esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第19章

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　call；　and　went　out　again。　After　that；　the　telephone　kept　ringing　all　night。　I　didn't　answer　it；　because　I　knew　he　wasn't　here；　and　my　feet　get　cold　when　I　get　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　And　I　don't　appreciate　being　called　out　of　bed　at　this　hour；　either！〃
　　〃How　long　after　he　came　in　before　there　was　a　telephone　call？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃It　wasn't　very　long；　if　it's　really　any　of　your　business。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　he　was　expecting　the　telephone　call？〃
　　〃How　do　I　know？　He　woke　me　up　when　he　came　in。　I　heard　him　open　the　door　and　close　it。　I　was　trying　to　go　to　sleep　again　when　I　heard　the　telephone　ring；　and　heard　him　talk。　Then　I　heard　him　run　up　to　his　bedroom。　I　thought　he　was　going　to　bed；　but　I　guess　he　was　putting　some　things　in　a　suitcase；　because　this　morning　the　suitcase　is　gone。　I　heard　him　run　down　the　stairs　and　slam　the　front　door。〃
　　Perry　Mason　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　that's　all；　then。〃
　　She　said；　〃You　bet　it's　all！〃　and　slammed　the　door。
　　Mason　got　in　his　car；　and　stopped　at　a　hotel　to　call　his　office。
　　When　he　heard　Della　Street's　voice　on　the　line；　he　said；　〃Is　Mr。　Mason　there？〃
　　〃No；　he　isn't；〃　she　said。　〃Who's　calling？〃
　　〃This　is　a　friend　of　his；〃　he　told　her；　〃Mr。　Fred　B。　Johnson。　I　wanted　to　get　in　touch　with　Mr。　Mason　very　badly。〃
　　〃I　can't　tell　you　where　he　is；〃　she　said　rapidly；　〃but　I　expect　he'll　be　in　soon。　There　are　several　people　looking　for　him；　and　one　of　them；　a　Mr。　Paul　Drake；　I　think　has　an　appointment。　So　I　think　he'll　be　in　soon。〃
　　〃Well；　that's　all　right；〃　Mason　remarked；　casually。　〃I'll　call　again。〃
　　〃You　haven't　any　message　to　leave　with　me？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Nothing；〃　he　told　her；　〃except　that　I'll　call　again；〃　and　he　hung　up。
　　He　called　back　the　number　of　Drake's　Detective　Bureau　and　got　Paul　Drake　on　the　telephone。
　　〃Don't　make　any　cracks　where　anybody　can　hear　you；　Paul；〃　said　Mason；　〃because　I　have　an　idea　a　lot　of　people　would　like　to　ask　me　some　questions　that　I'd　rather　not　answer　right　now。　You　know　who　this　is。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　replied　Drake；　〃I　got　some　funny　dope　for　you。〃
　　〃Shoot；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃I　went　out　to　this　chap's　house。　The　one　on　West　Sixty…ninth　Street；　and　I　found　something　funny。〃
　　〃Go　on；〃　Mason　told　him。
　　〃This　bird　got　a　telephone　call　from　somebody　a　little　after　midnight；　and　told　his　wife　that　he　was　called　out　of　town　on　important　business。　He　seemed　pretty　much　frightened。　He　put　some　things　in　a　suitcase；　and；　about　quarter　to　one；　an　automobile　drove　by　for　him；　and　he　got　in　and　left。　He　told　his　wife　that　he'd　get　in　touch　with　her　and　let　her　know　where　he　was。　This　morning　she　received　a　telegram　saying：　'All　right。　Don't　worry。　Love。'；　and　that's　all　she　knows。　Naturally　she　was　a　bit　worried。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said。
　　〃Does　it　mean　anything　to　you？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃I　think　it　does；〃　said　Mason。　〃I've　got　to　think　it　over　a　bit。　I　think　it　means　a　whole　lot。　Have　you　got　anything　new　on　Locke？〃
　　Drake's　voice　showed　animation。　〃I　haven't　found　out　what　you　want　to　know　yet；　Perry。　But　I　think　I'm　on　the　tracks　of　it　all　right。　You　remember　this　jane　at　the　Wheelright　Hotel？　This　Esther　Linten？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Mason。　〃What　about　her？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Drake；　〃it's　a　funny　thing；　but　she　came　from　Georgia。〃
　　Mason　whistled。
　　〃That's　not　all；〃　went　on　Drake。　〃She's　getting　some　regular　sugar　from　Locke。　There's　a　check　that　goes　through　every　two　weeks；　and　it's　a　check　that　doesn't　e　from　Locke　himself。　It　es　from　a　special　account　that　Spicy　Bits　keeps　in　a　downtown　bank。　We　managed　to　get　the　cashier　at　the　hotel　to　talk。　The　kid　has　been　cashing　the　checks　through　the　hotel　regularly。〃
