Part 38 (2/2)

”Wait just a minute,” begged Gresham, suppressing his anger. ”We should arrange in some way to keep the money. We can, at least, be practical.”

Constance, whose faculties were not so concentrated as his, heard a rustle on the stairs and glancing out through the portieres into the hall, saw Polly, without her hat, hurrying to the front door. The bell had not rung, and she divined that Polly, out of the boudoir window, had seen some particular company approaching.

”It seems impossible,” she returned, and waited.

”Not quite,” Gresham a.s.sured her with a smile. ”There is one way we could carry out the provisions of your aunt's will and still force no repugnant companions.h.i.+p upon you.”

”I think I see,” replied Constance--”you mean that we part at the altar,” and in spite of all her efforts to keep her face straight she finally laughed.

”Well, I didn't intend to put it quite in that melodramatic way,”

resented Gresham.

”Polly wins,” declared Constance. ”She bet me a five-pound box of chocolates that you would make that proposal, but I didn't really think you would do it.”

”This is too serious a matter for flippancy,” and Gresham bit his lip.

”The plan I suggest is thoroughly sensible.”

”That's why I reject it,” stated Constance.

Gresham bent his frowning brows on the floor. Constance, through the portieres, saw Polly and Johnny Gamble.

”I think we shall consider the incident as closed,” she added hastily, with a wicked desire to have him go out and meet Johnny in the hall.

”You are making a horrible mistake,” Gresham told her, losing his restraint and raising his voice. ”I think I know the reason for your relinquis.h.i.+ng your Aunt Gertrude's million so lightly. You expect to share the million Mr. Gamble is supposed to have made!”

Constance paled and froze. Despite her low opinion of Gresham she had not expected this crudity.

”You may as well dismiss that hope,” he roughly continued--”Mr. Gamble has no million to give you!”

Mr. Gamble at that moment bulged through the portieres, with Polly Parsons hanging to his coat tails. He laid an extremely heavy hand on Gresham's shoulder and turned him round.

”I want to see you outside!” declared Johnny, husky with rage.

Polly, at the risk of life and limb, placed her ample weight between them. ”Don't, Johnny!” she implored. ”Don't! Constance doesn't want any door-step drama, with all the neighbors for audience. Wait till you get him down an alley and then give him an extra one for me!”

Gresham had retired behind a chair.

”This is no place for a personal encounter,” he urged.

Johnny turned to Constance, pitifully afraid that he should be denied his rights.

”Can't I put him out?” he begged.

Constance had been panic-stricken, but on this she smiled easily.

”Only gently, Johnny,” she granted.

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