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THE HAND OF PERIL
301

office, an' they'd gener'ly compromise on a couple o' hundred, to stop my squeal. But that kept you on the move, an' lacked class. This picture runnin' business is on a dif'rent plane. An' it ain't so hard on the noives."

"While keeping you intimately and actively in touch with Art," suggested Kestner.

"An' kept me in touch wit' more'n Art," Sadie stoutly maintained. "D'you happen to know jus' who's been doin' our gallery copyin' for the last two mont's? "

"I haven't the remotest idea."

"Of course you haven't or you wouldn't be sittin' there givin' me the glassy eye," pursued the unperturbed Sadie. Then she moved her chair a little closer to the table where Kestner sat before his atlas.

"It's the woman you've been fine-combin' that map for," she announced. "It's Maura Lambert."