esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第29章

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n　or　fifteen　seconds。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that　isn't　the　woman。〃
　　〃Took　you　quite　a　while　this　time　to　make　up　your　mind；　didn't　it？〃　Mason　pointed　out。
　　Loring　said　nothing。
　　Mason　suddenly　turned　and　nodded　to　Drake。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　to　Loring；　〃if　that's　the　attitude　you　want　to　take；　you'll　have　to　take　your　medicine。　You　can't　expect　us　to　protect　you　if　you're　going　to　lie　to　us。〃
　　〃I'm　not　lying。〃
　　〃e　on；　Drake。　Let's　go；〃　Mason　said；　grimly。
　　The　two　men　walked　from　the　apartment；　and　closed　the　door　behind　them。　In　the　corridor；　Drake　said：　〃What　do　you　make　of　him？〃
　　〃He's　a　rat　or　he'd　have　tried　the　stunt　of　being　indignant；　and　asking　us　what　the　hell　we　meant　by　inquiring　into　his　business。　He　looked　to　me　as　though　he'd　been　on　the　dodge　sometime　in　his　life；　and　he's　afraid　of　the　law。　He's　used　to　being　bullied　by　detectives。〃
　　〃About　the　way　I've　got　him　sized　up；〃　said　Drake。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃we　can　take　this　picture　and　see　if　we　can　find　some　of　the　neighbors　in　the　apartment　who　can　identify　her。〃
　　〃The　newspaper　picture　isn't　so　very　good。　I　wonder　if　we　can't　get　a　photograph；〃　Drake　said。
　　〃We're　working　against　time；〃　Mason　reminded　him。　〃Something　may　break　in　this　thing　almost　any　minute；　and　I　want　to　keep　ahead　of　the　game。〃
　　〃We　didn't　get　very　rough　with　him；〃　Drake　pointed　out。　〃He's　the　kind　of　a　man　who　would　cave　in　if　we　went　after　him；　hammer　and　tongs。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Mason。　〃We'll　do　that　when　we　get　back。　I　want　to　get　a　little　more　dope　on　him　if　I　can。　I　think　he'll　turn　yellow　as　soon　as　we　put　a　little　pressure　on　him。〃
　　Steps　sounded　on　the　stairs。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Drake；　〃this　looks　like　somebody　ing。〃
　　A　thick…set　man；　with　heavy　shoulders；　plodded　patiently　up　the　stairs　and　into　the　corridor。　His　clothes　were　shiny；　and　his　cuffs　were　frayed。　Yet　there　was　an　air　of　determination　about　him。
　　〃Process　server；〃　whispered　Mason　to　Drake。
　　The　man　came　toward　them。　His　manner　was　that　of　one　who　had；　at　one　time；　been　a　peace　officer；　and　still　retained　something　of　the　bearing　of　an　officer。
　　He　looked　at　the　two　men　and　said；　〃Are　either　of　you　Harry　Loring？〃
　　Mason　promptly　stepped　forward。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　Loring。〃
　　The　man　reached　in　his　pocket。
　　〃I　guess；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　what　this　is　about。　I　have　here　a　summons　and　a　copy　of　a　plaint；　and　copy　of　summons　in　the　case　of　Norma　Loring　versus　Harry　Loring。　I　hereby　show　you　the　original　summons；　and　deliver　to　you　a　copy　of　the　summons　and　the　plaint。〃
　　He　smiled　wanly。
　　〃I　guess　you　know　what　it's　all　about。　I　understood　it　was　a　case　that　wasn't　going　to　be　contested　and　you　were　expecting　me。〃
　　Mason　took　the　papers。
　　〃Sure；〃　he　said；　〃that's　all　right。〃
　　〃No　hard　feelings；〃　said　the　process　server。
　　〃No　hard　feelings；〃　said　Mason。
　　The　process　server　turned；　made　a　notation　on　the　back　of　the　original　summons　in　pencil；　and　walked　slowly　and　methodically　to　the　stairs。　As　he　went　down；　Mason　turned　to　Drake　and　grinned。
　　〃A　break；〃　he　said。
　　The　two　men　unfolded　the　copy　of　the　plaint。
　　〃It's　an　action　for　an　annulment　instead　of　a　divorce；〃　said　Mason。
　　They　read　down　the　allegations　of　the　plaint。
　　〃That's　the　date　of　the　marriage；　all　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Let's　go　back。〃
　　They　pounded　on　the　panels　of　the　door　to　the　apartment。
　　Loring's　voice　sounded　from　the　inside。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Papers　to　be　served　on　you；〃　said　Mason。
　　Loring　opened　the　door　and　recoiled　as　he　saw　the　two　men　standing　there。
