[Black Maria 01] • Black Maria 01 Black Maria, M. A. by Fearn John Russell

Author:Fearn, John Russell [Fearn, John Russell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: traditional British mystery, sleuth, Mystery, murder, Detective
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2012-09-13T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

To avoid contact with the family and the necessity for answering a barrage of questions before she had every fact marshaled, Maria had breakfast sent up to her room the following morning and at the same time instructed the maid to find her a batch of old newspapers. Lucy was obviously mystified by the request but obeyed it promptly enough.

Her breakfast over, Maria spent a good fifteen minutes wrapping the news-sheets in brown paper from her luggage, thereafter putting them in different-sized envelopes which she had brought with her against possible need. When she had finished she had a fair-sized parcel heavily sealed and stringed.

She smiled as she surveyed it; then she dressed in her severest attire and endeavored to escape the house without being noticed. But Alice caught her in the hall. She had the morning paper in her hand.

“Maria, dear—look!” Her voice was obviously distressed. “Just look! Altogether we occupy most of the front page...!”

The main headline was HEIRESS AIDS CON IN GETAWAY; and a smaller column was headed RIOT AT MAXIE’S: POLICE CLEAN UP.

As she read first one report and then the other Maria gave a grim smile.

“You can’t stifle facts from the Press, Alice. I fully expected this. It may even be for the best. When the exoneration comes the family prestige will be immensely heightened and it is possible the scandal created by Ralph’s death will be offset.”

Alice reflected. “I never thought of it that way, Maria.”

“As to the dance hall incident, it tells me just what I want to know,” Maria said. “Those seized by the police last night included the manager—whose name is suppressed, you notice—but all of them were released this morning, just as my associate Mr. Martin believed they would be. It is all a matter of judgment, Alice. And it means that Ransome will be present this morning to receive—this!” She indicated the parcel she was carrying.

Alice eyed it in puzzlement. “Maria, please be careful!”

“Of course!” Maria gave a reassuring smile and departed, but the moment she was out in the street her face became hard and determined. She marched with resolute steps, sunshade tightly gripped in one hand and the parcel in the other. Sure enough, as she began to near Maxie’s Dance Hall, the figure of Pulp emerged suddenly from a store doorway opposite.

“Hi-ya!” His paw moved in a cordial semicircle. “How’s tricks after last night?”

“I am in excellent health, Mr. Martin. And you?”

“Never better. In fact, I think that fight last night sort of oiled me up a bit.”

“You escaped the police?”

He gave a contemptuous grin. “Nothing to it! Pretty smart idea for me to send for ’em, eh?”

“Very.” Maria came to a halt, glanced down the street as a taxi drew up against the curb. “That’s Joey, I take it?”

“Yeah—ready and waiting. I saw Ransome go into the Hall a bit back—and was his puss sour! It may be some time even yet before he finds out those papers of his have been frisked. Fingers tells me he shut the safe after him.

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