Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/49

 "Yes; it's you."

"Don't bother!" said Jay. "Don't! You—you've always been mighty decent to me."

"I mean to be! I mean always to be!"

How little she was in his father's big chair with her toes not quite touching the floor! She had pretty, slender feet. Her big, steady eyes were on his; very unlike Lida's eyes. Lida's were small and brilliant and restless, and Lida's lips were restless, even in a kiss. This girl's would be gentle and steady. What a fancy to fly through his head!

He returned to the refuge of impersonal talk: "How's Miss Dewitt?"

"All right," replied Ellen, not thinking at all. "I mean she's left us."

"Oh, has she? Trouble here?"

"No trouble. She's gone to the Slengels. They offered her a party job; or that's what it's turned into."

"Oh."

"The Slengels are going after our big accounts, you know," Ellen reported. "They're out for the Metten business here; and they've been after the Nucast business in New York. But that's safe, we heard this morning."

"What?" asked Jay. "What?"

"Your brother-in-law wired last night." She picked up a telegram from the desk and handed it to him.

"The Nucast business is safe," Jay read and rocked on his heels. So yesterday Nucast had given Ralph his order; yesterday Nucast had paid Jay Rountree.

For this must be payment—or what Nucast would consider payment—to him for his offer to Lida.