The Case of the Mischievous Doll

Erle Stanley Gardner The Case of the Mischievous Doll

An abridged version of this novel was published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1962.

Foreword

As a rule the experts in legal medicine come from the medical profession. Many of them are both doctors of medicine and lawyers.

Others, however, have specialized in the law and then because of interest in the medical aspects of the legal profession have become medicolegal specialists.

The point is that the area where law and medicine overlap is a field of vital importance to the public, and yet, one which is little understood by the public.

My friend, W R Rule, Major, USAF, MSC, started out in the field of law, then specialized in the field of legal medicine, particularly as it applies to the military.

Having studied law in this country as well as in England, Major Rule is currently the Legal Counsel for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and has occupied that position since early 1959.

From time to time in connection with his official activities I have corresponded with him and have been impressed by the man’s zeal, his clear-cut understanding of the importance of legal medicine, his high sense of duty, and his feeling that there has been too much separation of law, medicine and law enforcement, and that these sciences should be more closely connected and better understood.

Despite the fact that relatively few people realize it, the Armed Forces have developed nearly as perfect a system for the administration of justice as human minds can devise; and because this is true, they are taking a keen and ever-increasing interest in the field of legal medicine, particularly in co-ordinating forensic pathology with their investigations.

There are several outstanding individuals in this field, and from time to time, with their permission, I intend to dedicate books to them, calling to the attention of the public the work these men are doing and the importance of that work.

Because Major W R Rule has such a clear concept of the importance of legal medicine in the administration of justice and has done so much to improve the administration of justice in and through the military, I dedicate this book to my friend:

W. R. RULE, Major, USAF, MSC, Legal Counsel, AFIP.

Erle Stanley Gardner

Chapter One

Della Street, Perry Mason’s confidential secretary, entering Mason’s private office, approached the big desk where the lawyer was seated and said, “A law office is the darnedest place.”

“It certainly is,” Mason said. “Now may I ask what brings forth this observation?”

“A certain Miss Dorrie Ambler.”

“And I take it Miss Ambler is in the outer office, asking for an appointment?”

“She says she has to see you right away.”

“How old?”

“Twenty-three or — four, but she’s been around.”

“Description?”

“Auburn hair, hazel eyes, five feet three; around a hundred and twelve; figure, thirty-four, twenty-four, thirty-four.”

“And now,” Mason said, “we come to the comment of yours — a law office is the darnedest place. What brought that up?”

“You could guess for a long time,” she said, “but you would never guess what Miss Ambler wants — that is, at least what she says she wants.”

“I’ll bite,” Mason said. “What does she want?”

“She wants to show you her operation,” Della Street said.

“Her what?”

“Her operation.”

“A malpractice suit, Della?”

“Apparently not. She seems to feel that there is going to be some question as to her identity and she wants to prove to you who she is, or rather, who she is not. She wishes to do this by showing you the scar of an appendectomy.”

“What is this,” Mason asked, “a gag? Or is she laying the foundation for some sort of a shakedown? I certainly am not going to permit any young woman to walk in here and—”

“She wants witnesses present,” Della Street said.

Mason grinned. “Now this would be right down Paul Drake’s alley... I take it her figure is one that he would appreciate.”

“Leave it to Paul,” she said. “He has a keen eye... Shall I call him?”

“Let’s talk with our client first,” Mason said. “I am anxious to see the mysterious Miss Ambler.”

“Before I bring her in,” Della Street said, “there is one other thing you should know.”

Mason said, “Della, I get very, very suspicious when you start breaking things to me in easy stages. Now, suppose you tell me the whole story now.”

“Well,” Della Street said, “your prospective client is carrying a gun in her purse.”

“How do you know?” Mason asked.

“I don’t actually know,” Della Street said. “I am quoting Gertie.”

“Gertie,” Mason said, grinning, “sits there at the switchboard, sizes up clients as they come in, and works her imagination overtime. And she has a very high-powered imagination.”