erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第11章

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　written。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃bring　those　carbon　copies　up　to　my　office　just　as　fast　as　you　can　get　here。〃
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　Virginia　sat　across　the　desk　from　Mason；　who　carefully　examined　the　pages　of　carbon。
　He　turned　to　Della　Street。　〃Della；〃　he　said；　〃take　some　cardboard　the　size　of　these　pages　of　carbon　paper　so　the　carbon　paper　won't　get　folded　or　wrinkled；　put　these　in　an　envelope　and　seal　the　envelope。〃
　When　Della　had　done　this；　Mason　said　to　Virginia；　〃Now；　write　your　name　several　times　across　the　seal。〃
　〃What's　that　for？〃
　〃To　show　that　it　hasn't　been　steamed　open　or　tampered　with。〃
　Mason　watched　her　while　she　wrote　her　name。
　〃Now　then；〃　he　said；　〃don't　bother　with　your　car　because　you　won't　be　able　to　find　a　parking　place　and　time　is　running　against　you。
　〃Take　a　taxicab。　Rush　this　envelope　to　the　post　office；　address　it　to　yourself　and　send　it　by　registered　mail。〃
　〃Then　what？〃　she　asked。
　〃Now；　listen　very　carefully；〃　Mason　said。　〃When　this　envelope　is　delivered　to　you　by　registered　mail；　don't　open　it。　Leave　it　sealed　just　as　it　is。〃
　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　she　said；　〃you　want　to　be　able　to　show　the　date　that　I…〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。
　She　picked　up　the　envelope；　started　for　the　door。
　〃How　are　you　fixed　for　provisions　in　your　apartment？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Why；　I　。　。　。　I　have　butter；　bread；　canned　goods　and　some　meat。　。　。　。〃
　〃Enough　to　last　you　for　twenty…four　hours　if　necessary？〃
　〃Yes；　indeed！〃
　Mason　said；　〃Mail　that　letter；　go　back　to　your　apartment；　stay　there；　keep　the　safety　chain　on　the　door。　Don't　admit　anyone。　If　anyone　calls　to　see　you；　tell　him　that　you're　entertaining　a　visitor　and　can't　be　disturbed。　Then　get　his　name　and　telephone　me。〃
　〃Why？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　in　。　。　in　any　danger？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　said。　〃All　I　know　is　that　there's　a　possibility。　Someone　tried　to　frame　you　and　discredit　you。　I　don't　want　that　to　happen　again。〃
　〃Neither　do　I；〃　she　said　vehemently。
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃on　your　way　to　the　post　office。　Then　go　back　to　your　apartment　and　stay　there。〃
　When　she　had　left；　Della　Street　looked　at　Mason　with　raised　eyebrows。　〃Why　should　she　be　in　any　danger？〃
　Mason　said；　〃Figure　it　out　for　yourself。　A　will　is　made。　There　are　two　subscribing　witnesses。　One　of　them　is　dead。　An　attempt　was　made　to　put　the　other　in　a　position　where　her　testimony　would　have　been　discredited。　Now；　a　new　plan　is　in　operation。〃
　〃But　those　spurious　wills；　they　can't　mean　anything。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Mason　asked。　〃Suppose　two　more　people　die；　then　what　happens？〃
　〃What　two　people？〃　she　asked。
　〃Lauretta　Trent　and　Virginia　Baxter。　Perhaps　a　fire　destroys　the　home　of　Lauretta　Trent。　Presumably　the　will　has　been　destroyed　in　the　conflagration。
　〃People　look　for　the　carbon　copies　of　the　wills　prepared　by　Bannock　to　establish　the　contents　of　the　burnt　will。　They　find　two　wills。　The　effect　of　those　wills　is　to　indicate　that　Lauretta　Trent　was　suspicious　of　her　relatives　and　the　people　who　surrounded　her。
　〃Now　then；　Delano　Bannock　is　dead。　Suppose　Virginia　Baxter　should　also　die。〃
　Della　Street　blinked　her　eyes　rapidly。　〃Good　heavens　。　。　。　are　you　going　to　notify　the　police？〃
　〃Not　yet；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　probably　within　a　matter　of　hours。　However；　there　are　a　lot　of　factors　involved；　and　an　attorney　can't　go　around　making　accusations　of　this　sort　unless　he　has　something　more　definite　on　which　to　base　them。〃
　〃But　it　won't　take　much　more？〃　Della　Street　asked。
　〃It　will　take　very　little　more；〃　Mason　said。
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　It　was　just　before　Mason　was　closing　the　office　that　Dr。　Alton　telephoned。
