Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/134

 would only serve to leave him suspicious, and increase the danger. So she betrayed neither hesitation nor active concern as she stooped down behind her table, fumbled for a moment with her dress drapery, and then tossed the sealed envelope on the table-top.

It was the envelope, and not the man's face, that she watched as his heavily sinewed hand descended on the yellow oblong of paper, turned it over and then placed it again on the table-top.

"Lady," said Dorgan, as he sat back in his chair, "you've done me a good turn; and I'm going to square up for it, but I can't square up in cash!"

Sadie scarcely heard his words, for all her mind was intent on that menacing oblong of yellow. Her very heart stopped beating as he again reached out a hand, leisurely took up the envelope and as leisurely stowed it down in his inner breast pocket, buttoning the flap of this pocket over it. It was then and only then that Sadie came back to earth.

"Cash's about the only thing that kin talk wit' me!" she announced. And she announced it with vigor, for she saw the tide of affairs was now flowing in her direction.