Death in a Royal Family

The door of the apartment closed softly.

Johnny, who seemed to be in a deep sleep on the couch, sat up, took a long gold tipped cigarette from the filigree box on the table and lighted it with the heavy companion lighter. He picked up the mother-of-pearl telephone from its cradle and dialed a few of the slightly raised golden numbers. He frowned impatiently while the buzz sounded repeatedly in his ear and pushed back the brocade sleeve of his dressing gown. The frown deepened. He'd forgotten his watch was not on his arm. When the buzz broke abruptly in his ear he said, "Police? I think I've just been robbed." He gave them his name and address.

"That's right. I went out of the room for a moment and when I returned, my guest was gone. So was my watch,. a diamond ring weighing about two and a half carats and seventy dollars from my wallet.

"Right. My guest's name was Stuts. About 25. He has modelled for me for almost a year; I'm an artist. He's living at the YMCA down the street now, at least that's where I've been picking him up."

Johnny listened a few seconds and nodded.

hour. Good, but remember I want no fuss or publicity. I'll prefer charges quietly when you have him. He shouldn't be too far from my hotel now . . . I'm very anxious about the ring. It was my mother's. I can't imagine whatever made him do it. I pay him extremely well. . . Yes, thank you."

Johnny poured some more wine into his glass, pushed the button on the cradle for the operator and said, "Give me Apartment 16-J."

He burped into his hand and murmured, "Damned soda pills." Once more the buzz broke in his ear.

"Willie? Johnny. Well, I think I've finally got the little rat. It worked like a charm. . . Oh, a few hitches. Could have been better but what couldn't at our age?

"Yeah. Just about like I told you it would. I called him at work and told him I wanted to see him for the last time. He said he was tied up. Even hinted he was having dinner with you! Imagine! That's one of the things that I really loathe about him, trying to play us off against one another when we were having our affairs while he was having his diapers changed! I will miss him, Willie, but I'll be glad to be out of this hell he's caused me, too.

"Yes, I see, but I don't know that . . . "I know, my dear, you've stuck by me You'll send someone over within the like an angel and I won't forget it. Well,

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