forashorttimethenextdaythingslookedlikegettinglively.districtattorneyspringercalledanearlypressconferenceanddeliveredastatement.hewasthebigfloridblack-browedprematurelygray-hairedtypethatalwaysdoessowellinpolitics.

ihavereadthedocumentwhichpurportstobeaconfessionbytheunfortunateandunhappywomanwhorecentlytookherlife,adocumentwhichmayormaynotbegenuine,butwhich,ifgenuine,isobviouslytheproductofadisorderedmind.iamwillingtoassumethatthejournalpublishedthisdocumentingoodfaith,inspiteofitsmanyabsurditiesandinconsistencies,andtheseishallnotboreyouwithenumerating.ifeileenwadewrotethesewords,andmyofficeinconjunctionwiththestaffofmyrespectedcoadjutor,sheriffpetersen,willsoondeterminewhetherornotshedid,thenisaytoyouthatshedidnotwritethemwithaclearhead,norwithasteadyhand.itisonlyamatterofweekssincetheunfortunateladyfoundherhusbandwallowinginhisownblood,spilledbyhisownhand.imaginetheshock,thedespair,theutterlonelinesswhichmusthavefollowedsosharpadisaster!andnowshehasjoinedhiminthebitternessofdeath.isanythingtobegainedbydisturbingtheashesofthedead?anything,myfriends,beyondthesaleofafewcopiesofanewspaperwhichisbadlyinneedofcirculation?nothing,myfriends,nothing.letusleaveitatthat.likeopheliainthatgreatdramaticmasterpiececalledhamlet,bytheimmortalwilliamshakespeare,eileenwadeworeherruewithadifference.mypoliticalenemieswouldliketomakemuchofthatdifference,butmyfriendsandfellowvoterswillnotbedeceived.theyknowthatthisofficehaslongstoodforwiseandmaturelawenforcement,forjusticetemperedwithmercy,forsolid,stable,andconservativegovernment.thejournalstandsforiknownotwhat,andforwhatitstandsidonotmuchorgreatlycare.lettheenlightenedpublicjudgeforitself.

thejournalprintedthisguffinitsearlyedition(itwasaround-theclocknewspaper)andhenrysherman,themanagingeditor,camerightbackatspringerwithasignedcomment.

mr.districtattorneyspringerwasingoodformthismorning.heisafinefigureofamanandhespeakswitharichbaritonevoicethatisapleasuretolistento.hedidnotboreuswithanyfacts.anytimemr.springercarestohavetheauthenticityofthedocumentinquestionprovedtohim,thejournalwillbemosthappytooblige.wedonotexpectmr.springertotakeanyactiontoreopencaseswhichhadbeenofficiallyclosedwithhissanctionorunderhisdirection,justaswedonotexpectmr.springertostandonhisheadonthetowerofthecityhall.asmr.springersoaptlyphrasesit,isanythingtobegainedbydisturbingtheashesofthedead?or,asthejournalwouldprefertophraseitlesselegantly,isanythingtobegainedbyfindingoutwhocommittedamurderwhenthemurdereeisalreadydead?nothing,ofcourse,butjusticeandtruth.

onbehalfofthelatewilliamshakespeare,thejournalwishestothankmr.springerforhisfavorablementionofhamlet,andforhissubstantially,althoughnotexactly,correctallusiontoophelia.“youmustwearyourruewithadifference”wasnotsaidofopheliabutbyher,andjustwhatshemeanthasneverbeenverycleartoourlesseruditeminds.butletthatpass.itsoundswellandhelpstoconfusetheissue.perhapswemaybepermittedtoquote,alsofromthatofficiallyapproveddramaticproductionknownashamlet,agoodthingthathappenedtobesaidbyabadman:“andwheretheoffenceisletthegreataxefall.”

lonniemorgancalledmeupaboutnoonandaskedmehowilikedit.itoldhimididn’tthinkitwoulddospringeranyharm.

“onlywiththeeggheads,”lonniemorgansaid,“andtheyalreadyhadhisnumber.imeantwhataboutyou?”

“nothingaboutme.i’mjustsittingherewaitingforasoftbucktorubitselfagainstmycheek.”

“thatwasn’texactlywhatimeant.”

“i’mstillhealthy.quittryingtoscareme.igotwhatiwanted.iflennoxwasstillalivehecouldwalkrightuptospringerandspitinhiseye.”

“youdiditforhim.andbythistimespringerknowsthat.theygotahundredwaystoframeaguytheydon’tlike.idon’tfigurewhatmadeitworthyourtime.lennoxwasn’tthatmuchman.”

“what’sthatgottodowithit?”

hewassilentforamoment.thenhesaid:“sorry,marlowe.shutmybigmouth.goodluck.”

wehungupaftertheusualgoodbyes.

abouttwointheafternoonlindaloringcalledme.“nonames,please,”shesaid.“i’vejustflowninfromthatbiglakeupnorth.somebodyupthereisboilingoversomethingthatwasinthejournallastnight.myalmostex-husbandgotitrightbetweentheeyes.thepoormanwasweepingwhenileft.heflewuptoreport.”

“whatdoyoumean,almostex-husband?”

“don’tbestupid.foroncefatherapproves.parisisanexcellentplacetogetaquietporce.soishallsoonbeleavingtogothere.andifyouhaveanysenseleftyoucoulddoworsethanspendalittleofthatfancyengravingyoushowedmegoingalongwayoffyourself.”

“what’sitgottodowithme?”

“that’sthesecondstupidquestionyou’veasked.you’renotfoolinganyonebutyourself,marlowe.doyouknowhowtheyshoottigers?”