“’Dolph, I’ve never asked favors—not from you nor any other man. But I ask you now to let me off without any kick. You know me well enough to realize I wouldn’t, without some good reason.”
“Then I’ve got to know what that reason is.”
“I can’t tell you.”
[206]
] “Not the ghost of an excuse, yet you want me to let you quit without a murmur! What d’you think I am?”
“I think you’re man enough not to try to hold me, contract or no contract.”
“That won’t work! Here it is, black on white.” He banged down the contract. “No loophole for three years! It’s ironclad.”
“Then I’ll have to break it,” the man at the window said quietly.
Cleeburg went close to him. For some unaccountable reason this man calmly breaking all rules of the game, made him feel apologetic. An outraged sense of justice added to his fury.
“Oh, you will—will you? Well, we’ll just look after that. Whatever you’ve got up your sleeve, Brooks, it’s a skunk trick. And I won’t stand for it, d’you hear? I’ll stop you from tying up with anybody else. S’help me, I will!”
“I’m not tying up with anybody else. I’m quitting—for good.”