Part 15 (1/2)
The blow struck a shower of flinty sparks from Mr. Leslie's narrowed eyes.
”You'll do well to be more conciliatory, young man,” he warned.
”Conciliatory? _Bah!_”
”Didn't take you for a fool.”
”Well, you won't take me in for one,” countered Blake.
”You seem determined to hurt your own interests. Unfortunately you've put me in your debt--an obligation I must pay in full.”
”Why not get a receiver appointed, and reorganize?” gibed Blake.
”That's one of the ways you dodge obligations, isn't it?”
Mr. Leslie's wrinkled face quickly turned red, and from red to purple.
He thrust a quivering finger against a push-b.u.t.ton. Blake grinned exultantly and picked up his hat.
”Don't bother your bouncer,” he remarked in a cheerful tone. ”I don't need any invitation to leave.”
The tall doorkeeper stepped alertly into the room, but turned back on the instant at sight of his master's repellent gesture.
”Mistake,” snapped Mr. Leslie, and as the man disappeared, he turned to Blake. ”Wait! Don't go yet.”
Blake was rising to his feet. He paused, considered, and resumed his seat. Mr. Leslie had regained his normal color and his composure. He put his finger-tips together, and jerked out in his usual incisive tone: ”I propose to liquidate this obligation to you without delay.
Would you prefer a cash payment?”
”No.” Again Blake set his jaw. ”You couldn't settle with me for cash, not even if you overdrew your bank account.”
”Nonsense!” snapped Mr. Leslie. He studied the young man's resolute face, and asked impatiently, ”Well--what?”
”Can't you get it into your head?” rejoined Blake. ”I'm not asking for any pay for what I did.”
”What, then? If not a money reward--I see. You're perhaps ambitious.
You want to make a name in your profession.”
”Ever know an engineer that didn't?”
”I see. I'll arrange to give you a position that--”
”Thanks,” broke in Blake dryly. ”Wait till I ask you for a job.”
”What are you going to do?--loaf?”
”That's my business.”
Mr. Leslie again studied Blake's face. Though accustomed to read men at a glance, he was baffled by the engineer's inscrutable calm.
”You nearly always win at poker,” he stated.
”Used to,” confirmed Blake. ”Cut it out, though. A gambler is a fool.