I'll Bury My Dead Part 17

Lois saw them go down, and she dived after them, but the buoyancy of her lifebelt immediately returned her to the surface.

Frantically she wrestled with the strings to get it off, but the knots had hardened in the water and she couldnat loosen them.

aNick!a she screamed, and again tried to go down, but again the buoyancy of the belt brought her to the surface.

Then suddenly there was a commotion under the water. She caught a glimpse of the two men, still locked together, as they came to the surface. She saw Englishas hand grope for Shermanas face, and his thumbs sink into Shermanas eyes as they went down again, the water closing over them.

She waited, her heart pounding, sick with fear for English, watching the bubbles of air as the two men fought under the water. They broke surface a second time. Sherman seemed no longer to be struggling. His arms and legs were locked round Englishas body while English was fighting desperately to throw him off.

She swam toward them, trying to reach them before they sank again, but she was too late. They went down again as English was within a few inches of her questing hand. Then after a long pause a body came to the surface, rolled over and floated half submerged near her. She reached it, turned it and saw with a sob of relief Englishas white unconscious face.

She held him up, pus.h.i.+ng him toward the floating recorder and propping him over it. She was still holding him above the water when Kerr found them, fifteen minutes later, when he brought the speedboat toward the flaming wreck.

IV.

Sam Crail hurried up the imposing steps that led to the main entrance of the new city hospital and entered the lobby where Dr. Ingolls, the resident surgeon, was waiting to meet him.

Ingolls, a tall, spare man in his late forties, was still in a slight flutter of excitement to have Nick English as a patient in his hospital.

The continual telephone calls, the invasion of the newspaper men and the constant stream of visitors, including stage and screen stars, show girls and stage technicians, enquiring after English, had temporarily disorganized the reception desk, and Ingolls was enjoying the experience of being on the fringe of Englishas limelight.

As Crail shook hands with Ingolls, Crail said, aHowas the patient? Can I see him?a aYes,a Ingolls returned, smiling. aHeas coming along well. His tremendous const.i.tution is doing more for him now than I can. In fact, weare already having trouble keeping him in bed.a aAnd the wound?a aItas heating satisfactorily. In another two weeks he should be fit enough to go home.a aThatas good news. Well, Iall go up. Youave done a good job, doctor.a Ingolls beamed.

aWe do our best,a he said airily. aOf course, half the battleas having a good const.i.tution, and thatas something Mr. English certainly has.a Crail nodded, and went off down the long white-tiled corridor to the elevator that took him to the first floor.

He found English lying in bed before an open window. On a side table was a ma.s.s of letters, cablegrams and books.

Chuck Eagan sat on an upright chair in a corner, his jaw aggressive and his eyes watchful. No one in the hospital had succeeded in s.h.i.+fting him. He had been in the room now for the past three days, ever since English had arrived, and even English couldnat get rid of him.

aWell, Nick,a Crail said, coming over to the bed. aHow do you feel?a ah.e.l.lo Sam,a English returned. aGet yourself a chair. Iam fine. Why everyoneas making so much d.a.m.ned fuss beats me. I keep telling that quack I want to go home.a Crail frowned.

aConsidering youave been unconscious for the past two days, I think thatas unnecessarily unreasonable,a he said, pulling up a chair. He glanced over at Chuck. aYou can take some fresh air, Eagan. Heall be all right with me.a Chuck snorted.

aYeah? Look what happened the moment I took my eyes off him,a he said bitterly. aIam sticking. No one else is going to throw lead into him again if I can help it.a aLet him alone,a English said, grinning. aIave done my best to get rid of him, but Iave given up. What's the news?a aYouare in the clear,a Crail said. aThat tape recorder clinched it. You have nothing to worry about. It wouldnat surprise me if the commissioner doesnat call and apologize.a English grimaced.

aI donat want him here. What about Sherman?a aThey picked up his body. You broke his neck Nick.a aHe would have finished me if I hadnat pulled a judo trick on him,a English said. aIt was a close call, Sam - too d.a.m.n close. Is Lois all right?a Crail nodded.

aNothing the matter with her,a he said. aI spoke to her on the phone this morning. She sounds fine.a aDidnat she say she was coming to see me?a English asked a little anxiously. aI was expecting her.a Crail shrugged.

