Ned Beaumont took off his overcoat and hung it on the back of a brown easy-chair. He sat down in the chair and put his hat behind him. He said: “That’s not my business this time. I’m–let’s see.” He took a paper from his inner coat-pocket, unfolded it, glanced at it, and said: “I’m here as special investigator for the District Attorney’s office.”
For a small fraction of a second the twinkle in Despain’s eyes was blurred, hut he said immediately: “Ain’t you getting up in the world! The last time I saw you you were just punking around for Paul.”
Ned Beaumont refolded the paper and returned it to his pocket. Despain said: “Well, go ahead, investigate something for us–anything–just to show us how it’s done.” He sat down facing Ned Beaumont, wagging his too-large head. “You ain’t going to tell me you came all the way to New York to ask me about killing Taylor Henry?”
“Yes.”
“That’s too bad. I could’ve saved you the trip.” He flourished a hand at the traveling-bags on the floor. “As soon as Lee told me what it was all about I started packing up to go back and laugh it your frame-up.”
Ned Beaumont lounged back comfortably in his chair. One of his hands was behind him. He said: “If it’s a frame-up it’s Lee’s. The police got their dope from her.”
“Yes,” she said angrily, “when I had to because you sent them there, you bastard.”
Despain said: “Uh-huh, Lee’s a dumb cluck, all right, but those markers don’t mean anything. They–”
“I’m a dumb cluck, am I?” Lee cried indignantly. “Didn’t I come all the way here to warn you after you’d run off with every stinking piece of–”
“Yes,” Despain agreed pleasantly. “and coming here shows just what a dumb cluck you are, because you led this guy right to me.”
“If that’s the way you feel about it I’m damned glad I did give the police those I 0 Us, and what do you think of that?”
Despain said: “I’ll tell you just exactly what I think of it after our company’s gone.” He turned to Ned Beaumont. “So honest Paul Madvig’s letting you drop the shuck on me, huh?”
Ned Beaumont smiled. “You’re not being framed, Bernie, and you know it. Lee gave us the lead-in and the rest that we got clicked with it.”
“There’s some more besides what she gave you?”
“Plenty.”
“What?”
Ned Beaumont smiled again. “There are lots of things I could say to you, Bernie, that I wouldn’t want to say in front of a crowd.”
Despain said: “Nuts!”
The Kid spoke from the doorway to Despain in his rasping voice: “Let’s chuck this sap out on his can and get going.”
“Wait,” Despain said. Then he frowned and put a question to Ned Beaumont: “Is there a warrant out for me?”
“Well, I don’t–”
“Yes or no?” Despain’s bantering humor was gone.
Ned Beaumont said slowly: “Not that I know of.”
Despain stood up and pushed his chair back. “Then get the hell out of here and make it quick, or I’ll let the Kid take another poke at you.”
Ned Beaumont stood up. He picked up his overcoat. He took his cap out of his overcoat-pocket and, holding it in one hand, his overcoat over the other arm, said seriously: “You’ll be sorry.” Then he walked out in a dignified manner. The Kid’s rasping laughter and Lee’s shriller hooting followed him out.
7
Outside the Buckman Ned Beaumont started briskly down the street. His eyes were glowing in his tired face and his dark mustache twitched above a flickering smile.
At ti-me first corner he came face to face with Jack. He asked: “What are you doing here?”
Jack said: “I’m still working for you, far as I know, so I came along to see if I could find anything to do.”
“Swell. Find us a taxi quick. They’re sliding out.”
Jack said, “Ay, ay,” and went down the street.
Ned Beaumont remained on the corner. The front and side entrances of the Buckman could be seen from there.
In a little while Jack returned in a taxicab. Ned Beaumont got into it and they told the driver where to park it.