rs.toomanywomen-第4章

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　　I　was　wondering　how　I　had　ever　missed　her；　even　in　that　colossal　swarm　outside；　until　it　struck　me　that　a　section　head's　secretary　probably　had　her　own　room。　She　was　not　at　all　spectacular；　not　to　be　pared　with　my　non…speller；　but　there　were　two　things　about　her　that　hit　you　at　a　glance。　You　got　the　instant　impression　that　there　was　something　beautiful　about　her　that　no　one　but　you　would　ever　see；　and　along　with　it　the　feeling　that　she　was　in　some　kind　of　trouble；　real　trouble；　that　no　one　but　you　would　understand　and　no　one　but　you　could　help　her　out　of。　If　that　sounds　too　plicated　for　a　two…second…take；　okay；　I　was　there　and　I　remember　it　distinctly。
　　She　went　out　with　her　notebook　and　I　sat　down。
　　〃Thanks　for　letting　me　horn　in；〃　I　told　Rosenbaum；　taking　papers　from　the　folder。　〃It　won't　take　long。　I　just　want　to　ask　a　few　general　questions　and　one　or　two　specific　ones　about　these　reports。　You　people　have　certainly　got　this　thing　organized　to　a　T；　with　your　sections　and　sub…sections。　It　must　simplify　things。〃
　　He　agreed　that　it　did。　〃Of　course；〃　he　added；　〃it　gets　mixed　up　sometimes。　I'm　Structural　Metals；　but　right　now　I've　got　thirty…seven　elephants　in　stock；　over　in　Africa；　and　I　can't　get　any　other　section　to　take　them。　My　basic　position　is　that　elephants　are　nonmetallic。　I　may　have　to　go　up　to　Mr。　Naylor　to　get　rid　of　them。〃
　　〃Hah；〃　I　said　triumphantly；　〃so　that's　where　your　stock　is；　Africa！　And　elephants。　I've　been　wondering。　With　that　settled；　let's　tackle　personnel。　Speaking　of　which；　I　noticed　that　your　secretary；　Miss　Livsey；　didn't　seem　to　be　wading　through　bliss。　I　hope　she's　not　quitting　too？〃
　　That　proved　she　had　had　that　effect　on　me　as　described；　my　going　out　of　my　way　to　mention　her　name；　with　no　reason　at　all。
　　〃Bliss？〃　Rosenbaum　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　guess　she　isn't。　The　man　she　was　engaged　to　died　a　few　months　ago。　Got　killed　in　an　accident。〃　He　shook　his　head　again。　〃If　it's　a　part　of　your　job　to　make　our　employees　happy；　I'm　afraid　you　won't　get　to　first　base　with　Miss　Livsey。　She's　a　damn　good　secretary　too。　If　I　had　that　hit…and…run　driver　here　I'd…do　something　to　him。〃
　　〃I'd　be　glad　to　help；〃　I　said　sympathetically。　I　riffled　the　papers。　〃The　man　she　was　engaged　to…is　he　among　these？　Did　he　work　here？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　not　in　my　section。　He　was　a　correspondence　checker。　It　was　an　awful　blow　for　her；　and　she　stayed　away…but　here　I　go　again；　you're　not　here　to　listen　to　me　gab。　What　are　your　questions；　Mr。　Truett？〃
　　Since　I　had　quit　being　exuberant　I　decided　not　to　press　it；　only　it　did　seem　that　wherever　I　went　I　met　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore。　We　got　down　to　business。　I　had　questions　ready　that　I　thought　were　good　enough　to　keep　me　from　being　spotted　as　a　phony；　and　I　stayed　with　him　a　good　twenty　minutes；　which　seemed　ample　for　the　purpose。
　　Then　I　went　down　the　line　to　the　office　of　the　head　of　the　Correspondence　Checkers　Section。　The　door　was　standing　open　and　he　was　there　alone。
　　Grandpa　Dickerson　was　by　no　means　too　old　or　too　watery…eyed　to　know　the　time　of　day。　As　soon　as　the　preliminary　courtesies　had　been　performed　and　I　had　sat　down　and　got　the　folder　opened；　he　inquired；　perfectly　friendly：
　　〃I'm　wondering；　Mr。　Truett；　why　you　start　with　me？〃
　　〃Well…you're　not　the　first；　Mr。　Dickerson。　I've　just　had　a　session　with　Mr。　Rosenbaum。　Incidentally；　there's　a　special　problem　there：　are　elephants　personnel？〃
　　But　he　wasn't　having　light　conversation。　〃Even　so；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　the　smallest　number　of　employees　of　any　section　in　the　department。　Only　six　men；　whereas　other　sections　have　up　to　a　hundred。　Also；　I　have　had　no　turnover；　for　nearly　eight　years；　except　one　case；　a　man　who　got　killed　and　was　replaced。　I'm　quite　willing　to　co…operate；　but　I　really　don't　see　what　you　can　do　with　me。〃
