Out of the Ashes | Page 9

that market you will see
what happened--a thirty-point rise. Then I drew out, cashed up and

clapped the whole thing into Union Short. I had to wait three days for
that, but when it came--there, look at the figures for yourself. Your
account with Morley & Gard stands you in one hundred thousand
dollars, and it will be more if you don't disturb the present investment
for a few days."
Mrs. Marteen's eyes were wide.
"What are you doing this for?" she said calmly. "That wasn't the
bargain. I'll not touch a penny more."
"Why did I do it? Because I won't have any question of blackmail
between us. Like the good friend that you are, you gave me something
which might otherwise have been to my hurt. On the other hand, I
invested your money for you wisely, honestly, sanely and with all the
best of my experience and knowledge. It's clean money there, Mrs.
Marteen, and I'm ready to do as much again whenever you need it. You
say you won't take it--why, it's yours. You must. I want to be friends. I
don't want this thing lying between us, crossing our thoughts. If I ask
you impertinent questions, which I undoubtedly shall, I want them to
have the sanction of good will. I want you to know that I feel nothing
but kindness for you--nothing but pleasure in your company."
He paused, confounded by the blank wall of her apparent indifference.
Marcus Gard was accustomed to having his friendly offices solicited.
That his overtures should be rebuffed was incredible. Moreover, he had
looked for feminine softening, had expected the moist eye and
quivering lip as a matter of course; it seemed the inevitable answer to
that cue. It was not forthcoming. Again the conviction of some great
psychic loss disturbed him.
"My dear Mr. Gard," the level, colorless voice was saying, "I fear we
are quite beside the subject, are we not? I am not requesting anything. I
am not putting myself under obligations to you; I trust you understand."
Had an explosion wrecked the building, without a doubt Marcus Gard,
the resourceful and energetic leader of men, would, without an instant's
hesitation, have headed the fire brigade. Before this moral bomb he

remained silent, paralyzed, uncertain of himself and of all the world.
He could not adjust himself to that angle of the situation. Mrs. Marteen
somehow conveyed to his distracted senses that blackmail was a mere
detail of business, and "being under obligations" a heinous crime. At
that rate the number of criminals on his list was legion, and certainly
appeared unconscious of the enormity of their offense. It dawned upon
him that he, the Great Man, was being "put in his place"; that his highly
laudable desire for righteousness was being treated as forward and
rather ridiculous posing. The buccaneer had outpointed him and taken
the wind out of his sails, which now flapped ignominiously. The pause
due to his mental rudderlessness continued till Mrs. Marteen herself
broke the silence.
"You appear to consider my attitude an inexplicable one. It is merely
unexpected. I feel sure that when you have considered the matter you
will see, as I do, that business affairs must be free from any
hint--of--shall we say, favoritisms?"
Gard found his voice, his temper and his curiosity at the same instant.
"No, hang it, I don't see!"
She looked at him with tolerance, as a mother upon an excited child.
"I have specified a certain sum as the price of certain articles. You
accepted my terms. I do not ask you for a bonus. I do not ask you to
take it upon yourself to rehabilitate me in your own estimation. I cannot
accept this cheque, Mr. Gard, however I may appreciate your
generosity." She pushed the yellow paper toward him.
The action angered him. "If," he roared, "you had obtained these by any
mere chance, I might see your position. But according to your own
account you obtained them by elaborate fraud, feeling sure of their
eventual value; and yet you sit up and say you don't care to be
reinstated in my regard--just as if money could do that--you--"
She interrupted him. "Then why this?" and she held out the statement.
He was silent. "I repeat," she said, "I will not be under obligations to

you or to anyone." She rose with finality, picked up the statement and
cheque, crossed to the fire and dropped both the papers on the blazing
logs. "If you will have the kindness to send me the purchase money,
plus the sum I consigned to your keeping--as a blind to others, not to
ourselves--I shall be very much indebted to you."
Gard watched her with varying emotions. "Well," he said slowly, "that
money belongs to you. I