The elevator cage slid into position and the door glided open.
Mason patted her shoulder. Remember, he said, that were playing a game and weve got to play our cards just right... just exactly right.
Chapter 6
Sunday traffic made for delays in the first part of the drive. Mason, his face granite hard, said little.
Then as the traffic began to thin out, the lawyer put the car into speed.
Knowing Masons feelings about safe driving and his conviction that an automobile driven at high speed was a deadly missile which should be operated only by one who was in full possession of his faculties and concentrating on the driving, Della Street made no effort to discuss the case until after they came up over the little hill, crossed the railroad tracks and saw the town of Mojave spread out along the main street.
The desert air was crystal clear. The buildings seemed etched in the afternoon sunlight.
Mason pulled in to a filling station, said to the attendant, Fill it up, then after the hose had been placed in the tank, Mason said casually, Do you happen to know a man named Lowry? Ken Lowry?
Sure, the attendant said. Hes There he is, right across the street, getting in that pickup!
Mason followed the direction of the other mans pointing finger and saw a somewhat battered pickup with the name MOJAVE MONARCH MINE on the side door.
The lawyer started hurrying across the street but Lowry pulled out when Mason was still half-way to the car.
The attendant at the service station gave a shrill whistle and the man at the wheel of the pickup jerked his head, saw Mason waving at him, and slowed the car to a stop.
Mason approached the car. Youre Lowry of the Mojave Monarch?
Right.
Im Perry Mason, an attorney from Los Angeles, and Id like very much to talk with you.
What about?
About the mining business.
Lowry smiled and shook his head. I dont talk business with strangers, he said. Leastwise, not mining business.
All right, Mason said, if you dont talk, will you listen?
Della Street, hurrying across the road, came up to the car.
Mason said, This is my secretary, Miss Street, Mr. Lowry.
Lowry, a grizzled, leathery-faced, grey-eyed individual in the early forties, surveyed Della appreciatively. A gust of desert wind whipped her skirts and Lowry promptly lowered his eyes to take in the scenery. How do you do, maam? Very pleased to meet you, he said.
Della Street gave him her most winning smile and her hand. How do you do, Mr. Lowry?
I know youre busy, Mason said, but we drove out here just to see you. Could we have a few minutes of your time?
I cant talk.
Will you give us a few minutes?
Ill listen for a few minutes.
Where can we talk? Mason asked.
Right heres as good a place as any, Lowry said.
Della caught Masons eye, said, Why cant we get in the car with Mr. Lowry and talk there? That way we wont attract so much attention and wont have to raise our voices.
Lowry hesitated and Mason said, Good idea, Della.
The lawyer walked around the front of the automobile, held the door open for Della Street.
Della jumped in with a quick flash of generously displayed nylon which, for the moment, held Lowrys undivided attention. Then Mason got in beside her and closed the door.
Im listening, Lowry said.
He swung half-way around in the seat so that he could be facing Perry Mason and as he caught the full dazzling effect of Della Streets eyes he settled back against the cushion, slid his right arm along the back of the seat and indicated by his manner that despite his words he wasnt going to be in too great a hurry to terminate the interview.
I suppose Endicott Campbell has been here and warned you against talking to anyone, Mason said.
Lowry merely grinned.
And perhaps he even mentioned my name, Mason went on.
Lowry said, Im listening.
All right, Mason told him, Im talking. Id like to know something about the Mojave Monarch mine. Id like to know how the thing is set up, how it operated, how long the mines been shut down.
Lowry sat silent.
Well? Mason asked.
Not talking, Lowry said. Whats more, Im not going to talk.
Della Street said, Mr. Lowry, would you listen to me?
Im listening.
Della Street said, A young woman, a most attractive young woman, is being charged with a crime. Mr. Mason is trying to represent her. He isnt doing this for money. She hasnt paid him as much as a nickel. She cant afford to pay him even a fraction of what his services are worth. Shes a young secretary who has her whole life in front of her. That life can be ruined if the facts are distorted. Were trying to get the true facts, thats all we want. Theres no reason why anyone should be afraid of the truth, is there, Mr. Lowry?... Or is there any reason for being afraid of the truth?
Not as far as Im concerned.
Then why arent you willing to answer a few simple questions so that we can get the real facts? Do you have any idea what it means to a woman to go to prison? A woman only has a few of the golden years in her life when shes attractive. Even at the best, when she can get lots of vitamins, fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and mental stimulation she begins to fade after a few years.