　〃Is　it　all　right　if　I　e　up　for　just　a　few　minutes？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked。　〃I've　had　a　terrific　work　load　this　afternoon　with　an　office　full　of　patients　and　I'm　just　this　minute　getting　free。〃
　〃I'll　wait；〃　Mason　said。
　〃I'll　be　there　within　ten　minutes；〃　Dr。　Alton　promised。
　Mason　hung　up　the　phone；　turned　to　Della　Street；　〃Any　particular　plans　for　this　evening；　Della？　Can　you　wait　with　me　for　Dr。　Alton？〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　to；〃　she　said。
　〃After　that；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃we　can　go　out　for　dinner。〃
　〃Now；　those　words　are　music　to　a　secretary's　ears；〃　she　told　him；　〃but　may　I　remind　you；　you　don't　as　yet　have　any　retainer　in　this　case　which　would　cover　expenses。〃
　〃We're　casting　bread　on　the　waters；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　don't　let　the　matter　of　expense　cramp　your　style。　Just　don't　look　at　the　right　side　of　the　menu。〃
　〃My　figure；〃　she　sighed。
　〃Perfect；〃　Mason　said。
　She　smiled。　〃I'll　go　out　in　the　outer　office　and　wait　for　Dr。　Alton。〃
　〃Bring　him　right　in；　as　soon　as　he　es；〃　Mason　told　her。
　Della　Street　went　to　the　outer　office　and　a　few　minutes　later　returned；　opening　the　door　and　saying；　〃Dr。　Ferris　Alton。〃
　Dr。　Alton　came　bustling　forward；　radiating　intense　nervous　energy。
　He　grasped　Mason's　hand；　said；　〃I'm　very　pleased　indeed　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Mason。　I　have　to　discuss　this　case　with　you；　personally；　which　is　the　reason　I'm　bothering　you。
　〃Incidentally；　I　have　here　two　sterile　phials　containing　the　material　you　wanted；　some　clippings　from　the　fingernails　and　some　hair　that　has　been　pulled　out　by　the　roots。
　〃Now；　I　can　either　have　this　processed　or　you　can。〃
　〃Better　let　me　do　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　will　attract　less　attention　that　way；　and　I　have　some　connections　which　will　give　me　a　report　within　a　very　short　time。〃
　〃Well；　I'd　be　very　glad　to　have　you　do　it；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃but　now　that　you've　planted　the　suspicion　in　my　mind；　I　have　an　uneasy　feeling　that　we're　going　to　have　positive　reactions；　that　there　will　be　at　least　two　areas　in　the　hair　that　will　show　arsenic。
　〃The　first　attack　took　place　approximately　seven　and　a　half　months　ago…too　long　a　time；　I'd　guess；　for　any　traces　of　the　poison　to　remain。　But　the　second　was　five　weeks　ago；　and　the　last　one　about　a　week　ago。〃
　〃Did　you　get　a　dietary　history？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　wasn't　utterly　na？ve；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　wanted　to　find　out　if　this　was　the　result　of　an　allergy　or；　as　I　suspected；　contaminated　food。
　〃On　all　occasions；　she　had　eaten　Mexican　food。〃
　〃Who　cooked　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃She　has　a　chauffeur；　a　George　Eagan；　who　has　been　with　her　for　some　time。　She　is　very　much　attached　to　him…in　a　business　way；　of　course。　He　is　young　enough…Well；　I　believe　there's　quite　a　discrepancy　in　ages　。　。　。　oh；　say　fifteen　years　or　so。
　〃He　drives　her　everyplace　and　he　is　the　one　in　charge　of　the　outdoor　cooking；　whenever　they　have　a　barbecue；　he　does　the　steaks　and　the　potatoes；　does　the　cooking　and　the　serving；　toasts　the　French　bread　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　I　gather　he's　very　expert。
　〃He's　also　expert　in　cooking；　the　Mexican　foods　I　mentioned　are　cooked　out　of　doors。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Mason　said；　〃she　would　hardly　have　the　Mexican　food　cooked　just　for　herself。　There　must　have　been　others　present。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃In　getting　a　case　history；　I　wasn't　even　suspicious　of　poisoning。　Therefore；　I　asked　only　about　what　my　patient　had　been　eating。　I　didn't　ask　about　others。　I　believe　other　relatives　were　also　present。　Eagan；　the　chauffeur；　did　the　cooking。　Apparently　no　one　else　besides　Lauretta　Trent　had　any　symptoms。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mason　said。
　〃If　it　was　poisoning；　and　I　am　now　satisfied　it　was；　it　was　done　very　expertly。　。　。　。　Now　then；　Mr。　Mason；　I　have　a　responsibility　to　my　patient。　I　want　to　keep　from　having　any　recurrence。〃
