"What had you done?"
"Done!" exclaimed Mannie indignantly, "nothing! What'd you think
I'd done? Did you think I was a crook?"
Vera bowed her shoulders and shivered as though the boy had
cursed at her. She shook her head vehemently and again swung
back to the piano. Stumbling awkwardly, her fingers ran over the
keys in a swift clatter of broken chords. "No," she whispered,
"no, Mannie, no."
With a laugh of delighted recollection, Mannie turned to Mabel.
"He raided a poolroom I was working at," he explained. "He
picked me out as a sheet writer because I had my coat off, see?
I told him I had it off because it was too hot for me, and he
says, Young man, if you lie to me, I'll make I a damn sight
hotter!" Mannie threw back his head and shouted uproariously.
"He's all right, Winthrop!" he declared.
Mabel, having already married Winthrop to Vera in Grace Church,
with herself in the front pew, in a blue silk dress, received
this unexpected evidence of his rare wit with delight. In
ecstasy of appreciation she slapped her knees.
"Did he say that, Mannie?" she cried. "Wasn't that quick of him!
Did you hear what he said to Mannie, Vera?" she demanded.
Their mirth was interrupted by the opening and closing of the
front door and, in the hall, the murmur of men's voices.
Vance opened the door from the hall and entered, followed by
Judge Gaylor and Rainey. With evident pride in her appearance,
Vance introduced the two men to his wife, and then sent her and
Mannie from the room -- the latter with orders to dismiss the
visitors in the front parlor and to admit no others.
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