Part 63 (2/2)
Brandes' heavy features remained stolid.
”She got her divorce, didn't she?” insisted Curfoot.
”Yes.”
”Alimony?”
”No. She didn't ask any.”
”How about Venem?”
Brandes remained silent, but Stull said:
”I guess she chucked him. She wouldn't stand for that snake. I got to hand it to her; she ain't that kind.”
”What kind is she?”
”I tell you I got to hand it to her. I can't complain of her. She acted white all right until Venem stirred her up. Eddie's got himself to blame; he got in wrong and Venem had him followed and showed him up to Minna.”
”You got tired of her, didn't you?” said Curfoot to Brandes. But Stull answered for him again:
”Like any man, Eddie needed a vacation now and then. But no skirt understands.”
Brandes said slowly:
”I'll live to fix Minna yet.”
”What fixed you,” snapped Stull, ”was that there Brookhollow stuff----”
”Can it!” retorted Brandes, turning a deep red.
”Aw--don't hand me the true-love stuff, Eddie! If you'd meant it with that little haymaker you'd have respected her----”
Brandes' large face became crimson with rage:
”You say another word about her and I'll push your block off--you little dough-faced kike!”
Stull shrugged and presently whispered to Curfoot:
”That's the play he always makes. I've waited two years, but he won't ring down on the love stuff. I guess he was. .h.i.t hard that trip. It took a little red-headed, freckled country girl to stop him. But it was comin' to Eddie Brandes, and it certainly looks like it was there to stay a while.”
”He's still stuck on her?”
”I guess she's still the fly paper,” nodded Stull.
Suddenly Brandes turned on Stull such a look of concentrated hatred that the little gambler's pallid features stiffened with surprise:
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