Libeled Lady Page #2

Yes, indeed.

Hardly what I'd call innocent...

but typical of Hollis Bane and everything

that his newspaper stands for.

No, I'm not interested, Mr. Haggerty.

You can discuss that with my attorney.

Now, hold on a minute.

This is Charles Archibald,

of Archibald, Davis, and Wingert.

We're filing suit immediately

through our New York office.

- You'll receive the papers tomorrow.

- Just a minute, Mr. Archibald.

Don't forget to mention

the amount we're suing for.

That should interest them.

By the way,

you might inform your Mr. Bane...

Miss Allenbury

is asking damages for $5 million.

$5 million.

She's insane, she's mad.

There never has been

a libel suit for $5 million.

There ain't that much money.

She's got all the money in the world now.

It's not money they're after.

It's the paper. It's me.

For 20 years, I've fought Allenbury.

Kept him out of the senate.

And when they wanted

to make him ambassador, I stopped it.

- $5 million.

- Their chance to strike back, and they are.

The paper will go.

Look what a lawsuit did to

New York Daily last year.

That's not going to happen to us.

We haven't begun to fight yet.

We've been sued before, big suits.

They were after money

and were glad to settle.

Allenbury will settle, too,

when we get through with her.

Remember the Farrell girl?

That was open-and-shut,

till we got busy on her.

You can't do that here.

There's never been a word of scandal

about Connie Allenbury.

Not yet, but she's human

and I'm gonna throw a man at her.

You're not suggesting a frame?

No. But we've got to get to this girl...

and I'm gonna bring in

the best man we ever had.

Who's that?

A guy that will beat

anybody in the world...

from Gandhi to Garbo. Bill Chandler.

Bill Chandler? Yes.

Now, you fired him,

the best man we ever had on libel.

- You admit it, and you fired him.

- Yes, and I'd do it again.

He was a conceited, double-crossing heel.

Tried to run the whole paper.

- Thought he knew more about it than I did.

- And was right.

He's the only man

who can swing this case.

Get him!

I'll have him here in an hour.

Long distance.

New York calling Mr. Adams...

of The Chronicle at Washington, DC.

All right, put Haggerty on.

Hello, Haggerty. This is Adams of

The Washington Chronicle.

Chandler left here over a year ago,

headed for Denver.

Try The Courier.

Sure, I know him.

Chandler left Denver four months ago.

And the boss's wife

almost followed him to San Francisco.

That guy is dynamite.

He worked here, but he wasn't with

The Express two weeks...

when he quit and left San Francisco.

One of the girls here received

a Christmas card from Singapore.

Anyone in this great settlement knowing

the whereabouts of William Chandler...

will please communicate

with station ZHM, Singapore.

Keep the lines open. If anything comes in,

let me know. I'll be here.

He left Singapore three months ago.

How about Australia?

I can try Sydney.

He was always crazy about the races.

Okay, but rush it. Send another SOS

to the syndicated press...

and cable London and Berlin.

- Do anything, but find him.

- Maybe that guy's dead.

It would be just like him

to die at a time like this.

Hello.

In case you don't know it, it's 2:00

in the morning, and I've been asleep.

What do I do? Put the dress

in mothballs for another trip?

Change it for a straitjacket

and order one for me.

- You ought to get some sleep, boss.

- No. This coffee will fix me up all right.

I press suit up quick.

Maybe you try him again this afternoon.

- Throw him in the nearest ashcan.

- One trail leads to Sydney.

The other one to Shanghai.

Both report the whereabouts

of Bill Chandler unknown.

Call up that detective agency,

see if they can find him.

Chandler? You mean Mr. Chandler...

- the fellow who used to work here?

- Yes.

- I know where he is.

- What?

Sure, he's a good friend of mine.

Just last week,

he gave me $10 for my mother.

- She's been sick.

- What's his address?

He's at the Grand Plaza.

The Grand...

No, that can't be the Chandler we want.

Don't you mean Bill Chandler...

who was always giving you the raspberry?

Yeah! That's the fellow!

Tell the cable office we found him.

- Right under my nose!

- Shall I get him?

No, I want to talk to him personally,

feel him out a little.

So he's living at the Grand Plaza.

He must be in the money.

Warren Haggerty.

From Brooklyn to Bombay...

a stab in the back spells Haggerty.

I never stabbed you in the back,

Chandler, and I want...

After all, that was a long time ago,

and we should...

Bury the hatchet. Or was it a knife?

- Now get this, Chandler, I didn't knife you.

- You only tried to.

That was two years ago. We should...

- Let bygones be bygones.

- Why, sure. Whatever happened...

Is all over now. Goodbye.

It was nice to see you.

Good morning. Cigarettes, please.

Give my regards to the boys at the office.

You still at the Star? Old

man hasn't gotten wise to you yet.

Soon, you'll be out on your ear...

then the Star will

be a first-class sheet.

Listen here, Chandler. If you're...

By the way, what are you

doing for yourself, Bill?

I just finished writing a book, Warren.

All about my early hardships,

the newspaper business...

and the rats I met running about.

- If you mention me in that book...

- Sue me for libel.

How is the libel these days?

You got a good man on the hush stuff?

Yeah, we get along.

Where did you go when you left us?

The intelligence department, Warren.

I always did like contrast. Cheerio.

- What's your hurry?

- Breakfast time.

- It can wait. I got an idea.

- I'll take breakfast.

I want to talk to you.

Warren, you weren't like that when I left.

- This is a proposition.

- Not before breakfast.

- I haven't got time for breakfast.

- That's too bad. Goodbye.

- Good morning, captain.

- Good morning, sir.

- Table for one.

- Table for two.

Very well, sir. This way, please.

- More coffee, sir?

- No, thanks.

Now, Warren, what's on your mind?

I've been thinking, Bill. After all,

you're a darn good newspaperman.

Maybe I was a little hasty when I...

You don't mean to give me back my job?

- That's it.

- Wait a minute.

You want to talk business?

All right, I'll talk.

You're in a jam over the Allenbury girl.

You printed a hot story

and she's suing you.

- Who told you?

- Elementary, my dear Watson.

I read the story. First edition only,

carried by no other paper.

That, says I,

is the fine Italian hand of Haggerty...

the bull in the china shop.

- What's she asking?

- $5 million.

Who does she think she is?

Just one of the richest girls in America.

Yes, I know all about her.

Title-crazy, with a fatheaded

old father to buy her in and out.

America's international playgirl.

That's her rep...

and she thinks it's worth $5 million.

When I get through with her,

she'll take five cents.

- Done. You're on the payroll.

- No, Warren. No philanthropy.

During the six months that I was on the

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