dh.theglasskey-第3部分

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　〃He　was　killed。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Madvig　said。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　get　hysterical　about　it？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　sat　up　straight　in　his　chair　and　asked：　〃Shall　I　call　the　police？〃
　Madvig　raised　his　eyebrows　a　little。　〃Don't　they　know　it？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　was　looking　steadily　at　the　blond　man。　He　replied：　〃There　was　nobody　around　when　I　saw　him。　I　wanted　to　see　you　before　I　did　anything。　Is　it　all　right　for　me　to　say　I　found　him？〃
　Madvig's　eyebrows　came　down。　〃Why　not？〃　he　asked　blankly。
　Ned　Beaumont　rose；　took　two　steps　towards　the　telephone；　halted；　and　faced　the　blond　man　again。　He　spoke　with　slow　emphasis：　〃His　hat　wasn't　there。〃
　〃He　won't　need　it　now。〃　Then　Madvig　scowled　and　said：　〃You're　a　God…damned　fool；　Ned。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃One　of　us　is；〃　and　went　to　the　telephone。
　
　
　5
　
　TAYLOR　HENRY　MURDERED
　
　BODY　OF　SENATOR'S　SON　FOUND
　IN　CHINA　STREET
　
　
　Believed　to　have　been　the　victim　of　a　hold…up；　Taylor　Henry；　26；　son　of　Senator　Ralph　Bancroft　Henry；　was　found　dead　in　China　Street　near　the　corner　of　Pamela　Avenue　at　a　few　minutes　after　io　o'clock　last　night。
　Coroner　William　J。　Hoops　stated　that　young　Henry's　death　was　due　to　a　fracture　of　the　skull　and　concussion　of　the　brain　caused　by　hitting　the　back　of　his　head　against　the　edge　of　the　curb　after　having　been　knocked　down　by　a　blow　from　a　blackjack　or　other　blunt　instrument　on　his　forehead。
　The　body　is　believed　to　have　been　first　discovered　by　Ned　Beaumont；　914　Randall　Avenue；　who　went　to　the　Log　Cabin　Club；　two　blocks　away；　to　telephone　the　police；　but　before　he　had　succeeded　in　getting　Police　Headquarters　on　the　wire；　the　body　had　been　found　and　reported　by　Patrolman　Michael　Smitt。
　Chief　of　Police　Frederick　M。　Rainey　immediately　ordered　a　wholesale　round…up　of　all　suspicious　characters　in　the　city　and　issued　a　statement　to　the　effect　that　no　stone　will　be　left　unturned　in　his　effort　to　apprehend　the　murderer　or　murderers　at　once。
　Members　of　Taylor　Henry's　family　stated　that　he　left　his　home　on　Charles　Street　at　about　half　past　nine　o'clock　to　。
　
　Ned　Beaumont　put　the　newspaper　aside；　swallowed　the　coffee　that　remained　in　his　cup；　put　cup　and　saucer　on　the　table　beside　his　bed；　and　leaned　back　against　the　pillows。　His　face　was　tired　and　sallow。　He　pulled　the　covers　up　to　his　neck；　clasped　his　hands　together　behind　his　head；　and　stared　with　dissatisfied　eyes　at　the　etching　that　hung　between　his　bedroom…windows。
　For　half　an　hour　he　lay　there　with　only　his　eyelids　moving。　Then　he　picked　up　the　newspaper　and　reread　the　story。　As　he　read；　dissatisfaction　spread　from　his　eyes　to　all　his　face。　He　put　the　paper　aside　again；　got　out　of　bed；　slowly；　wearily；　wrapped　his　lean　white…pajamaed　body　in　a　small…figured　brown　and　black　kimono；　thrust　his　feet　into　brown　slippers；　and；　coughing　a　little；　went　into　his　living…room。
　It　was　a　large　room　in　the　old　manner；　high　of　ceiling　and　wide　of　window；　with　a　tremendous　mirror　over　the　fireplace　and　much　red　plush　on　the　furnishings。　He　took　a　cigar　from　a　box　on　the　table　and　sat　in　a　wide　red　chair。　His　feet　rested　in　a　parallelogram　of　late　morning　sun　and　the　smoke　he　blew　out　became　suddenly　full…bodied　as　it　drifted　into　the　sunlight。　He　frowned　now　and　chewed　a　finger…nail　when　the　cigar　was　not　in　his　mouth。
　Knocking　sounded　on　his　door。　He　sat　up　straight；　keen　of　eye　and　alert。　〃e　in。〃
