“Yes, I suppose we have, Mrs. Cool. I’m coming directly to the point. If you get two thousand five hundred dollars in the form of a cashier’s cheque or a certified cheque in my hands not later than four o’clock this afternoon, I’ll sign over the judgment to you lock, stock and barrel.”
“I see.”
“But it has to be by four o’clock this afternoon, understand?”
“Yes.”
“Naturally the incentive which has caused me to accept this ridiculously low offer of yours is in the nature of an emergency; that’s the only reason I’m accepting the offer. If the money isn’t in my hands by four o’clock this afternoon, it won’t do me a bit of good.”
“I see.”
“Now, can I count on having that money by four o’clock?”
Bertha Cool hesitated for a swift flicker of an eyelash. She glanced at Everett Belder’s anxious face and said, into the telephone, “That’s moving pretty fast. Can’t you give me just a little more time?”
“Mrs. Cool, you represented yourself to me as having ready cash. You dangled that offer in front of my face. I want that money by four o’clock this afternoon or the deal is all off. After four o’clock I won’t discount that judgment by so much as one red cent. Four o’clock this afternoon is the absolute deadline. One minute past four is going to be too late. Now, do I get the money or don’t I?”
“You get it,” Bertha said. “Where will I find you?”