The Case of the Stuttering Bishop Read Free

and said to Mason, "Suppose I find out this fellow is a phoney, are you going to show him up?"
    "Not me," Mason said, grinning. "I'll string him along and see what's back of the impersonation."
    "Bet you even money he's a phoney," Drake said.
    "His face looks honest," Mason asserted.
    "Most bunco men's do," Drake told him. "That's why they make good in the racket."
    "Well," Mason said dryly, "it's not too highly improbable that a real bishop should have an honest face. Get the hell out of here and get to work."
    Drake stood still in the doorway. "You're not taking my bet, eh, Perry?" Mason reached quickly for a law book, as though intending to use it as a missile, and the detective hastily slammed the door shut.
    The telephone rang. Mason answered it and heard Della Street's voice saying, "Chief, there's a taxi driver out here. I think I'd better bring him in and let him talk to you."
    "A taxi driver?"
    "Yes."
    "What the devil does he want?"
    "Money," she said.
    "And you think I should see him?"
    "Yes."
    "Can you tell me what it's about over the telephone?"
    "I don't think I'd better."
    "You mean he's where he can hear what you're saying?"
    "Yes."
    Mason said, "Okay, bring him in." He had hardly hung up the telephone receiver when the door from the outer office opened, and Della Street ushered an apologetic but insistent cab driver into the office.
    "This man drove Bishop Mallory to the office, Chief," she said.
    The cab driver nodded and said, "He asked me to wait out in front of the building. I'm in a loading zone and a cop boots me out. I find a parking place and roost there and don't see anything of my man. My meter's clocking up time, so I asked the elevator starter. It happens the starter remembers him. He says the guy asked for your office, so here I am. He's a stocky chap with a turned-round collar, around fifty or fifty-five."
    Mason's voice showed no interest. "He hasn't left the building?"
    "I haven't seen him come out and I've been watching, and the elevator starter says he hasn't come out because he remembered him. I've got three eighty-five on my meter and I wanna know where it's coming from."
    "Where'd you pick this chap up?" Mason asked. The cab driver hesitated. Mason pulled a roll of bills from his pocket, pulled off a five and said with a grin, "I just wanted to protect myself by getting the information before advancing the money to cover the cab bill."
    The cab driver said, "I picked him up at the Regal Hotel."
    "And drove him directly here?"
    "That's right."
    "Was he in a hurry?"
    "Plenty."
    Mason passed over the bill and said, "I don't think there's any use waiting any longer."
    "Not the way that cop's bawling me out, there isn't," the driver said, handing Mason the change, "and I just want to say this is damn white of you, governor. I've heard of you from the boys. You're a square shooter who gives a working man the breaks. If there's ever anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to say so. The name's Winters, Jack Winters."
    "Fine, Jack," Mason said. "Perhaps someday I'll get you on a jury, and in the meantime your fare would doubtless give you a tip, so keep the change and buy yourself a cigar."
    The man made a grinning exit.
    Mason picked up the telephone, called Paul Drake and said, "Paul, start your men working on the Regal Hotel. He may be registered there as William Mallory. Call me back just as soon as you get him located, and be sure to tail everyone who contacts him."
    Della Street, a model of slim efficiency in a close-fitting gray tailored suit, said, "Jackson would like to talk with you about the traction case, if you can spare a minute."
    Mason nodded and said, "Send him in."
    A moment later he was closeted with his law clerk, outlining the position which the respondent should take on an appeal from a large verdict in a personal injury case. From time to time, Della Street came and went, bustling about the office, cleaning up odds and ends of routine matters, as she always did before Mason