P
THE CHINÄ MAIL, MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1951.
By ERLE STANLEY GARDNER
THE CASE
CASE OF THE
ERRY MASON
in Paul
HOWLING
sat
Drake's office. Paul Drake tectered in a creaky swivel chair, behind a small, bat. tered desk. Against the far wall of the office two men Bat, uncomfortably, in stiff- backed chairs."
didn't, But
We
"Nu we weakin't have heard anything,
You see, Wo
were any way. away down the block."
"Go ahead," said Perry Mason. "What happened next?"
cab
"After the woman drove away, nothing happened, until You came in you showed up. a yellow cub, and the
You got in number was 302. there al eight twenty-nine, "Listen," said Drake according to my watch, and we querulously, "there's a lot don't know what happened after We telephoned in to about this thing you're not that.
Drake,
and Drake told us to get telling me."
off the job right away and come in to the place here, but as we were driving away we heard a bunch of sirens, co we won. tiered if anything had bapehexi."
"Is that so? asked Perry Ma- son, lighting a cigarette. "I thought you were supposed to find out this to tell ine; no that I was supposed to find out Are these things to tell you, the two men who were on the Job
"Yes. The man on the left in Ed Wheeler, and the other one is George Donke."
Perry Mason lookd Over at
them.
"Well, then," Mason said, "here's whint I want. I want you to round up that Checker driver, number 88-C, and bring him to the place here. No, wait a minute, don't bring him up the place. Get him spotted and
"What time, did you boys go telephone me here. I'll go talk on?" he asked,
"Six o'clock." "Both of you were there all the time?"
"Most of the time. One of us would go and telephone every Afteen minutes."
I
"Where were you fellows?
I came didn't see you when up."
"We were quite a distance from the house,' Wheeler ud. mitted, "but we were where we could see everything that went on. We had night glasses, and There's we were out of sight.
a vacant house half way down the block, and we were la roun in the vacant house,"
☆
"All right," Mason said, "I want you boys to tell me ex- actly what happened,"
4
Ed Wheeler look out leather-backed notebook from his coat pocket, thumbed the pages, and said, "We were on duty at six o'clock. At about
the six-Rfteen
housekeeper, Thelma Benton, went out."
"Where did she go?" "There was a man called for her in a Chevrolet car,"
"Gel the licence?" Mason ask- ed.
"Sure, It was 6M9245." "Go ahenti, What next?" "Ther things were quiet. Nobody came and nobody left, It was until seven twenty-Ave. really a little past that almost I called Beven twenty-six, but
it twenty-five. A Checker taxi- cab came to the place, and a woman go out,"
the
"Did you get the number of
cab?"
licence "I didn't get the number. The cab number was painted on the side of the car, and was caster to get than the number, so I got that." what was it?
"BB-C." "All
Но
on,"
said
right, Mazon.
"A woman got out and went the enb Into the house, and went away."
"And it didn't wait?" "No, it didn't wait,
But it eams back after twelve minutes, Evidently, the woman had sent the driver some place, and told him to do something and then come back."
"Go ahead," Mation said, "How about the woman? What did she look like?"
"Wo can't tell exactly. She was well dressed, and had on a dark fur coat,"
"Did she wear gloves?" "She wore gloves." "Did see her face?”
you
"Not plainly. You see, it was dark by that time. The street light showed the taxicab pretty
with him myself."
When the door had closed he turned to Paul Drake,
Paul," he said, "there was a telegram sent from Midwick to Clinton Foley. That telegram purported to have been afgned by the woman who had posed Foley's wife, and asked him not to do anything criminally against Cartright. I want to get a photostatic copy of that tele gram. Do you suppose you can work it?"
"I think I can fix it," he said. "All right," Mason said. "Now found what you've mr
tell out
The telephone rang. Paul Drake scooped up the receiver, Enid "Hello," then listened.
"Got the address?" he asked nt length,
Ile nodded his head, then tuned to Muson.
