Three Strangers Page #8

He thanked me twice,

he did, fancy.

Thanked you?

You don't say?

Furthermore, he says we

may take the afternoon off.

I don't believe it.

He did.

I swear he did.

Well, if he said so...

Let's hop it.

Kwan Yin!

Kwan Yin!

Well, Mr. Arbutny.

What do you think now?

As I said before, I'm not one to

believe in miracles, and yet...

And yet you're not

unwilling to profit by them.

What about that

fellow west? The murderer?

What about him?

He's got a share.

Shouldn't he be notified?

He won't need it

where he's going.

Quite so, but he may

have relatives.

I mean, would it be

strictly honest?

Very well.

Notify him

if you wish.

As a matter of fact, I

think you're probably right.

Under the circumstances,

it might be somewhat cruel.

And your share will

be larger, of course,

If you spare him

the knowledge.

Well, yes,

both our shares would.

10,000 it's worth,

and more.

It could be worth many times

more when the race is run.

If the horse

we've drawn wins, yes.

But it would be foolish

to count on that.

The only sensible procedure

is to sell our ticket

For what we can get right now rather

than speculate and take the risk.

Oh, come now,

Mr. Arbutny.

That's not very

sporting of you.

Don't you remember

that we agreed

That the ticket should

not be divided?

The entire sum must

go in the race.

When we made that agreement,

it was only as a joke.

I wasn't joking.

That'd be madness even to consider

betting such a sum on a horse race.

Mrs. Shackleford, circumstances

are such with me...

A situation has risen-

That is, I have a very pressing

need for immediate funds.

I simply cannot afford

to take such a risk.

There's nothing

that I can do about it.

But you can!

You must understand that

this is a very serious matter.

If I don't get my money for the

share of that ticket right now,

Well, I would be ruined.

Mrs. Shackleford,

what are you laughing at?

I was just thinking how

easy it is to be ruined.

One minute to

have everything,

The next

to have nothing.

But they got

what they deserved.

They got exactly

what they deserved.

Mrs. Shackleford, I'm afraid

I don't understand you.

All I'm asking is-

Of course you don't

understand me, Mr. Arbutny.

You never could.

But that's

not the point.

That is, all I wish is to

divide our respective shares.

I'd be willing to take

less than my half.

Mr. Arbutny,

understand this.

We made a pledge, and we're

sticking to it to the letter.

Oh, no. No,

Mrs. Shackleford.

But you can't hang him.

He didn't know

what he was doing!

Fallon rang him in on it.

Johnny didn't even

know what happened

Until he read it

in the papers.

Miss crane, that's even

more difficult to believe

Than the story

you told in court.

But this is the truth.

I swear it is.

You may recall you took an

oath in the witness box...

A solemn oath

to tell the truth

And nothing but

the truth.

That was wrong. I

shouldn't have done it.

Not if you hoped to make

us believe this story.

But you know

I'm telling the truth now.

I came in here

of my own free will

And gave myself up to you.

Doesn't that prove it?

There's no reason

to lie for Johnny.

How do I know that?

It's not inconceivable

that you'd do more for west

Than you would

for Fallon.

Oh, that ain't got

anything to do with it.

Please, you've got to

believe me this once.

Johnny's innocent.

I tell you,

he's innocent.

Miss Crane,

you're very convincing.

But unfortunately, you were

very convincing the last time.

A court of justice has

passed sentence on west,

And the case is closed.

Except that I must hold you

on a charge of perjury.

I don't care

what you do with me.

What's the time?

10:
00.

We'll be in reading

within the hour.

And there

I shall remain...

For the rest of

your natural life.

You must have

preferred it to hanging

Or you wouldn't have

pinched on your pals.

Even if I am a policeman,

I hate a squealer.

What is it?

Conductor.

Your ticket, sir.

Gabby!

West?

Already?

Nope, Fallon's

been killed.

He's dead?

Yes, and they got

the fellow what done it.

Timothy Delany's his name.

That's Gabby!

And before Fallon died,

he made a confession

Which took

the blame off you.

And if what he says

is true,

Well, you ain't

gonna be hanged.

That's all

I know about it.

That's sufficient.

That's wond-

The governor wants to

see you in his office.

All right.

Pardon me, please.

Isn't that wonderful?

Johnny...

I was hoping I'd see

you coming through.

Hello, Gabby.

Hello, Johnny.

Anything I can

do for you?

Somebody you want

me to see?

Nothing I can

think of, Johnny.

Nah, no,

there ain't.

Where is Icy?

Oh, didn't you hear?

They got her in

the klink for perjury.

She tried

to get you off.

She did?

Yeah.

Anyway, they'll go easy

on her now.

I'm sorry about-

I ain't.

That Fallon... I wish I

had it to do over again.

Well, you're

a free man now, Johnny.

Yes, I'm...

I'm a free man now.

Good luck, Johnny.

Good-Bye, Gabby.

Good-Bye, Johnny!

And how are you, sir?

Lovely day,

ain't it, governor?

Yeah, wonderful.

Perfect weather

for the race.

What race?

The grand national,

of course.

Who do you think

will win?

What horse you picking?

I don't pick horses.

You don't?

I got a bob up

on corncracker.

Corncracker on the nose,

a lovely horse.

A lovely horse, and if

I had more, I'd bet it.

I wish I owned a ticket

on the favorite.

Half of it I'd sell, and

the other half I'd let ride.

Not like her...

Crystal Shackleford.

And she ain't selling any

part of her ticket-Imagine!

Pardon me, what was

the name you mentioned?

Crystal Shackleford.

She owns the ticket

on corncracker.

I'm glad I got my bob

down when I did.

Corncracker's

a 3-1 favorite.

Crystal Shackleford.

Mrs. Crystal Shackleford.

Winning ticket 666291/j,

pseudonym Kwan Yin.

A fast horse...

a fast track.

Why, it could-

Well, I'll be.

Is miss Elliot in?

Why, Mr. Shackleford,

I thought you knew.

Knew? Knew what?

Miss Elliot left

the day before yesterday.

Left? That's impossible.

Well, nearly impossible,

But we managed to get her

passage at the last minute

On a boat that was

just sailing for Canada.

But she must have

left some...

Some message for me.

Well, I'm afraid not.

Perhaps she tried

to reach you and...

Yes, that's it,

I'm sure.

I've been out of town.

Thanks.

She may have given

your wife a message.

My wife?

Yes, she was here

the day before.

Miss Elliot was

out at the time.

Your wife gave her name and asked

if she might wait in her room.

And knowing that you were

friends with miss Elliot, I...

I say, is anything wrong,

Mr. Shackleford?

Mr. Harris,

arbutny speaking.

Yes. Meet me on the corner of conduit

and regent street in half an hour.

Will you please

bring the check?

I will have

the ticket for you.

Man:
big race today!

Buy a paper.

Racing special...

corncracker the favorite.

Get your paper here.

Man on radio:

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