He dropped another quarter in the two-bit machine, spun the lever, and called to me, “How you doing, stranger?”
I said, “I’ve got this machine fed up to a place where it’s bound to start paying off. It’s so full of nickels now, it’s ready to bust.”
I put in a nickel and pulled the lever.
The three discs whirled in a bewildering kaleidoscope. With a click the left-hand disc stopped. A half second later, the middle one snapped into position.
I saw two bars.
The third one jarred to a stop.
A metallic click emanated from the inside of the machine, and the floodgates opened. Nickels poured out into the cup, out from the jackpot, dancing a merry jig as they spilled over my hands and dropped to the floor.
I grabbed a double handful, but they kept coming. I pushed coins down into my side pockets, cleaned out the cups, and then started looking for nickels on the floor.
The attendant said, “Perhaps I can help.”
He leaned over me. Suddenly his hands shot out, and his fingers gripped my wrists.