"Make a note of this, will you, Perry? There's paper over there on the desk, and a pencil."
Mason walked to the desk, picked up a piece of paper, and held a pencil over it.
"Shoot," he said,
Paul Drake said in a slow voice, "Breedmont Hotel B-r-e-c-d-m-o-n-t Hotel. Ninth
and Masonic, Room 764, and the name is Mrs C. M. Danger field. Is that right?" He paused for a moment, then nodded to Perry Mason.
"That's it, Perry," he said. That's all."
He slipped the receiver back on its hook.
"Who's that?" asked Perry Mason.
"That," said Paul Drake, "is Mrs the name under which Bessie Forbes is registered at
hotel here in the city." Perry Mason heaved a sigh of relief, folded the paper and thrust it in his pocket
>
"Now," he said, "we're com- mencing to get some place."
"You want to go see her now?" asked Paul Drake.
"We've got to seo tha' taxl driver first," Mason told him. We'll have to get him up to now. There's no time for me to go to him."
Why is the taxi driver so important?"
"I want to see that taxi driver, and see him first," Mason said. "Also, I want to get a shorthand reporter to take down the con- versation. I have an idea I've got to get Della Street back to the office."
The telephone rang again. Drakte picked up the receiver, said "Hello," listened for A moment, then nodded to Perry Mason.
"The boys have located that cab driver, Perry," he said. "They haven't talked with him yet, but they've found out from
that made a shadow the main office where he is. He
plainly, and that
Tight
yes,
sho
THE STORY SO FAR:
WEALTHY Arthur
Cartright
his neighbour,
Clinton Foley, of teaching his dog to howl to annoy him, but this Foley denies and 10 tells the police Cartright is insane. Ferry Mason, the lawyer acting for Cart right, accompanies the police to Foley's house to
Inquire into the matter,
and there is told by Mrs Thelma Benton, Life housekeeper, that she has been bitten
by the do. Foley also finds his wife has run away willi
the WAY man next door,
Private delective Paul Drake, hired by Mason, discovers that the woman who has been living with Foley as his wife is in reality Mrs Cartright
and Foley in really Clinton Forbes
They man away together
some
years
previously,
but Cartright has managed to trace them. Mason goes to see Foley by appoint
ment one night, but finds he hus been shot to death in his house. The dog has also been shot. The police have their theory about the case, and suspect Mason of shielding his client. Perry Mason de- eldes to make rome In- vestigallons of his own
NOW READ ON
were
DOG
as this girl, and she may have handkerchief, been a litle heavler."
"You remember, the colour of The her cyca?"
"No. 1
I don't... I thought they wcro black, but maybe they were brown. She had a peculiar voler. I remember she talked funny, She talked in a high- pitched voles, and talked fast,'
very "You don't remember much about her, then?" and Mazon.
I
"Not too much, boss. She was the type of woman that you wouldn't that
that 19, wouldn't. You know how it is. There's lots of Janes get in a Cab and starts getting. friendly Well, she wasn't right away. the kind that got friendly. Then there's lots of Janes that get in a cab and are on the make. They usually come through with
kind of
business propos This Jane waen't on the "Nolier her hands?" Did she
any rings on?" have had black gloves," k the cab driver positively. "I re- member because she had some trouble fumbling around in her
some tion, malce."
TURAL
right, you look her there, and then what did you do?"
"I took her there, and she told me to watch her until I saw her get into the house. Then I was to go some place to a public telephone and telephone number and deliver a mes-
R
"Go
Fanelt, then landed it across to Paul Drake. and detectivo imelt it shrugged his shoulders.
Let Della takes what the a whiff, and see if the can perfume 19," Perry Mason cald.
Drake passed the handkerchief over to Della. She smelt it, then handed it back to Drake, and looked at Perry Mason neckled.
"I can tell," she said "Well, what is it?" said Paul Drake.