　〃I　told　you　what　to　do；〃　Mason　said　sharply。　〃Get　three　nurses；　put　them　on　the　job　around　the　clock。〃
　Dr。　Alton　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　afraid　that　won't　work。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Mason　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃We're　not　dealing　with　a　child；　Mr。　Mason。　We're　dealing　with　a　mature　woman　who　likes　to　have　her　own　way；　who　is　rather　arbitrary　and…damn　it；　I've　got　to　have　some　sort　of　an　excuse　to　put　out　special　dishes　for　her。〃
　Mason's　mouth　tightened。　〃How　many　nurses　are　on　the　job　now？〃
　〃Just　one　。　。　。　a　nurse　she　has　from　time　to　time。〃
　〃And　how　did　you　get　the　fingernails　and　the　hair？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　unfortably；　〃I　had　to　use　a　little　subterfuge。　I　rang　up　the　nurse　and　told　her　that　I　was　going　to　give　Mrs。　Trent　some　medicine　which　might　cause　a　temporary　itching　of　the　skin；　that　it　was　highly　important　that　she　not　do　any　scratching　and　that　I　would　like　to　have　her　nails　trimmed　down；　that　I　wished　she'd　explain　to　the　patient　what　I　had　in　mind　and　what　I　was　trying　to　acplish。　I　also　told　her　that　I'd　like　to　test　the　hair　to　see　whether　her　digestive　upsets　had　been　due　to　an　allergy　caused　by　either　a　shampoo　or　a　hair　dye。　I　explained　to　the　nurse　that　I　didn't　want　to　suggest　that　Mrs。　Trent　was　coloring　her　hair；　but　that　I　felt　there　might　be　an　allergy；　particularly　if　she　had　had　any　itching　or　sore　spots　in　her　scalp　and　had　scratched　and　had　thereby　caused　an　abrasion　in　the　skin　that　would　enable　the　dye　materials　to　penetrate　the　bloodstream。　I　told　the　nurse　to　put　the　nail　clippings　and　the　hair　in　sterile　phials。〃
　Mason　said；　〃Nurses　take　courses　in　poisons　and　their　treatment。　Do　you　think　your　nurse　suspected　anything？〃
　〃Oh　no；　not　a　thing；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　told　the　nurse　I'd　been　puzzled　about　Mrs。　Trent's　case；　that　I　couldn't　believe　that　the　disturbance　resulted　entirely　from　food　poisoning　but　that　I　thought　perhaps　it　might　be　a　bination　of　things。〃
　〃She　didn't　give　any　indication　that　she　thought　your　requests　were　unusual？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃None　whatever。　She　accepted　them　just　as　any　good　nurse　would；　without　any　ment。　I　told　her　to　get　a　taxi　and　send　the　nail　parings　and　the　hair　in　their　sterile　phials　to　my　office　at　once。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　know　a　laboratory　which　specializes　in　forensic　medicine　and　toxicology　that　will　give　us　a　quick　report　on　these；　not　a　quantitative　analysis；　but　it　will　show　whether　any　arsenic　is　present。〃
　〃How　soon　can　you　have　that？〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　think　I　can　have　it　right　after　dinner；　Doctor。〃
　〃I　wish　you'd　telephone　me；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃but　what　have　you　done　about　furnishing　your　patient　with　round…the…clock　protection？〃
　Dr。　Alton's　eyes　shifted。　〃All　right；　Mason；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　put　it　right　on　the　line。　You　almost　convinced　me　when　you　talked　over　the　telephone；　and　then　I　became　more　convinced　when　I　thought　over　the　symptoms。　But　when　I　took　time　to　think　things　over；　I　felt　I　couldn't　justify　taking　really　drastic　steps　pending　a　laboratory　report；　but　I　have　taken　precautionary　steps　which　will　be　ample　for　the　time　being。〃
　〃What　steps？〃　Mason　asked；　his　voice　coldly　disapproving。
　〃I've　decided　that　during　the　next　few　hours　there　won't　be　any　element　of　real　danger；　particularly　in　view　of　the　fact　that　this　nurse；　Anna　Fritch；　is　on　the　job。　However；　I　told　her　to　see　that　Mrs。　Trent　was　on　a　very　bland　diet　tonight；　that　I　intended　to　perform　some　tests　and　I　wanted　her　to　have　nothing　except　soft　boiled　eggs　and　toast　tonight；　that　I　wanted　the　nurse　to　prepare　both　the　eggs　and　the　toast；　and　see　that　the　eggs　were　served　in　the　shell　so　that　there　would　be　no　chance　of　too　many　spices　being　added。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　that's　what　you've　done；　that's　what　you've　done。　Give　me　your　night　number。　I'll　drop　these　things　at　the　laboratory　and　a