　　I　nodded　at　him。　〃You're　perfectly　right…from　where　you　sit。　From　the　standpoint　of　general　personnel　problems　you're　out。　But　your　section　is　something　special。　Everybody　in　the　place　regards　your　six　men　as　dirty　lowdown　snoops；　and　you're　the　Master　Snoop。〃
　　It　didn't　freeze　him。　He　merely　nodded　back　at　me。　〃How　do　you　propose　to　change　that？〃
　　〃Oh；　I　don't。　But　it　certainly　ties　it　in　with　personnel　difficulties。　For　instance；　the　man　that　got　killed。　Don't　you　know　there　has　been　talk　around　that　his　death　wasn't　an　accident？〃
　　〃Nonsense！　Talk！〃　He　tapped　on　his　desk　blotter。　〃Look　here；　young　man；　are　you　intimating　that　the　functioning　of　this　section　has　been　the　cause；　directly　or　indirectly；　of　the　mission　of　a　crime？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　His　jaw　trembled；　and　then　came　open　and　hung　open。　I　was　restraining　myself　from　taking　my　handkerchief　and　wiping　his　eyes。
　　〃That's　not　the　way　to　put　it；〃　I　said　with　emphasis；　〃but　it　was　you　who　put　it　that　way。　I　would　say　it　more　like　this；　that　the　talk　about　that　man's　death　is　certainly　one　of　the　personnel　problems　around　here；　and　Mr。　Naylor　himself　suggested　that　I　might　use　it　as　one　of　my　starting　points。　Do　you　mind　my　asking　a　few　questions　about　him？　About　Moore？〃
　　〃I　resent　any　insinuation　that　the　operation　of　this　section　has　resulted　in　any　injustice　or　has　been　the　cause　of　any　legitimate　desire　to　retaliate。〃　His　jaw　was　back　under　control。
　　〃Okay。　Who　said　anything　about　legitimate？　Desires　to　retaliate　e　in　all　flavors。　But　about　this　Moore；　how　did　he　rate　with　you？　Was　he　a　good　worker？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃No？〃　I　was　matter…of…fact。　〃What　was　wrong　with　him？〃
　　The　old　man's　jaw　trembled　again；　but　it　didn't　e　open。　When　he　had　it　in　hand　he　spoke。　〃I　have　been　in　charge　of　this　section　ever　since　it　started；　over　twenty　years　ago。　Last　April　I　had　five　men　under　me；　and　I　regarded　that　as　adequate。　But　a　new　man　was　hired　and　I　was　told　to　put　him　to　work。　He　was　inpetent；　and　I　so　reported；　but　my　report　was　ignored。　We　had　to　put　up　with　him。　On　several　occasions　his　mistakes　would　have　discredited　the　section　if　we　had　not　been　alert。　It　made　it　harder　for　all　of　us。〃
　　I　thought　to　myself；　my　God；　here　we　go　again。　I　was　trying　to　get　started　narrowing　it　down；　and　here　were　six　more　added　to　the　list；　Dickerson　himself　and　five　loyal　checkers；　who　might　have　been　irritated　into　killing　Moore　for　the　honor　of　the　section。　Now　everybody　was　in　except　Kerr　Naylor　himself。
　　〃But；〃　I　objected；　〃what　about　the　hiring　regulations？　I　understand　there　is　no　overall　personnel　control　and　each　department　head　rolls　his　own　in　theory；　but　in　practice　the　section　heads　have　the　say。　Who　hired　Moore　and　saddled　you　with　him？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃How　could　you　help　knowing？〃
　　Dickerson　used　his　own　handkerchief　on　his　eyes；　which　relieved　the　tension　a　lot　for　me。　I　hoped　he　would　keep　the　handkerchief　in　his　hand；　but　he　deliberately　and　neatly　returned　it　to　his　pocket。
　　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　very　large　concern；　the　largest　in　the　world　in　its　field；　and　beyond　all　parison　the　best。　Naturally　the　authority　is　tightly　organized。　No　one　on　this　floor　is　my　superior　except　the　head　of　the　department；　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor；　the　son　of　one　of　the　founders。　Therefore　any　exercise　of　authority　can　be　brought　to　bear　on　me　only　through　Mr。　Naylor。〃
　　〃Then　it　was　Naylor　who　hired　Moore？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃But　it　was　Naylor　who　said　you　needed　another　man　and　wished　Moore　on　you？〃
　　〃Certainly。　The　line　of　authority　is　as　I　have　described　it。〃
