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ow and leave some footprints outside in the soft loam。 I wanted to plant it on the chauffeur because I knew he was drunk。 While we were talking it over； we saw the lights of an automobile ing down the hill； and I figured it must be Crinston ing back。 Mrs。 Mayfield ran down and fixed the window so it looked as though burglars had e in； and I ran down and planted a stick and a couple of the thousand dollar bills in Devoe's room。 Then I jumped in my car and beat it。〃
Perry Mason looked at the young man thoughtfully。 〃What did you do with the money that you had？〃 he asked。
〃I buried it；〃 said Rob Gleason； 〃where it will never be found。〃
Perry Mason drummed with the tips of his fingers on the table。 〃So help you God；〃 he asked； 〃is that what happened？〃
Gleason nodded his head。
〃That's in confidence；〃 he said。 〃I'm going to beat the rap if I can。 If I can't； I'm going to e clean so that Frances Celane won't have to take the jolt。〃
〃Did you；〃 asked Perry Mason； 〃take out the Buick automobile on the night of the murder？ Did you use it at all？〃
〃No。〃
Perry Mason pushed back the chair。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃Now I'm going to tell you something。 If you ever spill that story； you're going to get Frances Celane sent up for life； if you don't get her hung。 Probably you'll get her hung。〃
Rob Gleason's eyes grew wide。
〃What ever in the world do you mean？〃 he asked。
〃Simply；〃 said Perry Mason； 〃that nobody will believe the story the way you tell it。 They'll believe just half of it。 They'll believe that you mitted the murder all right； but they'll figure that it wasn't Mrs。 Mayfield that was with you。 They'll figure that it was Fran Celane； and that you're trying to protect her by dragging Mrs。 Mayfield into it。〃
Gleason was on his feet； his face white； his eyes wide。
〃Good God！〃 he said。 〃Can't I save Frances by telling the truth？〃
〃Not that kind of truth；〃 said Perry Mason。 〃Now go back to your cell and get me a copy of that statement the District Attorney wants you to sign。 In the meantime； keep your head and don't tell anybody anything。〃
〃Not even the truth； the way I told it to you？〃 asked Gleason。
〃The truth is the last thing in the world you want to tell；〃 said Perry Mason； 〃the way you're situated。 Because nobody's going to believe you if you do tell the truth； and you're a rotten liar。〃
He turned on his heel and walked away from the screen meshed table； without a single backward glance。 The officer opened the locked door； and let him out of the visiting room。
CHAPTER NINETEEN
IT WAS the first time Frank Everly had ever been in court with Perry Mason； the first time he had ever been behind the scenes in a big murder case。
He sat at the side of Perry Mason and stared surreptitiously at the crowded courtroom； at the nine men and three women who were in the jury box； being examined as to their qualifications as jurors。 He strove to give the impression of being thoroughly at home； but his manner betrayed his nervousness。
Perry Mason sat at the counsel table； leaning back in the swivel chair； his left thumb hooked in the armhole of his vest； his right hand toying with a watch chain。 His face was a cold mask of rugged patience。 Nothing about the man gave any indication of the terrific strain under which he labored。
Behind him sat the two defendants： Frances Celane in a close fitting costume of black； with a dash of white and a touch of red； her head held very erect； her eyes calm and a trifle defiant。
Robert Gleason was nervous； with the nervousness of an athletic man who finds himself fighting for his life under circumstances that necessitate physical passivity。 His eyes smouldered with the sullen fires of suppressed emotions。 His head jerked from time to time as he turned to face the various speakers in the drama which so intimately concerned him。
The courtroom was filled with that peculiar atmosphere which permeates a crowded room where spectators are in a state of emotional unrest。
Claude Drumm was acting as the trial deputy for the state； but there was a rumor that the District Attorney himself would e into the case as soon as the jury had been selected； and the routine evidence disposed of。
Drumm had been on his feet much of the time in his examination of the jurors。 He was tall； well…tailored and self…contained； yet forcefully aggressive； without displaying too much force。 His manner held the easy assurance of a professional who is fully at home and who is driving steadily toward a predetermined goal which he is assured of reaching。
Judge Markham； beneath the cloak of his austere judicial dignity； held himself with wary watchfulness。 Perry Mason had the reputation of being able to 〃stampede；〃 every case he tried； and Judge Markham was determined that while the trial would be conducted with impartiality； it would be conducted with a proper regard for the dignity of law and order； that there would be no errors in the record； no opportunities for the dramatic manipulation of emotions which so frequently turned trials in which Perry Mason participated into spectacular debacles for the prosecution； crashing across the front pages of newspapers in glaring headlines。
〃The peremptory；〃 said Judge Markham sternly； 〃is with the people。〃
Claude Drumm dropped back to his chair and engaged in a whispered consultation with his assistant。 He interrupted； to glance up at the court。
〃If I may have a moment's indulgence； Your Honor。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the judge。
Everly looked at Perry Mason inquiringly； and caught a glint in the lawyer's eyes。
Mason leaned forward and whispered：
〃Drumm wants to get number three off of the jury； but he thinks we have got to get off jurors nine and eleven。 We've got twice as many peremptory challenges as he has； so he's wondering if he dares to pass his peremptory and hold it in reserve until he sees what the jury looks like later on。〃
〃Does he dare to do it？〃 asked Everly。
〃That；〃 said Perry Mason； 〃remains to be seen。〃
There was a moment of tense silence； then Drumm got to his feet and bowed to the court。
〃The people；〃 he said； 〃pass their peremptory。〃
Judge Markham looked down at Perry Mason； and his lips moved to form the words： 〃The peremptory is with the defendants。〃
But the words were never uttered； for Perry Mason； turning toward the jury with a casual glance of appraisal； as though the entire matter had just claimed his attention； said； in a clear voice： 〃Your Honor； this jury seems entirely satisfactory to the defendants。 We waive our peremptory challenge。〃
Claude Drumm was caught by surprise。 Eyes of those who were wise in courtroom technique； saw the quick intake of his breath as he started unconsciously to register a protest which his consciousness knew would be futile。
Judge Markham's voice rang out through the crowded courtroom：
〃Let the jurors stand and be sworn to try the case。〃
Claude Drumm made an opening statement to the jury which was remar