erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第13节

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gned　and　witnessed　wills　that　were　executed　in　the　office。　Mr。　Bannock　signed；　and　I　signed。
　〃If　they　should　call　me　and　ask　me　if　I　signed　this　will　as　a　witness；　I　would　have　to　tell　them　that　this　will　was　pletely　spurious；　that　I　prepared　it　only　recently　and…〃
　He　interrupted　her；　smiling。　〃Why　don't　you　just　leave　all　that　to　me；　Mrs。　Baxter？〃　he　asked。　〃Just　pick　up　the　five　hundred　dollars　and　start　typing。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I'd　be　too　nervous　to　do　anything　while　you　were　here。　I'd　have　to　work　out　the　terms　of　the　wills　and　then　you　could　e　back　later。〃
　He　shook　his　head　firmly。　〃I　want　to　take　these　documents　with　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　haven't　very　much　time。〃
　Virginia　Baxter　hesitated；　then　remembering　Mason's　instructions；　went　to　the　drawer　of　the　desk；　picked　out　some　of　the　old　legal　paper　bearing　Delano　Bannock's　imprint；　put　in　new　carbon　paper；　racheted　the　paper　into　the　typewriter　and　started　typing。
　Thirty　minutes　later　when　she　had　finished；　her　visitor　pocketed　the　carbon　copies　of　the　two　documents；　said；　〃Now；　destroy　those　originals；　Virginia。　In　fact；　I'll　destroy　them　right　now。〃
　He　picked　up　all　the　originals　and　copies；　folded　them　and　put　them　in　his　pocket。
　He　walked　to　the　door；　paused　to　nod　to　Virginia　Baxter。　〃You're　a　good　girl；〃　he　said。
　She　watched　him　until　he　had　entered　the　elevator；　then　she　slammed　the　door；　raced　for　the　telephone；　called　Mason's　office　and　hurriedly　reported　what　had　happened。
　〃Do　you　have　any　copies？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Only　the　carbon　paper；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　smart　enough　to　take　the　originals　as　well　as　the　copies；　but　I　followed　your　suggestion　and　put　in　a　fresh　sheet　of　carbon　paper　with　each　page　and　he　didn't　notice　what　I　was　doing。　You　see；　I　prepared　all　the　pages　with　the　carbon　paper　inserts　in　advance；　putting　out　a　half　a　dozen　pages　on　my　desk　at　one　time　and　taking　a　fresh　sheet　of　carbon　paper　from　the　box　for　each　page。　So　I　have　a　set　of　carbons；　and　by　holding　them　up　to　the　light；　it's　easy　to　read　what　was　written。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃bring　those　carbon　copies　up　to　my　office　just　as　fast　as　you　can　get　here。〃
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　Virginia　sat　across　the　desk　from　Mason；　who　carefully　examined　the　pages　of　carbon。
　He　turned　to　Della　Street。　〃Della；〃　he　said；　〃take　some　cardboard　the　size　of　these　pages　of　carbon　paper　so　the　carbon　paper　won't　get　folded　or　wrinkled；　put　these　in　an　envelope　and　seal　the　envelope。〃
　When　Della　had　done　this；　Mason　said　to　Virginia；　〃Now；　write　your　name　several　times　across　the　seal。〃
　〃What's　that　for？〃
　〃To　show　that　it　hasn't　been　steamed　open　or　tampered　with。〃
　Mason　watched　her　while　she　wrote　her　name。
　〃Now　then；〃　he　said；　〃don't　bother　with　your　car　because　you　won't　be　able　to　find　a　parking　place　and　time　is　running　against　you。
　〃Take　a　taxicab。　Rush　this　envelope　to　the　post　office；　address　it　to　yourself　and　send　it　by　registered　mail。〃
　〃Then　what？〃　she　asked。
　〃Now；　listen　very　carefully；〃　Mason　said。　〃When　this　envelope　is　delivered　to　you　by　registered　mail；　don't　open　it。　Leave　it　sealed　just　as　it　is。〃
