The Auction Block. Rex Beach

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ let you.

       Promise." He laid a hand upon the telephone and eyed her gravely.

       "Don't thwart me—I'm a dangerous man. You can't use our little 'phone

       unless—"

      "Don't be silly. I'm telephoning for some one else."

      "That's exactly what we can't permit. The 'some one else' is here—I'm it."

      "No, no!"

      He closed one eye and wagged his head, grasping the instrument more firmly.

      "Promise to tell him—It IS a 'him,' isn't it? Aha' My intelligence is sublime. Promise."

      "I slapped you last night; I promise to do it again," Lorelei told him, sharply.

      "Something whispered that you did, and all day long I have been angry; but to-night—now that I'm in my natural condition—I pass the insult. I offer you my hand and my other cheek in case you want to try a left hook. But I come with another purpose. Outside is a chariot with ninety horses—French rating—champing at the throttle. We are going away from here."

      "You're drunk again, Mr. Wharton?"

      He glanced at the clock over Regan's head and shook his head in negation. "It's only ten-twenty. In two hours from now—"

      "Give me that 'phone."

      "Promise to tell him it's all off."

      She smiled. "All right. I'll use those very words."

      Wharton hesitated. "I trust you."

      "I'm going to tell him he can't come," she said, holding out her hand.

      Once the instrument was hers she oscillated the hook with nervous finger, staring doubtfully at the cause of her delay. Wharton, as on the evening before, carried his intoxication with an air. He was steady on his feet, immaculate in dress, punctilious in demeanor; only his roving, reckless eye betrayed his unnatural exhilaration.

      The Judge had enjoyed the scene. He chuckled; he clicked his loose false teeth like castanets. Bob turned at the sound and regarded him with benignant interest, his attention riveted upon the old man's dental infirmity.

      "You're quite a comedian," Regan wheezed.

      "Click 'em again," said Bob, pleasantly. "Wonderful! Age has its compensations. Play 'Home, Sweet Home' when you get 'em tuned up. Or perhaps they are for sale?"

      Lorelei secured her number and was surprised to recognize her brother's voice. She made herself known, to Jim's equal amazement, and then inquired:

      "Is Max there?"

      "Sure. He's outside in the automobile."

      "Call him, please."

      "What do you want of him? How'd you know I was here?"

      "Never mind. Call him quickly."

      During the wait Wharton ejaculated: "Ha! 'Jim,' 'Max.' Men's names! Mr. Regan, kindly grind your teeth for me. No? Will you grind them for a dollar? Jealousy business. Thanks."

      At last Melcher's voice came over the wire, and Lorelei recited her message. There was a moment of silence, then she explained how she came to be talking instead of Lilas.

      He thanked her and she heard him muttering as he hung up. She turned to find her annoyer nodding with satisfaction.

      "Splendid! I thank you; my father thanks you; my family thanks you. Now where would you like to dine?"

      "How can a person get rid of you?" she inquired, stiffly.

      "I'm sure I don't know—it isn't being done. But I'll try to think. Wear your prettiest gown, won't you? for I intend to enrage all the other fellows."

      "This is an invitation, eh?"

      "The first of a nightly series. Life is opening out for you in a wonderful manner, Miss Knight. Don't refuse; my legs have petrified, and a gang of safe-movers couldn't budge me."

      She turned with a shrug of mingled annoyance and amusement, and he called after her:

      "The Judge's teeth will entertain me till you come. I'll be waiting."

      Miss Lynn, as she dressed after the performance, was still in an evil temper; but she thanked her room-mate for aiding her; then, as if some explanation were due, she added, "That note was from Jarvis."

      "You puzzle me, Lilas," Lorelei told her, slowly. "I don't think you care for him at all."

      Lilas laughed. "Why do you think that? I adore him, but we had an engagement and he broke it. Men are all selfish: the bigger they are the more selfish they become. They never do anything you don't make them."

      "He can't sacrifice his business for you."

      "Sacrifice! It's women who sacrifice themselves. D'you suppose any of those men we met last night would sacrifice himself for anything or anybody? Not much. They are the strong and the mighty. They got rich through robbery, and they're in the habit of taking whatever they want. They made their money out of the blood and suffering of thousands of poor people, so why—"

      "Poor people don't buy steel."

      "No; but they make it. I knew Mr. Wharton and the rest of them years ago, for I was born and raised in a furnace town. My father worked in a Bessemer plant—until he was killed. What I saw there made me an anarchist."

      Through the open window overlooking the alley came a sound of singing; two voices raised in doubtful harmony, one loud and strong, the other rasping, hoarse, and uncertain.

      Of all the girls that I adore,

       There's none so sweet as Sa-a-a-hall-ee.

      "Ouch! Who's that?" queried Lilas.

      "Bob Wharton and the Judge. Wharton's waiting to take me to supper."

      "Drunk, as usual, of course. Think of a fool like that with millions behind him—millions that his father wrung out of sweating, suffering foreigners like my father. He's squandering blood-money. That's what it is—blood-money."

      "You ARE bitter to-night. Is Mr. Hammon living on blood-money, too?"

      "Yes; he is."

      "Is that why you're planning to blackmail it out of him?"

      Lilas paused in her dressing and turned slowly, brows lifted. Her dark eyes met the blue ones unwaveringly.

      "Blackmail? What are you talking about?" Mrs. Croft went pale, and retired swiftly but noiselessly into the lavatory, closing the door behind her. "What did Max tell you over the 'phone?" asked Lilas, sharply.

      "Nothing."

      "Then where did you get—that? From Jim?"

      "Jim's СКАЧАТЬ