

	The/at safe/nn at/in Ingleside/np-tl District/nn-tl Station/nn-tl stands/vbz next/in to/in the/at gum/nn machine/nn in/in a/at narrow/jj passageway/nn that/cs leads/vbz to/in Captain/nn-tl Harris's/np$ office/nn (/( to/in the/at left/nr )/) ,/, the/at lieutenant's/nn$ office/nn (/( farther/rbr along/rb and/cc to/in the/at left/nr )/) and/cc the/at janitor's/nn$ supply/nn closet/nn (/( straight/rb ahead/rb )/) ./.


	The/at safe/nn is/bez a/at repository/nn for/in three/cd dead/jj flashlight/nn batteries/nns ,/, a/at hundred/cd and/cc fifty/cd unused/jj left-hand/nn fingerprint/nn cards/nns ,/, a/at stack/nn of/in unsold/jj Policemen's/nns$-tl Ball/nn-tl tickets/nns from/in last/ap year/nn ,/, and/cc thirty-seven/cd cents/nns in/in coins/nns and/cc stamps/nns ./.
Gun/np set/vbd the/at captain's/nn$ fifth/od of/in Hiram/np Walker/np inside/in the/at safe/nn before/cs he/pps reported/vbd to/in Lt./nn-tl Killpath/np ,/, though/cs he/pps knew/vbd that/cs Killpath's/np$ ulcer/nn prevented/vbd him/ppo from/in making/vbg any/dti untoward/jj incursion/nn on/in Herman/np Wolff's/np$ gift/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz more/ap a/at matter/nn of/in tact/nn ,/, and/cc also/rb it/pps was/bedz none/pn of/in Killpath's/np$ goddam/jj business/nn ./.


	He/pps walked/vbd up/rp to/in the/at lieutenant's/nn$ office/nn ,/, leaned/vbd wearily/rb against/in the/at gun/nn rack/nn that/cs housed/vbd four/cd rifles/nns and/cc a/at gas/nn gun/nn nobody/pn remembered/vbd having/hvg used/vbn and/cc a/at submachine/jj gun/nn that/wps was/bedz occasionally/rb tried/vbn out/rp on/in the/at Academy/nn-tl Range/nn-tl ./.
He/pps stared/vbd at/in the/at clerk/nn who/wps sat/vbd at/in a/at scarred/vbn and/cc ancient/jj fumed-oak/nn desk/nn stuffing/vbg envelopes/nns ./.


	``/`` Where's/wrb+bez the/at Lieut/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at clerk/nn wagged/vbd his/pp$ head/nn toward/in the/at captain's/nn$ office/nn ./.
Gun/np went/vbd to/in the/at connecting/vbg door/nn ,/, which/wdt was/bedz open/jj ,/, and/cc stood/vbd at/in attention/nn while/cs Orville/np Torrence/np Killpath/np ,/, in/in full/jj uniform/nn ,/, finished/vbd combing/vbg his/pp$ hair/nn ./.


	The/at lieutenant's/nn$ sparse/jj brown/jj hair/nn was/bedz heavily/rb pomaded/vbn ,/, and/cc as/cs Killpath/np raked/vbd the/at comb/nn through/in it/ppo ,/, it/pps stuck/vbd together/rb in/in thatches/nns so/cs that/cs it/pps looked/vbd like/cs umbrella/nn ribs/nns clinging/vbg to/in his/pp$ pink/jj skull/nn ./.
The/at lieutenant/nn eyed/vbd Gun's/np$ reflection/nn in/in the/at mirror/nn over/in the/at washbowl/nn and/cc then/rb glanced/vbd back/rb at/in his/pp$ own/jj face/nn ,/, moving/vbg the/at comb/nn methodically/rb around/in his/pp$ head/nn ./.


	Leave/vb me/ppo alone/rb ,/, Gun/np thought/vbd ./.
Fight/vb with/in Sam/np Schaeffer/np ,/, fight/vb with/in the/at whole/jj damned/vbn Bureau/nn-tl ./.
But/cc leave/vb me/ppo alone/rb ./.
Because/cs I'm/ppss+bem looking/vbg for/in the/at son/nn of/in a/at bitch/nn that/cs killed/vbd that/ql old/jj man/nn ,/, and/cc I'm/ppss+bem going/vbg to/to get/vb him/ppo ./.
If/cs you/ppss just/rb leave/vb me/ppo to/in hell/nn alone/rb ,/, Lieutenant/nn-tl ./.