　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　she　said；　〃you　want　to　be　able　to　show　the　date　that　I…〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。
　She　picked　up　the　envelope；　started　for　the　door。
　〃How　are　you　fixed　for　provisions　in　your　apartment？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Why；　I　。　。　。　I　have　butter；　bread；　canned　goods　and　some　meat。　。　。　。〃
　〃Enough　to　last　you　for　twenty…four　hours　if　necessary？〃
　〃Yes；　indeed！〃
　Mason　said；　〃Mail　that　letter；　go　back　to　your　apartment；　stay　there；　keep　the　safety　chain　on　the　door。　Don't　admit　anyone。　If　anyone　calls　to　see　you；　tell　him　that　you're　entertaining　a　visitor　and　can't　be　disturbed。　Then　get　his　name　and　telephone　me。〃
　〃Why？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　in　。　。　in　any　danger？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　said。　〃All　I　know　is　that　there's　a　possibility。　Someone　tried　to　frame　you　and　discredit　you。　I　don't　want　that　to　happen　again。〃
　〃Neither　do　I；〃　she　said　vehemently。
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃on　your　way　to　the　post　office。　Then　go　back　to　your　apartment　and　stay　there。〃
　When　she　had　left；　Della　Street　looked　at　Mason　with　raised　eyebrows。　〃Why　should　she　be　in　any　danger？〃
　Mason　said；　〃Figure　it　out　for　yourself。　A　will　is　made。　There　are　two　subscribing　witnesses。　One　of　them　is　dead。　An　attempt　was　made　to　put　the　other　in　a　position　where　her　testimony　would　have　been　discredited。　Now；　a　new　plan　is　in　operation。〃
　〃But　those　spurious　wills；　they　can't　mean　anything。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Mason　asked。　〃Suppose　two　more　people　die；　then　what　happens？〃
　〃What　two　people？〃　she　asked。
　〃Lauretta　Trent　and　Virginia　Baxter。　Perhaps　a　fire　destroys　the　home　of　Lauretta　Trent。　Presumably　the　will　has　been　destroyed　in　the　conflagration。
　〃People　look　for　the　carbon　copies　of　the　wills　prepared　by　Bannock　to　establish　the　contents　of　the　burnt　will。　They　find　two　wills。　The　effect　of　those　wills　is　to　indicate　that　Lauretta　Trent　was　suspicious　of　her　relatives　and　the　people　who　surrounded　her。
　〃Now　then；　Delano　Bannock　is　dead。　Suppose　Virginia　Baxter　should　also　die。〃
　Della　Street　blinked　her　eyes　rapidly。　〃Good　heavens　。　。　。　are　you　going　to　notify　the　police？〃
　〃Not　yet；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　probably　within　a　matter　of　hours。　However；　there　are　a　lot　of　factors　involved；　and　an　attorney　can't　go　around　making　accusations　of　this　sort　unless　he　has　something　more　definite　on　which　to　base　them。〃
　〃But　it　won't　take　much　more？〃　Della　Street　asked。
　〃It　will　take　very　little　more；〃　Mason　said。
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　It　was　just　before　Mason　was　closing　the　office　that　Dr。　Alton　telephoned。
　〃Is　it　all　right　if　I　e　up　for　just　a　few　minutes？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked。　〃I've　had　a　terrific　work　load　this　afternoon　with　an　office　full　of　patients　and　I'm　just　this　minute　getting　free。〃
　〃I'll　wait；〃　Mason　said。
　〃I'll　be　there　within　ten　minutes；〃　Dr。　Alton　promised。
　Mason　hung　up　the　phone；　turned　to　Della　Street；　〃Any　particular　plans　for　this　evening；　Della？　Can　you　wait　with　me　for　Dr。　Alton？〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　to；〃　she　said。
　〃After　that；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃we　can　go　out　for　dinner。〃
