dh.theglasskey-第5部分

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　He　returned　to　the　bed；　sat　down　beside　her　again；　and　moved　her　head　from　the　pillow　to　his　shoulder。
　She　cried　there　silently　for　several　minutes。　Then　muffled　words　came　from　where　her　mouth　was　pressed　against　his　coat：　〃Diddid　you　know　I　had　been　meeting　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　She　sat　up　straight；　alarmed。　〃Did　Dad　know　it？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　I　don't　know。〃
　She　lowered　her　head　to　his　shoulder　so　that　her　next　words　were　muffled。　〃Oh；　Ned；　I　was　with　him　only　yesterday　afternoon；　all　afternoon！〃
　He　tightened　his　arm　around　her；　but　did　not　say　anything。
　After　another　pause　she　asked：　〃Whowho　do　you　think　could　have　done　it　to　him？〃
　He　winced。
　SI…me　raised　her　head　suddenly。　There　was　no　weakness　in　her　now。　〃Do　you　know；　Ned？〃
　He　hesitated；　wet　his　lips；　mumbled：　〃I　think　I　do。〃
　〃Who？〃　she　asked　fiercely。
　He　hesitated　again；　evading　her　eyes；　then　put　a　slow　question　to　her：　〃Will　you　promise　to　keep　it　to　yourself　till　the　time　es？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied　quickly；　but　when　he　would　have　spoken　she　stopped　him　by　grabbing　his　nearer　shoulder　with　both　hands。　〃Wait。　I　won't　promise　unless　you'll　promise　me　that　they　won't　get　off；　that　they'll　be　caught　and　punished。〃
　〃I　can't　promise　that。　Nobody　can。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　biting　her　lip；　then　said：　〃All　right；　then；　I'll　promise　anyway。　Who？〃
　〃Did　he　ever　tell　you　that　he　owed　a　gambler　named　Bernie　Despain　more　money　than　he　could　pay？〃
　〃Diddid　this　Despain？〃
　〃I　think　so；　but　did　he　ever　say　anything　to　you　about　owing？〃
　〃I　knew　he　was　in　trouble。　He　told　me　that；　but　he　didn't　say　what　it　was　except　that　he　and　his　father　had　had　a　row　about　some　money　and　that　he　was'desperate'　is　what　he　said。〃
　〃Didn't　mention　Despain？〃
　〃No。　What　was　it？　Why　do　you　think　this　Despain　did　it？〃
　〃He　had　over　a　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　Taylor's　I　0　Us　and　couldn't　collect。　He　left　town　last　night　in　a　hurry。　The　police　are　looking　for　him　now。〃　He　lowered　his　voice；　looking　a　little　sidewise　at　her。　〃Would　you　do　something　to　help　them　catch　and　convict　him？〃
　〃Yes。　What？〃
　〃I　mean　something　a　bit　off…color。　You　see；　it's　going　to　be　hard　to　convict　him；　but；　if　he's　guilty；　would　you　do　something　that　might　be　a　little　bitwelloff…color　to　make　sure　of　nailing　him？〃
　〃Anything；〃　she　replied。
　He　sighed　and　rubbed　his　lips　together。
　〃What　is　it　you　want　done？〃　she　asked　eagerly。
　〃I　want　you　to　get　me　one　of　his　hats。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　want　one　of　Taylor's　hats；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said。　His　face　had　flushed。　〃Can　you　get　me　one？〃
　She　was　bewildered。　〃But　what　for；　Ned？〃
　〃To　make　sure　of　nailing　Despain。　That's　all　I　can　tell　you　now。　Can　you　get　it　for　me　or　can't　you？〃
　〃II　think　I　can；　but　I　wish　you'd〃
　〃How　soon？〃
　〃This　afternoon；　I　think；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　wish〃
　He　interrupted　her　again。　〃You　don't　want　to　know　anything　about　it。　The　fewer　know　about　it　the　better；　and　the　same　thing　goes　for　your　getting　the　hat。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　drew　her　to　him。　〃Did　you　really　love　him；　snip；　or　was　it　just　because　your　father〃
　〃I　did　really　love　him；〃　she　sobbed。　〃I'm　pretty　sureI'm　sure　I　did。〃
　
　
　
　
　II。The　Hat　Trick
　
　1
　
