Johnny watched Dick Bartee's hands relax.
Bart raced towards them, leaned and spoke down. 'Why do you think we put up No Smoking signs?' he barked. 'That tank has just been emptied. It's full of fumes. You could blow the top off!'
'Say, I . . .'
Johrmy turned his head slowly and looked at Dick.
'Close,' said Dick sighing.
'Blow the top off?' said Johnny in a sUghtly high voice.
'You'd have had it, Sims,' said Bart. 'You see that, Dick?'
Dick said, 'We'd both have had.it! Whew!'
'Come along,' barked Bart, 'and get on wdth this tour. 'Whew' is right!'
'I'm sorry,' Marshall said below. 'I didn't know . . .'
'No harm,' said Bart. 'Just close.'
Johnny looked at Dick Bartee. 'Wasn't it?' he said, with satisfaction. Because he knew! %.
Marshall sitting in Bart's office a little later said, 'Say, I nearly goofed with that match, eh? I guess it would have been serious?'
'You bet,' said Bart crisply. 'A fool thing to do. Well, you didn't know any better. What can I do for you?'
It took Marshall a moment to remember. Finally he snapped his fingers. 'You and Dick never got down to draw up the papers on the business. Occurred to me I'd better tell you. Fellow in L.A., name of Harris, called me a month ago. Asked me what I knew about Dick. References, character.'
'Why?'
'This Harris lends money. Said Dick was in to see him a month ago. Well, I kinda stalled on Dick. Talked you up pretty good.'
'Me?' said Bart a trifle tartly. 'Am I Dick's secmity?'
'This is what I—Harris didn't say what security he was being offered.'
'What security could Dick offer a month ago?' Bart frowned.
'His fiancee's money? I just felt I should mention . . . Since Sims got here and stirred up some doubts.'
Bart looked cold and stiff. 'Quite a few things have been stirred up,' he said, 'since Sims got here.'
'What things?'
Bart said, 'Doubt. Not proof.'
'Where's Sim&now?'
Bart glanced out the window. 'His car is gone. I think you ought to talk to him.' Bart drummed on his desk. He looked so grim and withdrawn that the lawyer went away.
CHAPTER 16
Johnny knew!
Reason had nothing to do with it. It was experience. He knew, clear and plain, that Dick Bartee would just as soon have seen Johnny seriously injured, hors de combat, or even dead, by accident, in the winery. He would have taken the
risk to himself to be rid, and innocently rid, of Johnny Sims and Johnny's questions. Not too much risk, actually. Dick would have saved himself, since he was warned; he knew what to expect if Marshall lit a match. But he had made no warning sound for Johnny's sake.
The tour speeded up and became a perfunctory walk through various rooms. It ended in a reception hall where a young woman was ready to pour the guests some samples of the product. At this point, Bart excused himself and took Marshall off to his oflBce.
So the girls and Johnny and Dick, waited at the counter for the young woman to pour them sherry.
'Better give John Sims a double dose,' said Dick. 'His nerves are shot. Cheer up,' he said to Johnny. 'A miss is as good as a mile.'
The man was made of brass!
Nan turned, 'Oh, Johnny, too badi The wine might help.' She was sorry for him and his weakness.
Johnny, standing there, knew that his conviction had shaken him. To his surprise, it was worse than the doubt. Now that he knew, he looked like a man who had had a bad shock. He said, 'Nan, I want to talk to you alone.' 'Oh, not now, Johnny ...' 'Now,' he said.
Nan took a wine glass and turned it in her fingers. She lifted her chin. 'Johnny, I don't think we will ever talk alone again,' she said gently. ''You must understand. I am going to be mairied. Won't you di'ink to that?'
(What is known as a 'winning smile,' said something cynical in Johnny's head.)
'All right,' said Johnny. 'TU drink to that, if you want. Then, will you listen to me?'
Dick's arm came aromid her. 'What do you want to say?' he inquiied. 'The same old pitch? I killed Chiisty Mc- Cauley?'
'Oh, Johnny,' said Nan, in a voice of impatience and disappointment.
