«Did you write her?»
«No,» he said, «I haven't written her yet. I don't know quite what to do.»
«But for Christ's sake, you love her, don't you? And she loves you. And your brother—he wouldn't object. What the devil are you waiting for?»
«I don't want to steal my brother's wife. Besides, I know she does love him. She loves the two of us— that's the size of it.»
It was my turn to be astonished again. I gave a low whistle. «So that's it!» I chortled. «Well, that's different.»
«Yes,» said Sheridan rapidly, «she loves the two of us equally well. She didn't run away from him because she hated him or because she wanted me. She wants me, yes. But she ran away to make him do something, make him find me and bring me back.»
«Does he know that?» I asked, having a faint suspicion that Sheridan might have imagined things.
«Yes, he knows it and he's willing to live that way, if that's what she wants. I think he'd feel better, too, if it could be arranged that way.»
«Well?» I said. «What now? What are your plans?»
«I don't know. I can't think. What would you do in my place? I've told you everything, Mr. Miller.»
And then, as if to himself: «A man can't hold out forever. I know it's wrong to live like that... but if I don't do something quick maybe Ella will do away with herself. I wouldn't want that. I'd do anything to prevent that.»
«Look, Sheridan... your brother was jealous before. But he's gotten over that, I imagine. He wants her back just as much as you do.
Sheridan showed no hesitation in responding to this.
«I've thought all that out, Mr. Miller. I know
He paused again and fiddled with his glass.
«There's another thing I thought of, Mr. Miller... Supposing she has a child. We may never know which of us was the father of it. Oh, I've thought it out from every angle. It's not easy to decide.»
«No,» I agreed, «it isn't. I'm stumped, Sheridan. I'll have to think about it.»
«Thanks, Mr. Miller. I know you'll help me, if you can. I think I ought to run along now. Spivak will be looking for me. Good-bye, Mr. Miller,» and he darted off.
When I got back to the office I was informed that Clancy had telephoned. He had asked for the application of a messenger I had hired recently—a woman.
«What's up?» I inquired. «What did
Nobody could offer any precise information.
«Well, where was she working?»
I found that we had sent her to one of the mid-town office buildings. Her name was Nina Andrews. Hymie had made a note of all the details. He had already telephoned the manager of the office where the girl worked, but couldn't glean a thing. The manager, a young woman herself, was of the impression that the girl was satisfactory in every way.
I decided I had better call Clancy and get it over with. His voice was gruff and irritable. Mr. Twilliger had evidently raked him over the coals. And now it was my turn.
«But what has she done?» I asked in all innocence.
«Yes sir,» I had to say, cursing him under my breath for the dumb cluck he was .
«Mr. Miller,» and his voice took on a devastating solemnity, «the woman who calls herself Nina Andrews is nothing but a common prostitute. She was reported to us by one of our important clients. He told Mr. Twilliger that she tried to solicit him. Mr. Twilliger is going to make an investigation. He suspects that we may have other undesirable females on our staff. I needn't tell you, Mr. Miller, that this is a very serious matter. A very serious matter. I trust that you will know how to cope with the situation. You will give me a report in a day or two—is that clear?» He hung up.
I sat there trying to recall the young woman in question.
«Where is she now?» I asked.
«She was sent home,» said Hymie.
«Send her a telegram,» I said, «and ask her to give me a ring. I want to talk to her.»
I waited around until seven o'clock hoping she would telephone. O'Rourke had just come in. I had an idea. Maybe I would ask O'Rourke...
The telephone rang. It was Nina Andrews. She had a very pleasant voice, one that aroused my sympathies immediately.
«I'm sorry I couldn't call you sooner,» she said. «I was out all afternoon.»
«Miss Andrews,» I said, «I wonder if you'd do me a favor. I'd like to drop up to your place for a few minutes and have a little chat with you.»
«Oh, I don't want the job back,» she said in a cheery tone. «I've found another one already—a much better one. It was kind of you to...»
«Miss Andrews,» I insisted, «I
«No, no, not at all. Why come up, of course. I merely wanted to spare you the trouble...»
«Well thank you... I'll be there in a few minutes.»
I went over to O'Rourke and explained the case to him in a few brief words. «Maybe you'd like to come along,» I said. «You know, I don't believe that girl is a whore. I'm beginning to remember her now. I think I know...»
We hopped into a cab and drove uptown to Seventy-Second street where she lived. It was a typical old- fashioned rooming house. She lived on the fourth floor back.
She was a little startled to see O'Rourke with me. But not frightened—a point in her favor I thought to myself.
«I didn't know you would bring a friend,» she said, looking at me with frank blue eyes. «You'll have to excuse the appearance of the place.»
«Don't worry about that, Miss Andrews.» It was O'Rourke who spoke. «Nina is the name, isn't it?»
«Yes,» she said. «Why?»
«It's a pretty name,» he said. «One doesn't hear it much any more. You're not of Spanish descent by any chance, are you?»
«Oh no, not Spanish,» she said, very bright and quick, and in an altogether disarming tone. «My mother was Danish, and my father is English. Why, do I look Spanish?»
O'Rourke smiled. «To be honest, Miss Andrews... Miss Nina... may I call you that?... no, you don't look at all Spanish. But Nina is a Spanish name, isn't it?»
«Won't you sit down?» she said, adjusting the pillows on the divan. And then, in a perfectly natural tone of voice: «I suppose you heard that I was fired? Just like that! Not a word of explanation. But they gave me two weeks' pay—
I was glad now that I had brought O'Rourke along. If I had come alone I would have left without more ado. I was absolutely convinced, at this point, that the girl was innocent.
The girl. She had given her age as 25 on the application blank, but it was obvious that she wasn't a day over nineteen. She looked like a girl who had been brought up in the country. A bewitching little creature, and very alert.
