Jackson Gregory

“ He dropped his cigarette into the ash try and came forward to meet her, with a smile to match hers.
“I'm sorry, Miss Ruud—”
“My name hasn't changed over night. It's Audrey, if you please.”
“I'm sorry, Audrey, but I don't like Cootsie any more in the morning than in the evening. And,” gravely, “my name really is John Rand, you know.”
She sighed a little, quickly hid the sigh with a smile and held out her hand to him.
“Let's go down to breakfast. I'm starved, as usual. And Mama has already eaten and gone out somewhere. She left word for you that you ought to be ashamed of yourself.” ”

“ Lon Kelton was every bit as good as a new man this morning. And Mr. Warrington had made it his business to learn a great deal about Lon Kelton's business. The gambler had recently sustained heavy losses, the police had closed three houses belonging to him, and he needed money. He needed it immediately. That was the beauty of it. He was willing, he was eager, announced Mr. Warrington triumphantly, to forget the whole thing as soon as Mr. Ruud paid him a certain sum of money.
“And may I ask,” interrupted Rand, looking thoughtfully into his cup, “how much money the gentleman thinks is due him?” ”

“ Warrington himself will advance the money. Won't you, Mr. Warrington—please—for my sake?”
“I don't understand,” began Mr. Warrington, hesitantly, And then catching the pleading glance which Audrey sent to him while Rand was again staring into his cup. “Certainly I'll be glad to pay the money to Kelton and take his receipt. It will perhaps—er—save trouble. And now,” upon his feet, his watch in his hand, his smile once more summoned back to hide his vague uneasiness, “I'll be hurrying on. There's no time like the present, you know. ”