	Killpath/np peered/vbd through/in half-closed/jj lids/nns at/in his/pp$ reflection/nn ,/, thrust/vbd up/rp his/pp$ chin/nn in/in a/at gesture/nn of/in satisfaction/nn and/cc about-faced/vbd ./.


	Gun/np waited/vbd for/in Killpath/np to/to sit/vb down/rp behind/in the/at desk/nn near/in the/at window/nn ./.
He/pps sat/vbd stiff-backed/jj in/in a/at chair/nn that/wps did/dod not/* swivel/vb ,/, though/cs it/pps was/bedz obvious/jj to/in Gun/np that/cs Killpath/np felt/vbd his/pp$ position/nn as/cs acting/vbg captain/nn plainly/rb merited/vbd a/at swivel/nn chair/nn ./.
The/at desk/nn before/in him/ppo was/bedz in/in no/at better/jjr repair/nn than/cs the/at rest/nn of/in the/at furniture/nn crowded/vbn into/in the/at room/nn ,/, including/in wooden/jj file/nn cabinets/nns with/in some/dti of/in their/pp$ pulls/nns yanked/vbn off/rp and/cc a/at wardrobe/nn stained/vbn with/in the/at roof/nn seepage/nn of/in countless/jj seasons/nns ./.


	Killpath/np pulled/vbd one/cd thin/jj leg/nn up/rp ,/, clamping/vbg his/pp$ arms/nns around/in the/at shinbone/nn to/to press/vb his/pp$ knee/nn into/in an/at incredibly/ql scrawny/jj gut/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz the/at posture/nn which/wdt the/at men/nns had/hvd come/vbn to/to recognize/vb as/cs that/dt of/in Killpath/np defying/vbg his/pp$ ulcer/nn ./.
He/pps put/vbd his/pp$ chin/nn on/in his/pp$ kneecap/nn ,/, stretching/vbg his/pp$ neck/nn like/cs that/dt of/in a/at turkey/nn on/in a/at chopping/vbg block/nn ,/, and/cc stared/vbd wordlessly/rb at/in his/pp$ sergeant/nn ./.


	Gun/np waited/vbd ./.


	The/at 7:45/cd bell/nn rang/vbd and/cc he/pps could/md hear/vb the/at outside/jj doors/nns bang/vb shut/vbd ,/, closing/vbg in/in the/at assembled/vbn day/nn watch/nn ./.


	Finally/rb ,/, Orville/np intoned/vbd through/in his/pp$ hawk/nn nose/nn ,/, ``/`` We/ppss can't/md* have/hv people/nns running/vbg in/rp any/dti time/nn they/ppss please/vb ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.
``/`` Running/vbg in/rp ,/, running/vbg out/rp ./.
Can't/md* have/hv it/ppo ./.
Makes/vbz for/in confusion/nn and/cc congestion/nn ''/'' ./.
He/pps rocked/vbd back/rb in/in the/at chair/nn ,/, knee/nn locked/vbn against/in stomach/nn ,/, his/pp$ beady/jj eyes/nns fixed/vbn on/in Matson/np ./.


	He/pps was/bedz silent/jj again/rb ,/, possibly/rb listening/vbg to/in the/at sounds/nns in/in the/at squadroom/nn ./.
Roll/nn was/bedz being/beg called/vbn ./.
Gun/np cleared/vbd his/pp$ throat/nn ./.


	Killpath/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` You/ppss were/bed expected/vbn to/to report/vb to/in my/pp$ office/nn twenty/cd minutes/nns ago/rb ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ./.
That's/dt+bez not/* getting/vbg all/abn the/at juice/nn out/in of/in the/at orange/nn ,/, now/rb is/bez it/pps ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` No/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.


	Then/jj Killpath/np smiled/vbd ./.
Gun/np knew/vbd that/cs nothing/pn but/in aces/nns back/nn to/in back/nn would/md give/vb the/at lieutenant/nn an/at ulcer/nn and/cc a/at smile/nn at/in the/at same/ap time/nn ./.


