Charlie Chan in Reno Page #3

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Yes. Here.

You can have this set.

Thank you so much.

Continue, please.

I started to touch her,

and- and I saw the blood...

and then I recognized her

by her hair.

Oh, it all happened so fast, Charlie,

and it was such a shock to me.

I don't know what I did.

I just stood and

looked at her, I guess.

And then suddenly

the Chinese maid was screaming...

and people ran into the room

and... they accused me.

Police have reason to

doubt truth of story?

We ain't got no reason to believe it.

She had plenty of motive too.

Why, only an hour or two

before Mrs. Bentley was stabbed...

this woman and her had a fight in the

hotel bar, over her stealing her husband.

Oh, but I wasn't

the only one she quarreled with.

You were the only one found

standing over the body.

May humbly request one more favor?

Please arrange for Mrs. Whitman

to return to hotel.

What? Turn loose

the only suspect we got?

Can promise she will not

attempt to leave Reno.

Chief, this Oriental's loco.

If you think you're gonna take her

out of here like you did your son...

- you got another think coming.

- Please.

Victim was stabbed, you say?

Victim?

Oh, she was stabbed all right,

with some kind of a knife.

Was weapon found on Mrs. Whitman?

Well, no,

but she might've got rid of it.

Exactly what kind of knife, please?

How should I know?

We ain't found it yet.

That's what has us stumped, Charlie.

The knife is still missing.

Then police believe Mrs. Whitman

foolish enough to kill...

leave room to hide death weapon...

then return to be discovered

beside body of victim?

Well, my theory is, she came back

for something- something she dropped.

Such as?

You can ask

the doggonedest questions!

Chief, are you gonna be taken in

by a lot of polite bowing and scraping?

You know we haven't got enough

evidence for an indictment, Tombstone.

Yeah, but who's going to be

responsible for her?

Suggest husband

number one man for job.

Her husband? First thing I know, you'll be

asking me to swear Whitman in as a deputy.

Can think of no one with better reason

for wishing to capture murderer.

- I'll see what the D.A. Says about releasing her, Charlie.

- Thank you so much.

Doggonedest detective I ever saw.

He's taking 'em out of here

faster than we can put 'em in.

Oh, excuse me, Sheriff.

What you hiding for?

Are you shadowing someone?

I ain't hiding. I got orders

to stick around and help your pa...

so I'm giving him plenty of rope.

- Where is he now?

- In there talking to the owner of the hotel.

Oh.

So right after the quarrel in the bar,

I took Mrs. Whitman up to her room.

I stayed with her for some time

because she was pretty upset.

And I don't blame her. She took an awful

beating from that Bentley woman.

- Mrs. Bentley very unpopular.

- That's putting it mildly.

Believe unlamented lady here

to divorce self from present husband.

Yes. A George Bentley

from San Francisco.

So far, we haven't

been able to locate him.

- No one claim body?

- Her family. The police shipped it Back East yesterday.

Murder room still intact?

Yes. And locked, of course.

- Would like to visit same now.

- Certainly.

Mind if I snoop along?

Charming company turn

lowly sandwich into rich banquet.

Hiya, Pop.

How do you like my new hat?

Off head at present.

Oh, sure.

Sorry.

Excuse, please. This is number two son,

masquerading as Lone Ranger.

- Hello.

- How do you do?

Say. Are you getting ready

to visit the scene of the crime?

Yes. Would honorable Sheriff

wish to come?

Heck, I been through that room so much

I could search it with my eyes shut.

Thank you. Will search then

this time with eyes open.

Oh, Mrs. Russell!

Somebody's took the passkey off my ring.

- The passkey?

- Yes, ma'am. I left it hanging outside while I did 108...

and when I come out, it was gone.

Gee, maybe the murderer took it.

- The murderer! Oh, oh!

- Quiet!

Call the desk

and see if it's been turned in there.

I did, and it ain't.

Oh, ma'am, do you think-

I think you'll find it.

And please don't mention it to anyone.

Why, Dr. Ainsley!

What are you doing here?

I just remembered something

that happened the night of the murder.

- Oh, uh, this is Charlie Chan, the detective.

- How do you do?

Most gratifying to meet hostess

who remembers job at all times.

I get it. You think I was trying to

warn him for some reason.

Is there any reason

to warn honorable doctor?

Say, you don't

waste any time, do you?

Well, I'm not any good at hiding it,

so I may as well confess.

I'm rather fond of

the honorable doctor.

But I must admit this doesn't look so hot.

What were you doing here?

Looking for the money Mrs. Bentley won

the night she was murdered.

Don't you think you'd better leave

the searching to the police?

They did search this room...

but it occurred to me that

no mention was made of the money.

You see, Mr. Chan, the jealousy angle

was so strong against Mrs. Whitman...

that no one thought of

a simple robbery motive.

Most happy to consider same.

Was it large sum lady won?

Large enough for her to be paid off

in a stack of hundred dollar bills.

Wally Burke cashed in her chips.

And handed her the money

during the quarrel. I remember.

Hey! Cut it out! That hurts!

Take your hands off me, you big hick!

I haven't done anything!

Come peaceable now,

or I'll get rough.

What's all this about, Sheriff?

Burke knows

he ain't supposed to leave town.

Yet I just caught him trying

to pay his bill and check out.

- Pay his bill? With what?

- Money. What do you think?

- That's funny. I thought he was broke.

- What gave you that idea?

You tried to borrow some

from me the other night.

I wired home for it.

Any business of yours?

No. But it might

be of interest to Mr. Chan.

- Well, what is all this?

- Was under impression Mrs. Bentley was friend of yours.

She was.

Surprised then, you unwilling

to assist police by remaining in hotel.

Since you put it that way,

of course I'll stay.

You'll stay no matter

which way we put it.

Did Sheriff notice

if Mr. Burke have hundred dollar bills?

He was downright filthy with 'em.

- I better lock him up.

- No.

Most inadvisable.

If want wild bird to sing

do not put him in cage.

Maybe he won't sing,

but leastwise he won't take off either.

Check later with telegraph company

concerning story of Mr. Burke about cash.

Okay, Pop. I'll handle that.

If I can be of

any further help, I'Il-

I'll trouble you for that

passkey you took from the maid.

The maid?

I didn't take any key from her.

This is the one I used. The night clerk

gave it to me last week on an emergency case.

I forgot to return it.

It's been in my desk ever since.

With gracious permission of hostess,

will resume conversation later.

All right,

and I'll be looking forward to it...

because never have I

so politely been told to scram.

And now, please, would like to occupy

this room during stay in hotel.

- This room?

- Yes.

Gosh. It hasn't been three days

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