erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第29节

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　　　　　　〃Did　you　mit　the　murder？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　Gleason　bit　his　lips；　turned　his　head　so　that　his　eyes　were　averted　from　those　of　the　attorney。
　　　　　　〃e　on；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃e　through；　and　e　clean。　Look　up　at　me　and　answer　that　question。　Did　you　mit　the　murder？〃
　　　　　　Rob　Gleason　shifted　unfortably　in　the　chair。
　　　　　　〃I'd　rather　not　answer　that　question　just　yet；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃You've　got　to　answer　it；〃　Perry　Mason　told　him。
　　　　　　Gleason　wet　his　lips　with　the　tip　of　a　nervous　tongue；　then　leaned　forward　so　that　his　face　was　almost　against　the　coarse　iron　screen。
　　　　　　〃Can　I　ask　you　some　questions　before　I　answer　that？〃　he　inquired。
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said；　〃you　can　ask　me　all　the　questions　you　want；　but　you've　got　to　e　clean　on　that　before　I　leave　here。　If　I'm　going　to　act　as　your　attorney；　I've　got　to　know　what　happened。〃
　　　　　　〃The　District　Attorney's　office　told　me　that　Frances　had　been　caught　with　some　of　the　money　that　Mr。　Norton　had　in　his　possession　when　he　was　killed。〃
　　　　　　〃Don't　believe　everything　the　District　Attorney's　office　tells　you；〃　Mason　answered。
　　　　　　〃Yes　I　know。　But　the　point　is；　did　she　have　that　money？〃
　　　　　　〃I'll　answer　that　question　by　asking　you　another；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Did　Mrs。　Mayfield　make　any　statement　to　the　District　Attorney　about　having　money　in　her　possession；　that　she　had　received　from　Frances　Celane？〃
　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Gleason。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　chose　his　words　carefully。　〃If；〃　he　said；　〃the　District　Attorney's　office　has　any　proof　of　Frances　Celane　having　any　of　that　money；　it　came　through　Mrs。　Mayfield。　In　other　words；　they　found　Mrs。　Mayfield　with　the　money；　and　she　passed　the　buck　to　Frances　Celane。　Now；　if　that　happened；　there's　just　as　much　reason　to　believe　that　Mrs。　Mayfield　was　in　the　room　at　the　time　of　the　murder；　and　took　the　money　from　the　body　of　the　dead　man；　as　to　believe　that　Frances　Celane　gave　it　to　her。〃
　　　　　　〃Are　they　sure　that　there　was　a　woman　in　the　room　at　the　time　of　the　murder？〃　Gleason　inquired。
　　　　　　〃Don　Graves　says　there　was。〃
　　　　　　〃He　didn't　say　that　the　first　night。〃
　　　　　　〃We　can't　prove　what　he　said　the　first　night　because　the　police　have　torn　up　the　notes　of　the　statement　he　made。〃
　　　　　　〃He　says　now　that　there　was　a　woman　there？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　he　says　there　was　a　woman。　I　think　he's　going　to　say　it　was　a　woman　who　wore　a　pink　negligee。〃
　　　　　　〃Did　he　see　her　plainly　enough　to　identify　her？〃
　　　　　　〃He　saw　her　shoulder　and　arm；　and　part　of　her　head　…　probably　the　back　of　her　head。〃
　　　　　　〃Then　Mrs。　Mayfield　is　trying　to　pin　this　crime　on　Fran？〃　asked　Rob　Gleason。
　　　　　　〃I'm　not　saying　that；〃　said　Mason。　〃I'm　simply　giving　you　the　facts　as　I　know　them。　If　the　District　Attorney's　office　has　proof　of　any　money；　that's　where　they　got　it。〃
　　　　　　〃How　much　chance　do　you　stand　of　getting　Fran　off？〃　asked　Gleason。
　　　　　　〃One　never　knows　what　a　jury　is　going　to　do。　She's　young　and　attractive。　If　she　keeps　her　temper　and　doesn't　make　any　damaging　admissions；　I　stand　a　pretty　good　chance。〃
