dh.theglasskey-第19部分

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what　goes　on　in　this　politics。　I'm　sure　I　haven't　any　idea。〃
　Amazement　tinged　with　humor　was　in　the　eyes　with　which　Ned　Beaumont　looked　at　her　bony　face。
　She　said：　〃Well；　goggle　at　me；　but　I　haven't　got　any　way　of　knowing　what　you　men　are　up　to；　or　what　you　do　without　thinking　anything　of　it。　It　was　a　long　while　before　ever　you　were　born　that　I　gave　up　trying　to　find　out。〃
　He　patted　her　shoulder。　〃You're　a　humdinger；　Mom；〃　he　said　admiringly。
　She　drew　away　from　his　hand　and　fixed　him　with　severe　penetrant　eyes　again。　〃Would　you　tell　me　if　he　had　killed　him？〃　she　demanded。
　He　shook　his　head　no。
　〃Then　how　do　I　know　he　didn't？〃
　He　laughed。　〃Because；〃　he　explained；　〃if　he　had　I'd　still　say；　'No；'　but　then；　if　you　asked　me　if　I'd　tell　you　the　truth　if　he　had；　I'd　say；　'Yes。'〃　Merriment　went　out　of　his　eyes　and　voice。　〃He　didn't　do　it；　Mom。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　He　smiled　with　his　lips　only　and　they　were　thin　against　his　teeth。　〃It　would　be　nice　if　somebody　in　town　besides　me　thought　he　didn't　do　it　and　it　would　be　especially　nice　if　that　other　one　was　his　mother。〃
　
　
　9
　
　An　hour　after　Mrs。　Madvig's　departure　Ned　Beaumont　received　a　package　containing　four　books　and　Janet　Henry's　card。　He　was　writing　her　a　note　of　thanks　when　Jack　arrived。
　Jack；　letting　cigarette…smoke　e　out　with　his　words；　said：　〃I　think　I've　got　something；　though　I　don't　know　how　you're　going　to　like　it。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　sleek　young　man　and　smoothed　the　left　side　of　his　mustache　with　a　forefinger。　〃If　it's　what　I　hired　you　to　get　I'll　like　it　well　enough。〃　His　voice　was　matter…of…fact　as　Jack's。　〃Sit　down　and　tell　me　about　it。〃
　Jack　sat　down　carefully；　crossed　his　legs；　put　his　hat　on　the　floor；　and　looked　from　his　cigarette　to　Ned　Beaumont。　He　said：　〃It　looks　like　those　things　were　written　by　Madvig's　daughter。〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　eyes　widened　a　little；　but　only　for　a　moment。　His　face　lost　some　of　its　color　and　his　breathing　became　irregular。　There　was　no　change　in　his　voice。　〃What　makes　it　look　like　that？〃
　From　an　inner　pocket　Jack　brought　two　sheets　of　paper　similar　in　size　and　make；　folded　alike。　He　gave　them　to　Ned　Beaumont　who；　when　he　had　unfolded　them；　saw　that　on　each　were　three　typewritten　questions；　the　same　three　questions　on　each　sheet。
　〃One　of　them's　the　one　you　gave　me　yesterday；〃　Jack　said。　〃Could　you　tell　which？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　shook　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。
　〃There's　no　difference；〃　Jack　said。　〃I　wrote　the　other　one　on　Charter　Street　where　Taylor　Henry　had　a　room　that　Madvig's　daughter　used　to　e　towith　a　Corona　typewriter　that　was　there　and　on　paper　that　was　there。　So　far　as　anybody　seems　to　know　there　were　only　two　keys　to　the　place。　He　had　one　and　she　had　one。　She's　been　back　there　at　least　a　couple　of　times　since　he　was　killed。〃
　Ned　Beaumont；　scowling　now　at　the　sheets　of　paper　in　his　hands；　nodded　without　looking　up。
　Jack　lit　a　fresh　cigarette　from　the　one　he　had　been　smoking；　rose　and　went　to　the　table　to　mash　the　old　cigarette　in　the　ash…tray　there；　and　returned　to　his　seat。　There　was　nothing　in　his　face　or　manner　to　show　that　he　had　any　interest　in　Ned　Beaumont's　reaction　to　their　discovery。
　After　another　minute　of　silence　Ned　Beaumont　raised　his　head　a　little　and　asked：　〃How'd　you　get　this？〃
