Chapter 17 Chapter 16 IOUs

"...He won again this evening, and this time, as the new champion who has become famous, who is his opponent, Julian Hunt. This is too funny! The champagne is flowing like a fountain..." Mr. Ellery Queen read such a column in Teddy Lanes's tabloid at the dinner table early next morning.Ellery doesn't remember seeing Lyons at a dinner at the Mara nightclub, but his writing comes alive and empathetic.He described the lively scenes, guests and dramatic events at that time in detail, allowing celebrities to appear without letting go of the rabble.Ellery was portrayed as "the innocent victim of the new champion".

Suddenly Ellery narrowed his eyes, warily watching the startlingly ironic description below. "What's the handle?" Lioness asked bluntly, "Hunter was able to firmly control his famous wife, Mara Gay, in his hands? This handle seems to be the key to maintaining this marriage. Reader I can realize that the relationship between this celebrity couple is actually a cat-dog relationship-the husband plays the role of bossy old dog, while the wife shrieks like a cat and dodges. Is it only because of the emotional disharmony that Marla is so nervous Is it so messy that the two eyes show such a weird expression?" Lyons asked tentatively, "There is TNT in that love nest! Good guy. Don't the husband know? The wife doesn't know what will happen if it breaks out. What serious consequences for her career? Yes, they know it!"

Ellery dropped the newspaper and filled his mug with plenty of coffee. "I said, what are you thinking?" Officer Quinn asked. "I'm so stupid," Ellery said. "Lines, of course, like all good journalists, has a real eye. That woman has a drug addiction." "Should have realized," sighed Officer Quinn, "I always thought that woman was abnormal and looked uncomfortable. It was cocaine, huh? This is the killer that Hunter used to threaten her last night." Copper!... What are you laughing at?" "Laughing? I'm frowning. I'm wondering what's going to happen next."

"What happened? Oh, you mean her peril? Fuck her! I have other news for you." "information?" "It's bound to be a big story in the morning papers. I heard it from Mars on the phone. Any idea what's going on?" "I really don't see anything special about it. For God's sake, what's the matter?" Officer Quinn comfortably took the first pinch of snuff in the morning, sneezed three times loudly, wiped his nose, and then said: "A last-minute decision, Crazy Bill Grant's cavalry troupe resumed their performances." "You mean it's opening tonight?"

"Yeah... Guess who is in command?" "Git Horn." "wrong!" Ellery froze: "Isn't she going to take part in the show?" "It was Tony, Mars told me himself on the phone. He said that the lineup was rearranged—to play with the curiosity of the audience after the murder. I couldn't believe it." "It's weird to me, too," Ellery said, frowning. "I think," Officer Quinn said with a smile, "that poor kid must have a...how do you say?...revenge complex. Otherwise, as a famous movie star, why bother to participate in this kind of thing?" Circus sideshow? Let me tell you, the motives are as obvious as the nose on your face. I bet she's going to get in a lawsuit for breaching her film contract."

"If I'm not mistaken," said Ellery, "a contract won't stop her. That means..." "But then again, maybe it's because Grant's son is still there," said the old man. "I dare say that the relationship between the two of them is more than just a professional connection. Because..." At this time, the doorbell rang.Dijuna ran to open the door.On his return it was Kit Horn who had ushered him into the Quinns' living room. Ellery jumped to his feet. "My dear Miss Horne," he greeted warmly, "this is a real surprise. Come and have a cup of coffee with us."

"No thanks," Kit said in a low voice. "Good morning, Sergeant. I'm just taking a moment of your time. I... have something to... want to tell you." "Oh, that would be great," said Inspector Quinn enthusiastically, moving a chair for her.She sat down weakly.Ellery offered her a cigarette, but she didn't take it.So Ellery lit himself, and stood at the window to puff.He glanced out the window into the street and saw that the detective who had been following Kit was doing his job; the fellow was standing across the road, leaning over the railing and looking in this way.

"What is it, girl?" "It's a strange thing." She clenched the gloves into a ball, looking a little nervous, her eyes were purple, and her expression was gloomy. "It's about Buck." "Is it related to Mr. Horn, Miss?" Officer Quinn said sympathetically, "Very well, very good, we will use every bit of clues, Miss Horn. But what is going on?" He brightened Looking at her kindly with his small eyes, he said.Ellery still stood at the window smoking quietly.Dijuna walked away knowingly—though he couldn't help but glance at his idol. "Just say it," she recounted, rubbing her gloves, "I—I don't know where to start. It's too hard to say." Then she stopped what she was doing and looked up at Officer Quinn without hesitation. "Maybe I'm making a fuss over a molehill. But it seems to me—very important, if not particularly relevant."

