Read Online Calamity Town by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page B

headache!’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜You said you were going to bed!’
    â€˜I am.’
    â€˜Don’t quibble!’
    â€˜Why not? You raise such unimportant points, Mr Bradford.’
    Carter’s arms flapped under the unfriendly stars. ‘You lied to get rid of me. You didn’t want me around. You had a date with this scribbler! Don’t deny it!’
    â€˜I do deny it.’ Pat’s voice softened. ‘I did lie to you, Cart, but I didn’t have a date with Ellery.’
    â€˜That,’ remarked Mr Queen from his observation post, ‘happens to be the truth.’
    â€˜Stick your two cents out, Smith!’ shouted Carter. ‘I’m trying to keep my temper or I’d drape you over the lawn!’
    Mr ‘Smith’ grinned and held his peace.
    â€˜All right, so I’m jealous,’ muttered Cart. ‘But you don’t have to be a sneak, Pat! If you don’t want me, say so.’
    â€˜This has nothing to do with my wanting you or not wanting you,’ said Pat in a timid-turtle voice.
    â€˜Well, do you or don’t you?’
    Pat’s eyes fell. ‘You’ve no right to ask me that—here—now.’ Her eyes flashed up. ‘You wouldn’t want a sneak, anyway, would you?’
    â€˜All right! Have it your way!’
    â€˜Cart…!’
    His voice came back in a bellow of defiance. ‘I’m through!’
    Pat ran off toward the big white house.
    Thought Mr Queen as he watched her slim figure race across the lawn: In a way it’s better…much better. You don’t know what you’re in for. And Mr Carter Bradford, when you meet him next, may very well be an enemy.
    When Ellery returned from his pre-breakfast walk the next morning, he found Nora and her mother whispering on the Wright porch. ‘Good morning!’ he said cheerfully. ‘Enjoy the lecture last night?’
    â€˜It was very interesting.’ Nora looked distressed, and Hermione preoccupied, so Ellery began to go into the house.
    â€˜Mr Smith,’ said Hermy. ‘Oh, dear, I don’t know how to say it! Nora dear—’
    â€˜Ellery, what happened here last night?’ asked Nora.
    â€˜Happened?’ Ellery looked blank.
    â€˜I mean with Pat and Carter. You were home—’
    â€˜Is anything wrong with Pat?’ asked Ellery quickly.
    â€˜Of course there is. She won’t come down to breakfast. She won’t answer any questions. And when Pat sulks—’
    â€˜It’s Carter’s fault,’ Hermy burst out. ‘I thought there was something queer about her “headache” last night! Please, Mr Smith, if you know anything about it—if something happened after we went to Town Hall last night which her mother ought to know—’
    â€˜Has Pat broken off with Cart?’ asked Nora anxiously. ‘No, you don’t have to answer, Ellery. I can see it in your face. Mother, you’ll simply have to give Patty a talking-to. She can’t keep doing this sort of thing to Cart.’
    Ellery walked Nora back to the little house. As soon as they were out of earshot of Mrs Wright, Nora said: ‘Of course you had something to do with it.’
    â€˜I?’ asked Mr Queen.
    â€˜Well…don’t you agree Pat’s in love with Carter? I’m sure you could help by not making Carter jealous—’
    â€˜Mr Bradford,’ said Mr Queen, ‘would be jealous of a postage stamp Patty licked.’
    â€˜I know. He’s so hotheaded, too! Oh, dear.’ Nora sighed. ‘I’m making a mess of it. Will you forgive me? And come in to breakfast?’
    â€˜Yes to both questions.’ And as he helped Nora up the porch steps, he wondered just how guilty he really was.
    Jim was full of political talk, and Nora…Nora was wonderful. No other word for it, thought Ellery. Watching and listening, he could detect no least tinkle of falsity. They seemed so