Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday "Tliat \v;»s lopoitcd not (liiily minutes ago by Mis. Bolter liei-self." "Oh!" Perry drew ii long breath. "Thank you very much." He put down tlio telepJione, and he turned to (ho yellow-faced servant. " Well, it looks like protecting Mrs. Belter is going to prove dilficult," he vemarkoH. "On second thoughts, my lad, I'll have that drink of Scotch you ofTered." "Heh?" The Jap seemed to become suddenly alive. "Scotch?" "Scotcli," lepeated Perry firmly. "Oh, yes!" nodded the Jap. "Mc, too, sir!" Carl ariffln Talks IT Iiad been Perry Ma.son's intention to go homo to his bride after visit- ing Peter Milnor, but the words of (he desk sergeant at police headquarters caused him to change his plans, and from Mihior's house he drove back to the house in Elmwood Drive. Detective-Sergeant William IIofTman was already there, and so was th< coroner, and the place was swarming with plain-clothes men and uniformed officers. Long before Perry arrived the automatic and the empty cartridge had been sent off to headquarters, and the body had been examined by Wilbur Strong, after an official photographer had taken pictures in the study. A detective who had been on the telephone reported to Hoffman that there were no finger-prints on the gun, and that the ballistic expert was of the opinion that the gun had been fired twice. " A\v, he's crazy!" scoffed Hoflman. Perry entered the hall just as the body was being carried out on a stretcher by two police officers. "Good-morning, Riley," he .said. " Good-morning. Officer Blair. And Mr. Belter, as I live and die!" He passed on up the stairs and into the studj', where several pairs of eyes regarded him with blank astonishment. "I thought you were at Pinehurst!" exclaimed Hoffman. "Haven't you heard?" returned Perry i,landly. "I'm representing Mrs. Belter—Mrs. George C. Belter." Hoffman stalked over to liini. "Now, look here, Perry, what have you been uji to?" he demanded. "Up to Pinehurst." Perry sneezed violently. "Excuse me, I seem to have caught a cold. But it's lovely up there, bo.y3. The verdant vales, run- ning brooks, and whip-poor-wills Wilbur, you'd love the whip-poor-wills!" A sudden crash down in the hall sent them :ill out to the stairs. Carl (Jiiffin had fallen flat on his face just inside the front door, and had knocked over a fern-pot and the stand upon which it had 'tood. He raised his red head as they went down to him, and he said tipsily: "Darned slippery floois!" "You'll find," said Perry, "that this is Carl Griffin, nephew of the late Mr. Belter." Giiffin was lifted to his feet by a couple of policemen and half-carried into the drawing-room where Periy had made his acquaintance. There he v,as deposited in an easy-chair, and HofFman jerked afc the lapels of his coat. "Hi, Griffin, come on, snap out of it!" he roared. "Griffin, your uncle's been murdered! Hi, CJriflin!" Bleary blue eyes blinked at him, and their owner said thickly: "You're drunk!" "No, Griffin," snapped Hoffman, "you're the one that's druiik!" "Murdered," muttered the young jnan, "Did you shay murdered?" BOY'S CINEMA "Yes, murdered I" "Oh, then nmshla bceu that woman who did it—his wife." Periy, who was leaning over the sido of the diair, said sternly: "That was a very thoughtless remark, Air. Griffin." "Shut up, Perry, and beat it!" barked HolTman. Peiry moved towartls the door. " Pll just look around a bit," he said with a flip of his hand. "You may proceed with your usual questioning." Hoffman .'■hook the intoxicated young man again. "(irillin, come on, wake up!" he connnandcd harshly. "What makes you thiidv Mrs Belter killed her husliand ?" "1 don't think any such thing," was the nuunbled rejoiniler. "That's what you said!" "I didn't ^ay an.y such thing! I re- peat, you'ic drunk!" In tho hall. Perry encountered a par- ticularly trim and attractive nurse, who evidently had been summoned to look after Eva Belter by somebody, and wlw evidently took him to be one of the men from headquarters. "It's time for Mrs. Belter's hot milk," she informed him. "Right away," he assured her. "Yes, ma'am, delighted." She reascended the stairs; he went on to the kitchen. Mrs. Veite and her daughter were seated at the table in the kitchen, the housekeeper fully dressed, the girl in a wrap, and an ugly detective was standing by the table—with one foot on a chair—asking them questions. In the background a policeman was devouring a banana. Perry went straight to an ice-box and took a bottle of milk from one of its .shelves. He then went to the stove and poured some of the milk into a saucepan. Nobody seemed to have noticed him, and before he put the 15 saucepan back on (he stove he took a litlle packet from his waistcoat jiocket and enipiied nearly all its conten(s inio (lu> milk. They were sleeping lablels which his doctor had given him for his own use. "You slop badgering my daughter!" Mrs. Vei(e i ried fiere<'lv. " You heard (Iks shot, you know you did!" (he ugly detective rapped at tho girl Norma. "You're lying!" "No, sir," she declared. "The first thing I knew when 1 woke up, (hero was a man standing by the bed looking down at nie—a detective!" "Aw, come on, sister!" growled tho ugly questioner. "You must have some idea about .the nunder!" " She hasn't any id<'as that would bear repeating," snapped Mrs. Veite. "I'll get to you in a minule, sour puss!" the detective blazed. "Well, it won't do you any good," was the instant retort. "I'm a servant, and I'see nothing and I hear nothing." " Atta, gnl!" approved Perry loudly. "Hold 'em, Yale!" Tho detective sv,ung round and saw him with the glass of milk in his hand. "Say, who are you?" he exploded. "I'm the sand-man," Perry replied with calm, and he walked off (o the butler's [jantry to get a silver tiay on v.hich to staiid the glass. Tho butler was in the pantry and was being bullied by two plain-clothes men. He looked the worse for wear. "No, the only other caller was a Air. Garwood," Perry heard him declare, "who left in quite a huff. Of course, I told you about Mr. Mason." " Are you sure you didn't hear a shot?" "No, sir. I retired just after Mr. Mason left—a few minutes before nine." Perry had selected a suitable tray, and was about to retreat with the glass Almost sitting on one heel. Perry proceeded to make notes. An auto« matic lay near, and not far from it an empty cartridge-case engaged bis attention. January 9th, 1937.