The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page A

sir. ”
    “ Then you know something about this ginger-ale bottle? ”
    The boy peered about, saw the stout small form of Louis Panzer on the stage, about to make an announcement, and leaning forward, whispered, “ Yes, sir ― I do know about that bottle. I ― I didn ’ t want to tell before because Mr. Panzer ’ s a strict guy when it comes to breaking rules, and he ’ d fire me in a minute if he knew what I did. You won ’ t tell, sir? ”
    The Inspector started, then smiled. “ Shoot, son. You ’ ve got something on your conscience ― might as well get it off. ” He relaxed and at a flick of a finger Hagstrom unconcernedly walked away.
    “ This is how it happened, sir, ” began Jess Lynch eagerly. “ I ’ d set my stand up in the alley here about five minutes before the end of the first act, like we ’ re supposed to. When the girl on this aisle opened the doors after the first act, I began to give the people comin ’ out a nice refined selling chatter. We all do. A lot of people bought drinks and I was so busy I didn ’ t have time to notice anything going on around me. In a little while I had a breathing spell, and then a man came up to me and said, ‘ Let me have a bottle of ginger ale, boy. ’ I looked up and saw he was a ritzy feller in evening dress, actin ’ kind of tipsy. He was laughing to himself and he looked pretty happy. I says to myself, ‘ I bet I know what he wants ginger ale for! ’ and sure enough he taps his back pocket and winks. Well ―”
    “ Just a minute son, ” interrupted Queen. “ Ever see a dead man before? ”
    “ Why ― why, no, sir, but I guess I could stand it once, ” said the boy nervously.
    “ Fine! Is this the man who asked you for the ginger ale? ” The Inspector took the boy by the arm and made him bend over the dead body.
    Jess Lynch regarded it with awed fascination. He bobbed his head vigorously.
    “ Yes, sir. That ’ s the gentleman. ”
    “ You ’ re sure of that now, Jess? ” The boy nodded. “ By the way, is that the outfit he was wearing when he accosted you? ”
    “ Yes, sir. ”
    “ Anything missing, Jess? ” Ellery, who had been nestling in a dark corner, leaned forward a little.
    The boy regarded the Inspector with puzzlement on his face, looking from Queen to the body and back again. He was silent for a full minute, while the Queens hung on his words. Then his face lit up suddenly and he cried, “ Why ― yes, sir! He was wearin ’ a hat ― a shiny topper ― when he spoke to me! ”
    Inspector Queen looked pleased. “ Go on, Jess ― Doc Prouty! It ’ s taken you a long time getting here. What held you up? ”
    A tall lanky man had come striding across the carpet, a black bag in his hand. He was smoking a vicious-looking cigar with no apparent concern for local fire rules, and appeared in something of a hurry.
    “ You said something there, Inspector, ” he said, setting down the bag and shaking hands with both Ellery and Queen. “ You know we just moved and I haven ’ t got my new phone yet. I had a hard day today and I was in bed anyway. They couldn ’ t get hold of me ― had to send a man around to my new place. I rushed down here as fast as I could. Where ’ s the casualty? ”
    He dropped to his knees in the aisle as the Inspector indicated the body on the floor. A policeman was summoned to hold a flashlight as the Assistant Medical Examiner worked.
    Queen took Jess Lynch by the arm and walked him off to one side. “ What happened after he asked you for the ginger ale, Jess? ”
    The boy, who had been staring at the proceedings, gulped and continued. “ Well, sir, of course I told him that we didn ’ t sell ginger ale, only orangeade. He leaned a little closer, and then I could smell the booze on his breath. He says confidentially, ‘ There ’ s a half dollar in it for you if you get me a bottle, kid! But I want it right away! ’ Well ― you know how it is ― they don ’ t give tips nowadays . . . . Anyway,