“I know plenty.”
“Are you working for Marsh?”
“Would you answer that question?”
“I guess not. But what’s your game, anyway?”
“That’s entirely my business.”
“Oh, I see. I suppose Marsh told you to scare me, eh? Does he think I’m going to beat it out of here without any money? You’re crazy and so is Marsh, if either of you think so. This is the first time I ever had a chance to pick up some real money, and I’ll get it or squawk.”
“Don’t ever let Marsh think for a minute that yuh might squawk.”
“I don’t care if he knows it. I get my ten thousand dollars, and then I’ll pull out. Not before.”
Cultus grinned to himself. Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money, he thought. And just what did this dance-hall girl know that might be worth ten thousand to Kendall Marsh, he wondered? Then aloud, “He’ll never pay it.”
“Won’t he?” Her eyes flashed. “Oh, yes, he will; and be getting off pretty damn cheap at that. Oh, you can tell him. And you might tell him that I want the money right away. The ante jumps a thousand every day from now on. I’m no cheap sport, no matter what kind of a piker he is. Tell him what I said, and see where it hits him.”