"No." Dunning swallowed. "Why should I?"
"I think you have. I have reason to believe that an envelope now in my safe came from that suitcase. I have examined its contents, and while they don't prove that you killed Wade Eisler they are highly suggestive of a possible motive. I said I'll tell you the nature of the information I have but not the particulars. However, you may have one detail." His head turned. "Mr. Greve. You told Mr. Panzer that in the past two years you have purchased some three hundred horses, two hundred steers and bulls, and a hundred and fifty calves, in behalf of Mr. Dunning. Is that correct?"
Harvey didn't look happy either. "That's about right," he said. "That's just rough figures."
"From how many different people did you buy them?"
"Maybe a hundred, maybe more. I scouted around."
"How did you pay for them?"
"Some I gave them a check, but mostly cash. They like cash."
"Your own checks?"
The Rodeo Murder 185
"Yes. Roger made deposits in my account, eight or ten thousand dollars at a time, and I paid out of that."
"Did Mr. Dunning tell you not to divulge the amounts you paid for the animals?"
Harvey screwed up his mouth. "I don't like this."
"Neither do 1.1 am earning a fee. You are exposing a man who made you a party to a swindle and who is almost certainly a murderer. Did he tell you not to divulge the amounts?"
"Yes, he did."
"Has anyone asked you to?"
"Yes. Wade Eisler. About ten days ago. I told him Roger had all the records and he'd have to ask him."
"Did you tell Mr. Dunning that Mr. Eisler had asked you?"
"Yes."
"That's a lie," Dunning said.
Wolfe nodded. "Again one person's word against yours. But I have the envelope, and I have the names of three other men who have made purchases for you under similar arrangements, and Mr. Durkin and Mr. Panzer have spoken with them. Two of them were asked for figures recently hy Wade Eisler, as was Mr. Greve. I don't know how much you cheated Eisler out of, but from the contents of the envelope I surmise that it was many thousands." His head turned. "Saul and Fred, you will escort Mr. Dunning to the District Attorney's office and deliver the envelope and the information you have collected. Archie, get the envelope from the safe."
I moved. As I passed behind Dunning's chair he started up, but Saul's hand on one shoulder and Fred's on the other stopped him. As I opened the safe door Wolfe said, "Give it to Saul. Miss Rowan, do you want Mr. Goodwin to phone the District Attorney to expect you?"
I had never seen Lily so completely got. "Good lord," she said, "I didn't realize. You couldn't drag me. I wish I hadn't. . . No, I don't. . . but I didn't realize how--how hard it is."
"You're not going?"
"Of course not!"
"You, Mr. Greve? You might as well. If you don't you'll be sent for later."
186 3 at Wolfe's Door
"Then I'll go later." Harvey was on his feet. "We've got a show on." He looked at Cal and Mel. "What about it? Think you can handle a calf if I hold his tail?"
"But we can't," Nan Karlin said. "Just go and--we can't!" "The hell we can't," Cal Barrow said. "Come on, Laura."
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One snowy morning in January I got a letter from Cal Barrow.
Dear Archie:
You used them two dots like that when you wrote me on the typewriter so if you can I can. I read in the paper today about Roger Dunning getting convicted and Laura said I ought to write you and I said she ought to and she said did I want her writing letters to the man she should have married instead of me: and so it went. Remember when I said about that blowout I didn't want to stink it up, well it sure got stunk up. We are making out pretty well here in Texas but it is cold enough to freeze the tits on a steer if he had any. Laura says to give you her love but don't believe it. Best regards.
Yours truly:
Cal
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