Part 19 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVI
AN INTERRUPTED BUT PROPERLY FINISHED PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE
Jack's first opportunity for a quiet talk with his brother did not occur for an hour after the game.
”I don't like to worry you while you're resting, Sam,” he began, ”but I'll have to tell you that the Flatbush deal seems likely to drop through. It reaches a head to-morrow, you know.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I don't like to worry you, Sam”]
Sam Turner grabbed for his watch.
”It can't drop through!” he vigorously declared. ”I'll go right up there to-night and look after it.”
”But you're on your vacation,” protested Jack. ”That's no way to rest.”
”On my vacation!” snorted Sam. ”Of course I am. I'm not losing a minute of my vacation. The proper way to have a vacation is to do the thing you enjoy most. Don't you suppose I'll enjoy closing that Flatbush deal?”
”Certainly,” admitted his brother, ”and I'll enjoy seeing you do it. I know you can.”
”Of course I can. But you're to stay here.”
”It's not my turn for an outing,” protested Jack. ”I haven't earned one yet.”
”You're to work,” explained Sam. ”You see, Jack, in one week I can't become a bowling or golf expert enough to beat Princeman, nor a tennis or dancing expert enough to outs.h.i.+ne Billy Westlake, nor a horseback or croquet expert enough to make a deuce out of Hollis. You can do all these things, and I want you to give this crowd of distinguished amateurs a showing up. Jack, if you ever worked for athletic honors in your life now is the time to do it; and in between time stick to Miss Stevens like glue. Monopolize her. Don't give these three or any other contenders any of her time. Keep her busy. Let me know every day what progress you're making; don't stop to write; wire! For remember, Jack, I'm going to marry her. I've got to.”
”Well, then you'll marry her,” Jack sagely concluded. ”Does she know it yet?”
”I don't think she's quite sure of it,” returned Sam with careful a.n.a.lysis. ”Of course she's thought about it. Sometimes she thinks she won't, and sometimes she thinks she will, and sometimes she isn't quite sure whether she will or not. Don't you worry about that part, though, and don't bother to boost me. Just quietly you take the s.h.i.+ne out of these summer champions and leave the rest to your brother Sam.”
”Fine,” agreed Jack. ”Run right along and sell your papers, Sammy, and I'll wire you every time I put over a point.”
Sam hunted and found Miss Josephine.
”I'm sorry I have to take a run back to New York for two or three days,” he said.
She bent upon him a glance of amus.e.m.e.nt; the old glance of mingled amus.e.m.e.nt and mischief.
”I thought you were on your vacation,” she observed.
”And I am,” he insisted. ”I've been having a bully time, and I'll come back here to finish up the couple of days I have left.”
”Then the drive which didn't count this morning, and which was postponed again until to-morrow morning, will have to be put off once more,” she reminded him with a gay laugh.
”By George, that's so!” he exclaimed. ”In all the excitement it had quite slipped my mind.”
”I presume you're going up on business,” she slyly observed.