　　〃You！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　thought　you'd　gone。〃
　　Mason　pushed　his　shoulder　against　the　door；　and　walked　into　the　apartment。　Drake　followed　him。
　　Mason　held　out　the　papers　which　he　had　taken　from　the　process　server。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said。　〃There's　something　funny。　We　had　these　papers　to　serve　on　you；　and　understood　that　you　knew　all　about　it。　But　before　we　could　serve　them；　we　had　to　make　certain　that　we　were　serving　the　right　party；　so　we　asked　you　the　questions　about　your　marriage；　and。。。〃
　　Loring　said；　eagerly；　〃Oh；　that's　it；　is　it？　Why　didn't　you　say　so？　Sure；　that's　what　I　was　waiting　for。　They　told　me　to　wait　here　until　the　papers　came；　and　then　to　get　out　just　as　soon　as　they　were　served　on　me。〃
　　Mason　gave　an　exclamation　of　disgust。　〃Well；　why　the　hell　didn't　you　say　so　instead　of　putting　us　to　all　this　trouble？　Your　name　is　Harry　Loring；　and　you　married　Norma　Veitch　on　the　date　mentioned　in　this　plaint。　Is　that　right？〃
　　Loring　leaned　forward　to　look　at　the　date　mentioned　in　the　plaint。
　　Mason　indicated　it　with　his　right　forefinger。
　　Loring　nodded　his　head。　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃And　you　separated　on　this　date。　Is　that　right？〃　said　Mason　moving　his　forefinger　down　to　the　next　date。
　　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃this　plaint　says　that　at　the　time　you　were　married；　you　had　another　wife　living；　from　whom　you　had　not　been　divorced；　and　that　therefore　the　marriage　was　illegal；　and　that　the　plaintiff　wants　to　have　the　marriage　annulled。〃
　　Again　Loring　nodded。
　　〃Now　listen；〃　said　Mason；　〃that's　not　right；　is　it？〃
　　Loring　nodded。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃that's　the　ground　she's　getting　the　marriage　set　aside　on。　That's　right。〃
　　Mason　asked；　〃Is　it　true？〃
　　〃Of　course　it's　true。〃
　　〃Then　it　bees　my　duty　to　arrest　you　for　bigamy。〃
　　Loring's　face　blanched。
　　〃He　said　there　wouldn't　be　any　trouble；〃　said　Loring。
　　〃Who　said　that？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃The　lawyer　that　called　on　me。　Norma's　lawyer。〃
　　〃Just　stringing　you　along；〃　Mason　declared；　〃so　that　they　can　get　the　marriage　set　aside　and　Norma　could　marry　this　fellow　who's　heir　to　a　couple　of　million　dollars。〃
　　〃That's　what　they　said；　but　they　said　there　wouldn't　be　any　trouble；　that　it　was　just　a　formality。〃
　　〃Formality　be　damned！〃　Mason　told　him。　〃Don't　you　know　there's　a　law　against　bigamy？〃
　　〃But　I　wasn't　guilty　of　bigamy！〃　protested　Loring。
　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　were；〃　said　Mason。　〃Here　it　is　set　forth　in　black　and　white；　over　the　signature　of　the　lawyer；　and　the　oath　of　Norma。　It　says　right　here　that　you　had　another　wife　living　at　the　time　of　the　marriage；　and　that　you　were　never　divorced　from　her。　Therefore；　we've　got　to　ask　you　to　go　to　Police　Headquarters　with　us。　I'm　afraid　you've　got　in　serious　trouble　over　this　thing。〃
　　Loring　became　nervous。
　　〃It　isn't　true；〃　he　said；　finally。
　　〃How　do　you　mean　it　isn't　true？〃
　　〃I　mean　that　it　isn't　true。　I　mean　I　was　never　married　before。　Norma　knows　that！　The　lawyer　knows　that！　I　talked　with　them　and　they　said　that　they　couldn't　wait　to　get　a　divorce；　because　that　would　take　a　long　time；　but　that　Norma　had　a　chance　to　marry　this　man　and　that　I　would　get　a　piece　of　change　out　of　it　if　I　let　Norma　go　ahead　and　file　this　action。　Then　I　was　to　file　some　kind　of　an　answer　in　which　I　admitted　that　I　had　had　another　wife　living；　but　claimed　that　I　thought　that　I　was　divorced　at　the　time　of　the　marriage。　They　said　that　that　would　keep　me　in　the　clear；　but　it　would　fix　things　so　she　could　get　the　marriage　annulled。　The　lawyer　had　an　answer　of　that　kind　already　fixed　up；　and　I　signed　it。　He's　going　to　file　it　tomorrow。〃
　　〃And　then　rush　the　annulment　through；　eh？〃　asked　Mason。
　　Loring　nodded。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃it　doesn't　ever　pay　to　try　and　lie　to　people　who　are　trying　to　get　the　facts　of　the　case。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that　in　the　first　place　and　save　all　this　trouble？〃
