Part 12 (1/2)
”Go ahead.”
”In the light of what I suggested during our talk in my office, the silly twaddle of Burkhardt and Sorenson is understandable. I look right through their scheme. They always frame up something against anybody they want to dispose of; they do it in business matters regularly, and very skillfully. They immediately perceived a chance, sir, in this unfortunate encounter of yours and laid hands on it; their talk was the first delicate maneuver to 'frame' you.”
”Sure,” was the unperturbed answer.
Martinez laid a finger on Weir's lapel.
”Frankly, feeling hasn't been good towards you because of the work controversy at the dam,” he went on, with another swift glance about.
”They will use that. On the other hand, you have Miss Janet and me as witnesses in support of your story. Unfortunately Miss Janet is, as you may not be aware, engaged to----”
Martinez paused dramatically.
”Well?”
”To Ed Sorenson,” the lawyer half-hissed. ”Nothing could be worse.”
”Why?”
”Why? Look at the position she'll be in. Consider the pressure they can put on her through that fact--and they'll not hesitate to do so, in one way or another. Innocent as a dove, she is, Mr. Weir.” He thrust his head forward, showing his lips drawn apart and s.h.i.+ning teeth tight set. ”And she's never heard a rumor of his hushed-up affairs with poor, ignorant, Mexican girls who knew no better.”
”We'll simply have to trust to her courage to tell the truth on the proper occasion.”
”Ah, but they'll trick her some way.”
”And you?”
Martinez straightened, smiled, twirled his mustache.
”I? They aren't quite foxy enough for that, Mr. Weir,” he boasted, with glistening eyes.
The engineer was almost ready to believe that, but cunning was not the only weapon in his enemies' a.r.s.enal. How would this lean lawyer stand up under intimidation, bribes, threats?
”I trust so, Martinez,” said he. ”Do you think they will try to get me sometime by an out-and-out gun-play?”
”No, no, no.”
”Do you think they could if they tried?” Weir inquired, grimly.
The attorney paused with finger and thumb on the point of his mustache, lifted his eyebrows and smiled broadly.
”They'll consider twice before they attempt it, after your expert exhibition this evening,” said he. ”It was amazing, your speed, your accuracy.”
Steele tapped the man on the breast, who experienced a distinct tremor at that significant touch and at the veiled menace in the dam manager's eyes.
”There's always one bullet in my gun for the man who betrays me, Martinez.”
The lawyer licked his lips. On general principles he disliked statements that committed one to the future. But it was necessary to say something.
”To be sure. I should feel the same in your circ.u.mstances,” he responded. Then as Weir turned to his car, he continued: ”The inquest to-morrow morning should be over early. I'll visit you in the afternoon as planned.”