Now, my dear, my eyes arent what they should be. I can only read with this big reading-glass and it tires my eyes. Im going to have to rely on you. Wheres the sheet showing the summary of expenses?
Susan got it for her.
Read me the figures, Miss Corning said.
Sue read off the figures slowly, impressively.
The woman frowned and shook her head. Dont dawdle along so much. Read them right out. Ill remember them. Just get them out.
Sue read the figures.
When she had finished, Miss Corning cross-examined her on them, recalling figure after figure accurately down to the last penny, as though she had the balance sheet right in front of her.
Then suddenly she had changed the subject. What about this Oklahoma Royal property? she asked.
Then suddenly she had changed the subject. What about this Oklahoma Royal property? she asked.
Sue went over to the safe and brought out a statement. At Miss Cornings insistence she read that statement also.
Abruptly Miss Corning said, I think Endicott Campbell is a crook.
Sue was shocked into frozen silence.
Get me a suitcase, Miss Corning commanded. Im going to take all those papers with me. I want a handwriting expert to look over those. I think most of those checks are phonies. I think theyve all been endorsed by Endicott Campbell.
Why, Miss Corning! Sue exclaimed. That... that would be
Exactly, Miss Corning snapped as Sue finished. That would be forgery or embezzlement, or both. Now then, I want something that will hold those records. I want a suitcase two strong suitcases. Here...
Miss Corning again picked up her bag, opened it, pulled out the billfold, extracted two one-hundred-dollar bills, said, Youll find a luggage store open around here someplace, probably not a good one, but youll find one that sells baggage. Those places seem to stay open somehow at ungodly hours. Go down and get me two very strong suitcases. I dont want them fancy, I want them strong. Get back here just as fast as you can.
Yes, maam, Sue said.
Hurry along now. I know a handwriting expert here in the city who will go into these things for me. Im not satisfied with the way things have been going and youre not either.
Why, what do you mean?
You know good and well what I mean. Youre down here working on your Saturday trying to get things straightened up. Youve been wondering what you were going to say to me when I showed up. You were hoping you wouldnt have to answer any questions, that Endicott Campbell would be the one to do it.
I... I... I dont think I should discuss Mr. Campbell with you, Miss Corning. After all, I work for
Shut up that magpie chatter, the woman snapped, and go down and get me those suitcases! I want to get started on this. I want to have this thing all at my fingertips by Monday morning and I want to know how to approach Endicott Campbell. Im not going to lay myself wide open to a lawsuit by accusing him of anything I cant prove. If I make an accusation I want to be able to prove it. The way things look now I am going to make an accusation and I want the facts to back it up. Now, get started.
Yes, maam, Sue said, feeling very small and insignificant and at the same time very much alarmed.
She went down in the elevator and after a couple of fruitless attempts to find a luggage store open on a Saturday afternoon, enlisted the aid of a cab driver who took her to a rather small but well-stocked store, waited while she hurriedly selected the two strong suitcases, and then drove back to the office.
Sue, carrying the empty suitcases, found Miss Corning in her wheelchair by the window holding some canceled checks up to the bright afternoon light. A thick-lensed reading-glass was held above the checks.
Miss Corning looked up as Sue entered and said, Humph, just as I thought. This whole deal is completely phony. You got the suitcases, child?
Yes.
Put them out on that table. Start putting these checks in them. Now, I want that book and all of these statements. Im going over them in the hotel tonight.
Now then, just where is Endicott Campbell? I mean, where is he supposed to be?
I dont know. I called the golf club this morning trying to locate him. He was part of a foursome that had a reservation there but it had been canceled out.
I want to see him, Miss Corning said, and I want to see him tonight, at my hotel. Now dont let him come up here. I dont want to see him now, I dont want to see him at his convenience, I want to see him at mine! Get on the telephone and get him located.
Ill have to go to the switchboard, Sue said, and... and
I dont care where you have to go, Miss Corning snapped, throwing a bundle of canceled checks into one of the suitcases. Get on the telephone and get him located. Ring up his golf club. If he isnt there, find out the names of the people who were in the foursome. Ring each one of them up. Get Campbell located. What about his house... he wouldnt be there?
I dont know. I just dont know where he is, Miss Corning.
Hes a widower?
His wife has left him. Theres a daughter, Eve, with her. A younger son, Carleton, is with Mr. Campbell. He has a governess for him.