Out of the Past Page #2

Well, this is it.

Now, the first thing I wanna get off my

chest:
My name isn't Bailey, it's Markham.

- Markham. Jeff Markham?

- I should have told you before.

I meant to, but I kept

putting it off...

because I didn't

like any part of it.

- Please tell me, Jeff.

- Some of it's gonna hurt you.

It doesn't matter.

Well, our friend Markham

lived in New York.

He worked with a sort of stupid,

oily gent by the name of Jack Fisher.

We called ourselves detectives.

That was about three

years ago, maybe more.

Wintertime. One of the coldest

days I remember in the town.

And we got a call to

come and see a big op.

- A what?

- An operator, gambler.

He didn't come to see us because he

was too high-powered a character.

Also, because some dame had taken

four shots at him with his own .38.

Made one of them good.

He was taking it in stride, but he

had a friend who was a ball of fire.

Newspaper guys, wise guys, who

do they think they're kidding?

So he shot himself

cleaning a cap pistol.

So I shot the ace of spades out

of a sleeve during a gin game.

A guy can't even get

shot by a dame...

without the whole town

starting to buzz like a...

Like you? Smoke a cigarette, Joe.

You just sit and stay inside yourself.

You wait for me to talk. I like that.

I never found out much

listening to myself.

(WHIT CHUCKLES)

Hmm.

- It amazes me how she missed so often.

- FISHER:
Maybe you were moving.

A dame with a rod is like a

guy with a knitting needle.

- What's he doing here? I called you.

- My partner.

- Should I ask why you didn't call the law?

- Should you?

Heh. I guess not.

- Anything happen to her?

- She ran out on me.

- With 40,000 bucks.

- I want her back.

Or the money?

(WHIT CHUCKLING)

You know, I once bet $40,000 on a horse

that ran dead last, so I bought the horse.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

Oh, you're wrong. I put that

horse in a nice green pasture...

so he'd never get his foot

caught in a mutuel machine.

You should go out and

visit it sometime.

No, I just want her back. When you

see her, you'll understand better.

Maybe she's just an impulsive girl.

- Shall we let it go at that?

- I can let it all go.

An even 5000 now and 5

when you bring her back.

And expenses.

Now, that should have been

the first thing you said.

- Find her, Jeff. Bring her back.

- JEFF:
Why me?

Well, I know a lot of smart guys and

a few honest ones, and you're both.

What happens to her?

I won't touch her.

Okay.

Get me the stuff on her family,

pictures, anything interesting.

- You'll get it.

- I'll see you.

You bring it over, Joe.

Come on, let's go.

Oh, by the way, you mind

telling me her name?

- Kathie Moffat.

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