The D.A. Breaks a Seal

21

Sylvia Martin was at the train as Selby leapt out of the taxicab and dashed across the station platform.

Her eyes were laughing up into his. “Thought you weren’t going to make it, Doug. I even hoped you wouldn’t.”

“I had to, Sylvia.”

“How’s it coming, Doug?”

“I don’t know,” Selby said. “Get in touch with Rex Brandon for the story and wire me aboard the train. Rex has the number of my reservations.”

“All aboard!” the conductor yelled.

Sylvia clung to his arm. “Doug, it was so good — so darn good — Doug, come back. Promise me you’ll come back?”

Selby bent to kiss her, was unconscious of slamming vestibule doors, of the clanging of the bell. The long train slowly creaked into motion.

It was Sylvia who suddenly pushed him away, laughing. “Get on that train, idiot. You can’t stand here kissing me all day. Hurry!”

The porter of the last car was grinning, running alongside the car, holding the vestibule door open.

Selby sprinted, swung aboard, the porter after him. Selby turned to wave wildly at Sylvia Martin, saw her smiling face until she suddenly turned away, undoubtedly to hide a sudden rush of tears.

The porter was grinning at Selby’s mouth and Selby, somewhat self-consciously, took out his handkerchief and wiped off the lipstick as he entered the roomette which had been reserved for him.

Sitting at the train window, he watched the familiar sights of Madison City gliding slowly by. The white courthouse up on the hill, the exclusive residential district. He could even pick out the big white stucco house in which Alfonse Baker Carr had signified his wish to live while he retired from active practice.

It seemed to Selby as though he were leaving behind him much that was unfinished, a segment of his life that must someday be resumed. But ahead of him lay something vastly more important; something that must be accomplished if Madison City were to remain as it had been.

The train gathered speed. The whistle boomed out its signal for a grade crossing.

Selby moistened his lips and some of the flavor of Sylvia Martin’s lipstick still clung to them. Almost automatically he reached for his handkerchief, and then stayed his hand; his head rested back against the cushion and he closed his eyes.

It was at San Luis Obispo that he received Rex Brandon’s wire:

MAJOR DOUGLAS SELBY

ROOMETTE 6 CAR 41

YOUR HUNCH CORRECT DEXTER PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN SECRETLY MARRIED ANITA ELDON REFUSES CONFESS AND HAS RETAINED CARR AS LAWYER BUT HIS FINGERPRINTS FOUND ON INSIDE BATHROOM DOOR AND FRAGMENTS OF CHARRED PAPER IDENTIFIED AS FROM ROFF’S BRIEF CASE FOUND IN HIS ROOM CONGRATULATIONS PROBABLY CAN’T STICK CARR WITH ANY THING BUT HAVE HIM WORRIED AND DOING LOT OF EXPLAINING GIFFORD ALSO EXPLAINING HAVE YOUR PIPE IN MY DESK DRAWER WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK CLEAN UP ON THE JAPS YOURS FOR KEEPS

REX BRANDON