my parking ticket validated.

    tly. ttempt at humor I suppose.

    Sorry.

    Good day, Mr ells.

    Right.

    to tel tic ribbons  up out of tanding at the old clerk had been. Yessir, he said.

    I need a room, ells said.

    Yessir. Is it just yourself?

    Yes.

    And for s  be.

    Probably just the one.

    tourned to study t tired of people asking,  w  o your el?

    Im not supposed to discuss it.

    ts all right.

    t be cas card?

    Cas?

    Fourteen plus tax.

    . Altogether.

    Sir?

    I said  altogeto tell me  is. Give me a figure.

    All in.

    Yessir. t een-seventy.

    ere you ook place?

    No sir. I only started erday. t my second s.

    t is it youre not supposed to discuss?

    Sir?

    time do you get off?

    Sir?

    Let me rep.  time is your s over.

    tall and t. ed briefly over  tel. As if t be somet to  came  on at six,  is over at two.

    And wo.

    I dont know he dayclerk.

    before last.

    No sir. he dayclerk.

    ty t before last. here is he?

    h us anymore.

    yesterdays paper here?

    out.

    All righ some ice.

    Sir?

    Im just pulling your leg. You need to relax. t coming back. I can pretty near  guarantee it.

    Yessir. I o . I didnt even  to take this job.

    ells smiled and tapped top and   up tairs.

    o find tape still across bot on to   out  and  in turned on t. eet  back into tre