Lefty merely responded by brushing her arm from about his shoulders. He had time for no one now. The blond entertainer’s song had completely enveloped him.
“Mebe Americano want to drink alone weeth Rosa, upa-stairs, yes?” the undaunted little native coquette asked, again brushing herself close to Lefty’s side.
The boy pushed her away forcibly, once more allowing his mind to drift away with the music.
Rosa turned to the bartender and winked broadly as she announced, “Leetle soft drink for brave soldado—ver’ soft, Peitro!” The bartender grinned and reached for a glass just as the blonde at the piano finished her song.
Lefty smiled sympathetically and applauded with enthusiasm, calling for an encore. The entertainer bowed gratefully in his direction for he had been the only one of all the people present who acknowledged his appreciation of her art.
“Don’t encourage her,” someone shouted.
“If you applaud like that, she’ll inflict another one of those songs on us!”
“That’s just what I want her to do!” Lefty announced; and that was exactly what the lady did to the discomfort of all.
“Where’s my drink?” the soldier demanded as the music once more reached his ears.
The bartender complied by drawing a glass of beer, and when Lefty again turned to watch the girl at the piano, the man serving the drink dropped the ashes of his cigar in the beer, also pouring in a good deal of whiskey as well.