"But really, Manning! I had no...."
Manning started for the door. "Thanks for all the information I didn't get. And thanks for the cigar."
He stood on the street for a few minutes after leaving the building agent's office. It was a hot summer day, the only relief being the slight breeze that blew off the lake. The street was crowded with men in seer sucker suits, sweltering in the heat and mopping their foreheads. Young girls in thin blouses and light weight skirts, as young girls always seemed to do, managed to look cool and fresh.
His last summer, Manning thought slowly. Take a good look and enjoy it while you can.
He walked slowly towards the Loop, looking at the scenery along the way as if he had never seen it before. It was a great world, he thought. But you didn't begin to appreciate it until you found out that one of these days you weren't going to be around any more.
He stopped in at a cigar store near Madison street.
"Some fine Havanas just came in, Mr. Manning."
There was a time when he had thought about cutting down on smoking. It didn't make much difference now.
"A half dozen should do it, Jeff."