When I do a thing I do it. Maybe I make plenty of mistakes. Hell! I’d rather make ’em than sit pat and do nothing!”
“You’re crazy.”
“Don’t bet on it, Ben. I know what I want. I’m going to make money. Things are going big with me––”
“You tinhorn! You always say that!”
“Watch me. I bet you I make a killing at Saratoga! 69 I bet you I make good with Morris Stein! I bet you the first show I put on goes big! I bet––”
“Ah, can it!”
“Wait! I bet you I marry that little girl in two weeks and she stands for it when I tell her later we’d better get married again!”
“Say! Talk sense!”
“I am.”
“What’ll they do to you if your wife makes a holler?”
“Who ever heard of her or me in the East?”
“You want to take a chance like that?”
“I’ll fix it. I haven’t got time to wait for Minna to shake me loose. Besides, she’s in Seattle. I’ll fix it so she doesn’t hear until she gets her freedom. I’ll get a license right here. I guess I’ll use your name––”
“What!” yelled Stull.
“Shut your face!” retorted Brandes. “What do you think you’re going to do, squeal?”
“You think I’m going to stand for that?”
“Well, then, I won’t use your name. I’ll use my own. Why not? I mean honest. It’s dead level. I’ll remarry her. I want her, I tell you. I want a wedding trip, too, before I go back––”
“With the first rehearsal called for September fifteenth! What’s the matter with you? Do you think Stein is going to stand for––”
“You’ll be on hand,” said Brandes pleasantly. “I’m going to Paris for four weeks—two weeks there, two on the ocean––”
“You––”
“Save your voice, Ben. That’s settled.”
Stull turned upon him a dead white visage distorted with fury:
“I hope she throws you out!” he said breathlessly. 70 “You talk about being on the level! Every level’s crooked with you. You don’t know what square means; a square has got more than four corners for you! Go on! Stick around. I don’t give a damn what you do. Go on and do it. But I quit right here.”
Both knew that the threat was empty. As a shadow clings to a man’s heels, as a lost soul haunts its slayer, as damnation stalks the damned, so had Stull followed Brandes; and would follow to the end. Why? Neither knew. It seemed to be their destiny, surviving everything—their bitter quarrels, the injustice and tyranny of Brandes, his contempt and ridicule sometimes—enduring through adversity, even penury, through good and bad days, through abundance and through want, through shame and disgrace, through trickery, treachery, and triumph—nothing had ever broken the occult bond which linked these two. And neither understood why, but both seemed to be vaguely conscious that neither was entirely complete without the other.
“Ben,” said Brandes affably, “I’m going to walk over to Gayfield. Want to come?”
They went off, together.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.