dh.theglasskey-第9部分

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　keep　right　on　their　tails。　Don't　go。　I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　Despain。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　murmured；　〃Don't　hurry；〃　as　the　District　Attorney　left　the　office；　and　sat　and　smoked　placidly　all　the　fifteen　minutes　he　was　gone。
　Farr　returned　frowning。　〃Sorry　to　leave　you　like　that；〃　he　said　as　he　sat　down；　〃but　we're　fairly　smothered　under　work。　If　it　keeps　up　like　this〃　He　pleted　the　sentence　by　making　a　gesture　of　hopelessness　with　his　hands。
　〃That's　all　right。　Anything　new　on　the　Taylor　Henry　killing？〃
　〃Nothing　here。　That's　what　I　wanted　to　ask　you　aboutDespain。〃　Again　Farr　was　definitely　not　watching　Ned　Beaumont's　face。
　A　thin　mocking　smile　that　the　other　man　could　not　see　twitched　for　an　instant　the　corners　of　Ned　Beaumont's　mouth。　He　said：　〃There's　not　much　of　a　case　against　him　when　you　e　to　look　at　it　closely。〃
　Farr　nodded　slowly　at　the　corner　of　his　desk。　〃Maybe；　but　his　blowing　town　that　same　night　don't　look　so　damned　good。〃
　〃He　had　another　reason　for　that；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃a　pretty　good　one。〃　The　shadowy　smile　came　and　went。
　Farr　nodded　again　in　the　manner　of　one　willing　to　be　convinced。　〃You　don't　think　there's　a　chance　that　he　really　killed　him？〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　reply　was　given　carelessly：　〃I　don't　think　he　did　it；　but　there's　always　a　chance　and　you've　got　plenty　to　hold　him　awhile　on　if　you　want　to。〃
　The　District　Attorney　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　Ned　Beaumont。　He　smiled　with　a　mixture　of　diffidence　and　good…fellowship　and　said：　〃Tell　me　to　go　to　hell　if　it's　none　of　my　business；　but　why　in　the　name　of　God　did　Paul　send　you　to　New　York　after　Bernie　Despain？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　withheld　his　reply　for　a　thoughtful　moment。　Then　he　moved　his　shoulders　a　little　and　said：　〃He　didn't　send　me。　He　let　me　go。
　Farr　did　not　say　anything。
　Ned　Beaumont　filled　his　lungs　with　cigar…smoke；　emptied　them；　and　said：　〃Bernie　welshed　on　a　bet　with　me。　That's　why　he　took　the　run…out。　It　just　happened　that　Taylor　Henry　was　killed　the　night　of　the　day　Peggy　O'Toole　came　in　in　front　with　fifteen　hundred　of　my　dollars　on　her。〃
　The　District　Attorney　said　hastily：　〃That's　all　right；　Ned。　It's　none　of　my　business　what　you　and　Paul　do。　I'myou　see；　it's　just　that　I'm　not　so　damned　sure　that　maybe　Despain　didn't　happen　to　run　into　young　Henry　on　the　street　by　luck　and　take　a　crack　at　him。　I　think　maybe　I'll　hold　him　awhile　to　be　safe。〃　His　blunt　undershot　mouth　curved　in　a　smile　that　was　somewhat　ingratiating。　〃Don't　think　I'm　pushing　my　snoot　into　Paul's　affairs；　or　yours；　but〃　His　florid　face　was　turgid　and　shiny。　He　suddenly　bent　over　and　yanked　a　desk…drawer　open。　Paper　rattled　under　his　fingers。　His　hand　came　out　of　the　drawer　and　went　across　the　desk　towards　Ned　Beaumont。　In　his　hand　was　a　small　white　envelope　with　a　slit　edge。　〃Here。〃　His　voice　was　thick。　〃Look　at　this　and　see　what　you　think　of　it；　or　is　it　only　damned　foolishness？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　took　the　envelope；　but　did　not　immediately　look　at　it。　He　kept　his　eyes；　now　cold　and　bright；　focused　on　the　District　Attorney's　red　face。
　Farr's　face　became　a　darker　red　under　the　other　man's　stare　and　he　raised　a　beefy　hand　in　a　placatory　gesture。　His　voice　was　placatory：　〃I　don't　attach　any　importance　to　it；　Ned；　butI　mean　we　always　get　a　lot　of　junk　like　that　on　every　case　that　es　up　andwell；　read　it　and　see。〃