"Go on, Miss Horn." "It's about—Julian Hunt, too." She paused. "Ok." "I went to him not long ago--to the Mara nightclub, I went alone." "And then, dear?" Inspector Quinn asked. "That's what he asked for. I..." "Did he call or did he send a note?" Sergeant Quinn asked alertly, aware that there might be something missing in their surveillance operation. "Neither." She seemed to feel that Officer Quinn's question was meaningless. "One night in a nightclub he took me aside and asked me to meet him alone the next night. He didn't say why. Of course I just go."

"and then?" "I met him in his private office. At first he was very polite. Then he took off his mask. He told me a horrible thing. Did you know he runs a casino, officer?" "That's the case?" said Inspector Quinn. "What's the deal with it?" "Well, it was about a week before Buck died, we had just moved from the West, and Tony Mars introduced us to Hunter, and Buck then went to Hunter's casino-in the Mara Nightclub Upstairs. Buck bet." "Is it poker? Or dice?" "Playing filo. He lost a lot of money." "I see," said Sergeant Quinn mildly. "You know what, we looked into your father's finances, Miss Horn. Not here, I mean over there in Wyoming. We found out that he gave all his money to Cleaned up—just before he came to New York."

"You haven't mentioned it to me," Ellery interrupted from the window. "You didn't ask, son. How much did Horn lose, miss?" "Forty-two thousand dollars." Both father and son were stunned: "It's really not a small amount," Police Officer Quinn murmured, "In fact, the amount is too huge." "What do you mean?" Ellery asked. "He's only got eleven thousand dollars, and that's all he's got out of Cheyenne, Ellery." "He took them all out?" "Not a penny left. He's got nothing but his ranch. Not very rich, huh? . . . So, Miss Horn, he's lost over forty thousand dollars! I think I can see something." coming." "Yeah," she said, lowering her eyes. "He didn't lose all at once. I remember Hunter said that he gambled for four days. Finally, he gave Hunter an IOU." "Did he never give cash?" Officer Quinn asked with a frown. "Hunter said yes." "That's strange! But what does he use to buy chips?" Kit shrugged: "He only spent a few hundred yuan, that's what Hunter said. He also told me that he gave Buck the rest of the chips on credit. And according to Hunter, Buck has been complaining about the money he has recently. too tight." "Hmm. There's something strange about it," Police Officer Quinn muttered to himself, "Horn came to New York with more than ten thousand dollars, deposited five thousand in the bank, and then asked for three thousand a few days later... There is no cash to pay. How do you explain that to Hunter? Could it be that the visitor took the money, eh, son?" Ellery quietly continued smoking his cigarette.Kit sat stiffly.Officer Quinn paced up and down the room. "Then what does Mr. Hunter want from you?" the old man asked suddenly. "Hunter said that Buck is dead, and the money on the IOU will not be collected, and I should pay him back the money!" "What? The damned villain," said Inspector Quinn angrily, "I guess you didn't say yes to him, did you?" "That's right," she looked up again, with gray-blue flames in her eyes, "I was afraid I couldn't hold back my anger. I didn't even trust him, and asked him to produce an IOU to prove it. And he took it out of the safe Showed me the IOU. Oh, sure! I told him he must have been playing tricks to make that big money-roller Buck lose so badly, and he got very angry and started threatening me." "Threatening you? How do you say it?" "He said there was a way to force me to repay the debt." "What can he do?" She shrugged her shoulders: "how do I know." "And you left?" She cheered up and said, "I gave him a slap! But at last I told him I'd pay it back for Buck." "You promised him?" said Inspector Quinn in astonishment, "but my dear girl, you don't have to pay him back at all!" "A debt is a debt," she said calmly, "but I'm not that stupid, Sergeant, and I've saved it. I said, 'Mr. Debt.' He was polite to me at once. 