Part 32 (1/2)
For a moment the girl inspected him, her head, just lifted, resting on her locked arms, her eyelids half closed.
”You knew--what? Something's happened I know; something unusual, very. I never saw you before as you are to-day. I'd almost say you had nerves. Do you care to tell me?”
Roberts was still smiling.
”Do you care to have me tell you?” he countered.
”Yes, if you wish.”
”If I wish--if I wish--you told me that once before, you recall.”
”Yes.”
”And I proceeded to frighten you--horribly. You said so.”
”Yes,” again.
”Does that mean you wish to be frightened again? Do you enjoy it?”
”Enjoy it? I don't know. I'm curious to listen, if you care to tell me.”
Roberts had stretched himself luxuriously on the cool sod. He looked up steadily, through the tangled leaves, at the dotted blue beyond.
”There's nothing to frighten you this time,” he said. ”Nothing to tell much, just--money.”
”I gathered as much.”
”And why, Elice?”
”Several reasons. First of all, a practical man doesn't carry an automobile half across the continent by express without a definite stake involved. Later he doesn't 'sc.r.a.p,' as you say, that same machine without regret unless the stake was big--and won.”
”You think I won, then?”
”I know.”
”And again, why?”
The girl flashed a glance, but he was not looking at her.
”Because you always win,” she said simply.
”Always?” A pause. ”Always, Elice?”
”Always in matters of--money.”
The man lay there still, looking up. Barely a leaf in the big maple was astir, not a single sensate thing. Had they been the only two people alive on a desert expanse they could not have been more isolated, more completely alone. Yet he pursued the lead no further, neither by word nor suggestion. Creeping through a tiny gap a ray of sunlight glared in his eyes, and he s.h.i.+fted enough to avoid it. That was all.
In her place the girl too s.h.i.+fted, just so she could see him more distinctly.
”Tell me about it,” she said. ”I'm listening.”
”You're really interested? I don't care to bore you.”