Perry Mason shook his head almost imperceptibly,
Drakte hesitated for a moment, then dropped the handkerchief into the side pocket of his cont. "We'll take care of the hand- kerchief," he told the cab driver.
SORRY
BRAATHENS
SOUTH AMERICAN & FAR EAST AIRTRANSPORT A.S.
S·A·F·E
EN-HAT
Rookie
London Express Service,
Whisky
-from
Denmark
BY-
JAMES WHITE JOVIAL, 50-year-old Cap
tain David · Sinclair, MBE, has a theory about Drake," he whisky. Not about Scotch,
Perry Mason's voice was sud- denly edged with impatience,
sald **I'm
but about Danish
"Wait a ming this show. everybody knows what that Give the man back his handker-is; chlef. You don't own it!!
Drake looked at Perry Mason "whisky," which is with puzzled incomprehension thing which passeth com- upon his face.
prehension.
"Go on," the Inwyer sald, "lve it back. He's got to keep it for a while and see if she calls for it,"
"Shouldn't I turn it in to the Lost and Found Department?" asked the cab driver, reaching for the handkerchief and putting it in his pocket.
some-
The Captain probably knows more about Danish whisky than most Scots. Not because he drinks it, but because he carries it- to
Scotland. During the past three months the ss Gothland, of which he is master, and the ss Horsa, "No," said Perry Mason, "not
he which
commanded right away. Keep it for a
the while, I have an idea the same during
war, have 100 tons of woman will probably show up carried some and demand the handkerchief. Danish whisky from Copen- When she does, ask her for her hagen to Leith. name and notebook
address, БОС?
Tell "I don't know what} her her that you've got to make a report to the company, because happens to the stuff when it you said over the telephone you gets to Scotland," he told had the handkerchief to surren der, and you'd have to find out me. "I am certain the Scots the woman's name and address, don't drink it, though I did or something like Sce?!!
"Okay, I see," said the cab drivez.
ahead," Mason said, "what was the number and what was the message?”
The driver took a from his pocket and said: "I wrote down the number. It was Parkcrest 62945, and I was to ask for Arthur, and tell him Clint's house right away, be- that he'd better go
over to "My cause Clint was having a show- downstairs. down over Paula."
bourhood fight over the howling dog, and the resulting charges which
made back and forth."
The cab driver settled back in the chair.
"Suits me," he said.
meler's raining
Go ahead and shoot."
“Around seven-fificen, or per- haps a little earller, you picked up a passenger who had you take her to 4889 Mupas Drive," said Perry. Mason.
"What do you want to know about it?"
that.
He left the room, and, at a
nod from Paul Draise, the two detectives went with him
Perry Mason turried to Della Street
"What perfume, Della?" he asked
Bee one
bottle in an Edin- burgh bar. But I've heard that the Polish miners in Perry Mason glanced over at
Scotland are the customers." THE KEYS Paul Drake. Paul Drake's eyes were suddenly thoughtful, and
Sin- Not only does Capt. they stared at Perry Mason
clair's 20-year-old ship. carry with concerned speculation."
Danish to Scotland, it also brings
Scotch lo Denmark. "All right," the lawyer said. "Did you deliver the message?"
"It just happens," said Della Fortunately rather more of the "No, I didn't. I coudn't get Street, "that I can tell you the genuine than Denmark exports anybody to answer the tele- name of that perfume, and I can of the imitation. I remember she had on phone. I
tried
also tell you that the young But the Scotch which Den- times, and three
is not for or- a black fur, and she had some then I I come back. I waited woman who wore it wasn't a mark imports peculiar kind of perfume, She a minute or two, and the Jane working girl-not unless she dinary mortals. It goes straight left a handkerchief in the car,
and I
I took her back worked in pictures. I've got a into the honded warehouses of came out and I smelled it. I was going
Whore
friend in the perfume depart the Copenhagen Free Port, to you pick her up?" to turn the handkerchief into
ment of one of the big stores, emonge legitimately only when " was cruising around
diplomats, just the other day.”
