Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/103

 In the morning over breakfast, she talked long and earnestly to Reba.

"Go home," she said simply. "Your mother will be glad to see you and your dad needs you to help run the business. One swallow doesn't make a summer and you mustn't let a lark spoil your life. In an establishment like this, you're more out of place than a woodpecker in the petrified forest."

"But what can I tell my folks?" said Reba hesitantly.

"Tell them you were working for me," explained Madame glibly. "I'll give you a letter of recommendation. I'll say that you were my social secretary. Of course I won't let on that you weren't very social. You can tell anybody who asks that you changed your mind and didn't marry because on investigation you found your burning youth was knock-kneed. It doesn't matter what excuse you give except that you mustn't let on if he snored or sang in the bath tub."

"It sounds easy."

"It is easy. You haven't a thing to worry about. I'm the one who has the worries. Through you I may lose my best customer."

That afternoon Reba left for Milwaukee. There were tears in her eyes as she kissed Madame Leota good-bye.

In the evening Ivan Alter arrived at the apartment. He was in a bad humor.

"It took me hours," he said, "to scrub myself clean and I simply couldn't get that damn smell out of my hair. Besides I ate too much and I ate so fast that I think I'm going to die of indigestion."

"Then indigestion will prove to be some good after all," chuckled Madame.

"Is that a nice way to treat me after I helped you so abundantly in your nefarious plans?" he snorted. "At that, I admit the girl was a lovely little thing and well worth saving."

Madame sneezed violently. "She was a damned little fool," she declared.

"Since we are calling names," said Ivan, "would you mind if I mentioned that in all sincerity I think you are a great lady?"