esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第5节

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　me；　and　I've　got　to　see　that　it's　transmitted　to　my　client。　And　it　isn't　going　to　be　easy　to　get　in　touch　with　that　client。〃
　　Locke　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃Like　that；　eh？〃　he　said。
　　〃Like　that；〃　said　Mason。
　　Locke　said：　〃Well；　maybe　I　could　think　it　over　in　ten　minutes。　But　I've　got　to　call　the　office。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃Go　ahead　and　call　your　office。　I'll　wait　right　here。〃
　　Locke　went　at　once　to　the　elevator　and　went　down　to　the　main　floor。　Mason　strolled　to　the　railing　of　the　mezzanine　and　watched　him　cross　the　lobby。　Locke　did　not　go　to　the　telephone　booths；　but　left　the　hotel。
　　Mason　went　to　the　elevators；　pressed　the　button；　went　down　to　the　lobby；　straight　through　the　door；　and　crossed　the　street。　He　stood　in　a　doorway；　smoking　and　watching　the　buildings　across　the　street。
　　After　three　or　four　minutes；　Locke　came　out　of　a　drug　store　and　walked　into　the　hotel。
　　Mason　crossed　the　street；　entered　the　hotel　a　few　steps　behind　Locke；　and　followed　him　until　he　came　abreast　of　the　telephone　booths。　Then　Mason　stepped　into　one　of　the　telephone　booths；　left　the　door　open；　thrust　out　his　head　and　called：　〃Oh；　Locke。〃
　　Locke　whirled；　his　chocolate　brown　eyes　suddenly　wide　with　alarm；　and　stared　at　Mason。
　　〃Got　to　thinking；〃　explained　Mason；　〃that　I'd　better　telephone　and　see　if　I　could　get　in　touch　with　my　client。　So　that　I　could　give　you　an　immediate　answer。　But　I　can't　get　a　call　through。　Nobody　answers。　I'm　waiting　to　get　a　nickel　back。〃
　　Locke　nodded。　His　eyes　were　still　suspicious。
　　〃Let　the　nickel　go；〃　he　said。　〃Our　time's　worth　more　than　that。〃
　　Mason　said：　〃Maybe　yours　is；〃　and　stepped　back　to　the　telephone。　He　jiggled　the　receiver　two　or　three　times；　then　shrugged　his　shoulders　with　an　exclamation　of　disgust；　and　left　the　telephone　booth。　The　two　men　rode　together　in　the　elevator　to　the　mezzanine　floor；　and　returned　to　the　chairs　they　had　occupied。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Mason。
　　〃I've　been　thinking　the　thing　over；〃　said　Frank　Locke；　and　hesitated。
　　Mason　mented；　dryly：　〃Well；　I　presumed　that　you　had。〃
　　〃You　know；〃　said　Locke；　〃the　situation　that　you've　brought　up；　without　mentioning　any　names；　might　have　a　very　important　political　angle。〃
　　〃Again；〃　said　Mason；　〃still　without　mentioning　any　names；　it　might　not。　But　there's　no　use　you　and　me　sitting　here　trying　to　kid　each　other　like　a　couple　of　horse　traders。　What's　your　price？〃
　　〃The　advertising　contract；〃　said　Locke；　〃would　have　to　have　a　proviso　that　in　the　event　it　was　breached；　a　payment　of　twenty　thousand　dollars　would　be　made　as　liquidated　damages。〃
　　〃You're　crazy！〃　exclaimed　Mason。
　　Frank　Locke　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃You're　the　one　that　wanted　to　buy　the　advertising；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know　as　I'm　anxious　to　sell　it　to　you。〃
　　Mason　got　to　his　feet。　〃You　don't　act　as　though　you　wanted　to　sell　anything；〃　he　remarked。　He　walked　to　the　elevator　and　Locke　followed　him。
　　〃Maybe　you'll　want　to　buy　some　advertising　again　sometime；〃　Locke　said。　〃Our　rates　are　somewhat　elastic　you　know。〃
