Chapter XI

65

STRANGE FISH

“Sure, I know. But here's the way it was. Paris has been in the hospital. She was pretty sick. She doesn't say much about it, but there was a long time when the doctors didn't know whether she'd make it. For over two months they wouldn't let her have visitors, and wouldn't let her get mail, even. Flowers and packages and everything that came for her were turned over to her maid, Callahan, to keep for her.”

Doc asked thoughtfully, “The fish came and was turned over to Callahan?”

“Sure. That's it. And if you don't believe me, you can ask Callahan. Callahan put on ten pounds eating the candy and good things that were sent to Paris in the hospital.”

“How did you get the fish?”

“This way: I was in New York when Paris was so sick. They wouldn't let me see her. I hung around and hung around, and finally I got tired of not being able to see her and packed up and came back to Oklahoma. I brought the fish.”

“Callahan—”

“Yes, the maid gave it to me to keep. The fish bit a hole in Callahan's finger, so she didn't think much of him.

She said she didn't want a fish around that liked dark meat, and she would feed him to the cat if I didn't take him. So I took the cuss. It was a funny−looking fish, so I brought it out here to keep until Paris got on her pins.”

IT occurred to Doc Savage that everything that was happening was too damned logical. It was as logical as could be, but it was getting nobody anywhere. Or rather, every time he opened a door which should lead to the light, there would be still more darkness beyond. Johnny Toms sounded as if he was telling the truth. But was he?

“But you didn't tell anyone about the fish.”

“I didn't think it was important.”

“But when he was dying, Porter, the man you are accused of killing talked about a belonesox—”

“Sure he did. But I didn't know a belonesox was a fish. To me, a fish is either a catfish, a carp, a bass or a sunfish. I didn't know what belonesox was. I didn't know until tonight, when I met you, and you told us a belonesox was a fish.”

“But even then,” Doc reminded him, “you didn't say anything about having the fish.”

Johnny Toms flushed. “Like I said, I thought I would grandstand. I thought: Gee whizz, Johnny, you've got the fish. You've got the solution right there in your cabin. You can solve the mystery and be the big shot.”

Johnny turned to Doc in exasperation. “You know whose fault it was I got such an idea? Them two pals of yours, that's who!”

“How come?”

“Aw, them and their smart cracks and their wise looks. The way they looked at Paris, mostly.”