'But, after Buck's murder is settled, it will be proved that you were not involved in the murder.' Then I ran away." Officer Quinn coughed dryly: "This is too difficult for you, Miss Horne, are you able to pay it back? This is a lot of money." Kit sighed. "It's a lot. If it weren't for Buck's insurance money, I wouldn't be able to pay it myself. He's been insured for years—a hundred thousand dollars in total. And I'm the beneficiary..." "I doubt whether Hunter understands this..." Officer Quinn thought to himself. "Has he had any particular expenses—besides gambling—I mean, since he came to New York?" Ellery asked. "I'm sure he didn't." "Well," thought Ellery, leaning against the window sill; suddenly he turned back, "oh, well," he said, looking cheerful, "these things will no doubt be answered when the case is cleared. Let's change the subject. I heard that you are going to participate in Grant's performance, Miss Horn, is it a sudden decision?" "Oh, that," her little bronzed face tightened, "not exactly. It's been an idea since the night Buck was killed. But I'm not trying to take Buck's place to make a splash, Mr. Quinn. I don't want to publish it, but Mr. Grant insists on it for some reason, and Mr. Mars supports him. I just want to join the Cowboys and co-star." "May I know what you're trying to achieve?" Ellery asked mildly. She got up and started putting gloves on her hands. "Mr. Quinn," she said suddenly sternly, "I'm not going to stop looking for the man who killed my father. I know it sounds like a joke, but that's what I think of." "Ah, so I guess, you think the murderer was hiding in the riding regiment or in the stadium spectators?" "It seems likely, doesn't it?" she smiled. "I must go now," she said, walking toward the door. "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed suddenly, stopping in the doorway. , "I almost forgot. This afternoon, just before the opening ceremony, the cavalry troupe is going to hold a small celebration ceremony. Mr. Quinn, I think you will appreciate it?" "Ceremony?" Ellery was a little surprised. "Wouldn't it be - oh, sort of - be nice?" "You know," she said with a sigh, "it's a very unusual time. It's Curley's birthday again. According to her mother's will, he's due to inherit a large sum of money. Curley didn't want to be abrupt. , but Bill Grant asked me if it was a taboo, and of course I said it didn't matter. I didn't want to spoil everyone's fun, especially Curley's good day again." Ellery coughed and said, "Since this is the case, I'm happy to join in the fun. Is the venue a big stadium?" "Yes. They are setting up tables, chairs and tableware in the performance arena. Then, I will wait for the two of you to come. Goodbye." She held out her hand generously, and Ellery smiled and took it.Kit politely shook hands with Officer Quinn again, and walked out with a hearty smile.Both father and son watched her briskly run down the stairs. "Good girl." Officer Quinn sighed and closed the door. Officer Quinn put on his coat and was leaving his apartment on Central Avenue when the doorbell rang.Di Juna ran to open the door. "Who would happen to be here at this time?" Officer Quinn muttered.Ellery looked out the window and turned when he saw the agent swiftly following Kiter toward Broadway. Major Bryant stood in the doorway, grinning. "Ah, come in, Major!" Ellery called hastily. "It seems that I have come at an inopportune time," said the major humorously.He was dressed in crisply ironed clothes, fresh and clean, looking radiant, holding a fashionable cane in his hand, and a juicy camellia pinned to his chest, "I'm sorry, officer—it looks like you're about to go out, I'll Don't delay too long." "It's okay, how about a cigar?" "No, thank you," said the major, sitting down with his trousers pulled up gracefully. "I ran into Kit Horne when I went upstairs. Courtesy, eh? . . . I just stopped by to see how I could help." Yes. I'm used to working with the police, and it feels pretty good!" "Certainly for someone as sensitive as you." Ellery smiled. "I'm going to work on the stadium again tonight," the major said. "Leading a news documentary. I'm here to ask you if there's anything special you need me to do." "Something special?" Ellery frowned. "You mean..." "Oh, I don't have any opinion either. In case something happens like a month ago..." "You mean something will happen again?" Officer Quinn said solemnly, "We have set up security guards in all places inside and outside the venue, but..." "Oh, no, no, that's not what I mean. I don't have that string in my head. But I can shoot special scenes, you know, in case..." Officer Quinn looked confused.Ellery smiled and said, "You are very thoughtful, Major. But I feel that tonight's program will go smoothly and happily. Anyway, see you tonight." "Sure." The major stood up, straightened his tie, sniffed his corsage, and shook hands to say goodbye.In the corridor, he patted Dijuna on the head and walked out smiling all the way. "Did you hear, what does that guy mean?" Officer Quinn said unhappily. Ellery laughed and sat down in a chair in front of the fireplace. "Look at his eccentric look, what the hell is he trying to do?" Police Officer Quinn roared angrily. "Old man, you are too suspicious. If you don't like people, you will chatter. Go to your Bastille and go to work. The major is just being polite." "I think he's meddling in his own business!" Officer Quinn walked out with his chin raised, and slammed the door panel loudly.