human
It's the best there is here, he protested.
gpt
Timmons has held it for you three days.
human
Oh, I think it is too funny, Ned, she exclaimed, staring around, and then flinging her wraps on the bed.
gpt
Look at that mirror, will you, and those cracks in the wall? Say, do I actually have to wash in that tin basin? Lord! I didn't suppose there was such a place in the world. Why, if this is the prize, what kind of a room have you got?
human
Tough enough, he muttered gloomily,
gpt
Sweetie wouldn't produce, or couldn't, rather. He hasn't got his hands on much of the stuff yet. Enright coughed up the expense money, or most of it. I made John borrow some, but I needed that myself.
human
Well, damn little got out here, and Lacy pumped the most of that out of me. However, if you feel like kicking about this room, you ought to see some of the others--mine, for instance, or the one Timmons put that other woman in.
gpt
Oh, yes, she said, finding a seat and staring at him.
human
That reminds me. Did you say there was a girl here from New York? Never mind quarrelling about the room, I'll endure it all right; it makes me think of old times, and she laughed mirthlessly.
gpt
Sit down, Mr. Enright, and let's talk. How's the door, Ned?
human
All right, Celeste, but I wouldn't talk quite so loud; the partitions are not very tight.
gpt
No objections to a cigarette, I suppose, and she produced a case.
human
Thanks; now I feel better--certainly, light up. Well, Ned, the first thing I want to know is, who is this other New York skirt, and how did she happen to blow in here just at this time?
gpt
Oh, she's all right, he said easily.
human
Just an innocent kid writer for _Scribbler's_ who's trying to make good writing about the beautiful scenery around here. I was a bit suspicious of her at first myself, but picked her up this morning an' we had quite a talk. Mighty pretty little girl.
gpt
Oh, cut it, Ned, she exclaimed curtly.
human
We all know you are a perfect devil with the women. The poor thing is in love with you, no doubt, but that doesn't answer my question, who is she?
gpt
Her name is Donovan.
human
That sounds promising; what do you make it, shanty Irish?
gpt
I should say not, warmly.
human
She's a lady, all right. Oh, I know 'em, if I don't meet many of that kind. We got chummy enough, so she told me all about herself--her father's a big contractor and has money to burn.
gpt
Did you ever hear the beat of that, Enright? Neddy is about to feather his nest. Well, go on.
human
That's about all, I guess, only she ain't nothin' you need be afraid of.
gpt
Sure not, with a watch-dog like you on guard. But if you ask me, I don't like the idea of her happening in here just at this time. This is no place for an innocent child, and she looked about, her lip curling.
human
Lord, I should say not. Do you happen to remember any New York contractor by that name, Mr. Enright?
gpt
Not lately; there was a Tim Donovan who had a pull in the subway excavation--he was a Tammany man--but he died, and was never married. There may have been others, of course, but I had tab on most of them. Did she mention his name, Beaton?
human
No; anyhow, I don't remember.
gpt
What's the girl look like?
human
Rather slender, with brown hair, sorter coppery in the sun, and grey eyes that grow dark when she's interested. About twenty-three or four, I should say. She's a good-looker, all right; and not a bit stuck up.
gpt
Did you get her full name?
human
Sure; it's on the register--Stella Donovan.
gpt
Hold on a bit till I think. he muttered.
human
That sounds mighty familiar--Stella Donovan! My God, I've heard that name before somewhere; ah, I have it--she's on the New York _Star_. I've seen her name signed to articles in the Sunday edition. He wheeled and faced Miss La Rue.
gpt
Do you remember them?
human
No; I never see the _Star_.
gpt
Well, I do, and sometimes she's damn clever. I'll bet she's the girl.
human
A New York newspaperwoman; well, what do you suppose she is doing out here? After us?
gpt
Well, we'd best be careful, he said slowly.
human
Probably it's merely a coincidence, but I don't like her lying to Beaton. That don't look just right. Yet the _Star_ can't have anything on us: the case is closed in New York; forgotten and buried nearly a month ago. Even my partner don't know where I am.
gpt
I had to show John the telegram in order to get some money.
human
You can gamble he won't say anything--there's no one else?
gpt
No; this game ain't the kind you talk about.
human
You'd be a fool to trust anybody. So, if there's no leak we don't need to be afraid of her, only don't let anything slip. We'll lay quiet and try the young lady out. Beaton here can give her an introduction to Miss La Rue, and the rest is easy. What do you say, Celeste?
gpt
Oh, I'll get her goat; you boys trot on now while I tog up a little for dinner; when is it, six o'clock?
human
Yes, answered Beaton, still somewhat dazed by this revealment of Miss Donovan's actual identity.
gpt
But don't try to put on too much dog out here, Celeste; it ain't the style.
human
The simple life, eh! What does your latest charmer wear--a skirt and a shirtwaist?
gpt
I don't know; she was all in black, but looked mighty neat.
human
Well, I'll go her one better--a bit of Broadway for luck. So-long, both of you, and, Enright, you better come up for me; Ned, no doubt, has a previous engagement with Miss Donovan.
gpt
Better do as Beaton says, make it plain, he said shortly.
human
The less attention we attract the less talk there will be, and this is too damn serious an affair to be bungled. You hear?
gpt
Sure; I was only guying Ned--it's a shirt-waist for me. I'll play the game, old man.