Carmella Commands
She knew that Dixon could be relied on in any emergency. Her voice sang a sudden song of triumph as she cried:
“Go ahead, Mr. Dixon, to the town clerk’s office.” She wondered if she had done it as Norma Talmadge would have done it.
In this particular state the town clerk was also the recorder of deeds. The transfer was made quickly, and the sale recorded, and Mr. Barrington’s check for eight thousand dollars handed to Tommaso. The party returned to the machine.
“I’m driving Mr. Coletta and his daughter to their bank, Mr. Hastings,” said Dixon. “Where shall I drop you?”
Mr. Hastings’ face clouded, and he hesitated a moment. Then he said:
“Drive me into town, and drop me off at the first taxi stand you come to. I’ll mention this thing to Mr. Barrington.”
“Very good, sir!” said Dixon.
Carmella thereupon hopped into the front seat, beside the driver. She knew well enough that there would be no conversation between Mr. Hastings and her father. And—hurrah!—so far as she could see she had escaped discovery as a traitor to an interpreter’s implied oath.
On the drive into town she chatted comfortably with Dixon, about his opinions of real estate, the probable future of the city, the opportunities of the con-
[105]
