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

has it occurred to you that this whole thing arose out of a man named Cadmus?”
    Beau stared. “Cadmus? Cadmus Cole? So what?”
    â€œDon’t you remember the legend of Cadmus, or Kadmos, King of Sidon, who founded Thebes and brought the sixteen-letter alphabet to Greece?”
    â€œNo,” said Beau. “I don’t.”
    â€œWhere were you educated?” sighed Mr. Queen. “At any rate, mythology tells us that Cadmus went on a quest—those old mythological boys were always going on quests—and suffered many hardships and perils, and one of the silly things he had to do was sow the dragon’s teeth.”
    â€œLook, friend,” said Beau. “I’ve gotta amble on up—”
    â€œThe dragon’s teeth,” repeated Mr. Queen thoughtfully. “Quite. Quite. Cadmus sowed the dragon’s teeth, and out of each tooth sprang—trouble. Trouble, Beau!”
    â€œOh,” said Mr. Rummell quietly.
    â€œOur own Cadmus sowed a few dragon’s teeth himself when he wrote that will,” said Mr. Queen. “So watch, Beau. Everybody—especially De Carlos.”
    â€œDe Carlos!” Beau grew angry. “Yeah, De Carlos. I don’t like the way that baboon looks at Kerrie. And living in the same house.… Maybe you’re right. Maybe I ought to stick around.”
    Mr. Queen smiled. “And now that that’s settled, what have you heard from Santiago de Cuba?”
    â€œNo progress so far. Angus and the Argonaut’s crew have simply disappeared.… Excuse me,” said Beau, preoccupied. “I think I’ll mosey on up to Tarrytown to see—Margo.”
    â€œSend her my love,” murmured Mr. Queen.
    THE fairy princess, alias Cinderella, was unhappy. That was against all the rules, and Violet Day told her so emphatically. Vi was a tower of strength and comfort these days. Kerrie didn’t know what she would have done without her.
    For one thing, there was Margo. Margo had begun to loom large in Kerrie’s life. She tried to dominate the house, even that part of it which was exclusively Kerrie’s. When she had her own suite redecorated in French provincial, she insisted the whole house be done over in the same style and period. Kerrie defended her maple and chintzes bitterly, challenging Margo’s authority. Margo said something in French which sounded unladylike, and Kerrie’s eyes flashed fire, and more than feelings would have been wounded had Beau not arrived at that critical moment. Of course, Kerrie instantly withdrew.
    â€œLet her try,” said Kerrie passionately to Vi. “Just let her! I’ll punch her in the nose.”
    Then there was Beau, or “Ellery,” as he was known to that turbulent household. He seemed always to be there. Kerrie tried hard to be polite to him, but her good resolutions broke down and she turned frigid. For he seemed to have become completely infatuated with Margo; he was with her constantly, flattering her, fetching things like a puppy, taking her out.
    And Margo’s attitude, of course, was nearly impossible to endure. She was always glancing at Kerrie slyly, and then whispering to Beau, and the two of them would laugh as if they shared some secret, and Kerrie found them so hateful that when she saw Beau she would run away—to the stables for a furious canter, to swim in the big outdoor pool with Vi, to go sailing on the river in the little skiff she had bought, or for a tramp through the woods surrounding the estate.
    â€œIf I could only go somewhere,” she said fiercely to Vi. “Vi, she’s deliberately humiliating me! She takes every opportunity to wave him in my face, like a—like a flag!”
    â€œThen why don’t you go away?” asked Vi practically.
    â€œI can’t! I’ve asked Mr. Goossens, but uncle’s will calls for my remaining on the grounds a full year, and he says there’s nothing he can do