　　〃Can　you　trace　her　back　to　Georgia　and　find　out　what　she's　been　mixed　up　in？〃　Mason　asked。　〃Maybe　she　hasn't　changed　her　name。〃
　　〃That's　what　we're　working　on　now；〃　Drake　said。　〃I've　got　the　Georgia　agency　working　on　it。　I　told　them　to　send　me　a　wire　just　as　soon　as　they　had　anything　that　looked　definite；　and　not　to　wait　until　they　had　run　it　down；　but　to　keep　reporting　progress。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said。　〃Can　you　tell　me　where　Frank　Locke　was　last　night？〃
　　〃Every　minute　of　the　time。　We　had　a　shadow　on　that　boy　that　stuck　to　him　all　evening。　Do　you　want　a　plete　report？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mason。　〃Right　away。〃
　　〃Where　shall　I　send　it？〃
　　〃Make　sure　that　your　messenger　isn't　followed；　and　is　somebody　you　can　trust。　Have　him　drop　in　at　the　Hotel　Ripley；　and　leave　it　at　the　desk　for　Fred　B。　Johnson　of　Detroit。〃
　　〃Fine；〃　said　Drake。　〃Keep　in　touch　with　me。　I　may　want　to　get　you。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　agreed　Mason；　and　hung　up。
　　He　went　at　once　to　the　Hotel　Ripley；　and　asked　at　the　desk　if　there　was　anything　for　Mr。　Johnson。　Upon　being　advised　that　there　was　not；　he　went　up　to　518　and　tried　the　door。　It　was　unlocked。　He　walked　in。
　　Eva　Belter　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　smoking。　There　was　a　highball　glass　in　front　of　her　on　the　stand　by　the　bed。　The　whiskey　bottle　stood　beside　the　glass。　It　was　about　a　third　empty。
　　In　the　overstuffed　chair　sat　a　big　man　with　wavering　eyes；　who　looked　unfortable。
　　Eva　Belter　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　came。　You　wouldn't　believe　me；　so　I　brought　you　some　proof。〃
　　〃Proof　of　what？〃　asked　Mason。　He　was　staring　at　the　big　man　who　had　risen　from　the　overstuffed　chair；　and　was　regarding　Mason　from　embarrassed　eyes。
　　〃Proof　of　the　fact　that　the　will's　a　forgery；〃　she　said。　〃This　is　Mr。　Dagett。　He's　the　cashier　at　the　bank　where　George　handled　all　of　his　business。　He　knows　a　good　deal　about　George's　private　affairs。　He　says　it's　not　his　writing。〃
　　Dagett　bowed　and　smiled。　〃You're　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said；　〃the　attorney？　I'm　glad　to　meet　you。〃
　　He　did　not　offer　to　shake　hands。
　　Mason　planted　his　feet　wide　apart；　and　looked　into　the　unfortable　eyes　of　the　big　man。
　　〃Never　mind　squirming　around；〃　he　said。　〃She's　got　some　hold　on　you　or　you　wouldn't　be　here　at　this　hour　of　the　morning。　Probably　you　ring　up　the　maid　and　leave　a　message　about　a　hat　or　something。　I　don't　give　a　damn　about　that。　What　I　want　now　are　the　straight　facts。　Never　mind　what　she　wants　you　to　say。　I'm　telling　you　you're　giving　her　the　most　help　by　being　on　the　square。　Is　this　thing　on　the　level？〃
　　The　banker's　face　changed　color。　He　took　a　half　stride　toward　the　lawyer；　then　stopped；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　said：　〃You　mean　about　the　will？〃
　　〃About　the　will；〃　said　the　lawyer。
　　〃It　is；〃　said　Dagett。　〃I've　examined　that　will　carefully。　It's　a　forgery。　And　the　remarkable　thing　about　it　is　that　it's　not　a　very　good　forgery　at　that。　If　you'll　study　it　closely；　you　can　see　that　the　character　of　the　handwriting　broke　down　once　or　twice　in　it。　It's　as　though　some　one　tried　to　make　a　hasty　forgery；　and　became　fatigued　during　the　process。〃
　　Mason　snapped；　〃Let　me　see　that　will。〃
　　Eva　Belter　passed　it　over。
　　〃How　about　another　highball；　Charlie？〃　she　asked　the　banker；　and　tittered。
　　Dagett　shook　his　head；　savagely。　〃No；〃　he　said；　vehemently。
　　Mason　examined　the　will　carefully。　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃By　God！〃　he　said。　〃You're　right！〃
　　〃There　can　be　no　question　of　it；〃　Dagett　told　him。
　　Mason　turned　to　him　sharply；　〃You're　willing　to　go　on　the　stand　and　testify？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Good　heavens；　no！　But　you　don't　need　me！　It's　self…evident。〃
　　Perry　Mason　stared　at　him。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃That's　all。〃
　　Dagett　walked　to　the　door；　flung　it　open　and　hurried　out　of　the　room。