	The/at day-watch/nn platoon/nn commander/nn ,/, Lt./nn-tl Rinker/np ,/, was/bedz calling/vbg out/rp the/at beat/nn assignments/nns ,/, but/cc Matson/np couldn't/md* make/vb the/at names/nns mean/vb anything/pn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss called/vbd the/at station/nn at/in three/cd this/dt morning/nn ''/'' ,/, Killpath's/np$ nasal/jj voice/nn pronounced/vbd ./.
``/`` Do/do you/ppo have/hv any/dti idea/nn who/wps might/md have/hv been/ben in/in charge/nn at/in the/at time/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Sergeant/nn-tl Vaughn/np ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Now/rb ,/, now/rb ,/, you're/ppss+ber just/rb guessing/vbg ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ''/'' ./.
He/pps smiled/vbd thinly/rb ,/, savoring/vbg his/pp$ joke/nn ./.
``/`` What/wdt if/cs I/ppss said/vbd nobody/pn was/bedz here/rb but/cc a/at couple/nn of/in patrolmen/nns ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Sir/nn ,/, Vaughn/np knows/vbz better/rbr than/cs to/to leave/vb the/at station/nn without/in a/at relief/nn ./.
He/pps must/md have/hv ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` He/pps let/vbd a/at patrolman/nn take/vb over/rp the/at duties/nns of/in the/at station/nn keeper/nn ./.
Now/rb that's/dt+bez not/* regulation/nn ,/, is/bez it/pps ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` No/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` But/cc you/ppss didn't/dod* know/vb a/at thing/nn about/in it/ppo ,/, did/dod you/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Killpath/np leaned/vbd forward/rb ;/. ;/.
his/pp$ foot/nn slipped/vbd off/in the/at chair/nn and/cc he/pps put/vbd it/ppo back/rb again/rb ,/, frowning/vbg now/rb ./.
``/`` That's/dt+bez not/* taking/vbg one's/pn$ command/nn with/in a/at responsible/jj attitude/nn ,/, Matson/np ''/'' ./.


	Gun/np told/vbd himself/ppl that/cs the/at old/jj bastard/nn was/bedz a/at fool/nn ./.
But/cc stupidity/nn was/bedz no/at consolation/nn when/wrb it/pps had/hvd rank/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss was/bedz out/rp in/in the/at district/nn ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, yes/rb ./.
So/cs I/ppss have/hv heard/vbn ''/'' ./.
He/pps stretched/vbd a/at pale/jj hand/nn out/rp to/in the/at scattered/vbn papers/nns on/in his/pp$ desk/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss might/md point/vb out/rp that/cs your/pp$ inability/nn to/to report/vb to/in my/pp$ office/nn this/dt morning/nn when/wrb you/ppss were/bed instructed/vbn to/to do/do so/rb has/hvz not/* ah/uh limited/vbn my/pp$ knowledge/nn of/in your/pp$ activities/nns as/cs you/ppss may/md have/hv hoped/vbn ''/'' ./.
He/pps took/vbd up/rp a/at white/jj sheet/nn of/in paper/nn ,/, dark/jj with/in single-spaced/jj data/nn ./.


	A/at car/nn pulled/vbd into/in the/at driveway/nn outside/in the/at window/nn ./.
Gun/np knew/vbd it/pps was/bedz Car/nn-tl 12/cd-tl ,/, the/at wagon/nn ,/, returned/vbn from/in delivering/vbg Ingleside's/np$ drunk-and-disorderlies/nns to/in the/at City/nn-tl Jail/nn-tl ./.
But/cc for/in some/dti fool/jj reason/nn he/pps couldn't/md* remember/vb which/wdt men/nns he'd/pps+hvd put/vbn on/in the/at transfer/nn detail/nn ./.
He/pps stared/vbd at/in the/at report/nn in/in Killpath's/np$ hand/nn ,/, sure/jj it/pps was/bedz written/vbn by/in Accacia/np --/-- just/rb as/ql sure/jj as/cs if/cs he'd/pps+hvd submitted/vbn it/ppo in/in his/pp$ scrawled/vbn longhand/nn ./.
He/pps sucked/vbd in/rp his/pp$ breath/nn and/cc kept/vbd quiet/jj while/cs Killpath/np laid/vbd down/rp the/at sheet/nn again/rb ,/, wound/vbd the/at gold-wire/nn stems/nns of/in his/pp$ glasses/nns around/in his/pp$ ears/nns and/cc then/rb ,/, eying/vbg the/at report/nn as/cs it/pps lay/vb before/in him/ppo on/in the/at desk/nn ,/, intoned/vbd ,/, ``/`` Acting/vbg-tl Lieutenant/nn-tl Gunnar/np Matson/np one/cd failed/vbd to/to see/vb that/cs the/at station/nn keeper/nn was/bedz properly/rb relieved/vbn two/cd absented/vbd himself/ppl throughout/in the/at entire/jj watch/nn without/in checking/vbg on/in the/at station's/nn$ activities/nns or/cc the/at whereabouts/nn of/in his/pp$ section/nn sergeants/nns three/cd permitted/vbd members/nns of/in the/at Homicide/nn-tl Detail/nn-tl of/in the/at Inspector's/nn$-tl Bureau/nn-tl to/to arrogate/vb for/in their/pp$ own/jj convenience/nn a/at patrolman/nn who/wps was/bedz thereby/rb prevented/vbn from/in carrying/vbg on/in his/pp$ proper/jj assignment/nn four/cd failed/vbd to/to notify/vb the/at station/nn commander/nn Acting/vbg-tl Captain/nn-tl O./np T./np Killpath/np of/in a/at homicide/nn occurring/vbg in/in the/at district/nn five/cd frequented/vbd extralegal/jj establishments/nns known/vbn as/cs after-hours/jj spots/nns for/in purposes/nns of/in an/at unofficial/jj and/cc purportedly/rb social/jj nature/nn and/cc six/cd ''/'' --/-- he/pps leaned/vbd back/rb and/cc peeled/vbd off/rp his/pp$ glasses/nns ``/`` --/-- failed/vbd to/to co-operate/vb with/in the/at Acting/vbg-tl Captain/nn-tl by/in returning/vbg promptly/rb when/wrb so/rb ordered/vbn ./.
What/wdt have/hv you/ppss to/to say/vb to/in that/dt ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Killpath/np sailed/vbd the/at paper/nn across/in the/at desk/nn ,/, but/cc Matson/np didn't/dod* pick/vb it/ppo up/rp or/cc even/rb glance/vb at/in it/ppo ./.


