"Briefly, these documents tend to prove that Mr. Arnholt was launching an attack on certain textbooks so that the books of rival firms might be adopted by the state in their place. In the absence of any satisfactory explanation from Mr. Arnholt, they did prove that.
"Under the circumstances, we local leaders of the Phalanx cancel his talk and offer you our apologies. For several reasons I will not now name the persons and firms who seem to be involved with Mr. Arnholt in this swindle. We have cleaned our own house, or will clean it shortly. It is not for us to take over the work of the courts. However, the names of these persons and firms will be made known to you shortly and proper action will be taken against them.
"The documents, the photostats, in my possession will be presented to the state attorney general tomorrow morning. And I am authorized to promise you that they will not be pigeon-holed or forgotten. I can promise you that…"
Doc snapped the radio off.
He swiveled around on the stool, and waited.
Hardesty was the first to speak. For a moment he looked as sick and bewildered and frightened as any of the others. But, then, his face tightened and he forced a laugh.
"Well," he said. "There goes the ball game."
"There it goes," Burkman nodded slowly. "There g-goes-" And his pot belly trembled, and he put his hands over his eyes and began to cry.
Flanders laughed harshly. "What'd I tell you, Doc? Didn't! tell you that dumb son-of -a-bitch would screw himself up and us in the bargain? If you'd spent the same money and effort in the regular channels…
"How about the money, anyway?" It was one of the textbook salesmen. "Harry and me are both in for twenty-five hundred. How the hell are we going to explain a deal like this to our companies?"
"We ain't going to have to explain," said the other one, bitterly. "We're washed up. Out. We won't be able to sell a book in the southwest for the next twenty-five years."
Kronup shook his finger at Doc, snarling. "Money's the smallest part of it. We're not only out and facin' prosecution, but there's no one we can turn to. Now or any time. We ain't going to be able to keep a finger in; we ain't going to be able to elect anyone that's halfway reasonable. What you've done, Doc, is put the whole damned reform crowd in office, put 'em there for good. And I'm sayin'-"
"Son-of-a-bitch," sobbed Burkman. "S-son-of-a-bbitch…"
"Will you shut up?" yelled Flanders. "Doc, didn't I tell you that-"
"I'm talkin'!" Kronup shouted. "I say this phony psychologist made a deal! I say he sold us out!"
He shouted the accusation again, for they were all talking now; all shouting and snarling and growling at once. Frightened, surly, half- hysterical animals. Only Doc and Hardesty were silent. Hardesty was staring at Doc, a puzzled but bitter frown on his too-handsome face. Doc sat with his hands folded, looking down at the floor.
His mouth was working; he might have been muttering to himself. He might have been, but he wasn't. I was beginning at last to read his expressions. He was laughing.
His mouth stopped moving, and he looked up. He shook his head and the room grew quiet.
"Don't be a damned fool," he said coldly to Kronup. "How could I sell out? What would I get out of it? How could I make a deal with the reform crowd? There's no way they could give me anything, even if they wanted to."
"But-"
"But nothing," said Doc. "Anyway, we don't know how much of the deal was spilled to Edgars. A very little would be enough to get Arnholt and that's probably all Edgars has. He's trying to throw a bluff into us. If we sit tight and keep quiet, it may blow over."
There was a growl of dissent. "You don't believe that," said Flanders. "Arnholt's going to sing his head off. Regardless of what Edgars has or hasn't got in the way of documentary proof, it's going to be enough to wash us up."
"We're through and you know it," snuffled Burkman, angrily. "All we can do now is grab what we can before the ceiling falls in on us."
"Maybe you're right," Doc shrugged.
His quietness seemed to madden Burkman. He tried to speak and his throat choked with fury. And then he was pointing at me, shaking a trembling finger in my direction.
"You got some kind of scheme you're pullin' with that red-head, there. I don't know what it is but I know it must be good, the trouble you went to gettin' him out. You're cuttin' me in on it."
"You're cutting all of us in on it," corrected Flanders.
"I'm not," said Doc, levelly, "cutting anyone in on it. That deal is off. I'm letting Cosgrove return to Sandstone tomorrow."
27
I'd been expecting that, but the cold fact of its happening jolted me. I lighted a cigarette and my hand trembled.
"That's pretty sudden, Doc," I said. "Would you mind explaining?"
"If you need an explanation," said Doc, his voice clipped. "I've done a great deal for you.! intended to do a great deal more. And all I've asked of you is that you leave Lila alone. You wouldn't do it. You've carried on an affair right in front of me. Recently, you gave her the money to buy a car for you. You intended to jump your parole and leave town with her-leave me holding the bag both ways. I'm beating you to the punch."
A low murmur went around the room. Kronup cleared his throat with embarrassment.
"Say, that's too bad, Doc," he said. "I been hearing things out around the capitol, but-"
"Of course, you've heard things," I said. "Doc wanted you to hear them, and there was a certain basis of truth in them. Lila did buy that car for me. She has thrown herself at me. I've known the talk was spreading, but I didn't know what to do. I-"
"Well, I know what to do," said Doc, getting up from the stool. "Gentlemen, I suggest that we get together in the morning and see what can be done about this Arnholt matter. Frankly, I can't think clearly enough tonight to discuss it."
They began to get up, brushing at their clothes and moving toward the door. A few stared at me; most of them deliberately avoided doing so. For the moment Doc's problem had become paramount to theirs.
"Just a minute," I said. "There's one thing you haven't told these gentlemen, Doc. Lila isn't your wife."
The movement toward the door stopped abruptly. They stared from me to Doc, and his jaw fell slack. And then Hardesty's voice boomed out, breaking the silence.
"So what?" he demanded reasonably. "He couldn't get a divorce from his wife, so he hasn't been able to marry Lila. That has no bearing on the matter. She's been more to him than most wives are to their husbands."
"Yes," said Doc. "A great deal more."
"Well, we'll all get along now," said Hardesty bluffly. "But I'd keep an eye on Cosgrove, if I were you. He isn't going to like going back to Sandstone."
"I'll keep an eye on him," said Doc.
They filed past him out the door. They were in a hurry to get out now. The news about Lila had value; some highly placed people would be very interested in hearing it.