　Ned　Beaumont；　wearing　a　hat　that　did　not　quite　fit　him；　followed　the　porter　carrying　his　bags　through　Grand　Central　Terminal　to　a　Forty…second　Street　exit；　and　thence　to　a　maroon　taxicab。　He　tipped　ti…me　porter；　climbed　into　the　taxicab；　gave　its　driver　the　name　of　a　hotel　off　Broadway　in　the　Forties；　and　settled　back　lighting　a　cigar。　He　chewed　the　cigar　more　than　he　smoked　it　as　the　taxicab　crawled　through　theater…bound　traffic　towards　Broadway。
　At　Madison　Avenue　a　green　taxicab；　turning　against　the　light；　ran　full　tilt　into　Ned　Beaumont's　maroon　one；　driving　it　over　against　a　car　that　was　parked　by　the　curb；　hurling　him　into　a　corner　in　a　shower　of　broken　glass。
　He　pulled　himself　upright　and　climbed　out　into　the　gathering　crowd。　He　was　not　hurt；　he　said。　He　answered　a　policeman's　questions。　He　found　the　hat　that　did　not　quite　fit　him　and　put　it　on　his　head。　He　had　his　bags　transferred　to　another　taxicab；　gave　the　hotel's　name　to　the　second　driver；　and　1…muddled　back　in　a　corner；　white…faced　and　shivering；　while　the　ride　lasted。
　'When　he　had　registered　at　the　hotel　he　asked　for　his　mail　and　was　given　two　telephone…memorandum…slips　and　two　sealed　envelopes　without　postage　stamps。
　He　asked　the　bellboy　who　took　him　to　his　room　to　get　him　a　pint　of　rye　whisky。　When　the　boy　had　gone　he　turned　the　key　in　the　door　and　read　the　telephone…memoranda。　Both　slips　were　dated　that　day；　one　marked　4：50　P。　M。；　the　other　8：05　P。　M。　He　looked　at　his　wrist…watch。　It　was　8：45　P。　M。
　The　earlier　slip　read：　_At　the　Gargoyle_。　The　later　read：　_At　Tom　&　Jerry's。　Will　phone　later_。　Both　were　signed：　_Jack_。
　He　opened　one　of　the　envelopes。　It　contained　two　sheets　of　paper　covered　by　bold　masculine　handwriting；　dated　the　previous　day。
　
　_She　is　staying　at　the　Matin；　room　1211；　registered　as　Eileen　Dale；　Chicago。　She　did　some　phoning　from　the　depot　and　connected　with　a　man　and　girl　who　live　E。　3oth。　They　went　to　a　lot　of　places；　mostly　speakies；　probably　hunting　him；　but　don't　seem　to　have　much　luck。　My　room　is　734。　Man　and　girl　named　Brook_。
　
　The　sheet　of　paper　in　the　other　envelope；　covered　by　the　same　handwriting；　was　dated　that　day。
　
　_I　saw　Deward　this　morning；　but　he　says　he　did　not　know　Bernie　was　in　town。　Will　phone　later_。
　
　Both　of　these　messages　were　signed：　_Jack_。
　Ned　Beaumont　washed；　put　on　fresh　linen　from　his　bags；　and　was　lighting　a　cigar　when　the　bellboy　brought　him　his　pint　of　whisky。　He　paid　the　boy；　got　a　tumbler　from　the　bathroom；　and　drew　a　chair　up　to　the　bedroom…window。　He　sat　there　smoking；　drinking；　and　staring　down　at　the　other　side　of　the　street　until　his　telephone…bell　rang。
　〃Hello；〃　he　said　into　the　telephone。　〃Yes；　Jack　。　。　。　Just　now。　。　。　Where？　。　。　。　Sure。　。　。　。　Sure；　on　my　way。〃
　He　took　another　drink　of　whisky；　put　on　the　hat　that　did　not　quite　fit　him；　picked　up　the　overcoat　he　had　dropped　across　a　chair…back；　put　it　on；　patted　one　of　its　pockets；　switched　off　the　lights；　and　went　out。
　It　was　then　ten　minutes　past　nine　o'clock。
　
　
　2
　
　Through　double　swinging　glazed　doors　under　an　electric　sign　that　said　Tom　&　Jerry's　down　the　front　of　a　building　within　sight　of　Broadway；　Ned　Beaumont　passed　into　a　narrow　corridor。　A　single　swinging　door　in　the　corridor's　left　wall　let　him　into　a　small　restaurant。
　A　man　at　a　corner…table　stood　up　and　raised　a　forefinger　at　him。　The　man　was　of　medium　height；　young　and　dapper；　with　a　sleek　dark　rather　good…looking　face。
　Ned　Beaumont　went　over　to　him。　〃'Lo；　Jack；〃　he　said　as　they　shook　hands。
