Chapter 6 six

Mason knocked on the back door of the small building, Nell.Sims opened the door. Only you?she asked a little suspiciously. My secretary, Miss Streeter, was the only one with me. Well, come in, the boss is anxious to see you.He said let him know when you arrive. He just had a full meal in the building yesterday, Nell.Sims paused and said that it was the meal that kept him from starving.Usually he eats the terrible meals he and Yan Dinger cook.I think you must be very tired after this day.Yeah? Della.Streeter and Mason followed her into the kitchen, with Mason quipping: "Oh, there's no rest for a villain."

That's right, Nell.Sims said to Mason with a serious expression, but people with a pure heart will be blessed by God, so such people will emerge in endlessly like grains of sand. Della.Streeter cast a mischievous glance at Mason, who looked at Nell with cold, questioning eyes.Sims, but she just looks innocent.She asked Mason: Would you like something to eat? Eat something without arsenic?Mason asked. The matter is still undecided.My goodness, I had a hard time getting them something to eat at noon today, let alone dinner. Do you know about poisoning?Mason asked. have no idea. But you should know the general situation.

Not knowing is a blessing, knowing is a disaster.Nell.Sims said, I don't know anything about it, and I don't want to know.The police have been milling around the house.For me, let them The back door opens, Banning.Clark smiled comfortably as soon as he saw Mason. He said: I have been putting my ears on the ground, and I seem to hear you coming. Good evening, Miss Streeter. Della smiled.Mason shook his hand. Shall we have dinner?Banning.Clark asked. Maybe he was afraid of arsenic, Nell.Sims teases that everyone seems too scared to even touch their dinner. Mason laughed: Let's try it.We only had a couple of sandwiches, get out the arsenic dinner.

Nell.Sims said: "There's a lot of fried rabbit left over, which is what one person's poison has turned into another person can eat. Banning.Clark took a chair and sat down, pointed to the front of the small building and said: They are still holding the shareholders meeting there.You have to give me an idea, should I go in and participate?Still not participating? How does participating benefit you?Mason asked. Nothing, Yan Dinger has the right to vote on my behalf according to the joint stock agreement. What harm would it do you not to participate? Clarke said, because there is something that has always been on my mind.

I don't quite understand. Mrs. Simms turned on the oven, took out a large pot of fried rabbit, added some tea to the teapot, and poured boiling water into it. My lodgers had nothing tonight.she said contemptuously. Clark said: Nell, I just want a cup of tea and nothing else.You eat, listen to me while eating. Della.Streeter said: "I was so hungry I could have eaten the enamel off the plate.You don't mind my eating. Why are you concerned about not attending the meeting?Eager for an answer, Mason pressed, What about shooting? The shooting was a mystery.There was a thief in the yard, and when Miss Staller shone a flashlight on him, he fired two bullets that shattered the window. The two bullet holes were only three inches apart and two inches from her head.The gunshot woke me up, and I grabbed the .45 and ran into the moonfield.He was up to the gate, and shot me, and I shot him, and missed, but not too far from him.This morning, I found out that my shot had hit the wall, next to the downstairs door that had been closed.

So what about poisoning?Mason asked. Someone had put arsenic in the salt shaker Mrs. Bradisson and her son used, and the doctor's emergency rescued them.Thanks to Wilma.Staller. Well, Mason said with a smile on his face, then, let's go back to the original question.Why the fear of not attending a meeting? Because oh, oh Mason, I gotta tell you something, and I never told anyone, not even though Yan Dinger was suspicious about it. Do I need to leave?Nell.asked Sims. No, Nell, you stay here.I trust you. go on.Mason said and handed the rabbit meat to Della.Streeter, before filling his own plate.

Know anything about the famous lost mine in California? Only know a little bit. Have you heard of the Gele Mine? Mason shook his head, his mouth was full of rabbit meat. It's the missing mine, Nell.Sims interjected that there are many such mines in the desert. Clark added some sugar to his tea, stirred it, and took a book with a blue cover from his coat pocket. What's this?Mason asked. The Miner's Guide.It's Hollus.Edited by West, who collected a great deal about the lost mines in California, this book was published in 1929.There are multiple theories about these missing mineral deposits, some plausible and others wrong.West went through the historical records himself and chatted with the old miners.He finished the book twenty years ago, recording history as accurately as he could.

