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The Case of the Caretakers Cat :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 23 из 146And I'm finished with all of the petty jealousies and intrigue of the two grandsons who were afraid I was going to get all of the property. One of my boy friends decidedly lost interest in me as soon as he found out I wasn't going to have a million dollars or so in my own name. The other one is tickled to death because he wants to support me.
"Now then, figure that out, and see if you think I'm going to walk into court, drag out a lot of dirt about Grandpa and the other two grandchildren, and either wake up with a headache or with a slice of property that I don't want."
Perry Mason slid his coffee cup across the counter.
"Give me another cup of coffee, Winnie, and I'll send all of my friends in here."
Her flashing eyes stared steadily into the lawyer's for a moment; then, recognizing a kindred spirit, she broke into a light laughter and said, "I'm glad you understand. I was afraid you wouldn't."
Paul Drake cleared his throat. "Look here, Miss Laxter, it's all right for you to feel that way, but don't forget you may not always feel that way. Money is hard to get. You've been tricked into signing something we could set aside…"
Winifred handed Perry Mason a full coffee cup, and said to him significantly, "Tell your boy friend what it's all about, will you?"
Mason interrupted Paul Drake by placing a hand on Paul's arm, digging in with his powerful fingers. "Paul, you don't get the sketch. You're too damned commercial. Why not forget about money and laugh at life? It isn't the future that counts; it's the present. It isn't what you save; it's what you make, and the way you make it."
Winifred nodded. The detective shrugged his shoulders, and said, "It's your funeral."
Perry Mason finished his waffle, eating slowly and appreciatively. "You're going to make a success," he said, as he pushed back his empty plate.
"I've already made a success; I'm finding myself. The bill is eighty cents."
Mason handed her a dollar bill. "Put the change under the plate, if you will, please," he said, grinning. "How did you and Ashton get along?"
"Ashton's a great old crab," she laughed, manipulating the cash register.
Mason remarked with studied carelessness, "Too bad he's going to lose his cat."
Winifred paused, the change drawer open, her hand held poised over it. "What do you mean, he's going to lose his cat?"
"Sam won't let him keep the cat."
"But he has to under the will. He has to keep Ashton employed as a caretaker."
"But not the cat."
Dismay showed on Winifred's face.
"Now then, figure that out, and see if you think I'm going to walk into court, drag out a lot of dirt about Grandpa and the other two grandchildren, and either wake up with a headache or with a slice of property that I don't want."
Perry Mason slid his coffee cup across the counter.
"Give me another cup of coffee, Winnie, and I'll send all of my friends in here."
Her flashing eyes stared steadily into the lawyer's for a moment; then, recognizing a kindred spirit, she broke into a light laughter and said, "I'm glad you understand. I was afraid you wouldn't."
Paul Drake cleared his throat. "Look here, Miss Laxter, it's all right for you to feel that way, but don't forget you may not always feel that way. Money is hard to get. You've been tricked into signing something we could set aside…"
Winifred handed Perry Mason a full coffee cup, and said to him significantly, "Tell your boy friend what it's all about, will you?"
Mason interrupted Paul Drake by placing a hand on Paul's arm, digging in with his powerful fingers. "Paul, you don't get the sketch. You're too damned commercial. Why not forget about money and laugh at life? It isn't the future that counts; it's the present. It isn't what you save; it's what you make, and the way you make it."
Winifred nodded. The detective shrugged his shoulders, and said, "It's your funeral."
Perry Mason finished his waffle, eating slowly and appreciatively. "You're going to make a success," he said, as he pushed back his empty plate.
"I've already made a success; I'm finding myself. The bill is eighty cents."
Mason handed her a dollar bill. "Put the change under the plate, if you will, please," he said, grinning. "How did you and Ashton get along?"
"Ashton's a great old crab," she laughed, manipulating the cash register.
Mason remarked with studied carelessness, "Too bad he's going to lose his cat."
Winifred paused, the change drawer open, her hand held poised over it. "What do you mean, he's going to lose his cat?"
"Sam won't let him keep the cat."
"But he has to under the will. He has to keep Ashton employed as a caretaker."
"But not the cat."
Dismay showed on Winifred's face.