　Jack　put　his　cigarette　in　a　corner　of　his　mouth　where　it　wagged　with　his　words。　〃The　Observer　tip　on　the　place　this　morning　gave　me　the　lead。　That's　where　the　police　got　theirs　too；　but　they　got　there　first。　I　got　a　pretty　good　break；　though：　the　copper　left　in　charge　was　a　friend　of　mineFred　Hurleyand　for　a　ten…spot　he　let　me　do　all　the　poking　around　I　wanted。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　rattled　the　papers　in　his　hand。　〃Do　the　police　know　this？〃　he　asked。
　Jack　shrugged。　〃I　didn't　tell　them。　I　pumped　Hurley；　but　he　didn't　know　anythingjust　put　there　to　watch　things　till　they　decide　what　they're　going　to　do。　Maybe　they　know；　maybe　they　don't。〃　He　shook　cigarette…ash　on　the　floor。　〃I　could　find　out。〃
　〃Never　mind　that。　What　else　did　you　turn　up？〃
　〃I　didn't　look　for　anything　else。〃
　Ned　Beaumont；　after　a　quick　glance　at　the　dark　young　man's　inscrutable　face；　looked　down　at　the　sheets　of　paper　again。　〃What　kind　of　dump　is　it？〃
　〃Thirteen　twenty…four。　They　had　a　room　and　bath　under　the　name　of　French。　The　woman　that　runs　the　place　claims　she　didn't　know　who　they　really　were　till　the　police　came　today。　Maybe　she　didn't。　It's　the　kind　of　joint　where　not　much　is　asked。　She　says　they　used　to　be　there　a　lot；　mostly　in　the　afternoons；　and　that　the　girl's　been　back　a　couple　of　times　in　the　last　week　or　so　that　she　knows　of；　though　she　could　pop　in　and　out　without　being　seen　easily　enough。〃
　〃Sure　it's　her？〃
　Jack　made　a　nonmittal　gesture　with　one　hand。　〃The　description's　right。〃　He　paused；　then　added　carelessly　as　he　exhaled　smoke：　〃She's　the　only　one　the　woman　saw　since　he　was　killed。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　raised　his　head　again。　His　eyes　were　hard。　〃Taylor　had　others　ing　there？〃　he　asked。
　Jack　made　the　nonmittal　gesture　once　more。　〃The　woman　wouldn't　say　so。　She　said　she　didn't　know；　but　from　the　way　she　said　it　I'd　say　it　was　a　safe　bet　she　was　lying。〃
　〃Couldn't　tell　by　what's　in　the　place？〃
　Jack　shook　his　head。　〃No。　There's　not　much　woman　stuff　therejust　a　kimono　and　toilet　things　and　pajamas　and　stuff　like　that。〃
　〃Much　of　his　stuff　there？〃
　〃Oh；　a　suit　and　a　pair　of　shoes　and　some　underwear　and　pajamas　and　socks　and　so　on。〃
　〃Any　hats？〃
　Jack　smiled。　〃No　hats；〃　he　said。
　Ned　Beaumont　got　up　and　went　to　the　window。　Outside　darkness　was　almost　plete。　A　dozen　raindrops　clung　to　the　glass　and　as　many　more　struck　it　lightly　while　Ned　Beaumont　stood　there。　He　turned　to　face　Jack　again。　〃Thanks　a　lot；　Jack；〃　he　said　slowly。　His　eves　were　focused　on　Jack's　face　in　a　dully　absent…minded　stare。　〃I　think　maybe　I'll　have　another　job　for　you　soonmaybe　tonight。　I'll　give　you　a　ring。〃
　Jack　said；　〃Right；〃　and　rose　and　went　out。
　Ned　Beaumont　went　to　the　closet　for　his　clothes；　carried　them　into　the　bathroom；　and　put　them　on。　When　he　came　out　a　nurse　was　in　his　room；　a　tall　full…bodied　woman　with　a　shiny　pale　face。
　〃Why；　you're　dressed！〃　she　exclaimed。
　〃Yes；　I've　got　to　go　out。〃
　Alarm　joined　astonishment　in　her　mien。　〃But　you　can't；　Mr。　Beaumont；〃　she　protested。　〃It's　night　and　it's　beginning　to　rain　and　Doctor　Tait　would〃
　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　he　said　impatiently；　and　went　around　her　to　the　door。
　
　
　
　
　VI。The　Observer
　
　1
　
　Mrs。　Madvig　opened　her　front　door。　〃Ned！〃　she　cried；　〃are　you　crazy？　Running　around　on　a　night　like　this；　and　you　just　out　of　the　hospital。〃
　〃The　taxi　didn't　leak；〃　he　said；　but　his　grin　lacked　virility。　〃Paul　in？〃
　〃He　went　out　not　more　than　half　an　hour　ago；　I　think　to　the　Club。　But　e　in；　e　in。〃
