The Case of the Horrified Heirs

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Virginia sat across the desk from Mason, who carefully examined the pages of carbon.

He turned to Della Street. «Della,» he said, «take some cardboard the size of these pages of carbon paper so the carbon paper won't get folded or wrinkled, put these in an envelope and seal the envelope.»

When Della had done this, Mason said to Virginia, «Now, write your name several times across the seal.»

«What's that for?»

«To show that it hasn't been steamed open or tampered with.»

Mason watched her while she wrote her name.

«Now then,» he said, «don't bother with your car because you won't be able to find a parking place and time is running against you.

«Take a taxicab. Rush this envelope to the post office, address it to yourself and send it by registered mail.»

«Then what?» she asked.

«Now, listen very carefully,» Mason said. «When this envelope is delivered to you by registered mail, don't open it. Leave it sealed just as it is.»

«Oh, I see,» she said, «you want to be able to show the date that I-«

«Exactly,» Mason said.

She picked up the envelope, started for the door.

«How are you fixed for provisions in your apartment?» Mason asked.

«Why, I… I have butter, bread, canned goods and some meat…»

«Enough to last you for twenty-four hours if necessary?»

«Yes, indeed!»

Mason said, «Mail that letter, go back to your apartment, stay there, keep the safety chain on the door. Don't admit anyone. If anyone calls to see you, tell him that you're entertaining a visitor and can't be disturbed. Then get his name and telephone me.»

«Why?» she asked. «Do you think I'm in.. in any danger?»

«I don't know,» Mason said. «All I know is that there's a possibility. Someone tried to frame you and discredit you. I don't want that to happen again.»

«Neither do I,» she said vehemently.

«All right,» Mason told her, «on your way to the post office. Then go back to your apartment and stay there.»

When she had left, Della Street looked at Mason with raised eyebrows. «Why should she be in any danger?»

Mason said, «Figure it out for yourself. A will is made. There are two subscribing witnesses. One of them is dead. An attempt was made to put the other in a position where her testimony would have been discredited. Now, a new plan is in operation.»

«But those spurious wills; they can't mean anything.»

«How do you know?» Mason asked. «Suppose two more people die, then what happens?»

«What two people?» she asked.

«Lauretta Trent and Virginia Baxter. Perhaps a fire destroys the home of Lauretta Trent. Presumably the will has been destroyed in the conflagration.

«People look for the carbon copies of the wills prepared by Bannock to establish the contents of the burnt will. They find two wills. The effect of those wills is to indicate that Lauretta Trent was suspicious of her relatives and the people who surrounded her.

«Now then, Delano Bannock is dead. Suppose Virginia Baxter should also die.»

Della Street blinked her eyes rapidly. «Good heavens… are you going to notify the police?»

«Not yet,» Mason said, «but probably within a matter of hours. However, there are a lot of factors involved, and an attorney can't go around making accusations of this sort unless he has something more definite on which to base them.»

«But it won't take much more?» Della Street asked.

«It will take very little more,» Mason said.