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The Case of the Howling Dog :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 11 из 146Foley, telling him that complaint had been made, and calling his attention to the county ordinance which makes the maintenance of such a dog a nuisance. We could tell him that if the dog is ill, or something, he should be confined in a hospital or kennel until after the attack has ceased."
Perry Mason glanced at Cartright, who started to say something, but was interrupted by Dorcas.
"The dog has been there for some time, Mr. Cartright?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"I don't know — two months that I know of. I've only been there two months, myself. The dog has been there that long."
"And he hasn't howled before?"
"No."
"When did it start?"
"Night before last."
"I take it," said Dorcas, "that you're not on good terms with Foley. That is, you wouldn't run across and tell him to please make the animal stop howling?"
"No, I wouldn't do that."
"How about telephoning him?"
"No."
"Well, suppose I write him a letter?"
"You don't know Foley," said Cartright bitterly. "He'd tear the letter up and make the dog howl all the worse. He'd laugh with fiendish glee to think that he'd got my goat. He'd take the letter and show it to his wife, and…"
Cartright ceased speaking abruptly.
"Don't stop," said Dorcas. "Go on. What else would he do?"
"Nothing," said Cartright in a surly tone of voice.
"I think," said Mason, "that we will be content if you write the letter, Mr. Dorcas, with the understanding that if the dog doesn't quit howling, a warrant will be issued."
"Of course, there'll be that understanding," said the deputy district attorney.
"Now, a letter sent in the ordinary course of mail wouldn't be delivered until some time tomorrow, even if you got it out this afternoon," Mason said. "I am suggesting that you make a formal notification and send it out by one of the officers. Let the officer make a service upon Mr. Foley, personally, or upon any one else who may be in charge of the house, in the event Foley is not at home. This will have the effect of showing Foley that it is not merely a complaint instigated by Cartright, and having no legal status."
Cartright shook his head doggedly.
"I want him arrested," he said.
Perry Mason's tone was patient.
"You put the matter in my hands, Mr. Cartright," he said, "and you will remember what I told you. You, yourself, have stated that Foley is vindictive; that he is wealthy, and that he may start some action against you. If that happens, it is incumbent on you to show that you have acted throughout in the utmost good faith. I think that this step suggested by Mr.
Perry Mason glanced at Cartright, who started to say something, but was interrupted by Dorcas.
"The dog has been there for some time, Mr. Cartright?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"I don't know — two months that I know of. I've only been there two months, myself. The dog has been there that long."
"And he hasn't howled before?"
"No."
"When did it start?"
"Night before last."
"I take it," said Dorcas, "that you're not on good terms with Foley. That is, you wouldn't run across and tell him to please make the animal stop howling?"
"No, I wouldn't do that."
"How about telephoning him?"
"No."
"Well, suppose I write him a letter?"
"You don't know Foley," said Cartright bitterly. "He'd tear the letter up and make the dog howl all the worse. He'd laugh with fiendish glee to think that he'd got my goat. He'd take the letter and show it to his wife, and…"
Cartright ceased speaking abruptly.
"Don't stop," said Dorcas. "Go on. What else would he do?"
"Nothing," said Cartright in a surly tone of voice.
"I think," said Mason, "that we will be content if you write the letter, Mr. Dorcas, with the understanding that if the dog doesn't quit howling, a warrant will be issued."
"Of course, there'll be that understanding," said the deputy district attorney.
"Now, a letter sent in the ordinary course of mail wouldn't be delivered until some time tomorrow, even if you got it out this afternoon," Mason said. "I am suggesting that you make a formal notification and send it out by one of the officers. Let the officer make a service upon Mr. Foley, personally, or upon any one else who may be in charge of the house, in the event Foley is not at home. This will have the effect of showing Foley that it is not merely a complaint instigated by Cartright, and having no legal status."
Cartright shook his head doggedly.
"I want him arrested," he said.
Perry Mason's tone was patient.
"You put the matter in my hands, Mr. Cartright," he said, "and you will remember what I told you. You, yourself, have stated that Foley is vindictive; that he is wealthy, and that he may start some action against you. If that happens, it is incumbent on you to show that you have acted throughout in the utmost good faith. I think that this step suggested by Mr.