everywhere, and colorful “Welcome” signs adorned the entry. They had flower arrangements and table cloths for the refreshments tables and a lovely “sign-in” table all ready to greet the players, famous, infamous, and just plain, well, (scum is Such a harsh word, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce had agreed (in a vote of 36 to 33) to ban the use of the word applying to anyone who could come up with the entry fees and “gaming taxes.”) just plain “folks.”
The Women’s auxiliary was going through the final rehearsals of their grand opening extravaganza, which they felt would be SO much more elegant and appropriate than the one the ‘saloon girls local 256’ had performed in the previous event!
All was hither and dither, with motion and flurry anywhere you rested your eyes! The decorators that Big Deke had hired were there as well, carefully seeing to the feng shui of the gaming room. They were placing the traditional red banners, wind chimes, and other symbols, and very very carefully placing the all important tiny feng shui mirrors. Placing them in ExacTly the locations Big Deke had told them would bring, for the decorators, the most auspicious returns in the wealth corner of their personal bagua.