Well, says Mason, what's the deal with Goller's missing mine? Around 1886, Clark said that according to West's records, there were three prospectors in the Panaming Mountains on the edge of Death Valley. They came out of a mountain pass and went to St.Bernardino City went.Riding strong horses, with big rucksacks and a ten-gallon water jug, they walked into the desert with confidence. The next day, they had a dispute over which way to go, and they quarreled fiercely.One of them is Frank.The people of Goller thought they had gone too far southwest.He said they should follow a road that was heading easterly.After the quarrel, he separated from the other two and walked eastward.Later, no one knows what happened to the other two people. Maybe they disappeared in the desert, or went somewhere, maybe to St.Bernardino.Anyway, according to historical records, they disappeared.

Nell.Sims said as if to sum it up: Two people get along well, three people don't get along well. Della.Streeter listened attentively, his eyes fixed on Banning.Clark, even forgot to eat.Perry.Mason was still eating rabbit. Want a cup of tea?Nell.asked Sims. sorry to bother you.Mason said. While she was pouring tea, Banning.Clark continued the story: At noon two days later, Goller was exhausted.A series of mountains appeared in front of him, and he crossed these mountains and entered a canyon. There were various plants in the canyon, and there was a small stream. Gulp down the ground and drink booze.As he drank, a breeze blew through the branches, throwing a ray of sunlight into the water a few inches from Goller, where something seemed to reflect a yellow light.

Ge Le stopped, stretched his arms into the water and fished out a yellow thing.It is a natural gold nugget weighing a few ounces.There are a few more on the bed of the creek near it.Ge Le picked up the gold nuggets and stuffed them into his shirt. If it were me, I would have to fill a big bag.Nell.Sims said. Got a windfall, huh?Mason said. A windfall, of course, Clarke said, but in the middle of a desert you never know what you're going to get.Gole got gold, but it could neither eat nor drink.He was too far from human habitation, his horses were hungry and tired, and his own health was weak from want of food.Suddenly, he realized that unless he returned to civilization, the gold in his hands was worth nothing in this desert, and it was just an extra burden for his weary mount.These few gold nuggets have become more and more an obstacle to his return to the civilized world.

Thinking of this, Ge Le was a little anxious.He decided to throw away everything else he could and bring back only the gold nugget.He also unhooked his revolver and threw it into the bushes.Like all overworked people, Goller could not determine his exact location.To make matters worse, he lost his way, which made him distraught. He followed the canyon and came to flat fields, and before him was a smooth, dry plain left by the evaporation of a great lake.Only here did he get his bearings, St.Mount Antonio is just to the west. We now call this mountain Old Man Mountain. It is the first signpost of Gele.Going forward in the direction of this mountain, there is a mining city at the foot of the mountain, and Ge Le walked towards this small town. When he arrived in this small town, he fell ill. The gold nuggets in his shirt had worn his flesh to pieces, and the wound had become infected.The infection kept him in bed for three weeks before he had time to go back and locate the gold he had found.Three weeks is a long time if you're preoccupied with one thing, and it won't be long before your memory starts playing tricks on you. Of course it will.Nell.Sims said she was turning her back to get the rabbit meat out of the oven. Clark went on to say: He naturally wouldn't go alone, a large group of prospectors followed behind, thinking about opening a mine in this rich mineral vein.This large group of people wandered around in the desert for a while, and some people couldn't bear to be left behind and deserted.Ge Le lost his way for some reason and wandered aimlessly. Ge Le didn't come back until a month later, took a rest, brought more supplies, and set off again.He was never able to find the canyon again, not even the chain of hills. The historical accounts are solid, and you can read most of them in West's book.Some I collected from other sources, for