　　〃What　else　can　you　tell　me　about　Moore　besides　his　inpetence？〃
　　〃Why；　nothing。〃　Dickerson's　look　and　tone　indicated　that　he　regarded　my　question　as　silly。　Obviously；　if　a　man　was　inpetent　that　settled　it；　nothing　else　about　him　mattered　one　way　or　another。　But　it　appeared　that　he　was　willing　to　concede　that　even　a　petent　man　must　eat。　He　pulled　a　watch　from　his　vest　pocket；　looked　at　it；　and　stated；　〃My　lunch　hour　starts　at　twelve；　Mr。　Truett。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Eight
　　Outside　Dickerson's　office　I　turned　left；　toward　the　far　end　of　the　arena；　and　then　was　struck　by　an　idea　and　came　to　a　halt。　Turning　the　idea　over；　and　seeing　that　it　had　no　visible　defects　on　either　side；　I　faced　around　and　headed　in　the　other　direction。　When　I　got　to　Rosenbaum's　door　I　found　it　closed　again；　but　since　he　had　said　no　knocking　I　turned　the　knob　and　entered。　My　intention　was　to　ask　him　where　his　secretary's　room　was；　but　I　didn't　carry　it　out　because　she　was　there　in　a　chair　at　the　end　of　his　desk　with　her　notebook。
　　She　didn't　turn　her　head　at　my　entrance。　Rosenbaum　gave　me　a　glance　and　said　unemotionally；　〃Hello　again。〃
　　〃I　just　had　a　logical　train　of　thought；〃　I　told　them；　〃and　I　wanted　to　find　out　what　Miss　Livsey　thinks　of　it。〃
　　She　looked　at　me。　Nothing　had　changed　in　her　in　the　hour　that　had　passed。　It　was　still　obvious　that　no　one　on　earth　but　me　could　understand　her　or　help　her。
　　〃It　goes　like　this；〃　I　explained　to　her。　〃My　job　here　requires　that　I　have　talks　with　units　of　the　personnel；　as　many　as　possible。　I　should　do　that　with　a　minimum　amount　of　interference　with　the　work　of　the　department。　You　are　a　unit。　If　we　eat　lunch　together　and　do　our　talking　then；；　there　will　be　no　interference　with　your　work。　I'll　pay　for　the　lunch　and　put　it　on　expense。〃
　　Rosenbaum　chuckled。　〃That's　a　good　approach；〃　he　said　appreciatively。　He　spoke　to　his　secretary。　〃Since　he　thought　that　all　up　just　for　you；　Hester；　the　least　you　can　do　is　let　him　buy　you　a　sandwich。〃
　　She　asked　him；　in　a　voice　that　could　have　been　a　pleasure　to　listen　to　if　there　had　been　any　lift　to　it；　〃Do　I　owe　it　to　anybody？〃
　　〃Not　to　me；〃　he　declared；　〃but　maybe　to　yourself。　Mr。　Truett　sounds　as　if　he　might　be　capable　of　making　you　smile。　Even　if　only　a　wan　and　feeble　smile；　why　not　let　him　try？〃
　　She　turned　to　me　and　said　politely；　〃Thank　you；　I　think　not。〃
　　There　was　certainly　something　about　her；　and　I　frankly　admit　I　was　getting　a　good　start　at　being　jealous　of　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore；　even　dead。　He　had　found　some　way　of　propagandizing　this　wren　to　the　point　of　agreeing　to　marry　him。
　　Her　eyes　were　back　on　her　notebook。　Rosenbaum；　his　lips　bunched；　was　gazing　at　her　and　shaking　his　head　philosophically。　I　might　as　well　not　have　been　there；　so　I　removed　myself。　My　hand　was　on　the　knob；　with　my　back　to　them；　when　her　voice　came：
　　〃Why　did　you　ask　one　of　the　girls　if　she　had　heard　any　gossip　about　Mr。　Moore？〃
　　Talk　about　grapevine。　Less　than　two　hours　had　gone　by！　I　turned。
　　〃There；　see？　Didn't　I　say　I　didn't　want　to　interfere　with　your　work？　You　could　have　asked　me　that　over　anything　from　roast　duckling　to　a　maple　sundae。〃
　　〃All　right；　I　will。　I　go　at　one　o'clock。　We　can　meet　in　the　lobby；　William　Street　side；　near　the　mailbox。〃
　　〃That's　the　girl。　Save　a　smile　for　it。〃　I　went。
　　So　I　had　it　all　glued　on；　a　lunch　date　with　Hester　Livsey；　but　it　peeled　off…though　it　wasn't　her　fault　or　mine　either。　I　returned　to　my　own　little　room；　put　the　folders　back　in　the　cabinet　and　locked　it；　and　stood　at　the　window　to　look　at　the　river　and　sort　things　out。　All　I　got　out　of　that　was　the　realization　that　so　far　there　was　nothing　to　sort。　Of　course；　I　thought　sarcastically；　if　I　was　Nero　Wolfe　I　would　have　finished　up　here　by　noon　and　gone　home　to　drink　beer；　but　as　it　is；　about　all　I've　acplished　is　to　start　the　grapevine　rus