Part 43 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXV
IN WHICH JOHNNY KEEPS ON DOING BUSINESS TILL THE CLOCK STRIKES FOUR
The hired auto had plenty to do. It carried Johnny to court, where he made a deposition against Gresham; it carried him to the office of the Amalgamated Steel Company, where he had the bonds that Gresham had transferred to him registered in his own name; it carried him to the appointment with Washburn's lawyer, who destroyed a full hour and a half of palpitating time; and it carried all of them to Loring's office, into which they burst triumphantly at twenty minutes of four.
At that hour Loring's office was crowded with loafers, the same being Colonel Bouncer, Morton Washer, Joe Close, Ben Courtney, Val Russel and Bruce Townley.
”This being a sporting event of some note, I gathered up a nice little bunch of sports to see the finish,” explained Val Russel with a graceful bow. ”Loring pa.s.sed me the word that he expected you to nose under the wire in record time. You must show us the million dollars you were to have by four P. M., on Wednesday, May thirty-first.”
”I don't have to flash it for twenty minutes,” claimed Johnny happily.
”At that hour I will show you a certificate of deposit on Joe Close's bank for half a million in bonds, and a sure-enough check for five hundred and ten thousand dollars.”
”No fair!” objected Val. ”You were to have only an even million, and you've shot ten thousand over the mark.”
”I owe Polly five thousand,” explained Johnny as he hung his hat on a hook and pushed back his sleeves, ”and I provided for the other five thousand in order to give a party. May I wash my face while I'm waiting for the time to be up?”
Courtney noticed that Constance had moved over toward the rather inadequately screened basin in the corner in unconscious accompaniment of Johnny.
”We'll excuse you if you'll answer one question,” Courtney ventured with twinkling eyes. ”It has been generally understood among your friends that when you really secured your million dollars--”
”That will do,” interrupted Polly Parsons. ”You interfered once before with Johnny's love affairs--Well, I'm not giving anything away!” she hotly retorted to a blazing glance from Constance.
The door opened and a boy brought in a package for Mr. Gamble. Loring, guessing the contents from its size, tore off the wrapper.
”Collaton sticks, anyhow, Johnny,” he called. ”Here are the lost books.”
”Cheap at half the price,” laughed Johnny as he splashed in the water.
”By the way, Loring, you never did tell me how you steered off that first bogus attachment for fifteen thousand.”
Constance and Loring looked at each other in dismay.
”I'll bring in a bill for that after four o'clock,” promised Loring, laughing as lightly as he could.
”After four,” repeated Johnny, coming from behind the screen with a towel in his hands. ”You didn't pay it, did you?”
”That's an entirely separate deal,” evaded Loring.
”Where did you get the money?” demanded Johnny, and scrutinizing the confused face of Constance, he knew.
Johnny smiled gratefully at her and patted her on the shoulder as he walked quietly behind the screen. Great Scott! He glanced over the screen at the clock. Where could he make ten thousand dollars in fifteen minutes? He had to have that million and it must be clear! He reached for a comb with one hand and for his hat with the other.
Winnie and Sammy Chirp rushed into the office--Winnie in a bewildering new outfit of pure white, beaming all over with importance, and Sammy smiling as he had never smiled before.
”Where on earth have you been?” demanded Polly. ”I've been telephoning for you all day.”
”Well,” explained Winnie volubly, ”I took a notion to marry Sammy. I just thought that if I mentioned it to you you'd want me to wait a while, and when it did happen it would be a regular fussy affair.”
”Honestly, child, I don't know whether to scold you or kiss you,” broke in Polly. ”Sammy, come here.”