Sonia Vreedon’s eyes were narrowed. She said huskily:
“Why not— if he’d won?”
“It didn’t look as though he were going to win— until the last minute,” I replied slowly. “Vennell got a jolt. It takes a few seconds to recover.”
Sonia had her gray eyes almost closed. She said in almost a whisper:
“Then what happened— to Vennell?”
I shook my head. A steward came along the deck calling:
“Mr. Connors— Mr. Connors—”
I said: “Here!”
He came up close to us and smiled at me. He was short and ruddy-faced.
“Mr. Risdon would like to see you in the captain’s quarters, sir.”
I nodded and he went away. Sonia touched my wrist. Her fingers were cool.
“I think— it had better be the truth, Al,” she said softly.
I nodded. “Tim Burke’s— a lucky guy,” I replied. “It’ll be the truth, Sonia.”
She smile
