The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece by Erle Stanley Gardner Read Free Book Online Page A

had left the room, then moved quickly down the long corridor. Edna Hammer was waiting for him, the door of her room open. Mason handed her the cup of coffee, said in a whisper, "You didn't tell me whether you liked sugar or cream, so I took a chance."
    "Just so it's hot coffee," she said. "My Lord, I feel all in!"
    "Cheer up," he told her. "It'll soon be over. We'll know by ten o'clock, perhaps a little before."
    She took the coffee, thanked him with a smile, slipped into the room and closed the door. Mason returned to the living room. The butler, cleaning up the things, said, "Your cup and saucer, sir?"
    Mason made a shrugging gesture. "Set it down somewhere," he observed, "and can't remember where. Doubtless it'll show up. I was looking at some of the paintings in the corridor and then I walked out into the patio for a while."
    "Very good, sir," the butler said.
    "What's your name?" Mason asked.
    "Arthur – Arthur Coulter."
    "You act as chauffeur as well as butler?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "What make of car does Mr. Kent have?"
    "A Packard sedan and a Ford cabriolet. I'm getting out the sedan this morning. I believe he said you were to drive it."
    "That's right. You'd better get started, Arthur."
    The butler vanished with the smooth, noiseless efficiency of a well-trained domestic. A moment later, Kent, carrying a suitcase and an overcoat, stood in the doorway, said, You'd better get your coat, Mr. Mason."
    "It's in the hall," Mason answered.
    He went to the reception hall, found his coat and hat. Almost at once they were joined by Lucille Mays. Kent opened the door. There was the sound of a purring automobile motor. The beams of headlights crept around the curve in the driveway. A shiny Packard sedan slid smoothly to a stop. Coulter climbed from the driver's seat, opened the car doors, handed in the two light bags. Mason slid in behind the wheel, laughed and said, "There should be one or two more. I feel as if I were chaperoning a honeymoon."
    "You," Kent told him, "are Cupid."
    "It's a new role," Mason said, "but I'll try to live up to it." He slid back the shifting lever, eased in the clutch and as the car purred into smooth motion, said, "Let's go over things now to be sure we have everything straight."
    Kent pulled up one of the folding seats, sat in it and leaned forward so that his head was within a few inches of Mason's shoulder. "I'm to go directly to the courthouse in Yuma," he said. "Is that right?"
    Mason nodded and for a few moments gave his attention to shifting gears. Then he said, without taking his eyes from the road, "Yes. Hunt up the telephone operator if they have a private switchboard, and, if they don't, find out who answers the telephone in the clerk's office. Tell them you're expecting an important call and make arrangements so it'll come through without delay. I'll telephone you as soon as the final decree has been granted.
    "After that, you can make headquarters at the Winslow Hotel at Yuma. Wait there. If you don't hear from me again by six o'clock in the afternoon you can start on a honeymoon, but let me know where I can locate you."
    "You're going to file action against Maddox?" Kent asked.
    Mason's jaw squared. "I'm going to take that boy down the line," he promised, "but I think we'll file the action in Chicago. There's a matter of venue I want to look up."
    "You'll let him know that there'll be no compromise?"
    "You can leave Maddox to me," Mason said grimly, pushing the accelerator down almost to the floorboards.

CHAPTER VIII
    PERRY MASON tapped gently on the door of Edna Hammer's bedroom. She opened it and said, "How did you leave the honeymooners?"
    "Very much up in the air," he answered, grinning, "and I hope you don't throw me out for that one."
    "Come in and tell me about it. Remember, I'm a woman, and marriage means a lot to us, so don't you omit one single detail."
    Mason seated himself, grinned and said, "We went to the airport. A pilot with a helmet dangling in one hand came forward and