Style, you
either have it or you
don't. And if you have it, you have it
all the time.The Rogue Makes A Comeback
by Tux Toledo
Page 4
Rodney beamed.
"Yes, I just bought it at an auction. I outbid these two for it."
Sledgeton and the other man snarled.
"Oh, by the way, do you know these gentlemen?" Rodney asked, exaggerating his pronunciation of "gentlemen".
"Tom Sledgeton," Sledgeton said to me as if we had never met.
"I'm Edgar Littleton," the other said as he shook my hand. He was a small man with Ivy League glasses and a bald head.
"Pleased to meet you," I said.
"All
three of us went to Wharton Business School together," Rodney
said. "We've been friends ever since. We have the same
hobbies, the same interests, the same everything. Why, we could
be triplets!" he laughed. "They're a bit sore at me now, though,
because I outbid them for this shotgun. She's a beauty, isn't
she?"
Rodney raised the double barrel shotgun for all to
see. It had a gold pheasant intricately engraved above the
trigger and the stock glowed like finely polished furniture. It
was the most beautiful shotgun I had ever seen - even more beautiful
than the ones Ted Nance collected.
"It's a vintage A. J. Roberts," Rodney said. "Cost me $125,000."
I whistled.
"But
she's worth every penny," Rodney continued. "Look at that detail
work. And the barrel has not been re-blued. That shine is
original."
"You've got yourself a masterpiece," I said.
"I
know. And they don't." Rodney poked his nose at his two
friends and grinned. "Edgar went out of the bidding surprisingly
early. But Tom fought me all the way."
"Until you
drastically overpaid for it," Tom said. "Still, I should have
continued bidding. That A. J. Roberts would have been the crown
jewel of my collection. I wanted it badly, but Rodney always
seems to know what my limit is."
Rodney laughed and patted Sledgeton on the shoulder.
"Go get a drink and drown your sorrow," he said.
Sledgeton nodded and slithered off.
"I've got a new company, too, Winston."
Edgar frowned and adjusted his frames.
© 2008 David Biagini