Re; AtD excerpt - "got-damn pinkinroller"

Paul Nightingale isread at btopenworld.com
Sat Aug 5 13:59:47 CDT 2006


	"I can fix that," offered Willis. 
	"Beg your pardon, what in hell business of any got-damn
pinkinroller'd this be, again?"
	"I know how to loosen that up for you. Trust me, I'm an osteopath."

Willis himself is the "pinkinroller": here, Jimmy Drop is saying it's none
of his business. Evidently, Willis has now put down the pistol he grasped
"inexpertly" and is about to demonstrate his own area of expertise. The
balance of power is shifting (as indicated by the final '"Obliged, Jimmy
guessed'). Willis has nothing in his hands because his treatment of Jimmy's
condition will be done with the hands: Jimmy's "just watch where you're
putting them lilywhites" is a response to the approaching (and as he sees it
threatening) hands, and makes less sense if Willis is holding anything in
his hands.

One meaning of 'roller' is thief/pickpocket; again, a possible reference to
the approaching hands. Jimmy translates what he sees into his own terms of
reference (again, perhaps).

One meaning of 'to pink' is to peep/peer, possibly what Willis is doing as
he "slowly and inexpertly raised his revolver, trying to aim it as straight
as a shaking pair of hands would allow".

Hence, 'pinking roller'.

Again, perhaps.






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