The Case of the Troubled Trustee by Erle Stanley Gardner Read Free Book Online

out of the apartment. He was hurrying, but he took one look and saw that police car and his gait slowed to a saunter and he came idling across the street while the cops jumped out of the radio car and went dashing into the apartment house."
    "Then what?"
    "Dutton drove off and-"
    "Hang it, Paul," Mason said, "I wanted Dutton followed."
    "Me's being followed. I had a relief here. I thought I'd make a report myself because the relief wouldn't have any opportunity. They were going-fast."
    "What happened?"
    "Well, I talked with one of the cops when they came out. They had Hedley with them, but Hedley was pretty much the worse for wear. I think he's going to have a sore nose for a couple of days and there's blood all over his shirt. He's also got one eye swelling shut, and the way he talked, his lips were pretty well puffed up.
    "As nearly as I can get the story, Hedley started the brawl. Me caught Dutton up in this girl's apartment and there were words, and then Hedley took a swing and from that point on the party got rough."
    "And Hedley got the worst of it?" Mason asked.
    "Well, he certainly didn't get the best of it. Dutton didn't have a mark on him, but Hedley looked as if he'd been put through a washing machine."
    "What did the cops do?"
    "They turned him loose after they got him outside, but I heard enough of the conversation to learn that they figured he was the one who started it."
    "What was Hedley saying?"
    "He was going to swear out a warrant for Dutton's arrest for assault and battery and anything else. The officers didn't seem too much impressed, however, and told Hedley he'd better pick up the tab for damages on the apartment of a Miss Ellis in 321, or he might find himself facing trouble."
    Mason turned to Della Street, who was smiling broadly.
    "Well, Della," Mason said, "I guess things turned out the way you wanted them to, and on that note, since the crisis seems to have passed, since Dutton is being tailed, we'll call it a day."
    "And," Della Street said, demurely, "thank you for a lovely dinner."
    "Dinner!" Drake said. "That damn candy bar has been repeating on me for the last hour."
    Mason said, "I suggest the cafй where you reached us, Paul. It has wonderful extra-cut rare roast beef, baked potatoes, onion rings and salad. And, of course, since you're still on duty, the cost of the dinner would be an acceptable expense in the eyes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue."
    Drake's eyes were anguished. "A couple of hours ago," he said, "I could have eaten a live horse. Now, with the taste of that synthetic chocolate in my mouth, I don't want anything except a glass of warm milk and later on a little bicarbonate of soda."

Chapter Seven
    The next morning Mason stopped in at Paul Drake's office on the way down the corridor to his own office.
    The receptionist said, "Mr. Drake's down in your office, Mr. Mason, waiting to see you on an important matter. He telephoned Miss Street and she said you were expected in about this time so he went down to wait.'' "I'll go on down," Mason said. "But tell me first, where's our quarry?"
    The girl at the telephone desk smiled and said, "I'm not supposed to know, but Mr. Drake received a telephone call from Ensenada, Mexico, just before he telephoned Miss Street."
    "That," Mason said, "will make a nice vacation."
    The lawyer was smiling as he walked down the corridor and opened the door of his private office.
    "Good morning, Della," he said. "Hi, Paul, how are you? I've been thinking we're working too hard. How would you folks like to break away from routine for a day and drive down to Ensenada, Mexico?
    "That's a wonderful Mexican city, wonderful food, sweet lobsters, the caquama, or big turtle from the Gulf, enchiladas, chile con came, refried frijoles, ice cold Mexican beer-"
    "Hush," Della Street said, "you're breaking Paul's heart. He had stomach trouble last night."
    "How come?" Mason asked.
    Drake shook his head. "I knew when I was getting into this business what the