“When I receive the money,” was coldly and resolutely answered. Martin glanced sideways at the face of Bland, and the sudden change in its expression chilled him. The mild, pleasant, virtuous aspect he could so well assume was gone, and he looked more like a fiend than a man. In pictures he had seen eyes such as now gleamed on Mr. Phillips, but never in a living face before.
The officer, who had been sitting with a newspaper in his hand, now gave his paper a quick rattle as he threw it aside, and, coming forward, stood beside Mr. Phillips, and looked steadily at the face of Bland, over which passed another change: it was less assured, but not less malignant.
Mr. Phillips took out his pocket-book, and, laying a twenty-dollar bill on the desk by which they were standing, said,—
“Take this and sign a receipt.”
“No, sir!” was given with determined emphasis. “I am not to be robbed in this way!”
“Ned,” the officer now spoke, “take my advice, and sign a receipt.”
“It’s a cursed swindle!” exclaimed the baffled villain.
“We will dispense with hard names, sir!” The officer addressed him sternly. “Either take the money, or go. This is not a meeting for parley. I understand you and your operations.”
A few moments Bland stood, with an irresolute air; then, clutching desperately at a pen, he dashed off a receipt, and was reaching for the money, when Mr. Phillips drew it back, saying,—
“Wait a moment, until I examine the receipt.” He read it over, and then, pushing it towards Bland, said,—
“Write ‘In full of all demands.’” A growl was the oral response. Bland took the pen again, and wrote as directed.
“Take my advice, young man, and adopt a safer and more honorable business,” said Mr. Phillips, as he gave him the twenty-dollar bill.
“Keep your advice for them that ask it!” was flung back in his face. A look of hate and revenge burned in the fellow’s eyes. After glaring at Mr. Phillips and Martin in a threatening way for several moments, he left more hurriedly than he had entered.
“And take my advice,” said the officer, laying his hand on Martin’s arm,—he spoke in a warning tone,—”and keep out of that man’s way. He’ll never forgive you. I know him and his prowling gang, and they are a set of as hardened and dangerous villains as can be found in the city. You are ‘spotted’ by them from this day, and they number a dozen at least. So, if you would be safe, avoid their haunts. Give drinking saloons and billiard rooms a wide berth. One experience like this should last you a life-time.”
Thus Martin escaped from his dangerous entanglement, but never again to hold the unwavering confidence of his employer. Mr. Phillips pitied, but could not trust him fully. A year afterwards came troublesome times, losses in business, and depression in trade. Every man had to retrench. Thousands of clerk condition were apt to be as quick with a blow as with a caress. But, having gained his point, he was amiable.
“Get your things on and come out. We can take in a roof-garden.”
“I’ve told you I’m not doing that sort of thing.”
He was ugly in a flash.
“You’ve got somebody else on the string.”
“Honestly, no. There—there has never been anybody else, Palmer.”
He caught her suddenly and jerked her toward him.
“You let me hear of anybody else, and I’ll cut the guts out of him!”
He held her for a second, his face black and fierce. Then, slowly and inevitably, he drew her into his arms. He was drunk, and she knew it. But, in the queer loyalty of her class, he was the only man she had cared for. She cared now. She took him for that moment, felt his hot kisses on her mouth, her throat, submitted while his rather brutal hands bruised her arms in fierce caresses. Then she put him from her resolutely.
“Now you’re going.”
“The hell I’m going!”
But he was less steady than he had been. The heat of the little flat brought more blood to his head. He wavered as he stood just inside the door.
“You must go back to your wife.”
“She doesn’t want me. She’s in love with a fellow at the house.”
“Palmer, hush!”
“Lemme come in and sit down, won’t you?”
She let him pass her into the sitting-room. He dropped into a chair.
“You’ve turned me down, and now Christine—she thinks I don’t know. I’m no fool; I see a lot of things. I’m no good. I know that I’ve made her miserable. But I made a merry little hell for you too, and you don’t kick about it.”
“You know that.”
She was watching him gravely. She had never seen him just like this. Nothing else, perhaps, could have shown her so well what a broken reed he was.
“I got you in wrong. You were a good girl before I knew you. You’re a good girl now. I’m not going to do you any harm, I swear it. I only wanted to take you out for a good time. I’ve got money. Look here!” He drew out the roll of bills and showed it to her. Her eyes opened wide. She had never known him to have much money.
“Lots more where that comes from.”