　〃Opal　home？〃　he　asked　as　he　shut　the　door　and　followed　her　down　the　hall。
　〃No。　She's　been　off　somewhere　since　morning。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　halted　in　the　living…room　doorway。　〃I　can't　stay；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　run　on　down　to　the　Club　and　see　Paul　there。〃　His　voice　was　not　quite　steady。
　The　old　woman　turned　quickly　towards　him。　〃You'll　do　no　such　thing；〃　she　said　in　a　scolding　voice。　〃Look　at　you；　you're　just　about　to　have　a　chill。　You'll　sit　right　down　there　by　the　fire　and　let　me　get　von　something　hot　to　drink。〃
　〃Can't；　Mom；〃　he　told　her。　〃I've　got　to　go　places。〃
　Her　blue　eyes　wherein　age　did　not　show　became　bright　and　keen。　〃When　did　you　leave　the　hospital？〃　she　demanded。
　〃Just　now。〃
　She　put　her　lips　together　hard；　then　opened　them　a　little　to　say　accusingly：　〃You　walked　out。〃　A　shadow　disturbed　the　clear　blueness　of　her　eves。　She　came　close　to　Ned　Beaumont　and　held　her　face　close　to　his：　she　was　nearly　as　tall　as　he。　Her　voice　was　harsh　now　as　if　ing　from　a　parched　throat。　〃Is　it　something　about　Paul？〃　The　shadow　in　her　eyes　became　recognizable　as　fear。　〃And　Opal？〃
　His　voice　was　barely　audible。　〃It's　something　I've　got　to　see　them　about。〃
　She　touched　one　of　his　cheeks　somewhat　timidly　with　bony　fingers。　〃You're　a　good　boy；　Ned；〃　she　said。
　He　put　an　arm　around　her。　〃Don't　worry；　Mom。　None　of　it's　bad　as　it　could　be。　Onlyif　Opal　es　home　make　her　stayif　you　can。〃
　〃Is　it　anything　you　can　tell　me；　Ned？〃　she　asked。
　〃Not　now　andwellit　might　be　just　as　well　not　to　let　either　of　them　know　you　think　anything's　wrong。〃
　
　
　2
　
　Ned　Beaumont　walked　five　blocks　through　the　rain　to　a　drug…store。　He　used　a　telephone　there　first　to　order　a　taxicab　and　then　to　call　two　numbers　and　ask　for　Mr。　Mathews。　He　did　not　get　Mr。　Mathews　on　the　wire。
　He　called　another　number　and　asked　for　Mr。　Rumsen。　A　moment　later　he　was　saying：　〃'Lo；　Jack；　this　is　Ned　Beaumont。　Busy？　。　。　。　Fine。　Here　it　is。　I　want　to　know　if　the　girl　we　were　talking　about　went　to　see　Mathews　of　the　Observer　today　and　what　she　did　afterwards；　if　she　did。
　That's　right；　Hal　Mathews。　I　tried　to　get　him　by　phone；　there　and　home；　but　no　luck。　。　。　。　Well；　on　the　quiet　if　you　can；　but　get　it　and　get　it　quick。　。　。　。　No；　I'm　out　of　the　hospital。　I'll　be　home　waiting。　You　know　my　number。　。　。　。　Yes；　Jack。　Fine；　thanks；　and　ring　me　as　often　as　you　can。　。　。　。　'By。〃
　He　went　out　to　the　waiting　taxicab；　got　into　it；　and　gave　the　driver　his　address；　but　after　half　a　dozen　blocks　he　tapped　the　front　window　with　his　fingers　and　gave　the　driver　another　address。
　Presently　the　taxicab　came　to　rest　in　front　of　a　squat　greyish　house　set　in　the　center　of　a　steeply　sloping　smooth　lawn。　〃Wait；〃　he　told　the　driver　as　he　got　out。
　The　greyish　house's　front　door　was　opened　to　his　ring　by　a　red…haired　maid。
　〃Mr。　Farr　in？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃I'll　see。　Who　shall　I　tell　him？〃
　〃Mr。　Beaumont。〃
　The　District　Attorney　came　into　the　reception…hall　with　both　hands　out。　His　florid　pugnacious　face　was　all　smiling。　〃Well；　well；　Beaumont；　this　is　a　real　pleasure；〃　he　said　as　he　rushed　up　to　his　visitor。　〃Here；　give　me　your　coat　and　hat。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　stay；〃　he　said。　〃I　just　dropped　in　for　a　second　on　my　way　home　from　the　hospital。〃
　〃All　shipshape　again？　Splendid！〃
　〃Feeling　pretty　good；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said。　〃Anything　new？〃
　〃Nothing　very　important。　The　birds　who　manhandled　you　are　still　loosein　hiding　somewherebut　we'll　g