Read Online The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellery Queen
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found, Thomas? ”
“ Well, Inspector, ” replied the detective, ruffling the edges of his papers, “ it ’ s hard to say. This is half of the list ― the other half isn ’ t ready yet. But I think you ’ ll find something interesting here. ”
He handed Queen a batch of hastily written names and addresses. They were the names which the Inspector had ordered Velie to secure by interrogation of the audience.
Queen, with Ellery at his shoulder, examined the list, studying each name carefully. He was halfway through the sheaf when he stiffened. He squinted at the name which had halted him and looked up at Velie with a puzzled air.
“ Morgan, ” he said thoughtfully. “ Benjamin Morgan. Sounds mighty familiar, Thomas. What does it suggest to you? ”
Velie smiled frostily. “ I thought you ’ d ask me that, Inspector. Benjamin Morgan was Monte Field ’ s law partner until two years ago. ”
Queen nodded. The three men stared into each other ’ s eyes. Then the old man shrugged his shoulders and said briefly, “ Have to see some more of Mr. Morgan, I ’ m afraid. ”
He turned back to the list with a sigh. Again he studied each name, looking up at intervals reflectively, shaking his head, and going on. Velie, who knew Queen ’ s reputation for memory even more thoroughly than Ellery, watched his superior with respectful eyes.
Finally the Inspector handed the papers back to the detective. “ Nothing else, there, Thomas, ” he said. “ Unless you caught something that escaped me. Did you? ” His tone was grave.
Velie stared at the old man wordlessly, shook his head and started to walk away.
“ Just a minute, Thomas, ” called Queen. “ Before you get that second list completed, ask Mr. Morgan to step into Panzer ’ s office will you? Don ’ t scare him. And by the way, see that he has his ticket stub before he goes to the office. ” Velie departed.
The Inspector motioned to Panzer, who was watching a group of policemen being marshaled by detectives for Queen ’ s work. The stout little manager hurried up.
“ Mr. Panzer, ” inquired the Inspector, “ at what time do your scrubwomen generally start cleaning up? ”
“ Why, they ’ ve been here for quite a while now, Inspector, waiting to get to work. Most theatres are tidied early in the morning, but I ’ ve always had my employees come immediately after the evening performance. Just what is on your mind? ”
Ellery, who had frowned slightly when the Inspector spoke, brightened at the manager ’ s reply. He began to polish his pince-nez with satisfaction.
“ Here ’ s what I want you to do, Mr. Panzer, ” continued Queen evenly. “ Arrange to have your cleaning women make a particularly thorough search tonight, after everybody is gone. They must pick up and save everything ― everything, no matter how seemingly trivial ― and they ’ re to watch especially for ticket stubs. Can you trust these people? ”
“ Oh, absolutely, Inspector. They ’ ve been with the theatre ever since it was built. You may be sure that nothing will be overlooked. What shall I do with the sweepings? ”
“ Wrap them carefully, address them to me and send them by a trustworthy messenger to headquarters tomorrow morning. ” The Inspector paused. “ I want to impress upon you, Mr. Panzer, the importance of this task. It ’ s much more important than it seems. Do you understand? ”
“ Certainly, certainly! ” Panzer hastened away.
A detective with grizzled hair walked briskly across the carpet, turned down the left aisle and touched his hat to Queen. In his hand was a sheaf of papers resembling the one which Velie had presented.
“ Sergeant Velie had asked me to give you this list of names. He says that it ’ s the rest of the names and addresses of the people in the audience, Inspector. ”
Queen took the papers from the detective ’ s hand with a sudden show of eagerness. Ellery leaned forward. The old man ’ s eyes traveled slowly from
“ Well, Inspector, ” replied the detective, ruffling the edges of his papers, “ it ’ s hard to say. This is half of the list ― the other half isn ’ t ready yet. But I think you ’ ll find something interesting here. ”
He handed Queen a batch of hastily written names and addresses. They were the names which the Inspector had ordered Velie to secure by interrogation of the audience.
Queen, with Ellery at his shoulder, examined the list, studying each name carefully. He was halfway through the sheaf when he stiffened. He squinted at the name which had halted him and looked up at Velie with a puzzled air.
“ Morgan, ” he said thoughtfully. “ Benjamin Morgan. Sounds mighty familiar, Thomas. What does it suggest to you? ”
Velie smiled frostily. “ I thought you ’ d ask me that, Inspector. Benjamin Morgan was Monte Field ’ s law partner until two years ago. ”
Queen nodded. The three men stared into each other ’ s eyes. Then the old man shrugged his shoulders and said briefly, “ Have to see some more of Mr. Morgan, I ’ m afraid. ”
He turned back to the list with a sigh. Again he studied each name, looking up at intervals reflectively, shaking his head, and going on. Velie, who knew Queen ’ s reputation for memory even more thoroughly than Ellery, watched his superior with respectful eyes.
Finally the Inspector handed the papers back to the detective. “ Nothing else, there, Thomas, ” he said. “ Unless you caught something that escaped me. Did you? ” His tone was grave.
Velie stared at the old man wordlessly, shook his head and started to walk away.
“ Just a minute, Thomas, ” called Queen. “ Before you get that second list completed, ask Mr. Morgan to step into Panzer ’ s office will you? Don ’ t scare him. And by the way, see that he has his ticket stub before he goes to the office. ” Velie departed.
The Inspector motioned to Panzer, who was watching a group of policemen being marshaled by detectives for Queen ’ s work. The stout little manager hurried up.
“ Mr. Panzer, ” inquired the Inspector, “ at what time do your scrubwomen generally start cleaning up? ”
“ Why, they ’ ve been here for quite a while now, Inspector, waiting to get to work. Most theatres are tidied early in the morning, but I ’ ve always had my employees come immediately after the evening performance. Just what is on your mind? ”
Ellery, who had frowned slightly when the Inspector spoke, brightened at the manager ’ s reply. He began to polish his pince-nez with satisfaction.
“ Here ’ s what I want you to do, Mr. Panzer, ” continued Queen evenly. “ Arrange to have your cleaning women make a particularly thorough search tonight, after everybody is gone. They must pick up and save everything ― everything, no matter how seemingly trivial ― and they ’ re to watch especially for ticket stubs. Can you trust these people? ”
“ Oh, absolutely, Inspector. They ’ ve been with the theatre ever since it was built. You may be sure that nothing will be overlooked. What shall I do with the sweepings? ”
“ Wrap them carefully, address them to me and send them by a trustworthy messenger to headquarters tomorrow morning. ” The Inspector paused. “ I want to impress upon you, Mr. Panzer, the importance of this task. It ’ s much more important than it seems. Do you understand? ”
“ Certainly, certainly! ” Panzer hastened away.
A detective with grizzled hair walked briskly across the carpet, turned down the left aisle and touched his hat to Queen. In his hand was a sheaf of papers resembling the one which Velie had presented.
“ Sergeant Velie had asked me to give you this list of names. He says that it ’ s the rest of the names and addresses of the people in the audience, Inspector. ”
Queen took the papers from the detective ’ s hand with a sudden show of eagerness. Ellery leaned forward. The old man ’ s eyes traveled slowly from
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