any shadow of doubt or mistake, such corpse shall be further untouched and placed immediately in a sycamore coffin, and such coffin put in a subdued manner and fashion in the tomb erected for this purpose for which adequate provisions have already been made. My name, George Smith, shall be carved deeply in the sycamore and followed by the inscription hereinafter set forth.
The innocent
Were cowering
As the guilty
Closed in on them
Murderously.
8
SOMETHING about the hoot of the vessel entering the river, made George Smith shiver. Two weeks of rain storm and hurricane. For three days Miss Martin could not get to work because of flooding in the subway. And suddenly it stopped. Sun up, clear sky, air fresh, all vernal on die first day of May. And arrival of a telegram.
S.S. CINATIT
MAY I
DOCK THIS MORNING BROKE DESPERATE
BONNIFACE
Miss Martin arrived whistling. Could hear her swing her little basket up on her desk. And her jaunty step to the water cooler installed during the raging hurricane. Nipping her head in the door and smiling.
"Mr. Smith, it's wonderful out."
"Good."
"Everybody's so cheerful. I walked across the park.
Just as a ship was coming in. I feel marvelous this morning. I want to sing. What's the matter, Mr. Smith."
"Any letters."
"Just one. Got my nail file. I'll open it. Here."
i Electricity Street
Rear Room
604
Dear Sir,
To hand your letter of "Turdsday" so unseemly spelled, in which you threaten us with the words "Watch out" and the postscript that you are blessed with two headlamps to focus on our medical history.
We now require by telegram that you send us something to salve the outrage caused by these recent remarks to this office.
Yours faithfully,
J J J. Jr.
"Miss Martin, did the ship this morning look cheerful."
"Funny you should ask that Mr. Smith. You know I thought it looked very strange. I don't know why but it seemed crippled in some way. And a phrase just came into my mind. Ship of shame. I had the feeling no one would want to meet that ship."
"You said a mouthful."
"What Mr. Smith."
"Nothing Miss Martin. I'll just scribble this reply to our friend, J.J J. Jr. Just mail it."
May 1st
Owl Street
J.J.J.
DearJunior,
Under separate cover and under approprkte wraps I am sending you a piece of ass.
Yours truly,
G. Smith
"On second thoughts Miss Martin. Send this letter by telegram."
"Yes Mr. Smith."
Smith taking a few moments to peruse in the mirror. View the eye balls. Father of four children. None of whom one would dare call Junior. A lonely life. Miss having a few youngsters around. Driving the breath out of me. Miss Martin in there on the phone will you ever have kinder. Some little baby all your own.
"My God, Mr. Smith."
"What is it, Miss Martin."
"O Mr. Smith."
"For Jesus sake, what is it."
Smith running in. Not far to go. Must be wary of gathering too much speed, else land in Owl Street having torpedoed the partition and another suite across the hall, the Institute Of Higher Graduation.
"Have you seen the newspaper. It's got your picture. Right on the front page."
"Great scot."
"Says full story page sixteen. Your arm is raised up. You can just see my shoulder and bit of hair."
"I want you to call a car Miss Martin. To be here right away. Pack up my papers on my desk. Put in an eraser. Have you sent off that wire."
"Yes. I just want to say something Mr. Smith."
"What Miss Martin."
"Whatever else happens I just want you to know that your self control in the mop closet was wonderful. I wanted to say that to you before."
"Then I can ask you something, Miss Martin. And I hope you'll understand."
"Of course Mr. Smith."
"Would you like to come with me to the country for a few days. Let me make it absolutely clear this is entirely up to you. And needless to say you would have your own bedroom."
"You mean at a hotel Mr. Smith. Well I'd have to tell my mother."
"Phone her. But you know how mothers are Miss Martin. It might only be politic to say you're house-partying fully chaperoned, with other young people."
"All right, Mr. Smith. But how long."
"Two, three days."
Smith returning nervously into the rear of 604, opening up the newspaper across his desk.
WATCHFUL WAITING IN OWL STREET
There was renewed buoyancy without bouncing in the financial district of this city where the spotlight has narrowed on one or two personalities today when the market appeared decidedly bullish.
It was against a background of corrective pause, which observers found no longer refreshing, when it was thought certain members of this city were