The Roman Hat Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

decent of you, Pusak, ” said the Inspector, smiling.
    “ Yes, sir. So I walked down the row, feeling my way, because it was pretty dark in the theatre, and then I came to ― to this man. ” He shuddered, and continued more rapidly. “ He was sitting in a funny way, I thought. His knees were touching the seat in front of him and I couldn ’ t get past. I said, ‘ I ’ m sorry, ’ and tried again, but his knees hadn ’ t moved an inch. I didn ’ t know what to do, sir ― I ’ m not nervy, like some fellows, and I was going to turn around and go back when all of a sudden I felt the man ’ s body slip to the floor ― I was still pressed up close to him. Of course, I got kind of scared ― it was only natural . . . . ”
    “ I should say, ” said the Inspector, with concern. “ It must have given you quite a turn. Then what happened? ”
    “ Well, sir . . . . Then, before I realized what was happening, he fell clean out of his seat and his head bumped against my legs. I didn ’ t know what to do. I couldn ’ t call for help ― I don ’ t know why, but I couldn ’ t somehow ― and I just naturally bent over him, thinking he was drunk or sick or something, and meant to lift him up. I hadn ’ t figured on what I ’ d do after that ”
    “ I know just how you felt, Pusak. Go on. ”
    “ Then it happened ― the thing I told this policeman about. I ’ d just got hold of his head when I felt his hand come up and grab mine, just like he was trying awfully hard to get a grip on something, and he moaned. It was so low I could hardly hear it, but sort of horrible. I can ’ t quite describe it exactly . . . . ”
    “ Now, we ’ re getting on, ” said the Inspector. “ And? ”
    “ And then he talked. It wasn ’ t really talking ― it was more like a gurgle, as if he was choking. He said a few words that I didn ’ t catch at all, but I realized that this was something different from just being sick or drunk, so I bent even lower and listened hard. I heard him gasp, ‘ It ’ s murder . . . . Been murdered . . . ‘ or something like that . . . . ”
    “ So he said, ‘ It ’ s murder, ’ eh? ” The Inspector regarded Pusak with severity. “ Well, now. That must have given you a shock, Pusak. ” He snapped suddenly, “ Are you certain this man said ‘ murder ’ ? ”
    “ That ’ s what I heard, sir. I ’ ve got good hearing, ” said Pusak doggedly.
    “ Well! ” Queen relaxed, smiling again. “ Of course. I just wanted to make sure. Then what did you do? ”
    “ Then I felt him squirm a little and all of a sudden go limp in my arms. I was afraid he ’ d died and I don ’ t know how ― but next thing I knew I was in the back telling it all to the policeman ― this policeman here. ” He pointed to Doyle, who rocked on his heels impersonally.
    “ And that ’ s all? ”
    “ Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That ’ s all I know about it, ” said Pusak, with a sigh of relief.
    Queen grasped him by the coat front and barked, “ That isn ’ t all, Pusak. You forgot to tell us why you left your seat in the first place! ” He glared into the little man ’ s eyes.
    Pusak coughed, teetered back and forth a moment, as if uncertain of his next words, then leaned forward and whispered into the Inspector ’ s astonished ear.
    “ Oh! ” Queen ’ s lips twitched in the suspicion of a smile, but he said gravely, “ I see, Pusak. Thank you very much for your help. Everything is all right now ― you may go back to your seat and leave with the others later on. ” He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. Pusak, with a sickly glance at the dead man on the floor, crept around the rear wall of the last row and reappeared by the girl ’ s side. She immediately engaged him in a whispered but animated conversation.
    As the Inspector with a little smile turned to Velie, Ellery made a slight movement of impatience, opened his mouth to speak, appeared to reconsider, and finally moved quietly backwards,