The Case of the Singing Skirt by Erle Stanley Gardner Read Free Book Online Page B

remember it, but she was making some wild accusations, claiming that George and his partner had framed her. Just keep an eye on those boys, Perry, and remember they've got the town all sewed up. If you have any trouble with George Anclitas, don't leave your car parked in front of a fireplug in Rowena or you'll be in jail for six months. And if they can get you where there are no witnesses, they'll charge you with resisting an officer and show bruises on your face to prove the charge."
    "A nice cozy little setup," Mason said.
    "It is for a fact," Drake told him. "Well, I'll be on my way, Perry. I'm keeping on the job on that Finsley case. I expect to hear something definite by tomorrow. You get back to your dictation."
    "Thank you, Paul," Della Street said sweetly.
    "I like to make him work," Drake said and left the office.
    Perry Mason sighed, said, "One cup of coffee and one cigarette, Della."
    "All right," she said, "only answer those two top letters while you're sipping the coffee and smoking the cigarette."
    "Slave driver!" he charged.
    Della Street adjusted her shorthand notebook on her knee. "I'm the slave," she said. "What do you want to tell that fellow?"
    Della Street's phone rang while she was in the midst of taking Mason's dictation on the letter.
    Della said, "Hello," listened, then cupped her hand over the mouthpiece and said to Perry Mason, "Your girl friend."
    Mason raised his eyebrows.
    "Ellen Robb," Della Street said.
    "All right," Mason said, "we've wasted enough time with her, Della. She can't keep dropping in on us this way without an appointment. Tell Gertie to explain to her I'm busy, that I see clients only by appointment and… well, you'd better go out and tell her yourself. I don't want to be too obvious with the brush-off. I'm afraid this is getting to be one of those things."
    "I'll send her on her way," Della Street said.
    She pushed back her chair, walked quickly out of the office, and Mason, waiting to resume his dictation, studied the letter to which he had been replying. After some thirty seconds he began to frown impatiently. He put the letter down, took a cigarette from the silver case on the office desk and was just lighting it when Della Street returned to the office.
    "Perhaps I've been uncharitable," she said.
    "What is it?" Mason said.
    "This time," Della Street said, "she has a story and a black eye."
    "How come the black eye?"
    "George."
    Mason's face darkened. "I'm afraid," he said, "George needs something in the way of a lesson."
    "I thought you might feel that way."
    "How's she dressed?" Mason asked.
    "Same outfit she had on yesterday," Della Street said, "and she'll probably lean over and put her hands on the arm of your chair. But… well, Chief, you have to feel sorry for her. She's been batted around, and, after all, that figure of hers is her showcase. And someone has planted a gun in her baggage."
    "A gun?" Mason asked.
    Della Street nodded.
    "So," Mason said, smiling, "I take it you didn't send her on her way."
    Della Street shook her head. "I told her that I thought perhaps you'd be able to see her, that you were very busy this morning and that you usually only saw people by appointment but that you might be able to see her. She's quite upset."
    "Let's take a look," Mason said. "Bring her in. This gun business-I don't understand that. Tell her to come in. But I warn you, Della, I'm going to put her through a wringer this time."
    "The poor kid is pretty much upset," Della said.
    "You've changed your tune quite rapidly," Mason observed.
    "I have," she admitted. "If there's anything that riles me it's the idea of these big burly men who demonstrate their manhood by hitting a good-looking girl in the eye. I hope you take this man George and put him through the hoops. After all, Miss Robb didn't sign anything, and there really wasn't any settlement within the legal meaning of the term. I think sticking George for about five thousand dollars would teach him a mighty good