The Escort - By Gina Robinson Page 0,90

painted her face with rouge and lipstick so that she took on the hard appearance of one of the ladies who worked at the Lux. Her shirtwaist was unbuttoned and pulled apart to show a good deal of cleavage. She was conscious of the spring breeze across her bosom as they stepped out the door.

She padded her skirt with the money she'd withdrawn the day before. She tried to appear saucy and confident as she hung on Tonio's arm flirting animatedly. Her heart pounded with fear.

Tonio held her coat draped across his arm to conceal his revolver. He walked along calmly with a confidence Angelina hoped he felt. The daylight was nearly completely faded as they walked the last block to the Lux.

As expected the streets were heavily patrolled. Angelina picked up many admiring stares as they walked along. Just before they reached the Lux, a tall African American soldier stopped them. He and Tonio looked eye to eye.

"There's a curfew imposed." The soldier's voice was stern.

"So I've heard and that's why I'm escorting the lady home. We've just been out for a bite of dinner."

"I'll bet," the trooper said. "I hope you're prepared to spend the night in that place. By my reckoning dark has fallen."

"It won't be a hardship, I assure you." Tonio winked.

The soldier motioned him on. Angelina took a deep breath and squeezed Tonio's hand in victory. They walked up the entrance to the building just as the door opened before them and Nokes stepped out more than slightly drunk.

"Domani!" he called out in a too loud voice. Before Tonio could warn him off Nokes slugged him playfully in the left shoulder. Tonio winced in pain while struggling to appear normal. It was all over in a moment. Two troopers stepped up beside him and wrestled him to the ground. Nokes was flung back. The revolver went flying across the boardwalk as Angelina screamed.

"Is that Antonio Domani?" a white soldier wearing officer insignia appeared and questioned Nokes.

"Yes." Stupid Nokes—too drunk to cover for Tonio.

The officer motioned to his fellow soldiers. "Lock him up in the local jail tonight. We'll transport him tomorrow. We got ourselves a big one, fellows!" He kicked Tonio with his boot. Then the other two men pulled the struggling Tonio to his feet. "Get a good look at our famous bomber, men. Take him away." He turned to the stunned Angelina and opened the door to the Lux Building courteously. "You'd better go inside, ma'am."

She looked back at Tonio and mouthed, "I'm sorry." He nodded toward the building, motioning for her to continue the scam. She watched them haul him away.

"Ma'am," the officer said.

She stormed haughtily through the door. He grabbed her arm as she entered. "I'm off duty soon; perhaps I'll come back and give you a little business."

"I'm closed for business tonight." She shrugged off his hand and with head high marched up the stairs to the second floor without a thought as to where she was going. When she reached the top, she shivered and burying her head in hands, began to cry.

"You spent the night at the whorehouse?" May asked, incredulous.

"Yes, and they were very nice to me. They gave me a bed to sleep in and breakfast this morning."

"I hope you slept on the floor. Who knows what a woman might pick up just looking at one of those filthy beds."

"At that point I didn't care."

"You're a brave girl, Angelina."

"Yes." She smiled for the first time. "I am. Now how are we going to get Al and Tonio out of jail?"

"That's a good question," May said. "They could use a lawyer. Not that those cursed blue coats are offering anyone due process."

Angelina's eyes lit up. "John, John Lawlor. He's a prominent Spokane attorney. He surely has friends who can help us. Why didn't we think of him before?

May didn't look encouraged. "Right now we can use all the help we can get."

"I'll telegraph him immediately. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner." Angelina leapt to her feet and out the door before May could warn her to be careful. She didn't need another warning to add to her worries. The streets were full of desperate people and rowdy, power-swelled troops.

Angelina returned to the house less than an hour later looking disheveled and disgruntled. May had one basket loaded with food for the prisoners and was loading a second when Angelina came in, the porch door slamming behind her. "How'd it go? Your lawyer friend