The Narrow Margin Page #4

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I'm just letting him in on a secret.

You'd better come with me.

You've bothered this man enough.

No, I want to hear it.

You go buy your magazine.

Very well, but we've got to get right back

on the train.

Come here.

Where's our wandering boy?

I've got him in sight, Mrs. Sinclair.

He's talking to his train robber.

So that's who it is.

- Tommy.

- Yes, Mother!

I thought the other lady was your mother.

Nanny? She's my nurse. Come on.

I won't tell them anything.

We've solved

one of the mysteries about you.

I understand you rob trains for a living.

No, he doesn't. I just thought he did.

I'd believe anything.

I'm surprised you don't.

I'm surprised, too,

about Tommy being your son, I mean.

Anyway, he's on my side now.

- We've got a secret. Is that for me?

- Yes, darling. You're going to like this.

An Indian hat.

That's a genuine headdress, darling.

A real Indian chief made it.

Gee, thanks, Mom.

Look what I've got, Nanny.

Don't forget. No one knows but us.

That's a promise.

You're very persuasive.

A while ago, he was all for having you

locked up for armed robbery.

That's before he knew

I was on a secret mission.

Oh, I see. That would explain anything.

You're quite inventive.

Oh, he's a very sensible boy.

He didn't press for details.

In that case, I guess I should take a hint.

At least you're one up on me.

You know I'm not a train robber.

All I know about you is

you're a married woman with a young son.

- Is that so unusual?

- No, not unusual. Just unexpected.

I hadn't figured on it.

That sounds like

you've given it some thought.

I didn't know I'd made

that much of an impression.

Maybe you're like the train.

When it's moving, everything is a blur.

When it slows down and stops,

you begin to notice the scenery.

I hadn't thought of it that way,

but you're right.

It's too bad

we've got to start moving again.

Yes, we'd better be getting back.

Your change, sir.

- Mark that right, will you?

- Yes, sir, thank you.

Aren't you coming in?

I have business to attend to first,

but I'll be back.

Please don't feel you have to

because of me.

Excuse me.

Maybe I want to.

Because of you.

It's your turn to make way, my friend.

Come on, open it.

- You took your time.

- What's the idea of playing that?

- You want them to come in here shooting?

- I'll apologize later. Where's the sandwich?

Well, take the paper off first.

Cheese. How thin can a sandwich get?

Here, take half of mine.

Take it all. I can't eat.

That's because you've been

packing away steaks behind my back.

Stop it. I've got more on my mind

than food.

Would it be that girl that beat me

out of my breakfast?

You're pretty sharp, aren't you?

It's not what you think.

It's exactly what I think.

Why don't you admit you put her

on the spot and let me congratulate you?

- How'd you figure that out?

- I heard you through the door.

That hood wasn't looking

at her big blue eyes.

He thinks she's me,

and I think that's dandy.

- What's the matter with it?

- Nothing.

Nothing from your standpoint.

You're doing...

Sure, I'm still breathing. The food stinks

and so does your company.

I'll hand you one thing, though, Brown.

You're showing real genius.

Will you smooth that out a little?

Making this dame the target

shows you're using your head.

I didn't rig it that way.

If you didn't, the DA is entitled to a refund.

Sister, I've known some pretty hard cases

in my time.

You make them all look like putty.

This is not a sack of gumdrops

that's going to be smashed...

this is about a dame's life.

It may seem funny for a woman

with a kid to stop a bullet for you...

only I'm not laughing!

Stop being so superior.

Why shouldn't I take advantage of her?

I want to live.

If you had to step on someone

for something you wanted...

would you think twice about it?

In a pig's eye.

You're no different from me.

Shut up!

Not till I tell something,

you cheap badge pusher.

When we started on this safari,

you made it clear...

I was just a job

with no joy in it, remember?

Yeah, it still goes. Double.

Okay, keep it that way. I don't care

whether you dreamed up this gag or not.

You're going right along with it,

so don't go soft on me.

Once you handed out a line

about poor Forbes getting killed...

because it was his duty.

Well, it's your duty, too,

even if this dame gets murdered.

- You make me sick to my stomach.

- Well, use your own sink.

And let me know

when the target practice starts.

Get up.

Okay. What's the muscle for?

You broke a tooth.

- You want to try for none?

- No, thanks.

Let's cut a couple of corners, then.

Who's the fat guy?

- I wouldn't know.

- And Densel?

- What's he got to do with it?

- Never heard of him.

Do you hear any better now?

All right, copper, I'm not in this alone,

but you are.

You're just one guy

bucking a big company.

Don't matter if you beat my brains out

or not. We're in business for keeps.

So am I. So talk straight.

The payoff list

and the little lady with the boy.

Calls herself Mrs. Sinclair.

That straight enough for you?

You're off your stick, way off.

- Her name's Neall, but that doesn't matter.

- It matters plenty.

Why don't you get wise yourself

and give her a break?

What's the use

of making that kid an orphan?

Maybe you like trouble.

I love it. So get to the point.

Give us the list and nobody gets hurt.

No grief, no mess.

Except for Mrs. Neall,

who gets double-crossed 10 minutes later.

What am I? A jumbo-sized sucker?

That list is no good while she can talk,

so make some sense.

- You're not going to do business with us.

- No.

Trying to up the price?

- I don't fix.

- Yeah, we'll get her anyway.

You'll get nobody.

Neither the right Mrs. Neall

nor the wrong Mrs. Neall.

You'll get nobody. Do you understand?

- Where is Densel?

- Never heard of him.

All right, talk.

- You can't beat it out of me.

- Talk.

They'd kill me.

Look at me.

If anything happens to her,

I'll find you even if you're in jail...

and I'll kill you.

You're under arrest.

This ain't your territory.

What's the charge?

Soiling towels, for one.

Put your hands behind your head

and face that window.

- What's going on here?

- I'm an officer making a pinch.

Mr. Jennings, will you step in here

a moment, please?

This man claims he's an officer.

- I'll take over, conductor.

- On what authority?

Special agent for the railroad.

We'll handle this.

There won't be any trouble.

All right. I'll wire Albuquerque.

Your credentials won't be necessary.

I checked on you last night.

- What do we book this man on?

- Take your choice.

Attempted bribe, resisting an officer,

concealed weapon.

I want him held in technical custody

until the next stop.

Also pick up his partner, Vincent Yost.

He's somewhere on board.

The pleasure's all mine.

You can take your hands down now.

There'll be a report to make.

Where do I find you?

Up front, baggage car.

I should've tumbled to you before this.

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