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

I said I couldn ’ t get it that minute but that I ’ d duck out and buy a bottle for him right after the second act started. He walked away ― after tellin ’ me where he was sitting ― I saw him go back into the theatre. As soon as the intermission ended and the usherette closed the doors, I left my stand in the alleyway and hopped across the street to Libby ’ s ice-cream parlor. I ―”
    “ Do you usually leave your stand in the alley, Jess? ”
    “ No, sir. I always hop inside the doors with the stand just before she locks the doors, and then take it downstairs to the lounge. But the man said he wanted the ginger ale right away, so I figured I ’ d save time by getting the bottle for him first. Then I thought I ’ d go back into the alley, get my stand, and bring it into the theatre through the front door. No-body ’ d say anything . . . . Anyway, I left the stand in the alley and ran over to Libby ’ s. I bought a bottle of Paley ’ s ginger ale, sneaked it inside to this man, and he gave me a buck. Pretty nice of him, I thought, seeing as how he ’ d only promised me four bits. ”
    “ You told that very nicely, Jess, ” said the Inspector with approval. “ Now, a few things more. Was he sitting in this seat ― was this the seat he told you to come to? ”
    “ Oh, yes, sir. He said LL32 Left, and sure enough that ’ s where I found him. ”
    “ Quite right. ” The Inspector, after a pause, asked casually, “ Did you notice if he was alone, Jess? ”
    “ Sure thing, sir, ” returned the boy in a cheerful tone. “ He was sittin ’ all alone on this end seat. The reason I noticed it was that the show ’ s been packed ever since it opened, and I thought it was queer that there should be so many seats empty around here. ”
    “ That ’ s fine, Jess. You ’ ll make a detective yet . . . . You couldn ’ t tell me how many seats were empty, I suppose? ”
    “ Well, sir, it was kind of dark and I wasn ’ t pay in ’ much attention. I guess it was about half a dozen all told ― some next to him in the same row and some right in the row in front. ”
    “ Just a moment, Jess. ” The boy turned, licking his lips in honest fright at the sound of Ellery ’ s low cool voice. “ Did you see anything more of that shiny topper when you handed him the bottle of ginger ale? ” asked Ellery, tapping the point of his neat shoe with his stick.
    “ Why, yes ― yes, sir! ” stammered the boy. “ When I gave him the bottle he was holding the hat in his lap, but before I left I saw him stick it underneath his seat. ”
    “ Another question, Jess. ” The boy sighed with relief at the sound of the Inspector ’ s reassuring voice. “ About how long, do you reckon, did it take you to deliver the bottle to this man after the second act started? ”
    Jess Lynch thought gravely for a moment, and then said with finality, “ It was just about ten minutes, sir. We got to keep pretty close tabs on the time, and I know it was ten minutes because when I came into the theatre with the bottle it was just the part on the stage when the girl is caught in the gang ’ s hangout and is being grilled by the villain. ”
    “ An observant young Hermes! ” murmured Ellery, smiling suddenly. The orangeade boy caught the smile and lost the last vestige of his fear. He smiled back. Ellery crooked his finger and bent forward. “ Tell me, Jess. Why did it take you ten minutes to cross the street, buy a bottle of ginger ale and return to the theatre? Ten minutes is a long time, isn ’ t it? ”
    The boy turned scarlet as he looked appealingly from Ellery to the Inspector. “ Well, sir ― I guess I stopped to talk for a few minutes with my girl . . . . ”
    “ Your girl? ” The Inspector ’ s voice was mildly curious.
    “ Yes, sir. Elinor Libby ― her old man owns the ice-cream parlor. She ― she wanted me to stay there in the store with her when I went for the ginger ale. I told her I had to deliver it in the