The Case of the Smoking Chimney

Chapter 25

Harry Borden, the deputy assigned by Sheriff Lassen to “keep an eye” on Gramp Wiggins, telephoned in his first report about forty minutes after Gramps had left the district attorney’s office.

“This party I’m shadowing,” he reported to the sheriff, “has a jane in the car with him. She was parked in his trailer, keepin’ under cover.”

“Describe her,” Lassen asked.

“You don’t need a description,” Borden said. “She’s the one who was up here answering questions the other night, that snappy-looking number from Los Angeles. I’ve been trying to think of her name.”

“You don’t mean Pressman’s secretary?” Lassen asked.

“No. Wait a minute... I’ve got it now. Eva Raymond.”

“What’s the old man doing?” Lassen asked.

“Right at present,” Borden reported, “Richard Milton, the opposition candidate for district attorney, is making a speech, and the old man has found a parking place for his car and trailer, and is sitting there, taking it all in.”

“Don’t lose sight of him,” Lassen instructed, “and keep an eye open for any violation of the letter of the law. We can’t pinch him, but we’ll throw the book at him on everything from violation of the Mann Act to tampering with witnesses.”

Lassen hung up and reported to the district attorney.

Duryea pushed his hands down deep in his trouser pockets, and then suddenly, as the humour of the situation struck him, he began to chuckle. “Cherchez la femme,” he said, “and at his age!”

“It isn’t funny,” Lassen reproached. “It’s serious, damn serious.”

“I know it is,” Duryea said. “That’s what makes it so damned funny.”