　A　white…jacketed　waiter　came　in。
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　in　a　disappointed　tone　and　relaxed　again　against　the　red　plush　of　his　chair。
　The　waiter　passed　through　to　the　bedroom；　came　out　with　a　tray　of　dishes；　and　went　away。　Ned　Beaumont　threw　what　was　left　of　his　cigar　into　the　fireplace　and　went　into　his　bathroom。　By　the　time　he　had　shaved；　bathed；　and　dressed；　his　face　had　lost　its　sallowness；　his　carriage　most　of　its　weariness。
　
　
　6
　
　It　was　not　quite　noon　when　Ned　Beaumont　left　his　rooms　and　walked　eight　blocks　to　a　pale　grey　apartment…building　in　Link　Street。　He　pressed　a　button　in　the　vestibule；　entered　the　building　when　the　door…lock　clicked；　and　rode　to　the　sixth　floor　in　a　small　automatic　elevator。
　He　pressed　the　bell…button　set　in　the　frame　of　a　door　marked　6ii。　The　door　was　opened　immediately　by　a　diminutive　girl　who　could　have　been　only　a　few　months　out　of　her　teens。　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　angry；　her　face　white；　except　around　her　eyes；　and　angry。　She　said；　〃Oh；　hello；〃　and　with　a　smile　and　a　vaguely　placatory　motion　of　one　hand　apologized　for　her　anger。　Her　voice　had　a　metallic　thinness。　She　wore　a　brown　fur　coat；　but　not　a　hat。　Her　short…cut　hairit　was　nearly　blacklay　smooth　and　shiny　as　enamel　on　her　round　head。　The　gold…set　stones　pendant　from　her　ear…lobes　were　carnelian。　She　stepped　back　pulling　the　door　back　with　her。
　Ned　Beaumont　advanced　through　the　doorway　asking：　〃Bernie　up　yet？〃
　Anger　burned　in　her　face　again。　She　said　in　a　shrill　voice：　〃The　crummy　bastard！〃
　Ned　Beaumont　shut　the　door　behind　him　without　turning　around。
　The　girl　came　close　to　him；　grasped　his　arms　above　the　elbows；　and　tried　to　shake　him。　〃You　know　what　I　did　for　that　bum？〃　she　demanded。　〃I　left　the　best　home　any　girl　ever　had　and　a　mother　and　father　that　thought　I　was　the　original　Miss　Jesus。　They　told　me　he　was　no　good。　Everybody　told　me　that　and　they　were　right　and　I　was　too　dumb　to　know　it。　Well；　I　hope　to　tell　you　I　know　it　now；　the　。　。　。〃　The　rest　was　shrill　obscenity。
　Ned　Beaumont；　motionless；　listened　gravely。　His　eyes　were　not　a　well　man's　now。　He　asked；　when　breathlessness　had　stopped　her　words　for　the　moment：　〃What's　he　done？〃
　〃Done？　He's　taken　a　run…out　on　me；　the　　　　　The　rest　of　that　sentence　was　obscenity。
　Ned　Beaumont　flinched。　The　smile　into　which　he　pushed　his　lips　was　watery。　He　asked：　〃I　don't　suppose　he　left　anything　for　me？〃
　The　girl　clicked　her　teeth　together　and　pushed　her　face　nearer　his。　Her　eves　widened。　〃Does　he　owe　you　anything？〃
　〃I　won〃　He　coughed。　〃I'm　supposed　to　have　won　thirty…two　hundred　and　fifty　bucks　on　the　fourth　race　yesterday。〃
　She　took　her　hands　from　his　arms　and　laughed　scornfully。　〃Try　and　get　it。　Look。〃　She　held　out　her　hands。　A　carnelian　ring　was　on　the　little　finger　of　her　left　hand。　She　raised　her　hands　and　touched　her　carnelian　ear…rings。　〃That's　every　stinking　piece　of　my　jewelry　he　left　me　and　he　wouldn't've　left　me　that　if　I　hadn't　had　them　on。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　asked；　in　a　queer　detached　voice：　〃When　does　this　happen？〃
　〃Last　night；　though　I　didn't　find　it　out　till　this　morning；　but　don't　think　I'm　not　going　to　make　Mr。　Son…of…a…bitch　wish　to　God　he'd　never　seen　me。〃　She　put　a　hand　inside　her　dress　and　brought　it　out　a　fist。　She　held　the　fist　up　close　to　Ned　Beaumont's　face　and　opened　it。　Three　small　crumpled　pieces　of　paper　lay　in　her　hand。　When　he　reached　for　them　she　closed　her　fingers　over　them　again；　stepping　back　and　snatching　her　hand　away。
