esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第6部分

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　　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　two　ten　dollar　bills　from　his　pocket；　folded　them；　and　twisted　them　quietly。
　　The　eyes　of　the　girl　dropped　to　the　bills；　and　remained　there。　〃Okay；〃　she　said；　at　length。
　　Mason　passed　over　the　twenty　dollars。
　　〃The　man's　name；〃　he　told　her；　〃is　Locke。　I'll　call　in　in　about　two　minutes；　and　have　him　paged。　Now　the　conversation　will　be　this。　Locke　will　call　a　party　and　ask　if　it's　all　right　to　pay　four　hundred　dollars　for　information　about　the　name　of　a　woman。　The　party　will　tell　him　it's　all　right。〃
　　The　girl　nodded　her　head；　slowly。
　　〃Do　ining　calls　e　in　through　you？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃not　unless　you　ask　for　station　thirteen。〃
　　〃All　right；　I'll　ask　for　station　thirteen。〃
　　He　grinned　at　her；　and　went　out。
　　He　found　a　drug　store　in　the　next　block　which　had　a　public　telephone。　He　called　the　number　of　the　hotel；　and　asked　for　station　thirteen。
　　〃Okay；〃　he　said；　when　he　heard　the　girl's　voice。　〃I'm　calling　for　Frank　Locke。　Have　him　paged　and　be　sure　that　you　tell　him　to　e　to　your　station　for　the　call。　He　probably　won't　e　now；　but　I'll　hold　the　line。　He's　in　the　barber　shop。　But　don't　tell　the　bellboy　that　I　said　he　was。　Simply　tell　him　to　look　in　the　barber　shop。〃
　　〃I　getcha；〃　said　the　girl。
　　He　held　the　line　for　some　two　minutes；　and　then　the　girl's　voice　said；　〃He　said　to　leave　your　number；　and　he'd　call　you　back。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　said　Mason；　〃the　number　is　Harrison　23850。　But　tell　the　bellboy　to　be　sure　that　he　goes　to　your　station　to　get　the　call。〃
　　〃Sure；　don't　worry　about　that。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃tell　him　to　ask　for　Mr。　Smith　at　that　number。〃
　　〃Any　initials？〃
　　〃No；　just　Smith；　and　the　number。　That's　all。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃I　gotcha。〃
　　Mason　hung　up。
　　He　waited　approximately　ten　minutes；　and　then　the　telephone　rang。
　　He　answered　it　in　a　high…pitched；　querulous　voice；　and　heard　Locke's　voice　speaking　cautiously　at　the　other　end　of　the　wire。
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Mason；　using　the　high…pitched　voice；　〃let's　not　have　any　misunderstanding　about　this。　You're　Frank　Locke　from　Spicy　Bits？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Locke。　〃Who　are　you；　and　how　did　you　know　where　to　reach　me？〃
　　〃I　got　into　the　office　about　two　minutes　after　you'd　left；　and　they　told　me　that　I　could　reach　you　in　a　speakeasy　out　on　Webster　Street；　or　later　on；　here　in　the　hotel。〃
　　〃How　the　devil　did　they　know　that？〃　asked　Locke。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Mason。　〃That's　what　they　told　me。　That's　all。〃
　　〃Well；　what　was　it　you　wanted？〃
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Mason；　〃I　know　you　don't　want　to　talk　business　over　the　telephone。　But　this　has　got　to　be　handled　fast。　You　folks　aren't　in　business　for　your　health。　I　know　that；　the　same　as　everybody　else　does。　And　I　ain't　in　business　for　my　health　either。〃
　　〃Listen；〃　Locke's　voice　was　cautious。　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　you'd　better　e　and　see　me　personally。　How　far　are　you　from　the　hotel　here？〃
