Part 24 (1/2)
”My cousin?” Vernon closed his book, and rose. ”I haven't the least idea, I a.s.sure you. I ran out to Mineola myself, with an aviator chap I know.”
He had paused, looking down at his interrogator, and at the expression in his eyes the latter half rose also, then sank back.
”And just what am I to infer?” Wiley spoke through set teeth.
”Anything you like, my dear fellow. Help yourself.”
”Ah! You're going to renege, are you? You're prepared to take the consequences?”
”You've guessed it.” Vernon nodded. ”I'm off the dirty work, Starr.
You'll have to do your own sleuthing in future.”
”You realize what it means? I've never bluffed in my life, Vernon, and I'll push this thing to the limit!”
”Go as far as you like.” Vernon waved his hand airily. Then his expression hardened. ”But whatever happens, leave my cousin out of your future plans. Do you understand? Play your game with men if you like, but leave the women of my family alone.”
”Indeed?” This time Wiley rose, and the two looked levelly into each other's eyes. ”When you go up for forgery you won't be in a position to interfere with any game I choose to play. I've told you this was a straight business proposition, Vernon, there is no use getting melodramatic about it. I've taken a lot of insolence from you, and I'm prepared to teach you a lesson.”
”And I am always willing to learn, my dear Starr. It's up to you.” He bowed formally, and, turning on his heel, left the room.
For a time Wiley communed with himself. The worm had turned, with a vengeance, and the maneuver was beyond his comprehension. In spite of his declaration anent a bluff, he was not prepared to push the matter of the check to the end he had threatened. A scandal was farthest from his desire and other considerations were involved; his matrimonial ambitions not the least of them, if he antagonized the Halstead family.
Then, too, what could have been back of Vernon's sudden independence?
Was it an idle bluff, or had the young scamp managed in some way to protect himself?
The conclusion of his cogitations led him to the telephone and a half hour later found him confronting Mason North in the latter's home, much as Willa had done on the previous night.
”Sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. North, but this is a strictly confidential matter, and rather urgent. I have your a.s.surance that it will go no farther?”
”Certainly!” Mason North was suspiciously affable. ”Take a seat and try one of these cigars. They're made especially for me in Porto Rico and I know you to be a connoisseur. You were saying----?”
”I have a check in my possession signed presumably by you.” Wiley chose his words with evident care. ”It was made payable to bearer and of course I do not know whether it changed hands or not before reaching me. I wish to insinuate nothing, but I should like your a.s.surance that the signature is genuine before depositing it.”
”You have it with you?” the attorney asked crisply.
Wiley nodded, and, taking an oblong slip of paper from his bill-case, he presented it for the older man's inspection.
”Um! Four thousand dollars, eh? The signature looks all right to me, but I don't quite recall making it out. I have my old stubs here in the desk, and if you will wait I'll look it up.”
Secure in the outcome, Wiley was more than willing to wait. He sat with a half smile on his face, puffing at his fragrant cigar and formulating his next move, when the storm should break.
But the other's voice cut short his pleasant reflections and the words themselves brought him up standing.
”Yes. Here we are! I gave that check to young Halstead. It is quite correct; 'four thousand'. Little matter of an inheritance. I--I trust he hasn't been speculating, but I suppose I must not ask, eh? Sad young dog, Vernon!”
”It was a business transaction of rather a private nature, but I can a.s.sure you that Vernon was not a loser by it.” Wiley's tone was quiet, but he had gone white to the lips ”I would not have doubted the signature, except for the fact that I thought it an unusually large sum to be payable to bearer, and, as I said, I did not know to whom it had been issued originally. I am sorry to have troubled you.”
He took his leave amid the other's cordial protestations, with outward composure, but his expression changed savagely as he descended the steps of the house and started up the Avenue.
The attorney's att.i.tude had not deceived him for a moment. Someone had checkmated him, that was plain; had disclosed the truth and persuaded North to s.h.i.+eld Vernon. Could that young man have confessed voluntarily and thrown himself on the attorney's mercy rather than play the game? But such a step would have involved courage of a sort, and he was sure Vernon did not possess enough of that commodity to carry him so far. Someone must have interceded for him--but who?