Libeled Lady Page #9

these poor men and women.

Yes, I know, but there

are other considerations.

Is there anything in this house

for a hungry man?

- Yoo-hoo.

- Hello, my sweet.

Excuse me.

- Hello, darling.

- Hello.

Dear, Mr. Haggerty of

the New York Star.

Mr. Chandler.

Well, not William Chandler, the writer?

Yes, I'm William Chandler.

He writes travel books.

That takes you to a lot

of interesting places, doesn't it?

Yes.

Of course, it's all in the day's work.

I'm just becoming familiar with your work.

Yes?

I thought perhaps

you might do something for our paper.

It'd be a little change

from what you're doing now.

I'm afraid that I'm pretty full up.

- Up to your neck, I suppose.

- I object. No more work.

- Do sit down, Mr. Haggerty.

- Thank you.

I only see him now once a day.

Connie, you mustn't exaggerate.

If we must be factual,

twice a day sometimes, maybe three.

You'll give Mr. Haggerty

the wrong impression.

After all, he's a newspaperman.

- Don't worry about impressing me.

- And besides, he's not a columnist.

He didn't come to discuss gossip.

He came to discuss the case.

Yes, the case. By all means.

- Yeah, that's right.

- And it's all settled.

You mean you're dropping the suit?

No, but thanks to Mr. Haggerty's

social conscience...

all of the employees will be taken care of...

with the $5 million I shall

win from the Star.

That was all he cared about,

wasn't it, Mr. Haggerty?

Absolutely all. And now that you've

been so generous...

I think I'll say thank you and run along.

Please don't hurry.

You spoke of other considerations.

They really don't matter at all.

Just so long as those poor men

and women don't starve.

You've taken a great load off my mind.

- Have I?

- Yes, indeed.

I don't think there's

another thing to discuss.

There certainly is not.

I'm Warren Haggerty, the managing editor

of the New York Evening Star.

I know. The butler told me you were here.

- He'll show you to your car.

- Then I won't keep him waiting.

And you can tell your owner,

Mr. Hollis Bane...

we're not entertaining anyone

from his yellow rag in this house.

I'll make it a point to tell him.

You're entertaining no representatives

of the Evening Star.

Thank you. Good night.

Miss Allenbury, good night.

It's a surprise, Mr. Chandler,

but a great pleasure seeing you here.

Hello? Hello, Gladys?

Yes.

What?

You just saw him there a minute ago?

He's been seeing her every day?

Sure. He's been protecting her.

He's in love with her.

That's why he's stalling us.

But we got him now, and the case, too.

How long will it take you

to get to the Allenburys'?

A half hour? Perfect.

Sure, he'll be there.

He can't get away.

He was just going in to dinner when I left.

Thattagirl. Tear the roof off.

And get in touch with me at the office...

as soon as you've done your stuff.

Right. Bye-bye.

By this time tomorrow,

I'll be dining on shipboard.

- What? Where do you think you're going?

- I'm having dinner with my publisher.

He's sailing on the

Victoria tomorrow, the 8th.

Today is the 8th.

No, tomorrow is the 8th. Friday the 8th.

No, Bill. Today is Friday.

Today?

- What?

- Of course. Friday the 8h.

This is terrible.

He has a contract waiting for me to sign.

I've got to see him.

What time does the ship sail?

- 11:
00, from Brooklyn.

- You can make it.

- I'll drive you in.

- No, you finish your dinner.

I have my own car here.

I'm so sorry. This is terrible.

Mr. Chandler's apartment, please.

And would you rush it?

Yes?

Don't you "Hello, Gladdie" me,

Bill Chandler.

So you were having dinner

with your publisher.

You've been handing me a line

of pretty talk for the past 10 days...

and all the time

you've been seeing Connie Allenbury.

You can't do that to me.

Don't forget you're my husband...

and I'm telling that

to Miss Allenbury tonight.

Now, Gladys, that doesn't sound like you.

I don't blame you for being upset,

but I can explain everything.

Will you meet me

at the Paradise Roof in 20 minutes?

All right, I'll meet you.

But nothing you can say will stop me...

from telling that Allenbury gal tonight.

Remember that.

Here's the headline proof

on the Allenbury yarn.

Swell, elegant, magnificent.

We'll write in the gory details

when we hear from Gladys.

What's keeping her? It's after 12:00.

The old man's probably trying to bribe her.

Say, that'll make a swell subhead.

"Rich father tries to bribe wronged wife. "

I wonder where that

skunk Chandler is now.

He probably ducked

to China or Africa or something.

Hello, Warren.

- Where have you been?

- Dancing.

- What did you say?

- Dancing.

You know...

You mean you didn't go

to the Allenburys'? You didn't...

- No, we decided against it.

- Why you...

Self-control, Warren.

Very important for a man your age.

Here. Throw this out. Go on.

Now what have you got

to say for yourselves?

- Don't shout, Warren. We're not used to it.

- Are you going to tell me what happened?

You'd better tell him, Bill.

His blood pressure...

Yes. Perhaps you're right.

Warren, what would you say if I told you...

that I had almost persuaded

Miss Allenbury to drop the case?

I'd say you were a dirty,

double-dealing liar, and I'd be right.

I won't stand here

and listen to you being insulted.

Come on, Bill.

Is that so? Wait. Listen to this.

Not four hours ago,

I heard your two-timing Romeo...

whispering sweet nothings

into the ears of Connie Allenbury.

What do you think of that?

Bill told me all about it. That's technique,

Warren. You wouldn't understand it.

Why didn't you tell me

you were seeing Connie Allenbury?

Sure, and have you spoil

all my good work...

as you did tonight, barging in...

just as I'd about convinced her

to drop the case.

We didn't need any charity from her.

All Gladys had to do

was bust into the house.

As Bill says, and have you

smear our names all over your paper...

you headline hunter.

Believe me, this way is better and cleaner.

Tomorrow evening, the Allenburys

are giving a party. I'll be there.

Go right ahead, Bill. I trust you.

And what's more, I'll get her to drop

this case, once and for all.

That is, unless you decide

to barge in again.

You're so obvious, Warren.

Why can't you be subtle, like Bill?

Are you gonna listen to him or me?

I'm going to listen to Bill. He knows best.

How do I know

that you can get Connie to drop the case?

You'll have to take my word for that.

That's good enough for me.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe this is the best way.

Now you're talking sense.

All right, go ahead.

I'm sorry I blew up, old man.

Think nothing of it.

Now you see how silly it was

to get excited, Warren.

After all, I do want you boys

to be good friends.

- Come on, Bill. Good night, Warren.

- Good night.

- Good night, old man.

- Good night.

What's up?

That low-down, conniving rat...

making Gladys believe

he's in love with her.

- He won't get away with it.

- How are you gonna stop him?

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