Charlie Chan in Reno Page #6

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is solved...

- then read about it in the papers.

- I'm sorry, Tombstone.

I thought you knew it.

All right, go on, Mr. Burke.

Well, I naturally figured

she was killed with my scissors.

Explain present possession

and attempt to dispose of same.

Dr. Ainsley gave me a sedative...

and when I woke up,

the scissors were on my table.

Someone put them there,

but with all the accusations...

that have been made against me,

no one would have believed that.

L- Well, I had to get rid of'em.

- Mr. Chan, there's something queer about this.

- You bet your life there is.

Somebody planted these in my room...

and if they did it for a joke,

I don't think it's funny.

Excuse please.

You were speaking when lady interrupt.

I was just going to say that I found

a pair of desk shears...

- exactly like those in my room tonight.

- What?

- Doctor also find similar pair?

- Yes.

But how did you know?

- Have theory.

- It better be good. They couldn't have all killed her.

Would like to see scissors, please.

- Bring the ones up from my office too.

- Certainly.

Number two son finally win jackpot?

- What do you mean?

- Scissors cost money.

Oh, I had some money left

after I bought this suit.

- What are you talking about?

- Think ambitious young detective...

can explain confusion of scissors.

Well, I figured that if all the suspects

found scissors in their rooms...

the one that was guilty

would try to get rid of'em.

- And it worked too.

- You mean you planted 'em, son?

- Yes, sir.

- I'm as much to blame as Jimmy is.

He thought of it,

but I'm the one who did it.

Oh, boy, am I relieved.

I found these under a cushion

of a chair in Mary's room.

But we didn't put any scissors

in Mrs. Whitman's room.

What?

- You didn't?

- No, sir. We couldn't get in.

That policeman was

on guard outside the door.

Yeah, on my orders.

It looks like I was pretty smart too.

Now what have you got

to say, Mr. Chan?

But I didn't have them there.

I didn't know anything about them.

Have you got that

leather case, Charlie?

Uh, on desk.

Here they are.

What's happened?

Bring scissors, please.

- These the ones that were found in Mrs. Whitman's room?

- Yes.

These have the same trademark

as the letter opener.

I'm afraid there's no doubt that these

are the ones she was stabbed with.

You're afraid?

You got the goods on her

the second time...

and you got him trying to hide

incriminating evidence.

So you apologize. Horsefeathers!

I ain't losin' no more time.

Wait a minute, Tombstone.

What are you going to do?

To see the district attorney. I'm gonna

tell him everything we got on this woman!

I'll lay you 10 to 1 he'll have it...

before the grand jury by morning.

Curt, stop it, please.

You're blaming yourself

for showing them the scissors.

Of course I am.

All I want is to help you,

and, oh, I've made things worse.

I know you wanted to help.

But what did you think

when you found them?

That's what matters.

You must have thought I was guilty.

I didn't think anything

except that I was responsible.

Come in, Charlie.

Sometimes tears from woman

very happy sign.

I'm pretty scared, Charlie.

No need to be.

At moment police are searching

for man who is very likely suspect...

- and when-

- What is it?

Have burned sleeve.

Well, you don't smoke, Mary.

How did you do it?

I don't know.

I- I didn't even notice.

I haven't

had it on since-

Since when?

Since the night I...

found Mrs. Bentley.

Please, return with me to room.

Jimmy.

Lone Ranger's hat bad enough

without wearing horse's blanket.

Oh, you mean these pajamas, Pop?

I didn't buy 'em.

I found 'em in your bag.

They're the ones Mom gave you for Christmas.

Although 3,000 miles away,

honorable wife still make presence felt.

Please.

Mary, would like you

to repeat actions on finding body.

All right.

I, uh- I saw her from the hall...

and crossed over

to the dressing table.

She was lying here

between the bench and-

Well, the bench wasn't here.

Can remember exact position ofbench?

Not exactly, but, uh-

It was something like that.

What's the matter?

What is it, Charlie?

- First bright light in very dense fog.

- You mean a clue to the murder?

Gee, Pop, I can't let you

get sidetracked that way.

I burned it with a cigarette.

Rug burned with acid...

- not cigarette.

- Acid?

How about Mary's sleeve?

Also acid.

Why, there is some there. It must have

been spilled here and dripped down.

If Mary leaned here,

that explains the burn on the sleeve.

Gee, it's a good thing you didn't

get any on your arm, Mrs. Whitman.

Nitric acid leaves a nasty burn.

Number two son think it nitric acid?

Well, it could have been.

It eats through anything but glass.

Have seen one bottle

nitric acid tonight...

but bottle full.

What would acid be doing here?

Think answer may be found

in second bottle-

Not so full.

Nitric acid?

Yes, I have some.

That's funny. I could have sworn

this bottle was full.

No one have occasion to use same?

No.

Excuse.

What is purpose of gauze?

It prevents breaking

and leakage. Why?

Gauze on this different weave and quality

from gauze on other bottle.

It shouldn't be.

They're all shipped from the same firm.

With permission,

will keep till morning.

Certainly.

But do you think

it's connected with the murder?

Person who remove pages

from Mrs. Bentley's scrapbook...

- may have answer.

- Pages from her scrapbook?

Covering years 1935 and '36.

Thought doctor may have noticed

when searching lady's room.

No, I didn't.

Thank you so much.

Label this "Gauze

from Wally Burke's Room. "

Okay.

- Who's next?

- Miss Wells, but you'd better search her room.

All right.

But what if they catch me?

Oh, don't you worry.

I'll be right behind you.

- Yes? Oh! Good morning.

- You bet your life it's a good morning.

- We've got Bentley, the husband.

- Good.

Tombstone's on his way over

to Tonopah to pick him up.

- But I've got some real news from New York.

- Yes?

The police checked on Mrs. Bentley's

New York bank account.

She wrote two checks this month...

for 1,500 apiece.

And who do you think

they were made out to?

Dr. Ainsley.

That is highly interesting.

You check on newspaper files?

And how. Say, no wonder somebody wanted

to get rid of the pages of that scrapbook.

They're dynamite. Get this.

In 1935, Jeanne was married

to a man named Russell.

Russell?

Related to Mrs. Russell here?

Her ex-husband.

And he died suddenly in 1936.

What was cause of death?

According to the attending physician,

Russell died of a heart attack...

but the attending physician

was our old friend Dr. Ainsley.

Must see Mrs. Russell at once.

Very urgent.

Pop!

- They just found Mrs. Russell in her room, strangled.

- Lady dead?

I don't know. The maid found her

and called Dr. Ainsley.

- Dr. Ainsley?

- Doctor with her now?

- Yes. - Hurry.

- Come along.

Lift her arm to the outside

of the covers, please.

- Doctor. One moment.

- What are you giving her?

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