example, guns are an example.I found out about a letter written by Goller, which is kept in the library of Pasadena. It's incredible that a big man can't even find his way.Della.Streeter said. Likely, Clark said, it was easy to get lost in the desert.For example, those who go camping, when they leave the camp in the morning, they memorize the place over and over again, so that they can find a home when they come back in the evening, but when they really come back, they may walk back and forth for hours, but they can't find it. Find familiar road signs. Mason nodded in agreement and said: Is this the end of the story of the Gele mine? Banning.A mysterious smile flickered across the corner of Clark's mouth: Oh, well, look at Horace.West's record.Mind you, this time was 1886, and a few years later, in 1891, there was a man named Han.Moss' burly old miner in St.Bernardino showed up, who used to go on prospecting trips into the desert. Once, when Moss was traveling, the little donkey he had just bought for the first time on his trip made a fuss about leaving the team. You can imagine how annoyed Moss was.The little donkey carried a lot of things that Moss needed to travel, but he just walked on alone without thinking about them.Moss couldn't stop or catch it.He had to follow behind the team, muttering curses.This is exactly what the little donkey wanted, and it suddenly became the leader of the whole team.Chinese.Moss followed it, cursing it, chasing it, and coaxing it back.However, this little donkey is a strange guy, it admits death, and turned towards a group of people.Moss walks in wastelands that Moss has never been before.Few prospectors ever made it there, because it was a barren, arid country, and no supplies could be obtained.In those days, it was almost suicidal to go there. However, Han.Moss just couldn't bear the things on the little donkey, and he didn't want to lose the little donkey.He just kept thinking, if I can't catch him after another mile, I'll turn around and let the little donkey go wherever he likes.Just when he was about to give up, the little donkey walked towards the direction of water. If you take the donkey into the desert, once it walks towards the water, you will always see some clues from its behavior. .Of course, other animals also smell water.So they all went in the same direction.Moss followed his little donkey into a canyon with water and gold mines. Chinese.When Moss saw the gold mine, he was ecstatic and desperately filled his pockets with gold nuggets.He ran in circles, yelling and yelling, and set off back to St.Bernardino, get ready to enjoy life.About halfway down the road, he suddenly realized that he had been too excited to put a block on the gold he had found to prove it was his.He hesitated, but the thought that he would be in St.Bernardino reveled, and immediately headed for the city, ready to have a good time first, and then return to the valley to find his gold mine and dig it seriously. Men always make the right decisions when they're about to get drunk and when they're drunk.Nell.Sims said. Clark smiled and said: To his surprise, he was in St.Bernardino caused a sensation, and the whole town erupted when people saw Moss's natural gold nuggets.They all knew that old Moss had made a fortune, and he would have to go back for more gold before long.They poured alcohol on him and kept staring at him. Old Moss finally spent all his money and couldn't buy alcohol anymore.He began to wake up and realize what he was facing.He set out to go to the gold mines, but as soon as he was out of town nearly half the town followed him, all on good horses and with provisions enough for a while in the desert. Old Moss wandered around the desert trying to get rid of them. He pretended to be lost and sneaked away at night, looking for a chance to get rid of them, but he was unsuccessful.They just followed. Banning.Clark stopped.Then he said: Don't you feel bored? Very brilliant.said Mrs Sims. Very interesting, I took every word of yours seriously.Mason said. Banning.Clark patted the little blue book, I'm telling you about historical events.So there's simply no way you can go wrong, he said.Even if I can memorize this matter, I have to check it while talking.But after all, this happened ten years ago. At that time, the desert was full of gold and there was no fast transportation. I see, said Mason, and go on, how's