aShe didnat say, but sheall be along.a English started to say something, then changed his mind. Instead, he asked, aWhat happened to that fella, Penn?a aWeave got him. Kerr was loading him into the boat when Sherman sneaked up behind him and cracked him over the skull. Kerr fell into the boat, and it drifted away, otherwise Sherman would probably have finished him. When Kerr came to, he saw the fire and came over to investigate. He fished you out just in time.a aHeas a good man,a English said. aDo something for him, Sam. Heas got a cute baby daughter. Have a talk with him. He might like me to take over her education.a aSure,a Crail said. aIall talk to him.a aAccording to Chuck, Morilli gave himself away,a English said. aWhatas happening to him?a aHeas facing an attempted murder rap. Youall have to charge him, Nick. Luckily I took a couple of newspaper men along with me. The commissioner canat cover up for him. He wonat give you any trouble for some time.a aIt all seems to be working out all right. I bet thereare a lot of disappointed people in the city right now. Rees must be shedding a few tears.a aHe is,a Crail said quietly. aHe certainly thought he had got you where he wanted you. But the whole storyas got to come out. We canat cover Roy up any longer.a English shrugged, then winced.

ad.a.m.n! I mustnat do that. Iam still a little sore,a he said, settling himself into a more comfortable position. aWell, it canat be helped. I guess that lets me out, Sam.a aFor a little while,a Crail said, abut when the scandalas blown over, youall be all right.a English shook his head.

aNo, it wonat be the same. Itas a funny thing but I donat give a d.a.m.n now. Iave been doing a lot of thinking while Iave been lying here. Iave decided to break new ground. Iam getting out of this city, Sam. I have other ideas now.a Crail looked alarmed.

aBut you canat do that! You canat walk out of a setup as big as yours when so many people depend on you for work!a aOh, Iall put someone in charge!a English said. aHow would you like the job Sam?a aYouare not serious?a Crail said, stiffening with surprise.

aI certainly am. But donat rush into it. Think about it. Itall mean giving up your law work, but itas a big job, Sam, and I know you could make a success of it. Iall be happy to take twenty-five percent of the net profit and leave the rest to you if youall take the whole business off my hands.a aBut what are you going to do?a Crail asked blankly. aThis is your life, Nick. You canat just throw it up.a aTwenty-five percent will give me all the money I want,a English said. aItas time I looked at the world. I want to travel. Then when Iam tired of travelling, Iall start all over again. You know, Sam, the best days of my life were when I was trying to become a success. Now, Iam going to try to recapture some of the fun I had in those days. Anyway, never mind about me. Think about my offer. If you donat want it, Iall have to find someone else. Iam quitting. Iave made up my mind.a Crail got to his feet.

aAll right, Iall think about it. I think Iam sold. Think of the attorney fees Iall save!a English laughed.

aSave - nothing. If you do the legal work, you pay yourself the appropriate fees. You can make a lot of money out of this setup, Sam.a aYeah,a Crail said, mentally calculating. aI guess I could. Give me until tomorrow Nick. Iall have an answer by then. Iad like to talk to Helen first.a aSure, thereas no hurry,a English returned. aI have a lot to do before I can quit.a Later in the afternoon, Ed Leon looked in.

aThought Iad drop in and see how you were making out,a he said, shaking hands. aI have to get back to Chicago, and Iam on my way now. Thereas nothing more I can do for you, is there?a English shook his head.

aNo, I guess not. Thanks for all youave done, Ed. Youall get a check as soon as I get back to my desk. We cleared that mess up pretty well, didnat we?a aYeah. I wish you could have seen those coppersa faces when Lois walked in with the tape recorder. She did a nice job of work, didnat she?a aShe certainly did. I canat understand why she hasnat come to see me. Everybody in townas looked in but her. What the h.e.l.l is she up to, Ed?a Leon grinned.

aFor crying out loud! Who do you imagine is running your business while youare lolling about in bed? Donat you remember your new showas opening tonight? Sheas been working twenty-four hours a day to make it a success. The poor girl hasnat had time even to powder her nose.a aTo h.e.l.l with the new show,a English said irritably. aWho cares about it anyway? I want to see her!a aSheall be along. She said something about looking in before she goes to the theatre tonight. You should be grateful. The girlas making your fortune.a aWell, okay,a English said, frowning. aBut itas time she quit working like a slave.a aIave been telling her that ever since I first met her, but she wonat listen,a Leon said. aWell, Iave got to get moving. See you soon, pal, and take it easy. Youave had enough excitement to last you a lifetime.a When he had gone, Chuck said cautiously, aIs that right, youare quitting, boss?a English looked at him and grinned.

aSure. I have a bigger job to attend to now. A job thatas going to take up a lot of my time. Something I should have tackled years ago.a Chuckas eyes opened.

aAnything in it for me, boss?a English shook his head.

aI guess not,a he said cheerfully. aThis is something personal. Iam going to get married, and Iam going to raise a family.a Chuckas expression of horror struck English as funny, and he burst out laughing.