Part 22 (2/2)
The name of his wife's disbarred attorney sent a chill over Brandes.
”What's he doing in Saratoga?” he demanded.
”I'm trying to find out. He was to the races yesterday. He seen Doc.
Of course Doc hadn't laid eyes on you for a year. Oh, no, indeed!
Heard you was somewhere South, down and out. I don't guess Maxy was fooled none. What we done here in Saratoga is growing too big to hush up----”
”What _we've_ done? Whad'ye mean, _we_? I told you to work by yourself quietly, Ben, and keep me out of it.”
”That's what I done. Didn't I circulate the news that you and me had quit partners.h.i.+p? And even then you wouldn't take my advice. Oh, no.
You must show up here at the track with a young lady----”
”How long has Maxy Venem been in Saratoga?” snapped Brandes.
”He told Doc he just come, but Cap found out he'd been here a week.
All I hope is he didn't see you with the Brookhollow party----”
”Do you think he _did_?”
”Listen, Eddie. Max is a smooth guy----”
”Find out what he knows! Do you hear?”
”Who? Me? Me try to make Maxy Venem talk? That snake? If he isn't on to you now, that would be enough to put him wise. Act like you had sense, Eddie. Call that _other matter_ off and slide for town----”
”I can't, Ben.”
”You got to!”
”I _can't_, I tell you.”
”You're nutty in the head! Don't you suppose that Max is wise to what I've been doing here? And don't you suppose he knows d.a.m.n well that you're back of whatever I do? If you ain't crazy you'll call that party off for a while.”
Brandes' even voice over the telephone sounded a trifle unnatural, almost hoa.r.s.e:
”I can't call it off. _It's done._”
”What's done?”
”What I told you I was going to do.”
”_That!_”
”The Parson married us.”
”Oh!”
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