　　〃The　lawyer　told　me　not　to；〃　said　Loring。
　　〃Well；　he　was　crazy；〃　Mason　said；　〃we've　got　to　make　a　report　on　the　thing。　So　you'd　better　give　us　a　written　statement　to　that　effect；　and　then　we　can　turn　it　in　when　we　make　our　report。〃
　　Loring　hesitated。
　　〃Or　else；〃　suggested　Mason；　〃you　can　e　on　down　to　Headquarters　and　explain　it　down　there。〃
　　Loring　said；　〃No；　no。　I'll　give　you　the　statement。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said；　and　took　a　notebook　and　fountain　pen　from　his　pocket。　〃Sit　down　there　on　the　trunk；〃　he　said；　〃and　write　out　the　statement。　Make　it　plete　all　the　way　along　the　line。　Say　that　you　never　had　another　wife；　that　the　lawyer　explained　to　you　that　he　wanted　Norma　to　get　a　quick　annulment；　and　that　he　fixed　it　up　that　you　were　to　say　you　had　another　wife　living　so　that　Norma　could　marry　this　chap　that's　going　to　inherit　the　fortune。〃
　　〃That　won't　get　me　in　any　trouble　then？〃
　　〃That's　the　only　way　you　can　keep　out　of　trouble；〃　said　Mason。　〃There's　no　use　of　my　explaining　it　to　you；　but　you　almost　got　yourself　in　a　pretty　serious　mess。　It's　a　good　thing　you　came　clean　with　us。　We　were　just　planning　to　take　you　down　to　Headquarters。〃
　　Loring　sighed。　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　and　took　the　fountain　pen。　He　sat　down　and　began　a　laborious　scrawl。　Mason　stood　and　watched　him；　feet　planted　wide　apart；　eyes　steady　and　patient。　Drake　grinned　and　lit　a　cigarette。
　　It　took　Loring　five　minutes　to　make　the　statement。　Then　he　passed　it　over　to　Mason。　〃Will　this　do　all　right？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　not　much　good　at　this　sort　of　stuff。〃
　　Mason　took　the　statement　and　read　it。
　　〃That's　fine；〃　he　said；　〃sign　it。〃
　　Loring　signed　it。
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Now　the　lawyer　wanted　you　to　get　out　of　here；　didn't　he？〃
　　〃Yes。　He　gave　me　money　and　told　me　that　I　mustn't　be　here。　He　didn't　want　me　to　be　where　I　could　be　interviewed　if　anybody　should　try　to　find　me。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃Do　you　know　where　you　are　going？〃
　　〃Some　hotel；〃　said　Loring。　〃It　didn't　make　any　difference　which　hotel。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Drake　said。　〃You　e　along　with　us；　and　we'll　get　you　a　room。　You'd　better　get　it　under　some　other　name　so　that　you　won't　be　bothered　in　case　anybody　should　try　to　look　you　up。　But　you've　got　to　keep　in　touch　with　us。　Otherwise　there　might　be　some　trouble。　We　may　have　to　ask　you　to　verify　this　written　statement　in　the　presence　of　some　witness。〃
　　Loring　nodded。
　　〃The　lawyer　should　have　told　me　about　you　fellows；〃　he　said。　〃He　might　have　got　me　into　an　awful　mess。〃
　　〃He　certainly　should　have；〃　Mason　agreed。　〃You　might　have　been　on　your　way　to　Police　Headquarters　by　this　time；　and　it　wouldn't　have　gone　easy　with　you；　once　you'd　got　there。〃
　　〃Did　Norma　e　up　here　with　the　lawyer？〃　Drake　asked。
　　〃No；〃　said　Loring；　〃her　mother　came　first。　And　then　the　lawyer　came。〃
　　〃You　didn't　see　Norma？〃
　　〃No；　just　her　mother。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃You　e　with　us；　and　we'll　take　you　to　the　hotel　we　want　you　to　stay　at；　and　get　you　a　room。　You'd　better　go　under　the　name　of　Harry　LeGrande。〃
　　〃How　about　the　baggage？〃　asked　Loring。
　　〃We'll　take　care　of　the　baggage。　We'll　send　the　transfer　man　after　it。　The　hotel　porter　will　take　care　of　everything　for　you。　All　you've　got　to　do　is　to　go　over　there。　We've　got　a　car　waiting；　and　you'd　better　go　over　with　us　right　now。〃
　　Loring　wet　his　lips。　〃Believe　me；　gentlemen；　this　is　a　relief。　I　was　nervous；　sitting　there　waiting　for　the　man　to　e　with　the　papers。　I　got　to　wondering　afterwards　if　that　lawyer　knew　everything　he　was　doing。〃
　　〃He　was　all　right；〃　Mason　mented；　〃but　he　just　forgot　to　tell　you　a　couple　of　things。　He　probably　was　in