The Dark Star

"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?"