Judge Albert took his position in front of the scales and beckoned to Virginia to e and stand at his side。
Mason escorted the nervous defendant up to a position beside the judge。
〃e on and get in this picture； Mason；〃 Judge Albert invited。
〃I think I'd better not；〃 Mason said。 〃That will make the picture look posed and artificial and it may not be in the best taste from the standpoint of legal ethics； but the picture of you 'weighing the evidence' will attract a lot of attention。〃
Judge Albert nodded； said to Virginia； 〃Now； Miss Baxter； if you'll just look at the beam on the scales here； I'll bend over and be adjusting it…No； no； don't look at the camera； look at the scales。 Turn a little if you want to so you can get your best angle for the camera。〃
Judge Albert put a hand on her shoulder； bent over and moved the balancing weight back and forth on the beam； and gleeful photographers exploded flash bulbs in rapid succession。
Judge Albert straightened； looked at Mason； then beckoned to the district attorney and led the two attorneys out of earshot of the reporters。
〃There's something very fishy about this case；〃 Judge Albert said。 〃I would suggest； Mr。 Caswell； that you check very carefully on the person who gave you this information； or rather misinformation which resulted in a search of that suitcase。〃
The prosecutor said hotly； 〃That person has always been on the up…and…up with us； his information has been reliable。〃
〃Well； it wasn't reliable in this case；〃 Judge Albert said。
〃I'm not so certain about that；〃 Caswell retorted。 〃After all； it's not entirely impossible that the bags could have been tampered with。〃
〃I think they were；〃 Judge Albert said bitingly； 〃but I think the tampering occurred after the bag was checked by Miss Baxter and before it was taken off the revolving rack。
〃After all； this Court wasn't born yesterday and after you see defendants ing and going； day in and day out； you have an opportunity to learn something about human nature。 This young woman isn't a dope pusher。〃
〃And after you've seen Perry Mason pull grandstand after grandstand；〃 Caswell rejoined； 〃you learn something about dramatics。 This scene the Court has just participated in is going to give aid and fort to a lot of persons who don't wish law enforcement any good。〃
〃Law enforcement had better bee more efficient then；〃 Judge Albert snapped。 〃There was no objection to calling photographers to photograph this young woman when her suitcase was opened； and heaven knows how much harm was done her at that time。 I only hope there will be enough publicity in connection with the events of the last hour to more than offset the unfavorable publicity which was given her at the time of her arrest。〃
〃Well； don't worry；〃 Caswell said bitterly； 〃this picture will go out over the wire services and make about a third of the papers in the United States。〃
〃Let's hope it does；〃 Judge Albert said； and turning on his heel； headed for chambers。
Caswell walked away without a word to Mason。
Mason rejoined Virginia Baxter。 〃Want to go in the witness room where we can sit down and talk for a minute？〃 Mason asked。
〃Anything；〃 she said。 〃Anything； Mr。 Mason。〃
〃I just want a word with you；〃 Mason said。
He led her into the witness room； held a chair for her； sat down opposite her and said； 〃Now look； who would have it in for you？〃
〃You mean to try and frame me on a narcotics charge？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Heavens； I don't know。〃
〃Your husband？〃
〃He was very bitter。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I wouldn't give him a divorce。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He was a sneak； a liar and a cheat。 He was carrying on with another woman all the time I was working my head off trying to help us get ahead。
〃He even dipped into the joint account we had in order to help finance a car for this woman； then they had the unmitigated gall to tell me that people couldn't control their emotions； that a man would fall in love and he'd fall out of love and there was nothing that could be done about it。〃
〃How long ago was this？〃
〃About a year。〃
〃And you didn't give him his freedom？〃
〃No。〃
〃You're still married？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How long since you've seen him？〃
〃Not since that big blowup； but he has called me up on the phone once or twice and asked if I had changed my mind。〃
〃And why haven't you changed your mind？〃 Mason asked。
〃Because I'm not going to let them play fast and loose with me that way。〃
Mason said； 〃All right； you're going to remain married to him。 What advantage will that be to you？〃
〃It won't be any advantage to me but it will keep them from taking advantage of me。〃
〃In other words； anything that will be a detriment to the pair of them will be to your advantage。 Is that the way you feel？〃
〃Well； something like that。〃
Mason regarded her steadily。 〃Is that the way you want to feel？〃
〃I 。 。 。 I just wanted to gouge her eyes out。 I wanted to hurt her in every way I could。〃
Mason shook his head。 〃There's no percentage in that； Virginia。 Ring him up and tell him that you've decided to let him have a divorce； that you'll file the divorce action…there's nothing in your religion against it； is there？〃
〃No。〃
〃No children？〃
〃No。〃
Mason spread his hands in a little gesture。 〃There you are；〃 he said。 〃You have a future； too； you know。〃
〃I 。 。 。 I…〃
〃Meaning you've met someone in whom you're interested？〃 Mason asked。
〃I 。 。 。 I have met lots of people and； for the most part； I have been plenty sour on men。〃
〃But lately you've met one who seems to be different？〃
She laughed nervously。 〃Must you cross…examine me now？〃 she asked。
Mason said； 〃Whenever you've made a mistake in life； the best thing to do is to wipe the slate clean and put that mistake behind you。
〃However； what I wanted to talk to you about was the fact that someone is trying to put you in a position where you'll be discredited。
〃I don't know who it is； but it's some person who has a certain amount of ingenuity and； apparently； some underworld connections。
〃That person has struck once。 You've avoided the trap； but other traps can be set and that person can strike again。 I don't like it and if there's any possibility it's your husband； I'd like to eliminate him from the picture。
〃There is； of course； the woman with whom your husband was in love and with whom； I presume； he is now living。
〃Do you know her？ Do you know anything about her background？〃
〃Not a thing。 I know her name and that's just about all。 My husband was very careful that I didn't learn too much about her。〃
〃All right；〃 Mason said； 〃here's my suggestion。 File for a divorce on the ground of desertion or cruelty。 Leave her name out of it； get it over with and get your freedom； and if there is anything out of the ordinary that happens within the next few days； anything suspicious； any anonymous telephone calls； anything that seems strange； call me immediately。〃
Mason patted her shoulder and said； 〃You're free now。〃
〃But what do I do about your fee； Mr。 Mason？〃
Mason said； 〃Send me a check for a hundred dollars when you get around to it and find it convenient； but don't worry about it。〃
CHAPTER SEVEN
There had been a dearth of news the night before and as a result the story about 〃weighing〃 the evidence had been given considerable prominence。
Virginia Baxter read the papers with a growing sense of relief。 The reporters had sensed that she had been framed and had done their best to see that her vindication was featured as top news。
The newspaper photographers； thoroughgoing professionals； had done an excellent job with their cameras； while Judge Albert； leaning over the scales； had placed a steadying and paternal hand on Virginia's shoulder。
It has been truthfully said that one picture tells more than ten thousand words； and in this case； the jurist's attitude left no doubt of his faith in Virginia Baxter's innocence。
The headlines in one of the newspapers read； FORMER LEGAL SECRETARY VINDICATED IN DOPE CASE。
One article made much of the fact that she had formerly been employed in a law office。 While that office had in reality done little trial work； specializing in estate matters； the reporter had taken poetic licen