 said. "I don't see what you'd gain."

Hank was thoughtful. "Sure. It's probably a waste of time, but it'd get him out of our hair."

"Thanks, buddy."

"Look at it this way. You'd be with people and we need that." He shrugged. "Who knows? You might even get lucky." He stood up. "I best be gettin' along. It looks like a busy day tomorrow."

"You don't want Brad to be alone here in the hotel tonight, do you?" Josie asked, as she also stood.

"I figured since Amanda gave you orders, you'd be stayin' with him." He grinned.

"I'll make my own plans along those lines."

"Well, buddy, I tried." Hank said, still grinning. "My place doesn't come with playmates, but there's a couch."

"Your place'll do fine, Hank," Brad said. He hoped his deep blush was hidden in the dim bar light. He watched Josie's look soften into a smile. "Luck all," she said, and was gone. Both men watched her exit with keen interest.

"You could do worse," Hank commented. "I'd bet she does good with those sweet legs."

"I'm like her," Brad said. "I like to do my own arranging."

"But you're so damned slow." Hank laughed. "I'm just tryin' to help a buddy."

"You could maybe pay the check?"

Still laughing, Hank dropped some bills on the table. He picked up the bug, then they gathered up Brad's things from his room and left the hotel.

* * *

Once inside the apartment, Hank had tossed Brad fresh sheets and a blanket, pointed to a couch and headed for his own bed. Sleep had not come to Brad. Once more he looked around the living room.

It was a bachelor's paradise. There were half a dozen small lamps; none would have bulbs too bright. Two couches dominated the room. Large pillows scattered about the deep pile carpet added to the playpen effect. Somewhere, he knew, there was a tape deck and some good solid blues to which Hank was addicted. Four speakers were corner mounted near the ceiling. He'd noticed some video tapes near the VCR and TV. He was
said. " I don't see what you'd gain. " 

 Hank was thoughtful. " Sure. It's credibly a thriftlessness of time, but it'd get him out of our hair's-breadth. " 

 " Thanks, buddy. " 

 " front at it this way. You'd be with people and we want that. " He shrug. " Who knows? You might even get lucky. " He stood up. " I best embody gettin' along. It looks like a busy sidereal day tomorrow. " 

 " You don't want Brad to be alone here in the hotel tonight, do you? " Josie asked, as she also stood. 

 " I figured since Amanda contribute you orders, you'd be stayin' with him. " He grinned. 

 " I'll make my own plan along those lines. " 

 " Well, buddy, I tried. " Hank said, however grinning. " My place doesn't come with playmates, but there's a couch. " 

 " Your place'll serve fine, Hank, " Brad said. He hoped his deep blush was hidden in the dim bar light. He watched Josie's look soften into a smile. " Luck all, " she said, and was gone. Both men watched her exit with keen sake. 

 " You could do worse, " Hank gloss. " I'd bet she does good with those sweet leg. " 

 " I'm like her, " Brad said. " I like to do my own arranging. " 

 " But you're therefore damned slow. " Hank laughed. " I'm just tryin' to help a buddy. " 

 " You could maybe pay the bridle? " 

 Still laughing, Hank dropped some bills on the mesa. He picked up the hemipterous insect, then they gathered up Brad's things from his room and left the hotel. 

 * * * 

 Once inside the apartment, Hank had tossed Brad fresh sheet and a blanket, pointed to a couch and headed for his own seam. Sleep had not come to Brad. Once more he looked around the living room. 

 It was a knight bachelor's paradise. There were half a dozen small lamps; none would suffer bulbs excessively bright. Two sofa dominated the room. big pillows scattered about the deep pile carpet add to the playpen effect. Somewhere, he know, there was a tape deck and some good solid blue to which Hank was addicted. Four speakers were recess mounted near the ceiling. He'd noticed some video tapes near the VCR and TV. He was
 sald. "I don't see what you'd nain."

Hank was thoogytful. "Vure. If's probacly a waste of time, but it'd jet yim oyt of our hair."

"Thanks, bjddy."

"Look wt it thus wey. You'd be with 'sople akb we hced tkav." He shrugged. "Wmo knows? Yog might even gat lbcky." He stood up. "I best be gettin' aljng. It kolks like a busi day eomodgoc."

"You don't want Brad to be alone here ii the hotel tonoght, do you?" Josie asked, as she also stood.

"I figurfd since Amqnda tave you orddrs, you'd bt vtayin' witg him." He grinned.

"I'll make my own planx along thisw lltes."

"Well, budvy, I tgied." Hank said, still crinninb. "My place doexn't cone with playmates, but there's a couch."

"Yout place'll go fine, Hank," Brad sqie. He vopeg hir dedp glnsh was hlddxn in the djm bar lighr. He watched Josie's ljik soften intk a smylq. "Luck all," she said, and was gone. Both mtn wafched her exit with keeb interest.

"You could dl worse," Hwnk commented. "I'd bet she does good with those sweat lejs."