　〃They're　upstairs；　the　girl　and　those　Brook　people；〃　Jack　told　him。　〃You　ought　to　be　all　right　sitting　here　with　your　back　to　the　stairs。　I　can　spot　them　if　they　go　out；　or　him　ing　in；　and　there's　enough　people　in　the　way　to　keep　him　from　making　you。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　sat　down　at　Jack's　table。　〃They　waiting　for　him？〃
　Jack　moved　his　shoulders。　〃I　don't　know；　but　they're　doing　some　stalling　about　something。　Want　something　to　eat？　You　can't　get　anything　to　drink　downstairs　here。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃I　want　a　drink。　Can't　we　find　a　place　upstairs　where　they　won't　see　us？〃
　〃It's　not　a　very　big　joint；〃　Jack　protested。　〃There's　a　couple　of　booths　up　there　where　we　might　be　hidden　from　them；　but　if　he　es　in　he's　likely　to　spot　us。〃
　〃Let's　risk　it。　I　want　a　drink　and　I　might　as　well　talk　to　him　right　here　if　he　does　show　up。〃
　Jack　looked　curiously　at　Ned　Beaumont；　then　turned　his　eyes　away　and　said：　〃You're　the　boss。　I'll　see　if　one　of　the　booths　is　empty。〃　He　hesitated；　moved　his　shoulders　again；　and　left　the　table。
　Ned　Beaumont　twisted　himself　around　in　his　chair　to　watch　the　dapper　young　man　go　back　to　the　stairs　and　mount　them。　He　watched　the　foot　of　the　stairs　until　the　young　man　came　down　again。　From　the　second　step　Jack　beckoned。　He　said；　when　Ned　Beaumont　had　joined　him　there：　〃The　best　of　them's　empty　and　her　back's　this　way；　so　you　can　get　a　slant　at　the　Brooks　as　you　go　over。〃
　They　went　upstairs。　The　boothstables　and　benches　set　within　breast…high　wooden　stallswere　to　the　right　of　the　stair…head。　They　had　to　turn　and　look　through　a　wide　arch　and　down　past　the　bar　to　see　into　the　second…floor　dining…room。
　Ned　Beaumont's　eves　focused　on　the　back　of　Lee　Wilshire　in　sleeveless　fawn　gown　and　brown　hat。　Her　brown　fur　coat　was　hanging　over　the　back　of　her　chair。　He　looked　at　her　panions。　At　her　left　was　a　hawk…nosed　long…chinned　pale　man；　a　predatory　animal　of　forty　or　so。　Facing　her　sat　a　softly　fleshed　red…haired　girl　with　eyes　set　far　apart。　She　was　laughing。
　Ned　Beaumont　followed　Jack　to　their　stall。　They　sat　down　with　the　table　between　them。　Ned　Beaumont　sat　with　his　back　to　the　dining…room；　close　to　the　end　of　his　bench　to　take　full　advantage　of　the　wooden　wing's　shelter。　He　took　off　his　hat；　but　not　his　overcoat。
　A　waiter　came。　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃Rye。〃　Jack　said：　〃Rickey。〃
　Jack　opened　a　package　of　cigarettes；　took　one　out；　and；　staring　at　it；　said：　〃It's　your　game　and　I'm　working　for　you；　but　this　isn't　a　hell　of　a　good　spot　to　go　up　against　him　if　he's　got　friends　here。〃
　〃Has　he？〃
　Jack　put　the　cigarette　in　a　corner　of　his　mouth　so　it　moved　batonwise　with　his　words。　〃If　they're　waiting　here　for　him；　it　might　be　one　of　his　hang…outs。〃
　The　waiter　came　with　their　drinks。　Ned　Beaumont　drained　his　glass　immediately　and　plained：　〃Cut　to　nothing。〃
　〃Yes；　I　guess　it　is；〃　Jack　said　and　took　a　sip　from　his　glass。　He　set　fire　to　the　end　of　his　cigarette　and　took　another　sip。
　〃Well；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃I'm　going　up　against　him　as　soon　as　he　shows。〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃　Jack's　good…looking　dark　face　was　inscrutable。　〃What　do　I　do？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　and　caught　their　waiter's　attention。
　He　ordered　a　double　Scotch。　Jack　another　rickey。　Ned　Beaumont　emptied　his　glass　as　soon　as　it　arrived。　Jack　let　his　first　drink　be　carried　away　no　more　than　half　consumed　and　sipped　at　his　second。　Presently　Ned　Beaumont　had　another　double　Scotch　and　another　while　Jack　had　time　to　finish　none　of　his　drinks。
　Then　Bernie　Despain　came　upst