“Not at all,” Spade said over it. “Glad to. It’ll help some if you either meet

Thursby downstairs or let yourself be seen in the lobby with him at some time.”

 

“I will,” she promised, and thanked the partners again.

 

“And don’t look for me,” Archer cautioned her. “I’ll see you all right.”

 

* * * * *

 

Spade went to the corridor-door with Miss Wonderly. When he returned to his desk

Archer nodded at the hundred-dollar bills there, growled complacently, “They’re

right enough,” picked one up, folded it, and tucked it into a vest-pocket. “And

they had brothers in her bag.”

 

Spade pocketed the other bill before he sat down. Then he said: “Well, don’t

dynamite her too much. What do you think of her?”

 

“Sweet! And you telling me not to dynamite her.” Archer guffawed suddenly

without merriment. “Maybe you saw her first, Sam, but I spoke first.” He put his

hands in his trousers-pockets and teetered on his heels.

 

“You’ll play hell with her, you will.” Spade grinned wolfishly, showing the

edges of teeth far back in his jaw. “You’ve got brains, yes you have.” He began

to make a cigarette.