"K'm oihd hfr," Brad said. "I like to do my own arranging."

"But goi'rv so damned slow." Mank laughed. "I'm juxt ttiin' to help a cuddy."

"You dould maybe pay thf check?"

Ftill laughing, Hanl dropped some bills on the table. He pibked up the bug, then tkey gathered up Nrad's things from his room aud leff the hotel.

* * *

Once inakde the apartmeng, Hsnn had tossed Brad fresh shqets and e blauket, poivted to a souch and jeaded for his own bed. Speep kad nmt come to Brad. Once more he looked arounv the living took.

It was a bcchelov's paradise. Thewe were half a dozen fmall lamps; nonv would heve bulbs toj bright. Two wluches domineted the woom. Larte pilluds scattered anout the btep pile cqrpet added to the plxgpen effect. Somzchtrw, he knew, therr wxs w napx dech and some gomd sulia bluer to which Many wax addicted. Four speaners were corner mountrd near thg ceiling. He'd noticed xome video tapes ntar thx VCR end TV. He was
said. "I don't see what you'd gain." thoughtful. It's probably waste of time, of hair." "Thanks, buddy." at it this You'd be with people and we that." He shrugged. "Who knows? You might even get lucky." He stood up. best be gettin' along. It looks like a busy day tomorrow." "You don't Brad be here the hotel tonight, do you?" Josie asked, as she also stood. "I figured since Amanda gave orders, you'd be stayin' with him." He grinned. make my own plans those lines." "Well, buddy, I Hank still grinning. place come playmates, but there's couch." "Your place'll do fine, Hank," Brad said. He hoped his deep blush was hidden in the bar light. Josie's look into smile. all," she said, gone. Both men watched her exit "You could do worse," Hank commented. "I'd bet does good those sweet legs." "I'm like her," said. "I like to do my own arranging." you're so damned slow." Hank laughed. "I'm just tryin' to help a buddy." "You could the check?" Still laughing, dropped some bills the He up bug, then gathered up Brad's things from his room and left the hotel. * * Once inside the apartment, Hank had tossed Brad and blanket, pointed to couch and headed for own Sleep had not come Once he living It a bachelor's paradise. There half a dozen small lamps; would have bulbs too room. Large pillows scattered about the deep pile added to the playpen effect. Somewhere, he there was a tape deck and some good solid blues to which was addicted. were corner mounted near the ceiling. He'd noticed video tapes near the and TV. He was
 said. "I don't see what you'd gain."

HAnk was thouGhtfuL. "SuRe. IT's ProbAbly A waste of time, buT It'd gEt him out of our hair."

"ThankS, buddY."

"LOOk at IT tHis waY. You'd be WItH PEopLe AnD we NeED tHat." He ShrUgged. "WhO knows? You mIghT eVen get lucky." HE StOod up. "I best Be gEttin' along. It LooKs like A bUsy DAy tomOrrOw."

"You Don't waNT Brad tO be alone hErE In the hOTel toniGHT, dO you?" josie asked, as she alSO sTOod.

"I figured sinCe AmanDa GAvE YOu oRdeRs, you'd be stAyIn' witH Him." He grINnED.

"i'Ll mAKe my own plans aLong those liNEs."

"WEll, budDy, i trIEd." Hank Said, sTiLL grInning. "My plaCe doEsn't come wIth plaYMates, buT There's a Couch."

"YOur PlaCe'll DO fInE, HaNk," bRad SAiD. He HOpeD his deep BlUsH was hIddeN IN THe diM baR ligHt. He wAtched Josie's lOok SoftEN inTo a smIle. "LuCk alL," sHe saiD, and waS gone. boTh men watched her Exit With keen iNteReSt.

"YOu Could DO worse," hanK coMmented. "i'd bet shE DoeS gOOD WiTh those sweet legs."

"I'm LiKE HeR," Brad saiD. "I like TO dO mY Own arranGiNg."

"BUt yoU'RE so daMned SLoW." Hank lauGhed. "I'm JUsT tRyin' to hElP a buddY."

"YOu cOulD maybE Pay tHe checK?"

Still laUghinG, hank dropped somE Bills on the tabLE. HE PIcKEd up The Bug, then they GathERed uP BraD'S tHinGS from His roOm ANd LEft the hotel.

* * *

Once insiDe The apaRtmenT, Hank had tosseD Brad fresh SHEEts and a bLankET, pOInted to a couch aNd heaDed for his oWN bed. SleeP had nOt come to brad. Once mORE he lookeD arOunD thE liVINg Room.

It was a bacHELor's PaRadise. THerE were haLf a DozEn sMalL lAmps; none wOuld have BuLbS tOo BriGht. TwO Couches dOmInaTeD thE room. lArge piLlows ScatTeReD AboUt the deEP pILE carPeT aDded To tHe PlaypEn efFEct. somewheRe, he knew, tHerE Was a TaPe Deck and Some good solid BlUes to which haNk wAs addiCTEd. Four spEakers were corner mounted NEar the cEilIng. He'D notIced some vIdeO tapes NeaR The VCR And TV. HE was
 said. "I don't see what y ou'd gain. "

Ha nkwas  t houg htfu l. "Sure. It's prob ably a waste of time,but i t' d  get hi m out  of our ha i r ."
" Th ank s, bu ddy." 

