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l…round man alive。 Fred Durkin was big and clumsy； with a big red face； with no Doberman pinscher in him but plenty of bulldog。 Orrie Gather was slender and muscular and handsome； just the man to mingle with the guests at a swell dinner party when circumstances called for it。 After I had explained the job； with details as required； I supplied a little background。
〃As far as you know；〃 I told them； 〃I'm only doing this for practice。 Your only contact is me。 There is no client。〃
〃Jesus；〃 Fred remarked； 〃a hundred bucks a day and more with expenses？ I guess you ought to pay in advance。〃
〃Take it up with the NLRB；〃 I said stiffly。 〃As an employer； I do not invite familiarities from the help。〃
〃Of course；〃 Orrie stated with an understanding smile； 〃it's just a coincidence that this Rackham was with you once at the scene of a murder。 When you got tossed in the coop。〃
〃That's irrelevant。 Let us stick to the point； gentlemen。 I want to make it clear that I do not actually care a damn where Rackham goes or what he does or who he sees。 You are to hang on and report in full； since that's the proper way to handle a dry run； but I don't want anyone to get hurt。 If he turns on you and starts throwing rocks； dodge and run。 If you lose him； as of course you will； don't bark your shins trying to hurdle。〃
〃You ought to have workmen's pensation insurance；〃 Fred advised。
〃Then we could be serious about it。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 Saul Panzer asked； 〃that the purpose is to get on his nerves？〃
〃No。 Play it straight。 I only mean it's not life and death…until further notice。〃 I pushed my chair back and got up。 〃And now I wish to prove that being an employer hasn't changed me any。 You may continue to call me Archie。 You may e with me to Thirty…fifth Street； where we will find a poker deck； and Fritz will make five； and when we have finished I'll lend you carfare home。〃
For the record； I lost twelve dollars。 Saul was the big winner。 One hand； I had three nines and…but I'd better get on。
Rackham was living at the Churchill； in an air…conditioned suite in the tower。 During the first week we piled quite a biography of him。 He never stuck his nose outside before one o'clock； and once not until four。
His ports of call included two banks； a law office； nine bars； two clubs； a barber shop； seven other shops and stores； three restaurants； three theaters； two night spots； and miscellaneous。 He usually ate lunch with a man or men； and dinner with a woman。 Not the same woman； three different ones during the week。 As described by my operatives； they were a credit to their sex； to the American way of life； and to the International Ladie's Garment Worker's Union。
I took on a little of it myself； but mostly I left it to the help。 Not that I loafed。 There were quite a few hours with Lily Rowan； off and on； both as a substitute for the trip to Norway； indefinitely postponed； and as a check on the soundness of the estimate of her I had given Wolfe。 She caused me no qualms。 Once when we were dancing she sighed for Pete； and once at her apartment she said she would love to help some more with my work； but when I tactfully made it plain that the detective business was not on our agenda she took it nicely and let it lay。
There were other things； including the reports on Rackham to be typed。
Late every afternoon Max Christy called at my office to get the report of the day before； and he would sit and read it and ask questions。 When he got critical； I would explain patiently that I couldn't very well post a man at the door of Rackham's suite to take pictures of all the ers and goers； and that we were scoring better than eighty per cent on all his hours outside； which was exceptional for New York tailing。
I had the advantage； of course； of having had the situation described to me by their Pete Roeder。 They were worried a little about Westchester； but more about the city。 Shortly after he had bee a millionaire by way of a steak knife； whoever had used it； Rackham had got word to Zeck that he was no longer available for contacts。 Brownie Costigan had got to Rackham； thinking to put the bee on him； and had been tossed out on his ear。 The stink being raised in Washington on gambling and rackets； and the resulting enthusiasm in the office of the New York County District Attorney； had started an epidemic of jitters； and it was quite possible that if one of my typed reports had told of a visit by Rackham to the DA's office； or of one by an assistant DA to Rackham's suite； Rackham would have had a bad accident； like getting run over or falling into the river with lead in him。 That was why Wolfe had given me careful and explicit instructions about what I should report and what I shouldn't。
I had no sight or sound of Wolfe。 He was to let me know if and when there was something stirring； and I had been told how to reach him if I had to。
Meanwhile I had my schedule； and on the ninth day； a Friday； the first of September； it called for a move。 Things looked right for it。 Saul； on instructions； had let himself get spotted once； and Orrie twice； and Fred； without instructions； at least three times。 I too had cooperated by letting myself be seen at the entrance of the Crooked Circle one night as Rackham emerged with panions。 So Friday at five o'clock； when Saul phoned that the subject had entered the Romance Bar on 49th Street； I went for a walk； found Saul window…shopping； told him to go home to his wife and children； moseyed along to the Romance Bar entrance； and went on in。
Business was rushing； with as many as five at a table the size of a dishpan。
Making no survey； I found a place at the long bar where two customers were carelessly leaving enough room for a guy to get an elbow through； and took the opening。 After a while the bartender admitted I was there and let me buy a highball。 I took a casual look around； saw Rackham at a table with a pair of males； turned my back that way； and got his range in the mirror。
I did not really expect a bite at the very first try； I thought it might take two or three exposures。 But evidently he was ripe。 I was in the middle of my second highball when my mirror view showed me the trio getting up and squeezing through the mob to the clear。 I dropped my chin and looked at my thumb。 They went on by； toward the door； and I turned to watch their manly backs。 As soon as they were out I followed； and； on the sidewalk； immediately turned right； thinking to reconnoiter from the shop entrance next door。 But I was still two paces from it when there was a voice at my elbow。
〃Here I am； Goodwin。〃
I turned to face him； looking mildly startled。 〃Oh； hello。〃
〃What's the idea？〃 he demanded。
〃Which one？〃 I asked politely。 〃There's so many around。〃
〃There are indeed。 You and three others that I know of。 Who wants to know so much about me？〃
〃Search me。〃 I was sympathetic。 〃Why； are you being harassed？〃
Color had started to show in his face； and the muscles of his jaw were called upon。 His right shoulder twitched。
〃Not here on the street；〃 I suggested。 〃A crowd will collect； especially after I react。 See that man turning to look？ You're standing