A Bat in the Hall

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Horgan leaned against the wall, fingering the stained butt of the forty-five that hung against his thigh, wishing that the last girl would get through with her overtime work and he could go home and get the hot grey uniform off. Ramay, the fat little janitor who always smelled of coal dust and stale sweat, lounged next to Horgan, looking wearily at a batch of mops which lay on the floor.

“It’s a soft job you got, Horgan. A guard on the top floor of an office building. A child’s work for a hulk like you. I know about you. You drink your beer, draw your pay and spend a short day walking around the hall Now take me...”

“Shut up!” Horgan leaned over the janitor.

“Okay. You and your temper. They shouldn’t let you carry a gun!”

Horgan relaxed and stood moodily, cursing the last girl who was working after the others had left. She walked out of the office, throwing a casual glance at the two. She was a tall, heavy girl with a mass of black hair. Horgan leaned away from the wall, but she drank from the water fountain and headed back into the office. Through the open door they could hear the busy clattering of her typewriter. Horgan knew that it was dark outside. His stomach gnawed at him.

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