The Dragon’s Teeth
“The Empty Mouth Cadmus Cole’s fountain-pen! What was it doing in De Carlos’s possession?
Ellery raised his eyebrows to Beau. They drifted off to a corner of the office as De Carlos, at the desk, struggled to control his hand.
“You’re sure it’s the same one?” whispered Beau.
“Positive, although we’ve always got a check-up against those microphotographs.”
“Cole’s pen!” mumbled Beau. “The same pen he used to write out that check for fifteen grand when he originally hired us. It might have a simple explanation, El. Maybe De Carlos just appropriated it after Cole cashed in.”
Ellery shrugged. “There’s one way of finding out. De Carlos is just drunk enough to be off guard, and if we asked him he’s apt to tell the truth. Let me handle this.”
He went back to the desk and rested his palms on it, smiling down at the writing man.
“There!” said De Carlos with a bubbly sigh. “Twen’y-fi’ thoushand dollarsh, Mis’er Rummell.” He sat back limply in the swivel-chair, waving the check like a flag to dry the ink.
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