　After　another　considerable　moment　Ned　Beaumont　shifted　his　gaze　from　Farr　to　the　envelope。　The　address　was　typewritten：
　
　M。　J。　Farr；　Esq。
　District　Attorney
　City　Hall
　City
　Personal
　
　The　postmark　was　dated　the　previous　Saturday。　Inside　was　a　single　sheet　of　white　paper　on　which　three　sentences　with　neither　salutation　nor　signature　were　typewritten：
　Why　did　Paul　Madvig　steal　one　of　Taylor　Henry's　hats　after　he　was　murdered？
　What　became　of　the　hat　that　Taylor　Henry　was　wearing　when　he　was　murdered？
　Why　was　the　man　who　claimed　to　have　first　found　Taylor　Henry's　body　made　a　member　of　your　staff？
　
　Ned　Beaumont　folded　this　munication；　returned　it　to　its　envelope；　dropped　it　down　on　the　desk；　and　brushed　his　mustache　with　a　thumb…nail　from　center　to　left　and　from　center　to　right；　looking　at　the　District　Attorney　with　level　eyes；　addressing　him　in　a　level　tone：　〃Well？〃
　Farr's　cheeks　rippled　again　where　they　covered　his　jaw…muscles。　He　frowned　over　pleading　eyes。　〃For　God's　sake；　Ned；〃　he　said　earnestly；　〃don't　think　I'm　taking　that　seriously。　We　get　bales　of　that　kind　of　crap　every　time　anything　happens。　I　only　wanted　to　show　it　to　you。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃That's　all　right　as　long　as　you　keep　on　feeling　that　way　about　it。〃　He　was　still　level　of　eye　and　voice。　〃Have　you　said　anything　to　Paul　about　it？〃
　〃About　the　letter？　No。　I　haven't　seen　him　since　it　came　this　morning。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　picked　the　envelope　up　from　the　desk　and　put　it　in　his　inner　coat…pocket。　The　District　Attorney；　watching　the　letter　go　into　the　pocket；　seemed　unfortable；　but　he　did　not　say　anything。
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　when　he　had　stowed　the　letter　away　and　had　brought　a　thin　dappled　cigar　out　of　another　pocket：　〃I　don't　think　I'd　say　anything　to　him　about　it　if　I　were　you。　He's　got　enough　on　his　mind。〃
　Farr　was　saying；　〃Sure；　whatever　you　say；　Ned；〃　before　Ned　Beaumont　had　finished　his　speech。
　After　that　neither　of　them　said　anything　for　a　while　during　which　Farr　resumed　his　staring　at　the　desk…corner　and　Ned　Beaumont　stared　thoughtfully　at　Farr。　This　period　of　silence　was　ended　by　a　soft　buzzing　that　came　from　under　the　District　Attorney's　desk。
　Farr　picked　up　his　telephone　and　said：　〃Yes　　　　　Yes。〃　His　undershot　lip　crept　out　over　the　edge　of　the　upper　lip　and　his　florid　face　became　mottled。　〃The　hell　he's　not！〃　he　snarled。　〃Bring　the　bastard　in　and　put　him　up　against　him　and　then　if　he　don't　we'll　do　some　work　on　him。
　Yes。　。　。　。　Do　it。〃　He　slammed　the　receiver　on　its　prong　and　glared　at　Ned　Beaumont。
　Ned　Beaumont　had　paused　in　the　act　of　lighting　his　cigar。　It　was　in　one　hand。　His　lighter；　alight；　was　in　the　other。　His　face　was　thrust　forward　a　little　between　them。　His　eyes　glittered。　He　put　the　tip　of　his　tongue　between　his　lips；　withdrew　it；　and　moved　his　lips　in　a　smile　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　pleasure。　〃News？〃　he　asked　in　a　low　persuasive　voice。
　The　District　Attorney's　voice　was　savage：　〃Boyd　West；　the　other　brother　that　identified　Ivans。　I　got　to　thinking　about　it　when　we　were　talking　and　sent　out　to　see　if　he　could　still　identify　him。　He　says　he's　not　sure；　the　bastard。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded　as　if　this　news　was　not　unexpected。　〃How'll　that　fix　things？〃
　〃He　can't　get　away　with　it；〃　Farr　snarled。　〃He　identified　him　once　and　he'll　stick　to　it　when　he　gets　in　front　of　a　jury。　I'm　having　him　brought　in　now　and　by　the　time　I　get　through　with　him　he'll　be　a　good　boy。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃Yes？　And　suppose　he　doesn't？〃