　　Mason　said；　〃I'm　nowheres　near　the　hotel。　Now　listen；　I　can　give　you　something　that's　valuable　to　you。　I　won't　give　it　out　over　the　telephone；　and；　if　you　don't　want　it；　I've　got　another　market　for　the　information。　All　I　want　to　know　is　whether　or　not　you're　interested。　Would　you　like　to　find　out　the　name　of　the　woman　that　was　with　Harrison　Burke　last　night？〃
　　There　was　silence　over　the　telephone　for　some　four　or　five　seconds。
　　〃We're　a　publication　that　deals　with　spicy　bits　of　information　about　prominent　people；〃　said　Locke；　〃and　we're　always　glad　to　receive　any　information　that　is　news。〃
　　〃Nix　on　that　hooey；〃　said　Mason。　〃You　know　what　happened。　And　I　know　what　happened。　A　list　was　made　up；　and　Harrison　Burke's　name　wasn't　on　that　list。　Neither　was　the　name　of　the　woman　who　was　with　him。　Now；　is　it　worth　a　thousand　dollars　to　you　to　have　absolute　proof　who　that　woman　was？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Locke；　firmly　and　decisively。
　　〃Well；　that's　all　right；〃　said　Mason　hastily。　〃Is　it　worth　five　hundred　to　you？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Well；〃　insisted　Mason；　putting　a　whining　note　in　his　voice；　〃I　tell　you　what　I'll　do。　I'll　let　you　have　it　for　four　hundred　dollars。　And　that's　absolutely　bottom　price。　I've　got　another　market　that's　offering　three　hundred　and　fifty。　I've　gone　to　a'　lot　of　trouble　getting　you　located；　and　it's　going　to　take　four　hundred　for　you　to　sit　in。〃
　　〃Four　hundred　is　a　lot　of　money。〃
　　〃The　information　I've　got；〃　said　Mason；　〃is　a　lot　of　information。〃
　　〃You'd　have　to　give　me　something　besides　the　information；〃　said　Locke。　〃I'd　want　something　we　could　use　as　proof　if　we　ran　into　a　libel　suit。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Mason；　〃you　give　me　the　four　hundred　dollars　when　I　give　you　the　proof。〃
　　Locke　was　silent　for　a　few　seconds。　Then　he　said；　〃Well；　I'll　have　to　think　it　over　a　little　while。　I'll　call　you　back　and　let　you　know。〃
　　〃I'll　wait　here　at　this　number；〃　Mason　said。　〃You　call　me　back　here；〃　and　hung　up。
　　He　sat　on　a　stool　at　the　ice　cream　counter　and　drank　a　glass　of　plain　carbonated　water；　without　haste　and　without　showing　any　emotion。　His　eyes　were　thoughtful；　but　his　manner　was　calm。
　　At　the　end　of　six　or　seven　minutes　the　telephone　rang　again；　and　Mason　answered　it。　〃Smith　talking；〃　he　whined。
　　Locke's　voice　came　over　the　wire。　〃Yes；　we'd　be　willing　to　pay　that　price　provided　we　could　get　the　proof。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason；　〃you　be　in　your　office　tomorrow　morning；　and　I'll　get　in　touch　with　you　there。　But　don't　back　out　on　me　now；　because　I'm　turning　down　this　three　hundred　and　fifty　dollar　offer。〃
　　〃Listen；　I'd　like　to　see　you　tonight　and　get　the　thing　cleaned　up　right　now。〃　There　was　a　certain　quaver　of　excitement　in　Locke's　voice。
　　〃You　can't　do　that；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃I　could　give　you　the　information　tonight；　but　I　can't　give　you　the　proofs　until　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Well；〃　insisted　Locke；　〃you　could　give　me　the　information　tonight；　and　then　I'd　pay　you　when　you　brought　in　the　proofs　tomorrow。〃
　　Mason　gave　a　mocking　laugh。　〃Now　I'll　tell　one；〃　he　said。
