Long White Con: The Biggest Score of His Life by Iceberg Slim Read Free Book Online

discovered a compelling charm and mystique about this place.”
    Kate shouted, “Mister Dancing Rain, Mister Stilwell’s five minutes have expired. I bid seventy thousand!”
    The mark said, “Seventy-five!”
    Kate bid, “Eighty!”
    The mark bid, “Eighty-five!”
    Kate took out a sheaf of prop checks and currency. She examined the boodle with a worried face.
    She said weakly, “I bid eighty-nine.”
    Stilwell beamed and shouted, “I bid ninety thousand!”
    Kate turned away disconsolately.
    Kid banged the horseshoe and waved a deed. “Once, twice, thrice. The ghost town and its goods are yours for ninety thousand dollars, Mister Stilwell . . . if you have that purchase price in cash or its equivalent.”
    Stilwell snatched out a billfold. He waved a check and a sheaf of currency. He said, “I have here, Mister Dancing Rain, my certified instrument for seventy-five thousand. I’ll make it payable to you. I also have an additional fifteen thousand in cash.”
    Kid said, “All right Mister Stilwell. Step up here and get your bill of sale and we’ll set the other papers of transfer into motion.”
    Trevor, Kate and Folks left the stable. Instantly, they were drowned in blinding light. The two uniformed grifter troopers pulled up before the stable and switched off the spotlight. They got out and pretended to chat with the mob. Shortly, Kid and the mark came from the stable.
    One of the troopers said to Kid, “Mister Dancing Rain, we contacted that physician. An ambulance should arrive any moment.”
    Kid said, “Thank you very much, but it’s too late. Billy passed away.”
    The trooper said, “Mike, get on the horn and get a coroner’s wagon out here.”
    His partner went to the cruiser.
    Folks said to the mark, “Congratulations, Cecil, and thanks for your generosity to me.”
    He said, “I’m very fond of you, Alex.”

BLOW OFF THE MARK
     
    F olks said to Trevor, “Well, Mister Lee, let’s pack in the fluoroscope and get back to the city. I’ll have a truck sent out here first thing in the morning to get my lady.”
    Two hours later they assembled in the hotel suite. The mark was jumpy as hell, and obviously eager for the others to leave. The mark compulsively glanced at his wristwatch as he yawned elaborately.
    Folks visualized the scene at that moment at the ghost town. The grifter troopers, the fake detective and Marvel had removed the state police decals from the cruiser. They had loaded the Chevy and cruiser with the prop fortune crammed into the duffel bags and were on their way back to the city.
    The mark frowned as he studied the dial of his watch. Kid ran an index finger down the crease in his trousers to signal split time. Kate rose and stifled a yawn.
    She said, “Thank you, Mister Stilwell, for a pleasant time.”
    She walked over to the mark as Kid got to feet.
    Kate smiled into the mark’s face. She said, “I think you’re such a lovable man, Cecil, despite your winning bid for that lovely ghost town.”
    The mark took Kate’s hand and pressed the back of it against his cheek. He said, “My dear, now I am sincerely sorry I bid you out. Ihave your card, if and when I decide to sell that ghost town, and you shall be the first notified.”
    She said, “Thank you, Cecil.”
    She shook his hand and moved away for the door. Kid shook Stilwell’s hand and followed Kate from the suite. Folks rose to his feet and stretched himself drowsily.
    He said, “Cecil, I’m bushed. Goodnight.”
    Stilwell said, “Sleep well, Alex.”
    Folks went toward his bedroom, and Stilwell suddenly stopped him.
    He said, “Alex, may I have a moment?”
    Folks read the greed in his eyes as he turned to face him.
    He said, “Alex, I, uh, well, our deal for that parcel. When will your Mister Lee get to Indiana to appraise it?”
    Folks smiled as he extracted a packet of mail from his jacket pocket. The mark had seen him pick up his mail at the desk on their way up from the ghost town. What he didn’t know