old Moss?Did he get rid of his stalkers? No, he finally had to return to St.Bernardino, he was sore, out of breath, broke.But he knew where he had to go, and in a few hours he could pick up enough nuggets to make himself a celebrity in salons and dance halls.But now, as soon as he leaves the city on his front foot, there will be St.The whole city of Bernardino followed.He wanted to find a way to get out of town without anyone noticing, but the plan fell through before he even started.Going into the desert without luggage is tantamount to suicide, and St.Bernardino's men watched him so closely that he had no chance of hiding some pack burles somewhere so that they could be brought out. The mine he discovered is the gold mine that Ge Le found, right?asked Mason. I was about to say this, Clark said, it is generally believed that the mine he discovered is the one that Goller found. Mason mused: "I'm interested in poor old Moss and his situation.It seems unlikely that these things would happen in St.Bernardino.Well, we drove through that city, stopped there to get some gas, and left, it was just a buzzing little town, modern and hip like any other city. St.A lot had happened in Bernardino, Clarke said, but the cars overshadowed the history, and it had always been a real mining town. Nell.Standing by the electric oven, Sims says: Thankfully it's a thing of the past.Think about the people who run restaurants there, no refrigerators, no transportation. There's always a way for them to get by.Clark said. Mrs Sims shook her head pessimistically and said: I don't see any good way.Preserving food is the first law of nature's survival. Self-preservation is.Clark corrected her. Oh, and isn't the same for food?You cannot survive without food. Clark glanced at Mason and said: The more you argue with her, the more endless it will be. That's because I was right!Sims said firmly.She is confident and doesn't care about making an impression on others. But we put Han.Moss was left in the desert.Della.Streeter motioned for the story to continue. in St.Bernardino, Clark said, Han.Moss was very annoyed.But this old guy was a bit of an old pedant, so one day, he said sincerely to all the people in the city: Well, I can’t go without taking you with me, so everyone pack their bags together and set off together.This time, let's go directly to the mine.The more gold mines the better, I can't get rid of you, it's better to take you all with me, and I don't have to go too far, which saves me a lot of time and energy. He is also helpless!Nell.Sims said. He really wants to do it?Della asked. Of course, old Moss was a man of his word.He assembled his pack party at St.Take everyone who wants to go on the edge of Bernardino.Then, he set off. At that time, people valued faith. What next?Are there enough mines out there for so many people to mine? Clark laughs: This is the saddest part.Old Moss was a good man, but a little too generous.He was the kind of guy who could live for weeks in the desert with meager provisions.Seriously undernourished and nobody to talk to, he didn't care.But as soon as he returned to the city, he spent all the money.As a result, when he set out again, he was not on the best horse and he was not the best rider himself. After walking in the desert for a few days, the team approached a canyon with a source of water. The smarter people realized that the destination was not far away, so they rushed ahead.Chinese.Moss also spurred the horse, and everyone swarmed and galloped.That scene is really spectacular!The pack horses fell behind, and the sun was covered by the dust raised up. These people galloped desperately across the wilderness, rushing desperately down the steep rocky slope to the bottom of the valley!Old Moss fell behind the whole team instead. When they reached the canyon they found that no one had been there before, and they made a desperate effort to be the first to carve out their territory.They act without hesitation.After finding a mine that he thought was the best, he set up a sign to occupy the land.Wait until Han.Exhausted, Moss finally reached the canyon, and almost the entire creek was occupied by others.Chinese.Panting heavily, Moss jumped off his horse and looked around, only to find that his mine had been occupied.Eighty mines had been divided up just before his arrival.The last piece of land he found was almost the worst