JК
The Case of the Caretakers Cat :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 2 из 146He's about sixtyfive. He said he was in an automobile accident about two years ago. His employer was driving the car. Ashton—that's the man who wants to see you about the cat—got a broken hip and some of the tendons in his right leg cut. Laxter, his employer, had his right leg broken just above the knee. Laxter wasn't a young man himself. I think he was sixtytwo at the time of his death, but his leg healed up okay. Ashton's leg didn't. He's been on crutches ever since.
"I suppose that was one of the reasons why Laxter was so careful to make provision for the caretaker in his will. He didn't leave Ashton a sum of money outright, but stipulated that the beneficiaries under his will should give Ashton a perpetual job as caretaker so long as he was able to work, and furnish a home for him when he was no longer able to work."
Perry Mason said, frowning, "That's an unusual will, Jackson."
The young lawyer nodded agreement. "I'll say it's an unusual will. This man, Laxter, was a lawyer. He left three grandchildren. One of them, a girl, was completely cut off by the will. The other two divided the property share and share alike."
"How long's he been dead?"
"About two weeks, I think."
"Laxter… Laxter… wasn't there something in the paper about him? Didn't I read something about a fire in connection with his death?"
"That's right, sir, Peter Laxter. He was said to be a miser. He certainly was eccentric. He had a mansion here in the city and wouldn't live in it. He left this man Ashton in charge as the caretaker. Laxter lived in a country house at Carmencita. The house caught fire at night, and Laxter was burned to death. The three grandchildren and several servants were in the house at the time. They all escaped. Ashton says the fire started in or near Laxter's bedroom."
"The caretaker there at the time?" Mason asked.
"No. He was in charge of the city house."
"The grandchildren living there now?"
"Two of them are—the two who inherited. Samuel C. Laxter, and Frank Oafley. The granddaughter, who was disinherited, Winifred Laxter, isn't there. No one knows where she is."
"And Ashton is waiting in the outer office?" Mason inquired, his eyes twinkling.
"Yes, sir. He won't see anyone except you."
"Specifically, what's his trouble?"
"Sam Laxter admits he's obligated, under the will, to furnish Ashton with a job as caretaker, but claims he isn't obligated to keep Ashton's cat in the house. Ashton has a big Persian cat. He's very much attached to it.
"I suppose that was one of the reasons why Laxter was so careful to make provision for the caretaker in his will. He didn't leave Ashton a sum of money outright, but stipulated that the beneficiaries under his will should give Ashton a perpetual job as caretaker so long as he was able to work, and furnish a home for him when he was no longer able to work."
Perry Mason said, frowning, "That's an unusual will, Jackson."
The young lawyer nodded agreement. "I'll say it's an unusual will. This man, Laxter, was a lawyer. He left three grandchildren. One of them, a girl, was completely cut off by the will. The other two divided the property share and share alike."
"How long's he been dead?"
"About two weeks, I think."
"Laxter… Laxter… wasn't there something in the paper about him? Didn't I read something about a fire in connection with his death?"
"That's right, sir, Peter Laxter. He was said to be a miser. He certainly was eccentric. He had a mansion here in the city and wouldn't live in it. He left this man Ashton in charge as the caretaker. Laxter lived in a country house at Carmencita. The house caught fire at night, and Laxter was burned to death. The three grandchildren and several servants were in the house at the time. They all escaped. Ashton says the fire started in or near Laxter's bedroom."
"The caretaker there at the time?" Mason asked.
"No. He was in charge of the city house."
"The grandchildren living there now?"
"Two of them are—the two who inherited. Samuel C. Laxter, and Frank Oafley. The granddaughter, who was disinherited, Winifred Laxter, isn't there. No one knows where she is."
"And Ashton is waiting in the outer office?" Mason inquired, his eyes twinkling.
"Yes, sir. He won't see anyone except you."
"Specifically, what's his trouble?"
"Sam Laxter admits he's obligated, under the will, to furnish Ashton with a job as caretaker, but claims he isn't obligated to keep Ashton's cat in the house. Ashton has a big Persian cat. He's very much attached to it.