　　Mason　fastened　his　eyes　on　Eva　Belter。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃I　told　you　you　could　meet　me　here　to　talk　things　over；　but　I　didn't　want　you　to　stick　around　the　room。　Don't　you　realize　what　a　position　we'd　be　in　if　they　discovered　us　here　in　one　room　at　this　hour　of　the　morning？〃
　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃We've　got　to　take　some　risks；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　wanted　you　to　talk　with　Mr。　Dagett。〃
　　〃How　did　you　get　him？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Called　him　on　the　telephone　and　told　him　to　e　over；　it　was　important。　And　it　wasn't　nice　of　you　to　say　the　things　you　did　to　him。　It　was　naughty！〃
　　She　giggled　with　alcoholic　mirth。
　　〃You　know　him　pretty　well？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。
　　He　stood　staring　at　her。　〃You　know　damned　well　what　I　mean。　You　called　him　Charlie。〃
　　〃Certainly；〃　she　said。　〃That's　his　first　name。　He's　a　friend　of　mine；　as　well　as　George's。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　said　Mason。
　　He　went　to　the　telephone　and　called　his　office。
　　〃Mr。　Johnson；〃　he　said。　〃Has　Mr。　Mason　e　in　yet？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Della　Street；　〃he　hasn't。　I'm　afraid　he's　going　to　be　awfully　busy　when　he　does　e　in；　Mr。　Johnson。　Something　happened　last　night。　I　don't　know　exactly　what　it　was；　but　it　was　a　murder　case　of　some　kind；　and　Mr。　Mason　is　representing　one　of　the　main　witnesses。　There　have　been　some　newspaper　reporters　trying　to　see　him；　and　there's　some　one　who　insists　on　staying　in　the　outer　office。　I　think　he's　a　police　detective。　So　I'm　very　much　afraid　that　if　you　were　counting　on　seeing　Mr。　Mason　at　the　office　this　morning；　you're　going　to　be　disappointed。〃
　　〃Gee；　that's　too　bad；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　have　some　papers　to　dictate　that　I　know　Mr。　Mason　would　want　to　see；　and　probably　he'd　have　to　sign　them。　I　wonder　if　you　could　tell　me　some　one　who　could　take　them　down　in　shorthand？〃
　　〃I　think　I　could；〃　said　Della　Street。
　　〃I　was　just　wondering；〃　said　Mason；　〃whether　you　could　get　away　with　all　of　the　people　that　are　around　there。〃
　　〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　she　said。
　　〃I'm　at　the　Hotel　Ripley；〃　he　told　her。
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said；　and　hung　up。
　　Mason　stared　at　Eva　Belter　moodily。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃since　you're　here；　and　you've　risked　this　much；　you're　going　to　stay　here　for　a　while。〃
　　〃What's　going　to　happen？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　file　a　petition　for　letters　of　administration；〃　he　said。　〃That　will　force　them　to　e　out　and　offer　the　will　for　probate；　and　then　we're　going　to　file　a　contest　to　the　probate　of　the　will；　and　make　an　application　to　have　you　appointed　a　special　administratrix。〃
　　〃What　does　all　that　mean？〃
　　〃That　means；〃　he　told　her；　〃that　you're　going　to　be　in　the　saddle　from　now　on；　and　we're　going　to　keep　you　there　no　matter　what　they　do。〃
　　〃What　good　will　that　do？〃　she　asked。　〃If　I'm　virtually　disinherited　under　the　will；　we've　got　to　prove　it's　a　forgery；　and　I　can't　get　anything　until　after　there's　been　a　trial　and　a　judgment。　Can　I？〃
　　〃I'm　thinking　about　the　management　of　the　properties　of　the　estate；〃　said　Mason；　〃Spicy　Bits　for　instance。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　see。〃
　　Mason　went　on；　〃We're　going　to　dictate　these　papers　all　at　once；　and　leave　them　with　my　secretary　so　that　she　can　file　them；　one　at　a　time。　You've　got　to　take　that　will　and　put　it　back。　They'll　probably　have　a　guard　in　the　room　so　you　can't　return　it　where　you　found　it；　but　you　can　plant　it　some　place　in　the　house。〃
　　She　tittered　once　more。　〃I　can　do　that；　too；〃　she　said。
　　Mason　said：　〃You　do　take　the　damnedest　chances。　Why　you　fished　that　will　out　of　there　is　more　than　I　know。　If　you're　caught　with　it；　it　might　be　serious。〃
　　〃Cheer　up；〃　she　told　him；　〃I　won't　be　caught　with　it。　You　don't　ever　take　a　chance；　do　you？〃
　　〃My　God！〃　he　said。　〃I　took　a　chance　when　I　started　in　mixing　in　your　business。　You'r