in mineral quality. This is the law of distribution.Nell.Sims said. Is that Goller Mine?Mason asked, realizing that no one had noticed Nell.Interjection from Sims. It was identified as the Gele Mine.The miners looked around and thought of the story Gele had told, and they all agreed that it was the Gele Mine. is it reallyMason asked. no. Della.Streeter stopped eating.Look at Clark.Clark said that Goller was not that simple. The location of the mine he said was different from the facts, and some were fabricated, which deceived those who wanted to follow him, and also prevented himself from ending up like Han.Moss was left behind by the young man on the fast horse.Gloria is smarter than Moss.He deliberately fabricated the geography surrounding the mines he discovered. How did you know?Mason asked. That's a good question.Nell.Sims interjected again. Banning.Clark looked around the kitchen suspiciously. It's all right, Nell.Sims assured him they were all in a meeting.Hayward.Small always wanted a cup of tea at this time of night, but he didn't come when meetings were in progress. Clark unbuttoned his jacket and took out a pistol holster. The holster had been black but had faded to dark brown and worn a little from use.He said: "I want to hide this guy. He took out the gun and put it on the table. Mason, Della.Both Streeter and Sims leaned over to take a closer look. It was a rusty single-shot Colt revolver.No matter how shiny it was at first, the body of the gun is now covered with rust, and the rust has formed a crust on the barrel, chamber and trigger. Only the yellowed ivory handle remains intact.Look carefully, the words Goler (Gole) are engraved on the handle of the gun, and below the words is the date: 1882. Mason whistled softly. I found the gun, Clark said, by accident, by a spring under a desert poplar.The guy I was with went hiking and my heart wasn't that bad at the time, but I still felt short of breath and didn't dare to move too much.I lay down in the shade of the poplars, and on the ground by the spring about three inches of the gun barrel poked out of the sand.I saw that it was the barrel, dug it out, looked at it curiously for a moment, then found the name and date and then I realized what I had found. What did you do then?Della.asked Streeter, his large eyes gleaming with excitement. I had no tools or equipment, Clark said, and I groped my hands in the sand at the bottom of the creek, and found a small bag next to a rock in the water, containing a large handful of gold dust. How come no one has heard of it?Mason asked. That's the problem, Clarke said, that the spring is located on a marked field for a quartz mine, and some befuddled miners, starving to death in search of some valuable ore, never imagined that there was a placer gold.Damn it, comeback company is also interested in this mine now, they think the quartz mine here is worth a few dollars.This mine was just one of hundreds they bought.I will never give Mrs. Bradisen and her son free money again. As far as you know, does anyone know where the mine is located?Mason asked. I think Bradisson knows. Mason raised an eyebrow. At Yandinger's camp, I couldn't hide the thing, so I just put the gun in my desk drawer with Goller's name on it face down.Oh, and about a week ago, I found out that the gun was turned over with the writing side up, and I don't go to my room that much now so I have to take the stairs.It was very difficult for me to go upstairs, and I had to rest for a minute or two every time I climbed two or three steps.You see, I've The hinges creaked.Banning.Clark grabbed the rusted revolver and put it into the holster with two clicks.The door opened to reveal a girl in her twenties wearing a tight jumper.She was slender and was clearly aware of the good effects of a tight jumper.Seeing a few people around the table, she hurriedly retreated and said: Did I bother you? Banning.Clark said: Dolena, it's okay, come in.This is Mr. Mason and Della.Miss Streeter, she is Mr. Mason's secretary.This is Dolena.Crofton, Mrs Sims' daughter by a previous marriage.Dolena, I was talking to Mr. Mason about something, but it's over now. Clark turned to Mason and said: Now you understand my situation?Especially the relationship with the company. Mason asked: Did they have doubts about the actual situation? I think so. I mean legal title, the ownership aspect of property.Oh, is