Page 46 (1/2)

“Accepted!”

And laughing, he went to drag out a whole case of beer

We sat eating hotdogs in the little rattan gazebo at the back of his garden

“Okay, son,” he said, finally “Your old dad hasman between blankets has no ears Old Japanese proverb I knew you’d come back someday”

“Do you forgiveover

“Friends don’t forgive, they forget Swab your throat out with this Is Peg a great wife?”

“Been ht over money” I blushed “She makes most of it But my studio salary is up—one hundred fifty a week”

“Hell! That’s ten bucks more than I make!”

“Only for six weeks I’ll soon be back writing for Dime Mystery”

“And writing beauts I’ve kept up in spite of the silence—”

“You get the Father’s Day card I sent?” I said quickly

He ducked his head and beahtened up “But ht?”

“People are dying, Crumley”

“Not again!” he cried

“Well, alrave not really alive, but papier-mâché dummies—”