“Well, Graham is dead gone on her all right,” said the man quickly, eying the woman sharply as he spoke to see how she took it.
“Clayte Graham is a knave and a fool,” she hissed fiercely. “I’ll teach him to play fast and loose with a woman like Carlotta.”
“You ought to have a pretty taut string on him by this time,” said the fellow, shrewdly, “and you ain’t the woman to be cut out by a snip of a girl like that.”
“I should say not, Green,” said the woman slowly; then she seemed to think of something, for she turned and looked at him earnestly.
Jack Green was too shrewd not to know what he was doing. He had an end to gain or he would not have been neglecting his own duties at that minute. This woman, Carlotta, had never noticed him before. She had always held her head very high where the property man was concerned, and her constant disdain had nettled him sorely.
Like many another man, he desired what was beyond him; but now his opportunity had come to accomplish his ends; he had only to help her wreak her vengeance on another.
“Green,” whispered the woman, suddenly, as she took a step nearer, “Help me to sully that girl’s character so that Clayte Graham will believe it and I will reward you handsomely. Say, will you do it?”
A dull gleam of light flashed from the property man’s eyes as he half closed his eyelids and peered at her through them.
Carlotta’s face flushed through her paint and she drew back quickly. She read his meaning.