"What did the woman look ke?"
"Gee, chtet, that's hard 10
ald
at
by
the Lost and Found Department, Tonth and Maconie Streets, and and she let me smell a sample, requisanders who supply
if she didn't say something about claiming 11.”
I pleked her up there. She had me take her back to the same place I picked her up."
"What's your name?" asked "Marson--Sam
Marzon, sir, and I live at the Bellview Rooms. That's on West Nine- teenth Street
"How tall was she?" asked Perry Macon Perry Mason,
The driver shrugged his shoulders,
girl?'
Mason
Perry Mason nodded to Della Street. "Stand up, Della," he said.
The girl stood up. "Tall as this asked.
"Just about the same build." the driver said, looking Della Street over with appreciative eyes. "She wasn't as pretty
"You haven't turned in that handkerchief yet?" asked Perry
Mason Mason.
Marcon fished in his side coat pocket, took out a dainty square of lace, held it up and sniffed it appreciatively.
"That's the perfume," he said, Perry Mason reached for the
שאתם
of
aro
ship's vessels
"going foreign,” those
legally in possession "All right," said Mason; "what
hard currency. is it?"
For about two years now those "in the know" have
Diso "It's Vol de Nuit," said Della those
been extracting Scotch from Street
Perry Mason got to his feet, the Free Pont. Black
dollars, started pacing the oflce, Swiss arl Belgian francs
the keys which have unlocked Abruptly he whirled
on Della the docks gates. Though no Street,
Dane can be legally in "All right," he said, "get this session of foreign currency un- friend of yours and get a bottle less he has obtained it from a of that perfume. Never mind what it costs. Then come back bank or can prove he got it as
git to the office and wait until you thousands of black dollars and from a foreigner, many hear from me"
(MORE TOMORKOW)
pos-
tranes have been converted In- to Scotch. Most of it has gone to Copenhagen bars and res- taurants, but no small quantity. has gone into private homes.
bottle, was more than reason- able in the circumstances.
IN PRISON
MARIA THE SHADOW NEVER LEFT MY SIDE the price, 12 shillings à
watched me
How they
Warsaw in
By SAM
JACKETT
Fleet Street man who attended the Pence Congress Maria. I arranged for his benet
name
the woman got out. just checked in with a report," H She is 38, l, demonstration.
where Then she walked rapidly up the walk, to the house, and went in,"
"Did she ring the bell?” "Was the bell,"
as the getting in?"
she went in in just a "No, minuto or two,"
Wait a minute," said Mason. "You say she rang the doorbell. How to you know?"
a long time about
"Couldn't the have been open- ing the lock with a key?"
Ves, she could have done that," wald Wheeler. "Come to
The
excuse to
into
Then
with
re-
iD-
But a bad things come to an end. The "big shots have fed the country, several of the middlemen. ore in
prison;
somewhat
It for
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THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB NOTICE TO MEMBERS SECOND RACE MEETING Saturday, 13th January, 1951.
There are eight races. The First Bell will be rung at 1,30 - p.m and the First Race will be run at 2.00 p.m.
Through Tickets (8 Races - $10.00) may be obtained at the Compradore Office of the Treasurers, 1st door, Telephone House, also tickets for the Cash Sweep on the last race of the Mooting as well as the Special Cash Sweep on the "Pearce Memorial Cup" scheduled to be run on 28th February, 1951.
Through Tickets reserved for this Meeting but not paid for by 10.00 am on Friday, 12th January, will be sold and the reservation cancelled for future meetings.
To avold congestion at the Club's Offices at Telephone House, non-members are requested to purchase their sweep tickets at the Club's Branch Ofices at:----
5, D'Agullar. Street, Hong Kong
or
382, Nathan Road, Kowloon.
