I said, “Thanks. Guess he stopped to get a bite to eat. I want to see him,” and hung up.
Things were breaking swell for me.
I called Bertha Cool and said, “Everything’s under control. Sit tight. Don’t get stampeded, and don’t know anything about me.”
“Donald, what the hell are you doing now?” she asked.
“Scrambling eggs,” I said.
“Well, keep your nose clean. You’re clever, but you sure as hell do take chances.”
“I’m on my own now,” I said. “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”
She said, “I know so much now I hurt all over.”
I hung up, went back to my rooming-house, and knocked on Marian’s door. She opened it, and I said, “Hi, beautiful. I’ve just had a break. Bertha’s given me a night off. I won’t even have to worry about reporting. We can go out and do things.
“I’ll have to wait to get your things. I drove to your apartment house, but a couple of men were out front watching the place. I’ll have to wait until the coast is clear and try again.”