beat.
I said cautiously, “You'll pardon me, but I guess you could tell me something about Miss Jackson.”
She jerked round like a virgin at bay. Her eyes popped a little and I thought she was going to get tough. “What did you say?” she asked.
“I'm looking for Miss Mardi Jackson,” I explained, putting on my best manners. “I was told you work for the Mackenzie Fabrics, and I thought maybe you could tell me.”
The startled expression died out of her eyes, and she swung herself round on the stool so that she faced me. “Are you a friend of hers?” she asked.
I took a chance. “I'm her boy friend,” I said.
“Really? Now isn't that a scream?” she exclaimed. “You know, I always knew Mardi was deep... I told the other girls.... Not that they didn't think so themselves... you know how it is, don't you? A girl like Mardi ought to have a boy friend... it's only natural, isn't it? She never said anything about having one... she kept to herself a lot... don't think we didn't like her... we did. We were all struck in a heap when she left——”
I blinked. “Listen, lady,” I broke in. “Maybe you can tell me what happened? I've been away for a few days, an' I've got some news to catch up on.”
“Why, surely.” She was ready to give me the whole set-up. I could see that. The trouble was that when a dame like this once got started, it was difficult to stop her. Anyway, I told myself, I'd got the whole day, so I should worry.
“You go right ahead an' tell me all about it,” I said, lighting a cigarette and giving her one.
Her eyes grew big again. “Well, I don't know if I ought... but you being her boy friend... well, it's different, isn't it? I mean to say... I wouldn't tell anyone... what I mean is I don't go talking about people to anyone.... Well, I guess you can read character... you can tell that, can't you?”
I said, “Sure. Don't you worry about that.”
“Well, Mardi came back from lunch about a week ago... she seemed all up in the air... sort of dreamy... and the girls thought she'd been out with her beau or something... then Lu calls her in... Lu is Mr. Spencer, the big shot of our firm... but I expect you'd know that... well, Mardi goes in and she stays inside for some time... then I heard Lu getting mad... he gets awful mad sometimes... he shouts and bangs around no end... well, I thought Mardi was getting into trouble, so I listened outside the door.... I don't do that ever, really... you see, Mardi was a friend of mine.... I just thought I'd be there in case Lu got really mad... but he shouted so much I couldn't hear what he said. Mardi said, 'I'm sorry, Mr. Spencer, but it's really my own business who I lunch with', and that made Lu crazy as a bug... by that time some of the other girls had come and were listening.... Lu says it's okay with him... but Mardi could pack up and get out... so she comes out quietly... you know how like a lady she behaves... and away she goes. Lu comes out and stands in the doorway and watches her go... we don't have a chance to say good-bye... that's all I can tell you.”
I said, “Haven't you heard from her since?”
She shook her head. “No... I just can't make it out. We've all been waiting to hear from her... but not a word.”
“Do you know where she lives?” I asked.
She wasn't as dumb as I thought she was. Her eyes suddenly hardened. “Hey!” she said. “You her boy friend, and you don't know where she lives?”
I saw I'd got to tread carefully here. I took her over the ground gently. “That may sound phoney to you,” I said, “but I've only been running around with her for a day or so. You see, I'm crazy about her, but I don't know how she feels about me. I want to go on with this, but I've got to find her first.”
“Isn't that too marvellous?” She looked almost coy. “Well, I'll help... I think a girl needs a man... don't you? Look, I'll write down her address.”
I gave her a pencil and my notebook. She scribbled down an address on the west side of the town, and I put the notebook carefully back m my pocket.
I slid off the stool. “I'm goin' right away,” I said. “You've been a swell help. I'll ask you to the wedding.”
I left her at the run, with her mouth open to start all over again. I guess that dame enjoyed her lunch- hour. It certainly had given her something to talk about. And could she talk?
CHAPTER NINE
ALL THIS DIDN'T get me anywhere. When I got to the address the blonde had given me, Mardi wasn't there. She had left about two days ago, the landlady told me, taken her bags and left no address. Was. I pleased?
I returned to my apartment, feeling sore. The only thing I did know was that Mardi had left her job because of me. That told me that Spencer thought she knew something and wasn't risking anything. If what she knew was important, maybe he'd hidden her away. Against that, the landlady had told me that she had come by herself to pack her bags and didn't seem very worried. She did say that she had to go out of town on business, and didn't know when she would return. This was probably an excuse to satisfy the landlady, or was it?
I sat on the table and brooded about it. I wondered if I should find her again by proceeding in the investigation of the Vessi frame-up. While I was thinking about it the telephone rang.
The hard, clear metallic voice floated over the wire. “Nick Mason?”
I didn't beat about the bush with this baby. “Yeah,” I said. “Been shootin' any more colonels?”
I couldn't help grinning a little. I seemed to be always slipping a nasty one in with this dame.
She said, “You know about that?”
