Part 34 (1/2)
She faced him, hesitated an instant, and then said, without a trace of emotion in her voice:
”Tom, do you think Colonel Grand would be willing to buy out my share in the show?”
He stared. Then he laughed sardonically.
”What are you givin' us? Buy out your share? I should say not. He might buy you, but not your share.”
”You are a beast, Tom Braddock,” she said, the red mounting slowly to her pale cheek. ”Why do you say that to me?”
”Say, don't you suppose I know how it stands with you and him?” he retorted. ”Come off, Mary. You're both trying to freeze me out. I'm on to the little game.”
”Don't speak so loudly,” she implored, clasping her hands.
”Oh, I'm not tellin' any secrets,” he snarled. ”It's common property.
Everybody's on. I should think you'd be ashamed to look Christine in the face.”
”G.o.d forgive you, Tom Braddock,” she cried, abject horror in her eyes.
”Say, I've got to have an understanding with you,” he went on ruthlessly. ”I'm going to find out just how I stand in this here arrangement. Grand's taken charge of the money box. He says it's you and him against me. He's going to--”
”He lies! He lies!”
”Oh, let up--let up! I'm no fool.”
”Tom Braddock, are you--are you _accusing me?_” she cried, all a-tremble.
He opened his lips to utter the words which would have ended everything between them. His eyes met hers and the words slipped back into his throat. The spark of manhood that was left in him revolted against this wanton a.s.sault upon the pure soul that looked out upon him.
His gaze was lowered. He began fumbling in his pocket for a cigar.
”Course not,” he said reluctantly. He peered hard at the opaque sidewall uncomfortably conscious of the scornful look she bent upon him. Neither spoke for a long time.
”How much lower can you sink?” she asked in low tones.
”Don't you turn against me like this,” he returned sullenly.
”I have endured too long--too long,” she said lifelessly.
”Now, shut up, Mary. Shut up your trap. I'm sick of having you whining all the time--”
”Whining!” she cried. ”G.o.d in heaven!”
”Well, belly-achin', then.” Her bitter laugh irritated him. ”Say, I got to talk this business over with you. We've got to understand each other.”
”We _do_ understand each other,” she said, a note of decision in her voice. ”You are ready to prost.i.tute me for the sake of worming money out of that horrid beast. I loathe him. You know it, and yet you force me to meet him. I am going to end it all. Either he leaves this show, or I do. I will not endure this unspoken but manifest insult a day longer. Do you understand me?”
”I'd like to know how you're going to help it,” he said, glaring at her with half-restored belligerence. ”You can't get out without losin' what you've got in the business, and he _won't_ get out.”
”Are you going to permit him to continue paying his odious attentions to me--to your wife?” she cried.
”I don't care what he does,” roared Braddock. ”That's his business. You don't have to give in to him, do you? If he thinks you've got a price, that's his lookout, not mine.”