　　Locke　said；　irritably：　〃Oh；　well；　have　it　your　own　way。〃
　　Mason　chuckled。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　I　will；〃　and　hung　up　the　receiver。
　　He　walked　back　to　his　automobile　and　sat　in　it　for　almost　twenty　minutes。　At　the　end　of　that　time；　Frank　Locke　came　out　of　the　hotel；　acpanied　by　a　young　woman。　He　had　been　shaved　and　massaged　until　his　skin　showed　a　trace　of　red　under　its　sallow　brown。　He　had　the　smugly　placent　air　of　a　man　of　the　world；　who　rather　enjoys　knowing　his　way　about。
　　The　young　woman　with　him　was　not　over　twenty…one　or　two；　if　one　could　judge　by　her　face。　She　had　a　well　curved　figure；　which　was　displayed　to　advantage；　a　perfectly　expressionless　face；　expensive　garments　and　just　the　faintest　suggestion　of　too　much　make…up　about　her。　She　was　beautiful　in　a　certain　full　blown　manner。
　　Perry　Mason　waited　until　they　had　taken　a　taxi；　then　he　went　into　the　hotel；　and　walked　over　to　the　telephone　desk。
　　The　girl　looked　up　with　anxious　eyes；　put　a　surreptitious　hand　to　the　front　of　her　waist；　and　pulled　out　a　piece　of　paper。
　　On　the　piece　of　paper　had　been　scribbled　a　telephone　number：　Freyburg　629803。
　　Perry　Mason　nodded　to　her　and　slipped　the　piece　of　paper　in　his　pocket。
　　〃Was　that　the　conversation…that　line　about　paying　for　information？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　can't　divulge　what　went　over　the　line。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Mason；　〃but　you'd　tell　me　if　that　wasn't　the　conversation；　wouldn't　you？〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。
　　〃All　right；　then；　are　you　telling　me　anything？〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃That's　all　I　wanted　to　know；〃　he　told　her；　and　grinned。
　　
　　
　　　4。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　worked　into　the　Detective　Bureau　at　Police　Headquarters。
　　〃Drumm　in　here？〃　he　asked。
　　One　of　the　men　nodded；　and　jerked　a　thumb　toward　an　inner　door。
　　Perry　Mason　walked　in。
　　〃Sidney　Drumm；〃　he　said　to　one　of　the　men　who　was　sitting　on　the　corner　of　a　desk；　smoking。　Some　one　raised　his　voice；　and　yelled：　〃Oh；　Drumm；　e　on　out。〃
　　A　door　opened；　and　Sidney　Drumm　looked　around　until　he　saw　Perry　Mason；　then　grinned。
　　〃Hello；　Perry；〃　he　said。
　　He　was　a　tall；　thin　man；　with　high　cheek　bones；　and　washed…out　eyes。　He　would　have　looked　more　natural　with　a　green　eye…shade　on　his　forehead；　a　pen　behind　his　ear；　keeping　a　set　of　books　on　a　high　stool；　than　in　the　Detective　Bureau　at　Police　Headquarters；　which　was；　perhaps；　why　he　made　such　a　good　detective。
　　Mason　jerked　his　head　and　said；　〃I　think　I've　got　something；　Sidney。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm；　〃be　right　with　you。〃
　　Mason　nodded　and　walked　out　into　the　corridor。　Sidney　Drumm　joined　him　in　about　five　minutes。
　　〃Shoot；〃　he　said。
　　〃I'm　chasing　down　a　witness　in　something　that　may　be　of　value　to　you；〃　Mason　said　to　the　detective。　〃I　don't　know　yet　just　where　it's　going　to　lead。　Right　now；　I'm　working　for　a　client；　and　I　want　to　get　the　low　down　on　a　telephone　number。〃
　　〃What　telephone　number？〃
　　〃Freyburg　629803；〃　said　Mason。　〃If　it's　the　party　I　think　it　is；　he'll　be　as　wise　as　a　treeful　of　owls；　and　we　can't　pull　any　of　this　wrong　number　busi