　　　　　　Gleason　stared　through　the　screen　at　the　lawyer　for　a　few　moments；　and　then　said：　〃All　right；　I'm　not　attractive。　I　haven't　got　any　of　the　things　in　my　favor　that　Frances　has。　How　much　chance　do　you　stand　of　getting　me　off？〃
　　　　　　〃It　depends　on　the　kind　of　a　break　I　can　get；　and　on　what　you've　told　the　District　Attorney；〃　said　Mason。　〃Now；　I'm　going　to　tell　you　what　I　want　you　to　do。　You　go　back　to　your　cell　and　get　some　paper。　Say　that　you　want　to　write　out　what　happened；　in　your　own　handwriting。　Take　that　paper　and　scribble　a　lot　of　meaningless　stuff　on　a　few　pages　of　it；　and　then　tear　it　up。　Let　them　believe　that　you　used　up　all　the　paper；　but　take　the　rest　of　the　paper　and　write　out　a　copy　of　the　statement　that　the　District　Attorney　has　given　you　to　sign。　In　that　way；　I'll　know　exactly　what　you　said；　and　what　you　didn't　say。〃
　　　　　　Rob　Gleason　swallowed　twice　painfully。
　　　　　　〃If；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't　get　the　breaks；　they　may　convict　Fran？〃
　　　　　　〃Of　course；　she's　charged　with　first　degree　murder；　and　there's　some　circumstances　in　the　case　that　don't　look　so　good。〃
　　　　　　〃Would　they　hang　her？〃
　　　　　　〃Probably　not。　She'd　probably　get　life。　They　don't　hang　women；　as　a　rule。〃
　　　　　　〃Do　you　know　what　it　would　mean　to　a　girl　of　her　fire　and　temperament　to　be　shut　up　in　a　penitentiary　for　the　rest　of　her　life？〃　asked　Gleason。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　shook　his　head　impatiently。
　　　　　　〃Of　course　I　know；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　not　start　worrying　about　that　now。　Let's　get　down　to　facts。　Tell　me；　did　you；　or　did　you　not；　murder　Edward　Norton？〃
　　　　　　Gleason　took　a　deep　breath。
　　　　　　〃If；〃　he　said；　〃the　case　mences　to　look　hopeless　for　Fran；　I'm　going　to　confess。〃
　　　　　　〃Confess　to　what？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Confess　to　the　murder　of　Edward　Norton；　confess　that　I　married　Frances　Celane　for　her　money；　that　I　didn't　care　very　much　about　her。　I　liked　her　well　enough；　but　I　wasn't　crazy　about　her。　She　had　a　great　big　bunch　of　money；　and　was　a　good　catch。　I　wanted　the　money　bad　enough　to　marry　her；　and　I　married　her。　Then　I　found　out　that　because　she　had　married；　her　uncle　had　the　right　to　cut　her　off　with　almost　nothing。　Her　uncle　didn't　know　about　the　marriage　until　the　night　he　was　killed。　He　found　it　out　then。　He　was　going　to　exercise　the　discretion　given　to　him　under　the　trust；　and　turn　everything　over　to　the　charitable　institutions；　leaving　Fran　with　just　a　lousy　thousand　or　two。　I　went　in　and　argued　with　him。　He　wouldn't　listen　to　reason。　Fran　went　in　and　argued　with　him；　and　that　didn't　do　any　good。　Then　Crinston　came；　and　he　had　an　appointment　with　Crinston；　so　we　had　to　let　our　matter　go。　Fran　and　I　went　back　down　to　her　room。　We　sat　and　talked　things　over。　Mrs。　Mayfield　came　in；　and　was　furious。　She'd　been　blackmailing　Fran；　threatening　to　tell　Mr。　Norton　about　the　marriage；　unless　she　got　a　bunch　of　jack。　Edward　Norton　had　found　out　about　the　marriage；　and　that　had　killed　the　goose　that　laid　Mrs。　Mayfield's　golden　eggs。
