The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-06-26
The Best MQn By hum S: Cobb

NlQn
I wouldn't ask anybody-you or any
body else-to. believe In straight. I'm
awfully lonesome sometimes, ~ l
claim I am straight. Is that what you
wanted to know?"
II thought it was" he told her, but
I'm ~1terested in finding out some more
things-if you don't mind?"
"For instance?"
well, for instance, how about n
notoriety you get? Your mother must
read the papers?"
There really isn't any notoriety, SO
far as I'm concerned. Don't you uno oss+
to be identified. My name-my a
name or my assumed name-neyer come
out in the proceedings. All the two W.T.
nesses-those detectives-do Is to rec
ognize a photograph that the lawyer
shows them as being a photoPrapn o.
Jane Doe, the unknown correspondent,
given out for publication. Didn't they
tell you, sir? That's the way it will be
done when the case against you Is
tried"
%, yes, I do recall now. But these
men you meet-men like me don't
some Of them try to follow you up.
date you up afterwards? Don't any OF
th :.Mot try * to t paw y Sss vet. THEY'RE de-
cent enough, nearly all of them. They're
mostly unhappy, and they show It.
They're anxious as I am to get through
an experience that's bound to be dis
tasteful to both of us-to get It over
and done with as soon as possible"
Speaking of that, oughtn't those two
or maybe they're the vil!ains?-in this
little serio-comic dramatic offering Of
u -oughtn't they to be showing up
pretty soon?"
within the next few minutes, prob
ably. Usually they wait 20 or 80 min.
utes. But they'll be along. They trailed
us here from the corner, going through
suspects is the way they'd put it: But
they might call you the subject in
stead Of the suspect They have a
language of their own Anyhow, !
saw them right behind U.s."
"All right then. One thing more, and
then I quit bothering you. You don't
like doing this, do you?"
For the first time her voice betrayed
passion: .
Like it! I hate it-and I hate myself
for doing it. I feel as though I were
selling my very soul. Sometimes I
think selling your body can't be much
He sat silent, smoking steadily and
taking occasional sips from his glass.
After a while he suddenly burst out
with this:
Damn it, young woman, I believe
every word you tell me! I'm supposed to
be a man Of the world-whatever that
is-my judgment tells me I shouldn't
believe you, but I do, even though I
can't exactly explain Why"
Thank you again." she said, and that
was all that was said for another long
ish space: Finally he jumped up;
waiting is getting on my nerves. hon
whats delaying those flatfeet? Why
don't they come on and speak their
little piece and start earning their dirty
blood money 50 that you can get out Of
here? Lord knows I'll be glad to get it
over with myself! 7 already feel as
as though III need thorough. disin-
LOOK here!" he exclaimed, did you
know it was five O'Clock? That means
you've been cooped up here in my COM
pany for better than an hour and a
half. I'm going to find out what the
delay is all about"
II can't understand why they should
be so late," she said, they never were
this late before. Probably If you'll have
a little more patience"
mo! I'll Just go have a look-see.""
He issued into the corridor, and at
the turning Of the cross hall a hundred
feet away saw posted, as though he
might be on sentry duty there, a blocky
s~IffJ,sN1 La - I1.I hot TN &Iao raroa
moment the other saw him and gave q
wave of the arm and came toward him.
On closer approach he revealed a pair
OF thick Soled shoes and the unmiS-
takably officialesque air of having, IN
his time, followed policing pursuits and,
for more striking features, revealed
also a scratched nose and, under one
eye, like the bulge of an immature egg
plant, an elaborated purplish bruise
Grafton obviously was newly acquired,
since, with a tender finger, the owner
gingerly fondled the swollen area.
Say, listen" he began, using a husky
cautious undertone, you maybe don't
place me, but I place you, all right.
You're MI. Remington. I seen you
many,s the time goin' in and out the IN
avnoo. I ulster be head house bull there.
Now I got the same job here wit these
people. Silverberg's the name-Moe Sill
verberg, formerly in plain clothes Gown
headquarters. That was before T quit
the cops for this woik.
well, say, Mr. Remington, I piped
you off downstairs the minute you
come in wit that there little loidy. But
says I to myself, Mr.. Reminton's a
gentlemun and a regular guy wot 4 lows
his way about this here burg, and he'll
be careful and not get the house in no
anyhow I says, 'wot-t'ell, wot that
dumb clerk don't know won't hurt him
So I keep mum, meanin' to see you
later and tell you wot a swell job I'd
done coverin' up for you. But right be-
hind you in comes a couple of guys that,
between you and l.. I didn't like the
looks Of neither one Of 'em, not the least
little bit. And they fiddles round the