“That’s what I thought,” he said. “Sister, the next time you want to pump somebody, don’t pump a stewed dame. They talk all over the place.”

“I want you to leave me alone.”

“I’m not through yet. You—”

There was a sound outside the door. Carrol went suddenly tense and looked from the door to her. Terry didn’t move. There was a knock.

“Open it,” Carrol said in a low tone.

She went to the door. It was Lowry. A glance at his face and Terry knew he had overheard something of what had just passed between her and Carrol.

Lowry came inside. Carrol got up, scowling at both of them.

“Kid Seamy Side himself,” Carrol said. “Quite a coincidence, huh, Lowry?”

“Aren’t you on the wrong side of town right now, Carrol?” Lowry asked sourly. “Not that I want to sound snobbish.”

“Not that you want to sound off any which way, Lowry,” Carrol said menacingly. “I don’t like this business.”

“What business?”

“No double-talk,” Carrol snapped. “My place is well out of this McKay rap, do you get me straight? I don’t want no halfwits with ideas out of movie shows lousing things up for me.”

“You interest me, Carrol,” Lowry said airily. “I presume you followed Miss Stafford all the way out here just to tell her that. You must be real worried to do a thing like that.”

“Yes,” Terry put in. “I think Buzzy is worried.”

“Buzzy?” Lowry asked curiously.

Carrol’s face was a cold mask. “What kind of gag is that?” he asked through his teeth.

“You are Buzzy, aren’t you, Mr. Carrol?” Terry asked innocently.

Carrol took a quick step toward her. “Look, bimbo, something’s on your mind that ain’t gonna do you no good at all. If you think you know something I don’t know, speak up or else—” He raised his hand as if to strike her.

“I think the lady informed me that she was no longer in your employ, Carrol,” Lowry said in a dry, tight voice. “That in itself seems reason enough why you shouldn’t have the privilege of socking her.” He moved nearer to Carrol. “To say nothing of the fact that she’s a friend of mine and you’re forgetting your manners.”

Lowry emphasized his reprimand with a well-aimed right that caught Carrol flush on the jaw and sent him to the floor. He lay there stunned for a moment, then reached for his coat pocket.

“Ned!” Terry screamed.

But Lowry saw the gesture. He kicked Carrol’s hand sharply. Carrol gasped with pain as his hand remained suspended lifeless in mid-air. Lowry bent over and yanked Carrol up by the collar. He hustled him over to the door and turned his head to Terry.

“I was right, wasn’t I, Miss Stafford, in assuming that the gentleman was not a welcome caller?”

“You were right,” Terry said.