The Big Clock Page #5

I always thought you wanted

to step into my shoes

at Janoth Publications.

Earl, Janoth Publications

isn't through with you yet.

Who is it?

A husband.

Oh, it's you.

The door's unlocked.

What's a honeymoon

without a husband?

When did that occur to you?

I was detained.

I was so angry when

the train left without you.

It was unforgivable.

It was unforgivable,

your leaving without me.

Was I supposed to wait

at the station

till our golden wedding?

That's what Janoth wanted.

Please listen.

I know the music by heart.

"Once a man

puts his foot down,

they listen to reason.

Things are different now."

But it is different,

ya dope.

Sit down.

I've quit. Quit cold.

For good, forever

and for always.

I can't believe it.

We're unemployed

and penniless.

It's too good

to be true.

Blacklisted for life,

never to work

on a magazine again.

Oh, George,

how wonderful!

How'd it happen to you?

Why didn't you call me?

But, darling, I had

You just can't

clean up seven years

in five minutes.

Before I could turn around,

it was 7:
00, so I called

the house. Gone.

I'm terribly sorry,

darling.

I was miserable about it.

Were you miserable too?

Miserable?

I was desolate.

It's positively ironic.

I throw away $30,000 a year

and you walk out on me.

I-I tell you,

the bottom fell out.

I walked the streets

like a zombie.

Didn't meet any blonde

fortune tellers on the way?

You're not serious?

Yes, George.

I'm very serious.

I've been thinking

a great deal.

I can stand a lot,

but...

that's one thing

I just couldn't take.

That's something

you'll never have to take.

You're the only blonde

in my life.

I'm a brunette.

You're

the only brunette too.

Anybody know you're here?

Uncle Fred, but he wouldn't

call at this hour.

Anybody know

you're here?

Only Daisy.

I left her a note.

Don't answer it.

Nobody home.

Now, tell me all about it

from the beginning.

Well...

I'll have to.

Hello. Yes, this is Stroud.

Who? Put him on.

Hello, George.

We've got the story

of the year.

It's a natural for you.

What's that?

I said, haven't ya heard?

I've quit.

But this is important.

The payoff man in an enormous

war contract scandal.

Find him and you'll

get a bonus:

Vacation.

six months' vacation,

maybe the Pulitzer Prize.

I've already got the prize.

I'm on a permanent vacation.

He won't listen.

George, Janoth.

I behaved very badly yesterday.

Steve has been remonstrating

with me about it. I can't

blame you for being sore.

As servants of the public,

it is our duty

to hound this man.

Oh, the trail is still fresh.

He was around town

last night with a blonde.

We know they were

at the Van Barth

and some bar called Burt's.

- You know who the girl is?

- No, we don't care about her.

Uh, we're after the man.

Yes. Uh, Jefferson Randolph.

Jefferson Randolph?

No. Never heard of him.

I am not going to rest

until I have exposed

this scoundrel...

if I have to assign every man

in my organization.

I'll grab the next plane,

Mr. Janoth.

George, if you leave now,

I'll never speak to you again.

- Darling, I have to.

- Why?

Well,

Janoth says it's

a war contract scandal,

but that's a blind.

He's trying to find out

who's been playing

around with his girl.

I happen to know the man.

He's a victim of circumstances.

I've got to go back,

keep Janoth from finding him.

It would wreck

the man's life.

Wreck his life?

Well, what about ours?

Good morning, Mr. Janoth.

Good morning, Tom.

Not very much to go on.

Do you think Stroud can do it?

Had even less on Fleming.

We've Van Barth's

and Burt's Place,

provided Pauline

was telling the truth.

She must have been.

You told me there was

a tag on the sundial.

What did you do with that?

Put it back

at Burt's bar.

That's good.

You're sure there was nothing

familiar about this Randolph?

I told you he was in

the shadowy part of the hall.

But he saw you?

He couldn't help it.

I was directly under the light.

Well, perhaps

he doesn't know you.

Everybody knows me.

He was the only one who can

connect me with Pauline.

Except me.

You have a macabre

sense of humor, Steve.

Good morning, Mr. Janoth.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Hagen.

Is Stroud in yet?

Yes, Mr. Janoth.

Send him to Mr. Hagen's office.

You better

talk to him first.

Yes.

And, Steve, we have

to have Randolph before

Pauline's body is found,

before he reads

of the incident

and goes to the police.

It'd be most unpleasant

if he were to insist he saw

me entering her apartment.

I should have

to call him a liar.

Send Mr. Stroud in.

Yes, Mr. Hagen.

George,

we appreciate this.

We know what

it means to you.

It means more to my wife.

She'll get over it.

Let's get started. Earl

told you the man's name:

Jefferson Randolph.

I think it's an alias.

Why?

The kind of business

he's in.

War contract scandals?

Spending the proceeds

last night on a blonde.

Quite an assignment, a guy

spending money on a blonde.

Not quite as bad as that.

We have a vague description

of the man and the names

of two night spots.

Read these.

Throw a staff together.

We want action.

Call on any of the other

magazines for help.

Set up your blackboard,

your regular technique.

You've got a free hand.

One question:
Where does

all this information come from?

A... confidential source.

We're pledged not to reveal it.

Why not call in

the authorities?

No, George.

This is an exclusive

between you and me.

And Janoth?

Of course.

Still some in this old

bottle, Bill. Use it up.

Oh, I'm tired and run down.

I need a vacation.

I should take

an ocean voyage.

Have you ever

been abroad, Bill?

It's stimulating.

Different people,

different customs.

Do you know

that in some countries,

after a murderer confesses,

the police let him run...

and shoot him

in the back?

Do you think

this, uh, killer,

this Jefferson Randolph,

could be persuaded

to run when we find him?

His confession

could just as well...

be prepared afterwards and then

submitted to the police.

Justice would be served.

Wonderful story for Crimeways.

Randolph.

Jefferson Randolph.

This is really a tough one.

It appears we're heading

into a blank wall.

We've worked with less before.

Let's check the assignments.

Lily, you and Morton

take the De Witt Hotel.

The De Witt?

The notes said

the Van Barth.

Was it the Van Barth?

Anyway, you're a society couple

out for an afternoon bracer.

That will be a pleasure.

We'll shoot you additional

information as we get it.

Uh, Edwin.

You take Burt's Place.

Don't you think you ought

to pick someone more suitable?

Why? Edwin's smart.

They'd never spot him

for an investigator.

Tony, you and Bert

are the inquiring reporters.

That means you have to check

the doormen, newsboys,

taxicab drivers,

anybody that might

have seen them between

the Van Barth and Burt's Place.

Isn't that a big hunk

of territory?

We'll send somebody to help you.

Nat, you and Morgan and Talbot,

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