He was warmed, and the tight skin had softened as dried fruit expands in water. "Ah-h-h, but I feel better, kiddo."
"That's three steins you've had, Blink. And there's no telling what you filled up on those three times you went out."
"It's Christmas Eve, kiddo. What kind of a good time do you want for your money? A Christmas tree trimmed in tin angels?"
"Do I? You just bet your life I do."
"Then let me get it for you, sugar-plum. You just stick to me to-night and you can have any little thing your heart desires. Here, waiter." And he jingled again in the depths of his pocket.
"If you want to lose my company double quick, just you order another stein. Just look at you seeing double already."
"I'm all right, baby; never felt better in my life."
"You caught me when I was down and blue, didn't you, and pumped me full of a lot of Sunday-school talk, that's what you did. And I was fool enough to get soft and come down here with you, I was! But I felt it in my bones you was lying. I knew I was right about the coke. I seen you throw a high sign to that twitching guy in the striped sweater. I knew I was right. God, I—I just knew."
He leaned for her hand. "Little bittsie, black-eyed baby, you got me wrong."
"Ugh-h! Quit! Let go!"