Part 59 (1/2)
Morrell bore Keith. Morrell's knowledge of this hate was accurate, though his a.n.a.lysis of its cause was faulty. He thought his wife to be Keith's discarded mistress, and did not greatly care. Nor did he mention the possibility which, however, Mrs. Morrell now voiced.
”Suppose Keith follows them out to Jake's?” she suggested.
”One of them will kill, and the Stranglers will hang the other,” he said briefly.
She looked up.
”I don't care for that!”
”In that event, you will not be present. Your job will be to duck out.”
He paused, then went on slowly: ”Would you grieve at the demise of either--or all three?”
Her face hardened.
”But,” he went on slowly, ”the chances of it are very remote. If there is any killing, it will come later. Keith will be kept out of the way.”
”And after?”
”You hint of an a.s.signation. I will arrange for witnesses.”
”Where does the money come in?” she demanded. Morrell floundered for a moment. He had lost sight of the money.
”It comes from certain parties who want Keith put out of the way,” he said.
”And suppose Keith is not put out of the way?” she began, her facile mind pouncing on the weakness of this statement. ”Never mind,” she interrupted herself. ”I'll do it!” Her face had hardened again, ”Can you depend on Sansome to go through with it?”
”Only if he's fairly drunk.”
”Yes?”
”I'll attend to that. That is my job. You may not see me to-morrow; but go in the evening to call on her.”
”It looks absolutely preposterous,” she said at last, ”but it may work.
And, if any part of it works, that'll be enough.”
”Yes,” said he.
They had both forgotten the money.
LXIX
As Morrell had surmised, Keith decided to pa.s.s on the news for what it was worth. The committee believed it, and was filled with consternation at the incredible folly of the projected show of armed force.
”This is not peace, but war,” said Coleman, ”which we are trying to avert!”
The Executive Committee went into immediate session. It was now evident that the disbanding would have to be indefinitely postponed. An extraordinary program to meet the emergency was discussed piecemeal.
One of its details had to do with the s.h.i.+pment of arms from Benicia.