The Carpetbaggers Read Online Free PDF

across the three thousand miles of wire between us. "Don't you know the only reason she married you was for your money?"
    Father didn't even get angry. He even chuckled. "You're the fool. All she wanted was a man, not a boy. She even insisted that we sign a premarital property agreement before she would marry me."
    "Oh, yeah?" I asked. "Who drew the agreement? Her lawyer?"
    Father chuckled again. "No. Mine." His voice changed abruptly. It grew heavy and coarse with meaning. "Now get back to your studies, son, and don't meddle in things that don't concern you. It's midnight here and I'm just about to go to bed."
    The telephone went dead in my hands. I stared at it for a moment, then slowly put it down. I couldn't sleep that night. Across my mind's eye unreeled pornographic pictures of Rina and my father in wild sexual embrace. Several times, I woke up in a cold sweat.
    * * *
    A hand was shaking me gently. Slowly I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was Nevada's face. "Wake up, Jonas," he said. "We're home."
    I blinked my eyes to clear the sleep from them.
    The last piece of sun was going down behind the big house. I shook my head and stepped out of the car. I looked up at the house. Strange house. I don't think I'd spent more than two weeks in it since my father had it built and now it was mine. Like everything else my father had done.
    I started for the steps. Rina had thought of everything. Except this. My father was dead. And I was going to tell her.

 
6
     

    THE FRONT DOOR OPENED AS I CROSSED THE VERANDA. My father had built a traditional Southern plantation house, and to run it, he had brought Robair up from New Orleans. Robair was a Creole butler in the full tradition.
    He was a giant of a man, towering a full head over me, and as gentle and efficient as he was big. His father and grandfather had been butlers before him and even though they had been slaves, they had instilled in him a pride in his work. He had a sixth sense for his duties. Somehow, he was always there when he was wanted.
    He stepped aside to let me enter. "Hello, Master Cord." He greeted me in his soft Creole English.
    "Hello, Robair," I said, turning to him as he closed the door. "Come with me."
    He followed me silently into my father's study. His face impassive, he closed the door behind him. "Yes, Mr. Cord?"
    It was the first time he had called me Mister, instead of Master. I looked at him. "My father is dead," I said.
    "I know," he said. "Mr. Denby called."
    "Do the others know?" I asked.
    He shook his head. "I told Mr. Denby that Mrs. Cord was out and I haven't said anything to the other servants."
    There was a faint sound outside the closed door. Robair continued speaking as he moved swiftly toward it. "I figured you would want to break the sad news yourself." He threw the door open.
    There was no one there. He stepped quickly out the door. I followed him. A figure was hurrying up the long staircase that curved around the entrance hall to the upper floor.
    Robair's voice was low but held the whip of authority. "Louise!"
    The figure stopped. It was Rina's personal maid.
    "Come down here," he commanded.
    Louise came down the steps hesitantly. I could see the terrified look on her face as she approached. "Yes, Mr. Robair?" Her voice was frightened, too.
    For the first time, Robair let me see how he kept the servants in line. He moved almost lazily but his hand met her face with the impact of a pistol shot. His voice was filled with contempt. "How many times do I tell you not to listen at doors?"
    She stood holding her hand to her face. The tears began to run down her cheeks.
    "Now you get back to the kitchen. I’ll deal with you later."
    She ran toward the kitchen, still holding her face. Robair turned back to me. "I apologize for her, Mr. Cord," he said, his voice once more deep and soft. "Ordinarily, my servants don't do such a thing, but that one is pretty hard to keep in her place."
    I took out a cigarette and almost before I had it in my