Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/40

 Margaret, his sister, was Mrs. Ralph Armiston and Ralph was sales agent for the Rountree Company in the East. It was at Ralph's and Margaret's that he and Lida had happened upon Nucast. For they had found Nucast as a house guest. Margaret and Ralph both were making a great fuss over him. They said nothing when Nucast, liking Lida, invited her to drive over to another party with him.

Jay had never seen Nucast before. "He's all right?" Jay asked Ralph.

"Of course he's all right," said Ralph.

He was not all right and Ralph had known it, but in the cause of his own advantage Ralph had risked Lida rather than anger Nucast. For Nucast's business was essential to Ralph; Nucast held, largely, the Armistons' prosperity in his hands. So they had let Lida go with Nucast.

Not until yesterday had Jay learned all that had happened later that night. Lida had supposed that Nucast was like other friends of Jay and the Armistons (not entertained for business advantage). Lida had proceeded in the confidence that her escort would, like Jay and his friends, look out for her, that he would stop her before she drank too much and that he would never take advantage. But Nucast had taken advantage.

Now there was nothing which Nucast could do for her; he was married. Moreover, Lida wanted never to see him again. She had come to Jay because she could trust him—and because he, having brought her into association with Nucast, was therefore responsible.

Fury flamed in Jay, not at Lida but at Nucast and