the older men always said. There was a guy named Charlie, for example, who worked alongside him on the hoist. “When you’re young and don’t know the score, maybe you get a kick out of running around with those pigs. But after a while, you want something better. A nice girl of your own. That’s the ticket.”
Martin felt he owed it to himself to find out. If he didn’t like it better, he could always go back to what he had.
Almost six months went by before Martin met Lillian Gillis. By that time he’d had another promotion and was working inside, in the office. They made him go to night school to learn how to do simple bookkeeping, but it meant another fifteen bucks extra a week, and it was nicer working indoors.
And Lillian was a lot of fun. When she told him she’d marry him, Martin was almost sure that the time was now. Except that she was sort of—well, she was a nice girl, and she said they’d have to wait until they were married. Of course, Martin couldn’t expect to marry her until he had a little more money saved up, and another raise would help, too.
That took a year. Martin was patient, because he knew it was going to be worth it. Every time he had any doubts, he took out his watch and looked at it. But he never showed it to Lillian, or anybody else. Most of the other men wore expensive wristwatches and the old silver railroad watch looked just a little cheap.
Martin smiled as he gazed at the stem. Just a few twists and he’d have something none of these other poor working slobs would ever have. Permanent satisfaction, with his blushing bride—Only getting married turned out to be just the beginning. Sure, it was wonderful, but Lillian told him how much better things would be if they could move into a new place and fix it up. Martin wanted decent furniture, a TV set, a nice car.
So he started taking night courses and got a promotion to the front office. With the baby coming, he wanted to stick around and see his son arrive. And when it came, he realized he’d have to wait until it got a little older, started to walk and talk and develop a personality of its own.
About this time the company sent him out on the road as a trouble-shooter on some of those other jobs, and now he was eating at those good hotels, living high on the hog and the expense-account. More than once he was tempted to unwind his watch. This was the good life… Of course, it would be even better if he just didn’t have to work. Sooner or later, if he could cut in on one of the company deals, he could make a pile and retire. Then everything would be ideal. It happened, but it took time. Martin’s son was going to high school before he really got up there into the chips. Martin got a strong hunch that it was now or never, because he wasn’t exactly a kid anymore.
But right about then he met Sherry Westcott, and she didn’t seem to think he was middle-aged at all, in spite of the way he was losing hair and adding stomach. She taught him that a toupee could cover the bald spot and a cummerbund could cover the pot-gut. In fact, she taught him quite a lot and he so enjoyed learning that he actually took out his watch and prepared to unwind it.
Unfortunately, he chose the very moment that the private detectives broke down the door of the hotel room, and then there was a long stretch of time when Martin was so busy fighting the divorce action that he couldn’t honestly say he was enjoying any given moment.
When he made the final settlement with Lil he was broke again, and Sherry didn’t seem to think he was so young, after all. So he squared his shoulders and went back to work.
He made his pile, eventually, but it took longer this time, and there wasn’t much chance to have fun along the way. The fancy dames in the fancy cocktail lounges didn’t seem to interest him anymore, and neither did the liquor. Besides, the Doc had warned him off that.
But there were other pleasures for a rich man to investigate. Travel, for instance—and not riding the rods from one hick burg to another, either. Martin went around the
<<Previous page Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 1 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 2 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 3 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 4 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 5 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 6 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 7 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 8 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 9 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 10 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 11 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 12 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 13 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 14 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 15 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 16 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 17 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 18 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 19 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 20 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 21 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 22 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 23 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 24 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 25 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 26 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 27 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 28 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 29 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 30 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 31 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 32 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 33 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 34 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 35 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 36 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 37 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 38 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 39 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 40 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 41 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 42 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 43 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 44 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 45 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 46 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 47 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 48 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 49 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 50 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 51 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 52 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 53 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 54 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 55 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 56 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 57 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 58 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 59 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 60 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 61 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 62 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 63 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 64 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 65 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 66 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 67 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 68 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 69 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 70 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 71 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 72 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 73 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 74 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 75 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 76 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 77 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 78 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 79 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 80 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 81 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 82 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 83 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 84 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 85 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 86 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 87 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 88 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 89 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 90 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 91 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 92 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 93 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 94 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 95 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 96 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 97 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 98 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 99 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 100 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 101 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 102 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 103 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 104 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 105 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 106 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 107 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 108 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 109 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 110 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 111 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 112 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 113 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 114 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 115 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 116 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 117 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 118 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 119 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 120 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 121 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 122 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 123 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 124 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 125 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 126 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 127 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 128 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 129 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 130 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 131 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 132 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 133 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 134 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 135 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 136 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 137 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 138 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 139 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 140 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 141 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 142 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 143 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 144 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 145 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 146 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 147 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 148 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 149 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 150 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 151 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 152 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 153 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 154 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 155 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 156 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 157 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 158 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 159 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 160 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 161 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 162 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 163 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 164 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 165 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 166 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 167 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 168 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 169 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 170 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 171 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 172 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 173 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 174 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 175 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 176 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 177 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 178 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 179 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 180 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 181 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 182 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 183 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 184 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 185 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 186 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 187 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 188 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 189 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 190 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 191 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 192 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 193 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 194 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 195 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 196 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 197 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 198 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 199 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 200 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 201 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 202 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 203 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 204 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 205 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 206 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 207 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 208 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 209 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 210 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 211 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 212 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 213 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 214 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 215 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 216 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 217 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 218 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 219 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 220 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 221 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 222 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 223 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 224 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 225 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 226 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 227 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 228 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 229 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 230 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 231 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 232 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 233 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 234 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 235 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 236 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 237 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 238 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 239 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 240 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 241 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 242 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 243 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 244 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 245 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 246 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 247 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 248 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 249 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 250 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 251 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 252 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 253 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 254 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 255 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 256 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 257 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 258 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 259 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 260 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 261 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 262
Next page>>