The Roman Hat Mystery Read Free Page A

man in full evening dress, lying slumped in a queer attitude on the floor between rows. The policeman looked up, keeping a firm grip on the arm of the cowering man at his side, and shot a quick glance toward the rear of the orchestra.
    “ Hey, Neilson! ” he shouted.
    A tall tow-headed man hurried out of a small room near the main entrance and pushed his way through to the officer. He looked sharply down at the inert figure on the floor.
    “ What ’ s happened here, Doyle? ”
    “ Better ask this feller here, ” replied the policeman grimly. He shook the arm of the man he was holding. “ There ’ s a guy dead, and Mr. ”― he bent a ferocious glance upon the shrinking little man ―” Pusak, W-William Pusak, ” he stammered ―” this Mr. Pusak, ” continued Doyle, “ says he heard him whisper he ’ d been croaked. ”
    Neilson stared at the dead body, stunned.
    The policeman chewed his lip. “ I ’ m in one sweet mess, Harry, ” he said hoarsely. “ The only cop in the place, and a pack of yellin ’ fools to take care of . . . . I want you to do somethin ’ for me. ”
    “ Say the word . . . . This is one hell of a note! ”
    Doyle wheeled in a rage to shout to a man who had just risen three rows ahead and was standing on his seat, peering at the proceedings. “ Hey you! ” he roared. “ Get down offa there! Here ― get back there, the whole bunch o ’ you. Back to your seats, now, or I ’ ll pinch the whole nosey mob! ”
    He turned on Neilson. “ Beat it to your desk, Harry, and give headquarters a buzz about the murder, ” he whispered. “ Tell ‘ em to bring down a gang ― make it a big one. Tell ‘ em it ’ s a theatre ― they ’ ll know what to do. And here, Harry ― take my whistle and toot your head off outside. I gotta get some help right away. ”
    As Neilson fought his way back through the crowd, Doyle shouted after him: “ Better ask ‘ em to send old man Queen down here, Harry! ”
    The tow-headed man disappeared into the office. A few moments later a shrill whistle was heard from the sidewalk in front of the theatre.
    The swarthy theatre manager whom Doyle had commanded to place guards at the exits and alleys came scurrying back through the press. His dress shirt was slightly rumpled and he was mopping his forehead with an air of bewilderment. A woman stopped him as he wriggled his way forward. She squeaked,
    “ Why is this policeman keeping us here, Mr. Panzer? I ’ ve a right to leave, I should like you to know! I don ’ t care if an accident did happen ― I had nothing to do with it ― that ’ s your affair ― please tell him to stop this silly disciplining of innocent people! ”
    The little man stammered, trying to escape. “ Now, madam, please. I ’ m sure the officer knows what he is doing. A man has been killed here ― it is a serious matter. Don ’ t you see . . . . As manager of the theatre I must follow his orders . . . . Please be calm ― have a little patience . . . . ”
    He wormed his way out of her grasp and was off before she could protest.
    Doyle, his arms waving violently, stood on a seat and bellowed: “ I told you to sit down and keep quiet, the pack o ’ you! I don ’ t care if you ’ re the Mayor himself, you ― yeah, you there, in the monocle ― stay down or I ’ ll shove you down! Don ’ t you people realize what ’ s happened? Pipe down, I say! ” He jumped to the floor, muttering as he wiped the perspiration from his capband.
    In the turmoil and excitement, with the orchestra boiling like a huge kettle, and necks stretched over the railing of the balcony as the people there strove vainly to discover the cause of the confusion, the abrupt cessation of activity on the stage was forgotten by the audience. The actors had stammered their way through lines rendered meaningless by the drama before the footlights. Now the slow descent of the curtain put an end to the evening ’ s entertainment. The actors, chattering, hurried