that involved? Yes. Mason narrowed his eyes and said: You said they had a lawyer for the meeting? Yes, this guy's name is Moffgate.You probably know him.He started out as my wife's attorney, handling her real estate matters.Bradisson will go to him in the future, and this time Moffgate is representing them. I don't think he will have any good feelings for me.I have no interest in him either. Does he attend board meetings?asked Mason. Oh yes, he's involved in everything in the company these days. Well, said Mason, when you resigned as president, did you also resign as manager? Clark nodded. Mason, visibly annoyed, said: You should have told me that when I drafted that joint venture agreement. Why?What does this have to do with signing a contract? If, Mason said, they recommend you to be the manager of the company, Yan Dinger votes for you and you will be elected.Once you become a manager, you act in a delegated capacity. If you know news that affects the value of the company's assets, but does not benefit the company, get Yan Dinger out of the meeting before they act. The meeting is over, Mr. Mason, said Dolena, and I heard a chair being pushed as I passed the room. Clark looked at Mason and said: Is there a way to fix this? Mason shook his head and said: Once you become a manager, even for a few minutes, you fail.Could it be possible to hide this news and wait a bit later, does the manager also have to be a shareholder according to company regulations? I think so.Clark said. How much is your stock worth? Three hundred thousand or four hundred thousand, no, maybe more, what's the matter? I'll buy it, Mason said with a smile, for five dollars.I made a private agreement with you that I would resell these shares to you for five dollars the day after tomorrow, but no one knew about the agreement. I can't climb the stairs, Clark said, and the stocks are upstairs in my desk, the third letter box from the right. Is the desk locked?Mason stood up while asking. No.The lock of the table is not easy to open.I was going to fix it, but a key got stuck in the lock.Dorena, would you show Mr. Mason to my room?You can climb stairs. Dolena, who was standing by the table, didn't seem to hear Clark's words at all. Mrs. Sims said: Dorina, dear, wake up, and don't make the one who loves you sad!Mr. Clark wants you to take Mr. Mason to his room. Oh ok, sure.She smiled and said, as if she just woke up from a dream, Mr. Mason, this way, please? Mason said, "Clark, here's your five dollars. It's a deal." Clarke whispered: If you hear the meeting is over, Mason, and it's an emergency, you can adapt. Mason gestured with his right hand and raised his eyebrows. Clark nodded. This complicates matters.Mason said. I know, but I can't sit still. Mason pulled Dolena up and said: Let's go, miss. Dolina.Crofton led the way up the stairs and hurried down the corridor without saying a word. You seem to be a thoughtful woman.Mason said. She smiled at Mason out of politeness, and after a while she said: I think I've talked too little today.This is Mr. Clark's room. Mason expected to see a luxurious master bedroom.But the sight in front of him surprised him. In this small room on the north side of the small building, there was a simple single bed, a chest of drawers, a chest of drawers, an old desk, and an old-fashioned roll-top desk. Some framed and enlarged photographs hung on the walls. A pair of large Mexican spurs with spur wheels hung from two ropes.On another wall, an old gun holster with a gun in it hung diagonally from a nail.Through the glass windows of the gun cabinet, you can see a variety of rifles and shotguns placed inside.On the third wall hangs the fur of a large mountain lion unfurled, and it is clear that at one time this room was an integral part of the owner's life.Now because no one has lived in it for a long time, the room lacks the breath of life.The room was kept tidy, but the cleanliness felt rigid, out of touch with everyday life. Mason walked to the desk, from Banning.Gerry pulled out some documents from the correspondence that Clark had said.He found the envelope containing the stocks, took it out and looked at it, to make sure that the stocks were all in order. Just as he was about to walk to the door, he heard the voices and footsteps of several people from downstairs.All this told Mason clearly: the meeting was over. Mason stood there, frowning, looking