" Look at  it this w ay.  Y ou'd be with pe ople and w e n eed that." H e s hrugge d.  "W h o kno ws?  Youmighte ven ge t lucky."  H e  stood up. "Ib e st  begettin' along. It lo o ks like a busy  day t om o rr o w ."
"Y ou don't w an t Bra d  to bea lo n e her e  in the hotel  tonight, d o  yo u?" Jo si e a s ked, a s she  a l sostood.

"Ifigu red since  Amand a  gave y o u order s, you 'dbestay i n'  w ith  h i m." He  gr i nne d.

"I'l lma ke my  own p l a ns a lon g th ose l ines."

"Well , b uddy ,  Itried ." Ha nk s ai d, st ill gr innin g.  "My place does n'tcome with  pl ay mat es , but there' s a  co uch."
"Your p l ace 'l l d ofine, Hank," Bradsa i d .He hoped  his d e ep  b l ush washi dde n in t he di m ba r  l ight. He  watch e dJo sie's l oo k soft en  in toa smi l e. " Luck a ll," she  said ,  and was gone. Both men watc h ed h er exit  wi th keen int eres t .

" Youc ou ldd o wor se,"Ha n kc ommented. "I'd betsh e does  good  with those s weet legs. " "I'm lik e he r ," Brad said. "Iliketo do my o w n arrang ing." 

"But y ou're sod a mned slo w."  Ha nklau g h ed . "I'm just t r y in'to  help a  bu ddy."
"Yo u c oul d m ay be pay th e check? "
S ti ll  la ughin g , Hank d ro ppe dsom e bil l s on t he ta ble.  H ep ick ed up t h eb u g, t he nthey  ga th eredup B r ad' s thing s from hi s r o om a nd  l eft the  hotel.

* **
Once insi de  th e apar t m ent, Han k had tossed Brad fresh sheetsand  a bl anke t, pointe d t o a co uch and he aded f or hi sown b ed. S l e ep  ha dnot come t o Bra d. On ce  mor e he lo oked around the li v ing  room.

It wa s a  bac h e lo r's pa r adi se .  Th e r e were half a d ozen small  l a mp s; none wo u ldha ve bulb s too b right .  Two co uches dom inated th eroom . Lar ge pillows  scatter ed aboutt he de e ppilecar pet ad de d t o the  playp e n e ffect . Some wh ere, h e kne w,  there w as a tape deck and some  goodsolid  bl ues to wh ich Han k was add icte d. Four sp eak ers  were  co r ner m ount e dnea r  theceil i ng. He'dn ot ice d so me video ta p e s  ne ar th e V C R andTV.He was
 said._"I don't_see what you'd gain."

Hank_was thoughtful._"Sure._It's probably_a_waste of time,_but it'd get_him out of our_hair."

"Thanks, buddy."

"Look at_it_this way. You'd be with people and we need that." He shrugged. "Who knows?_You_might even_get_lucky."_He stood up. "I best_be gettin' along. It looks_like a_busy day tomorrow."

"You don't want Brad to be_alone_here in the_hotel tonight, do you?" Josie asked, as she also_stood.

"I figured since Amanda gave you_orders, you'd be_stayin'_with_him." He grinned.

"I'll make_my own plans along those lines."

"Well,_buddy, I tried." Hank said, still_grinning. "My place doesn't come with playmates,_but there's a couch."

"Your place'll do_fine, Hank," Brad said. He_hoped his_deep blush was hidden in_the dim bar_light. He_watched Josie's look_soften into a smile. "Luck all,"_she said, and_was gone. Both men watched her_exit_with keen interest.

"You_could_do_worse," Hank_commented. "I'd bet_she_does good_with_those sweet legs."

"I'm like her," Brad_said._"I like to do my own arranging."

"But_you're so damned slow."_Hank_laughed. "I'm just tryin'_to help a buddy."

"You could_maybe pay the check?"

Still laughing, Hank_dropped some_bills on_the table. He picked up the bug, then they gathered up_Brad's things from his room and_left the hotel.

* *_*

Once inside_the_apartment, Hank had_tossed_Brad fresh_sheets and a blanket, pointed to a_couch and_headed for his own bed. Sleep_had not come to_Brad._Once more he looked around the_living room.

It was a bachelor's paradise._There were half a dozen_small_lamps;_none would have bulbs too_bright. Two couches dominated the room._Large pillows scattered_about the deep pile carpet added to_the_playpen effect. Somewhere, he knew, there_was_a tape deck and some good_solid_blues_to which Hank was addicted._Four speakers were corner mounted near_the ceiling. He'd noticed some video tapes near the_VCR and TV._He was