　　〃Meaning　that　they're　going　down？〃　queried　Mason。
　　〃Meaning　that　they　may　go　up；　in　this　case。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Mason；　shortly。
　　He　paused　abruptly；　and　whirled；　staring　at　Locke　with　cold；　hostile　eyes。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　what　I'm　up　against。　And　I'm　telling　you　right　now　that　you　can't　get　away　with　it。〃
　　〃Can't　get　away　with　what？〃　said　Locke。
　　〃You　know　damned　well　what　you　can't　get　away　with；〃　said　Mason。　〃By　God！　You　fellows　have　run　a　blackmailing　sheet　here　and　made　people　eat　out　of　your　hands　long　enough。　I'm　telling　you　right　now　where　you　head　in！〃
　　Locke　regained　something　of　his　posure；　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃I've　had　fellows　try　to　tell　me　that　before；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　didn't　say　I　was　trying　to　tell　you；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　said　I　was　telling　you。〃
　　〃And　I　heard　you；〃　said　Locke。　〃There's　no　need　of　raising　your　voice。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃Just　so　you　know　what　I　mean。　By　God！　I'm　starting　after　you　fellows　right　now。〃
　　Locke　smiled。　〃Very　well。　In　the　meantime；　would　you　mind　pressing　the　elevator　button；　or　else　get　out　of　the　way；　so　that　I　can　press　it。〃
　　Mason　turned　and　pressed　the　button。　They　rode　down　in　silence；　walked　across　the　lobby。
　　When　they　reached　the　street；　Locke　smiled。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　his　brown　eyes　staring　at　Perry　Mason；　〃there's　no　hard　feelings。〃
　　Perry　Mason　turned　his　back。
　　〃The　hell　there　ain't；〃　he　said。
　　
　　
　　　3。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　sat　in　his　automobile；　and　lit　a　cigarette　from　the　butt　of　the　one　he　had　just　smoked。　His　face　was　set　in　lines　of　patient　concentration；　his　eyes　glittered。　He　seemed　like　some　pugilist　seated　in　his　corner；　waiting　for　the　gong　to　ring。　Yet　there　was　no　expression　of　nervousness　upon　his　face。　The　only　thing　which　indicated　strain　was　the　fact　that　he　had　been　lighting　cigarettes；　one　after　the　other；　for　more　than　an　hour。
　　Directly　across　the　street　was　the　building　in　which　Spicy　Bits　had　its　editorial　offices。
　　Mason　was　half　way　through　the　last　cigarette　in　the　package；　when　Frank　Locke　came　out　of　the　building。
　　Locke　walked　with　a　furtive　manner；　glancing　about　him　mechanically；　with　eyes　that　didn't　seem　to　be　looking　for　anything　in　particular；　but　were　peering；　purely　as　a　matter　of　habit。　His　appearance　was　that　of　a　fox　who　has　been　prowling　until　after　daylight　and　is　caught　slinking　back　to　his　lair　by　the　rays　of　the　early　sun。
　　Perry　Mason　flipped　away　the　cigarette　and　pressed　his　foot　on　the　starter。　The　light　coupe　slid　away　from　the　curb　and　into　the　stream　of　traffic。
　　Locke　turned　to　the　right　at　the　corner　and　hailed　a　taxicab。　Mason　trailed　the　cab　closely　until　traffic　thinned　slightly；　when　he　dropped　farther　behind。
　　Frank　Locke　got　out　in　the　middle　of　the　block；　paid　off　the　cab；　and　went　down　an　areaway　where　he　knocked　on　the　door。　A　panel　slid　back；　then　the　door　opened。　Mason　could　see　a　man　bow　and　smile。　Locke　walked　in　and　the　man　slammed　the　door　shut。