	``/`` Well/uh ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss didn't/dod* think/vb Accacia/np knew/vbd so/cs many/ap big/jj words/nns ,/, Lieutenant/nn-tl ''/'' ./.


	Killpath/np licked/vbd his/pp$ lips/nns ./.
``/`` Patrolman/nn-tl Accacia/np is/bez an/at alert/jj and/cc conscientious/jj law-enforcement/nn officer/nn ./.
I/ppss don't/do* think/vb his/pp$ diligence/nn mitigates/vbz your/pp$ negligence/nn ,/, Matson/np ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Negligence/nn ,/, hell/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
Gun/np held/vbd his/pp$ breath/nn a/at moment/nn ,/, pushing/vbg the/at volume/nn and/cc pitch/nn of/in his/pp$ voice/nn down/rp under/in the/at trapdoor/nn in/in his/pp$ throat/nn ./.
``/`` Sir/nn ./.
I/ppss would/md have/hv been/ben negligent/jj and/cc a/at goddam/jj lousy/jj cop/nn to/to boot/vb ,/, if/cs I'd/ppss+hvd sat/vbn around/rb this/dt station/nn all/abn night/nn when/wrb somebody/pn got/vbd away/rb with/in murder/nn in/in my/pp$ district/nn ./.
It's/pps+bez too/ql bad/jj I/ppss didn't/dod* call/vb you/ppo ,/, and/cc it's/pps+bez too/ql bad/jj I/ppss let/vbd Schaeffer/np use/vb Accacia/np when/wrb he/pps could/md have/hv had/hvn a/at boy/nn who'd/wps+md be/be glad/jj to/to learn/vb something/pn of/in Homicide/nn-tl procedure/nn ./.
But/cc I'm/ppss+bem not/* one/cd damned/vbn bit/nn sorry/jj I/ppss went/vbd out/rp to/to question/vb the/at people/nns I/ppss know/vb in/in the/at places/nns they/ppss hang/vb around/rb ,/, and/cc ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` Let's/vb+ppo not/* push/vb our/pp$ patience/nn beyond/in the/at danger/nn line/nn ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ''/'' ,/, Killpath/np nasaled/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss shouldn't/md* like/vb to/to have/hv to/to write/vb you/ppo up/rp for/in insubordination/nn as/ql well/rb as/cs dereliction/nn of/in duty/nn ''/'' ./.


	Gun/np stiffened/vbd ,/, his/pp$ hands/nns balling/vbg into/in fists/nns at/in his/pp$ sides/nns ./.
He/pps clamped/vbd his/pp$ jaws/nns to/to keep/vb the/at fury/nn from/in spilling/vbg out/rp ./.
An/at argument/nn with/in Orville/np Torrence/np Killpath/np was/bedz as/ql frustrating/jj and/cc as/ql futile/jj as/cs a/at cap/nn pistol/nn on/in a/at firing/vbg range/nn ./.


	Killpath/np leaned/vbd forward/rb again/rb ,/, rocked/vbd comfortably/rb with/in his/pp$ arms/nns still/rb wrapped/vbn around/in one/cd knee/nn ./.
``/`` Let's/vb+ppo just/rb remember/vb ,/, Sergeant/nn-tl ,/, that/cs we/ppss must/md all/abn carry/vb our/pp$ own/jj umbrella/nn ./.
A/at district/nn station/nn can't/md* run/vb smoothly/rb ,/, unless/cs ''/'' --/-- He/pps interrupted/vbd himself/ppl ,/, looking/vbg around/in Gun/np at/in the/at doorway/nn ./.
``/`` Morning/nn ,/, Lieutenant/nn-tl Rinker/np ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Sorry/jj ,/, Orville/np ./.
I/ppss thought/vbd you/ppss hadn't/hvd* come/vbn in/rp yet/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I've/ppss+hv been/ben here/rb for/in some/dti time/nn ''/'' ./.
He/pps stood/vbd up/rp ,/, cocked/vbd his/pp$ head/nn and/cc eyed/vbd Gun/np coldly/rb ./.
``/`` The/at sergeant/nn is/bez just/rb leaving/vbg ''/'' ./.




It/pps had/hvd come/vbn as/cs no/at great/jj surprise/nn to/in Matson/np that/cs the/at hot/jj water/nn in/in the/at showers/nns didn't/dod* work/vb ,/, that/cs Loren/np Severe/np had/hvd thrown/vbn up/rp all/abn over/in the/at stairs/nns ,/, or/cc that/cs some/dti thieving/vbg bastard/nn of/in a/at cop/nn had/hvd walked/vbn off/rp with/in his/pp$ cigarettes/nns ./.
It/pps was/bedz the/at best/jjt he/pps could/md hope/vb for/in on/in a/at watch/nn that/wps had/hvd ended/vbn with/in a/at session/nn in/in Killpath's/np$ office/nn ./.


	Now/rb ,/, as/cs he/pps passed/vbd the/at open/jj counter/nn that/wps divided/vbd the/at assembly/nn room/nn from/in the/at business/nn office/nn ,/, he/pps nodded/vbd and/cc said/vbd good/jj night/nn to/in the/at station/nn keeper/nn and/cc his/pp$ clerks/nns ,/, not/* stopping/vbg to/to hear/vb the/at day-watch/nn playback/nn of/in his/pp$ chewing/nn out/rp ./.


	Not/* that/cs he/pps gave/vbd a/at damn/nn what/wdt the/at grapevine/nn sent/vbd out/rp about/in Killpath's/np$ little/jj speech/nn on/in the/at comportment/nn of/in platoon/nn commanders/nns ./.
He/pps just/rb didn't/dod* want/vb to/to talk/vb about/in it/ppo ./.
If/cs the/at acting/vbg captain/nn wanted/vbd his/pp$ acting/vbg lieutenant/nn to/to sit/vb on/in his/pp$ ass/nn around/in the/at station/nn all/abn night/nn ,/, Killpath/np would/md just/rb have/hv to/to go/vb out/rp and/cc drag/vb Gun/np back/rb by/in the/at heels/nns once/rb an/at hour/nn ;/. ;/.
because/cs he'd/pps+md be/be damned/vbn if/cs he/pps was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be a/at mid-watch/nn pencil-pusher/nn just/rb to/to please/vb his/pp$ ulcerated/vbn pro-tem/jj captain/nn ./.


	At/in the/at doorway/nn he/pps squinted/vbd up/rp at/in the/at gray/jj morning/nn overcast/nn and/cc patted/vbd his/pp$ jacket/nn pockets/nns for/in the/at cigarettes/nns ,/, remembering/vbg then/rb that/cs he'd/pps+hvd left/vbn them/ppo at/in the/at Doughnuttery/np ./.
He/pps could/md pick/vb up/rp another/dt pack/nn on/in his/pp$ way/nn home/nr ,/, if/cs he/pps were/bed going/vbg home/nr ./.
But/cc even/rb before/cs he/pps started/vbd across/in the/at oiled/vbn road/nn to/in his/pp$ Plymouth/np ,/, parked/vbn in/in the/at lot/nn under/in the/at cypress/nn trees/nns across/in from/in the/at station/nn ,/, he/pps knew/vbd that/cs he/pps wasn't/bedz* going/vbg home/nr ./.


