receipted bills, most of them for clothes and furniture. Again nothing personal. I was ready to give up when I found a folded envelope jammed into the back of one of the pigeonholes. It had been postmarked in San Diego nearly a year before. It contained a letter written in indelible pencil on both sides of a sheet of cheap hotel stationery. The letter was signed “Tony.”
I shut myself into the lighted bathroom to read it:
Dear Anne:
Maybe you are supprized to hear from me. I am supprized myself. After what you said the last time I didn’t think I would want to see you again, let alone write a letter. But here I am stuck in Dago with nothing better to do this is a dreary berg since the War. I’m telling you. The ship I am supposed to meet got held up by a storm off of Baja Cal. It won’t dock until tomorrow at the earliest so here I am stuck in a room in Dago for the night. I can see you’re face right here in the room with me Anne. Why don’t you smile at me.
I guess you think I am mentally nuts but I haven’t even had a drink tonight or anything else. I was out walking before and there was plenty women I could of had. I had no interest. I had no interest in any other women since that time with you. I would marry you if you let me. I know I’m short on cash I can’t complete with certain parties in the booze business but I am a loyal friend. Certain parties are the kind of fellow youshould watch out for Anne. He is the kind of fellow you can’t trust I also heard he is going into the hole financeanly his wifes money won’t last.
I know you think I am a “Mexican” not good enough for you. It isn’t true Anne. My parents were pure Spanish blood no Mexican blood in my vains. I am just as good as you are and a whiter man than “him.” I would do anything for you Anne.
This is not a threat. I never did threaten you. You didn’t understand when I got mad it wasn’t jealousy like you said. I was sad and worried about you. I stood all night outside your place when “he” was there. I did that many times. I wanted to portect you. I did that many times. I never told you that secret did I. Don’t worry I won’t tell anybody else.
I love you Anne. When I turn out the light I see you in the dark shinning like a star.
Your loyal friend,
Tony
P.S. —Theres plenty women in this town like I said. If I have to stay here another night I don’t know what will happen. I guess it don’t matter to you one way or the other Anne. T.A .
I read the letter twice, straining my eyes on its small illiterate scrawl. It was like looking through a dead man’s eyes, deciphering the smudged records of his memory.
When I opened the bathroom door, there had been a change in the cottage. A subtler sense than hearing felt something in the living-room, a breathing bulk solider than the darkness. I was vulnerable with the light at my back. The little hall and the doorless arch were like a shooting-gallery, with me the fixed target at the end of it.
I switched off the light and moved sideways toward thebedroom door, feeling for the doorframe with one spread hand. My other hand held the flash, ready to use as a light or as a club. I heard the rustling of the curtain in the arch six feet from me. Then the ceiling light in the hall went on with a click.
A gun was thrust past the gathered curtain at the side of the arch. It was a .45, but it was small in the hand that was holding it.
“Come out of there.”
I froze in the doorway, half of my body exposed. I could feel the line between safety and danger bisecting my center.
“Out of there with your hands up.” It was the sheriff’s voice. “I’ll give you a count of three before I fire.” He began to count.
I dropped the flash in my pocket and raised my hands, stepping out of the friendly shadow. Church came through the arch. The crown of his Stetson brushed the curtain rod. He looked about seven feet tall.
“You.” He came up close, pressing the muzzle of his gun
I shut myself into the lighted bathroom to read it:
Dear Anne:
Maybe you are supprized to hear from me. I am supprized myself. After what you said the last time I didn’t think I would want to see you again, let alone write a letter. But here I am stuck in Dago with nothing better to do this is a dreary berg since the War. I’m telling you. The ship I am supposed to meet got held up by a storm off of Baja Cal. It won’t dock until tomorrow at the earliest so here I am stuck in a room in Dago for the night. I can see you’re face right here in the room with me Anne. Why don’t you smile at me.
I guess you think I am mentally nuts but I haven’t even had a drink tonight or anything else. I was out walking before and there was plenty women I could of had. I had no interest. I had no interest in any other women since that time with you. I would marry you if you let me. I know I’m short on cash I can’t complete with certain parties in the booze business but I am a loyal friend. Certain parties are the kind of fellow youshould watch out for Anne. He is the kind of fellow you can’t trust I also heard he is going into the hole financeanly his wifes money won’t last.
I know you think I am a “Mexican” not good enough for you. It isn’t true Anne. My parents were pure Spanish blood no Mexican blood in my vains. I am just as good as you are and a whiter man than “him.” I would do anything for you Anne.
This is not a threat. I never did threaten you. You didn’t understand when I got mad it wasn’t jealousy like you said. I was sad and worried about you. I stood all night outside your place when “he” was there. I did that many times. I wanted to portect you. I did that many times. I never told you that secret did I. Don’t worry I won’t tell anybody else.
I love you Anne. When I turn out the light I see you in the dark shinning like a star.
Your loyal friend,
Tony
P.S. —Theres plenty women in this town like I said. If I have to stay here another night I don’t know what will happen. I guess it don’t matter to you one way or the other Anne. T.A .
I read the letter twice, straining my eyes on its small illiterate scrawl. It was like looking through a dead man’s eyes, deciphering the smudged records of his memory.
When I opened the bathroom door, there had been a change in the cottage. A subtler sense than hearing felt something in the living-room, a breathing bulk solider than the darkness. I was vulnerable with the light at my back. The little hall and the doorless arch were like a shooting-gallery, with me the fixed target at the end of it.
I switched off the light and moved sideways toward thebedroom door, feeling for the doorframe with one spread hand. My other hand held the flash, ready to use as a light or as a club. I heard the rustling of the curtain in the arch six feet from me. Then the ceiling light in the hall went on with a click.
A gun was thrust past the gathered curtain at the side of the arch. It was a .45, but it was small in the hand that was holding it.
“Come out of there.”
I froze in the doorway, half of my body exposed. I could feel the line between safety and danger bisecting my center.
“Out of there with your hands up.” It was the sheriff’s voice. “I’ll give you a count of three before I fire.” He began to count.
I dropped the flash in my pocket and raised my hands, stepping out of the friendly shadow. Church came through the arch. The crown of his Stetson brushed the curtain rod. He looked about seven feet tall.
“You.” He came up close, pressing the muzzle of his gun
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