JК
The Case of the Howling Dog :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 10 из 146I tell you he's got to stop it!That dog has got to be stopped."
Dorcas thumbed through the index of a leatherbacked book, then said in a querulous, high pitched voice:
"Well, there's an ordinance against it, an ordinance providing that if any one keeps any dog, cow, horse, chickens, rooster, guinea hen, fowl, animal or other livestock of any sort, nature or description within a congested area whether the same be incorporated or unincorporated, under such circumstances that a nuisance is created, it is a misdemeanor."
"What more do you want?" asked Cartright.
Dorcas laughed.
"I don't want any more of anything," he said. "Personally I don't like howling dogs and I don't like crowing roosters. This ordinance was originally enacted to keep dairies and livery stables out of the congested districts. Milpas Drive is an exclusive residential district. There's some rather expensive homes out there. What's your address, Mr. Cartright?"
"4893."
"And Foley's place is 4889?"
"That's right."
"Yet the two houses adjoin?"
"That's right."
"You've got rather a large lot?"
"He has."
"How about you?"
"Mine's just about average."
"Foley's wealthy?" asked Dorcas.
"Does that make any difference?" asked Cartright irritably. "Of course, he's wealthy, or he wouldn't be living out there."
"It doesn't make a difference in one sense of the word," said Dorcas slowly, "but you understand we have to use our judgment here in the office. I don't like to send out and arrest a reputable citizen, without first giving him warning. Suppose I give him a warning?"
"It won't do any good," said Cartright.
Perry Mason spoke slowly, with almost judicial dignity.
"My client," he said, "wants to be fair. You can use your judgment as to methods, Dorcas, but I am going to insist that the nuisance be abated, that the howling of the dog cease. You can see for yourself that my client is in a nervous condition. It's been brought about by the howling of the dog."
"I'm not nervous," snapped Cartright, "just a little upset, that's all."
Perry Mason nodded without saying anything. Cooper's eyes flickered to those of Mason, and his head gave an almost perceptible nod. Then the eyes swung back to Cartright.
"I think," said Dorcas slowly, "that the policy of the office would be not to prosecute until after we had given a warning. We'd write a letter to Mr.
Dorcas thumbed through the index of a leatherbacked book, then said in a querulous, high pitched voice:
"Well, there's an ordinance against it, an ordinance providing that if any one keeps any dog, cow, horse, chickens, rooster, guinea hen, fowl, animal or other livestock of any sort, nature or description within a congested area whether the same be incorporated or unincorporated, under such circumstances that a nuisance is created, it is a misdemeanor."
"What more do you want?" asked Cartright.
Dorcas laughed.
"I don't want any more of anything," he said. "Personally I don't like howling dogs and I don't like crowing roosters. This ordinance was originally enacted to keep dairies and livery stables out of the congested districts. Milpas Drive is an exclusive residential district. There's some rather expensive homes out there. What's your address, Mr. Cartright?"
"4893."
"And Foley's place is 4889?"
"That's right."
"Yet the two houses adjoin?"
"That's right."
"You've got rather a large lot?"
"He has."
"How about you?"
"Mine's just about average."
"Foley's wealthy?" asked Dorcas.
"Does that make any difference?" asked Cartright irritably. "Of course, he's wealthy, or he wouldn't be living out there."
"It doesn't make a difference in one sense of the word," said Dorcas slowly, "but you understand we have to use our judgment here in the office. I don't like to send out and arrest a reputable citizen, without first giving him warning. Suppose I give him a warning?"
"It won't do any good," said Cartright.
Perry Mason spoke slowly, with almost judicial dignity.
"My client," he said, "wants to be fair. You can use your judgment as to methods, Dorcas, but I am going to insist that the nuisance be abated, that the howling of the dog cease. You can see for yourself that my client is in a nervous condition. It's been brought about by the howling of the dog."
"I'm not nervous," snapped Cartright, "just a little upset, that's all."
Perry Mason nodded without saying anything. Cooper's eyes flickered to those of Mason, and his head gave an almost perceptible nod. Then the eyes swung back to Cartright.
"I think," said Dorcas slowly, "that the policy of the office would be not to prosecute until after we had given a warning. We'd write a letter to Mr.