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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..575b4aa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50603 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50603) diff --git a/old/50603-0.txt b/old/50603-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bef1200..0000000 --- a/old/50603-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4764 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Minute Mysteries, by Harold Austin Ripley - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Minute Mysteries - [Detectograms] - -Author: Harold Austin Ripley - -Release Date: December 4, 2015 [EBook #50603] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - MINUTE MYSTERIES - [_Detectograms_] - - - BY - H. A. RIPLEY - - WITH A FOREWORD BY - LEWIS E. LAWES - _Warden of Sing Sing Prison_ - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - _The Riverside Press Cambridge_ - 1932 - - COPYRIGHT, 1932, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY -ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK OR PARTS - THEREOF IN ANY FORM - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS - PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. - - - TO - MY MOTHER - - - - - FOREWORD - - -The solution of criminal mysteries constitutes one of the most -absorbing, possibly the most intriguing forms of mental activity -existent. It calls for something more than mere cold intelligence and -reasoning ability, requiring in addition native perception, intuition, -and a natural understanding of human behavior under stress of emotion -and passion. Furthermore, some knowledge of pathological or abnormal -behaviorism is a requisite. - -Mr. Ripley’s excellently thought-out series of mysteries might be said -to represent a very adequate cross-section of the problems perennially -confronting the law-enforcers and official crime-solvers of the nation. -The points of evidence are cleverly assembled and the _nuances_ of -incrimination are very subtly shaded. - -It would be well for the reader interested in successfully solving these -problems to endeavor to think, not as a detective, but as the criminal -in the case would think, in order to arrive at a correct solution. I -have found that to deal adequately with the criminal after conviction, -and while in confinement, it is necessary to understand his personal -problems. To accomplish this, one must first think as does the criminal, -discover the sequent conclusions upon which he based his anti-social -activities, and thereupon make use of these findings to assist him -toward rehabilitation. - -In this novel challenge to amateur criminologists, who suffer from a -dearth of laboratory specimens upon which to experiment, Mr. Ripley -offers an excellent opportunity—that of examining and forming -conclusions upon the more elemental, vital, and dramatic aspects of -various typical criminal situations, without the drawback of fantasy and -concocted sordidness, which, for the practical criminologist, takes the -glamour and color out of this thing called—Crime. - - Lewis E. Lawes - - - - - AUTHOR’S PREFACE - - -Chief Inspector Kelley, that grizzled veteran of the Detective Bureau, -was talking to his nephew, Jim Barry, who had indicated a desire to -enter the uncrowded field of criminology. - -‘The average policeman,’ he said, ‘looks upon the lay criminologist in -much the same manner as the professional in any field regards the -amateur. Generally speaking, that attitude is justified. - -‘In thirty years of police work, however, I have met no one in detective -circles, in or out of the force, who so effectively combines theoretical -knowledge with practical application as Professor Fordney. - -‘A man of definite scientific attainments and recognition, he yet -appreciates that the simple fundamentals of crime detection are -effective in ninety per cent of all criminal cases. While he has -unraveled by scientific means some amazing and extremely baffling crimes -that otherwise would have gone unsolved, he puts his greatest reliance -on those basic principles upon which rests the whole structure of crime -detection. - -‘His major theory is that most crimes are simple; that their solution -calls only for the exercise of ordinary talents developed to an -extraordinary degree; that the stupidity of the average criminal -himself, and not the brilliance of the detective, is responsible for his -detection. - -‘In that, I might tell you, he finds complete corroboration in the -experience of such an outstanding detective of world-wide reputation as -Sir Melville L. Macnaghten, C.B., late Chief of the Criminal -Investigation Department of Scotland Yard. Commenting on the capture of -a particularly vicious murderer, he remarked, “But for the fact that the -student of criminal history is constantly faced with the stupidity of -the criminal, there would be nothing more remarkable in this case than -the fatuity of the man who, having murdered solely for personal -gratifications, and taken every precaution, as he thought, to avoid -discovery, immediately wrote blackmailing letters in which he showed -guilty knowledge of a secret murder.” - -‘Fordney could undoubtedly explain such an inconsistency as this by his -uncanny knowledge of criminal psychology,’ continued Kelley. ‘Among -psychologists his insight into the criminal mind and its reactions is -appreciated as being authoritative. - -‘His greatest interest is his class in criminology at the University. He -still finds time, however, to assist actively the police of many cities -who frequently consult him on cases they find unusually puzzling. - -‘There are instances also in which his part has been that of a -bystander, where a word of suggestion, modestly given, has frequently -disposed of cases before they were brought to the attention of the -police. - -‘If the Professor is convinced you have the natural qualifications, Jim, -and a real inclination for work, I can get you into his class. He will -take not only a personal, but a fatherly, interest in you, as in the -rest of his students. You will receive the finest possible training -given by a man of broad understanding and great human sympathies. Out of -his vast experience and knowledge, gained in studying crime in all parts -of the world, he will develop in you those qualities essential to -success in this field. - -‘You will find him a genial, ruddy, kindly man of fifty, with a -waistline of forty. There is nothing subtle in his face or manner. A -characterful nose rises above a strong and determined mouth, adorned by -a blond mustache. A pair of keen but smiling blue eyes completes a -commonplace face. Although he refuses to admit it, his rapidly thinning -hair causes him great concern. A bit vain, the old codger, but don’t -tell him I told you so,’ laughed the Inspector. - -‘Scrupulously dressed, he looks like an amiable and highly successful -business executive. He’s a mixer and thoroughly enjoys the good things -of life. He views the passing parade with a keen sense of humor, few -illusions, and a genuine interest in his fellow man. Detests hypocrisy; -would rather see ten guilty men acquitted than one innocent man -condemned. Recognizes his own fallibility, but knows his own worth and -does not suffer from that abominable social vice, false modesty. - -‘You might be interested in knowing his only hobby is that of designing, -making, and repairing toys for children. He’s known to hundreds of them -as the Toy Man. - -‘Though a bachelor, he looks with favor on the ladies, enjoys their -company and is thoroughly sociable. - -‘It’s a pleasure and an education to know him. More than once he’s -helped your old uncle and absolutely refused the credit that was his,’ -concluded Inspector Kelley. - - -In the following pages you will find some interesting experiences taken -from the Professor’s case book. They illustrate forcibly his contention -that crime is simple and that most criminals are caught, not by any -superhuman qualities of the detective, but by their own ignorance, -stupidity, or carelessness. - -In these accounts every fact, every clue necessary to the solution is -given. The answer is in the story itself. You need look nowhere else but -there. Each problem has only one possible solution. - -Written in less than two hundred and sixty words, these little stories -can be read in a minute. - -Here is your chance to work on an absolute equality with the Professor; -to match your wits with his and the criminal’s. You know as much as the -Professor does. Now you have an opportunity of proving just how good a -detective you are and what poor detectives your friends are. - -The author hopes you will find them as fascinating reading as they were -in the telling by the Professor. - - H. A. Ripley - - - - - CONTENTS - - - Foreword by Lewis E. Lawes vii - Author’s Preface ix - It Stands to Reason! _A New National Game_ xix - 1. A Crack Shot 1 - 2. On the Scent 3 - 3. Fatal Error 5 - 4. The Poison Murder Case 7 - 5. A Strange ‘Kidnaping’ 9 - 6. A Valuable Formula 11 - 7. Strangled 13 - 8. Death in the Office 15 - 9. They Usually Forget Something 17 - 10. The Professor Gives a Lesson 19 - 11. Upstairs and Down 21 - 12. Class Day 23 - 13. A Hot Pursuit 25 - 14. A Question of Identity 27 - 15. A Yachtsman’s Alibi 29 - 16. Murder at Coney Island 31 - 17. Too Clever 33 - 18. Bloody Murder 35 - 19. Death Back-Stage 37 - 20. An Easy Combination 39 - 21. A Modern Knight 41 - 22. The Jewel Robbery 43 - 23. Before the Coroner’s Inquest 45 - 24. The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up 47 - 25. Behind Locked Doors 49 - 26. Lost at Sea 51 - 27. A Suave Gunman 53 - 28. Accidental Death 55 - 29. Easy Money 57 - 30. Robbery at High Noon 59 - 31. The Wrong Foot Forward 61 - 32. Death Attends the Party 63 - 33. No Way Out 65 - 34. Midnight Murder 67 - 35. Speakeasy Stick-Up 69 - 36. Behind Time 71 - 37. A Broken Engagement 73 - 38. The Holden Road Murder 75 - 39. Fisherman’s Luck 77 - 40. The Unlucky Elephant 79 - 41. The Professor Listens 81 - 42. Ten-Fifteen 83 - 43. Rapid Transit 85 - 44. The Professor is Disappointed 87 - 45. A Dramatic Triumph 89 - 46. Murder at the Lake 91 - 47. The Professor Studies a Coat 93 - 48. Too Late 95 - 49. Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory 97 - 50. Daylight Robbery 99 - 51. A Simple Solution 101 - 52. Who? 103 - 53. Murder in the Swamp 105 - 54. Death by Drowning 107 - 55. Tragedy at the Convention 109 - 56. A Murderer’s Mistake 111 - 57. Babe Comes Through 113 - 58. A Soldier of Fortune 115 - 59. Number Twenty-Six 117 - 60. The Pullman Car Murder 121 - 61. Forgery 123 - 62. The Christmas Eve Tragedy 125 - 63. A Knight of the Bath 127 - 64. Murder in the First Degree 129 - 65. A Rendezvous with Death 131 - 66. A Rum Regatta 133 - 67. Who is the Heir? 135 - 68. The Professor Stops a Blunder 137 - 69. The Perfect Crime 139 - 70. The Professor Sees Through It 141 - 71. The Kidnapers’ Cleverness 143 - Solutions 145 - - - - - IT STANDS TO REASON! - A NEW NATIONAL GAME - - -Here is a fascinating game of wits for a party of any size. It can be -played in either of two ways. - -1. Select one or more stories from the _Minute Mysteries_ that -particularly appeal to you. Make as many copies of each as there are -guests at the party. Then pass the copies around and allow three -minutes, say, for your guests to study them. At the end of this time -each must hand you a written solution, giving the line of reasoning -which was used. You compare these with the solutions at the back of the -book; the one who is most often correct is the winner. - -2. Instead of making copies of each story, you may read it aloud, slowly -and carefully. If any of the listeners so desire, it may be read a -second time. But after this no questions may be asked. - -After the period agreed upon has elapsed, each guest writes out his -solution as in (1), and hands it to you for comparison with the book. - - -Method number 1 puts the emphasis on one’s powers of reasoning and -analysis; method number 2 adds to these a premium on an accurate memory. - - - - - MINUTE MYSTERIES - - - 1 - _A Crack Shot_ - -Professor Fordney was hunting in the Rockies when informed of a tragedy -at one of the camps. Thinking he might be of some help, he went over, -and, after introducing himself, Butler, the victim’s companion, told him -of the accident. - -‘When Marshall hadn’t returned to camp at nine o’clock last night, I was -a bit worried because he didn’t know these mountains. There wasn’t a -star out and it was dark and moonless, so I decided to look around for -him. We’re five miles from anyone, you know. - -‘Putting more wood on the fire, I set out. After searching for an hour, -I was coming up the slope of a ravine when I saw a pair of eyes shining -out at me in the dark. - -‘Calling twice, and getting no answer, I fired, thinking it was a -mountain lion. Imagine my horror when I reached the spot, struck a -match, and saw I had nearly blown the head off Marshall. A terrible -experience! - -‘I carried his body back to camp and then walked to the nearest house to -report the accident.’ - -‘How far from camp did you find Marshall?’ asked Fordney. - -‘About a quarter of a mile.’ - -‘I see your right hand is bandaged. How do you manage to shoot with it?’ - -‘Oh, I use either hand.’ - -‘Mind if I look at the gun?’ - -‘Not at all,’ said Butler, handing it over. - -‘H’m, European make, I see. Had it long?’ - -‘No, it’s rather new.’ - -‘Why did you deliberately murder Marshall?’ demanded Fordney abruptly -... ‘for that’s what you did.’ - - - How did the Professor know Butler had murdered his companion? - - - 2 - _On the Scent_ - -‘I couldn’t wait to be announced,’ said George Collins, Florida’s -foremost prohibition agent, and a great wit, as he stepped into the -Professor’s office. - -‘How long are you going to be in New York?’ asked Fordney, as the two -friends shook hands. - -‘I’m due back in Miami now,’ replied Collins, ‘but I wanted to -congratulate you on your success in the Hicks murder case. I wish -interesting things like that would happen in my game. However, I did -have an amusing experience last December. - -‘Sneaky Joe, a stool-pigeon, tipped me off to a huge still he said was -working about forty miles from headquarters. A narrow road through dense -woods led to the spot. Arriving there, I found an old dilapidated shanty -screened by trees. As I entered the woods, I smelled alcohol. Sneaky Joe -was right, after all, I thought, as I drove up to the shanty. - -‘I got out and peered cautiously around, but the place seemed deserted. -After opening the door and entering the house, however, I knew liquor -was not being made there. I searched the woods, but found nothing. As I -was driving back along the road at a good rate, I discovered the alcohol -I smelled was coming from my own radiator! Imagine my chagrin!’ - -The Professor laughed heartily and said to his friend, ‘Stay over for my -birthday party tonight, the ladies would love to hear that yarn of -yours.’ - - - What did the Professor find preposterous in Collins’s story? - - - 3 - _Fatal Error_ - -‘Crowley was an eccentric and taciturn old fellow, but I liked him,’ -remarked Fordney. ‘When he was found dead last December, I took a -personal interest in the case. Harold Bronson, his last known caller, -had this to say of his visit: - -‘“After leaving word at my hotel where I might be reached if wanted, I -arrived at Crowley’s suburban estate shortly after five o’clock. I found -him seated in the dusk at the end of his library table. Courteously -enough for him, he waved me into a chair at the other end and invited me -to dine with him at eight o’clock. Reaching for my cigarettes, I -remembered that Crowley did not permit smoking. - -‘“His principal contributions to our discussion were his usual nods of -approval, grunts, and monosyllables. Very sparing of words, was Mr. -Crowley. - -‘“About seven o’clock the telephone rang and he asked me to answer it. -It was my wife asking me to return at once to see an unexpected visitor. -Finishing the conversation, I returned to my chair and, after I -explained the call, Crowley nodded assent to my request to leave -immediately. - -‘“On the way out, as the lights had not been turned on, I bumped my -head, which explains this bruise. Just as I reached the door, he called -after me—‘See you tomorrow at ten.’ He was certainly all right when I -left him shortly after seven.” - -‘Although Bronson’s telephone alibi was later proved sound, he had -hardly finished his story before I was convinced he was implicated,’ -concluded Fordney. - - - What directed suspicion to Bronson? - - - 4 - _The Poison Murder Case_ - -‘I’m going to the theater now,’ Bob Kewley told Professor Fordney at -their club. ‘I wish you’d spend the evening with Uncle John. He’s been -worried lately.’ - -Upon reaching the Kewley home an hour later, Fordney found the butler in -an agitated state. - -‘After ordering coffee, Mr. Kewley locked himself in his library an hour -ago, sir. When I rapped on the door just now, he didn’t answer.’ - -The two men forced the lock and found John Kewley on the floor, an empty -strychnine bottle at his side. The terrace door was open. After a -careful examination, Fordney returned home. A few hours later, Bob -Kewley entered his living-room. - -‘Thought I’d stop in on my way home. Don’t you think Uncle John looks -worried?’ - -‘Your uncle, Bob, is dead. Strychnine. Your butler and I found him lying -on the floor, but were too late to save him.’ - -‘How horrible, Fordney! Why was the library door locked, do you -suppose?’ - -‘That puzzles me. Has your butler been with you long?’ - -‘For years,’ replied Bob, his head buried in his hands. - -‘Well, you’re a wealthy man now.’ - -‘What of it? Uncle John meant more to me than all the money in the -world.’ - -‘I wish I could believe that,’ replied Fordney. ‘You’ll need a better -alibi than those,’ pointing to the ticket stubs Bob was nervously -fingering. - - - How had Kewley aroused the Professor’s suspicions? - - - 5 - _A Strange ‘Kidnaping’_ - -‘I haven’t the faintest idea why I was kidnaped,’ said Johnson to -Professor Fordney, an hour after he returned home. ‘I never miss Sunday -evening services, you know, so I’m afraid I haven’t much time to discuss -it now.’ - -‘Oh, just a brief account of your experience is all that is necessary,’ -remarked the Professor. - -So Johnson proceeded. - -‘I was walking along Burnham Street about 2 A.M. Friday when two masked -men, with drawn guns, ordered me into a blue sedan. I was blindfolded -and gagged. After driving for about an hour, I was led into a house and -down some stairs to a small room, where they removed my blindfold and -gag. They took off my outer clothing and hung it on a chair. Then they -questioned me at length about the Shirley case and refused to believe I -knew nothing of it. - -‘Exasperated, they threatened to kill me, and when I remonstrated, one -of them hit me on the head with a black-jack and I went down -unconscious. - -‘The next thing I knew was when I came to with a terrific headache. I -lay still for a few minutes and, hearing nothing but the ticking of my -watch, I cautiously got to my feet and groped for the door, as the room -was in darkness. Before I could locate it, two men, still masked, -entered, turned on the light, apologized profusely for the treatment I -had received, and said they had mistaken me for someone else. Then they -gave me something to eat, blindfolded me again, and drove me to within a -block of my home, still apologizing for the mistake. Before I could -remove my blindfold after getting out of the car, it had sped away. - -‘It’s all very mysterious to me. I can’t make anything of it.’ - -‘I won’t give you away, Johnson,’ smiled the Professor. ‘Your wife -undoubtedly believes your yarn, but you’d better think up a better one -the next time.’ - - - What flaw did the Professor find in Johnson’s story which proved the - ‘kidnaping’ was a fake? - - - 6 - _A Valuable Formula_ - -‘I had just stepped behind that screen near the door to wash my hands -when a man, gun in hand, entered the room and stood motionless for a few -seconds,’ said Hyde. ‘Apparently satisfied no one was here, he walked to -the desk over there by the window. As he rummaged through the papers in -the drawer, I hastily dialed headquarters, leaving the receiver off the -hook, trusting you would trace the call. I was afraid to talk because I -was unarmed and he looked like a desperate fellow.’ - -‘You say he took nothing but a valuable formula from your desk?’ -inquired the Professor. - -‘That’s all; he touched nothing else.’ - -‘Rather careless to leave such an important paper lying about like that, -wasn’t it?’ - -‘Well, I suppose so, though it was only a copy. I sold the original to -Schmitz yesterday for twenty thousand dollars and I intended to destroy -the duplicate tonight.’ - -‘Would that formula be valuable to anyone else?’ - -‘Yes, it would be worth twice as much to Schmitz’s competitors.’ - -‘Why didn’t you sell it to them in the first place, then?’ - -‘Schmitz financed me while I was perfecting the formula, so I thought it -only right to sell it to him, even though I could have got more for it -from the other firm.’ - -‘As this is such a small, bright room and you observed so much through -that crack in the screen,’ said Fordney sarcastically, ‘you should be -able to give us a _very_ good description of the intruder.’ - -‘Oh, I can do that,’ Hyde replied, with assurance. ‘He was a big fellow -about six feet tall and weighed around two hundred pounds. He had -jet-black hair, swarthy complexion, an unusually large nose, and a -vicious-looking mouth. As he left obviously unaware of my presence, I -noticed he had a big rip in the back of his blue coat.’ - -‘Well, Hyde, as part of your story is incredible, you can’t expect me to -believe any of it.’ - - - Why did the Professor say this? - - - 7 - _Strangled_ - -‘Twenty-two days of this hot, dry spell,’ groaned Professor Fordney. ‘I -can’t remember a stretch like it.’ - -‘Tell us about the Greer case, Professor,’ urged the rocking-chair -brigade. ‘It’ll take your mind off the heat.’ - -‘Well, you know the salient facts. The body of Irene Greer, lying on the -railroad right-of-way, was found half a mile from here by a fishing -party at 6 A.M. day before yesterday. It could be seen that she was a -beautiful girl despite the tousled hair matted with mud and a nasty -bruise on her cheek. Her flaming red dress was torn and dirty. She had -on shoes, but no stockings. Incidentally, her clothes were of the finest -quality. Her body indicated that she had received a terrific beating, -poor girl. - -‘From appearances she had been placed on the track with the expectation -that she would be struck by a train and identification made impossible. -No doubt she was unconscious when this was done, but she must have -revived temporarily and crawled to the gravel right-of-way before a -train came along. There she died. - -‘A peculiar circumstance is that, while her body was bruised and -twisted, there were no marks on her throat to indicate strangulation, -yet Dr. Bridewell says that was the cause of death. - -‘She was found in a desolate spot. Oh, yes, she was probably strangled -with a scarf which, employed in a certain manner, would leave no outward -trace. - -‘Now you folks should know how I learned Irene Greer was attacked -elsewhere and then brought to the vicinity where she was found,’ smiled -the Professor. - - - Do you? - - - 8 - _Death in the Office_ - -When Professor Fordney reached Gifford’s office, he found a policeman -already there. - -‘Gifford’s dead,’ he was told. ‘What brings you here?’ - -‘He telephoned me a few minutes ago; said he had been shot; then I had a -hard time understanding him. This street is on your beat, isn’t it?’ - -‘Yes. I heard the shot when I was in Smith’s cigar store. It took me a -while to locate it. The door was locked and I had to break in.’ - -As they walked into an inner office, they saw Gifford’s body, a bullet -through the heart, lying in a pool of blood. - -Fordney stooped to pick up a revolver. - -‘It’s an easy jump to the ground,’ observed the policeman, who was -standing by an open window. - -‘Did you know, sir,’ he added, ‘that Gifford has been troubled lately by -blackmailers?’ - -‘Yes. The last time I saw him, he told me he had been shot at a couple -of weeks ago.’ - -Fordney walked over to the door and found the lock was sprung, but the -key still in it. - -‘I suppose,’ ventured the policeman, ‘that the blackmailers got him. -They must have locked the door from the inside when they entered, shot -him, and then jumped out the window.’ - -‘No,’ said Fordney, who was examining the key he had removed from the -lock. ‘There weren’t any murderers in here. Gifford committed suicide.’ - - - Why was the Professor sure that it was suicide? - - - 9 - _They Usually Forget Something_ - -‘Here is a good illustration of the old bromide that the smartest -criminal leaves some clue in even the most carefully planned crime,’ -mused Professor Fordney. - -‘While in Colshire, a beautiful little English village, I was asked by -the local police to assist them in a rather puzzling affair. - -‘Suspicion of a particularly brutal murder had been directed toward an -illiterate underworld character. He was accused of sending the following -note found in the murdered man’s pocket: - - _sir john when i last seen you i sed i will kill you if the muney - ain’t here by mundy; all of it_ - - _yurs truly,_ - _XX_ - -‘When Wellington, the Chief Constable, asked my opinion, I told him the -writer of the note, and therefore probably the murderer, was obviously -an educated man. After explaining why I was sure of that, he agreed with -me. - -‘An odd sort of case. The murderer was found to be an extremely wealthy -American whose sister had married the murdered man’s brother.’ - -‘Well,’ laughed Bill Cargo to whom Fordney had been speaking. ‘It’s -getting too involved for me. I can’t figure it out.’ - - - How had Fordney determined the American was an educated man? - - - 10 - _The Professor Gives a Lesson_ - -‘Cardoni came into Inspector Kelley’s office yesterday,’ said Fordney to -his Criminology Class. - -‘“I want to speak to you alone, Chief,” he said, eyeing me with frank -suspicion. - -‘“It’s all right. Go ahead,” said Kelley. - -‘“I’ve got some information on the Curtis kidnapers. How much is it -worth?” - -‘“That all depends. Let’s hear the story.” - -‘“They’re in one of my old buildings, down on the East Side. Three men -and a woman. All you’ve got to do, Chief, is to take this, walk in an’ -surprise ’em,” said our informer, tossing a Yale key on Kelley’s desk. -“They rented a room from me about a week ago.” - -‘“Sounds much too easy, Cardoni. I want something more definite than -that. What makes you think they’re the kidnapers?” - -‘“I heard them having an argument as I was doing some repair work in the -hall. One of the guys threatened to squeal if he didn’t get a bigger -cut. It sounded interestin’, so I peeked through the keyhole. They were -sittin’ at a table in the middle of the room on which there was a stack -of money.” - -‘“Your story doesn’t yet show they had any connection with the Curtis -kidnaping,” Kelley said. - -“NO? Well, last night I heard them mention ‘Curtis’ several times. And -that ain’t all,” continued Cardoni, with a triumphant air. “Here’s a -code message one of them must have dropped. Well, Chief, how much do I -get?” - -“Get out!” hollered Kelley as he made a pass at Cardoni.’ - - - Why was the informer treated so rudely? - - - 11 - _Upstairs and Down_ - -‘Let’s hear your story,’ said Inspector Kelley to Policeman Kirk, as -Fordney dropped into a comfortable chair at Headquarters. - -‘The neighbors were worried because they hadn’t seen old lady Brill -about for a couple of days and asked me to investigate. - -‘Getting no answer to my ring, I broke open the front door, ran -upstairs, and, not seeing her, ran down and through the hall, unlocked -the kitchen door, and found her on the floor, a bullet through her heart -and a gun beside her. The windows and the doors to the porch and cellar -were locked on the inside and nothing seemed to be disturbed. - -‘Looked like suicide to me. However, I learned her nephew was at the -house yesterday about the time the doctor said she died, so I brought -him in,’ concluded Kirk. - -‘Why did you run upstairs before examining the lower floor?’ asked -Kelley. - -‘Thought I heard a noise up there, sir,’ replied the policeman. - -‘Any finger-prints on the gun?’ inquired Fordney. - -‘Just those of the old lady,’ answered Kelley. - -‘I have a key to the house,’ interrupted the nephew. ‘I went in -yesterday, called to her, but she didn’t answer, so I thought she’d gone -out.’ - -‘Did you go upstairs?’ asked the Professor. - -‘Yes, I ran up there, calling her name, but came right down again and -left immediately.’ - -‘Well, Kelley, of course it’s murder—as you probably know. I suppose -you’ll hold this fellow?’ - -‘I certainly intend to,’ replied the Inspector. - - - How did Fordney know the old lady had been murdered? - - - 12 - _Class Day_ - -‘Baklioff, in person, combined with “Grand Hotel,” had packed the -Paramount,’ said the Professor. ‘Every seat was occupied and -standing-room was at a premium. What an opening it was!’ he continued. - -‘As the picture neared its end and the orchestra, under the magnificent -leadership of Baklioff, reached the climax of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria -Rusticana,” a shot rang out. - -‘Inspector Kelley who accompanied me, was immediately on his feet -bellowing, “Lights!” They were quickly turned on and the picture -stopped. Warning everyone to keep his seat, we started for the back of -the theater, when a man’s body slumped out of a seat and fell almost at -our feet. A hurried examination disclosed he had been shot in the back -of the head and that he was an extremely tall man. - -‘Leaving Kelley to look after things, I hurried to the operator’s booth. -When almost there, I heard another shot and knew I was too late. -Entering the small compartment, hung under the balcony, I found the -operator with a bullet through his temple and a smoking revolver by his -side. - -‘“Not much to this,” I remarked, as Kelley joined me. - -‘“I wonder if he got the right man,” commented the Inspector. “I don’t -understand how he could have made such a splendid shot under the -circumstances. Amazing!”’ - -‘Was the dead man sitting in an aisle seat?’ interrupted one of the -class. - -‘Yes,’ replied Fordney. - -‘Gee, that’s a good one, Professor, but I know now the one thing wrong -with your story,’ said the student. - - - Do you? - - - 13 - _A Hot Pursuit_ - -‘Hello, Smith,’ said Professor Fordney as he opened the door. ‘What’s -up?’ - -‘Uncle Fred’s house has been robbed. He had some negotiable bonds in the -library safe and told me to stick close to home until he returned from -New York.’ - -‘Were they stolen?’ interrogated Fordney. - -‘I’m afraid so. I was up in my bedroom about twenty minutes ago when I -heard a noise. I rushed downstairs just in time to see a man dash out of -the library. I ran after him and, as I passed the door, I noticed the -safe was open, so I suppose he got the bonds. He jumped into a waiting -automobile and I trailed him in my car which, fortunately, was standing -in front of the house, but he got away from me.’ - -‘Did you get his license number?’ - -‘No. Couldn’t see it. When I lost him in the traffic, I drove right over -here.’ - -‘Didn’t you keep the house locked while you were upstairs?’ - -‘Yes, but the burglar chiseled open a cellar window.’ - -‘Well, let’s go over and have a look,’ suggested Fordney. - -When they reached the Smith home, they found the bonds gone. - -‘Did you lock the front door when you ran out of the house?’ - -‘Why—er,’ replied Smith nervously, ‘the door locks automatically. I -don’t know what Uncle Fred will say when he gets back.’ - -‘He’ll say plenty if you tell him the story you told me,’ interrupted -the Professor. ‘I suggest you put the bonds back.’ - - - Where did Smith make his incriminating slip? - - - 14 - _A Question of Identity_ - -Professor Fordney and three of his friends were enjoying their weekly -‘get together’ at the University Club. - -‘Professor,’ said Patrie, ‘tell us something about that Yelpir murder -case you were working on.’ - -‘Well, gentlemen,’ he replied, in his retiring manner, ‘as you know, -Yelpir’s affairs were common knowledge, and the fact that several women -had reasons to wish him dead complicated matters a bit. - -‘His body was found in his study, which opened on to a corridor. At the -other end of the corridor and directly opposite it a staircase led to -the servants’ quarters above. - -‘Diana Lane, a house guest of Mrs. Yelpir at the time of the murder, was -questioned, and she appeared nervous. She insisted, however, that she -had been in her room at the time Yelpir was slain. - -‘Nora, a servant, testified that, as she was descending the stairs -leading from the servants’ quarters, at midnight, she saw Diana Lane, -wearing her famous emerald pendant and dressed in an enticing black -negligée, walk down the lighted corridor to Yelpir’s room. She said she -followed a minute later and heard Diana and Yelpir violently quarreling. -She returned to the servants’ quarters and, as she opened the door of -her room, she heard a shot. - -‘In the face of such evidence, Miss Lane admitted having gone to the -study at the time, but protested her innocence, declaring she had -remained only a minute. - -‘While Miss Lane was acquitted, you know, her reputation was not above -reproach. Even so, I knew without further investigation that Nora’s -testimony was maliciously false.’ - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 15 - _A Yachtsman’s Alibi_ - -‘I’ve often remarked,’ said Professor Fordney, in an expansive mood, -‘how very difficult it is to fake an alibi without someone’s assistance. -A case in point is a messy affair we cleared up recently. - -‘I didn’t definitely suspect Picus when I happened to bump into him at -the Fourth-of-July parade, the morning after an acquaintance of his had -been found dead under suspicious circumstances. I rather casually asked -him where he had been and what he had been doing the previous afternoon -about four o’clock, the apparent time of the man’s death. He related the -following story: - -‘“I took my sailboat out about noon yesterday. It was great on the -water. Around three o’clock, however, when I was perhaps ten miles out, -the wind died down completely. There wasn’t a breath of air, and I knew -that, unless I could attract some boat, I was in for an uncomfortable -time. Remembering that the international distress signal is a flag flown -upside down, I ran mine up to the top of the mast in that manner. Thank -God it was a clear day. - -‘“In about an hour the steamer Leone hove to, and I went aboard her -after securing my boat with a towline. The Captain said he had seen my -distress signal about four miles away and would put me ashore at -Gladsome Landing. He did so, and, as there was no one about, I hailed a -passing motorist who gave me a lift back to town. Imagine my surprise -when I read in the paper this morning that the Leone had been sunk in a -storm after putting me ashore, and all hands had been lost!” - -‘While I knew,’ remarked the Professor, ‘that the Leone had been sunk -with all on board, after hearing Picus’s story I immediately arrested -him on suspicion of murder.’ - - - What was wrong with Picus’s alibi? - - - 16 - _Murder at Coney Island_ - -Inspector Kelley and Professor Fordney were seated in the former’s -office when Policeman Fanning and his charge entered. After Fanning’s -hurried explanation, Jasper told his story: - -‘I’m the ticket taker on a merry-go-round at Coney Island. This bein’ -Saturday, we had a big crowd. The trip was almost over when I reached -out, saying, “Ticket, please,” and I see this woman sittin’ up in the -middle of the chariot with that terrible look on her face. She didn’t -answer, and when I shook her, she slumped over in the corner. I -screamed, jumped off, and ran for the manager. I got blood on my hand -when I shook her. - -‘Yes, sir, she’d ridden a couple of times and I seen the man she was -with on the two rides before,’ continued Jasper, giving a detailed -description of him. ‘I happened to see him jump off just before I got to -her.’ - -‘The doctor said she had been stabbed through the heart and had died -instantly?’ queried Professor Fordney. - -‘That’s right, sir,’ replied the policeman. - -‘It seems strange, Jasper,’ remarked the Professor, ‘that you can give -such a good description of this woman’s companion on two previous rides -when you just “happened” to notice him jump off. Does the merry-go-round -ever make you dizzy?’ - -‘No, sir; I’m used to it.’ - -‘Well, Inspector,’ said Fordney, turning to his friend, ‘I suppose you -are going to hold this man?’ - -‘Certainly,’ replied Kelley. ‘That’s just about the dizziest story I’ve -heard in a long time.’ - - - What justified the police in holding Jasper? - - - 17 - _Too Clever_ - -‘Receiving no reply to my ring and finding the door unlocked, I went -in,’ said Albert Lynch. ‘Dawson was seated at his desk shot through the -head. Seeing he was dead, I called the police and remained here.’ - -‘Touch anything, Lynch?’ asked Professor Fordney. - -‘No, sir, nothing.’ - -‘Positive of that, are you?’ - -‘Absolutely, sir.’ - -The Professor made a careful examination of the desk and found Dawson -had been writing a letter at the bottom of which and covered by the dead -man’s hand, was a penned message: ‘A. L. did thi——’ and weakly trailed -off. - -Further examination disclosed several kinds of writing-paper, a pen-tray -holding the recently used pen, inkwell, eraser, stamps, letters, and -bills. The gun from which the shot had been fired was on the floor by -the side of the chair, and the bullet was found embedded in the divan. - -After a few questions, Fordney was quickly convinced of Lynch’s -innocence. - -‘What do you make of it, Professor?’ inquired Inspector Kelley. - -‘Though the scrawled note certainly looks like Dawson’s writing, I am -sure an expert will find it isn’t. I’m not surprised to find the gun -free of prints. Pretty thorough job, this. Good thing for you, Lynch, -and for us too, that the murderer was careless about something.’ - -‘Right,’ said Kelley. ‘But you aren’t such a wise old owl, Fordney. This -is like the Morrow case we handled. Remember?’ - -‘Good for you, Inspector,’ laughed the Professor. - - - How did both men so quickly determine that the incriminating note had - not been left by Dawson? - - - 18 - _Bloody Murder_ - -‘A bad mess, this,’ said Professor Fordney to Sergeant Reynolds, as they -viewed the bloody scene. - -‘Yeah, I wish these guys wouldn’t be quite so thorough when they bump -themselves off,’ replied Reynolds as he set grimly to work. - -A man with his throat cut, the head almost severed, sat slumped over a -blood-spattered desk. What a horrible sight! His bloodstained coat flung -across the room, the razor! the shirt! the tie! his hands! covered with -blood, made a ghastly and awesome picture framed by the flickering light -of a dying candle. - -After turning on the lights, Fordney bent down to take a closer look at -the man. - -‘His face seems vaguely familiar, Sergeant, but I can’t recall at the -moment where I’ve seen him. How long has he been dead, Doctor?’ - -‘About two hours,’ replied the police surgeon. - -At this moment the telephone rang. The caller, upon hearing Fordney’s -voice, immediately disconnected. - -‘Odd,’ murmured the Professor as he hung up the receiver. ‘I remember -now where I saw this man. His name is Thompson.’ - -As he glanced around, he observed that the alarm-clock on the dresser -had stopped just two hours and fifteen minutes before. - -The telephone rang again and Fordney motioned Reynolds to answer. - -‘Hello!’ he said. ‘Mr. Thompson stepped out for a few minutes. Leave -your number. I’ll have him call you.’ The man at the other end inquired -who was speaking and, when Reynolds replied, ‘A friend,’ he hung up. - -‘Better trace that call, Sergeant; this is murder,’ said Fordney. - -‘What!’ exclaimed Reynolds. ‘Still looks like suicide to me!’ - - - Do you agree with Reynolds or the Professor? Why? - - - 19 - _Death Back-Stage_ - -Claudia Mason, beautiful and popular young actress, was found lying -across the chaise-longue in her elaborately furnished dressing-room, -dead from a bullet wound in the temple. - -She had sold her jewels and, with an heroic gesture, partially paid her -many debts. - -Near Claudia’s right hand, Sergeant Reynolds picked up the revolver with -which she had been killed, and after careful examination said: - -‘No finger-prints, of course. Gosh, Fordney, there’s two rocks she -didn’t sell,’ he exclaimed, pointing to a large emerald on her left hand -and a diamond on her right. - -‘Call Maria, her maid. I want to find out who this fellow is,’ said the -Professor, nodding toward a man’s photograph signed, Juan. ‘This was -evidently addressed to him,’ he said, passing over a note which read: - - Dear Juan: - - I am so despondent. The money from my jewels was not nearly enough. - - Claudia - -‘Not many of these dames kill themselves over their debts,’ muttered -Reynolds as he went to call Maria. - -The maid entered the room, sobbing and hysterical. - -‘Who is Juan?’ asked Professor Fordney. - -‘He’s the leading man in the show.’ - -‘Why wasn’t this note delivered to him?’ - -‘I forgot it.’ - -‘You found her?’ - -‘Yes. When I came to help her dress she—was—like that!’ - -‘Is Juan in his dressing-room now?’ - -‘I believe so.’ - -When Reynolds brought him into Claudia’s room, he dropped to his knees -beside the dead girl. - -‘My God! She’s killed herself!’ - -‘No, she hasn’t, young man. She was murdered,’ said the Professor. - - - Why was he sure it was not suicide? - - - 20 - _An Easy Combination_ - -‘I was working late, preparing an advertising campaign,’ continued -Fellows whom Professor Fordney had been questioning. ‘About ten-fifteen -I heard the outer office door click. Being unarmed, I hurriedly turned -out the lights in my office and waited breathlessly, as there was a -large sum of money in the safe. I knew my chances of attracting -attention from the tenth floor were small, so, reaching for the -telephone, I hastily dialed Headquarters and told them in a low voice to -send help immediately. Then, creeping noiselessly to the open safe, I -gently shut the door, twirled the combination, and crawled behind that -big old-fashioned desk. - -‘Shortly afterward the robber entered my office, flashed his light over -the place, and went to the safe. He had it open in a few minutes, took -the money, and left. That’s all I know about it.’ - -‘What time is it now, Mr. Fellows?’ inquired Fordney. - -‘Why, I haven’t a watch.’ - -‘How, then, did you know it was about ten-fifteen when you heard the -door click?’ - -‘I had gone next door for a sandwich and as I left I glanced at the -restaurant clock and noticed it was ten-five. I had been back about five -minutes,’ replied Fellows. - -‘You say the burglar was masked,’ continued the Professor. ‘How did you -know it?’ - -‘As he focused his flashlight on the combination and bent over, I saw -the mask,’ returned Fellows belligerently. - -‘Very interesting,’ smiled Fordney, ‘but you’ll have to be a better liar -than that, Fellows, to fool me.’ - - - Where did the Professor detect the lie? - - - 21 - _A Modern Knight_ - -‘There was hardly a breath of air as we sat on the terrace enjoying -tea,’ reminisced Professor Fordney. ‘Rocca excused himself, saying he -wished to telephone. Shortly after he entered the house, we heard a -shot. I rushed into the drawing-room and found Rocca, smoking gun in -hand, staring dumbly at the chair in front of the open window which held -the huddled body of Chase. - -‘A hasty examination disclosed the telephone receiver off the hook, a -single cigarette stub of Rocca’s brand in the ash-tray, a bullet-hole in -the gauze curtain six inches below the window-sill, and Rocca’s open -cigarette-case in Chase’s lap. His replies to my hastily put questions -were evasive. Inspector Kelley arrived while I was talking and took up -the questioning.’ - -‘“Did you use the telephone?” - -‘“Yes.” - -‘“You came directly to this room and did not leave it?” - -‘“Yes.” - -‘“Chase was engaged to your sister?” - -‘“Yes, he was.” - -‘“Did you offer Chase a cigarette?” - -‘“I did.” - -‘“How did that dent get in your cigarette-case?” - -‘“I dropped it about a week ago.” - -‘“Did you shoot Chase?” - -‘“I refuse to answer that question.” - -‘At this point the doctor arrived and located the bullet in Chase’s -body. Rocca then admitted Chase had been shot with the gun found in his -own hand, but stubbornly refused to say anything more. - -‘“What’s your opinion, Professor?” Kelley asked. - -‘“Well,” I replied, “Rocca is obviously shielding someone. We have -positive proof he came directly here and has not left this room. That, -combined with the other evidence discovered, absolutely exonerates -Rocca."’ - - - How did the Professor know Rocca had not shot Chase? - - - 22 - _The Jewel Robbery_ - -‘You say that as your butler called for help, a stranger, by the name of -Dudley, was passing the house and rushed in?’ - -‘That’s right,’ Owings corroborated, as the two men sat in Fordney’s -study. ‘It was rather late last Friday evening before I was ready to -leave town for the week-end, and as Stuben, the butler, wasn’t feeling -well, I told him to stay upstairs and that I would lock up when I left. - -‘I had some diamonds in the safe, so he said he wouldn’t leave the house -until I returned,’ continued Owings. - -‘About eleven that night, he heard a humming noise and, having the -diamonds in mind, ran downstairs to investigate. Finding the wall safe -open and the jewels gone, he let out a scream for help. - -‘Stuben has been with me for years, Professor, and I have implicit faith -in him.’ - -‘Did Dudley see anyone leave?’ asked Fordney. - -‘No; the robber or robbers must have left by the back door, as Dudley -was right in front of the house when he heard Stuben’s call for help,’ -replied Owings. ‘Both men say the room smelled of cigarette smoke, so -the burglars must have just left.’ - -‘Was the back door unlocked?’ inquired the Professor. - -‘No, it was closed. It has a device which locks it automatically from -the outside when it’s pulled to.’ - -‘Well, you’d better swear out a warrant for your butler and Dudley,’ -said Fordney. ‘I’m sure they know where your diamonds are. Long service, -you know, isn’t necessarily a pledge of loyalty.’ - - - Why did Fordney so advise Owings? - - - 23 - _Before the Coroner’s Inquest_ - -‘Let’s run over your testimony before the inquest opens,’ said Fordney. - -‘All right,’ replied Curry. - -‘About three-thirty on Thursday, I got into the boat in front of my -cottage and rowed upstream. About fifty yards below the bridge, I looked -up and saw Scott and Dawson going across it in opposite directions. As -the two men passed, Scott reached out, grabbed Dawson, and hit him in -the jaw. Then he pulled a gun, and, in the scuffle that followed, Scott -fell off the bridge. He dropped into the water, but, as the current was -strong, by the time I reached the spot, he had sunk. When I finally -pulled him into the boat, he was dead.’ - -‘Was it a clear day?’ asked Fordney. - -‘Well, it had been showering early in the afternoon, but the sun was -shining then.’ - -‘Are you positive Scott got that bruise by hitting his head on the rocks -when he fell? The prosecution, you know, is going to claim that Dawson -hit him on the head with something, then deliberately pushed him off the -bridge,’ commented Fordney. - -‘I _know_ he got that bruise on the rocks,’ stated Curry emphatically. - -‘All right,’ said the Professor, ‘but I don’t think the jury will -believe you. Personally, I’m sure Dawson didn’t intentionally kill -Scott, but we’ll have to have better proof than that if we hope to -acquit him. - -‘By the way,’ he continued, ‘be sure to state you knew of the grudge -Scott bore Dawson.’ - - -Why was the Professor doubtful the coroner’s jury would believe Curry’s - testimony? - - - 24 - _The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up_ - -‘What’s the hurry?’ asked Professor Fordney, as Baldwin collided with -him in the doorway of the office at the back of the exclusive Cross -Jewelry Store. - -‘I—I—was going to help search for the robbers,’ stammered Baldwin as he -backed into the office. - -‘Well, tell me what happened first,’ said Fordney, as Dr. Lyman, police -surgeon, knelt beside Mr. Cross. - -‘There’s the special safe for the emerald behind that miniature -portrait. I was in here when Mr. Cross entered with two gentlemen,’ -exclaimed Baldwin nervously. - -‘He asked me to bring in a tray of diamonds. I set it on the table—both -men pulled guns and as Cross protested, one of them knocked him -unconscious with a blow on the head. The other forced me into that chair -saying, “All right, buddy. We’ll wait on ourselves.” Then he put the -diamonds in his pocket. I’m thankful I’m alive. I telephoned -Headquarters, then rushed out into the store, but they had escaped,’ -concluded Baldwin. - -‘So they got away with the famous Cross emerald, eh?’ - -‘Yes. The safe door was slightly open. Mr. Cross tried to call my -attention to it with a jerk of his thumb as the robber pocketed the -diamonds. Otherwise they wouldn’t have discovered it.’ - -‘How is he, Doctor?’ asked Fordney. - -‘He’ll never come to, I’m afraid. Those two blows on the head were a bit -too much for him.’ - -‘Two blows!’ ejaculated Fordney. ‘Are you sure, Baldwin, you weren’t -hurrying away with the emerald? I’m not!’ - - - Why did Fordney think Baldwin had stolen the emerald? - - - 25 - _Behind Locked Doors_ - -At the Collingham home Professor Fordney found Clive Kingston, the -Judge’s nephew, and Watkins, the butler, greatly excited. Forcing the -library door, locked for three months, they saw the Judge seated in -front of the fireplace opposite the door, apparently dead. - -‘Wait!’ called Professor Fordney to Watkins, who had rushed into the -room. - -‘He’s all right,’ said Kingston, as he and Fordney halted over the -threshold. - -‘Perhaps, but I don’t want any clues obliterated. Come back carefully -and get us a couple of small rugs, Watkins,’ commanded Fordney. - -Walking only on the rugs placed over the thick, plain carpet, Fordney -and Kingston reached the Judge’s side and found him dead—shot through -the heart. - -Kingston called the Professor’s attention to footprints in the carpet -near the fireplace. As he fitted his shoe to an impression, he said, -‘These are mine, and those, of course, must be Watkins’s.’ - -‘Throw me your shoe,’ called Fordney to the butler, standing in the -doorway. ‘Yes, these are yours all right, and I can see the third set -was made by the Judge—notice the impression left by his peculiarly -constructed right shoe.’ - -‘There’s the gun under the table,’ called the butler. - -‘Pretty sharp eyes, Watkins,’ said the Professor, picking up and -critically examining the gun. ‘No finger-prints, of course,’ he mused. - -‘Look!’ exclaimed Kingston, ‘the glass in that picture is broken. Were -two shots fired?’ - -‘Only one,’ said Fordney, as with great care he picked the Judge’s -nose-glasses from his lap where they had fallen, unbroken. ‘I think I -know now who murdered your uncle.’ - - - Whom did Fordney suspect, and why? - - - 26 - _Lost at Sea_ - -‘Tell us exactly what happened,’ said Professor Fordney as he sat in his -study with Mrs. Rollins. - -‘It was a dark, moonless night. - -‘At twelve o’clock, when we were about ten miles off Point Breeze, I -retired to my cabin, leaving my husband on deck. We were alone on the -boat. - -‘In a few minutes, hearing loud shouts, I joined him again. We could -hear a boat approaching, running without lights, as were we. My husband -told me to return to the cabin, which I did. - -‘Soon after doing so a bump, tramping feet, and loud swearing told me -our visitors had come aboard. I went up and, just as I stepped on deck, -a man put a gun against my ribs and told me to keep quiet. My husband -was engaged in a terrific fight with two others. - -‘They must have known he always carried that leather bag of loose -diamonds because, when he dropped it in the fight, one of them picked it -up from the deck. - -‘They finally knocked him unconscious and took him to their boat after -binding and gagging me. As you know, I was found drifting next morning -by that fisherman.’ - -‘How was your husband dressed?’ inquired Fordney. - -‘It was very hot—he had no shirt on, but wore dark trousers.’ - -‘Shoes or tennis slippers?’ - -‘Why—shoes, of course,’ replied Mrs. Rollins with noticeable hesitation. - -‘Well,’ said Fordney tersely, ‘it’s amazing to me that you expect to -collect insurance on your diamonds on such a flimsy yarn. You and your -husband will be lucky if you aren’t prosecuted.’ - - - Where did the elaborate story fall down? - - - 27 - _A Suave Gunman_ - -‘Can you describe this fellow?’ asked Professor Fordney of Henry Taylor, -manager of the National Theater. - -‘Yes. He was a tall, well-dressed, good-looking chap. Wore a panama hat, -turned-down brim, blue coat, smart blue tie, natty white flannels with -silver belt-buckle, black-and-white sport shoes, and had a general air -of culture and refinement.’ - -‘Just what did he do?’ - -‘As I was counting the receipts, he came into the office, gun in hand, -and commanded me to get up from the desk and move over by that table. - -‘After putting the money in a brief-case he carried, he took out a -cigarette and asked me to light it for him, still covering me, of -course. - -‘Then he gagged me and tied me to the chair, after which he opened the -door, looked cautiously about, came back and, with a quiet “sorry” and a -warning, turned and left. As he passed through the door, he unbuttoned -his coat and slipped the revolver into his back pocket. The show was -just letting out, so I suppose he mingled with the crowd and escaped,’ -Taylor concluded. - -‘Are you insured against this loss of eight thousand dollars?’ inquired -Fordney. - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Could you see the color of the bandit’s hair?’ - -‘It was blond.’ - -‘Anything unusual about him?’ - -‘No. Except that he was constantly clearing his throat in a peculiar -manner,’ replied Taylor. - -‘Left- or right-handed?’ - -‘Why—I’m not sure. Right-handed, though, I think.’ - -‘This has gone far enough, Taylor,’ said Fordney sharply. ‘The robbery -was obviously framed by you.’ - - - How did Fordney know Taylor had faked the hold-up? - - - 28 - _Accidental Death_ - -Returning to town late one night, Professor Fordney was driving along an -unfrequented road when the sight of a motor-cycle policeman examining a -car in a ditch caused him to stop and offer his services. Joining the -policeman, he found that a man, obviously the driver, had been thrown -through the windshield and was lying about six feet from the car. - -His examination disclosed that the man had been terribly cut about the -head. The jugular vein was completely severed. The bent steering-wheel, -shattered glass, and the blood on the front seat and floor of the car -were mute evidence of the tragedy. - -Fordney also noted the speedometer had stopped at 62. - -A search of the body revealed nothing unusual except that the man wore -only one glove. The other could not be found. The Professor was -pondering this when the policeman handed him his report of accidental -death, saying, ‘Is that how you see it, sir?’ - -‘I think,’ replied Fordney slowly, ‘you’d better change that to murder. -In the absence of any further evidence, it seems to be pretty clearly -indicated.’ - -‘Murder!’ exclaimed the bewildered policeman. ‘I don’t understand how -you make that out.’ - -After explaining his reason and with a final admonition to continue a -careful search for the missing glove, the Professor returned to his car -and drove down the wide, smooth highway toward home and a good night’s -rest. - -Fordney’s deduction was confirmed when the missing glove and the -murderer were found. - - - How had he arrived at his startling conclusion? - - - 29 - _Easy Money_ - -‘Mr. Walker hurried into the kitchen,’ said the valet to Professor -Fordney, ‘and told me he was called away unexpectedly and that I was to -go to his library and take the money he had won last night to the bank. - -‘I was busy,’ he continued, ‘but in about five minutes I went through -the hall, and, thinking I heard a noise, I stopped and listened at the -study door. There was someone moving about. The door was open. As I -peered around it, I saw a masked man, gun in hand, hesitating near the -fireplace. - -‘Then he went over to the table in the center of the room, picked up the -stacks of ten- and twenty-dollar bills, and left by the window. I called -the police immediately and gave them a description.’ - -‘Exactly what time was that?’ asked Fordney. - -‘Just about ten o’clock, sir.’ - -‘Had you been in the library before that, this morning?’ - -‘No, I hadn’t.’ - -‘Were you in your master’s room today?’ - -‘No. What’s that got to do with it?’ - -‘Nothing,’ murmured Fordney, ‘nothing at all! Does your master gamble -often?’ - -‘I don’t think so.’ - -‘How much did he win last night?’ - -‘He didn’t say.’ - -‘Humph,’ said Fordney, as he pointed to a bill on the floor, ‘the thief -dropped one. - -‘I see your master has quite a library,’ he continued, glancing around -the large, beautifully furnished room. ‘Do you read much, Wilkins?’ - -‘A bit, sir.’ - -‘Did you ever read, “Honesty is the best policy”?’ - - - Why did the Professor think Wilkins had robbed his master? - - - 30 - _Robbery at High Noon_ - -‘I wonder who had the nerve to commit such a robbery at high noon,’ -mused Professor Fordney as he examined the safe, seventeen minutes after -it had been rifled. ‘Same old story: no finger-prints, no evidence.’ - -‘Found anything?’ asked Lawson nervously as he entered his drawing-room. - -‘Not yet. Are you here alone, Lawson?’ - -‘No. John, my nephew, is staying with me. Everyone else is in town.’ - -‘Where is he now?’ - -‘Oh, he left about an hour ago.’ - -At 3.20 P.M. Fordney noticed Jones, the gardener, working at the edge of -a flower-bed. He kept looking furtively at the house while he -frantically covered over the hole he had dug. Finishing, he hurriedly -walked toward the boat-landing. - -Fordney, following, reached the dock just as John guided his motor-boat -in. - -‘Have a nice day?’ asked Fordney. - -‘Yep. Had a grand run up the lakes.’ - -‘Where were you when your uncle’s safe was robbed?’ - -‘Boy, I was hauling in a big muskie! What a battle he gave me! See him -in the end of the boat? Isn’t he a beauty?’ - -‘When did you return?’ demanded Fordney of the gardener. - -‘I don’t know what time it was,’ he replied nervously, glancing at John. - -‘You must have some idea.’ - -‘Well, it was about noon,’ he reluctantly answered. - -‘By the way, John, do you know the combination of your uncle’s safe?’ -inquired Fordney. - -‘Is that old weasel accusing me?’ - -‘No, he isn’t. But I’ve got my suspicions!’ - - - Whom did Fordney suspect and why? - - - 31 - _The Wrong Foot Forward_ - -‘The witness says,’ explained the interpreter, ‘that as the car came to -a sudden stop the conductor ran to the front and yelled to the motorman, -“You’ve done it again."’ - -The little foreigner on the witness stand looked bewildered and -frightened. - -‘He further says that there were two sailors on the car and that they -jumped off and ran.’ - -‘Have they been located yet?’ inquired the Judge. - -‘No, Your Honor; we’ve been unable to trace them, although the conductor -gave a good description,’ replied counsel. - -‘Proceed.’ - -The interpreter continued. - -‘Paslovsky, the witness, declares he had a clear view of the plaintiff -when he got off. He states that just as the plaintiff put his foot on -the ground, with his back to the front of the car, it gave a sudden -start and he was thrown to the road.’ - -‘Can’t the witness understand or speak enough English to tell the court -about that?’ asked the Judge. - -‘No, Your Honor; he’s been in this country only two weeks.’ - -‘How can he get about at that hour of night alone, then?’ - -‘Some friends put him on the car and telephoned the people with whom he -lives to meet him at the end of the line,’ replied counsel for the -plaintiff. - -‘Continue.’ - -‘Paslovsky,’ declared the interpreter, ‘says he picked up this picture -from the floor of the car—a snapshot of a sailor and a girl.’ - -‘Case dismissed,’ thundered the Judge, ‘and don’t ever bring another -like that into this court.’ - - - ‘Why was His Honor justified in so abruptly dismissing the suit for - damages?’ - -asked Professor Fordney of his class in criminology. - - - 32 - _Death Attends the Party_ - -‘He had a big party last night,’ said Graves, the valet. - -‘Certainly looks like it,’ retorted Professor Fordney, as he surveyed -the crazily balanced glasses, overflowing ash-trays, and liquor rings on -the small, fragile antique table at which Carlton Dawes sat. - -‘It was awful, sir. Just as I turned to say “good night” to him, he -lifted his revolver, fired and toppled over.’ - -‘Funny,’ mused Fordney. ‘He had everything to live for.’ - -‘Everything but the thing he wanted,’ replied the valet. ‘Madeline, his -former wife, was here last night. He is always despondent after seeing -her.’ - -‘Well, Graves, pretty nice for you, eh? How much did he leave you?’ - -‘Ten thousand dollars, sir.’ - -Fordney leaned over to examine the wound in Dawes’s left temple. His -head rested on the edge of the table, his right hand on his knee and his -left hung lifelessly at his side. - -‘Anything been touched since the tragedy?’ - -‘No, sir.’ - -Fordney picked up Dawes’s revolver where it had apparently fallen from -his hand. After examining it and finding only the dead man’s -finger-prints, he laid it on the table. As he did so, Madeline entered -the room. She stopped, horrified. - -‘What—what—has happened?’ - -‘Where did you come from?’ demanded Fordney. - -‘I’ve been upstairs. I didn’t leave with the guests.’ - -‘Humph—you should have,’ as he shot her a quizzical look. ‘Your presence -may prove embarrassing. Your ex-husband was murdered.’ - -Madeline slipped to the floor in a dead faint. - - - What convinced Fordney it was murder? - - - 33 - _No Way Out_ - -On a battered desk in the small, dark room lay a penciled note in -handwriting resembling that of the dead man: - - Dear John: - - You know the trouble I’m in. There’s only one way out and I’m taking - it. You’re my pal and will understand. Good luck. - - (Signed) Paul - -The only other furniture consisted of the chair in which Paul Morrow had -been found with his throat cut, a bed, and a highly ornate and -apparently brand-new waste-basket. It had been definitely established -that the dead man had not left the room during the twenty-four hours -before he was discovered. - -Finishing his examination of the contents of the man’s pockets—two -twenty-dollar bills, a cheap watch, and an expensive wallet in which -there was a picture of a beautiful woman—Fordney turned his attention to -the meager inventory of the room. - -‘That’s all we can find,’ said Inspector Kelley, indicating a -dictionary, scraps of a letter in a feminine handwriting found in the -ornate waste-basket, a pen, some cheap stationery, a few clothes, pipe -and tobacco, and a bloody, razor-sharp knife. ‘Certainly has all the -appearances of suicide,’ he continued. ‘This door was locked and no one -could have left by that window. What do you make of it, Fordney?’ - -The Professor didn’t reply at once. He picked up the photograph, studied -it a moment, and then, with a slow, searching look around the small -room, said: - -‘Better try to piece those bits of letter together. This isn’t suicide; -it’s murder.’ - -‘I believe you’re right,’ exclaimed Kelley, with dawning comprehension. - - - What brought Fordney to this conclusion? - - - 34 - _Midnight Murder_ - -‘Who are you, and what’s this all about?’ demanded Inspector Kelley, as -he and Professor Fordney arrived at the apartment in answer to a call. - -‘I’m Jack Day. I share this apartment with Al Quale. I returned from the -theater, shortly after midnight, went into his room, and found him lying -there on the bed. When I saw he was dead, I called Headquarters at once. -God, this is terrible!’ - -‘Those your things on the bed?’ asked Kelley, indicating a blood-stained -muffler, a hat, gloves, and cane. - -‘Yes, I tossed them there before I rushed to the telephone. Got that -blood on the muffler when I bent over him.’ - -‘What time did you leave here this evening?’ - -‘Shortly before seven,’ replied Day. - -‘Can you prove you were at the theater all evening?’ demanded Kelley. - -‘Why, yes, I went with a friend.’ - -‘He’s been dead about six hours, Inspector,’ said the police surgeon, -finishing his examination at this point. ‘A deep knife wound, below the -heart.’ - -As Fordney picked up an earring from the floor, Day exclaimed: ‘Why, -that belongs to his fiancée.’ - -‘Well, there’ll be no wedding bells for him,’ remarked Kelley, with a -start as he discovered that Day’s cane was a sword-stick with a long, -thin, shining blade. - -‘Any blood, Inspector?’ asked Fordney. - -‘None. Clean as a whistle.’ - -‘Well, Day, looks mighty bad for you,’ stated the Professor. ‘I don’t -know yet whether you killed him with that cane, or whether you killed -him at all, but I do know you were here a few minutes after he was -stabbed.’ - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 35 - _Speakeasy Stick-Up_ - -‘I had counted the cash, and as I was working the combination to open -the wall safe I heard this guy in back of me say, “Get ’em up, Bo. This -is a stick-up.” I reached for the ceiling as he says, “Make a move and -I’ll drill you!” He didn’t sound like he was foolin’, so I kept quiet. - -‘Well, he comes over, gives me a prod with his gun, pockets the dough, -and asks me where the best liquor is, saying he don’t want no bar -whiskey either. I told him and he poured himself a drink. - -‘Then he got real sociable-like, but wouldn’t let me take my hands down. -He kept on talkin’ and makin’ wise-cracks, but finally got tired, I -guess. - -‘With a warnin’ that, if I moved before I could count twenty, my wife -would be a widow, he beat it,’ concluded Sullivan. - -‘How much did he take?’ inquired Professor Fordney, who had entered the -speakeasy after hearing the bartender’s call for help. - -‘About five hundred dollars,’ Sullivan replied. ‘We had a good day.’ - -‘Haven’t you a gun here?’ - -‘Sure, but I didn’t have a chance. I ain’t exactly no boy scout, but -this mug was too big and tough-lookin’ for me to tackle.’ - -‘How did you get that cut on your hand?’ inquired the Professor. ‘And -that bruise on your finger?’ - -‘Opening a case of lemons,’ answered Sullivan. - -‘Well,’ said Fordney, ‘if your whiskey isn’t any better than your -attempt at a fake hold-up, I’ll have ginger ale.’ - -You’re right. The bruise had nothing to do with it, but: - - - How did Fordney know the stick-up was a fake? - - - 36 - _Behind Time_ - -Professor Fordney, on his way to investigate a case of blackmail, was -musing on the perversity of human nature when a jar threw him into the -aisle as the train came to a sudden stop. Jumping off, he rushed ahead -of the engine, where he found a small crowd gathered about the mutilated -body of a man hit by the train. He was identified by a card in his -pocket as John Nelson, an important figure in railroad labor circles. - -‘How did it happen?’ inquired Fordney. - -‘Well,’ replied Morton, the engineer, ‘I was running twelve minutes late -when I hit him. There are several miles of straight-away along here and -I was beating it along at sixty miles trying to make up time. Didn’t see -him until we were about ten yards away, right on top of him. I jammed on -the brakes, of course, but it was too late.’ - -‘Did you leave New York on time?’ - -‘Yes, sir. One-thirty exactly.’ - -‘Why were you running late?’ - -‘We were held in a block for about fifteen minutes outside of New -Haven.’ - -‘What was your fireman doing when you hit this man?’ - -‘Stoking the boiler.’ - -‘You say it was just a few seconds after four-ten when you hit him?’ -demanded the Professor. - -‘That’s right,’ agreed Morton. - -‘Did you know this man by any chance?’ - -‘Yes, slightly—he was an officer in my union,’ replied the engineer, -with a worried look. - -‘Well,’ said Fordney, ‘I don’t know your object in telling such a story, -or how you hoped to get away with it—you won’t.’ - - - What justified Fordney in recommending Morton’s arrest? - - - 37 - _A Broken Engagement_ - -‘Peculiar,’ murmured Fordney, as he examined the desk on which lay seven -letters ready for mailing, three gray, one lavender, two pink, and one -lemon-colored. - -As he idly shaped the wax of the candle standing on the desk, he -continued to ponder this unusual choice of color in stationery. - -One of the letters was addressed to Dot Dalton, who had been murdered -between eleven-forty and eleven-fifty. She was one of the guests at this -house party in the Adirondacks. - -All the letters were closed with black sealing wax stamped with the -letter ‘F.’ - -At midnight, Fordney began his questioning. - -‘What time did you retire?’ he asked Molly Fleming, in whose bedroom he -was seated. - -‘About ten,’ she replied. - -‘Was your door locked?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Hear any disturbance?’ - -‘No; I was tired, fell asleep almost immediately, and didn’t awaken -until you knocked on my door a few minutes ago and told me of the -tragedy.’ - -‘Why did you write to Dot?’ - -‘I didn’t see her last night and knew she intended leaving early this -morning. Jack Fahey broke our engagement yesterday and told me he was -going to marry Dot. My letter was to tell her just how despicable I -thought she was in luring him away from me. He didn’t love her. Of -course, I’m sorry she’s dead, but a lot of wives will feel safer.’ - -‘Why the various colors of stationery?’ inquired the Professor. - -‘Oh, I always write in a color that seems to reflect the personality of -my correspondent.’ - -‘I see,’ said Fordney; ‘but unless you have a better alibi you’ll be -held under serious suspicion.’ - - - Why was the Professor practically certain Molly was involved in this - horrible murder? - - - 38 - _The Holden Road Murder_ - -‘What a night!’ sighed Professor Fordney as he hung up the telephone -receiver. Half an hour later, still grumbling, he splashed his way -through the mud and rain to the door of 27 Holden Road. Removing his -rubbers in the spotless vestibule, he stepped into a large, -well-furnished living-room running the entire width of the house. -Introducing himself and explaining he would question everyone later, he -asked to be left alone. - -In the far corner of the room he found a man lying on the floor, his -throat cut. As he bent over, his attention was attracted to a dime lying -about five feet from the head of the dead man. He picked it up, regarded -it curiously, and, with a thoughtful look, put it in his pocket. - -The Professor began his questioning with the butler. - -‘You found the dead man?’ - -‘Yes, sir, I was returning from posting a letter about thirty minutes -ago and, just as I was coming up the path of the front door, I heard a -scream, dashed in, and found Mr. White here gasping his last breath.’ - -‘Lose a dime?’ inquired Fordney mildly. - -‘Why, I don’t think so, sir,’ replied the butler nervously. - -‘I heard the scream from upstairs,’ volunteered Cannon, owner of the -house, ‘and ran in here right behind Wilkins.’ - -‘Did either of you leave this room before I arrived?’ - -‘No,’ replied Cannon; ‘we stayed here until you came.’ - -‘Did you, Mr. Cannon, lose a dime? No? Well,’ remarked Fordney, ‘it -looks like collusion to me and I can tell you Inspector Kelley won’t -swallow this story.’ - - - What was wrong with the story? - - - 39 - _Fishermen’s Luck_ - -‘Having these stones in my possession, Professor Fordney, isn’t proof -that I had any part in the Morris robbery.’ - -‘I know all about your story, Holmes. Found the jewels yesterday at -three o’clock in the lake, tied up in a chamois bag, didn’t you? But -what were you doing out in an open boat in the cloudburst that lasted -all yesterday afternoon?’ - -‘It was because of that cloudburst that I sallied forth,’ explained -Holmes confidently. ‘Perfect fishing weather, so I jumped into my boat -and went across the lake for some minnows. I had rowed back to within a -few yards of shore when I just happened to notice the bag lying on the -bottom of the lake, so I landed, tipped my boat over to keep the rain -out, and waded in. Curious, you know. The water at that point was over -my waist and cold, but when I opened the bag—my courage and curiosity -were rewarded.’ - -‘On which side of the dock did you find it?’ asked Fordney. - -Holmes pointed to a spot on the sandy bottom at the left. - -‘Think I’ll talk with the minnow man,’ declared the Professor as he got -into Holmes’s boat. He rowed furiously for about fifty yards, suddenly -dropped the oars and, after glancing from the crystal-clear water to the -bottom of the boat, emitted a victorious chuckle. - -‘Stupid of me not to have thought of that before,’ he mused. ‘Wonder if -Holmes is a better fisherman than he is a liar?’ - - - Clever fellow, Holmes. Did his story fool you? - - - 40 - _The Unlucky Elephant_ - -‘Dead! Bullet-hole in right temple,’ said Sergeant Reynolds, as he knelt -by a man lying face down, a revolver clutched in his right hand. - -‘All right,’ replied Inspector Kelley. ‘Let’s have a look round. Dressed -for the street, eh?’ While speaking, Kelley picked up from the floor -several fragments of glass and a right-hand glove, turned inside-out. - -‘Look at this glove, Reynolds. What do you make of it? And I wonder if -that soiled handkerchief on the table belongs to him?’ - -‘Gee, Chief,’ said Reynolds, as he turned the body over and unbuttoned -the topcoat, ‘this is young Holman, the millionaire.’ - -The body was immaculately clothed in the finest custom tailoring. - -‘Broke his watch, too. Stopped at eight-ten,’ continued the Sergeant, as -he removed the timepiece from the vest pocket. ‘Let’s see if those -pieces you’ve got are part of the crystal. Yep! And look at this jade -elephant at the end of the chain. - -‘Bumped himself off, all right, Inspector, but I don’t get that glove -business, or that dirty handkerchief either.’ - -‘We’d better look round and find that other glove,’ said Kelley. - -A thorough search failed to disclose it, and while the Inspector was -confident it was suicide, he decided to get Professor Fordney’s opinion, -because of the prominence of young Holman. - -After explaining the situation to the Professor over the telephone, he -was puzzled at his reply: - -‘I’ll be right around, Inspector. From what you’ve told me, it looks -like murder.’ - - - What justified the Professor’s belief that it was probably murder? - - - 41 - _The Professor Listens_ - -‘Why the rush to get back to New York?’ inquired Fordney, a few minutes -after Delavin stepped from the plane. ‘Thought you intended spending the -summer in Cuba.’ - -‘Well, if you must know, my bank failed, and I came back to straighten -out my affairs.’ - -‘That’s too bad, Delavin. How did you hear about it?’ - -He handed Fordney a clipping from the _Jacksonville Herald_: - - New York, July 5. (AP)—Foundation Bank & Trust Co., one of New York’s - oldest banking establishments, closed its doors today... - -‘Sure you didn’t come back to help your pal Ryan?’ asked the Professor. -‘He’s been in jail for two days. Ever since the Fourth-of-July bombing. -Had a letter on him signed by you asking him to get in touch with a C. -J. Wallace. - -‘We traced Wallace and discovered he is with an ammunition company. When -the District Attorney heard you were on your way here, he asked me to -meet you. He thinks you know something about the bombing.’ - -‘In jail, huh? I didn’t know there had been a bombing. Wallace is a -cousin of mine.’ - -‘Where did you catch your plane?’ - -‘Why—er—Jacksonville, Florida. You see, I was staying at a rather remote -place and no planes serve that part of Cuba. Really had no thought of -leaving until I read of the bank failure.’ - -‘Well, you had better think of a more convincing alibi, before the -District Attorney questions you.’ - -‘Oh, I suppose somebody wired him that “Spider” McCoy met the plane when -we landed in Norfolk. He’s got nothing on me!’ exclaimed Delavin. - - - What do you think of Delavin’s actions? Suspicious? Why? - - - 42 - _Ten-Fifteen_ - -Professor Fordney glanced at his desk clock as he picked up the -receiver—ten-fifteen. - -‘Hello!’ came the agitated voice at the other end. ‘This is Waters. -Could you come over right away? Something’s just happened that I’d like -to discuss with you. I’d appreciate it.’ - -‘Well,’ returned the Professor, again glancing dubiously at the clock, -‘if it’s important, I’ll be round. Good-bye.’ - -Twenty minutes later, he was met at the door by Waters’s secretary who -was almost incoherent in his excitement. - -‘He’s dead, Professor. Dead—there in the library!’ - -Fordney hurried to the room and found Waters slumped over his desk with -his throat cut. - -‘Well, tell me what happened,’ he said to the secretary, as he noted the -position of the body, the open window, and the cigar-ash on the rug -about six feet from Waters’s chair. - -‘I came in about an hour ago, Professor, and went right upstairs to do -some work. Twenty-five minutes ago I came down and heard him talking to -you as I passed the library on my way to the pantry for a sandwich. I -was there about twenty minutes, I imagine, and, as I came back through -the hall, I happened to look in here, and there he was. I can’t imagine -who did it or how it happened,’ he concluded. - -‘Have a cigar,’ offered Fordney. - -‘Thanks, I will, Professor. It’ll kind of steady the nerves.’ - -‘And now,’ said Fordney, ‘suppose you tell me the real truth of this -affair.’ - - - Why did he doubt Waters? - - - 43 - _Rapid Transit_ - -‘I was beatin’ along the Boston Post Road, about fifty miles an hour, -when I looks around and sees this bird standing on the tail-gate -fumbling with the lock on the doors. I stopped as fast as I could, -jumped out, and ran round to the back. This mug had hopped off with an -armful of furs and climbed into a car that was following. His partner -even took a shot at me,’ said Sullivan, whom Professor Fordney was -questioning. - -‘He must have been a very good judge. He took only the best you -carried,’ commented Fordney. - -‘Yeah. Guess he was. Fur-stealin’ is a big racket these days.’ - -‘Why didn’t you report it at the next town instead of waiting until you -got back to the office?’ - -‘Well, I thought the boss wouldn’t want it to get out that the furs of -his wealthy customers had been pinched. He’s awful particular about us -usin’ our heads.’ - -‘Where was your helper?’ - -‘Just after I started out, he said he was feelin’ sick, so I told him to -go on home.’ - -‘Fifty miles an hour is excessive speed for that truck, isn’t it?’ asked -Fordney, examining the all-steel doors of the massive, dust-proof -moving-van. - -‘She’s big, but she’ll do even better than that!’ - -‘Always wear those gloves when you’re working?’ - -‘Always,’ laughed the driver. ‘Have to keep me hands dainty, you know.’ - -‘I thought so,’ retorted Fordney, continuing his close examination of -the doors. - -‘Come on, Sullivan, take me for a ride in that truck. I know you’re -lying.’ - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 44 - _The Professor is Disappointed_ - -‘What’ll I do, Professor,’ implored Vi Cargo, as Fordney examined the -ground beneath her bedroom window. - -Seven A.M. A fine time to start looking for a thief! Why couldn’t women -be more careful of their jewelry! - -‘I was restless all night,’ said Vi, as Fordney knelt beside a deep -impression of a man’s right shoe. - -‘By Jove, I thought we’d found one of your stones,’ he said, pointing to -a leaf in the footprint. ‘Look at the sunlight glistening on those -raindrops!’ - -‘It was the shower that awakened me around six,’ chattered Vi. ‘It only -lasted about fifteen minutes. I dozed off again and awakened with a -start just as a man jumped to the ground, from my bedroom window.’ - -‘Was that just before you came for me?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Are are you alone, Vi?’ - -‘Yes. The servants are in the country.’ - -‘Then why did you have all your jewels in the house?’ - -‘I had worn them to Mrs. De Forest’s party.’ - -‘Do you know anyone who smokes this brand?’ asked Fordney, picking up -from the ground an unsmoked cigarette of English manufacture. - -‘Yes. Mr. Nelson, who brought me home last night. However, I threw that -one there.’ - -‘The thief chiseled open this window directly under your bedroom.’ - -‘I wondered how he got in! The doors were all locked.’ - -‘Come, my dear! Don’t you think you’ve treated the old Professor rather -shabbily? You women! I know your jewels are heavily insured and I also -know of your bridge debts. Who helped you fake this robbery? Nelson?’ - - - Where is the clue? - - - 45 - _A Dramatic Triumph_ - -A clock softly chimed eight-forty-five as Professor Fordney and -Halloway, dramatic critic of the _Times_, finished their after-dinner -coffee. They strolled leisurely to the corner and reached the Belmont -just in time for the curtain. - -As the first act ended, Fordney remarked enthusiastically: ‘Halloway, -it’s magnificent! Boswell is certainly our finest dramatic actor. How he -held that audience, for forty-five minutes, from the moment the curtain -arose! That’s genius!’ - -The final curtain found him even more enthusiastic in his praise of -Boswell’s acting. - -Learning next morning of the actor’s murder, he became personally -interested. - -Sibyl Mortimer had been questioned by the police and quickly dismissed. -Her alibi appeared sound. She had an engagement with Boswell last -evening, but said he telephoned her shortly after nine breaking it, so -the police concerned themselves with his reason for doing so. - -A taxi-driver, who drove Boswell and another man from the theater, -dropped them at Fifth Avenue and Sixty-Fifth Street at midnight. His -description of the man checked with that of Jenks, Boswell’s manager, -who was missing. It was learned that his reason for breaking the -engagement with Sibyl was to discuss a new contract with Jenks, about -which there had been considerable disagreement. - -A charred piece of the contract was found in the actor’s fireplace, in -front of which he lay. Jenks’s cane and a vanity-case monogrammed ‘S. -M.’ were also found in the room. - -Acquainted with the facts by Sergeant Reynolds, Fordney replied, - -‘I’m afraid you’ve overlooked a valuable clue.’ - - - What was it? - - - 46 - _Murder at the Lake_ - -‘Here’s all we’ve been able to learn, Professor. I wish you’d see what -you can make of it,’ said Sheriff Darrow. - -‘Garden’s cottage fronts the lake at a point about halfway between the -head and foot of its mile length. - -‘A strong east wind off the lake that morning caused him and his two -guests to abandon their proposed fishing trip. Garden remained behind -while Rice and Johnson set off hiking in opposite directions. - -‘Rice said that fifteen minutes later, as he was retrieving his hat -which had blown into the lake, he heard a shot and hurried to the -cottage. There he found Johnson with blood on his hands bending over -Garden, who had been shot through the heart. - -‘Johnson said he had gone only about two hundred yards when he heard the -shot and rushed back. He claims he got the blood on his hands when -ascertaining if Garden were alive. He also admits moving some furniture, -although cautioned against it by Rice. - -‘Fortunately for Rice, we found his hat still wet, but discovered he had -changed his shirt before the arrival of the police. He had also gone -through Garden’s desk, but said he removed nothing. - -‘Both men entered through the back door, though the front entrance was -more convenient. - -‘We haven’t found a gun or any other weapon and we haven’t been able to -establish a motive yet,’ concluded Darrow. ‘What do you make of it?’ - -‘It’s a bit muddled, Sheriff,’ replied Fordney, ‘but I would question -________ further.’ - - - Of whom was he definitely suspicious—and why? - - - 47 - _The Professor Studies a Coat_ - -‘They covered us with a gun, and when the cashier tried to give an -alarm, they shot him. Then they handcuffed me, grabbed five stacks of -bills, and beat it.’ - -‘Calm yourself,’ ordered Fordney, ‘and tell me who “they” are.’ - -‘Two fellows who robbed the bank just now,’ explained the excited -narrator, who had rushed into Fordney’s cottage at Lakeview. ‘I knew you -were vacationing in the village, so, as soon as they escaped in their -car, I ran over here.’ - -‘Didn’t you call a doctor for the cashier?’ - -‘Too late. He must have died instantly.’ - -‘How do you know the bandits escaped in a car?’ - -‘I saw them from the window.’ - -‘Were you and the cashier alone at the time of the shooting?’ - -‘Yes. I had just made a deposit. I guess they got my money, too.’ - -Fordney walked over and picked up the overcoat his visitor had removed -upon entering the living-room. - -‘You seem to have had a little accident. How did you get this?’ he -asked, examining a long tear in the front of the coat. - -‘Why—I guess I tore it on the door when I rushed out of the bank. I -broke a button, too, you’ll notice.’ - -‘Let’s see your hat!’ demanded Fordney, eyeing his visitor sharply. - -‘Why—where is it? I—must have left it in the bank!’ - -‘Well—let’s go. The police will be interested in your story—and bring -that coat with you!’ - - - Why did Fordney suspect this man of complicity in the hold-up? - - - 48 - _Too Late_ - -‘Perhaps you’d better tell me exactly what happened,’ said Professor -Fordney kindly to the agitated man. - -‘Well,’ continued Palmer, ‘Frank has been despondent and talked of -suicide for some time. I thought exercise and the open air would do him -good, so I suggested a vacation at my place in the country. - -‘We’d been there three days, and he seemed in much better spirits. Then, -Thursday morning, after we’d been fishing an hour or so, he said he -thought he’d try another stream about a mile away. I was having good -luck, so I told him to go ahead and I’d meet him at the cabin later. - -‘About eleven o’clock, when I’d caught my limit, I started back. As I -neared the cabin, I seemed to have a premonition of trouble, and ran the -last few yards. When I opened the door, God! I’ll never forget it! I’d -got there not more than five minutes behind him, and yet there he -lay—dead! That hideous look on his face! It haunts me! Why couldn’t I -have been just a few minutes earlier? - -‘A whiskey bottle on the table and the glass which smelled of cyanide -told me the story. He’d done it, after all! I’ll never forgive myself,’ -Palmer concluded with a sob. - -‘Had you any visitors while at camp?’ asked Fordney. - -‘No, we hadn’t seen anyone for two days.’ - -‘Did your friend smoke?’ - -‘Not at all.’ - -‘Was the door open or closed when you arrived?’ - -‘Why, closed.’ - -‘And the windows?’ - -‘Closed, too, Professor.’ - -‘If you’re innocent, Palmer, why are you lying?’ demanded Fordney. - - - What was the lie? - - - 49 - _Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory_ - -‘Inspector Kelley picks out such nice messy jobs for me.’ - -Professor Fordney smiled as Reynolds made a wry face. - -‘We found him lying against a boulder about ten feet from the bottom of -a fifty-foot embankment of solid rock. While there were no traces of the -path of his fall, the concrete road directly above him was stained with -blood. I don’t know why people insist on walking along the highway. - -‘That’s such a bad curve right there. I don’t suppose we’ll ever find -out who struck him. And then, it’s possible for someone to have hit him -without knowing it. And I believe the car that did stopped and the -driver seeing how badly he was hurt, in fear, drove on.’ - -‘What makes you think that, Reynolds?’ - -‘There are tracks of a car skidding along the shoulder of the road, and -footprints in the blood where the fellow dropped on the pavement. I -suppose the poor old man regained consciousness, staggered to his feet, -and rolled down the embankment. That finished him. Ugh—it was a messy -affair!’ - -‘Who is he?’ - -‘We’re not sure. The only identification was a small scrap of paper in -his pocket with the name Tabor. By a queer coincidence there was a large -T deeply cut in the blood-stained boulder which stopped his fall.’ - -‘No doubt, Sergeant, the murderers intended you should take exactly the -inference you have, but don’t you see t____ w__ n_ b____ b______ t__ -r___ a__ t__ b______?’ - - - What did the Professor tell Reynolds? - - - 50 - _Daylight Robbery_ - -‘I went to the office Thursday to do some work,’ Shaeffer related. - -‘About noon, I happened to look out the window and notice a black sedan -draw up and two tough-looking fellows get out. They looked suspicious to -me, and, as I wasn’t armed, I hastily banged the safe door closed and -ran into the washroom—not a bit too soon either. In just a few seconds -they came in, one carrying a sawed-off shotgun. I could see them -plainly. - -‘They looked around for a moment and one said, “If anybody comes in here -before we’re through, give it to him.” - -‘He then went over to the safe and, after working on it for about five -minutes, had it open and took the money. They certainly had a lot of -nerve. Even stopped to count it! Then they leisurely strolled out the -door. I called Headquarters immediately.’ - -‘How much did they get?’ questioned Inspector Kelley. - -‘Over fifteen thousand. We hadn’t banked the money from the day before -because Thursday was a holiday.’ - -‘Get the number of the car?’ - -‘No. When it drove up to the office, I didn’t see a license plate on the -front, and I couldn’t see the back. When I finished telephoning for the -police, it had gone.’ - -‘Was there anyone at the office besides you?’ - -‘I was alone. A man telephoned an hour before, however, and asked if we -were open. I told him no, but I’d be there until about two-thirty. He -hung up without answering.’ - - -‘Well, fellows,’ asked Professor Fordney, of the members of his class in - criminology, to whom he was telling the story, ‘why did Inspector - Kelley immediately arrest Shaeffer?’ - - - 51 - _A Simple Solution_ - -The sun streamed cheerfully through the window, bringing into lively -play the soft tones of the luxurious furnishings, as the two house -guests, Professor Fordney and Inspector Kelley, entered the oil -magnate’s bedroom. - -‘Nothing in here to get excited about,’ said Kelley. - -Fordney, opening the window and seeing Smith lying on the ground three -stories below it, cried, ‘Run downstairs, Inspector. Quick! There he -is!’ - -Kelley nodded, and was on his way. As he hurried out the door, he came -face to face with the butler. Fordney eyed the servant suspiciously as -he entered. - -‘When did you see Mr. Smith last?’ he asked. - -‘About an hour ago. He had a telephone call which seemed to excite him -and he came right up here to his room.’ - -‘Who brought this up?’ Fordney asked, fingering an unopened letter with -an illegible postmark. - -‘He brought it up himself, sir, saying he was not to be disturbed.’ - -‘Anyone been here since?’ - -Kelley’s noisy entrance interrupted the butler’s ‘No, sir.’ - -‘Smith broke his neck. I found this on him,’ he remarked, handing the -Professor a note. - - Ill health and financial trouble have made life a burden. I’m leaving - my bedroom for the last time. A three-story drop and my misery will be - over. - - Smith - -‘His suicide will be a blow to the oil industry,’ Kelley mused, as -Fordney sat down at the desk and began to write with Smith’s fountain -pen. - -‘His _death_ will be, Inspector,’ said Fordney. ‘Better get the servants -together. This is murder—not suicide!’ - - - What reason did Fordney have for making such a statement? - - - 52 - _Who?_ - -‘I was trying to stop the flow with this, Professor,’ said Weeds, the -butler, indicating a blood-covered towel he had just removed from the -bed, ‘when Jones struck at me and I dropped it.’ - -‘And I’m sorry I missed!’ angrily exclaimed Jones, the colored -chauffeur. - -‘Never mind that,’ said Inspector Kelley. - -‘Did you find her, Weeds?’ asked Professor Fordney. - -‘Yes, sir.’ - -‘She’s a good-looking mulatto,’ remarked Kelley, looking at the maid -lying on the floor at the side of the bed. Her right hand outstretched, -the wrist deeply cut, rested in a pool of blood on the polished floor. -‘Must have slipped off the bed.’ - -‘I don’t think so. The spread hasn’t a wrinkle in it,’ said Fordney, -noting the immaculate coverlet of pink lace, the edge caught under the -girl’s body. - -‘She was almost gone when I found her,’ offered Weeds, ‘and she died -before I could get a doctor.’ - -‘Is this yours, Jones?’ inquired Fordney, picking up a sharp knife -hidden by the girl’s dress. - -‘Yes. She wanted it to cut the stems of the flowers I had brought up.’ - -‘I didn’t see that knife when I tried to help her,’ said Weeds. - -‘Course you didn’t! You put it there!’ shouted Jones angrily. - -‘How do you know? You weren’t here. And what’s more, I heard you -threaten her last night. You don’t see any flowers here, do you, -Inspector?’ quietly asked Weeds. - -‘You’re right,’ said Kelley. After whispering to Fordney, he continued, -‘Come on, _you’re_ under arrest. And _you_, we’ll question you later!’ - - - Whom did Kelley arrest—and why? - - - 53 - _Murder in the Swamp_ - -‘We’d better walk along the edge,’ said Professor Fordney, as they -started down the only path leading through the swamp. - -‘I never thought of that. I was on the porch when Barton left,’ said -Bob, as he trudged along. ‘Ten minutes later, I heard a shot. I ran down -the path and found him about five hundred yards from the house, bleeding -terribly from a wound in the head. I dashed back for the first-aid kit -and bandaged him as best I could. He died shortly afterwards. Then I -returned and telephoned you.’ - -Reaching the body of Barton, he explained, ‘I turned him over so that I -could dress his head.’ - -‘He must have been shot from over there, because those three sets of -footprints are yours and the other one Barton’s,’ said Fordney, after a -careful examination. ‘Let’s look in that underbrush.’ - -Walking into it a few yards, he said, ‘Here’s where the murderer stood, -all right. See those powder-marks on the leaves?’ - -While removing the branch, Fordney cut his finger. - -‘Better sterilize that, Professor.’ - -Back at the cottage, as he was about to pick up a mercurochrome bottle -from the kit Bob had used, he observed a spot of blood on the label. -Walking over to the basin, he saw Bob in the mirror above it, furtively -slip a pair of scissors into the kit. - -Turning slowly around, he said, ‘I’ll have to hold you on suspicion of -murder.’ - - - Why? - - - 54 - _Death by Drowning_ - -‘We were just getting into our boat,’ said the elder Carroll brother, -‘when we happened to notice Ridge out there in the middle of the river, -opposite Wolf’s old abandoned dock, acting very queerly. He jumped up -and down in the boat, and then, all of a sudden, grabbed an oar, threw -it up in the air, and jumped in. - -‘We rowed to the spot, and I dived after him while my brother secured -his boat. The current’s fast there, but I’m a strong swimmer. I swam -around while my brother rowed about, but we could find no trace of him,’ -he concluded. - -‘We found the oar all right, in the weeds at Wolf’s dock,’ interjected -Riley, of the River Patrol. - -‘How wide is the river at that point?’ asked Professor Fordney. - -‘About half a mile,’ said Carroll. - -‘Pretty lonely, too, isn’t it?’ - -‘It is that,’ replied Riley. - -‘The coroner’s report says Ridge had received a blow of some kind on the -chin. Know anything about it, Carroll?’ inquired Fordney. - -‘No, I don’t. Might have hit a rock or the side of the boat when he went -over.’ - -‘Were you up or down river, from Ridge?’ - -‘Up river, about three hundred yards, on the west side.’ - -‘Did you and your brother have on bathing-suits at the time?’ - -‘I did, but my brother didn’t.’ - -‘Are there any blood-stains in Ridge’s boat, Riley?’ - -‘Well, there are stains all right, and they look like blood to me.’ - -‘I’m not surprised. Hold them both.’ - - - Why was the Professor suspicious of the Carroll brothers? - - - 55 - _Tragedy at the Convention_ - -The Convention was in an uproar! The Drys were making a determined stand -and showing some unexpected last-minute strength. - -The Wets were shouting, clamoring, and stamping. The Chairman was vainly -trying to restore order amid a scene of wild confusion. - -As the excitement reached its pitch, Hurlenson, a powerful leader of the -Wets, told a companion seated next to him that he felt a heart attack -coming on and was going back to the hotel. - -An hour later, the Convention was stunned to learn he had committed -suicide in his room. - -Professor Fordney, a guest at the Convention, went immediately to the -hotel. - -In Hurlenson’s room he found the police, the doctor, and Pollert, an -influential delegate, who had discovered him. - -‘The last time I saw Hurlenson was at the party last night, and he -seemed in excellent spirits,’ said Pollert. ‘I arose late this -morning—my room’s down at the other end of the corridor—and I was just -leaving for the Convention hall when I heard a shot. I dashed directly -here, but it was too late. He must have died immediately.’ - -‘He did,’ said the doctor. ‘He apparently stood in front of the mirror, -took aim, and blew out his brains. There are powder-burns all around the -wound.’ - -Learning that none of the maids or any of the other guests were on the -floor at the time, Fordney advised the police to hold Pollert on -suspicion of murder. - - - Why? - - - 56 - _A Murderer’s Mistake_ - -‘Look, Professor! That’s how the murderer got in, all right,’ said -Tracy. - -As Fordney walked over to the ladder standing two feet from the back of -the house, he knelt down and carefully studied the heavy footprints -around it. - -‘Whose room is that?’ he inquired, pointing to a second-story window -against which the top of the thirty-foot ladder rested. - -‘That’s Uncle’s study,’ replied Tracy. - -Going into the house, Fordney first questioned Withers, who had -discovered the body of Lane, Tracy’s uncle. - -‘I was reading in my room,’ he said. ‘About two o’clock I heard a noise, -so I armed myself and crept out into the hall. Then I heard it again, -apparently in the study, so I stole down the corridor, opened the door, -and rushed in. I turned on the lights, ran over to the open window, -looked out, and saw a man scurry down the ladder, jump off, and run. I -fired twice, but evidently missed him,’ he concluded. - -‘Were you home all evening, Mr. Tracy?’ - -‘No. I had just put up the car when I heard the shots and saw a figure -dash around the house.’ - -‘I’ll take a look at your car later, Tracy. - -‘Withers, show me exactly how you found Lane before you lifted him to -the divan.’ - -As Withers righted an overturned chair, fitted its legs carefully to -four impressions in the rug at the right of a smoking-stand, sat down, -and slumped over to the left, Fordney said, ‘That’s enough. Which one of -you killed him?’ - - - Why did Fordney make this startling accusation? - - - 57 - _Babe Comes Through_ - -‘Strike two!’ shouted Umpire Starlen. - -‘Kill the Umpire! You big bum! Thief!’ - -Professor Fordney turned in his place directly behind the plate to look -at the excited man in the next box, waving an empty pop-bottle. He -smiled. Couldn’t blame a chap for getting excited. Starlen did seem to -be calling them wrong today. That last one _was_ wide! - -What a ball game! Six to three in favor of Philadelphia, last half of -the ninth, three on, two out, and three and two on the mighty Babe. The -crowd was on its feet, yelling and stamping. - -The excited pitcher delivered the next throw quickly. Just as Babe -connected with it for a home run a bottle hurtled through the air with -terrific force and caught Starlen on the back of the head. He went down -like a shot. - -Pandemonium broke loose. Women screamed, and a panic was threatened. - -‘That’s him! That’s him!’ shouted several people, as a policeman ran -down the ramp and grabbed the man who had attracted Fordney’s attention. - -‘Tryin’ to get away, are you?’ bellowed the cop. - -‘I didn’t do it! Let go of me!’ he cried, as the officer dragged him to -the office. - -Fordney followed. ‘May I ask a few questions?’ he inquired. - -‘Let’s see your score card, young man. H’m, why didn’t you record that -last hit? Everything else is here.’ - -‘Why, I was running at the time. I had an engagement.’ - -‘I see,’ said Fordney. ‘Officer, you have the wrong man. He didn’t do -it.’ - - - How did Fordney know? - - - 58 - _A Soldier of Fortune_ - -‘You’ll find Walter Briggs interesting, Fordney. He’s been all over the -world,’ said Attorney Hamilton over the telephone. ‘He’s turned up after -two years, claiming his uncle’s fortune. Better dine with us tonight.’ - -‘Thanks, I’ll be glad to. See you at eight.’ - -As the three men sat around the dinner-table, Fordney remarked: ‘You’re -a fortunate chap, Briggs. What have you been doing in the thirty-two -years you have been away from America?’ - -‘Well, lots of things. Mr. Hamilton, no doubt, told you I went to the -Congo with Father when I was three. When he died, I attended school in -England. Then I traveled for a while; did a bit of tiger-shooting in -Africa, killed elephants in India, and became an ivory-trader, roaming -over the Orient four or five years. I finally drifted into Russia, where -I was a technical advisor to the Soviet.’ - -‘What a jolly life you’ve had, Briggs!’ - -‘Not altogether, Professor. I was in Manchuria, where life was anything -but jolly. And then, being in sympathy with the Chinese, I took an -active part in the Sino-Japanese War. It was in China I learned of my -uncle’s death, so I came to New York immediately.’ - -‘Are you remaining here?’ asked Hamilton. - -‘No. Me for Paris as soon as things are settled.’ - -After a pleasant evening, the three men parted. Reaching home, Fordney -hesitated about telephoning Hamilton. After all, it _was_ his duty to -advise him to check Briggs’s story carefully before turning over the -inheritance. As for him, he was frankly skeptical! - - - Are you? Why? - - - 59 - _Number Twenty-Six_ - -‘You fellows _must_ remember that more often than otherwise the little, -seemingly inconsequential trifles, placed together, lead to the solution -of crime. Never take anything for granted; examine thoroughly what -appear to be the most unimportant details. You didn’t do so well with -your last lesson,’ said Professor Fordney, addressing his class. ‘Now -try your wits at this one. - -‘“I know it sounds fishy, Inspector,”’ continued he, reading from a -paper, ‘“but I was walkin’ along Sixteenth Street mindin’ my business. -When I gets in front of number 26 I hears a dame scream ‘Help! Murder!’ -so I dashed up the steps to the house, pushed open the door, and rushed -in. As I was halfway through the hall, a big guy steps out of a room and -says, ‘Ah, there, Mr. Farrell, just in time!’ I asks him what’s goin’ -on, and just then three coppers came in and takes me, this guy, and a -woman, in. Neither one of them would talk to me on the way, so I don’t -know what it’s all about.” - -‘“I’m going around myself,” replied the Inspector. “I’ll talk with you -when I get back.” - -‘As Kelley turned the knob at number 26, the door was violently pushed -open in his face. - -‘“Sorry,” said Detective Bradford. “Just going back to Headquarters. -Found plenty of dope all right. Here’s something you’ll be interested -in,” showing Kelley a man’s hat initialed “D.F.” “There are three -packets of cocaine under the sweatband.” - -‘This story, of course, is fictitious,’ said Fordney, putting down the -paper, ‘but it illustrates my point. There’s just one, small, -unimportant detail that’s wrong. To repeat, you _must learn_ to detect -inconsistencies quickly, however insignificant. Quickly, now!’ - - - Do _you_ get it? - - -In the next few anecdotes you will see the Professor at work and at -play, on cases both serious and amusing, involving pure deduction. - -As in the preceding cases, however, every fact, with the clue necessary -to the solution, is given. There is only one right and logical answer to -each—to be deduced from the evidence presented. - -Time yourself; see how long it takes _you_ to deduce the answer. And -then, after you have solved or missed them, try them on your friends. -They make a fascinating game—and there are lots of people who don’t play -bridge. - - - 60 - _The Pullman Car Murder_ - -‘Tell your story to Professor Fordney,’ said the superintendent, -introducing the conductor. - -‘Well,’ said Jackson, ‘last night just after we left Albany, lower eight -let out a terrifying shriek. I was standing at one end of the car, the -maid, porter, and brakeman at the other end. We met at the berth as -Briggs was gasping his last from a knife wound in the heart. I -immediately had both doors of the car guarded as well as the doors to -the washrooms. Every berth was occupied, and by this time the passengers -were milling around in the aisle. - -‘I began to look for the missing knife with which Briggs had been -killed. Every passenger, even the maid, brakeman, and porter, every inch -of the car and all baggage, were searched, but still we failed to find -it. - -‘The window-sills were covered with freshly fallen snow and an -examination proved that none of them had been opened. No one had left -the car and no one had entered either washroom. I knew the knife must be -in the car—but where? - -‘Washington, our old Negro porter, really discovered the murderer’s -identity by “scrutinizin’ ’em all.” - -‘I know your reputation, Professor, so you will probably have little -difficulty in determining how Washington located the assassin, but I’ll -bet you can’t tell me where I found the knife.’ - -Jackson’s face fell as Fordney quickly replied, ‘As there was only one -possible place it could have been, you found it....’ - - - How long did it take _you_ to discover the knife? - - - 61 - _Forgery_ - -‘Can it be possible that this has happened to me!’ thought Everett -Taber, as he stood in the National Bank of New York ready to deposit his -fortune. Having completed his arrangements late the day before with the -bank’s executives, he was the first patron of the morning. Standing -alone in the bank’s commodious quarters, he regretted he had no one with -whom to share his happiness. - -Suddenly, as he was making out his deposit slip, he decided to use his -own name, Everett Mead, instead of his stepfather’s name, by which he -had been known most of his life. It would be a simple matter to arrange -this with the officials later. As he blotted the deposit slip, Everett -Mead felt a new sense of poise and self-assurance take possession of -him. He gazed fondly at the name which proclaimed him a wealthy man. By -changing it he could completely sever former associations and start life -anew. What a wonderful day it was! - -The cashier, impressed with the amount of the deposit, was very obliging -and wondered, as he thought of his own meager salary, how it would feel -to have so much money. - -‘I see you are left-handed, Mr. Mead,’ he said, in an effort to appear -interested in such an important personage. - -‘Yes,’ smilingly. - -He left the bank without further conversation. Less than an hour later -his name had been forged to a check for five thousand dollars, despite -the fact that no one knew he had changed his name and no one had seen -him make out his deposit slip. - - - Professor Fordney, acquainted with the facts, knew immediately how the - forgery had been accomplished. Do you? - - - 62 - _The Christmas Eve Tragedy_ - -‘Professor Fordney,’ said Sheriff Brown, of Lake Dalton, ‘I came to New -York to ask your help in clearing up the murder of Horace Perkins at -Luckley Lodge.’ - -‘Sit down and tell me about it,’ invited Fordney. - -‘The family chauffeur, returning from the station at ten o’clock on -Christmas Eve, found Perkins lying in a field, five yards off the Lodge -drive, with his skull bashed in.’ - -‘He telephoned me immediately and I instructed him to see that nothing -was disturbed. Arriving fifteen minutes later, I personally examined the -ground so no clues would be destroyed. - -‘The _only_ footprints to be found were six of Perkins’s leading from -the drive to the spot where he lay. Around the body were a number of -deep impressions about two inches square. It had been snowing all day -until half an hour before the discovery of Perkins. - -‘Leading away from the body and ending at the main road, two hundred -yards distant, were four lines of these same impressions, about three -and a half feet apart in length and about fourteen inches in width. In -some places, however, they were badly run together. - -‘A stranger in our parts is quickly noted and investigation failed to -reveal a recent one. There were absolutely no other clues and I could -find no motive for the crime. It has me stumped, Professor,’ concluded -Brown. - -‘Give me a little time,’ said Fordney. ‘Perhaps I can help. I’ll call -you at your hotel.’ - -An hour later, he said over the telephone, ‘Sheriff, look for a man -who.... Such a person only could possibly have committed the murder.’ - - - What did Fordney say to Brown? - - - 63 - _A Knight of the Bath_ - -‘You’ve heard me speak of my eccentric friend, Joe Leimert, haven’t you, -Professor?’ inquired Jud. ‘Great character! His costly new Los Angeles -penthouse is the despair of architects, but it reflects Joe, who cares -little for the opinions of others. Particularly in the matter of baths -is his independence reflected. While he has six of them, he is fondest -of the one leading off his own room. - -‘It is a large all-tile bath twenty-four feet long, fifteen wide, and -seven high, without a single window. He went in to bathe a few days ago, -locked the door on the inside, as was his habit, and turned the cold -water full on. When he went to turn it off, he found to his dismay that -the mechanism controlling the drain and the taps was out of order. He -couldn’t let the water out and he couldn’t turn the tap off. Neither -could he unlock the door, and it was impossible to make himself heard. -What a predicament! There he was in a locked bath with no window, -couldn’t open or break down the door, couldn’t let the water out, or -turn it off, and he had no way of attracting attention. - -‘Such a situation might have disturbed most people, but not Joe. He -leisurely proceeded with his bath and, when finished, nonchalantly -departed.’ - -‘My dear Jud,’ smiled the Professor, ‘your friend was indeed eccentric. -Of course, there was only one way out for him.’ - - - This one’s easy, don’t you think? - - - 64 - _Murder in the First Degree_ - -‘Well, Inspector, we have your man,’ said Fordney as he walked into the -office. ‘He gave us a merry chase, though. - -‘What a cool one this murderer is! He calmly ate his dinner while -planning the crime. He didn’t give the cashier a chance—just brutally -shot him down in cold blood—and all for thirty dollars. I tell you, -Inspector, a man doesn’t need much incentive to commit murder these -days. After shooting the cashier, he made a fast get-away in a waiting -car. - -‘Fortunately, there was a policeman having dinner in the restaurant at -the time, and he gave orders that nothing was to be disturbed at the -table where the suspected murderer had eaten. - -‘There are several witnesses who will identify him, including the -waitress who served him, but no jury will convict on that alone. - -‘While I found none of the suspect’s fingerprints, personal effects, or -physical traces at or on the table, I did find there a sure means of -conviction. I am positive he calmly premeditated this outrage while -eating his dinner.’ - -‘I hope you’re right, Professor,’ said Inspector Kelley, ‘but both he -and his attorney seem confident. They claim the gun was discharged -accidentally.’ - -‘They’ll never get away with that. The Prosecuting Attorney will be able -to prove that this man deliberately planned the crime while eating his -dinner. It’s murder in the first degree!’ - - - How did the Professor know the crime was premeditated? - - - 65 - _A Rendezvous with Death_ - -‘One runs into unique conspiracies in my work,’ said Professor Fordney -over his after-dinner coffee. ‘Here is the clue to that Stone case you -are all interested in,’ he continued, passing the following newspaper -advertisement: - - WANTED. Competent private secretary. Unusual salary and opportunity - for young man speaking Spanish. Culture and refinement necessary - qualifications. Address KR 164. - -‘I don’t see how that gave you a lead. Looks innocent enough to me,’ -remarked one of the guests. - -‘Well,’ said the Professor, ‘that ad furnished the strongest link in my -chain of evidence. I had information that Jack Carroll was infatuated -with Stone’s wife. At the suggestion of his wife, Stone answered this ad -and received a reply requesting him to call for a personal interview. -That interview was with death! - -‘Mrs. Stone, when questioned, said she and her husband had not been on -particularly friendly terms recently and that the last she saw of him -was when he left for White Plains to see about the position. - -‘I called at the newspaper office and was informed that the ad had been -inserted by Jonathan Gills, Pomeroy Hotel. They remembered it because -Mr. Gills had telephoned asking if there were any replies to his ad. -Despite the affirmative answer, they had never been called for. I found -Jonathan Gills was unknown at the Pomeroy Hotel. - -‘I learned from Mrs. Stone that her husband had answered the ad in -long-hand and that he was left-handed and a very poor penman. - -‘Pondering the matter, though puzzled at first, I finally hit upon the -manner in which Stone had been led to his death,’ concluded Fordney. - - - How do _you_ think it was done? - - - 66 - _A Rum Regatta_ - -‘Here’s a story that should amuse you, Jean,’ said Professor Fordney to -his efficient and charming secretary. - -He laughed heartily as he handed her a letter from his old friend, -George Collins, government investigator in Florida. - -Jean read the following: - - An old sailor sitting on the sands of Nassau mending his fishing net - was approached by three rum-runners shortly after the break of dawn. - They came seeking his advice in connection with a wager they had made - among themselves the night before. - - The three of them, having sampled too freely of the liquor they were - to take the next day to Miami, had put up three thousand dollars as a - prize for the owner of the last boat to reach Miami. The fact that - their boss was in a hurry for the liquor had been completely - forgotten. - - Sobered, they realized the ridiculousness of the wager but while - anxious to reach Miami as quickly as possible, they all agreed it was - not to be changed. - - The old sailor continued weaving the cords into his net with slow - deliberation. In a few minutes, calling them to his side, he whispered - exactly the same advice into the ear of each. - - A smile spread over his weather-beaten face and he chuckled as the - three rum-runners raced to the boats and started for Miami at top - speed. - -‘It is amusing,’ laughed Jean, ‘but he forgot to say what the old sailor -whispered!’ - -‘That’s for you to figure out, young lady. I’ve never been a rum-runner, -but I’ve got the answer.’ - - - What advice did the old sailor whisper to the rum-runners? - - - 67 - _Who is the Heir?_ - -‘As the Île de France slipped from her berth, Europe-bound, John Morgan, -the brother of New York’s largest theatrical producer, waved good-bye to -his family on the dock,’ said Professor Fordney. - -‘Arriving in Paris a week later, he registered at the Hôtel Crillon. At -two o’clock next morning, he called the office and demanded he be given -another suite immediately, saying he didn’t like the view from his -present rooms. This, despite the fact that he had occupied—in fact, -insisted upon—this suite many times in the past. - -‘Because of his prominence and wealth, he was accommodated at once. - -‘Moving on to Berlin four days later, he registered at the Hotel Adlon. -The manager, anxious to please a brother of the internationally known -producer, greeted him personally. He afterward remarked how worried Mr. -Morgan appeared at the time. - -‘At two o’clock in the morning a repetition of the Paris occurrence took -place. - -‘From Berlin he went in turn to London, Copenhagen, Brussels, Vienna, -Bucharest, and Sofia, spending exactly four days in each place. He then -went to Teheran, Persia. He explained to the American Consul there that -he had come to Persia to sample at first hand the celebrated wines of -Shiraz, and also to continue his search for one Mirah Svari, a mystic he -had met in New York, and for whom he had sought vainly all over Europe. - -‘On the fourth day in Teheran, he was found dead of an overdose of -hashish, in a squalid house in an unsavory quarter. - -‘Receiving news of his death, his attorney in New York, acting on -previous instructions, opened his will, in which he had left his entire -fortune of five million dollars to the producer. - -‘But, strange as it may seem, it was found John Morgan never had a -brother. What a situation! - - - ‘Under the circumstances, and according to law, who received the huge - fortune?’ smiled Fordney to his dinner guests. - - - 68 - _The Professor Stops a Blunder_ - -At four o’clock Thursday afternoon, Louis Mundy unexpectedly received a -telegram requesting him to return home immediately, as his brother was -ill. - -At eight that evening, he alighted from the plane in Washington. He had -not been in the city during the past two months. Hurrying to his -suburban home, he found his brother greatly improved. At ten o’clock he -set out on a hike through the country, returning at midnight. - -These facts were all verified. - -Between eleven and twelve o’clock that night, John Skidder was murdered, -and the only thing missing from his house was a note for ten thousand -dollars signed by Mundy. - -Skidder’s secretary said the note was habitually kept at the office and -that she was very surprised when he took it home that evening. - -Mundy declared he saw or passed no one on his hike, but under severe -questioning admitted having been near Skidder’s house shortly after -eleven o’clock. - -A thorough investigation revealed that Skidder had no known enemies and -no one, other than Mundy, had the slightest reason for wishing him dead. - -Mundy was consequently arrested. As he knew Skidder lived with only an -old man servant (who was out until after twelve that night), the police -believed he had gone unobserved to the house, demanded the note, and, -when refused, had murdered Skidder. No one but Mundy could possibly -profit by the disappearance of the note. As it was due in ten days and -he was in no position to meet it, they anticipated little difficulty in -obtaining a conviction due to the strong motive and weak alibi. - -Asked his opinion, Professor Fordney surprisingly said he DIDN’T believe -any American jury would convict Mundy. - - - He was right— Now, don’t argue! There’s only one answer. Don’t peek! - Figure it out. - - - 69 - _The Perfect Crime_ - -Peter Johannes had one burning ambition—to commit a perfect crime. After -much thinking and careful planning, he chose burglary for his experiment -and a large brownstone mansion for the scene of his action. - -Learning its occupants had left town, he arrayed himself in a business -suit of conservative cut, flung a light topcoat over his arm, picked up -a Gladstone bag, covered with foreign labels, and set out. - -He had ascertained, of course, when the policeman patrolling that beat -was farthest away. At such a time he drove up in his swanky sport -roadster, swung jauntily to the sidewalk, skipped up the steps, and -fitted a skeleton key into the lock, which yielded easily. So far so -good, he thought. - -Inside, he adjusted a black mask to his eyes and silk gloves to his -hands: the former for a bit of local color he couldn’t resist; the -latter for more practical purposes. What a jolly thing this burglaring -was! - -He quickly filled his Gladstone with silver and other valuables. -Hurrying out, he removed his gloves after closing the door. - -‘Done, and not a single clue left!’ he said to himself. - -As he was about to descend the steps, he saw out of the corner of his -eye the policeman rounding the corner. Feigning disinterest, he quickly -pushed the bell-button and stood there whistling. - -‘Hey, you!’ shouted the policeman, now standing at the bottom of the -steps. ‘What are you doin’ there? Them people ain’t home.’ - -‘Howdy, Officer. How goes it?’ said our hero blithely as he turned to -greet the bluecoat. ‘I know they’re not home; been trying to raise -someone for five minutes. Annoying, too, after running out to see them. -Oh, well,’ he continued, ‘I’ll be going along,’ as he unconcernedly -picked up his bag. - -‘You bet you will—right to the hoosegow,’ bellowed the guardian of the -peace. ‘Your story I might have believed, but.... Come on, now, I’m -takin’ you down.’ - - - Alas for the perfect crime! ‘What caused our hero’s arrest?’ asked - Professor Fordney of his class. - - - 70 - _The Professor Sees Through It_ - -‘Let’s go in to dinner—it’s twenty minutes after six, and I’m starved,’ -said Hawkins. - -‘Right!’ responded Professor Fordney, his train companion, ‘I’m hungry, -too.’ - -The two men had met only a few minutes before, as casually as travelers -do, but already seemed to find each other agreeable company. - -At dinner Hawkins explained he was a conductor on another railroad and -bemoaned the loss of passenger traffic. Fordney, too, decried the -depression and its effects. - -When the conductor came through, Hawkins tendered a pass with a friendly -remark, and Fordney, who said he had boarded the train in such a hurry -he didn’t have time to purchase a ticket, paid a cash fare. Neither he -nor the conductor having proper change, he borrowed fourteen cents from -Hawkins. - -After an enjoyable dinner, they went back to the club car for a smoke -and continued their chat. - -‘Ever been in Savannah, Mr. Hawkins?’ asked Fordney. - -‘Why, yes. Several times. Why?’ - -‘Oh, nothing in particular. Charming city, isn’t it?’ - -‘Yes, it is, but I like the quaintness of New Orleans better, myself.’ - -And so they chatted through a pleasant evening until Hawkins, with a -yawn, said: ‘Well, it’s a quarter to eleven. Bedtime for me. See you in -the morning. Good-night, Professor. I’ve enjoyed knowing you.’ - -‘Good-night,’ responded Fordney. ‘I’ll give you the fourteen cents in -the morning. Don’t let the fact that I’m aware of your deception keep -you awake!’ - -‘What?’ cried the amazed Hawkins. - - - What did Fordney mean? - - - 71 - _The Kidnapers’ Cleverness_ - -‘There are times,’ mused Professor Fordney from the depths of the most -comfortable chair in the lounge of the University Club, ‘when the -criminal does show ingenuity of a high order. I recall a most -interesting and baffling case on which I worked ten years ago. - -‘A wealthy man whose daughter had been kidnaped had been warned that, if -he appealed to the police, she would be killed. Consequently, it was -difficult to get his coöperation in running down the criminals. However, -upon receiving the following note delivered in an express package 12″ × -12″ × 12″ he sought my advice. - - Send us, by the means herein given you, $5,000 in cash, at exactly - midnight tonight. If you do so, your daughter will be returned - unharmed. - -‘My client did as directed and his child was returned safely next day. - -‘Do you know, Jim,’ asked Fordney of his fireside companion, ‘what means -the kidnapers employed that made trapping of them, or discovery of their -whereabouts, absolutely impossible? There’s a nice little problem in -deduction for a rising young attorney,’ he laughed. - - - After ten minutes of deep silence on Jim’s part, he said, ‘I can’t - figure it out, Professor. What was it?’ - - - - - SOLUTIONS - - - 1. _A Crack Shot_ - -It was a dark, starless, moonless night. The nearest habitation was five -miles. The eyes of no animal ever shine in the dark unless there is a -light by which they can be reflected, and a man’s eyes never shine under -any circumstances. - -Therefore, Butler could not possibly have seen any eyes shining at him -in the dark. It was clearly murder. - - And thy deep eyes, amid the gloom, - Shine like jewels in a shroud. - Longfellow. - - - 2. _On the Scent_ - -Not even a prohibition agent would use alcohol in an automobile radiator -in or about Miami! - - The oil and wine of merry meeting. - Irving. - - - 3. _Fatal Error_ - -The Professor knew it would take a keener pair of eyes than Bronson’s to -see a nod in the dark. - -The lights had not been turned on. Remember? - - Darkness visible. - Milton. - - - 4. _The Poison Murder Case_ - -Unless Bob Kewley had returned home after telling the Professor he was -going to the theater, he could not have known the library door was -locked. The fact that he did, coupled with the strong motive, naturally -directed suspicion to him. He inadvertently gave himself away. - - Error will slip through a crack, while truth will stick in a doorway. - Shaw. - - - 5. _A Strange ‘Kidnaping’_ - -Had Johnson wound his watch immediately before 2 A.M. Friday, the time -of his alleged kidnaping, it would not have been running Sunday -afternoon when he recovered consciousness and said he heard it ticking. - -No standard-make watch will run sixty hours without winding. - - This act is an ancient tale new told; - Being urged at a time unseasonable. - Shakespeare. - - - 6. _A Valuable Formula_ - -In a small room the intruder would _unquestionably_ have heard Hyde -dialing Headquarters, and therefore could not have been unaware of his -presence. - -As Hyde had obviously lied about this, Fordney was convinced he had -fabricated the entire story in order to sell the formula twice. - - Don’t tell me of deception; a lie is a lie, whether it be a lie to the - eye or a lie to the ear. - Dr. Johnson. - - - 7. _Strangled_ - -There had been a dry, hot spell at that place for twenty-two days. Irene -Greer’s hair was matted with mud; therefore, she must have been attacked -elsewhere. - - The face of things appeareth not the same far off and when we see them - right at hand. - Euripides. - - - 8. _Death in the Office_ - -Gifford could not have been shot at the time he called Fordney, as he -was found with a bullet through his heart. The Professor’s theory was -that Gifford wanted his death to appear as murder in order to protect -his heavy insurance. - - The heart does not lie. - Alfieri. - - - 9. _They Usually Forget Something_ - -The note, although misspelled, poorly expressed, and written by a -seemingly illiterate hand, was punctuated properly, in two places. A -semicolon and a comma would not have been used had the writer been an -uneducated man. - -Force of habit had betrayed him! - - You write with ease to show your breeding, - But easy writing’s curst hard reading. - Sheridan. - - - 10. _The Professor Gives a Lesson_ - -Cardoni said he saw the kidnapers around a table as he peered through -the keyhole. Yale locks do not have keyholes. - -Kelley was justified in throwing him out, don’t you think? The class -found this an easy one—did you? - - Since your eyes are so sharpe that you cannot onely looke through a - milstone, but cleane through the minde. - Lyly. - - - 11. _Upstairs and Down_ - -The policeman ran through the hall and unlocked the kitchen door. - -The doors to the porch and cellar were locked on the inside. Had the old -lady committed suicide, she could not have locked the door leading to -the hall from the outside. - -The murderer, in leaving, locked this door and forgot to remove the key. -The inevitable slip! - - A blockhead cannot come in, nor go away, like a man of sense. - Bruyère. - - - 12. _Class Day_ - -The student readily recognized the absurdity of the Professor’s story -which he had given to his class to test their quick detection of a -glaring inconsistency. If it must be explained, an orchestra under -personal leadership does not play during the showing of a ‘talkie.’ -Right? - - Wit marries ideas lying far apart, by a sudden jerk of the - understanding. - Whipple. - - - 13. _A Hot Pursuit_ - -Smith said he _ran_ after the burglar. Had he done so he could not have -known the cellar window had been chiseled open. Therefore, his story was -obviously faked. - - A lie never lives to be old. - Sophocles. - - - 14. _A Question of Identity_ - -As Diana Lane was walking down the corridor with her back to Nora, it -was impossible for the servant to know Diana was wearing her famous -emerald pendant. - - There is an alchemy of quiet malice by which women can concoct a - subtle poison from ordinary trifles. - Hawthorne. - - - 15. _A Yachtsman’s Alibi_ - -As Picus said there was no breeze, the distress flag would have hung -limp against the mast, and the Captain could not have seen, at that -distance, whether or not the flag was upside down. - -That’s all the Professor needed to determine the falsity of his alibi. -However, Picus was a poor sailor. While the International Distress -Signal is a flag flown upside down, it is by custom and regulation -always flown at half-mast. - - ... And the sea charm’d into a calm so still - That not a wrinkle ruffles her smooth face. - Dryden. - - - 16. _Murder at Coney Island_ - -Jasper said he found the woman sitting _up_ in the _middle_ of the -chariot. The motion of the merry-go-round would have made it impossible -for a dead body to remain upright in the middle of the chariot. - - Sir, you are giving a reason for it; but that will not make it - right.... - Johnson. - - - 17. _Too Clever_ - -The murderer tried to give the impression that Dawson had died before -finishing the incriminating note. Had he written it and died before -completing it, he could not have put the pen back in the tray where it -was found. - -In his effort to incriminate Lynch, the murderer had been too cautious. -A costly oversight. - - Man’s caution often into danger turns, - And his guard falling crushes him to death. - Young. - - - 18. _Bloody Murder_ - -The Professor knew it was not suicide, because Thompson’s coat, which -was flung _across_ the room, was blood-stained. Quite impossible if he -had taken his own life. - - Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. - Chapman. - - - 19. _Death Back-Stage_ - -There were _no_ finger-prints on the gun which killed Claudia Mason. She -could not have shot herself in the temple and then wiped off the -revolver. - -The murderer neglected to get her fingerprints on the gun. - - A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool’s part. - Sophocles. - - - 20. _An Easy Combination_ - -It would have been impossible for Fellows to have hastily dialed a -number in the _dark_. Try it! - - Haste trips up its own heels, fetters and stops itself. - Seneca. - - - 21. _A Modern Knight_ - -The fact that the bullet was found in the body and the only trace of its -firing was the hole in the curtain _below_ the window-sill proved -conclusively the shot could not have been fired from within the room. - -Rocca entered at the moment his sister shot Chase from outside. Grabbing -the gun from her hand, he chivalrously protected her. - - But, friend, the thing is clear—speaks for itself. - Aristophanes. - - - 22. _The Jewel Robbery_ - -The butler said that, as he called for help, Dudley, a stranger, rushed -in. - -Owings had locked up before leaving and, therefore, Dudley could not -have rushed in through a locked door. The robbery was obviously framed -by Stuben and Dudley. - - Absurdities die of self-strangulation. - Haliburton. - - - 23. _Before the Coroner’s Inquest_ - -Curry could not possibly have ‘looked up’ while rowing _upstream_ and -seen the action he described which took place fifty yards _behind_ him. - - The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. - Franklin. - - - 24. _The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up_ - -Baldwin said, ‘Mr. Cross tried to call my attention to it [safe] with a -jerk of his thumb’ at a time when Cross was unconscious. Obviously -impossible. Baldwin was lying, which there was no reason for doing had -he been innocent. - - When all sins are old in us, and go upon crutches. - Covetousness does but then lie in her cradle. - Decker. - - - 25. _Behind Locked Doors_ - -Kingston thought his boldness in calling attention to his own footprints -in the carpet would distract Fordney’s attention from their -significance. - -The room had been locked for three months. Of the three men, only -Watkins rushed into the room; Fordney and Kingston halting over the -threshold. Therefore, the fact that Kingston’s footprints were found -near the chair in which his uncle sat dead pointed directly to him as -the murderer. - - Cunning differs from wisdom - As twilight from open day. - Dr. Johnson. - - - 26. _Lost at Sea_ - -It would have been impossible for Mrs. Rollins to have seen a man pick -up from the deck the bag of diamonds. On a dark, moonless night at sea -one literally cannot see his hand before his face. - - The repose of darkness is deeper on the water than on the land. - Victor Hugo. - - - 27. _A Suave Gunman_ - -Taylor said the bandit wore a silver belt-buckle. This he could not have -seen, for he stated: ‘As the robber passed through the door, he -unbuttoned his coat and slipped the revolver in his back pocket.’ - -It would have been impossible for Taylor to have seen the man’s -belt-buckle when his coat was buttoned. - -As this statement was false, the rest of his account was disregarded by -the Professor. - - He draweth out the thread of his verbosity - Finer than the staple of his argument. - Shakespeare. - - - 28. _Accidental Death_ - -Had the man’s injuries been caused only by being thrown through the -windshield, there would have been no blood on the front seat of the car. -Therefore, the Professor knew the blood on the seat had been caused by -injuries to the man, with probable murderous intent, before he was -thrown through the windshield. - -His assailant had killed him, started the car, and had then hopped off -the running-board, hoping the wreckage would cover the murder. - - Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight. - Napoleon. - - - 29. _Easy Money_ - -Wilkins said he saw the burglar pick up a stack of ten- and -twenty-dollar bills from the table in the center of the large library. - -Had he not been guilty, he could not have known what the denominations -of the bills were. It would have been impossible to have determined this -from the doorway. - -An unconscious slip on his part. - -If you are doubtful, just try to determine the denomination of a stack -of bills on a table in the center of a large room, from the doorway. - - For any man with half an eye, - What stands before him may espy; - But optics sharp it needs I ween, - To see what is not to be seen. - John Trumbull. - - - 30. _Robbery at High Noon_ - -He was suspicious of John, the nephew, of course. Upon being asked where -he was at the time of the robbery, he stated he was ‘hauling in a -muskie.’ - -Unless he had guilty knowledge, he could not possibly have known at what -time the robbery was committed. - -He fell neatly into the Professor’s trap, don’t you think? - - Let guilty men remember, their black deeds - Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds. - John Webster. - - - 31. _The Wrong Foot Forward_ - -Paslovsky, the witness, who could not understand or speak enough English -to make a simple statement to the court, yet knew _exactly_ what the -conductor yelled to the motorman. - -This was so patently impossible that the Judge was entirely justified in -dismissing the suit. - - Liars are verbal forgers. - Chatfield. - - - 32. _Death Attends the Party_ - -Had Dawes fallen on the table after being shot, the jar would have -knocked over the ‘crazily balanced glasses.’ As the Professor found the -glasses on the table, _balanced_, it was obvious Dawes had been shot, -then carefully placed at the table to give the appearance of suicide. A -bad slip! - - There is nothing insignificant, nothing! - Coleridge. - - - 33. _No Way Out_ - -The note was written with _pencil_, yet there was no pencil found in the -room. Apparently the murderer wrote the note to resemble the dead man’s -handwriting and through force of habit put it in his pocket. - - Men are men; the best sometimes forget. - Shakespeare. - - - 34. _Midnight Murder_ - -Day said he got the blood on his muffler when he bent over Quale’s body. -As blood coagulates and dries in a short time, it would have been -impossible for him to have stained his muffler unless it had touched the -blood of Quale shortly after his death. Therefore, Fordney knew he must -have been with Quale soon after he was stabbed. - - Murder, though it have no tongue, - Will speak with most miraculous organ. - Shakespeare. - - - 35. _Speakeasy Stick-Up_ - -Sullivan, the bartender, said that, as he worked the combination to open -the wall safe, he _heard_ the hold-up man _behind him_. As he was not -permitted to move, he could not have known the gunman was a _big, -tough-looking mug_, as he described him. - -As there would be no other motive in telling this impossible story, the -hold-up was faked. - - Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn, - What dangers thou canst make us scorn. - Burns. - - - 36. _Behind Time_ - -The engineer said he had not seen Nelson until he was practically on top -of him. That, of course, is impossible. An engineer of a train running -on a straight-away can see nothing as close as ten yards in front of -him. - - You cram these words into mine ears, - Against the stomach of my sense. - Shakespeare. - - - 37. _A Broken Engagement_ - -Molly said she had retired at ten, after locking her door, and had not -awakened until Fordney had aroused her. - -Yet a few minutes after Dot had been murdered, the Professor idly -‘shaped the wax’ of the candle on her desk. This would have been -impossible had not the candle been burning within a few minutes before -he entered. - -Her insistence that she had been asleep, together with the strong -motive, convinced Fordney she was involved, as was later proved. - - Love can make us fiends as well as angels. - Charles Kingsley. - - - 38. _The Holden Road Murder_ - -Had the butler dashed in the front door as he said he did, there would -have been foot-tracks in the vestibule. - -Remember, the Professor ‘splashed his way through the mud and rain, to -the _door_ of 27 Holden Road,’ and found the vestibule spotless. -Therefore, Wilkins was lying, and as Cannon corroborated his story, he -was also necessarily involved. - - Nay, her foot speaks. - Shakespeare. - - - 39. _Fishermen’s Luck_ - -Holmes could not have seen the bag on the bottom of the lake during a -cloudburst. The agitation of even crystal clear water under such -conditions would have so disturbed the surface that an object on the -bottom could not be seen. - - A man so lucky is rarer than a white crow. - Juvenal. - - - 40. _The Unlucky Elephant_ - -Holman was lying face down with his topcoat buttoned; therefore, if his -watch crystal had been broken by his fall, none of the glass could have -been found on the floor. - - For never, never wicked man was wise. - Homer. - - - 41. _The Professor Listens_ - -The notice of the bank failure, appearing in the _Jacksonville Herald_, -was dated July 5th. This could not have reached Delavin at a remote part -of Cuba, unserviced by planes, in time for him to get back to New York -on the 6th. - -His alibi, therefore, was completely broken, as he said the newspaper -clipping brought him back. - - Time is the herald of truth. - Cicero. - - - 42. _Ten-Fifteen_ - -The secretary said he heard Waters talking to Fordney over the -telephone. As Fordney’s name was not mentioned during the conversation, -the secretary could not have known to whom Waters was talking. - -It’s the little things that count—in crime detection. - - Take care lest your tongue cut off your head. - Persian. - - - 43. _Rapid Transit_ - -The driver could not possibly have seen from the front seat anyone -standing on the tail-gate of the big van. - - If common sense has not the brilliancy of the sun, it has the fixity - of the stars. - Fernan Caballero. - - - 44. _The Professor is Disappointed_ - -Fordney pointed to the raindrops glistening on a leaf in the shoe -impression. - -According to Vi Cargo’s statement, the burglar had jumped from her -window after it had stopped raining. - - The shameless have a brow of brass. - Hindu Proverb. - - - 45. _A Dramatic Triumph_ - -Sibyl Mortimer said Boswell had telephoned her shortly after nine. As he -was on the stage continuously for forty-five minutes after the curtain -rose, he could not have telephoned her. - -Obviously she had some reason for stating he did. Fordney was quick to -detect the flaw in her alibi. - - It is not wise to be wiser than is necessary. - Quinault. - - - 46. _Murder at the Lake_ - -A strong east wind blew _off_ the lake; therefore, regardless of the -direction in which he was walking, Rice’s hat could not possibly have -blown into the lake. - -The Professor was naturally suspicious of him when he told such a -ridiculous lie. - - Is’t possible? Sits the wind in that corner? - Shakespeare. - - - 47. _The Professor Studies a Coat_ - -As the man had removed his overcoat on entering the Professor’s -living-room, it was perfectly patent he had not been handcuffed. - -He said he ran over to Fordney’s immediately after the bandits left. - - Truth has not such an urgent air. - Boileau. - - - 48. _Too Late_ - -Fordney doubted Palmer’s innocence because of his statement, ‘I’d got -there not more than five minutes behind him.’ - -There was, of course, no way he could have determined when Frank had -arrived at the cabin. - - In general, treachery, though at first sufficiently cautious, yet in - the end betrays itself. - Livy. - - - 49. _Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory_ - -The Professor told Reynolds, ‘There was no blood between the road and -the boulder.’ - -Had the man _rolled_ down the embankment, there would have been some -blood on the rocks along the path his body took. - - How hast thou purchased this experience? - By my penny of observation. - Shakespeare. - - - 50. _Daylight Robbery_ - -As no safe locks unless the combination is turned, Shaeffer’s story of -_banging_ it closed and then the robbers working on it five minutes was -ridiculous! - - He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from play, and - old men from the chimney corner. - Sir Philip Sidney. - - - 51. _A Simple Solution_ - -Had Smith committed suicide, the window through which he jumped would -not have been closed as Fordney found it. - - Every crime has, in the moment of its perpetration, its own avenging - angel. - Coleridge. - - - 52. _Who?_ - -Kelley arrested Weeds, the butler. He said he dropped on the bed the -blood-covered towel with which he was trying to arrest the flow from the -maid’s wrist as Jones struck at him. - -Yet Kelley and Fordney found the bed coverlet _immaculate_. Had Weeds -done as he said, there would have been blood-stains on the bedcover. - - Blood follows blood. - Defoe. - - - 53. _Murder in the Swamp_ - -The three sets of Bob’s footprints in the path told Fordney the story. -Had Bob been at the house when his friend was shot, as he contended, -there would have been _four_ sets of his footprints. - - That is to be wise to see that which lies before your feet. - Terence. - - - 54. _Death by Drowning_ - -Had the accident occurred as explained by Carroll, the oar of Ridge’s -boat could not have been found, as it was, at the dock _opposite_ the -point where he jumped in. The current would have deposited it -downstream. Therefore, the Professor recommended the detention of the -brothers. - - More water glideth by the mill, than wots the miller of. - Shakespeare. - - - 55. _Tragedy at the Convention_ - -Fordney suspected Pollert because of his own statements that he did not -know Hurlenson had returned to the hotel. Yet, when he said he heard a -shot, he ran _directly_ to Hurlenson’s room. - -As his own room was down the corridor, he could not have known from what -room the shot came, and he had no reason to assume it came from -Hurlenson’s room. - - Politics, as a trade, finds most and leaves nearly all dishonest. - Abraham Lincoln. - - - 56. _A Murderer’s Mistake_ - -These murderers, like many others, betrayed themselves by a simple -oversight. One look at the ladder and Fordney knew no man could have -climbed up or down it. The thirty-foot ladder was placed _two_ feet from -the house. Any person ascending or descending the ladder in such a -position would have fallen backwards before reaching the top or bottom. - - To all facts there are laws, - The effect has its cause, - And I mount to the cause. - Lord Lytton. - - - 57. _Babe Comes Through_ - -There is a screen on the grandstand behind the home plate. - -Fordney had noticed a few seconds before, in the box next to him, the -man whom the policeman had caught running down the ramp. As he could not -have thrown a bottle through the screen, and, in the time at his -disposal, could not have reached either side of the screen, Fordney knew -he was innocent. - -He had noticed the man _after_ two strikes and three balls had been -called, and the pitcher delivered the next ball quickly. - - We must have bloody noses and crack’d crowns, - God’s me, my horse! - Shakespeare. - - - 58. _A Soldier of Fortune_ - -Hamilton knew the real Walter Briggs had gone to Africa as a child. So, -when this chap said he had shot tigers in Africa, Fordney was very, very -skeptical. There are no tigers in Africa. Oh, well—look it up yourself! - - A traveler without observation is a bird without wings. - Saadi. - - - 59. _Number Twenty-Six_ - -The inconsistency is this: Farrell said he _pushed_ open the door. Yet -Bradford, _inside_ the house, _pushed_ the door in Kelley’s face as the -Inspector was entering. - -If Bradford _pushed_ the door in Kelley’s face, Farrell must have -_pulled_ the door to open it. - - The smallest hair throws its shadow. - Goethe. - - - 60. _The Pullman Car Murder_ - -Every piece of baggage had been examined and every inch of the car -inspected. All passengers, even the maid, porter, and brakeman, had been -searched. The knife was still in the car. - -Remember?—there was nothing said about the conductor being searched. The -knife was found in his pocket. - - He was in logic a great crytic, - Profoundly skilled in analytic; - He could distinguish and divide - A hair twixt south and south-west side. - Butler. - - - 61. _Forgery_ - -The forged signature was copied from the blotter which Mead had used. - - Thou strong seducer, opportunity. - Dryden. - - - 62. _The Christmas Eve Tragedy_ - -The Professor said to Brown, ‘Sheriff, look for a man in your community -who is skilled or adept in the use of _stilts_. Only a man on stilts -could have made the marks in the snow you described.’ - -P.S. The Professor was right. - - Be the first to say what is self-evident, - And you are immortal. - Ebner-Eschenbach. - - - 63. _A Knight of the Bath_ - -You recall that Leimert was eccentric. No mention of bath _room_ was -made. Leimert’s bath had no top, so he climbed out! - -Silly, what? - - If anything is spoken in jest, it is not fair to turn it to earnest. - Plautus. - - - 64. _Murder in the First Degree_ - -The fact that _none_ of the suspect’s fingerprints were on the dishes or -silver used while eating convicted him of first-degree murder. - -In wiping his _own_ prints from the things he had handled, he destroyed -_all_ prints—those of the waitress, cook, etc. - -A damning bit of evidence that proved premeditation. - - The weakest spot in every man is when he thinks himself to be the - wisest. - Emmons. - - - 65. _A Rendezvous with Death_ - -No one called at the _Times_ for the answers to the advertisement, yet -Stone received a reply to his letter of application. The ad was inserted -by Carroll under the fictitious name of Jonathan Gills and answered by -Stone at his wife’s suggestion. She acquainted her lover, Carroll, with -this fact, and he wrote Stone, arranging the meeting at which he -disappeared. - - When any great design thou dost intend, - Think on the means, the manner, and the end. - Denham. - - - 66. _A Rum Regatta_ - -The old sailor whispered to each, ‘Run the other man’s boat.’ As the -owner of the _last_ boat to reach Miami was to get the money, each one -raced the boat he was driving. By doing so, he hoped to beat his own -boat, which was being driven by one of the others. - - Lookers-on many times see more than gamesters. - Bacon. - - - 67. _Who is the Heir?_ - -John Morgan’s _sister_, of course! - - Let us consider the reason of the case. For nothing is law that is not - reason. - Powell. - - - 68. _The Professor Stops a Blunder_ - -Mundy had been unexpectedly called to Washington. Skidder’s secretary -said the note was habitually kept at the office. Mundy, therefore, could -not possibly have known of Skidder’s intention of taking it home. That -was exactly the weakness in the case of the police. Despite the damning -circumstantial evidence, motive could not be proved unless it could be -shown that Mundy knew the note would be at Skidder’s house. - - How little do they see what is, who frame - Their hasty judgments upon that which seems. - Southey. - - - 69. _The Perfect Crime_ - -Alas! Peter Johannes had forgotten to remove his mask on leaving the -house! - - Whoever thinks a perfect work to see, - Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er shall be. - Pope. - - - 70. _The Professor Sees Through It_ - -When Hawkins said, ‘it’s twenty minutes after six’ and ‘it’s a quarter -to eleven,’ Fordney knew he was not a railroad man. - -No railroad worker _ever_ speaks of the time in any other manner than, -‘it’s six-twenty’ and ‘it’s ten-forty-five.’ - -_Ask the next conductor!_ - - There is nothing more nearly permanent in human life than a - well-established custom. - Joseph Anderson. - - - 71. _The Kidnapers’ Cleverness_ - -The express package contained a carrier pigeon. - - A bird of the air shall carry, and that which hath wings shall tell - the matter. - Ecclesiastes. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italicized text by _underscores_. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Minute Mysteries, by Harold Austin Ripley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - -***** This file should be named 50603-0.txt or 50603-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/6/0/50603/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Minute Mysteries - [Detectograms] - -Author: Harold Austin Ripley - -Release Date: December 4, 2015 [EBook #50603] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - MINUTE MYSTERIES - [_Detectograms_] - - - BY - H. A. RIPLEY - - WITH A FOREWORD BY - LEWIS E. LAWES - _Warden of Sing Sing Prison_ - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - _The Riverside Press Cambridge_ - 1932 - - COPYRIGHT, 1932, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY -ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK OR PARTS - THEREOF IN ANY FORM - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS - PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. - - - TO - MY MOTHER - - - - - FOREWORD - - -The solution of criminal mysteries constitutes one of the most -absorbing, possibly the most intriguing forms of mental activity -existent. It calls for something more than mere cold intelligence and -reasoning ability, requiring in addition native perception, intuition, -and a natural understanding of human behavior under stress of emotion -and passion. Furthermore, some knowledge of pathological or abnormal -behaviorism is a requisite. - -Mr. Ripley's excellently thought-out series of mysteries might be said -to represent a very adequate cross-section of the problems perennially -confronting the law-enforcers and official crime-solvers of the nation. -The points of evidence are cleverly assembled and the _nuances_ of -incrimination are very subtly shaded. - -It would be well for the reader interested in successfully solving these -problems to endeavor to think, not as a detective, but as the criminal -in the case would think, in order to arrive at a correct solution. I -have found that to deal adequately with the criminal after conviction, -and while in confinement, it is necessary to understand his personal -problems. To accomplish this, one must first think as does the criminal, -discover the sequent conclusions upon which he based his anti-social -activities, and thereupon make use of these findings to assist him -toward rehabilitation. - -In this novel challenge to amateur criminologists, who suffer from a -dearth of laboratory specimens upon which to experiment, Mr. Ripley -offers an excellent opportunity--that of examining and forming -conclusions upon the more elemental, vital, and dramatic aspects of -various typical criminal situations, without the drawback of fantasy and -concocted sordidness, which, for the practical criminologist, takes the -glamour and color out of this thing called--Crime. - - Lewis E. Lawes - - - - - AUTHOR'S PREFACE - - -Chief Inspector Kelley, that grizzled veteran of the Detective Bureau, -was talking to his nephew, Jim Barry, who had indicated a desire to -enter the uncrowded field of criminology. - -'The average policeman,' he said, 'looks upon the lay criminologist in -much the same manner as the professional in any field regards the -amateur. Generally speaking, that attitude is justified. - -'In thirty years of police work, however, I have met no one in detective -circles, in or out of the force, who so effectively combines theoretical -knowledge with practical application as Professor Fordney. - -'A man of definite scientific attainments and recognition, he yet -appreciates that the simple fundamentals of crime detection are -effective in ninety per cent of all criminal cases. While he has -unraveled by scientific means some amazing and extremely baffling crimes -that otherwise would have gone unsolved, he puts his greatest reliance -on those basic principles upon which rests the whole structure of crime -detection. - -'His major theory is that most crimes are simple; that their solution -calls only for the exercise of ordinary talents developed to an -extraordinary degree; that the stupidity of the average criminal -himself, and not the brilliance of the detective, is responsible for his -detection. - -'In that, I might tell you, he finds complete corroboration in the -experience of such an outstanding detective of world-wide reputation as -Sir Melville L. Macnaghten, C.B., late Chief of the Criminal -Investigation Department of Scotland Yard. Commenting on the capture of -a particularly vicious murderer, he remarked, "But for the fact that the -student of criminal history is constantly faced with the stupidity of -the criminal, there would be nothing more remarkable in this case than -the fatuity of the man who, having murdered solely for personal -gratifications, and taken every precaution, as he thought, to avoid -discovery, immediately wrote blackmailing letters in which he showed -guilty knowledge of a secret murder." - -'Fordney could undoubtedly explain such an inconsistency as this by his -uncanny knowledge of criminal psychology,' continued Kelley. 'Among -psychologists his insight into the criminal mind and its reactions is -appreciated as being authoritative. - -'His greatest interest is his class in criminology at the University. He -still finds time, however, to assist actively the police of many cities -who frequently consult him on cases they find unusually puzzling. - -'There are instances also in which his part has been that of a -bystander, where a word of suggestion, modestly given, has frequently -disposed of cases before they were brought to the attention of the -police. - -'If the Professor is convinced you have the natural qualifications, Jim, -and a real inclination for work, I can get you into his class. He will -take not only a personal, but a fatherly, interest in you, as in the -rest of his students. You will receive the finest possible training -given by a man of broad understanding and great human sympathies. Out of -his vast experience and knowledge, gained in studying crime in all parts -of the world, he will develop in you those qualities essential to -success in this field. - -'You will find him a genial, ruddy, kindly man of fifty, with a -waistline of forty. There is nothing subtle in his face or manner. A -characterful nose rises above a strong and determined mouth, adorned by -a blond mustache. A pair of keen but smiling blue eyes completes a -commonplace face. Although he refuses to admit it, his rapidly thinning -hair causes him great concern. A bit vain, the old codger, but don't -tell him I told you so,' laughed the Inspector. - -'Scrupulously dressed, he looks like an amiable and highly successful -business executive. He's a mixer and thoroughly enjoys the good things -of life. He views the passing parade with a keen sense of humor, few -illusions, and a genuine interest in his fellow man. Detests hypocrisy; -would rather see ten guilty men acquitted than one innocent man -condemned. Recognizes his own fallibility, but knows his own worth and -does not suffer from that abominable social vice, false modesty. - -'You might be interested in knowing his only hobby is that of designing, -making, and repairing toys for children. He's known to hundreds of them -as the Toy Man. - -'Though a bachelor, he looks with favor on the ladies, enjoys their -company and is thoroughly sociable. - -'It's a pleasure and an education to know him. More than once he's -helped your old uncle and absolutely refused the credit that was his,' -concluded Inspector Kelley. - - -In the following pages you will find some interesting experiences taken -from the Professor's case book. They illustrate forcibly his contention -that crime is simple and that most criminals are caught, not by any -superhuman qualities of the detective, but by their own ignorance, -stupidity, or carelessness. - -In these accounts every fact, every clue necessary to the solution is -given. The answer is in the story itself. You need look nowhere else but -there. Each problem has only one possible solution. - -Written in less than two hundred and sixty words, these little stories -can be read in a minute. - -Here is your chance to work on an absolute equality with the Professor; -to match your wits with his and the criminal's. You know as much as the -Professor does. Now you have an opportunity of proving just how good a -detective you are and what poor detectives your friends are. - -The author hopes you will find them as fascinating reading as they were -in the telling by the Professor. - - H. A. Ripley - - - - - CONTENTS - - - Foreword by Lewis E. Lawes vii - Author's Preface ix - It Stands to Reason! _A New National Game_ xix - 1. A Crack Shot 1 - 2. On the Scent 3 - 3. Fatal Error 5 - 4. The Poison Murder Case 7 - 5. A Strange 'Kidnaping' 9 - 