“Nothing, I guess. He seems all right. Only I like to know about a man–”
“How can I find out if you don’t give me time?”
“All right, Ben. I guess he’ll do. By the way, I’m starting for town in ten minutes.”
“What’s the idea?”
“Ask the Parson. Have you any other news except that you killed that Albany bunch of grafters?”
“No… Yes! But it ain’t good news. I was going to call you soon as I waked up–”
“What’s the trouble?”
“There ain’t any trouble —yet. But a certain party has showed up here – a very smooth young man whose business is hunting trouble. Get me?”
After a silence Stull repeated:
“Get me, Eddie?”
“No.”
“Listen. A certain slippery party–”
“Who, damn it? Talk out. I’m in a hurry.”
“Very well, then. Maxy Venem is here!”
The name of his wife’s disbarred attorney sent a chill over Brandes.
“What’s he doing in Saratoga?” he demanded.
“I’m trying to find out. He was to the races yesterday. He seen Doc. Of course Doc hadn’t laid eyes on you for a year. Oh, no, indeed! Heard you was somewhere South, down and out. I don’t guess Maxy was fooled none. What we done here in Saratoga is growing too big to hush up–”
“What we’ve done? Whad’ye mean, we? I told you to work by yourself quietly, Ben, and keep me out of it.”
“That’s what I done. Didn’t I circulate the news that you and me had quit partnership? And even then you wouldn’t take my advice. Oh, no. You must show up here at the track with a young lady–”
“How long has Maxy Venem been in Saratoga?” snapped Brandes.
“He told Doc he just come, but Cap found out he’d been here a week. All I hope is he didn’t see you with the Brookhollow party–”
“Do you think he did?”
“Listen, Eddie. Max is a smooth guy–”
“Find out what he knows! Do you hear?”
“Who? Me? Me try to make Maxy Venem talk? That snake? If he isn’t on to you now, that would be enough to put him wise. Act like you had sense, Eddie. Call that other matter off and slide for town–”
“I can’t, Ben.”
“You got to!”
“I can’t, I tell you.”
“You’re nutty in the head! Don’t you suppose that Max is wise to what I’ve been doing here? And don’t you suppose he knows damn well that you’re back of whatever I do? If you ain’t crazy you’ll call that party off for a while.”
Brandes’ even voice over the telephone sounded a trifle unnatural, almost hoarse:
“I can’t call it off. It’s done.”
“What’s done?”
“What I told you I was going to do.”
“That!”
“The Parson married us.”
“Oh!”
“Wait! Parson Smawley married us, in church, assisted by the local dominie. I didn’t count on the dominie. It was her father’s idea. He butted in.”
“Then is it – is it–?”
“That’s what I’m not sure about. You see, the Parson did it, but the dominie stuck around. Whether he got a half nelson on me I don’t know till I ask. Anyway, I expected to clinch things – later – so it doesn’t really matter, unless Max Venem means bad. Does he, do you think?”
“He always does, Eddie.”
“Yes, I know. Well, then, I’ll wait for a cable from you. And if I’ve got to take three months off in Paris, why I’ve got to – that’s all.”
“Good God! What about Stein? What about the theaytre?”
“You’ll handle it for the first three months… Say, I’ve got to go, now. I think she’s waiting–”
“Who?”
“My – wife.”
“Oh!”
“Yes. The chauffeur took her back to the house in the car to put something in her suitcase that she forgot. I’m waiting for her here at the Gayfield House. We’re on our way to town. Going to motor in. Our trunks have gone by rail.”
After a silence, Stull’s voice sounded again, tense, constrained:
“You better go aboard tonight.”
“That’s right, too.”
“What’s your ship?”
“Lusitania.”
“What’ll I tell Stein?”
“Tell him I’ll be back in a month. You look out for my end. I’ll be back in time.”
“Will you cable me?”
“Sure. And if you get any later information about Max today, call me at the Knickerbocker. We’ll dine there and then go aboard.”
“I get you… Say, Eddie, I’m that worried! If this break of yours don’t kill our luck–”
“Don’t you believe it! I’m going to fight for what I got till someone hands me the count. She’s the first thing I ever wanted. I’ve got her and I guess I can keep her… And listen: there’s nothing like her in all God’s world!”
“When did you do – it?” demanded Stull, coldly.
“This morning at eleven. I just stepped over here to the garage. I’m talking to you from the bar. She’s back by this time and waiting, I guess. So take care of yourself till I see you.”
“Same to you, Eddie. And be leery of Max. He’s bad. When they disbar a man like that he’s twice as dangerous as he was. His ex-partner, Abe Grittlefeld, is a certain party’s attorney of record. Ask yourself what you’d be up against if that pair of wolves get started after you! You know what Max would do to you if he could. And Minna, too!”
“Don’t worry.”
“I am worrying! And you ought to. You know what you done to Max. Don’t think he ever forgets. He’ll do you if he can, same as Minna will.”
Brandes’ stolid face lost a little of its sanguine colour, where he stood in the telephone box behind the bar of the Gayfield House.
Yes, he knew well enough what he had once done to the disbarred lawyer out in Athabasca when he was handling the Unknown and Venem, the disbarred, was busy looking out for the Athabasca Blacksmith, furnishing the corrupt brains for the firm of Venem and Grittlefeld, and paying steady court to the prettiest girl in Athabasca, Ilse Dumont.
And Brandes’ Unknown had almost killed Max Venem’s blacksmith; Brandes had taken all Venem’s money, and then his girl; more than that, he had “made” this girl, in the theatrical sense of the word; and he had gambled on her beauty and her voice and had won out with both.
Then, while still banking her salary to reimburse himself for his trouble with her, he had tired of her sufficiently to prove unfaithful to his marriage vows at every opportunity. And opportunities were many.