"Not half as unhealthy as it's going to be for you, Florine," he retorted. "You can make up your mind this minute. Either out of town for yours or the Tombs. Take your pick."
He had advanced threateningly until he stood over Clancy. Grannis pushed him aside.
"Let me handle her," he said. "Now, let's get down to cases, Miss Deane. Ike never done anything to you, did he?" Clancy shrugged. "'Course he didn't," said Grannis. "Then why not be a regular feller and keep out of things that don't concern you? Zenda never paid the rent for you, did he? No. We're willing to pay the rent and the eats, too, for a long while to come. That thousand is only a part. Listen: Ike got me on the long-distance last night. I told him it's O. K. to come back to town, that Zenda, with you keeping your face closed, couldn't do a thing to him. And then I get your letter this morning, and grab your note to Zenda. I find out that you're giving me the double cross. Well, we won't quarrel about it. Maybe you think Zenda is a heavier payer than I'd be. But you'd have to gamble on that, wouldn't you? You don't have to gamble on me. You take ten thousand dollars and leave town for just six months. That's all I ask. How about it?"
"I thought that you were Zenda's partner," said Clancy. Her pretty lips curled in the faintest contemptuous sneer.
"Never mind about that," snapped Grannis. "You're not talking to any one's partner, now. You're just talking to me."
"And me," put in Weber.
"And both of you want me to help you in swindling Mr. Zenda?" said Clancy.
Weber took a step toward her, his big fist clenched. Once again, Grannis intervened.
"Never mind the rough stuff, Ike!" he cried. "Let me handle her. Now, Miss Deane, are you going to listen to sense? Ike is back in town. He don't feel like skipping out every time you get a change of heart. And listen to this: Ike is a good-hearted guy, at that. All you can tell Zenda won't prove anything. It'll just cause a lot of trouble—that's all. It'll make a bunch of scandal, you claiming that Fay Marston told you that Ike was gyping Zenda, but it won't prove much."
"I don't suppose that your offering me money to leave town will prove anything, either," said Clancy.