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S。。。 BEAUTIFUL NIECE MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS FOLLOWING VISIT TO PROMINENT LAWYER。
Perry Mason read through each word of the sensational story which followed； a story in which the reporters told as much as they dared in between the lines； a story which stopped short of actual accusation； yet which left the public to infer that the police were far from satisfied with the case against Pete Devoe； the chauffeur； and were considering a sudden change of front which would involve persons of wealth and prominence。
Perry Mason carefully folded the paper； thrust it into the door pocket of the car； and drove； not to his bachelor apartment； but to a downtown hotel where he registered under an assumed name and spent the night。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
PERRY MASON walked into his office； said good morning to Della Street； then went into his private office where the morning newspapers were spread on his desk。
Della Street opened the door and followed him into the private office。
〃Somebody broke in and searched。。。〃
He whirled on her； placing his finger to his lips。 Then； while she ceased talking； started making a round of the office。 He moved pictures； peering behind them； swung out the revolving bookcase and inspected the wall space； then crawled under the desk。 He straightened； smiled； and said： 〃Looking for a dictograph。 There's just a chance that they'd have one planted。〃
She nodded。
〃Somebody broke into the office last night；〃 she said； 〃and went through everything。 The safe was opened。〃
〃Did they smash it？〃
〃No； he must have been some clever crook who knew how to work the bination。 The safe was opened； all right。 I could tell； because the papers were disturbed。〃
〃That's all right；〃 he told her。 〃What else is new？〃
〃Nothing；〃 she said； 〃except three police detectives watching the office； and I have an idea they're waiting for someone to e in。〃
He smiled wisely and said： 〃Let them wait。 It will teach them patience。〃
〃Did you read the papers？〃 she asked。
〃Not the morning papers；〃 he told her。
〃The late editions say that they've identified the club that killed Norton；〃 she told him。
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes。 It was a heavy walking stick； and they've found out that it belonged to Rob Gleason； the husband of our client。〃
〃That'll mean；〃 said Perry Mason； 〃that they'll charge him with first degree murder； and let the charge against Devoe go。〃
〃They're also going to charge the woman；〃 she said； 〃unless they have already。〃
〃So？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 This secretary； Don Graves； has given some additional information which has changed the entire plexion of the case； according to the STAR。 Graves was shielding some one。 The police broke him down and he gave additional evidence。〃
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃that makes it interesting。 If anybody es in； give them a stall。〃
She nodded her head； staring at him apprehensively。
〃You're not going to get mixed into this thing； are you？〃 she asked。
〃Why should I get mixed into it？〃 he inquired。
〃You know what I mean；〃 she said。 〃You do too much for your clients。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃You know what I mean。 You had Miss Celane have a nervous breakdown； and leave here in an ambulance。〃
He smiled at her。 〃Well？〃 he asked。
〃Isn't it a crime；〃 she said； 〃to conceal someone who is wanted by the police？〃
〃Was she wanted by the police then？〃 he inquired。
〃No；〃 she said； dubiously； 〃not then； I guess。〃
〃Furthermore；〃 said Mason； 〃I am not a physician。 I might make an incorrect diagnosis。 I thought she was having a nervous breakdown； but I called a physician to verify my impression。〃
She frowned at him and shook her head。
〃I don't like it；〃 she said。
〃Don't like what？〃
〃Don't like the way you mix into these cases。 Why can't you sit back and just do your stuff in a court room？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 he told her； smiling。 〃Maybe it's a disease。〃
〃Don't be silly；〃 she told him。 〃Other lawyers walk into court and examine the witnesses and then put the case up before a jury。 You go out and mix yourself into the cases。〃
〃Other lawyers；〃 he told her； 〃have clients who get hung。〃
〃Sometimes they deserve it；〃 she pointed out。
〃Perhaps。 I haven't had one hung so far； and I haven't had one who deserved it。〃
She stood staring at him for a moment； then smiled； and there was something almost maternal in her smile。
〃Are all your clients innocent？〃 she asked。
〃That's what the juries say；〃 he told her。 〃And after all； they're the ones to judge。〃
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders。
〃You win；〃 she said； and went back into the outer office。
As the catch clicked； Perry Mason sat down at his desk and spread out the newspapers。 He read for fifteen minutes without interruption； and then the door opened。
〃There's a Mrs。 Mayfield out here；〃 Della Street told him； 〃and I have an idea you'd better see her while the seeing is good。〃
Perry Mason nodded。
〃Send her in；〃 he said； 〃and make it snappy。 There'll probably be a police detective following on her trail。 Stall him off just as long as you can。〃
The girl nodded； opened the door； and beckoned to the woman who sat in the outer office。
As the broad form of Mrs。 Mayfield hulked in the doorway； Perry Mason saw his secretary blocking as much of the passage as possible。 Then； as the door was closing behind the housekeeper； he heard Della Street's voice saying： 〃I'm very sorry； but Mr。 Mason is in an important conference right now and can't be disturbed。〃
Perry Mason nodded to Mrs。 Mayfield； got up； crossed the office and turned the lock on the door。
〃Good morning； Mrs。 Mayfield；〃 he said。
She stared at him in black…eyed belligerency。
〃Good morning！〃 she snapped。
Perry Mason indicated the black leather chair； and Mrs。 Mayfield sat down in it； her back very stiff and her chin thrust forward。
〃What's this about the speedometer being set back on the Buick automobile？〃 she asked。
There was the sound of scuffling motion from the outer office； then the noise of bodies pushing against the door； and the knob of the door twisted。 The lock held it shut； and Perry Mason kept his eyes fastened on Mrs。 Mayfield； holding her attention away from the noise at the door。
〃Mr。 Norton；〃 said the lawyer； 〃reported the Buick automobile as having been stolen。 At the time； we thought that Miss Celane was driving it。 Now it appears that she was not。 Therefore； the Buick must have been gone at the time Norton reported its theft to the police。 However； we have the mileage record of the car； and it shows that he returned it to his house at 15；304。7 miles。
〃That means the person who was using it the night of the murder must have either set the speedometer back or disconnected the speedometer when he took it out。〃
Mrs。 Mayfield shook her head。
〃The car wasn't out；〃 she said。
〃Are you certain？〃 he asked。
〃Pur