esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第36节

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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　a　hurry；　and　excited。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Loring　admitted；　〃he　seemed　excited　all　right。〃
　　They　took　him　down　to　the　car；　and　Mason　said；　〃We'll　go　to　the　Hotel　Ripley；　Drake。　It's　conveniently　located。〃
　　Drake　said；　〃Yeah；　I　understand。〃
　　They　drove　in　silence　to　the　Hotel　Ripley；　where　Mason　was　registered　under　the　name　of　Johnson。　He　approached　the　clerk　and　said；　〃This　is　Mr。　LeGrande　from　Detroit；　my　home　town。　He　wants　to　get　a　room　here　for　a　few　days。　I　wonder　if　you　can　give　him　one　on　the　same　floor　that　I　have？〃
　　The　clerk　consulted　a　card　index。　〃Let's　see。　You're　in　518；　Mr。　Johnson？〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Mason　said。
　　〃I　can　give　him　522。〃
　　〃That'll　be　fine；　and　there's　some　baggage　to　take　care　of。　I'll　speak　to　the　porter　about　it。〃
　　They　went　up　to　the　room　with　Loring。
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said　to　Loring。　〃Now　you　stay　right　here；　and　don't　go　out。　Be　where　you　can　answer　the　telephone　if　we　should　give　you　a　ring。　We've　got　to　make　a　report　to　Headquarters。　Then　it　may　be　that　they'll　want　to　ask　you　a　couple　more　questions。　But　it's　going　to　be　all　right　now　that　we've　got　your　written　statement。　You're　in　the　clear。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Loring　said。　〃I'll　do　just　what　you　say。　The　lawyer　said　to　municate　with　him　as　soon　as　I　got　located。　Should　I　do　that？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃that's　not　necessary；　because　you've　municated　with　us。　Don't　municate　with　anybody。　Just　stay　right　here　and　wait　until　you　hear　from　us。　You　can't　do　anything　until　after　we've　reported　to　Headquarters。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　agreed　Loring；　〃whatever　you　say。〃
　　They　went　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　　Drake　turned　to　Mason　and　grinned。
　　〃Boy；　what　a　break！〃　he　said。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　　Mason　strode　toward　the　elevator。
　　〃Now　we　pull　a　grandstand；〃　he　said。
　　〃Let　her　go；〃　Drake　told　him。
　　Mason　stopped　in　the　lobby　and　called　Police　Headquarters。　He　asked　for　Sidney　Drumm　in　the　Detective　Bureau。　After　a　minute　or　two；　he　heard　Drumm's　voice　on　the　wire。
　　〃Drumm；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　Mason。　I've　got　another　development　in　that　Belter　case；　but　I've　got　to　have　some　cooperation　on　it。　I　gave　you　a　break　on　the　arrest　of　the　woman；　and　I　want　you　to　give　me　a　break　now。〃
　　Drumm　laughed。　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　gave　it　to　me　or　not。　I　walked　in　on　it；　and　you　came　through　to　save　your　own　bacon。〃
　　〃Well；　there's　no　use　arguing　about　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　gave　you　the　dope；　and　you　got　the　credit。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm；　〃what　do　you　want？〃
　　〃Round　up　Sergeant　Hoffman　and　meet　me　at　the　foot　of　Elmwood　Drive。　I　want　to　go　up　to　Belter's　house　with　you。　I　think　I　can　show　you　something　up　there。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　as　I　can　get　the　Sergeant。　He　may　have　left　already；〃　Drumm　protested。　〃It's　late。〃
　　〃If　he's　left；　round　him　up；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃And　I　want　you　to　have　Eva　Belter　out　there。〃
　　〃Gee；〃　said　Drumm；　〃that's　a　big　order。　If　we　take　her　out　now；　it'll　attract　attention。〃
　　〃It　won't　if　you　sneak　her　out；〃　said　Mason。　〃Bring　along　as　many　men　as　you　want；　only　don't　make　any　noise　about　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　how　the　Sergeant　will　look　at　this　thing；〃　Drumm　protested；　〃but　I　don't　think　there's　a　chance　in　a　million。〃
　　〃Well；〃　Mason　said；　〃do　the　best　you　can。　If　he　won't　bring　Eva　Belter；　get　him　to　e　himself。　I'd　like　to　have　her　there；　but　I've　got　to　have　you　two。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm。　〃I'll　meet　you　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　unless　something　goes　wrong。　I　can　get　him　to　go　if　he's　here。〃
　　〃No。　That　won't　do。　You　find　out　first　whether　or　not　you　can　make　the　arrangements；　and　then　wait　there。　I'll　call　you　back　in　about　five　minutes。　If　you　can　go；　I'll　meet　you　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　If　you　can't　there's　no　use　going　on　a　wild…goose　chase。〃
　　〃Okay；　five　minutes；　then；〃　Drumm　said；　and　hung　up。
　　Drake　looked　at　Mason。　〃You're　biting　off　a　pretty　big　mouthful　there；　guy。〃
　　〃That's　all　right。　I　can　chew　it。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　doing？〃
　　〃I　think　I　do。〃
　　〃If　you're　trying　to　work　up　a　defense　for　the　jane；　it　would　be　a　whole　lot　better　to　work　it　up　without　the　police　being　there　so　that　you　could　spring　it　on　them　as　a　surprise。〃
　　〃This　isn't　that　kind　of　a　defense；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　want　the　police　there。〃
　　Drake　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃It's　your　funeral；〃　he　said。
　　Mason　nodded；　walked　over　to　the　cigar　counter；　and　bought　some　cigarettes。　He　waited　five　minutes；　and　then　called　Drumm。
　　Drumm　said；　〃I've　got　Bill　Hoffman　sold　on　the　idea；　Mason；　but　he　won't　take　Eva　Belter　out　there。　He's　afraid　you're　laying　a　trap　for　him。　There　are　two　dozen　reporters　hanging　around　the　jail；　and　we　couldn't　move　her　any　place　without　having　that　bunch　trailing　along。　Hoffman's　afraid　you　might　get　him　out　there；　and　pull　a　fast　one　that　the　newspapers　could　play　up；　and　he'd　be　in　a　sweet　spot。　But　he's　willing　to　go　himself。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said；　〃that　may　work　out　just　as　well。　Meet　me　out　at　the　foot　of　Elmwood　Drive。　We'll　be　waiting　there　in　a　Buick　coupe。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm