Marty frowned at the two telegrams, and laid them back on the desk. "I
don't think these are for me, Joe," he said to the clerk. "I don't
know any Sandra, or any Madge in Bridgetown. In fact, I don't know
anybody in Bridgetown. And what's more, I don't want to."
Joe Hazelton grinned. "They must be for you, Mr. Quade. There's no
other M. Quade in the hotel." He glanced through the two messages.
"They must be nice girls--Sandra and Madge. Looks like they have money
to burn. I think I'd prefer Madge, if you ask me--"
"So I won't ask you," Marty growled. He took the telegrams, left the
desk, and crossed the lobby to the Western Union counter at the other
side.
"Have you got a thousand dollars for me, wired from Bridgetown by a
girl named Madge?"
"Madge who?" asked the Western Union girl.
Marty shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Just Madge. Here's the telegram."
"I'll look," she said. "I just came on duty, so I don't know what's in
the file."
She went through the remittance drawer, and came up with a paper.
"Here it is, all right. One thousand dollars to M. Quade." She gave
Marty a sly look. "Gee, Mr. Quade, the girls must certainly go for you
in a big way. She sends a thousand dollars, and doesn't even give her
last name. How will you have it? I can give you a Western Union check,
or I can give you the cash--"
"Hold on to it for a while," Marty said thoughtfully. "I don't know
yet if I want it."
"You mean to say you're going to turn down a thousand dollars?"
"Sometimes," Marty told her sourly, "it's cheaper to turn down cash--
till you know what you're letting yourself in for."
He started away from the counter, toward the elevators. The telegraph
operator at the machine behind the girl called out: "Hey, Mr. Quade.
Here's another one for you."
Marty frowned, and took the form which the operator ripped out of the
machine and handed him. As he read it, his frown deepened.
M. QUADE
BALTIC HOTEL N Y
DONT TAKE MADGES MONEY AND
DONT BELIEVE A WORD SHE SAYS
STOP BE SURE TO COME TO
BRIDGETOWN I AM TOPPING HER
OFFER WIRING FIFTEEN HUNDRED
JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU COME AND
LISTEN TO PROPOSITION WILL PAY
YOU PLENTY MORE IF YOU ACCEPT
(SIGNED) SANDRA
