Long White Con: The Biggest Score of His Life by Iceberg Slim Page A

he thought, but within reasonable proximity, until the mark is blown off on that plane.
    Pearl gave him an odd look when he announced he was breaking up the card party to catch some air. To immunize his dear, precious Pearl from a tail-spin into an attack of her chronic illness, he invited Speedy to tag along. On the way out, he picked up his binoculars from a table near the door.
    He drove Pearl’s Mercury for a change. Since I’m back to my normal blond image, the mark can’t recognize me just like that, he thought. Folks knew the Kid was sticking to the mark like Elmer’s Glue, and most likely keeping the mark close to the environs of his hotel until plane time. He parked in the hotel parking lot and scouted a bit. Sure enough, Kid and the mark were in the hotel coffee shop. He went back and pulled out to a parking spot across the street from the coffee shop’s plate glass window. His Patek Phillippe read seven-forty-five P.M.
    Within five minutes they came out to the cab stand with a bellman and Stilwell’s luggage. He and Speedy followed them to the airport. Speedy stayed in the Mercury near the terminal entrance.
    Folks was confident the mark couldn’t recognize him. That is, he thought, unless I promenaded for him long enough to top my gait. He followed them to the second floor, at maybe a twenty-five yard range, until they reached the waiting section for upcoming departures. He went to the john adjacent to the pre-boarding section. He glanced out the window overlooking the field. The mark’s plane was easing toward the embarkation tunnel on the side of the building.
    He decided to risk close proximity. He took a seat in the crowded cattle pen room directly behind Stilwell. This is fun with my back almost touching the mark’s, Folks thought.
    The Kid gave him a dirty look for screwing around like that. Kid knew, of course, why Folks had shown up. He always pretended to be turned off by any sentimentality or protective emotional action from his bosom friends.
    The clerk behind his box picked up a mike and announced, “Flight 56 now ready for boarding of passengers for Chicago, Peoria and Muncie, Indiana.”
    Kid and the mark stood up, shook hands and embraced. Folks was sure he should have stayed with his woman’s whist to keep the peace.
    The mark said, “I’ll never forget you, Jimmy. I hate to say good-bye.”
    Kid said, “It isn’t good-bye, Cecil. I’ll fly out to Muncie for some of that fabulous cuisine at your restaurants that you so delightfully boast about.”
    The mark moved with the tide and said, “That’s a wonderful idea, Jimmy. Do it soon!”
    Kid said, “Soon, laddie, soon!”
    Before the mark was absorbed into the crunch of departees, he turned and waved a final goodbye. Folks thought it was good-bye.
    Kid said to Folks, ventriloquist style, “You lop-eared jack-off!”
    Sweet old guy, the Kid, Folks thought as they went to a newsstand across the corridor for cigars and cigarettes. They made their purchases and turned away. Folks turned back to the newspaper rack to take evening papers to Pearl and Speedy, tossed the exact coins on the counter for the clerk and glanced at the headline as he joined Kid.
    “Detente Threatened,”
it read.
    It was the morning paper with that bold type in a square designation at the top of the front page. He said something to Kid about passe morning news as he went back for the evening paper.
    The clerk noticed him rummaging the rack. He said, “Sorry sir, delivery of the evening paper is fouled up.”
    The clerk returned his coins. He collided with a winsome stewardess, apparently late for her flight. She tossed what looked like an airlines voucher on the counter and snatched up magazines and most of the morning papers.
    The clerk turned from a customer and, as he picked up the voucher, started to shout at the stewardess. He shrugged as he decided it was useless. She had raced through the departure pen across the corridor into the door leading to the