Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-09-28
CHAPTER THIRTy-TWO


"Oh, talks cheap" sale. the girl
to Otto. Il wonder how many guys
have told me what they're going
to do TOMORROW She knew
perfectly we'll that refe ence to
past affairs With men always in
furiated him. Now, let's get this
straight, as l said before. l know
something of what you've got on
your mind. You don't tell me q lot,
but that don't matter. = don't want
to know details-it's results that
appeal to me. You've got some sort
of q stunt on, and you reckon
there's big money at the end of it..
Maybe you're right-but 1 know,
just naturally, that it isn't on the
level, and if the big moneys there,
the big risk is there as well. You
may flop down on it."
Il shall not do that. There is no
risk at all-or practically no risk
1t is safe"
$50 you say" she sneered. And
that's another tale I've heard be-
fore. However, that can go for the
moment. 1 like you, Otto; you're
a good suy and you've been decent
with me. And l won't mind marry
ing you-so long as you can cough
up the goods. And maybe l
wouldn't mind waiting two or
three weeks to see if your game,
whatever it is, comes Off"
His eyes suddenly lighted up.
"Ah, You will do that? You will
promise me-"
She raised her hand to check
him.
Now we're getting to it! I'll
promise nothing, undcrstand-just
NOTHING except that I'll wait
two or three weeks to see if you
can deliver the goods if you
can, I'll marry you. But I know
what's in The back of your mind
YOU want me to promise l won't
look at another man until that
three weeks is up! That I'll just sit
down with a pack of patience cards
while you go off On this trip OF
yours to God knows where, and to
do God knows what. Well, there's
nothing doing, that's all. You may
be on the level; maybe you are!
This trip Of yours may be just
business, or there may be another
woman at the end Of it. how do l
know? The answer is 1 don't know,
and I don't care-but I'm not play
ing at nunneries, and that's flat"
She finished breathlessly-and
the lack of breath was due to more
than the length of the speech or
the force with which she hat. flung
it at him. For now was the actual
moment, she knew that. He would
make his decision one way or the
cther-either to offer to take her
with him, or to leave her behind.
She played her last card with
neat finesse.
That fellow I was talking to
last night isn't so bad, anyway.
He's amusing, and ne seems to
have plenty of dough" She turned
to the mirror once more, but this
time she smiled at her reflection
self-complacently, and gently ca
ressed her flame-colOred hair.
"Achm The ejaculation burst
from him like an explosion, as he
turned on his heel and walked
slowly toward the window once
more, his hands thrust into his
pockets, shoulders hunched, and
head bent in thought. Suddenly he
turned again.
Look you here! Sometimes you
say to me that you would like
long trip in a plane. How would
YOU like to come with me, Ell?
Then you will sec that there is no
woman at the other end, as you
saw"
She had to fight hare to keep
any sign Of triumph from her man.
ner, and succeeded admirably. In
stead, she laughed, with a sort of
hard carclcssncss.
Don't get me wrong, sweet
one. don't care tuppence if there
IS another woman--or twenty
women. I don't care if you go off
and never come back again
you're net the only man in the
world. and I've never had tc go
short of onc-or half dozen, for
that mcttcr-yot. So don't make
any stupid mistakes"