The Dark Star

"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. Venem had never forgiven him; Ilse Dumont could not understand

treachery; and Venem's detectives furnished her with food for thought

that presently infuriated her.

And now she was employing Max Venem, once senior partner in the firm

of Venem and Grittlefeld, to guide her with his legal advice. She

wanted Brandes' ruin, if that could be accomplished; she wanted her

freedom anyway.