at the stock in his hand. What's wrong?Dolena said. Mason said: "The deal is done, we should have signed the stock before the meeting was over. Is it important?Dolena asked. Very important.Is there any way you can get him the stock quickly before they get to the kitchen and then They're heading there now, and I think they're looking for him too. Mason suddenly sat down at the desk, took out a ballpoint pen, took out some documents from the letter compartment, and found Banning.A copy signed by Clark. He glanced briefly at Dolena behind him.Crofton. She seemed oblivious to what was going on, preoccupied with her own private affairs. Mason opened the stock and signed one copy with Banning.The document with Clark's name was placed on it, studied carefully, and then, although he was not very skilled, he signed Banning on the stock without hesitation.Clark's name, proof that the shares had been transferred. He put back the paper he had used to imitate Clark's signature, folded the stock certificates, put them in his pocket, and screwed on the cap of the ballpoint pen. Everything is ready.He said.Dolena walked slowly down the hallway, and Mason could tell she was so lost in her own thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. When Mason returned to the kitchen, Lillian was already there.Bradison is a little fatter and a little more heavily made-up; Jim.Bradisson, outwardly amiable and easy; Moffgate, the lawyer, short but strong, well dressed, with creamed hair combed back;Small's body is very strong, and his eyes are constantly scanning everything around him. Salt Dinger.Powers seemed to have nothing to do with those people. Before everyone knew what was going on, Mason had observed everyone carefully and knew everyone. Banning.Clark made a casual introduction, and Mason felt that the enthusiasm for him was a little too much.Especially Mofgate, he even stepped forward to express his friendliness, although his attitude was still a bit reluctant. I just heard, says Moffgate, that you're going to represent Mr and Mrs Sims in fraud.It is an honor to have such a famous opponent as you, Mr. Mason.I've seen you a few times in court, and I don't know if you know me, Moffgate and Steele, at Brokaw Building.After speaking, he solemnly handed Mason a business card. Mason stuffed his business card into his pocket and said: "I haven't had time to find out about the circumstances of this scam. Take it easy, take it easy, said Moffgate, and I think, Mr. Mason, once you've heard the evidence, you're out of the proceedings.Mr. Clark, we have good news for you. What good news?Clark asked, his tone and expression extremely cold. "We think, Moffgate said, that the company has treated you unfairly because of all the various lawsuits and other petty entanglements."Your physical condition does not allow you to personally participate in the operation of the mine, but you do have a high level of professional knowledge, and the company is very grateful for the work you have done to develop the mine.In short, Mr. Clark, we have elected you to the Board of Directors and hired you as Regulatory Manager at an annual salary of $25,000, plus other miscellaneous expenses. Clark looked surprised. Mason said: Sorry, Moffgate, this is no longer possible. what do you mean? I have already said it.It was an elaborate trap, but it was useless. Mofgate said furiously: I don't know what right you have to say that.We're about to make peace, that's all. Mason smiled at him and said: Mr. Lawyer, let me tell you something else, the election of Clark to the board is not legally valid. What does it mean? Directors should be shareholders of the company. Banning.Clark is a major shareholder, Mr. Mason. He used to be, Mason said, but he just happened to have sold his stock. It was never recorded in the company's books. It will naturally be there when the stock is transferred. But he is still a shareholder according to the company's accounts.he Mason took Banning out of his pocket.Clark's stock, unfold it on the table. The problem, he said, was that Banning.Whether Clark is indeed a shareholder, I think this can explain the problem.Gentlemen, I have bought Clark's shares. Mofgate was furious.He said: This kind of stock trading is just a deceptive trick. Mason sneered: Do you want to ask the court to declare the stock transfer invalid on the grounds that you set a trap for