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〃It was a dark spot；〃 Ned Beaumont reminded him。 〃I don't see how you could've made out their faces riding past like that； unless you slowed up or stopped。〃
〃No； we didn't； but I'd know Paul anywhere；〃 Sloss insisted。
〃Maybe； but how'd you know it was the kid with him？〃
〃It was。 Sure； it was。 We could see enough of him to know that。〃
〃And you could see they were arguing？ What do you mean by that？ Fighting？〃
〃No； but standing like they were having an argument。 You know how you can tell when people are arguing sometimes by the way they stand。〃
Ned Beaumont smiled mirthlessly。 〃Yes； if one of them's standing on the other's face。〃 His smile vanished。 〃And that's what Ben went to the Hall with？〃
〃Yes。 I don't know whether he went in with it on his own account or whether Farr got hold of it somehow and sent for him； but anyhow he spilled it to Farr。 That was yesterday。〃
〃How'd you hear about it； Harry？〃
〃Farr's hunting for me；〃 Sloss said。 〃That's the way I heard about it。 Beu'd told him I was with him and Farr sent word for me to drop in and see him； but I don't want any part of it。〃
〃I hope you don't； Harry；〃 Ned Beaumont said。 〃What are you going to say if Farr catches you？〃
〃I'm not going to let him catch me if I can help it。 That's what I wanted to see you about。〃 He cleared his throat and moistened his lips。 〃I thought maybe I ought to get out of town for a week or two； till it kind of blows over； and that'd take a little money。〃
Ned Beaumont smiled and shook his head。 〃That's not the thing to do；〃 he told the thickset man。 〃If you want to help Paul go tell Fan you couldn't recognize the two men under the trees and that you don't think anybody in your car could。〃
〃All right； that's what I'll do；〃 Sloss said readily； 〃but； listen； Ned； I ought to get something out of it。 I'm taking a chance andwellyou know how it is。〃
Ned Beaumont nodded。 〃We'll pick you out a soft job after election； one you'll have to show up on maybe an hour a day。〃
〃That'll be〃 Sloss stood up。 His green…flecked palish eyes were urgent。 〃I'll tell you； Ned； I'm broke as hell。 Couldn't you make it a little dough now instead？ It'd e in damned handy。〃
〃Maybe。 I'll talk it over with Paul。〃
〃Do that； Ned； and give me a ring。〃
〃Sure。 So long。〃
5
From the Majestic Hotel Ned Beaumont went to the City Hall； to the District Attorney's office； and said he wanted to see Mr。 Farr。
The round…faced youth to whom he said it left the outer office； returning a minute later apologetic of mien。 〃I'm sorry； Mr。 Beaumont； but Mr。 Farr is not in。〃
〃When will he be back？〃
〃I don't know。 His secretary says he didn't leave word。〃
〃I'll take a chance。 I'll wait awhile in his office。〃 The round…faced youth stood in his way。 〃Oh； you can't do〃
Ned Beaumont smiled his nicest smile at the youth and asked softly： 〃Don't you like this job； son？〃
The youth hesitated； fidgeted； and stepped out of Ned Beaumont's way。 Ned Beaumont walked down the inner corridor to the District Attorney's door and opened it。
Farr looked up from his desk； sprang to his feet。 〃Was that you？〃 he cried。 〃Damn that boy！ He never gets anything right。 A Mr。 Bauman； he said。〃
〃No harm done；〃 Ned Beaumont said mildly。 〃I got in。〃
He let the District Attorney shake his hand up and down and lead him to a chair。 When they were seated he asked idly： 〃Anything new？〃
〃Nothing。〃 Farr rocked back in his chair； thumbs hooked in lower vest…pockets。 〃Just the same old grind； though God knows there's enough of that。〃
〃How's the electioneering going？〃
〃It could be better〃a shadow passed over the District Attorney's pugnacious red face〃but I guess we'll manage all right。〃
Ned Beaumont kept idleness in his voice。 〃What's the matter？〃
〃This and that。 Things always e up。 That's politics； I guess。〃
〃Anything I can door Paulto help？〃 Ned Beaumont asked and then； when Farr had shaken his red…stubble…covered head： 〃This talk that Paul's got something to do with the Henry killing the worst thing you're up against？〃
A frightened gleam came into Farr's eyes； disappeared as he blinked。 He sat up straight in his chair。 〃Well；〃 he said cautiously； 〃there's a lot of feeling that we ought to've cleared the murder up before this。 That is one of the thingsmaybe one of the biggest。〃
〃Made any progress since I saw you last？ Turned up anything new on it？〃
Farr shook his head。 His eyes were wary。
Ned Beaumont smiled without warmth。 〃Still taking it slow on some of the angles？〃
The District Attorney squirmed in his chair。 〃Well； yes； of course； Ned。〃
Ned Beaumont nodded approvingly。 His eyes were shiny with malice。 His voice was a taunt： 〃Is the Ben Ferriss angle one of them that you're taking it slow on？〃
Farr's blunt undershot mouth opened and shut。 He rubbed his lips together。 His eyes； after their first startled widening； became devoid of expression。 He said： 〃I don't know whether there's anything at all in Ferriss's story or not； Ned。 I don't guess there is。 I didn't even think enough of it to tell you about it。〃
Ned Beaumont laughed derisively。
Farr said： 〃You know I wouldn't hold out anything on you and Paul； anything that was important。 You know me well enough for that。〃
〃We knew you before you got nerves；〃 Ned Beaumont replied。 〃But that's all right。 If you want the fellow that was in the car with Ferriss you can pick him up right now in room 417 at the Majestic。〃
Farr was staring at his green desk…set； at the dancing nude figure holding an airplane aloft between two slanting pens。 His face was lumpy。 He said nothing。
Ned Beaumont rose from his chair smiling with thin lips。 He said： 〃Paul's always glad to help the boys out of holes。 Do you think it would help if he'd let himself be arrested and tried for the Henry murder？〃
Fan did not move his eyes from the green desk…set。 He said doggedly： 〃It's not for me to tell Paul what to do。〃
〃There's a thought！〃 Ned Beaumont exclaimed。 He leaned over the side of the desk until his face was near the District Attorney's ear and lowered his voice to a confidential key。 〃And here's another one that goes with it。 It's not for you to do much Paul wouldn't tell you to do。〃
He went out grinning； but stopped grinning when he was outside。
VIII。The Kiss…Off
1
Ned Beaumont opened a door marked East State Construction 6 Contracting pany and exchanged good…afternoons with the two young ladies at desks inside； then he passed through a larger room in which there were half a dozen men to whom he spoke and opened a door marked Private。 He went into a square room where Paul Madvig sat at a battered desk looking at papers placed in front of him by a small man who hovered respectfully over his shoulder。
Madvig raised his head and said： 〃Hello； Ned。〃 He pushed the papers aside and told the small man： 〃Bring this junk back after while。〃
The small man gathered up his papers and； saying； 〃Certainly； sir；〃 and； 〃How do you do； Mr。 Beaumont？〃 left the room。
Madvig said： 〃You look like you'd had a tough night； Ned。 What'd you do？ Sit down。〃
Ned Beaumont had taken off his overcoat。 He put it on a chair； put his hat on it； and took o