MEMBERS' BADGES AND ENCLOSURE
SETS OF MEMBERS' AND 'LADIES' BADGES WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THE 1951 RACING SEASON UNTIL 1ST APRIL, 1051. 1950 SETS ARE VALID UNTIL THEN.
Members and guests are reminded that they and their ladies MUST wear their badges prominently displayed throughout the Meeting.
NO ONE WITHOUT A BADGE WILL BE ADMITTED TO, THE MEMBERS' ENCLOSURE.
Badges admitting ladies not in possession of Brooches or Season tickets and gentlemen, non-members of the Club, to the Members' Enclosure and Club Rooms at $10.00 including tax, for ladies or gentlemen are obtainable through the Secretary on the written or personal introduction of a member, such member to be responsible for all visitors introduced by. hlin, and for payment of all chits etc.
Badges admitting to Members' Enclosure will NOT be on salo at the RACE COURSE.
The Branch Offices and the Treasurers Compradore ́Offen. will close at 11.00 a.m. and the Socretary's Office" at 11.45 am.. The Treamers' Compradore Office and the Secretary's Office, are. alluated at 1st Floor, Telephona. Houst.
ger on the train from Prague others have cenfessed and will to Warsaw.
soon be on trial. Investigations
continuing And not all the delegates, of Reports of these investign- course, could have e Maria ons show the length to which ollen respectable, that is unless they were among citizens, the influential members of the citizens, can be driven by their: movement and wanted to break thirst for Scotland's, and Den- away from the crowd.
mark's, favourite drink.
Meanwhile the Danes are a they were provided
though Polish "interpreter" who never montiral of the first sky Jeft them and dark, and certainly the
to be distilled in Denmark. The A colleague was in the Con- ported their
why "Tell the boys to go and hire most charming spy I have gress restaurant where Wo Let me tell you more about Danish United Distilleries, the cab to take it to my office.
were tallding. This man
had Maria. Immediately after I make the famous
schnappes, been followed by Red and bring the driver up with yet met.
agents telephoned my first story
have a monopoly of distillation. to The
other Make some them,
of so
Danish land
whisky Throughout the sessions
and
constantly London a Polish diplomat 60
"manufacturers" are therefore bring him
willingly agreed up. Tell him they've the World Peace Congress In that he
to troduced her as a woman who forced to buy alcohol produced got a trunk or a suitcase to bring Warsaw she was my constant pretend to leave the hall.
was there to help the Press
by the United Distilleries down-anything to get him up attache, but tho was only The parson and I followed generally in Interpreting, from potatoes and to content there. And tell 'em to do it minor thread in a vast net about 20 yards behind. Before typing and so on. But it soon themselves with adding "whisky right away."
work of espionage and secret we had gone a dozen yards became so obvious that watch-taste before bottling "I saw her bending over by
cab driver fidgeted supervision which encompassed two secret agents were on the ing me was her only job that sale and export the door.
in I figured that was uncomfortably his chair, delegates and visiting Jour trail of the journalist.
my colleagues
began calling
THREE YEARS what she was doing."
Flanced at Perry Mason, then nalists, and turned this "Peace" There was no posable doubt her mv. "Mata Hari."
As for back us the 1920's let his eyca slither away to the Congress
monstrous as to their entity and I ank- Other Agents the United. Distilleries began faces of the two detectives, then mockery.
ed the Rov. Evans if he was
Other looked at Della Street.
similarly thorough to experiment with the pro- More than Della Street, perched on the
2,000 delegates satisfied.
But they agents trailed me, 400. One duction of whisky.
-have. ab
nover marketed their "I am satisfied that he was Sunday morning I mado think of it maybe that's what edge of a chair, knees crossed, from all parts of the world, in-
cluding 'more than 200 she was doing. I figured at the notebook hold open on the deat Britain, were bamboozled
from
with being followed," he said "but appointment
a British
After the product.
war they be- time she was ringing the bell, smiled renasuringly at him.