Clark, but he sold the stock to avoid the trap? That's not a trap, we're here to make peace. Nell.Sims interjected in a deliberately high-pitched voice: Make peace?I'm afraid I'm not safe. Mason said calmly: Oh, maybe I was in a hurry. that is. So, says Mason, can the employment contract be signed annually?The condition is that if the company wants to terminate the contract, it should notify me twelve months in advance? Mofgate blushed slightly, and he said: Of course not. Why? Oh, of course there is a reason. Mason vs. Banning.Clark nodded and said: You see that's it. Clark said: "Mason, I'm very pleased to turn this over to you. Mason folded the stock and put it in his pocket. May I ask how much you paid for it?asked Moffgate. sure.said Mason solemnly. Mofgate waited for the next word. You have the right to ask whatever you want.Mason laughed. Jim.Bradisson also joins the conversation: Okay, okay, don't hurt yourself about this.I don't want Banning.Clark thinks we have something against him personally.Frankly, Moffgate said that if we elected him to the board of directors and signed this contract with him, Clark would have to either disclose everything he knew about the company's property, or if he had ever mined or operated for personal gain In the case of the company's mines, we will go to court to prove that he has actually voluntarily become the company's client. Moffgate, you've done your best, and the result of the match shows that you have to be defeated.Mason already saw what you were up to, and you were beaten.I am very satisfied.Litigation is so tiresome.現在讓我們把生意上的矛盾拋在腦後做朋友吧。班寧，我想你能不能給我們提供些信息？ 什麼信息？ 你知道我說的是什麼。 班寧把茶杯遞給西姆斯太太，讓她添茶，借機磨蹭了一下。然後才說： 那麼這是個陷阱了？ 這，布雷迪森說，現在，我們還是談點兒別的吧。莫夫蓋特在一旁倒吸一口涼氣，顯然想否認陷阱這一說。 西姆斯太太端著茶壺繞過桌子為德拉．Streeter and Perry.梅森添茶，她問道：那我的案子怎麼辦呢？ 莫夫蓋特冷冷地說：我正想說呢。不過，梅森先生，最好還是在你的客戶不在場的情況下談比較好吧。 為什麼我不能在場？西姆斯太太問道。 莫夫蓋特從牙縫裡擠出幾個字：妳會上火的。 不會是我吧，西姆斯太太說，我跟這事無關，我只是想知道我該採取什麼立場。 梅森說：我已經留了信兒，讓人今天下午就把有關這個案子的抗辯寫出來。 一直躲在一旁不說話的布雷迪森太太說：吉姆，我想我們已經盡了做董事的義務，可以走了。 布雷迪森有點兒猶豫，磨磨蹭蹭不大想走。 多莉娜．克羅夫頓繞過桌子站在屋角，然後心血來潮地跑到烤爐邊她媽媽身旁，吻了她一下。 why is that?西姆斯太太問。 祝妳運氣好。多莉娜點頭說。 大家要離開了，廚房裡一時顯得有點兒混亂，布雷迪森這會兒為他母親把門打開，梅森在那兒鞠躬，向每一個人道幸會。 布雷迪森和他媽媽剛出去，莫夫蓋特就說：我有個合同要你簽一下，梅森。我把公文包放在另一個房間裡，如果你不介意請稍等片刻 你看他，就在莫夫蓋特離開房間時，克拉克恨恨地說，他腦子裡盡是鬼點子，他這會兒又去給吉姆出主意去了。什麼公文包沒帶來，純粹是藉口。 梅森低聲急促地說：取那個合同可能意味著他要聽取皮特．西姆斯的證詞。他也可能想要聽取你的證詞。 Why? 梅森意味深長地說：放長線，釣大魚。一旦他把你帶到公證人面前，他就會用一些設計好的問題誣諂你。很抱歉我不得不那樣處理股票，不過我們得爭分奪秒。 It doesn't matter.克拉克笑著說。 你看，梅森說，我沒有時間解釋給你聽了，但是有關公司董事的法律是模糊不清的。那不像你被推舉擔任什麼職務時那樣，必須要先宣誓才能有資格任職。依照合股協議鹽丁兒可以代你表決。鹽丁兒自然認為他們選你進董事會是對你有好處的。 Salt Dinger.鮑爾斯窘迫地說：他們特別殷勤，我還以為他們真想重歸於好。我真想揍我自己一頓。 沒必要這麼做。梅森說，這是個絕妙的法律陷阱。 真他媽聰明，班寧．克拉克說，但我想如果他們考慮一下時間因素，就會發現有那麼五到十分鐘的時間我的確是董事，那就 梅森皺了皺眉頭，警覺地瞥了一眼內爾．Sims. Banning.克拉克笑了笑說：她沒事兒，我完全信任她和多莉娜。 梅森說：好吧，為了使這個東西具有法律效力，而我也好擺脫困難，防備調查。拿鋼筆描一下這個簽名，要有證人在場才行。還是讓多莉娜．克羅夫頓看著你簽名，因為剛才她跟我在一起 恐怕她已經走了，內爾．西姆斯插了句話，現今的年輕人大都這樣，一有機會就跑得無影無蹤，我還是姑娘那會兒，沒父母的允許甭想出去。 她真是個非常好的姑娘。Banning.克拉克由衷地說。 她跟今天的大部分姑娘一樣沒啥大毛病。西姆斯太太說，就是有點兒獨立性太強。 梅森說：孩子獨立是好事，要給他們點兒機會發展個性。 不能太獨立，內爾．西姆斯不屑地說，孩子們有點兒過分了。 Banning.克拉克對梅森笑了笑，取出了圓珠筆，梅森取出股票。 等莫夫蓋特回來，梅森說，如果他有什麼文件給你，我就咳嗽兩聲。聽到我的咳嗽聲，你就找個藉口出去，然後藏起來，他就無法給你開傳票。我不信任這個人，而且 門被推開了，莫夫蓋特一進門就說：好吧，梅森先生，我希望我們分別代表不同公司的利益不致於損害我們的友情。他現在笑得很和藹，言談舉止來了個一百八十度大轉彎。似乎布雷迪森給了他什麼指示，讓他試試新戰術。 梅森沒等克拉克的筆接觸到股票，就裝做伸手去拿桌子上的茶杯，一把從他手底下把它抽走了。他折好了股票，放進上衣內的口袋裡。 莫夫蓋特看到班寧．克拉克手裡的圓珠筆，皺著眉盯視了一下，但還是盡可能和氣地說：梅森先生，我這兒有一個聽取皮特．西姆斯證詞的合同，皮特是詐騙案的被告之一。如果明天方便的話，我想聽取證詞。把所有情況清理一下，這實在太重要了。 莫夫蓋特從公文包裡取出了一個硬紙袋，他從裡面拿出一份藍底的法律文件。 Della.斯特里特坐在梅森旁邊，瞥了一眼紙袋，胳膊肘輕碰了他一下。 梅森咳了兩聲。 Banning.克拉克向後一推椅子說：對不起，我得喝口水。 他向水池走去，瞥了一眼桌子，看見梅森正仔細地讀著合同，而莫夫蓋特微微斜著眼睛在一旁觀察著梅森。 Banning.克拉克一聲不響地從後門溜了出去。 梅森說：如果把皮特．西姆斯做為糾紛的一方來取證詞的話，我想同時也要聽取吉姆．布雷迪森的證詞。 為什麼你想要他的證詞？ 他不是公司的總裁嗎？ Yes. 就在有詐騙嫌疑的合同生效前他剛剛和皮特．西姆斯做過生意，是嗎？ Yes. 我需要他的證詞，梅森說，如果你要取得一方的證詞，我也要另一方的。 莫夫蓋特不情願地接受了這一點，用鋼筆加上這一條吧，不過要加上班寧．克拉克的名字。 他並不是糾紛的一方，你無權取他的證詞。Mason said. 莫夫蓋特狡猾地笑著說：他身體不好，我有權取證來長久保存他的證詞，他是關鍵證人。 為什麼事做證？ 為與這件糾紛有關的事。 What's up? 我會在適當的時候公開這件事兒的。 那我不會在合同中寫上他的名字。Mason said. 莫夫蓋特說：你可以不這樣做。我已經想到你會拒絕，所以我弄到了一個法庭指令和一張傳票。在這種情況下，你的客戶可以不必為接到給他的傳票發脾氣或者面子上過不去，所以你最好還是在證詞中加上他的名字。 梅森只是用鋼筆加上這樣幾個字：也需要吉姆．布雷迪森提供的證詞。 莫夫蓋特這下真的火了，說：梅森先生，我警告你，我會抓住一切可能的機會發出傳票。不管班寧．克拉克喜歡不喜歡。 那是你的權利。梅森邊說邊把圓珠筆放進了口袋。 莫夫蓋特簽上他自己的名字，把合同的一份副本遞給梅森，把硬紙袋放回公文包裡。 梅森說：如果你不介意的話，我要去見布雷迪森了。律師，我們明天見。 他前腳剛進屋，西姆斯太太就走到冰箱旁說：我給你拿點兒好吃的去去這個律師的晦氣，他在這兒我不願意拿出來，我怕他也會要一塊兒。 她拿出一個檸檬夾心餡餅，烤過的餡餅泛著金黃色，上面點綴著許多琥珀色的小糖丸。 梅森看了一眼德拉，滿意地笑了。他對西姆斯太太說：如果我是隻貓，我就去躺在爐邊打呼嚕了。 鹽丁兒看了下錶說：哎，梅森先生，上他們的當我很抱歉。 不必道歉，陷阱布置得太巧妙了。你看，鹽丁兒，莫夫蓋特會從這溜出去想辦法給班寧送傳票，你以為班寧能逃出他的手心嗎？ 鹽丁兒笑著說：這傢伙太狡猾了，如果在黑暗裡給他十秒鐘讓他先跑，恐怕魔鬼也找不到他的影子。