Part 66 (2/2)
A hated voice spoke at his elbow.
”I'll make you a better offer than that,” said Wally. ”Give me your share of the show for three dollars in cash and I'll throw in a pair of sock-suspenders and an Ingersoll. Is it a go?”
Mr. Goble regarded him balefully.
”Who told you to b.u.t.t in?” he enquired sourly.
”Conscience!” replied Wally. ”Old Henry W. Conscience! I refuse to stand by and see the slaughter of the innocents. Why don't you wait till he's dead before you skin him!” He turned to Mr. Pilkington.
”Don't you be a fool!” he said earnestly. ”Can't you see the thing is the biggest hit in years? Do you think Jesse James here would be offering you a cent for your share if he didn't know there was a fortune in it? Do you imagine...?”
”It is immaterial to me,” interrupted Otis Pilkington loftily, ”what Mr. Goble offers. I have already sold my interest!”
”What!” cried Mr. Goble.
”When?” cried Wally.
”I sold it half-way through the road-tour,” said Mr. Pilkington, ”to a lawyer, acting on behalf of a client whose name I did not learn.”
In the silence which followed this revelation, another voice spoke.
”I should like to speak to you for a moment, Mr. Goble, if I may.” It was Jill, who had joined the group unperceived.
Mr. Goble glowered at Jill, who met his gaze composedly.
”I'm busy!” snapped Mr. Goble. ”See me to-morrow!”
”I would prefer to see you now.”
”You would prefer!” Mr. Goble waved his hands despairingly, as if calling on heaven to witness the persecution of a good man.
Jill exhibited a piece of paper stamped with the letter-heading of the management.
”It's about this,” she said. ”I found it in the box as I was going out.”
”What's that?”
”It seems to be a fortnight's notice.”
”And that,” said Mr. Goble, ”is what it _is_!”
Wally uttered an exclamation.
”Do you mean to say...?”
”Yes, I do!” said the manager, turning on him. He felt that he had out-manoeuvred Wally. ”I agreed to let her open in New York, and she's done it, hasn't she? Now she can get out. I don't want her. I wouldn't have her if you paid me. She's a nuisance in the company, always making trouble, and she can go.”
”But I would prefer not to go,” said Jill.
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