Think of what it means to a young, attractive woman to have the prison doors close on her and to realize that as she endures that treadmill existence her beauty is slipping through her fingers.
Lowry said, There hasnt any beauty slipped through your fingers, maam, if you dont mind my saying so.
Della Street gave him her most dazzling smile. I dont mind your saying so, she said, but it seems to me youre a fair man, youre a square shooter, youre the type of individual who scorns subterfuge and deceit. Now its my best guess that youve had to do things that you didnt want to do and that has worried you. In fact, I think youre worried right now. Mr. Mason is a very clever lawyer. Theres just a chance he could help you.
I dont need any help, Lowry said.
Perhaps you think you dont, but there are all sorts of angles to a thing like this, Della Street went on. Remember that Endicott Campbell is very much interested in saving his own skin.
Lowry looked across at Perry Mason and said, Shes a pretty dam good saleswoman.
Convincing you? Mason asked, smiling.
Not yet.
She should have convinced you by this time, Mason told him, because shes telling the truth.
She sure makes it sound convincing.
The truth is always convincing, Della Street said. Theres something unmistakable about the truth. Now Im going to risk getting thrown out of here right on the sidewalk by telling you that youve got yourself to think of. Youre an outdoor man, I can tell that by looking at you. Youre accustomed to the big spaces, youre accustomed to wind on your face, youre accustomed to sunlight, youre accustomed to lots of fresh air. Dont think for a minute that youre completely in the clear in this thing, Mr. Lowry.
Ive told you what it would mean to a young woman to go to prison but do you realize what it means to an outdoor man to go to prison, to be shut up within stone walls, to be deprived of sunlight, of air, of freedom? Do you realize how many people of that sort contract prison tuberculosis?
Lowrys face flushed. Say, he said angrily, what are you doing? Threatening me?
Della Street looked him straight in the eyes and said, Im not threatening you, Mr. Lowry, Im warning you. Youre a pretty good specimen of manhood. I wouldnt like to see you spend the next ten years behind bars. Im also going to tell you something else. My boss, Mr. Mason, is a pretty smart individual. If you tell him your story perhaps he can help you.
Lowry doggedly shook his head.
Della Street whirled to Mason, lowered her right eye in a wink, said, All right, Chief, lets go.
Now wait a minute, Lowry said. Im thinking things over a little bit.
Youd better think fast then, Mason said, following up Della Streets lead.
There was silence for several seconds, then Lowry again shook his head. Nope, he said, Im not talking.
All right, Mason said to Della Street, get your notebook, Della.
Della Street took a notebook out of her purse.
Put down the date and the time, Mason said, and take this statement: This is dictated in the presence of Ken Lowry, Manager of the Mojave Monarch. We called on Mr. Lowry and asked him to tell us something about the operation of the mine. We pointed out to him that a young woman was being charged with a crime, that she was innocent; that circumstances had conspired against her and that she was quite possibly the victim of a frame-up. Mr. Lowry would make absolutely no statement. He wouldnt tell us anything about the operation of the mine, he wouldnt divulge the location of the mine, he wouldnt tell us how long it had been shut down; he refused to discuss anything, thereby indicating his own bias and that he was trying to cover up the true facts.
Now wait a minute, Lowry said. Since youre writing that down you just put in there that I said Im not covering up anything, that Ive simply been instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone and particularly with Perry Mason.
Who gave you those instructions? Mason asked.
Endicott Campbell, if you want to know.
All right, Mason said grimly, before I get done with Endicott Campbell he may not be giving anyone instructions. And if you want to tie in with him, go ahead. But before you plunge along in blind loyalty to Campbell youd better find out something about what Campbell has been doing and find out what the facts are.
Ill probably be cross-examining you in court, Mr. Lowry. Dont say that I didnt give you every opportunity.
Mason opened the door of the car.
Lowry said angrily, All right, youve given me every opportunity. I dont have to talk to you and Im not going to.
Della Street turned to him, put her hand impulsively on his arm. Listen, Mr. Lowry, she said, please lets not misunderstand each other.
Im not misunderstanding anybody.
Perhaps were misunderstanding you. But let me put it to you this way. Youve had an opportunity to see Endicott Campbell. Youve known him for some time and
Yesterday was the first time I ever set eyes on him, Lowry said.
All right, Della Street went on, glancing significantly at Perry Mason. You probably pride yourself on judging character. How do you judge Endicott Campbell? Would you go out on a prospecting trip with him? Would you like to have him as a partner?