	Not/* yet/rb ./.


	It/pps was/bedz nine/cd o'clock/rb in/in the/at morning/nn :/: the/at hour/nn which/wdt ,/, like/cs a/at spade/nn turning/vbg clods/nns of/in earth/nn ,/, exposed/vbd to/in the/at day/nn a/at myriad/nn of/in busy/jj creatures/nns that/wps had/hvd lain/vbn dormant/jj in/in the/at quiet/jj night/nn ./.
Mission/nn-tl Street/nn-tl at/in this/dt hour/nn was/bedz populated/vbn by/in a/at whole/jj community/nn that/cs Gun/np could/md not/* have/hv seen/vbn on/in his/pp$ tour/nn of/in duty/nn --/-- the/at neighborhood/nn that/wps had/hvd known/vbn Urbano/np Quintana/np by/in day/nn ./.



Then/rb 
Sol/np Phillips/np had/hvd purchased/vbn the/at Alliance/nn-tl Furniture/nn-tl Mart/nn-tl seventeen/cd years/nns ago/rb ./.
It/pps was/bedz professedly/rb worth/jj three/cd thousand/cd dollars/nns in/in stock/nn and/cc good/jj will/nn ,/, and/cc the/at name/nn was/bedz written/vbn in/in gold/nn in/in foot-high/jj letters/nns across/in each/dt of/in the/at two/cd display/nn windows/nns ./.


	On/in the/at right/jj window/nn ,/, at/in eye/nn level/nn ,/, in/in smaller/jjr print/nn but/cc also/rb in/in gold/nn ,/, was/bedz Gonzalez/np ,/, Prop./nn-tl ,/, and/cc under/in that/dt ,/, Se/fw-ppl Habla/fw-vb Espanol/fw-np ./.
Mr./np Phillips/np took/vbd a/at razor/nn to/in Gonzalez/np ,/, Prop./nn-tl ,/, but/cc left/vbd the/at promise/nn that/cs Spanish/np would/md be/be understood/vbn because/cs he/pps thought/vbd it/ppo meant/vbn that/cs Spanish/jj clientele/nn would/md be/be welcome/jj ./.
Language/nn was/bedz no/at problem/nn anyway/rb ;/. ;/.
Mr./np Phillips/np had/hvd only/rb to/to signal/vb from/in his/pp$ doorway/nn to/to summon/vb aid/nn from/in the/at ubiquitous/jj bilingual/jj children/nns who/wps played/vbd on/in the/at sidewalks/nns of/in Mission/nn-tl Street/nn-tl ./.


	Aside/rb from/in the/at fact/nn that/dt business/nn was/bedz slow/jj this/dt time/nn of/in year/nn and/cc his/pp$ one/cd salesgirl/nn was/bedz not/* the/at most/ql enterprising/jj ,/, Mr./np Phillips/np had/hvd no/at worries/nns at/in all/abn ,/, and/cc he/pps said/vbd as/ql much/ap to/in Gun/np Matson/np ,/, who/wps sat/vbd across/in from/in him/ppo in/in civilian/nn clothes/nns ,/, on/in a/at Jiffy-Couch-a-Bed/np ,/, mauve/jj velour/nn ,/, $79.89/nns nothing-down/jj special/nn !/. !/.


	``/`` She's/pps+bez honest/jj as/cs the/at day/nn ''/'' ,/, Mr./np Phillips/np said/vbd ,/, and/cc added/vbd ,/, ``/`` Mr./np Gunnar/np ,/, I/ppss can/md say/vb this/dt to/in you/ppo :/: Beebe/np is/bez a/at little/ap too/ql honest/jj ./.
You/ppss can't/md* tell/vb a/at customer/nn how/wrb much/ap it's/pps+bez going/vbg to/to cost/vb him/ppo to/to refinance/vb his/pp$ payments/nns before/cs he/pps even/rb signs/vbz for/in a/at loan/nn on/in the/at money/nn down/rp !/. !/.
A/at time/nn plan/nn is/bez a/at mere/jj convenience/nn ,/, you/ppss understand/vb ,/, and/cc when/wrb ''/'' --/-- He/pps interrupted/vbd himself/ppl ,/, smiling/vbg ./.
``/`` I/ppss put/vb her/ppo in/in lamps/nns ./.
That/dt way/nn I/ppss don't/do* lose/vb so/ql much/ap ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Why/wrb don't/do* you/ppss just/rb hire/vb somebody/pn else/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.