　　Perry　Mason　parked　his　car　half　a　block　away；　took　out　a　fresh　package　of　cigarettes；　broke　the　cellophane；　and　started　smoking　again。
　　Frank　Locke　was　in　the　speakeasy　for　three　quarters　of　an　hour。　Then　he　came　out；　looked　quickly　about　him；　and　walked　to　the　corner。　The　alcohol　had　given　him　a　certain　air　of　assurance；　and　caused　him　to　throw　his　shoulders　back　slightly。
　　Perry　Mason　watched　while　Locke　found　a　cruising　cab；　and　climbed　in。　Mason　trailed　along　behind　the　cab　until　Locke　discharged　it　in　front　of　a　hotel。　Then　he　parked　his　car；　went　into　the　hotel　lobby；　and　looked　cautiously　around　him。　There　was　no　sign　of　Locke。
　　Mason　looked　the　lobby　over。　The　place　was　a　mercial　type　of　hotel；　catering　to　salesmen　and　conventions。　There　was　a　line　of　telephone　booths；　with　an　operator　stationed　at　a　desk。　Quite　a　few　people　were　in　the　lobby。
　　Perry　Mason　moved　slowly　and　cautiously　about；　looking　the　people　over。　Then　he　walked　over　to　the　desk。
　　〃Can　you　tell　me；〃　he　asked　the　clerk；　〃whether　or　not　Frank　Locke　has　a　room　here？〃
　　The　clerk　ran　his　finger　down　the　card　index　system；　and　said；　〃We　have　a　John　Lock。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃this　is　Frank　Locke。〃
　　〃He's　not　with　us。　Sorry；〃　said　the　clerk。
　　〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Mason；　turning　away。
　　He　crossed　the　lobby　to　the　dining　room　and　looked　in　there。　There　were　a　few　people　eating　at　the　tables　but　Locke　was　not　among　them。　There　was　a　barber　shop　in　the　basement；　and　Mason　went　down　the　stairs　and　peered　in　through　the　glass　partition。
　　Locke　was　in　the　third　chair　from　the　end；　his　face　covered　with　hot　towels。　Mason　recognized　him　by　the　tweed　suit；　and　tan　shoes。
　　Mason　nodded　and　went　back　up　the　stairs　to　the　lobby。　He　crossed　to　the　girl　at　the　telephone　desk。
　　〃All　the　booth　calls　are　handled　through　you？〃　he　asked。
　　She　nodded。
　　〃Okay。　I　can　show　you　how　to　pick　up　twenty　dollars　pretty　easy。〃
　　She　stared　at　him；　and　asked；　〃Are　you　kidding　me？〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　to　get　a　number；　and　that's　all。〃
　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃Just　this；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　going　to　put　through　a　call　for　a　man。　He　probably　won't　take　the　call　right　away；　but　will　e　up　here　to　get　it　later　on。　He's　in　the　barber　shop　now。　After　he　talks　with　me；　he's　going　to　call　a　number。　I　want　to　know　what　that　number　is。〃
　　〃But；〃　said　the　girl；　〃suppose　he　doesn't　put　the　call　through　here？〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃you've　done　the　best　you　can；　and　you　get　the　twenty　bucks　anyway。〃
　　〃I'm　not　supposed　to　give　out　information　about　those　things；〃　the　girl　protested。
　　〃That's　why　you're　getting　twenty　bucks　for　it；〃　Mason　said　smiling。　〃That；　and　listening　in　on　the　call。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　couldn't　listen　in　on　a　call；　and　tell　you　what　was　said。〃
　　〃You　don't　have　to。　I'll　tell　you　what's　said。　All　I　want　you　to　do　is　check　up　on　it；　so　as　to　make　sure　that　the　number　I　get　is　the　number　I　want。〃
　　She　hesitated；　looked　furtively　about　her　as　though　fearful　that　some　one　might　know　what　they　were　talking　about；　merely　from　a　casual　inspection。
　　Perry　Mason　took　out