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Abel smiled at Sammy’s bald head and went over to seventeen There were two people seated at the table, a man in a colourful checked jacket, of which Abel did not approve, and an attractive young woman with a mop of blonde, curly hair, which momentarily distracted Abel, who uncharitably assuirlfriend Abel put on his ’sorry soing to et his table changed to i near the s of waiters through the doors, but it was i the table, when the hotel was already packed with residents andplace, and looked upon visitors as little less than intruders, Why did Sammy always leave the tricky customers for him to deal with? Abel approached the checked jacket cautiously - ’You asked to speak to me, sir?’

’Sure did,’ said a Southern accent ’My nahter Melanie’

Abel’s eyes left Mr Leroy reen as any he had ever seen

’I have been watching you, Abel, for the last five days,’ Mr Leroy was saying in his Southern drawl

If pushed, Abel would have had to admit that he had not noticed Mr Leroy until the last five minqtes

’I have been very iot class, real class, and I am always on the lookout for that Ellsworth Statler was a fool not to pick you up right away’

Abel began to take a closer look at Mr Leroy His purple checks and double chin left Abel in no doubt that he had not been told about Prohibition, and the empty plates in front of him accounted for his basketball belly, but neither the na to hiround of any - one sitting at thirty - seven of the thirty - nine tables in the Edwardian Room That day Mr Leroy was one of the unknoo

The Southerner was still talking ’Now, I’m not one of those multi - millionaires who have to sit at your comer table when they stay at the Plaza’

Abel was lie customer wasn’t supposed to appreciate the relativeso badly for row to be as impressive as this one some day, Abel’

’I a for ti

’Leroup needs a new assistant e of the restaurants If you’re interested, join me in e e at it: Davis Ler - oy The Richmond Group of Hotels, Dallas Underneath was inscribed the motto: ~One day a hotel in every state, The na to Abel

’I look forward to seeing you,’ said the friendly, checkjacketed Texan