Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday nio out of tlie windows of Iiis hoiisp. covorinf? ovory inovo I iiiako witli binoculars." I'orry Mason dropped into a chair at tiic Olid of the distriK ntforney'-- littered desk and nursod liis hat. "(Jo on," ho Haul quiotly. "I'm listening." "I'm convinced thot Cartwright is ,i mental case," declared Foley emphatic ally. "Doesn't know what lie's doinij —and I have witnesses to substantiate everything I've been saying." "I'm still listening," said Perry Mason. "Well, it makes it very dilTicuIt for m-i to keep my servants. I have only one left now—my housekeoner. Tlie cook and the chaufTetir left last week. They couldn't stand it any longer." "Your servants must be highly sensitive individuals," observed Perry Mason, with the barest suggestion of sarcasm in his voice. "It's annoying to my guests also." bridled Foley. "The man never has the lights in his house turned on—ju.st parades through the dark rooms at night with his binoculars, snooping and spying on everything that goes on in my house." "Is it a crime to look through binocu- lars?" asked Perry Mason blandly. "No," intervened the district attorney with some acerbity, "but that isn't the point, and you know it—the man's insane." "What makes you think so?" "Because he has reported a howling dog. and tlie dog doesn't howl. I pro- po.se to see that his sanitv is inquired into." "All right." said Mason. "I'm just warning you -. If you sign a complaint alleging that my client is insane, you'd better make a thorough investigation: otherwise there's going to be trouble. All your ideas about the man's in- sanity are • founded on Mr. Foley's statement tliat the dog doesn't howl— isn't that right?" Clinton Foley scowled, but Claude Driunm nodded. "Naturally," he agreed, "but Mr. Foley sa>s he has witnesses to prove his .statement." Perry Mason stood up. "Until you investigate these wit- nesses," he said sharply, "how do you know which one is crazy? Maybe Foley is crazy !" Clinton Foley's unpleasant eyes blazed with fury. "I beg your pardon'" he exploded, bounding to his feet. "Gentlemen, plea.sel" protested the district attorney: and then to Mason: "All you ask is that we investigate the facts before we do anvthing?" ;'Right." The District Attorney picked up the telephone, was put through to the sheriff's ofTice, and asked for Bill Pcmberton. "This is Claude Drumm," he said. "Listen, Bill, we've got a dispute down here involving a couple of millionaires out on Milpas Drive. There's a ques- tion of a howling dog. One of them says the dog howls—the other says it doesn't. One of them says the other man's crazy." Bill Pemberton, deputy-sheriff of Los Angeles county, a thick-set fellow with a full face and very bushy brows, emitted a fat chuckle. "That's a hot one!" he exclaimed. "I didn't know the District Attorney had to settle quarrels about dogs. I didn't think you had the time. Why don't you throw those birds out on thoir *ars?" "I Would," laughed Drumm, "only BOY'S CINEMA Perry Mason stood between the two bodies with a finger to his lips, trying to visualise what had happened. it happens that Perry Mason Is here representing one of them. He demands an investigation." "I'll be right over," decided Pember- ton ; and in a, very few minutes he arrived and was introduced to Clinton Foley. "Hallo, Perry," he said to Mason. "Who are the witnesses?" It was Clinton Foley who replied. "Well, there's Arthur Cartwright, who claims the dog howls," he said, " and there's Cartwright's housekeeper. She may claim that .she heard the dog howl, but you'll find that she's as deaf as a post and couldn't hear thunder! Then there's my wife—of course, she's ill in bed. but she can talk to you. She knows that the dog's as quiet as a mouse. And then there's Miss Ben- ton, my housekeeper." "How about the dog hiinsclf?" sug- gested Pemberton. "He ought to have something to say about this." "Well, I think you'll find him a willing witness," said Foley. "Okay." said the deputy-sherifT. "Then let's get along." The District Attorney was left in full possession of his room, and the three set off for Milpas Drive in a limousine, which Clinton Foley drove. The city was left behind, the fashionable hill district beyond the Wilshire Boulevard was reached, and they descended from the vehicle in a branch of the con- creted way which divided the lawns of the two residences. Perry Mason gazed quickly about him. Ho noted various details about the hou.se on the left, v>hich ho assumed to be Cartwright's, and the number of windows in Foley's house on that side : but it was Foley's garage that interested him ipost. Its double doors were open and a touring car was visible inside. Part of the end wall liad been knocked down and three workmen were busy erecting the wooden ii uihl \%iu i^ of an extension. "Oh. room for three ears. ^I seel" he remarked. ''Going to drPvo them ill I yourself':"' " VVhv do vou ask that?'* demanded Foley. " "You said your chauffeur left last week." "I don't see that it concerns you," Foley snapped, "but I'm putting on an addition to my garage because I happen to want it that way. Any objections?" "None at all," replied Perry Mason blandly. Pemberton intervened. "Who do w:; talk to first?" ho inquired, a trifle impatiently. "Well, suit yourself." said Clinton Foley. "I think after you've talked with my wife you won't need to bother with any more witnesses." They were crossing the lawn, past two flower borders, wlien a girl came running out from the house—a brown- haired girl, plainly dressed, her hair parted down in the middle and plastered down at the sides as though to make herself as unattractive as possible. Her right hand was roughly bandaged and she looked scared. "Oh, Mr. Foley," she cried, "I—I must see you at once ! We've had some trouble." "My housekeeper." explained Foley. "What hap|>pnod?" "Prince bit mo."' she replied. Clinton Foley looked annoyed rather than sympathetic. "How did it happen?" he asked sharply. "Oh. I don't know," she faltered, '• hut I^I think he'd been poisoned. He acted sii:k. and I forced him to swallow some salt for an emetic. Then he bit me. I shut him up in your bath- room. He's better now." February 9tli, 1035.'