hr.thecarpetbaggers-第123部分

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lars。　That's　the　last　I　saw　of　him。〃
　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　where　he　might　be？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I've　got　a　good　job　for　him　up　in　Canada；　but　he　seems　to　have　dropped　out　of　sight。〃
　A　strange　look　came　into　her　eyes。　〃You　mean　you'd　give　him　a　job　after　what　he　did　to　you？〃
　〃I　haven't　much　choice；〃　I　said　reluctantly。　〃I　don't　especially　like　the　idea　but　there's　a　war　on。　I　need　a　man　like　him。〃
　〃I　had　a　letter　from　him　about　a　year　ago。　He　said　something　about　taking　over　as　manager　of　the　Teterboro　Airport。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　look　out　there。〃
　Her　hand　suddenly　came　across　the　table　and　pressed　mine。　I　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　She　smiled。　〃You　know；　Jonas；　I　have　the　strangest　feeling　you're　going　to　make　a　much　better　friend　than　husband。〃
　
　5
　
　MCALLISTER　WAS　WAITING　FOR　ME　IN　THE　HOTEL　WHEN　I　GOT　BACK　THE　NEXT　AFTERNOON。　〃You　find　him？〃　he　asked。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃He　only　stayed　out　there　long　enough　to　pass　a　bum　check　for　five　hundred　bucks　on　some　poor　jerk。〃
　〃That's　pretty　far　down　the　ladder　for　him。　Any　idea　where　he　went　next？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　I　threw　my　topcoat　across　a　chair　and　sat　down。　〃For　all　I　know；　he's　in　jail　in　some　hick　town　we　never　heard　of。　Bum　check　…　Jesus！〃
　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　Mac　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　promised　Roger　I'd　try　to　find　him。　We　better　put　an　agency　on　the　job。　If　they　can't　turn　him　up；　at　least　Roger　will　know　I　tried。　You　call　Hardin？〃
　Mac　looked　at　me　curiously。　〃Yes。　He'll　be　here　any　minute　now。　Why　do　you　want　to　see　him？〃
　〃We　might　go　into　the　publishing　business。〃
　〃What　for？〃　Mac　asked。　〃You　don't　even　read　the　papers。〃
　I　laughed。　〃I　hear　he's　thinking　of　putting　out　a　movie　magazine。　I'm　making　a　picture。　The　best　way　I　know　to　grab　space　is　to　own　a　magazine。　I　figure　if　I　help　him　out　with　the　movie　magazine；　he'll　give　us　a　plug　in　his　others。　That　adds　up　to　twelve　million　copies　a　month。〃
　Mac　didn't　say　anything。　The　doorbell　rang　and　Robair　went　to　open　it。　It　was　S。　J。　Hardin；　right　on　time。　He　came　into　the　room；　his　hand　outstretched。　〃Jonas；　my　boy；〃　he　wheezed　in　his　perennially　hoarse　voice。　〃It's　good　to　see　you。〃
　We　shook　hands。　〃You　know　my　attorney；　Mr。　McAllister？〃　I　said。
　S。　J。　gave　him　the　glad　eye。　〃It's　a　real　pleasure；　sir；〃　he　said；　pumping　Mac's　hand　enthusiastically。　He　turned　back　to　me。　〃I　was　surprised　to　get　your　message。　What's　on　your　mind；　boy？〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃I　hear　you're　thinking　about　putting　out　a　movie　magazine。〃
　〃I　have　been　thinking　about　it；〃　he　admitted。
　〃I　also　hear　that　you're　a　little　short　of　cash　to　get　it　started。〃
　He　spread　his　hands　expressively。　〃You　know　the　publishing　business；　boy；〃　he　said。　〃We're　always　short　of　cash。〃
　I　smiled。　To　hear　him；　one　would　think　he　didn't　have　a　pot　to　piss　in。　But　S。　J。　had　plenty；　no　matter　how　much　he　cried。　The　way　he　raided　his　own　pany　made　old　Bernie　Norman　look　like　a　Boy　Scout。
　〃I'm　about　to　make　my　first　movie　in　eight　years。〃
　〃Congratulations；　Jonas；〃　he　boomed。　〃That's　the　best　news　I've　heard　in　years。　The　movies　can　use　a　man　like　you。　Remind　me　to　tell　my　broker　to　pick　up　some　Norman　stock。〃
　〃I　will；　S。　J。〃
　〃And　you　can　be　sure　my　magazines　will　give　you　a　big　play；〃　he　continued。　〃We　know　what　makes　good　copy。〃
　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about；　S。　J。　I　think　it's　a　shame　your　chain　has　no　movie　magazine　in　it。〃
　He　fixed　me　with　a　shrewd　glance。　〃I　feel　the　same　way；　Jonas。〃
　〃How　much　would　it　take　to　get　one　on　the　stands？〃　I　asked。
　〃Oh；　two；　maybe　three　hundred　thousand。　You've　got　to　make　sure　of　a　year's　run。　It　takes　that　long　for　a　magazine　to　catch　on。〃
　〃A　magazine　like　that　depends　on　the　kind　of　editor　you　have；　doesn't　it？　The　right　kind　of　editor　and　you　got　it　made。〃
　〃That's　entirely　correct；　boy；〃　he　said　heartily。　〃And　I　have　the　finest　group　of　editors　in　the　business。　I　see　you　know　the　publishing　business；　Jonas。　I'm　always　interested　in　a　fresh　point　of　view。　That's　what　makes　the　news。〃
