Drury Lane’s Last Case by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online

“Come in!” and they entered a small dusty office illuminated by the rays of the typically feeble New York sun which crept in through a high-barred window.
    J. Theofel proved to be an oldish young man with deep lines incised in his face. “Yes?” he said sharply, looking up from a chart. His eyes lingered over Patience, and then turned upon the Inspector.
    â€œName’s Thumm,” growled the Inspector. “Miss Thumm. I’m the guy called you this morning about Fisher.”
    â€œOh,” said Theofel slowly, leaning back. “Sit down, Miss Thumm. Just what’s the trouble, Inspector? I’m afraid I didn’t get it straight this morning over the ’phone.”
    â€œNo trouble. Not even a case.” Thumm stared hard. “How’d you know I’m an Inspector?”
    Theofel smiled briefly. “I’m not as young as I look. I remember the time when your picture was in the paper darned near every day.”
    â€œOh,” said Thumm. “Cigar?” Theofel shook his head. “Well,” continued Thumm, seating himself with an expansive grunt, “we’re just looking into something that smells a little rotten. Tell me, Mr. Theofel. Who arranged for the rental of a bus for that party of school-teachers from Indiana?”
    The manager blinked. “I believe——Here, I’ll make sure.” He rose, rummaged in a bulging file, and picked out a memorandum. “I thought so. Gentleman by the name of Onderdonk. Seemed to be acting as manager of the party. He wrote us a letter a couple of weeks ago and on Friday ’phoned me from the Park Hill Hotel.”
    â€œTo arrange for yesterday’s tour?” asked Patience, frowning.
    â€œNot exactly, Miss Thumm. That was only part of it. He wanted us to give his party bus service for the entire week they were in town.”
    â€œSo they went out Saturday and Sunday, too?” demanded Thumm.
    â€œOh, yes. And they’ll be going out to-day and to-morrow and the rest of the week as well. Quite an itinerary. Little unusual, in fact. We gave them a special rate, of course.”
    â€œHmm. There were seventeen from the beginning, hey?”
    â€œSeventeen? That’s right.”
    â€œNo more than seventeen went Saturday or Sunday?”
    Theofel stared at him. Then he said grimly: “No more were supposed to go, if that’s what you’re driving at. Wait a minute.” He picked up one of the several telephones at his elbow; apparently it was a private line that did not go through the central exchange, for he said at once: “Barbey. Send Shalleck and Brown up here” He replaced the receiver, slowly
    â€œBarbey,” said the Inspector “The starter, hey?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI see,” said the Inspector, and applied a match to his cigar.
    The door opened and two of the stalwarts in uniform marched in.
    â€œBrown,” said Theofel sternly to the first, “you took out that Park Hill school-teacher crowd on Saturday. Count ’em?”
    Brown looked startled. “Sure. Seventeen, Mr. Theofel.”
    The manager gave him a sharp glance, and then turned to his companion. “You, Shalleck?”
    â€œSeventeen, Chief.”
    â€œYou’re positive, now, both of you?”
    They nodded confidently.
    â€œAll right, men.”
    They turned to go. “Just a minute,” said the Inspector pleasantly. “I think you’d better send that starter Barbey up here when you get downstairs, boys.”
    The manager nodded at the men’s inquiring looks. “You think——?” he began fretfully when the door had closed upon the two men.
    â€œI know,” grinned the Inspector. “You let me handle him, Mr. Theofel. This is my meat.” He rubbed his hands and looked sideways at Patience, who was frowning. Thumm had never quite conquered the colossal wonder of paternity; for fatherhood had struck home to