Part 5 (2/2)
”Yes, sir.”
The man obeyed and withdrew. Kellogg filled two gla.s.ses, handing one to Duncan.
”Now be decent and listen to me, Nat. I've thought this thing over for--oh, any amount of time. I'll bet anything it will work. What d'you say? Would you like to try it?”
”Would I like to try it?” A conviction of Kellogg's earnestness forced itself upon Duncan's understanding. ”Would I--!” He lifted his gla.s.s and drained it at a gulp. ”Why, that's the first laugh I've had for a month!”
”Then I'll tell you--”
Duncan placed a pleading hand on his forearm. ”Don't kid me, Harry,” he entreated.
”Not a bit of it. This is straight goods. If you want to try it and will follow the rules I lay down, I'll guarantee you'll be a rich man inside of twelve months.”
”Rules! Man, I'll follow all the rules in the world! Come on--I'm getting palpitation of the heart, waiting. Tell it to me: what've I got to do?”
”Marry,” said Kellogg serenely.
”Marry!” Duncan echoed, aghast.
”Marry,” reaffirmed the other with unbroken gravity.
”Marry--who?”
”A girl with a fortune.... You see, I can't guarantee the precise size of her pile. That all depends on luck and the locality. But it'll run anywhere from several hundred thousand up to a million--perhaps more.”
Duncan sank back despondently. ”You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Harry,” he said dully; ”you had me all excited, for a minute.”
”No, but honestly, I mean what I say.”
”Now look here: do you really think any girl with a million would take a chance on me?”
”She'll jump at it.”
Duncan thought this over for a while. Then his lips twitched. ”What's the matter with her?” he inquired. ”I'm willing to play the game as it lies, but I bar lunatics and cripples.”
”There's no particular her--yet. You can take your pick. I've no more idea where she is than you have.”
”Now I know you're stark, staring, gibbering----”
”Not a bit of it. I'm inspired--that's all. I've solved your problem--you only can't believe it.”
”How could I? What the devil are you getting at, anyhow?”
”This pet scheme of mine. Lend me your ears. Have you ever lived in a one-horse country town--a place with one unspeakable hotel and about twenty stores and five churches?”
”No ...”
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