He leaned across the cloth and laid a hot, cushiony hand over both of
hers, where they lay primly clasped on the table edge: "Don't you ever miss me when I'm away from you, Rue?" he asked.
"I think--it is nice to be with you," she said, hotly embarrassed by
the publicity of his caress.
"I don't believe you mean it." But he smiled this time. At which the
little rigid smile stamped itself on her lips; but she timidly
withdrew her hands from his.
"Rue, I don't believe you love me." This time there was no smile.
She found nothing to answer, being without any experience in
give-and-take conversation, which left her always uncertain and
uncomfortable.
For the girl was merely a creature still in the making--a soft,
pliable thing to be shaped to perfection only by the light touch of
some steady, patient hand that understood--or to be marred and ruined
by a heavy hand which wrought at random or in brutal haste.
Brandes watched her for a moment out of sleepy, greenish eyes. Then he
consulted his watch again, summoned a waiter, gave him the
parcels-room checks, and bade him have a boy carry their luggage into
the lobby.
As they rose from the table, a man and a woman entering the lobby
caught sight of them, halted, then turned and walked back toward the
street door which they had just entered.
Brandes had not noticed them where he stood by the desk, scratching
off a telegram to Stull: "All O. K. Just going aboard. Fix it with Stein."
He rejoined Rue as the boy appeared with their luggage; an under
porter took the bags and preceded them toward the street.
"There's the car!" said Brandes, with a deep breath of relief. "He
knows his business, that chauffeur of mine."
Their chauffeur was standing beside the car as they emerged from the
hotel and started to cross the sidewalk; the porter, following, set
their luggage on the curbstone; and at the same instant a young and
pretty woman stepped lightly between Rue and Brandes.
"Good evening, Eddie," she said, and struck him a staggering blow in
the face with her white-gloved hand.
Brandes lost his balance, stumbled sideways, recovered himself, turned
swiftly and encountered the full, protruding black eyes of Maxy Venem
staring close and menacingly into his.
From Brandes' cut lip blood was running down over his chin and collar;
his face remained absolutely expressionless. The next moment his eyes
shifted, met Ruhannah's stupefied gaze.
"Go into the hotel," he said calmly. "Quick----"
"Stay where you are!" interrupted Maxy Venem, and caught the
speechless and bewildered girl by the elbow.
Like lightning Brandes' hand flew to his hip pocket, and at the same
instant his own chauffeur seized both his heavy, short arms and held
them rigid, pinned behind his back.