The Dragon’s Teeth by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page A

everybody to share my wonderful luck!”
    That sobered Violet. “Kerrie, you’re not going to be a fool? Queen, she’ll just throw it away, I know she will. She’ll be the softest touch in the universe. Every dead-beat in Hollywood—”
    â€œI’ll see her through the first pains,” said Beau shortly. “It’s my job to get her safely back to New York.”
    â€œAren’t you the darling?” Kerrie stretched. “Oh, I feel so swell! And, Vi, the first thing we’re going to do is take your name off the list at Central Casting. No more extra work for you! You’re coming East with me, as my—as my companion. That’s what you’re going to do—”
    â€œKerrie! No!”
    â€œYou are. At a salary of—of—no salary at all! You’ll just share everything with me!”
    â€œOh, Kerrie.” And the blonde laid her head on Kerrie’s breast, and wept, and that started Kerrie off, too, and Beau disgustedly finished what was left in the bottle.
    It was a mad night, and Kerrie was drunk with the wonderful madness of it. Surveying the disordered room as the sun came up and touched the faces of the two girls, exhaustedly asleep in each other’s arms, Beau wondered just how Miss Kerrie Shawn, heiress to the Cole fortune, recipient of twenty-five hundred dollars a week just so long as she remained unmarried, would react to the inevitable hangover.
    BUT it was destined to be a long debauch.
    The landlady, true to Beau’s prediction, did her joyous work. On the heels of daylight came a rush of reporters and photographers that engulfed the shabby little stucco house like a Pacific tidal wave. They yanked their copy out of Violet Day’s arms and, scarcely permitting her to rub the sleep out of her eyes, overwhelmed her. In five minutes the floor was treacherous with blackened bulbs. Beau, roused by the bedlam, had to fight his way through an excited mass of roomers. He spent a busy half-hour then, careful to keep the press from photographing him, evicting them one at a time.
    When the room was clear he said: “Well, Cinderella, how do you like it?”
    â€œI’m … a little scared,” said Kerrie, “but—I think I do!”
    â€œWell, I’ll have to tear you away. Get some sleep and then we’ll talk about going to New York.”
    â€œIs there really a rush?” pleaded Kerrie. “There are so many things I’ve got to do! Clothes, hair, face—”
    Vi winked at him, and he left. But only to nap for another hour, bathe, shave, dress, and sit down outside her locked door.
    Vi awoke first. He had a long talk with her, in undertones. There were several things he must do. Establish credit through New York. Corral her proofs of identity, and so on. He would be back as soon as he could. Meanwhile, Vi was to guard Kerrie with her life.
    Vi said fervently: “Thank heaven for a man! Queen, I had my doubts, but you’re okay. Hurry back, will you?”
    He left the house with the brim of his hat far down over his eyes.
    He had a long talk with Lloyd Goossens by telephone. Then he called Ellery in the Adirondacks.
    â€œI’m glad it turned out all right,” said Ellery. “Get the girl back East, Beau, and go to work on Margo Cole.”
    â€œHave a heart,” growled Beau. “The kid’s in a fever. Give her time. I’ll get her back as soon as I can.”
    â€œWell, don’t bite my nose off,” said Ellery. “What’s the matter, Beau? You sound strange.”
    â€œWho, me?” said Beau, and he hung up. By the time he got round to the bank, Goossens had established an account there for Kerrie Shawn in the name of Ellery Queen.
    When he returned to Argyle Avenue the narrow little street was black with people. Beau looked gloomy. He knew what lay ahead.
    The next week was the hardest of his life. He was bodyguard, lawyer, big brother, and