Part 19 (1/2)

”Don't lose any sleep over my habits,” he told her, lightly; ”and don't worry yourself about this newspaper story, either. Melcher is in the right, for Hammon cut him out with Lilas. He's after Merkle, too; so you'll have to stand the gaff this time. I'll look up this chap Wharton to-morrow and find out what sort of a farmer's son he really is.”

As Jim and his mother breakfasted together on the following morning he broached the subject of his recent conversation with Lorelei.

”She's sore about the story,” he said. ”We had a long talk last night.”

”I knew she would be, and I'm not sure it was a good thing.”

”We'll drag something out of it if you do your part. Merkle will pay. Don't mention money--nothing but marriage--understand?

Outraged motherhood, ruined daughter, blasted career--that's yours. I'll be the brother who's in the position of a father to her. I can threaten, but you mustn't. Goldberg will close for us.”

”I don't see why we have to divide with a lawyer, when it's our affair and we can handle it ourselves,” his mother complained.

”I tell you it's got to go through the regular channels. This was Melcher's idea, and, since I'm in on the Hammon money, Max is ent.i.tled to his bit of this. Gee! If she'd only told us she was going out with Merkle we might have framed something worth while-- I don't mind telling you this is a pretty weak case.”

”He won't stand publicity; they never do,” averred Mrs. Knight.

”Oh, he's not like Hammon; he hasn't GOT a family-and Lorelei won't back us up, either. We've got to bluff it through.”

”Wouldn't he marry her?”

”Not a chance. In the first place, she wouldn't have him. Bob Wharton is the white hope.”

”She hates him, too. Goodness knows what we're going to do with her.”

”I think she'll stand for Wharton if we work her right; it's him or n.o.body. She's getting harder to handle every day, though, and one of these times she'll fall for some rummy. If she ever does lose her head she'll skid for the ditch, and we can kiss ourselves good-by. She'll be as easy to steer as a wild boar by the tail. I guess you're sorry now that you didn't listen to me and let Max handle her before she got wise.”

”I wouldn't feel safe with any of that crowd. I'd be terribly afraid.” Mrs. Knight shook her head dubiously.

”Say! She's got you doing it, too. Why, they don't take a chance.

Goldberg handles the legal end, and his brother is in the legislature. But that's not all: Melcher's partner in his gambling-house is Inspector Snell. You can't beat that. I could have Merkle killed for five hundred bucks and never stand a pinch.

I'd merely tip one of Maxey's gunmen, and some night Old Dyspepsia d.i.c.k would wake up with a harp in his hand. They'd get him coming out of his bank or going to his club or leaving the theater; and n.o.body would dream who did it, for there wouldn't be a motive.

It's done every day, ma. Even if they grabbed one of the boys, Melcher would spring him from the Tombs. 'Alibi' is Maxey's middle name, and he MAKES bondsmen. How do you suppose politics are run in this town, anyhow?”

”That isn't politics; that's murder.” Mrs. Knight was deeply shocked. ”This is a terrible city, Jim.”

”Sure; but Max is in politics for the protection it gives him in his other lines of business. His gambling-house is as safe as a church. There's big money in this banker-hunting, too. Did you read about the two old guys at the King William Hotel last month?

Well, Max laid 'em against two squabs, friends of Tony's. He got the girls into the hotel, paid their bills, and all that. They've cleaned up about twenty thousand so far. Of course, Lorelei won't stand for anything like that, so we've got to marry her, I suppose.”

”Just the same, I'm frightened--and this isn't honest. I wish she would listen to Robert Wharton.”

James winked meaningly. ”Leave that to me. She's going to Proctor's with me to-night. Maybe he'll join us. But meanwhile we've got Merkle for some quick money if we work him right. I'm off for Goldy's office now. I'll meet you at three.”

When Jim reappeared, dressed for the street, he gave a bit of parting advice:

”Better lay on the hysterics when she wakes up. It'll make it easier for me to-night.”

Lorelei found her mother visibly upset by the story in the morning's newspaper.