Charlie Chan in Reno Page #5

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to pack Mrs. Bentley's clothes.

- Obtain key from clerk?

- Why, yes, sir.

- Gosh, Pop, you don't think that she-

- Shh.

Was personal maid to deceased lady?

- Work for her in 1935 or '6?

- Why, no.

She engaged me in San Francisco

a month ago and brought me here.

Ever glance through

lady's scrapbook?

I looked at some of the pictures.

Were pages torn out

when Choy Wong look at book?

- No, I'm sure they weren't.

- Is it all right for her to pack now?

- Yes.

- I'd better help you.

We might find something important.

You'd better clear out

the closet first.

All right.

Oh, Charlie.

We've got something to show you.

I found this in Wally Burke's room.

As you see,

the scissors are missing.

Gee, they'd be just the size

we're looking for.

And it's got his initials on it too.

Mr. Burke aware of discovery?

No, the doctor spotted it

while I was trying to quiet Burke.

- Administer sedative?

- Yes. He'll be asleep for some time.

Will question young man

when he wakes up.

Thank you so much.

Assistance greatly appreciated.

Burke's in the clear

about that money he got...

but he'll have a tough time

explaining this.

Can recall last time

Mrs. Bentley wore riding boots?

The day before she was killed.

She went out early in the morning

and didn't get back till noon.

Say, if she was on a horse,

where'd she get all that mud?

- And those scratches?

- Most clever deduction.

Lady did not remain on horse.

Hold boots, please.

- Do you think we've got something, Pop?

- Time and analysis will tell.

- Can reach me at police station if needed.

- Okay.

Don't worry.

I'll keep an eye on things here.

Am certain can depend on same.

Pop sure is smart. He doesn't miss a thing.

Except his son moving the furniture.

Oh, you mean that bench over there?

That wasn't anything. I just dropped

a cigarette and burned a hole in the rug.

Does honorable father

think you're too young to smoke?

Oh, no. I'm no kid.

I help him solve his cases.

- You do?

- Yeah.

I've got an idea how to solve this one.

Do you want to help me?

Yes- If I don't get killed.

I wouldn't want you to do

anything dangerous.

- I think you're very nice.

- What do you want me to do?

Well, I haven't got it

all doped out yet.

Do you mind if I smoke?

It helps me to think.

Drive to police station, please.

Okay, but I still ain't talkin'.

Excellent.

Aw, now, Priscilla.

I told you not to follow me.

I'm workin'.

Well, I just talked

with the New York police.

They're putting men on the 1935 and '36

newspaper files right away...

and they're going to check up on

Mrs. Bentley's bank account.

- Thank you so much.

- Oh. What did you find on the boots?

Plenty of sand, some pollen

from desert flowers, red clay...

- a suggestion of copper shavings and-

- Horsefeathers.

And minute splinters

from very old wood.

Copper and old wood

suggest abandoned mine.

Yes, well, there are

lots of those around here...

but the red clay narrows it

to someplace south of town.

Distance also limited.

Lady must ride there on horse,

transact mysterious business...

- and return to hotel by noon.

- I see.

Honorable chemist suggest...

old wood might possibly

indicate ghost town.

Yes, that's right.

Oh, wait a minute.

I know one.

Yes. Here it is.

Yeah, there it is, right there.

It's up in the hills, about four miles

off the main road.

It's beyond Dead Man's Canyon.

Yes, there's plenty of red clay

in that district.

And the old Sully copper mines

were there too.

That fits the analysis, and it's about

the only one that fits the distance.

Say, if you're interested...

I'll have Tombstone

drive you up there in the morning.

Visit to Dead Man's Canyon with Tombstone-

Very appropriate.

Will consider same tomorrow.

You want him to drive you

back to the hotel?

Have hotel driver waiting.

Thank you so much.

Good-bye.

Hey, what are you going to do?

I'm going right along

after that guy.

He started one riot tonight,

and I aim to see he don't start no more.

Darned if I can figure why

you want to drive way out here...

at this time of night for.

Have strong desire

to visit real ghost town.

But it ain't nothin'

to look at even in the daytime.

You'll see for yourself in a minute.

It's just around the bend.

Please turn off all lights

when entering abandoned village.

- What for?

- Do not wish to alarm sleeping ghosts.

Wish to wait here?

If you don't mind, I think I would.

Oh. It's only you, Sheriff. Hello.

Where is that Chan fella?

He's wanderin' around somewheres...

- lookin' for ghosts.

- Ghosts nothin'.

He's up to something,

and I aim to find out what it is.

He can't give me the slip

and get away with it.

Are you tryin' to be funny?

I don't think so.

I ain't laughin'.

- What's that?

- It ain't mice.

Come out, whoever you are,

with your hands in the air.

- What was that?

- That ain't no... c-c-cow.

You're darn tootin' it ain't. Come on.

Light a match, Chan. I got him bulldogged.

- Why, this is a mining engineer's kit.

- Wait.

Wait'll you get a load

of these papers.

Bentley-The dead woman's husband?

How did he get away?

Regret scuffle

which occurred in dark...

to Mr. Bentley's advantage.

But have written description of car

with number of license.

Suggest you circulate same.

And how, I'll circulate it. This puts

an entirely new light on the case.

He's been out there all this time

in hiding, and I want to know why.

Also why wife visit him in secret.

Mmm. Send out

a general alarm for this car.

The driver is thought

to be George Bentley...

wanted in connection

with his wife's murder.

He'll try to leave the state, so notify

state and county highway patrols...

- to be on the lookout.

- Yes, sir.

I've got a hunch that when we get him

we'll have our murderer.

Sure be a relief to me

to get off of this merry-go-round.

Don't you ever solve

any of your cases in the daytime?

My feet hurt.

Chief King speaking.

What? All right.

We'll be over right away.

That was your son.

Something's happened at the hotel.

Must hurry.

Excuse please.

All right, break it up, folks.

Break it up. One side, please.

- What's wrong, Peters?

- This fella tried to sneak out of the hotel.

With these, Pop-

The ones we were lookin' for.

I told the officer that

somebody might try to do this...

and sure enough, it was him.

You've got a lot

of explaining to do, Burke.

I want a lawyer.

That won't be hard.

Half the population of Reno is lawyers.

- These are yours?

- Yes.

But I didn't kill her.

Someone's trying to make it look

like I did, and I know who it is.

- Just a minute, young fella.

- Sit down.

Please.

Have not explained scissors.

Jeanne borrowed them from me over a

week ago, and never returned them...

so when I heard she'd been

stabbed with scissors, why-

Who said she was

stabbed with scissors?

Lieutenant Chan-

And the police surgeon confirmed it.

Go on.

Don't tell me anything.

I'll just wait till the whole thing

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