　　　　　　〃I　heard　Crinston　drive　away。　He　took　Don　Graves　with　him。　I　went　out　to　have　a　last　word　with　Mr。　Norton。　I　went　up　to　his　study；　and　on　the　stairs　I　ran　into　Mrs。　Mayfield。　She　wore　a　pink　negligee；　and　she　was　still　weeping　about　the　money　that　she'd　lost。　I　told　her　if　she'd　keep　her　head；　we　could　have　lots　of　money。　She　wanted　to　know　what　I　meant；　and　I　told　her　I　was　going　to　give　Norton　one　more　chance　to　e　through。　If　he　didn't　take　it；　I　was　going　to　smash　his　head　for　him　before　he　had　a　chance　to　give　Frances　Celane's　money　to　charity。　She　went　with　me　up　the　stairs　and　into　his　study。　I　gave　Edward　Norton　his　ultimatum。　I　told　him　that　if　he　didn't　give　Frances　her　money；　he　was　going　to　be　sorry。　He　told　me　that　he　was　not　going　to　give　her　a　cent；　that　he　was　going　to　turn　it　all　over　to　charity；　and　then　I　cracked　him　on　the　head。　I　went　through　his　pockets；　and　he　had　a　big　bunch　of　dough　in　his　pockets。　I　took　some；　and　Mrs。　Mayfield　took　some。　We　were　talking　about　how　we　were　going　to　make　the　murder　look　as　though　burglars　had　done　it。　Mrs。　Mayfield　said　we　could　pry　up　a　window　and　leave　some　footprints　outside　in　the　soft　loam。　I　wanted　to　plant　it　on　the　chauffeur　because　I　knew　he　was　drunk。　While　we　were　talking　it　over；　we　saw　the　lights　of　an　automobile　ing　down　the　hill；　and　I　figured　it　must　be　Crinston　ing　back。　Mrs。　Mayfield　ran　down　and　fixed　the　window　so　it　looked　as　though　burglars　had　e　in；　and　I　ran　down　and　planted　a　stick　and　a　couple　of　the　thousand　dollar　bills　in　Devoe's　room。　Then　I　jumped　in　my　car　and　beat　it。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　looked　at　the　young　man　thoughtfully。　〃What　did　you　do　with　the　money　that　you　had？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　〃I　buried　it；〃　said　Rob　Gleason；　〃where　it　will　never　be　found。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　drummed　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers　on　the　table。　〃So　help　you　God；〃　he　asked；　〃is　that　what　happened？〃
　　　　　　Gleason　nodded　his　head。
　　　　　　〃That's　in　confidence；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　beat　the　rap　if　I　can。　If　I　can't；　I'm　going　to　e　clean　so　that　Frances　Celane　won't　have　to　take　the　jolt。〃
　　　　　　〃Did　you；〃　asked　Perry　Mason；　〃take　out　the　Buick　automobile　on　the　night　of　the　murder？　Did　you　use　it　at　all？〃
　　　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　pushed　back　the　chair。
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Now　I'm　going　to　tell　you　something。　If　you　ever　spill　that　story；　you're　going　to　get　Frances　Celane　sent　up　for　life；　if　you　don't　get　her　hung。　Probably　you'll　get　her　hung。〃
　　　　　　Rob　Gleason's　eyes　grew　wide。
　　　　　　〃What　ever　in　the　world　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　〃Simply；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃that　nobody　will　believe　the　story　the　way　you　tell　it。　They'll　believe　just　half　of　it。　They'll　believe　that　you　mitted　the　murder　all　right；　but　they'll　figure　that　it　wasn't　Mrs。　Mayfield　that　was　with　you。　They'll　figure　that　it　was　Fran　Celane；　and　that　you're　trying　to　protect　her　by　dragging　Mrs。　Mayfield　into　it。〃
　　　　　　Gleason　was　on　his　feet；　his　face　white；　his　eyes　wide。
　　　　　　〃Good　God！〃　he　said。　〃Can't　I　save　Frances　by　telling　the　truth？〃
　　　　　　〃Not　that　kind　of　truth；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Now　go　back　to　your　cell　and　get　me　a　copy　of　that　statement　the　District　Attorney　wants　you　to　sign。　In　t