'I'm not going. It's different here from what it was in the park that morning, Vie. There's a witness.'
Talbott took two quick steps, used a foot to shove the big ebony chair back free of the desk, made a grab in the neighborhood of Pohl's throat, got his necktie, and jerked him out of the chair. Pohl came forward and tried to come up at the same time, but Talbott, moving fast, kept going with him, dragging him around the 'corner of the desk.
I had got upright and backed off, not to be in the way.
Suddenly Talbott went down, flat on his back, an upflung hand gripping a piece of the necktie. Pohl was not very springy, even for his age, but he did his best. He scrambled to his feet, started yelling, 'Help! Police! Help!' at the top of his voice, and seized the chair I had been sitting on and raised it high. His idea was to drop it on the prostrate enemy, and my leg muscles tightened for quick action, but Talbott leaped up and yanked the chair away from him. Pohl ran. He scooted around behind the desk, and Talbott went after him. Pohl, yelling for help again, slid around the other end, galloped across the room to a table which held a collection of various objects, picked up an electric iron, and threw it. Missing Talbott, who dodged, it crashed onto the ebony desk and knocked the telephone to the floor. Apparently having an iron thrown at him made Talbott mad, for when he reached Pohl, instead of trying to get a hold on something more substantial than a necktie, he hauled off and landed on his jaw, in spite of the warning I had given him the day before.
'Off of that, you!' a voice boomed.
116 Rex Stout
Glancing to the right, I saw two things: first, that Dorothy, still in her chair, hadn't even uncrossed her legs, and second, that the law who had entered was not a uniformed pavement man but a squad dick I knew by sight. Evidently he had been somewhere around the premises, but it was the first I had seen of him.
He crossed to the gladiators. 'This is no way to act,' he declared.
Dorothy, moving swiftly, was beside him. 'This man,' she said, indicating Pohl, 'forced his way in here and was told to leave but wouldn't. I am in charge of this place and he has no right here. I want a charge against him for trespassing or disturbing the peace or whatever it is. He tried to kill Mr. Talbott with a chair and then with that iron he threw at him.'
I, having put the phone back on the desk, had wandered near, and the law gave me a look.
'What were you doing, Goodwin, trimming your nails?'
'No, sir,' I said respectfully, 'it was just that I didn't want to get stepped on.'
Talbott and Pohl were both speaking at once.
'I know, I know,' the dick said, harassed. 'Ordinarily, with people like you, I would feel that the thing to do was to sit down and discuss it, but with what happened to Keyes things are different from ordinary.' He appealed to Dorothy. 'You say you're making a charge, Miss Keyes?'
'I certainly am.'
'So am I,' Talbott stated.
'Then that's that. Come along with me, Mr. Pohl.'
'I'm staying here.' Pohl was still panting. 'I have a right here and I'm staying here.'
'No, you're not. You heard what the lady said.'
'Yes, but you didn't hear what I said. I was as Curtains for Three 117
ilted. She makes a charge. So do I. I was sitting etly in a chair, not moving, and Talbott tried to *le me, and he struck me. Didn't you see him te me?'
was in self-defense,' Dorothy declared. 'You an iron--' 'To save my life! He assaulted--' 'All I did--'
'Hold it,' the law said curtly. 'Under the circum aces you can't talk yourselves into anything with You men will come along with me, both of you. e's your hats and coats?' ey went. First they used up more breath on and gestures, but they went, Pohl in the lead, only half a necktie, Talbott next, and the law in srear.
^Thinking I might as well tidy up a little, I went and I the chair Pohl had tried to use, then retrieved iron and put it back on the table, and then ex aed the beautiful surface of the desk to see how damage had been done, suppose you're a coward, aren't you?' Dorothy
had sat down again, in the same chair, and the same legs. They were all right; I had no : coming there.
t's controversial,' I told her, 'It was on the Town ting of the Air last week. With a midget, if he's led, I'm as brave as a lion. Or with a woman. Try ag on me. But with--' A buzz sounded.
phone,' Dorothy said. ;! pulled it to me and got the receiver to my ear. fc 'Is Miss Keyes there?'
'Yes,' I said, 'she's busy sitting down. Any mesp?' 118 Rex Stout
'Tell her Mr. Donaldson is here to see her.'
I did so, and for the first time saw an expression that was unquestionably human on Dorothy's face. At sound of the name Donaldson all trace of the brow lifter vanished. Muscles tightened all over and color went. She may or may not have been what she had just called me, I didn't know because I had never seen or heard of Donaldson, but she sure was scared stiff.
I got tired waiting and repeated it. 'Mr. Donaldson is here to see you.'
'I--' She wet her lips. In a moment she swallowed. In another moment she stood up, said in a voice not soft at all, 'Tell her to send him to Mr. Talbott's room,' and went.
I forwarded the command as instructed, asked for an outside line, and, when I heard the dial tone, fingered the number. My wrist watch said five past three, and it stopped my tongue for a second when once more I heard Orrie's voice.
'Archie,' I said shortly. 'Let me speak to Saul.'