　He　moved　the　corners　of　his　mouth　impatiently　and　let　his　hand　fall　down　at　his　side。
　She　said　excitedly：　〃Did　you　see　the　paper　this　morning　about　Taylor　Henry？〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　reply；　〃Yes；〃　was　calm　enough；　but　his　chest　moved　out　and　in　with　a　quick　breath。
　〃Do　you　know　what　these　are？〃　She　held　the　three　crumpled　bits　of　paper　out　in　her　open　hand　once　more。
　Ned　Beaumont　shook　his　head。　His　eyes　were　narrow；　shiny。
　〃They're　Taylor　Henry's　I　0　Us；〃　she　said　triumphantly；　〃twelve　hundred　dollars'　worth　of　them。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　started　to　say　something；　checked　himself；　and　when　he　spoke　his　voice　was　lifeless。　〃They're　not　worth　a　nickel　now　he's　dead。〃
　She　thrust　them　inside　her　dress　again　and　came　close　to　Ned　Beaumont。　〃Listen；〃　she　said：　〃they　never　were　worth　a　nickel　and　that's　why　he's　dead。〃
　〃Is　that　a　guess？〃
　〃It's　any　damned　thing　you　want　to　call　it；〃　she　told　him。　〃But　let　me　tell　you　something：　Bernie　called　Taylor　up　last　Friday　and　told　him　he'd　give　him　just　three　days　to　e　across。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　brushed　a　side　of　his　mustache　with　a　thumb…nail。　〃You're　not　just　being　mad；　are　you？〃　he　asked　cautiously。
　She　made　an　angry　face。　〃Of　course　I'm　mad；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　just　mad　enough　to　take　them　to　the　police　and　that's　what　I'm　going　to　do。　But　if　you　think　it　didn't　happen　you're　just　a　plain　damned　fool。〃
　He　seemed　still　unconvinced。　〃Where'd　you　get　them？〃
　〃Out　of　the　safe。〃　She　gestured　with　her　sleek　head　towards　the　interior　of　the　apartment。
　He　asked：　〃What　time　last　night　did　he　blow？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　got　home　at　half　past　nine　and　sat　around　most　of　the　night　expecting　him。　It　wasn't　till　morning　that　I　began　to　suspect　something　and　looked　around　and　saw　he'd　cleaned　house　of　every　nickel　in　money　and　every　piece　of　my　jewelry　that　I　wasn't　wearing。〃
　He　brushed　his　mustache　with　his　thumb…nail　again　and　asked：　〃Where　do　you　think　he'd　go？〃
　She　stamped　her　foot　and；　shaking　both　fists　up　and　down；　began　to　curse　the　missing　Bernie　again　in　a　shrill　enraged　voice。
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃Stop　it。〃　He　caught　her　wrists　and　held　them　still。　He　said：　〃If　you're　not　going　to　do　anything　about　it　but　yell；　give　me　those　markers　and　I'll　do　something　about　it。〃
　She　tore　her　wrists　out　of　his　hands；　crying：　〃I'll　give　you　nothing。　I'll　give　them　to　the　police　and　not　to　another　damned　soul。〃
　〃All　right；　then　do　it。　Where　do　you　think　he'd　go；　Lee？〃
　Lee　said　bitterly　that　she　didn't　know　where　he　would　go；　but　she　knew　where　she　would　like　to　have　him　go。
　Ned　Beaumont　said　wearily：　〃That's　the　stuff。　Wisecraeking　is　going　to　do　us　a　lot　of　good。　Think　he'd　go　back　to　New　York？〃
　〃How　do　I　know？〃　Her　eyes　had　suddenly　bee　wary。
　Annoyance　brought　spots　of　color　into　Ned　Beaumont's　cheeks。　〃What　are　you　up　to　now？〃　he　asked　suspiciously。
　Her　face　was　an　innocent　mask。　〃Nothing。　What　do　you　mean？〃　He　leaned　down　towards　her。　He　spoke　with　considerable　earnestness；　shaking　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side　with　his　words。　〃Don't　think　you're　not　going　to　the　police　with　them；　Lee；　because　you　are。〃
　She　said：　〃Of　course　I　am。〃
　
　
　
　7
　
　In　the　drug…store　that　occupied　part　of　the　ground…floor　of　the　apartment…building　Ned　Beaumont　used　a　telephone。　He　called　the　Police　Department's　number；　asked　for　Lieutenant　Doolan；　and　said：　〃Hello。　Lieutenant　Dool