Part 62 (2/2)

Wentz drew a deep breath of relief.

”You see, I inferred that you would be leaving this with us for a considerable length of time and, anyway, I was sure that you would be considerate if it was not quite--not quite convenient to pay the full amount at once.”

”What made you think that?” she asked softly.

”Oh, our friendly relations, and all that,” he replied more easily.

”Aren't you taking a great deal for granted, Mr. Wentz?”

The timbre of her voice--the deadly coldness of it--made him start. He had the sensation of an icicle being drawn slowly the length of his back.

”Why, I--I don't know,” he stammered. ”Am I?”

”Do you recall any reason, as you look back, why I should grant this favor that you ask?”

Mr. Wentz distinctly squirmed.

”N-no.”

”Quite the contrary, if you'll recollect.”

”I hope,” with a deprecatory gesture of his white hand, ”you are not laying that up against us, Miss Prentice? Surely you can understand that a bank must protect itself.”

Kate's eyes which had been violet were gray now.

”But not to the extent that you did when you tried to put the screws on me for Neifkins' benefit. With every means at your command you endeavored to take advantage of my necessity. And yet”--she gripped the fat arms of the leather chair as she threw off her mask of impa.s.sivity and cried in a voice that was hoa.r.s.e with the emotion with which she shook--”that's not the real reason that I'm going to close your doors, that I'm going to wreck you and your bank and give the finis.h.i.+ng blow to this already bankrupt town! It's for a woman's reason that I am going to take my revenge.

”You weren't content to make a pauper of me. No, you couldn't be satisfied with that, but you must hurt my woman's pride--you must cut me to the quick with your studied insolence, the disrespect of your eyes, your manner, your tone, your speech, every time that business brought me here!

”You couldn't resist the temptation to hit me when I was down. It was so easy, and there was so little chance of being hit back. Besides, it gave you an agreeable feeling of importance, after having been so long ignored or patronized yourself. That's why, Mr. Wentz,” the words sounded sibilant through her shut teeth, ”you're going to honor my check to-day--_now_--or suspend.”

Wentz listened dumbfounded. The slight question which once had been in his mind as to whether or not she harbored resentment had long since been removed by her continued patronage and her even courtesy. He never had dreamed of such a vindictive, deep-rooted animosity as this.

When he could speak he half started from his chair and cried sharply:

”Miss Prentice! Kate! You won't do that!”

”Won't I?” Her short laugh was hard as with a nervous movement she got up, and walking behind it, laid her folded arms on the back of the big leather chair. ”Do you think I've been planning and working to this end all these years to weaken at your first outcry? To watch you squirm is a part of the reward I promised myself, Mr. Wentz.”

He thrust out a supplicating hand:

”Give us time--just a little time--that's all I ask! We'll tide over somehow if you'll--”

Kate interrupted bitterly:

”There's a familiar ring to that. My own words exactly, if you will recollect--and you sneered in my face.” She looked at him with narrowed eyes and her voice was flint: ”The time you'll get is the time it will require for me to go before a notary and swear that your bank is insolvent--twenty minutes--a half hour at most.”

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