I don't think you were,"
diplomat, left the hotel by tax, imported Scottish experis, sam- zapler of water from a number "What's the idea?" the driver yard bellet. Those who were because that's what I expected
One of
fro inister and immediately, my trail was aincere in their peace
of Scott Lots whisky producing events alma anked. her to do."
men in was the disappearance taken up by three so blinded
theso and by the multi-
arcas, analysed Citroon car', Immediately
AND "Just want to find out some were so wung rod handler of all passports.
tude information from
arrival in Warsaw on
dele- When I left the diplomat's amuached similar waters. chicts (provided by "We're collecting some Cruc "Io there any chance the Meson,
China),
gates and journalists were or house an hour later I saw no in Denmark. The barley neod- and taken uples. But which I had walked Danish barley is already used nd no second thought, as much organised into busca wemin could have been Thelma evidence in connection with a and so deafened by the
ganised handelapping and to a new blocks of workmen's 100 yards -pimit ist ** In Benton?"
Cute "I don't think so. When "What sort of a cago?" asked "Peace" chanting,
they flats, where, efter form-filing, another taxi the Citroen was for the production of Scotch in
Scotland. could not, or would not, Thelma Benton left she was tha
driver.
nee passports had to be handed on our tall giá.
The Wiley which has re When I Mason nodded to Della Street, in Warsaw a land rigidly con- over.
revealed that died from wearing a different kind of coat.
these efforts ຄວາ wanted" to talk to a Polish r This woman wore a long black and she touched her nen to the trolled by terror-triking secret
Later, when we were moved family. Britons and Americans upwards of three cure at stored for fur coat."
notebook, streaming off a series agents.
en bloc to the Palonia Hotel who live in the "How long was she in there?" of caballetle signa from
One Exception
Warsaw, pleaded sked the lawyer,
in the heart of Warsaw. I was with ng not to. Not because warehouses of Roskilde, whene
Soon It was manufactured. point of the Perry Mason exception the Rev. Stanley which
There may have been one told that my passport, about was in there. Afteen
of what would happen to me,is ilkely to energo.. Although Servants", passes, will be issued to private box holders only. minutes maybe sixteen minut ghbourhood fight over a efferta on behalf of the peace
was a case involving Evans
Worried, was but what would Happen to the it is not expected to best who are requested to distribute them with discrimination and lo of London, whooo with "officials" at the hotel.
would Pvo got the cab marked as a
family, They
be like Scotch, there seem to be endorse their names in the passes. Holden of such passes are driving away right after the howling
Despite several protests dog. It -to have Booms
punished by whist is known good prospects that it will be not permitted in the Member Enclosure except for PRIREDIC well known never saw it again until the locally he a "ketip." went in.
Then the cab came developed into
complicatione movement are
cuto in Scandinavia and may through on their duties and must remain in their When he expressed murprise at night before I lest.
It wade
employer back la twelva minutes, and the We don't know yot just how
TOMORROW,en this part, bo other European countries, stands woman left at seven forty-two, serious those complications are what I told him on my lost then handed to me in an office
Le* positions. elmiller, to... thai
BY ORDER "Did you hear any commo. I want you to understand that night is Www about the now in the Congress Hall by a man Nam: Jackets will explain what maintained by Various 10001 family digniuntions in the United #101.7% Dogs barking, or any the questions I am about to ask titles of the any organisation whom we had though to be a happens to a Polkiy
alorades. Kund of restaurant out, mand, when a "kettle" 1' erginlievi . Stater And Banadi.jpg sured you ados, my with the neighed built up around
ghe
The
cano,
sald you,"
that
the
I
Was
..I
M
know
bocn
A limited number of tiffins will be obtainable at the Club House provided they are ordered in advance from the No. 1 Boy (Tol. 27818).
NO CHILDREN WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE CLUB'S PREMISES DURING THE MEETING,
•
PUBLIC ENCLOSURE
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