Into Grannis's dull eyes crept admiration.
"Kid, I'm for you," he said. Clancy shrugged again. Although no one had
ever commented on it, she knew that her shrug was a prettily provocative
thing. "Don't care whether I'm for you or not, eh?"
Clancy stared at him. "You know," he said, "if I tipped off this Miss
Henderson that Weber planted you with her so's you could steer
suckers--wealthy folks that don't mind a little game--his way, how long
do you think your graft would last?"
"You'd have to prove what you said, you know," Clancy reminded him.
"Kid, why haven't you been round to see Zenda?" he asked.
"Why should I go round to see him?"
Grannis's eyes took on a cunning look.
"Now you're talking business. We're getting down to cases. Listen, kid:
You were scared of me a while ago. You've forgotten that. Why?" Clancy
reached for another sandwich. She made no answer. "You're certainly
there, kid!" exclaimed her companion. "No one is running a blazer on
you, are they?"
"No one is fooling me, if that's what you mean," said Clancy.
"You've said it! Well, I won't try to bluff you, kid. I've found you.
It's a lucky chance, and I don't deserve any credit for it, but--I found
you--before Zenda did. Before Ike did, if it comes to that. And Ike's
the guy that wants you. I been feeling you out, to find out where you
stood. I know that Ike didn't plant you with Miss Henderson. I dunno how
you got in there. All Fay knows of you is that you were living at the
Napoli, and were going in the movies, she thought. But Fay's a
blab-mouth, and Ike and I know what she told you--about her and Ike
working together to gyp people in poker games. Well, Ike figures that,
as long as you disappear, he should worry, but when I run into you
to-day, I begin to wonder. Now I see that you're no boob. Well then,
take a look at that!"
"That" was a bill. The denomination was the largest Clancy had ever seen
on a piece of money. One thousand dollars! And Grannis placed it on the
table by her plate.
"Slip it into your kick, kid. There's more where it came from. Put it
away before the waiter sees it. Understand?" Clancy didn't understand,
and her face showed it. "Weber is coming back to town," said Grannis.
"He can't come back if there's real evidence against him. The only
_real_ evidence is what Fay Marston told you. Can you keep your mouth
shut?"
Clancy stared at him. Grannis grinned. He entirely misunderstood her
bewilderment. He rose suddenly, placing a five-dollar bill on the table.
"I'm in a hurry. That's for the tea. So long, kid." He walked away,
leaving Clancy staring at the thousand-dollar bill.