　〃Who's　going　to　be　your　feature　editor？〃
　〃Why；　Jonas；〃　he　said　in　wide…eyed　innocence。　〃I　thought　you　knew。　The　little　lady　you　had　dinner　with　last　night；　of　course。〃
　I　started　to　laugh。　I　couldn't　help　it。　The　old　bastard　was　smarter　than　I　figured。　He　even　had　spies　planted　in　〃21。〃
　After　he　left；　I　turned　to　McAllister。　〃I　don't　really　have　to　stay　here　to　sign　those　Engel　papers；　do　I？〃
　He　looked　at　me　sharply。　〃I　don't　suppose　so。　Why？〃
　〃I　want　to　go　to　the　Coast；〃　I　said。　〃Here　I'm　about　to　make　a　picture。　What　am　I　doing　in　New　York；　getting　nothing　done？〃
　〃David　and　Bonner　are　here。　They've　been　waiting　for　a　call　from　you。〃
　〃Get　David　on　the　phone　for　me。〃　A　moment　later；　he　handed　me　the　telephone。　〃Hello；　David。　How's　Rosa？〃
　〃She's　fine；　Jonas；　and　very　happy。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃I　just　wanted　to　tell　you　what　a　great　job　I　thought　you　did　on　that　stock　bit。　Look；　I　don't　feel　right　hanging　around　New　York　while　I'm　trying　to　get　The　Sinner　ready。　I'm　going　to　shove　off　for　the　Coast。〃
　〃But；　Jonas。　I　brought　Bonner　into　New　York。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　get　him　back　to　the　studio　and　tell　him　I'll　see　him　there。　That's　the　only　place　to　handle　a　picture。〃
　〃O。K。；　Jonas；〃　he　said；　a　faint　disappointment　in　his　voice。　〃You　flying　out？〃
　〃Yeah。　I　think　I　can　make　the　ICA　two…o'clock　flight。　That　way；　I'll　be　in　California　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Give　Rosa　a　call；　will　you；　Jonas？　She'd　be　pleased　to　hear　from　you。〃
　〃I　will；　David；〃　I　said。　〃By　the　way；　how　do　I　get　in　touch　with　that　Jennie　Denton？　I　think　I　ought　at　least　to　meet　the　girl　who's　going　to　play　the　lead　in　The　Sinner。〃
　〃She's　in　Palm　Springs；　at　the　Tropical　Flower　Hotel；　registered　under　the　name　of　Judy　Belden。〃
　〃Thanks；　David；〃　I　said。　〃Good…by。〃
　〃Have　a　safe　trip；　Jonas。〃
　
　It　was　11：30　a。m。；　California　time；　the　next　day；　when　I　parked　my　convertible　in　the　driveway　of　the　Tropical　Flower　Hotel　in　Palm　Springs。　I　checked　at　the　desk　and　walked　down　to　Cottage　No。　5。　When　I　knocked　on　the　door；　there　was　no　answer。　But　the　door　was　unlocked；　so　I　walked　in。　〃Miss　Denton？〃　I　called。
　There　was　no　answer。　Then　I　heard　the　shower　running　in　the　bathroom。　I　walked　through　and　opened　the　bathroom　door。　I　could　see　the　outline　of　her　body　against　the　opaque　shower　curtain。　She　was　singing　in　a　low；　husky　voice。
　I　closed　the　bathroom　door　behind　me　and　sat　down　on　the　can。　I　lit　a　cigarette　while　I　watched　her　through　the　shower　curtain。　I　didn't　have　to　wait　long。
　She　turned　off　the　water　and　I　could　hear　her　sniff　at　the　cigarette　smoke。　Her　voice；　from　behind　the　curtain；　was　calm。　〃If　that's　one　of　the　bellboys　waiting　out　there；　he'd　better　go　before　I　e　out；〃　she　said；　〃or　I　report　him　to　the　desk。〃
　I　didn't　answer。
　She　stuck　her　head　through　the　shower　curtain；　groping　for　a　towel。　I　reached　over　and　put　one　in　her　hand。　Through　the　curtain；　I　could　see　her　wrap　it　around　herself；　then　the　curtain　slid　back　and　she　stared　at　me。　Her　eyes　were　dark　gray　and　unafraid。　〃The　bellboys　in　this　hotel　are　the　worst；〃　she　said。　〃They　walk　in　on　you　at　the　oddest　times。〃
　〃You　could　try　locking　your　door。〃
　She　stepped　out　of　the　tub。　〃What　for？　They　all　have　passkeys。〃
　I　got　to　my　feet。　〃Jennie　Denton？〃
　〃It's　Judy　Belden　on　the　register。〃　A　questioning　look　came　over　her　face。　〃You　the　law？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No。　I'm　Jonas　Cord。〃
　She　looked　up　at　me；　a　slow　smile　spreading　over　her　face。　〃Well；　hey！　I've　been　waiting　to　meet　you。〃
　I　smiled　back　at　her。　〃What　for？〃
　She　came　very　close　to　me　and　reached　up　to　put　her　arms　around　my　neck。　She　drew　my　face　down　and　the　towel　slipped　from　her　body　to　the　floor　as　she　stretched　up　to　her　tiptoes　and　kissed　me。　Then　she　leaned　her　head　back　and　looked　up　at　me　with　mischievous；　laughing　eyes。
　〃Boss；〃　she　whispered；　〃ain't　it　about　time　you　signed　my　contract？〃
　
　6
　
　IT　WAS　THE　SAME　BUNGALOW　OFFICE　　I'D　USED　TEN　years　ago；　when　we　were　making　The　Renegade。　Nothing　had　changed　except　the　secretaries。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Cord；〃　they　trilled　in　unison　as　I　came　in。
　I　said　good　morning　and　walked　through　to　my　office。　Bon