　〃Now；　those　words　are　music　to　a　secretary's　ears；〃　she　told　him；　〃but　may　I　remind　you；　you　don't　as　yet　have　any　retainer　in　this　case　which　would　cover　expenses。〃
　〃We're　casting　bread　on　the　waters；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　don't　let　the　matter　of　expense　cramp　your　style。　Just　don't　look　at　the　right　side　of　the　menu。〃
　〃My　figure；〃　she　sighed。
　〃Perfect；〃　Mason　said。
　She　smiled。　〃I'll　go　out　in　the　outer　office　and　wait　for　Dr。　Alton。〃
　〃Bring　him　right　in；　as　soon　as　he　es；〃　Mason　told　her。
　Della　Street　went　to　the　outer　office　and　a　few　minutes　later　returned；　opening　the　door　and　saying；　〃Dr。　Ferris　Alton。〃
　Dr。　Alton　came　bustling　forward；　radiating　intense　nervous　energy。
　He　grasped　Mason's　hand；　said；　〃I'm　very　pleased　indeed　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Mason。　I　have　to　discuss　this　case　with　you；　personally；　which　is　the　reason　I'm　bothering　you。
　〃Incidentally；　I　have　here　two　sterile　phials　containing　the　material　you　wanted；　some　clippings　from　the　fingernails　and　some　hair　that　has　been　pulled　out　by　the　roots。
　〃Now；　I　can　either　have　this　processed　or　you　can。〃
　〃Better　let　me　do　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　will　attract　less　attention　that　way；　and　I　have　some　connections　which　will　give　me　a　report　within　a　very　short　time。〃
　〃Well；　I'd　be　very　glad　to　have　you　do　it；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃but　now　that　you've　planted　the　suspicion　in　my　mind；　I　have　an　uneasy　feeling　that　we're　going　to　have　positive　reactions；　that　there　will　be　at　least　two　areas　in　the　hair　that　will　show　arsenic。
　〃The　first　attack　took　place　approximately　seven　and　a　half　months　ago…too　long　a　time；　I'd　guess；　for　any　traces　of　the　poison　to　remain。　But　the　second　was　five　weeks　ago；　and　the　last　one　about　a　week　ago。〃
　〃Did　you　get　a　dietary　history？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　wasn't　utterly　na？ve；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　wanted　to　find　out　if　this　was　the　result　of　an　allergy　or；　as　I　suspected；　contaminated　food。
　〃On　all　occasions；　she　had　eaten　Mexican　food。〃
　〃Who　cooked　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃She　has　a　chauffeur；　a　George　Eagan；　who　has　been　with　her　for　some　time。　She　is　very　much　attached　to　him…in　a　business　way；　of　course。　He　is　young　enough…Well；　I　believe　there's　quite　a　discrepancy　in　ages　。　。　。　oh；　say　fifteen　years　or　so。
　〃He　drives　her　everyplace　and　he　is　the　one　in　charge　of　the　outdoor　cooking；　whenever　they　have　a　barbecue；　he　does　the　steaks　and　the　potatoes；　does　the　cooking　and　the　serving；　toasts　the　French　bread　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　I　gather　he's　very　expert。
　〃He's　also　expert　in　cooking；　the　Mexican　foods　I　mentioned　are　cooked　out　of　doors。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Mason　said；　〃she　would　hardly　have　the　Mexican　food　cooked　just　for　herself。　There　must　have　been　others　present。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃In　getting　a　case　history；　I　wasn't　even　suspicious　of　poisoning。　Therefore；　I　asked　only　about　what　my　patient　had　been　eating。　I　didn't　ask　about　others。　I　believe　other　relatives　were　also　present。　Eagan；　the　chauffeur；　did　the　cooking。　Apparently　no　one　else　besides　Lauretta　Trent　had　any　symptoms。〃
　〃I　s