“I refuse to submit to this third degree.”
“Sorry! But it’s plain you do know something. You’ve known something from the time you came to Wrightsville. What you know has forced you to come to Jim’s defense. What is it?”
The newspaperwoman gathered her gloves and silver-fox coat and bag. ”There are times, Mr. Smith,” she said, “when I dislike you very much . . . No, please, Mrs. Wright. Don’t bother.” She went out with a quick step.
Mr. Queen stared at the space she had just vacated. ”I thought,” he said apologetically, “I might be able to irritate it out of her.”
“I think,” said Judge Martin reflectively, “I’ll have a heart-to-heart talk with that female.”
Ellery shrugged. ”Lola.”
“Me?” said Lola, surprised. ”What did I do, teacher?”
“You’ve concealed something, too.”
Lola stared. Then she laughed and lit a cigarette. ”You are in a Scotland Yard mood tonight, aren’t you?”
“Don’t you think the time has come,” smiled Mr. Queen, “to tell Judge Martin about your visit to the back door of Nora’s house just before midnight New Year’s Eve?”
“Lola!” gasped Hermy. ”You were there?”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all, Mother,” said Lola impatiently. ”It hasn’t a thing to do with the case. Of course, Judge, I’ll tell you. But as long as we’re being constructive, how about the eminent Mr. Smith getting to work?”
“At what?” asked the eminent Mr. Smith.
“My dear Smarty-Pants, you know a lot more than you’ve let on!”
“Lola,” said Nora, in despair. ”Oh, all this wrangling¯”
“Don’t you think,” cried Pat, “that if there were something Ellery could do, he’d do it?”
“I dunno,” said Lola critically, squinting at the culprit through her cigarette smoke. ”He’s a tough ‘un to figure.”
“Just a minute,” said Judge Martin. ”Smith, if you know anything at all, I want to put you on the stand!”
“If I thought going on the stand for you would help, Judge,” protested Ellery, “I’d do it. But it won’t. On the contrary, it would hurt¯a lot.”
“Hurt Jim’s case?”
“It would just about cement his conviction.”
John F. spoke for the first time. ”You mean you know Jim is guilty, young man?”
“I didn’t say that,” growled Ellery. ”But my testimony would make things look so black against him¯it would establish so clearly that no one but Jim could have poisoned that cocktail¯that you wouldn’t be able to shake it with the Supreme Court to help you. I mustn’t take the stand”
“Mr. Smith.”
Chief Dakin, alone . . .
“Sorry to bust in this way, folks,” said the police chief gruffly, “but this was one subpoena I had to serve myself.”
“Subpoena? On me?” asked Ellery.
“Yes, sir. Mr. Smith, you’re summoned to appear in court Monday morning to testify for the People in the case of People Against James Haight.”
PART FIVE
Chapter 23
Lola and the Check
“I got one, too,” murmured Lola to Ellery Queen in the courtroom Monday morning.
“Got one what?”
“A summons to testify today for the beloved People.”
“Strange,” muttered Mr. Queen.
“The pup’s got something up his sleeve,” said Judge Martin. ”And what’s J.C. doing in court?”
“Who?” Ellery looked about.
“J. C. Pettigrew, the real-estate man. There’s Bradford whispering to him. J.C. can’t know anything about this case.”
Lola said in a strangled voice: “Oh, nuts,” and they stared at her. She was very pale.
“What’s the matter, Lola?” asked Pat.
“Nothing. I’m sure it can’t possibly¯”
“Here’s Newbold,” said Judge Martin, hastily standing up. ”Remember, Lola, just answer Carter’s questions. Don’t volunteer information. Maybe,” he whispered grimly as the bailiff shouted to the courtroom to rise, “maybe I’ve got a trick or two myself on cross-examination!”
* * *
J. C. Pettigrew sat down in the witness chair shaking and swabbing his face with a blue polka-dot handkerchief, such as the farmers around Wrightsville use.
Yes, his name is J. C. Pettigrew, he is in the real-estate business in Wrightsville, he’s been a friend of the Wrights for many years¯his daughter Carmel is Patricia Wright’s best friend.
(Patricia Wright compresses her lips. Her “best friend” has not telephoned since January first.)
There was an aqueous triumph about Carter Bradford this morning.
His own brow was slick with perspiration, and he and J.C. kept up a duet of handkerchiefs.
Q.¯l hand you this canceled check, Mr. Pettigrew. Do you recognize it?
A.-Yep.
Q.¯Read what it says.
A.¯The date¯December thirty-first, nineteen-forty. Then it says: Pay to the order of cash, one hundred dollars. Signed J. C. Pettigrew.
Q.¯Did you make out this check, Mr. Pettigrew?
A.¯I did.
Q.¯On the date specified¯the last day of last year, the day of New Year’s Eve?
A.¯Yes, sir.
Q.¯To whom did you give this check, Mr. Pettigrew?
A.¯To Lola Wright.
Q.¯Tell us the circumstances of your giving Miss Lola Wright this check for a hundred dollars, please.
A.¯I sort of feel funny about . . . I mean, I can’t help if . . . Well, last day of the year, I was just cleaning up at my office in High Village when Lola come in. Said she was in a bad spot, and she’d known me all her life, and could I let her have a hundred dollars. I saw she was worried¯
Q.¯Just tell us what she said and you said.
A.¯Well, that’s all, I guess. I gave it to her. Oh, yes. She asked for cash. I said 1 didn’t have any cash to spare, and it was past banking hours, so I’d give her a check. She said: “Well, if it can’t be helped, it can’t be helped.” So I made out a check, she said thanks, and that’s all. Can I go now?
Q.¯Did Miss Wright tell you what she wanted the money for?
A.¯No, sir, and I didn’t ask her.
The check was placed in evidence, and when Judge Martin, who had been about to demand the deletion of all J.C.’s remarks, turned the check over and saw what was written on the other side, he blanched and bit his lip. Then he waved his hand magnanimously and declined to cross-examine.
J.C. stumbled and almost fell, he was so anxious to get off the stand. He sent Hermy a sickly smile. His face was steaming, and he kept swabbing it.
* * *
Lola Wright was nervous as she took the oath; but her gaze was defiant, and it made Carter Bradford flush.
He showed her the check in evidence.
“Miss Wright, what did you do with this check when you received it from J. C. Pettigrew on December thirty-first last?”
“I put it in my purse,” said Lola. There were titters. But Judge Martin frowned, so Lola sat up straighten
“Yes, I know,” said Carter, “but to whom did you give it?”
“I don’t remember.”
Foolish girl, thought Ellery. He’s got you. Don’t make things worse by being difficult.
Bradford held the check up before her. ”Miss Wright, perhaps this will refresh your memory. Read the endorsement on the back, please.”
Lola swallowed. Then she said in a low voice: “ ‘James Haight.’ “