　The　District　Attorney's　desk　trembled　under　a　blow　from　the　District　Attorney's　fist。　〃He　will。〃
　Apparently　Ned　Beaumont　was　unimpressed。　He　lighted　his　cigar；　extinguished　and　pocketed　his　lighter；　blew　smoke　out；　and　asked　in　a　mildly　amused　tone：　〃Sure　he　will；　but　suppose　he　doesn't？　Suppose　he　looks　at　Tim　and　says：　'I'm　not　sure　that's　him'？〃
　Farr　smote　his　desk　again。　〃He　won'tnot　when　I'm　through　with　himhe　won't　do　anything　but　get　up　in　front　of　the　jury　and　say：　'That's　him。'〃
　Amusement　went　out　of　Ned　Beaumont's　face　and　he　spoke　a　bit　wearily：　〃He's　going　to　back　down　on　the　identification　and　you　know　he　is。　Well；　what　can　you　do　about　it？　There's　nothing　you　can　do　about　it；　is　there？　It　means　your　case　against　Tim　Ivans　goes　blooey。　You　found　the　carload　of　booze　where　he　left　it；　but　the　only　proof　you've　got　that　he　was　driving　it　when　it　ran　down　Norman　West　was　the　eyewitness　testimony　of　his　two　brothers。　Well；　if　Francis　is　dead　and　Boyd's　afraid　to　talk　you've　got　no　case　and　you　know　it。〃
　In　a　loud　enraged　voice　Farr　began：　〃If　you　think　I'm　going　to　sit　on　my〃
　But　with　an　impatient　motion　of　the　hand　holding　his　cigar　Ned　Beaumont　interrupted　him。　〃Sitting；　standing；　or　riding　a　bicycle；〃　he　said；　〃you're　licked　and　you　know　it。〃
　〃Do　I？　I'm　District　Attorney　of　this　city　and　county　and　I〃　Abruptly　Farr　stopped　blustering。　He　cleared　his　throat　and　swallowed。　Belligerence　went　out　of　his　eyes；　to　be　replaced　first　by　confusion　and　then　by　something　akin　to　fear。　He　leaned　across　the　desk；　too　worried　to　keep　worry　from　showing　in　his　florid　face。　He　said：　〃Of　course　you　know　if　youif　PaulI　mean　if　there's　any　reason　why　I　shouldn'tyou　know　we　can　let　it　go　at　that。〃
　The　smile　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　pleasure　was　lifting　the　ends　of　Ned　Beaumont's　lips　again　and　his　eyes　glittered　through　cigar…smoke。　He　shook　his　head　slowly　and　spoke　slowly　in　an　unpleasantly　sweet　tone：　〃No；　Farr；　there　isn't　any　reason；　or　none　of　that　kind。　Paul　promised　to　spring　Ivans　after　election；　but。　believe　it　or　not；　Paul　never　had　anybody　killed　and；　even　if　he　did；　Ivans　wasn't　important　enough　to　have　anybody　killed　for。　No；　Farr；　there　isn't　any　reason　and　I　wouldn't　like　to　think　you　were　going　around　thinking　there　was。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　Ned；　get　me　right；〃　Farr　protested。　〃You　know　damned　well　there's　nobody　in　the　city　any　stronger　for　Paul　and　for　you　than　me。　You　ought　to　know　that。　I　didn't　mean　anything　by　what　I　said　except　thatwell；　that　you　can　always　count　on　me。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃That's　fine；〃　without　much　enthusiasm　and　stood　up。
　Farr　rose　and　came　around　the　desk　with　a　red　hand　out。　〃What's　your　hurry？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　don't　you　stick　around　and　see　how　this　West　acts　when　they　bring　him　in？　Or〃he　looked　at　his　watch〃what　are　you　doing　tonight？　How　about　going　to　dinner　with　me？〃
　〃Sorry　I　can't；〃　Ned　Beaumont　replied。　〃I've　got　to　run　along。〃
　He　let　Farr　pump　his　hand　up　and　down；　murmured　a　〃Yes；　I　will〃　in　response　to　the　District　Attorney's　insistence　that　he　drop　in　often　and　that　they　get　together　some　night；　and　went　out。
　
　
　3
　
　Walter　Ivans　was　standing　beside　one　of　a　row　of　men　operating　nailing…machines　in　the　box…factory　where　he　was　employed　as　foreman；　when　Ned　Beaumont　came　in。　He　saw　Ned　Beaumont　at　once　and；　hailing　him　with　an　uplifted　hand；　came　down　the　center　aisle；　but　in　Ivans's　china…blue　eyes　and　rou