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it look like that？〃
From an inner pocket Jack brought two sheets of paper similar in size and make； folded alike。 He gave them to Ned Beaumont who； when he had unfolded them； saw that on each were three typewritten questions； the same three questions on each sheet。
〃One of them's the one you gave me yesterday；〃 Jack said。 〃Could you tell which？〃
Ned Beaumont shook his head slowly from side to side。
〃There's no difference；〃 Jack said。 〃I wrote the other one on Charter Street where Taylor Henry had a room that Madvig's daughter used to e towith a Corona typewriter that was there and on paper that was there。 So far as anybody seems to know there were only two keys to the place。 He had one and she had one。 She's been back there at least a couple of times since he was killed。〃
Ned Beaumont； scowling now at the sheets of paper in his hands； nodded without looking up。
Jack lit a fresh cigarette from the one he had been smoking； rose and went to the table to mash the old cigarette in the ash…tray there； and returned to his seat。 There was nothing in his face or manner to show that he had any interest in Ned Beaumont's reaction to their discovery。
After another minute of silence Ned Beaumont raised his head a little and asked： 〃How'd you get this？〃
Jack put his cigarette in a corner of his mouth where it wagged with his words。 〃The Observer tip on the place this morning gave me the lead。 That's where the police got theirs too； but they got there first。 I got a pretty good break； though： the copper left in charge was a friend of mineFred Hurleyand for a ten…spot he let me do all the poking around I wanted。〃
Ned Beaumont rattled the papers in his hand。 〃Do the police know this？〃 he asked。
Jack shrugged。 〃I didn't tell them。 I pumped Hurley； but he didn't know anythingjust put there to watch things till they decide what they're going to do。 Maybe they know； maybe they don't。〃 He shook cigarette…ash on the floor。 〃I could find out。〃
〃Never mind that。 What else did you turn up？〃
〃I didn't look for anything else。〃
Ned Beaumont； after a quick glance at the dark young man's inscrutable face； looked down at the sheets of paper again。 〃What kind of dump is it？〃
〃Thirteen twenty…four。 They had a room and bath under the name of French。 The woman that runs the place claims she didn't know who they really were till the police came today。 Maybe she didn't。 It's the kind of joint where not much is asked。 She says they used to be there a lot； mostly in the afternoons； and that the girl's been back a couple of times in the last week or so that she knows of； though she could pop in and out without being seen easily enough。〃
〃Sure it's her？〃
Jack made a nonmittal gesture with one hand。 〃The description's right。〃 He paused； then added carelessly as he exhaled smoke： 〃She's the only one the woman saw since he was killed。〃
Ned Beaumont raised his head again。 His eyes were hard。 〃Taylor had others ing there？〃 he asked。
Jack made the nonmittal gesture once more。 〃The woman wouldn't say so。 She said she didn't know； but from the way she said it I'd say it was a safe bet she was lying。〃
〃Couldn't tell by what's in the place？〃
Jack shook his head。 〃No。 There's not much woman stuff therejust a kimono and toilet things and pajamas and stuff like that。〃
〃Much of his stuff there？〃
〃Oh； a suit and a pair of shoes and some underwear and pajamas and socks and so on。〃
〃Any hats？〃
Jack smiled。 〃No hats；〃 he said。
Ned Beaumont got up and went to the window。 Outside darkness was almost plete。 A dozen raindrops clung to the glass and as many more struck it lightly while Ned Beaumont stood there。 He turned to face Jack again。 〃Thanks a lot； Jack；〃 he said slowly。 His eves were focused on Jack's face in a dully absent…minded stare。 〃I think maybe I'll have another job for you soonmaybe tonight。 I'll give you a ring。〃
Jack said； 〃Right；〃 and rose and went out。
Ned Beaumont went to the closet for his clothes； carried them into the bathroom； and put them on。 When he came out a nurse was in his room； a tall full…bodied woman with a shiny pale face。
〃Why； you're dressed！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Yes； I've got to go out。〃
Alarm joined astonishment in her mien。 〃But you can't； Mr。 Beaumont；〃 she protested。 〃It's night and it's beginning to rain and Doctor Tait would〃
〃I know； I know；〃 he said impatiently； and went around her to the door。
VI。The Observer
1
Mrs。 Madvig opened her front door。 〃Ned！〃 she cried； 〃are you crazy？ Running around on a night like this； and you just out of the hospital。〃
〃The taxi didn't leak；〃 he said； but his grin lacked virility。 〃Paul in？〃
〃He went out not more than half an hour ago； I think to the Club。 But e in； e in。〃
〃Opal home？〃 he asked as he shut the door and followed her down the hall。
〃No。 She's been off somewhere since morning。〃
Ned Beaumont halted in the living…room doorway。 〃I can't stay；〃 he said。 〃I'll run on down to the Club and see Paul there。〃 His voice was not quite steady。
The old woman turned quickly towards him。 〃You'll do no such thing；〃 she said in a scolding voice。 〃Look at you； you're just about to have a chill。 You'll sit right down there by the fire and let me get von something hot to drink。〃
〃Can't； Mom；〃 he told her。 〃I've got to go places。〃
Her blue eyes wherein age did not show became bright and keen。 〃When did you leave the hospital？〃 she demanded。
〃Just now。〃
She put her lips together hard； then opened them a little to say accusingly： 〃You walked out。〃 A shadow disturbed the clear blueness of her eves。 She came close to Ned Beaumont and held her face close to his： she was nearly as tall as he。 Her voice was harsh now as if ing from a parched throat。 〃Is it something about Paul？〃 The shadow in her eyes became recognizable as fear。 〃And Opal？〃
His voice was barely audible。 〃It's something I've got to see them about。〃
She touched one of his cheeks somewhat timidly with bony fingers。 〃You're a good boy； Ned；〃 she said。
He put an arm around her。 〃Don't worry； Mom。 None of it's bad as it could be。 Onlyif Opal es home make her stayif you can。〃
〃Is it anything you can tell me； Ned？〃 she asked。
〃Not now andwellit might be just as well not to let either of them know you think anything's wrong。〃
2
Ned Beaumont walked five blocks through the rain to a drug…store。 He used a telephone there first to order a taxicab and then to call two numbers and ask for Mr。 Mathews。 He did not get Mr。 Mathews on the wire。
He called another number and asked for Mr。 Rumsen。 A moment later he was saying： 〃'Lo； Jack； this is Ned Beaumont。 Busy？ 。 。 。 Fine。 Here it is。 I want to know if the girl we were talking about went to see Mathews of the Observer today and what she did afterwards； if she did。
That's right； Hal Mathews。 I tried to get him by phone； there and home； but no luck。 。 。 。 Well； on the quiet if you can； but get it and get it quick。 。 。 。 No； I'm out of the hospital。 I'll be home waiting。 You know my number。 。 。 。 Yes； Jack。 Fine； thanks； and ring me as often as you can。 。 。 。 'By。〃
He went out to the waiting taxicab； got into it； and gave the driver his addres