The Dominant Dollar Part 22

"They stared, the office force--there are seven of them. They didn't say a word; they just stared.

"'I say to-day's a holiday,' the old man repeated, 'shut up shop.'"

There was a silence. In it Miss Gleason glanced up--into two eyes smiling out of a blank face. Her own dropped. Simultaneously, also, her ears tinged scarlet.

Darley Roberts laughed a low tolerant laugh at his own expense.

"Still think I wasn't irresponsible--moonstruck--nothing of the kind?"

"No--Mr. Roberts."

"Wait. After the force had gone, still staring, the old man went back to his desk. He looked up a number in the telephone directory. 'Mr. Herbert?

Roberts, Darley Roberts.--I'd like to see you personally. Yes, at once.

I'm waiting.'"

Again the girl glanced up; something made her. And again she encountered those same eyes smiling out of a masked face.

"The old man waited; ten minutes maybe. He didn't do a thing; just waited. Then events came to pa.s.s." Once more the little throaty laugh.

"'Mr. Herbert,' he said, 'your house you advertise for sale. How much this morning?'

"Mr. Herbert seemed surprised, distinctly surprised. He was only half through the door at the time.

"'Eighteen thousand dollars. It cost twenty,'--after he's caught his breath.

"'It cost _you_ fifteen even. I've been to some trouble to find out.'

"'You can't know the place, Mr.--Mr. Roberts.'

"'Yes. Top of the hill. Faces east and north. Terra cotta, brick. For reasons you know best it's been vacant for a month now.'

"'You can't know the inside, I mean. It's finished in solid hardwood, every inch.'

"'Yes, I've seen it; oak in front, mahogany in the dining-room, rosewood in the den. I've seen it.'

"'When? I've lived there nine years until just lately. Not in that time.'

"'Yes, during that time. I was at a party there once,--a university party which Mrs. Herbert gave.'

"'All right. Maybe you know.'

"'Unquestionably. I repeat the place cost you fifteen thousand.'

"'The price now is eighteen.'

"'You don't wish to sell--at fifteen?'

"'No.'

"'That's all, then.'

"'Roberts--confound it--'

"'I'm sorry to have bothered you. I thought you wished to sell.'

"'I've got to, but I don't have to give it away.'

"'I repeat I'm sorry to have bothered you.'

"'I'll see you again; to-morrow perhaps--'

"'I shall be very busy to-morrow. To-day's a holiday.'

"'A holiday! Anyway I haven't the abstract.'

"'Unnecessary. I said I knew all about the place. I see the deed there in your pocket. You antic.i.p.ated, I see.'

"'Well, of all the inexplicable hurry!'

"'Shall I write you a check for--fifteen thousand?'"

Darley Roberts halted. For the third time he laughed.

"You gather, perhaps," he said, "that I bought a house this morning.

Afterward I bought a few other things--just a few. After that I moved in; into two rooms. I've had rather a busy day, all told, celebrating--celebrating December the sixth.... How about it, Elice, now that I've elaborated. Any signs of senility, irresponsibility, yet?"

"No," very steadily. "It seems perfectly natural to me for a man to want a house."

"Perhaps you're right. Yes; I do want a house, no doubt about it; particularly that house. I've been intending to own it sometime for quite a spell--for some eight years now; to be exact, since the time I saw it before.... You know the place, don't you?"

"Yes, very well."

"I fancied so.... By the way, do you recall that--occasion I referred to?"

"Indistinctly."

"I fancied that too.... You don't remember by any chance what a lion I was that night?"

"No, Mr. Roberts."

"Not 'no, Darley'?"

"No."

"Not even yet; and it's been a year!... As I was about to say, though, I recall distinctly. I remember I had a perfectly delightful time--listening to the others' conversation. Likewise dancing--with myself in a shadowy corner. Also eating lunch--with myself later. I had ample time to think--and I decided eventually that there'd been a slight mistake somehow when my name got on the list.... I liked the house, though, very much; so much that I decided to buy it sometime--at a nominal figure. I didn't feel peculiarly generous that night when I made the decision.... Last of all, I recall I met a girl; rather young then, but rather pleasant also, I thought. She talked to me for an entire minute. I know because I held my breath the while, and that's my limit.

She was the only one who apparently did see me that night, though.

Perhaps her being rather young was why."

The voice ceased. The speaker looked at the listener. Simultaneously the listener looked at the speaker. They smiled, companionably, understandingly.