6. A Valuable Formula 11 - 7. Strangled 13 - 8. Death in the Office 15 - 9. They Usually Forget Something 17 - 10. The Professor Gives a Lesson 19 - 11. Upstairs and Down 21 - 12. Class Day 23 - 13. A Hot Pursuit 25 - 14. A Question of Identity 27 - 15. A Yachtsman's Alibi 29 - 16. Murder at Coney Island 31 - 17. Too Clever 33 - 18. Bloody Murder 35 - 19. Death Back-Stage 37 - 20. An Easy Combination 39 - 21. A Modern Knight 41 - 22. The Jewel Robbery 43 - 23. Before the Coroner's Inquest 45 - 24. The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up 47 - 25. Behind Locked Doors 49 - 26. Lost at Sea 51 - 27. A Suave Gunman 53 - 28. Accidental Death 55 - 29. Easy Money 57 - 30. Robbery at High Noon 59 - 31. The Wrong Foot Forward 61 - 32. Death Attends the Party 63 - 33. No Way Out 65 - 34. Midnight Murder 67 - 35. Speakeasy Stick-Up 69 - 36. Behind Time 71 - 37. A Broken Engagement 73 - 38. The Holden Road Murder 75 - 39. Fisherman's Luck 77 - 40. The Unlucky Elephant 79 - 41. The Professor Listens 81 - 42. Ten-Fifteen 83 - 43. Rapid Transit 85 - 44. The Professor is Disappointed 87 - 45. A Dramatic Triumph 89 - 46. Murder at the Lake 91 - 47. The Professor Studies a Coat 93 - 48. Too Late 95 - 49. Sergeant Reynolds's Theory 97 - 50. Daylight Robbery 99 - 51. A Simple Solution 101 - 52. Who? 103 - 53. Murder in the Swamp 105 - 54. Death by Drowning 107 - 55. Tragedy at the Convention 109 - 56. A Murderer's Mistake 111 - 57. Babe Comes Through 113 - 58. A Soldier of Fortune 115 - 59. Number Twenty-Six 117 - 60. The Pullman Car Murder 121 - 61. Forgery 123 - 62. The Christmas Eve Tragedy 125 - 63. A Knight of the Bath 127 - 64. Murder in the First Degree 129 - 65. A Rendezvous with Death 131 - 66. A Rum Regatta 133 - 67. Who is the Heir? 135 - 68. The Professor Stops a Blunder 137 - 69. The Perfect Crime 139 - 70. The Professor Sees Through It 141 - 71. The Kidnapers' Cleverness 143 - Solutions 145 - - - - - IT STANDS TO REASON! - A NEW NATIONAL GAME - - -Here is a fascinating game of wits for a party of any size. It can be -played in either of two ways. - -1. Select one or more stories from the _Minute Mysteries_ that -particularly appeal to you. Make as many copies of each as there are -guests at the party. Then pass the copies around and allow three -minutes, say, for your guests to study them. At the end of this time -each must hand you a written solution, giving the line of reasoning -which was used. You compare these with the solutions at the back of the -book; the one who is most often correct is the winner. - -2. Instead of making copies of each story, you may read it aloud, slowly -and carefully. If any of the listeners so desire, it may be read a -second time. But after this no questions may be asked. - -After the period agreed upon has elapsed, each guest writes out his -solution as in (1), and hands it to you for comparison with the book. - - -Method number 1 puts the emphasis on one's powers of reasoning and -analysis; method number 2 adds to these a premium on an accurate memory. - - - - - MINUTE MYSTERIES - - - 1 - _A Crack Shot_ - -Professor Fordney was hunting in the Rockies when informed of a tragedy -at one of the camps. Thinking he might be of some help, he went over, -and, after introducing himself, Butler, the victim's companion, told him -of the accident. - -'When Marshall hadn't returned to camp at nine o'clock last night, I was -a bit worried because he didn't know these mountains. There wasn't a -star out and it was dark and moonless, so I decided to look around for -him. We're five miles from anyone, you know. - -'Putting more wood on the fire, I set out. After searching for an hour, -I was coming up the slope of a ravine when I saw a pair of eyes shining -out at me in the dark. - -'Calling twice, and getting no answer, I fired, thinking it was a -mountain lion. Imagine my horror when I reached the spot, struck a -match, and saw I had nearly blown the head off Marshall. A terrible -experience! - -'I carried his body back to camp and then walked to the nearest house to -report the accident.' - -'How far from camp did you find Marshall?' asked Fordney. - -'About a quarter of a mile.' - -'I see your right hand is bandaged. How do you manage to shoot with it?' - -'Oh, I use either hand.' - -'Mind if I look at the gun?' - -'Not at all,' said Butler, handing it over. - -'H'm, European make, I see. Had it long?' - -'No, it's rather new.' - -'Why did you deliberately murder Marshall?' demanded Fordney abruptly -... 'for that's what you did.' - - - How did the Professor know Butler had murdered his companion? - - - 2 - _On the Scent_ - -'I couldn't wait to be announced,' said George Collins, Florida's -foremost prohibition agent, and a great wit, as he stepped into the -Professor's office. - -'How long are you going to be in New York?' asked Fordney, as the two -friends shook hands. - -'I'm due back in Miami now,' replied Collins, 'but I wanted to -congratulate you on your success in the Hicks murder case. I wish -interesting things like that would happen in my game. However, I did -have an amusing experience last December. - -'Sneaky Joe, a stool-pigeon, tipped me off to a huge still he said was -working about forty miles from headquarters. A narrow road through dense -woods led to the spot. Arriving there, I found an old dilapidated shanty -screened by trees. As I entered the woods, I smelled alcohol. Sneaky Joe -was right, after all, I thought, as I drove up to the shanty. - -'I got out and peered cautiously around, but the place seemed deserted. -After opening the door and entering the house, however, I knew liquor -was not being made there. I searched the woods, but found nothing. As I -was driving back along the road at a good rate, I discovered the alcohol -I smelled was coming from my own radiator! Imagine my chagrin!' - -The Professor laughed heartily and said to his friend, 'Stay over for my -birthday party tonight, the ladies would love to hear that yarn of -yours.' - - - What did the Professor find preposterous in Collins's story? - - - 3 - _Fatal Error_ - -'Crowley was an eccentric and taciturn old fellow, but I liked him,' -remarked Fordney. 'When he was found dead last December, I took a -personal interest in the case. Harold Bronson, his last known caller, -had this to say of his visit: - -'"After leaving word at my hotel where I might be reached if wanted, I -arrived at Crowley's suburban estate shortly after five o'clock. I found -him seated in the dusk at the end of his library table. Courteously -enough for him, he waved me into a chair at the other end and invited me -to dine with him at eight o'clock. Reaching for my cigarettes, I -remembered that Crowley did not permit smoking. - -'"His principal contributions to our discussion were his usual nods of -approval, grunts, and monosyllables. Very sparing of words, was Mr. -Crowley. - -'"About seven o'clock the telephone rang and he asked me to answer it. -It was my wife asking me to return at once to see an unexpected visitor. -Finishing the conversation, I returned to my chair and, after I -explained the call, Crowley nodded assent to my request to leave -immediately. - -'"On the way out, as the lights had not been turned on, I bumped my -head, which explains this bruise. Just as I reached the door, he called -after me--'See you tomorrow at ten.' He was certainly all right when I -left him shortly after seven." - -'Although Bronson's telephone alibi was later proved sound, he had -hardly finished his story before I was convinced he was implicated,' -concluded Fordney. - - - What directed suspicion to Bronson? - - - 4 - _The Poison Murder Case_ - -'I'm going to the theater now,' Bob Kewley told Professor Fordney at -their club. 'I wish you'd spend the evening with Uncle John. He's been -worried lately.' - -Upon reaching the Kewley home an hour later, Fordney found the butler in -an agitated state. - -'After ordering coffee, Mr. Kewley locked himself in his library an hour -ago, sir. When I rapped on the door just now, he didn't answer.' - -The two men forced the lock and found John Kewley on the floor, an empty -strychnine bottle at his side. The terrace door was open. After a -careful examination, Fordney returned home. A few hours later, Bob -Kewley entered his living-room. - -'Thought I'd stop in on my way home. Don't you think Uncle John looks -worried?' - -'Your uncle, Bob, is dead. Strychnine. Your butler and I found him lying -on the floor, but were too late to save him.' - -'How horrible, Fordney! Why was the library door locked, do you -suppose?' - -'That puzzles me. Has your butler been with you long?' - -'For years,' replied Bob, his head buried in his hands. - -'Well, you're a wealthy man now.' - -'What of it? Uncle John meant more to me than all the money in the -world.' - -'I wish I could believe that,' replied Fordney. 'You'll need a better -alibi than those,' pointing to the ticket stubs Bob was nervously -fingering. - - - How had Kewley aroused the Professor's suspicions? - - - 5 - _A Strange 'Kidnaping'_ - -'I haven't the faintest idea why I was kidnaped,' said Johnson to -Professor Fordney, an hour after he returned home. 'I never miss Sunday -evening services, you know, so I'm afraid I haven't much time to discuss -it now.' - -'Oh, just a brief account of your experience is all that is necessary,' -remarked the Professor. - -So Johnson proceeded. - -'I was walking along Burnham Street about 2 A.M. Friday when two masked -men, with drawn guns, ordered me into a blue sedan. I was blindfolded -and gagged. After driving for about an hour, I was led into a house and -down some stairs to a small room, where they removed my blindfold and -gag. They took off my outer clothing and hung it on a chair. Then they -questioned me at length about the Shirley case and refused to believe I -knew nothing of it. - -'Exasperated, they threatened to kill me, and when I remonstrated, one -of them hit me on the head with a black-jack and I went down -unconscious. - -'The next thing I knew was when I came to with a terrific headache. I -lay still for a few minutes and, hearing nothing but the ticking of my -watch, I cautiously got to my feet and groped for the door, as the room -was in darkness. Before I could locate it, two men, still masked, -entered, turned on the light, apologized profusely for the treatment I -had received, and said they had mistaken me for someone else. Then they -gave me something to eat, blindfolded me again, and drove me to within a -block of my home, still apologizing for the mistake. Before I could -remove my blindfold after getting out of the car, it had sped away. - -'It's all very mysterious to me. I can't make anything of it.' - -'I won't give you away, Johnson,' smiled the Professor. 'Your wife -undoubtedly believes your yarn, but you'd better think up a better one -the next time.' - - - What flaw did the Professor find in Johnson's story which proved the - 'kidnaping' was a fake? - - - 6 - _A Valuable Formula_ - -'I had just stepped behind that screen near the door to wash my hands -when a man, gun in hand, entered the room and stood motionless for a few -seconds,' said Hyde. 'Apparently satisfied no one was here, he walked to -the desk over there by the window. As he rummaged through the papers in -the drawer, I hastily dialed headquarters, leaving the receiver off the -hook, trusting you would trace the call. I was afraid to talk because I -was unarmed and he looked like a desperate fellow.' - -'You say he took nothing but a valuable formula from your desk?' -inquired the Professor. - -'That's all; he touched nothing else.' - -'Rather careless to leave such an important paper lying about like that, -wasn't it?' - -'Well, I suppose so, though it was only a copy. I sold the original to -Schmitz yesterday for twenty thousand dollars and I intended to destroy -the duplicate tonight.' - -'Would that formula be valuable to anyone else?' - -'Yes, it would be worth twice as much to Schmitz's competitors.' - -'Why didn't you sell it to them in the first place, then?' - -'Schmitz financed me while I was perfecting the formula, so I thought it -only right to sell it to him, even though I could have got more for it -from the other firm.' - -'As this is such a small, bright room and you observed so much through -that crack in the screen,' said Fordney sarcastically, 'you should be -able to give us a _very_ good description of the intruder.' - -'Oh, I can do that,' Hyde replied, with assurance. 'He was a big fellow -about six feet tall and weighed around two hundred pounds. He had -jet-black hair, swarthy complexion, an unusually large nose, and a -vicious-looking mouth. As he left obviously unaware of my presence, I -noticed he had a big rip in the back of his blue coat.' - -'Well, Hyde, as part of your story is incredible, you can't expect me to -believe any of it.' - - - Why did the Professor say this? - - - 7 - _Strangled_ - -'Twenty-two days of this hot, dry spell,' groaned Professor Fordney. 'I -can't remember a stretch like it.' - -'Tell us about the Greer case, Professor,' urged the rocking-chair -brigade. 'It'll take your mind off the heat.' - -'Well, you know the salient facts. The body of Irene Greer, lying on the -railroad right-of-way, was found half a mile from here by a fishing -party at 6 A.M. day before yesterday. It could be seen that she was a -beautiful girl despite the tousled hair matted with mud and a nasty -bruise on her cheek. Her flaming red dress was torn and dirty. She had -on shoes, but no stockings. Incidentally, her clothes were of the finest -quality. Her body indicated that she had received a terrific beating, -poor girl. - -'From appearances she had been placed on the track with the expectation -that she would be struck by a train and identification made impossible. -No doubt she was unconscious when this was done, but she must have -revived temporarily and crawled to the gravel right-of-way before a -train came along. There she died. - -'A peculiar circumstance is that, while her body was bruised and -twisted, there were no marks on her throat to indicate strangulation, -yet Dr. Bridewell says that was the cause of death. - -'She was found in a desolate spot. Oh, yes, she was probably strangled -with a scarf which, employed in a certain manner, would leave no outward -trace. - -'Now you folks should know how I learned Irene Greer was attacked -elsewhere and then brought to the vicinity where she was found,' smiled -the Professor. - - - Do you? - - - 8 - _Death in the Office_ - -When Professor Fordney reached Gifford's office, he found a policeman -already there. - -'Gifford's dead,' he was told. 'What brings you here?' - -'He telephoned me a few minutes ago; said he had been shot; then I had a -hard time understanding him. This street is on your beat, isn't it?' - -'Yes. I heard the shot when I was in Smith's cigar store. It took me a -while to locate it. The door was locked and I had to break in.' - -As they walked into an inner office, they saw Gifford's body, a bullet -through the heart, lying in a pool of blood. - -Fordney stooped to pick up a revolver. - -'It's an easy jump to the ground,' observed the policeman, who was -standing by an open window. - -'Did you know, sir,' he added, 'that Gifford has been troubled lately by -blackmailers?' - -'Yes. The last time I saw him, he told me he had been shot at a couple -of weeks ago.' - -Fordney walked over to the door and found the lock was sprung, but the -key still in it. - -'I suppose,' ventured the policeman, 'that the blackmailers got him. -They must have locked the door from the inside when they entered, shot -him, and then jumped out the window.' - -'No,' said Fordney, who was examining the key he had removed from the -lock. 'There weren't any murderers in here. Gifford committed suicide.' - - - Why was the Professor sure that it was suicide? - - - 9 - _They Usually Forget Something_ - -'Here is a good illustration of the old bromide that the smartest -criminal leaves some clue in even the most carefully planned crime,' -mused Professor Fordney. - -'While in Colshire, a beautiful little English village, I was asked by -the local police to assist them in a rather puzzling affair. - -'Suspicion of a particularly brutal murder had been directed toward an -illiterate underworld character. He was accused of sending the following -note found in the murdered man's pocket: - - _sir john when i last seen you i sed i will kill you if the muney - ain't here by mundy; all of it_ - - _yurs truly,_ - _XX_ - -'When Wellington, the Chief Constable, asked my opinion, I told him the -writer of the note, and therefore probably the murderer, was obviously -an educated man. After explaining why I was sure of that, he agreed with -me. - -'An odd sort of case. The murderer was found to be an extremely wealthy -American whose sister had married the murdered man's brother.' - -'Well,' laughed Bill Cargo to whom Fordney had been speaking. 'It's -getting too involved for me. I can't figure it out.' - - - How had Fordney determined the American was an educated man? - - - 10 - _The Professor Gives a Lesson_ - -'Cardoni came into Inspector Kelley's office yesterday,' said Fordney to -his Criminology Class. - -'"I want to speak to you alone, Chief," he said, eyeing me with frank -suspicion. - -'"It's all right. Go ahead," said Kelley. - -'"I've got some information on the Curtis kidnapers. How much is it -worth?" - -'"That all depends. Let's hear the story." - -'"They're in one of my old buildings, down on the East Side. Three men -and a woman. All you've got to do, Chief, is to take this, walk in an' -surprise 'em," said our informer, tossing a Yale key on Kelley's desk. -"They rented a room from me about a week ago." - -'"Sounds much too easy, Cardoni. I want something more definite than -that. What makes you think they're the kidnapers?" - -'"I heard them having an argument as I was doing some repair work in the -hall. One of the guys threatened to squeal if he didn't get a bigger -cut. It sounded interestin', so I peeked through the keyhole. They were -sittin' at a table in the middle of the room on which there was a stack -of money." - -'"Your story doesn't yet show they had any connection with the Curtis -kidnaping," Kelley said. - -"NO? Well, last night I heard them mention 'Curtis' several times. And -that ain't all," continued Cardoni, with a triumphant air. "Here's a -code message one of them must have dropped. Well, Chief, how much do I -get?" - -"Get out!" hollered Kelley as he made a pass at Cardoni.' - - - Why was the informer treated so rudely? - - - 11 - _Upstairs and Down_ - -'Let's hear your story,' said Inspector Kelley to Policeman Kirk, as -Fordney dropped into a comfortable chair at Headquarters. - -'The neighbors were worried because they hadn't seen old lady Brill -about for a couple of days and asked me to investigate. - -'Getting no answer to my ring, I broke open the front door, ran -upstairs, and, not seeing her, ran down and through the hall, unlocked -the kitchen door, and found her on the floor, a bullet through her heart -and a gun beside her. The windows and the doors to the porch and cellar -were locked on the inside and nothing seemed to be disturbed. - -'Looked like suicide to me. However, I learned her nephew was at the -house yesterday about the time the doctor said she died, so I brought -him in,' concluded Kirk. - -'Why did you run upstairs before examining the lower floor?' asked -Kelley. - -'Thought I heard a noise up there, sir,' replied the policeman. - -'Any finger-prints on the gun?' inquired Fordney. - -'Just those of the old lady,' answered Kelley. - -'I have a key to the house,' interrupted the nephew. 'I went in -yesterday, called to her, but she didn't answer, so I thought she'd gone -out.' - -'Did you go upstairs?' asked the Professor. - -'Yes, I ran up there, calling her name, but came right down again and -left immediately.' - -'Well, Kelley, of course it's murder--as you probably know. I suppose -you'll hold this fellow?' - -'I certainly intend to,' replied the Inspector. - - - How did Fordney know the old lady had been murdered? - - - 12 - _Class Day_ - -'Baklioff, in person, combined with "Grand Hotel," had packed the -Paramount,' said the Professor. 'Every seat was occupied and -standing-room was at a premium. What an opening it was!' he continued. - -'As the picture neared its end and the orchestra, under the magnificent -leadership of Baklioff, reached the climax of Mascagni's "Cavalleria -Rusticana," a shot rang out. - -'Inspector Kelley who accompanied me, was immediately on his feet -bellowing, "Lights!" They were quickly turned on and the picture -stopped. Warning everyone to keep his seat, we started for the back of -the theater, when a man's body slumped out of a seat and fell almost at -our feet. A hurried examination disclosed he had been shot in the back -of the head and that he was an extremely tall man. - -'Leaving Kelley to look after things, I hurried to the operator's booth. -When almost there, I heard another shot and knew I was too late. -Entering the small compartment, hung under the balcony, I found the -operator with a bullet through his temple and a smoking revolver by his -side. - -'"Not much to this," I remarked, as Kelley joined me. - -'"I wonder if he got the right man," commented the Inspector. "I don't -understand how he could have made such a splendid shot under the -circumstances. Amazing!"' - -'Was the dead man sitting in an aisle seat?' interrupted one of the -class. - -'Yes,' replied Fordney. - -'Gee, that's a good one, Professor, but I know now the one thing wrong -with your story,' said the student. - - - Do you? - - - 13 - _A Hot Pursuit_ - -'Hello, Smith,' said Professor Fordney as he opened the door. 'What's -up?' - -'Uncle Fred's house has been robbed. He had some negotiable bonds in the -library safe and told me to stick close to home until he returned from -New York.' - -'Were they stolen?' interrogated Fordney. - -'I'm afraid so. I was up in my bedroom about twenty minutes ago when I -heard a noise. I rushed downstairs just in time to see a man dash out of -the library. I ran after him and, as I passed the door, I noticed the -safe was open, so I suppose he got the bonds. He jumped into a waiting -automobile and I trailed him in my car which, fortunately, was standing -in front of the house, but he got away from me.' - -'Did you get his license number?' - -'No. Couldn't see it. When I lost him in the traffic, I drove right over -here.' - -'Didn't you keep the house locked while you were upstairs?' - -'Yes, but the burglar chiseled open a cellar window.' - -'Well, let's go over and have a look,' suggested Fordney. - -When they reached the Smith home, they found the bonds gone. - -'Did you lock the front door when you ran out of the house?' - -'Why--er,' replied Smith nervously, 'the door locks automatically. I -don't know what Uncle Fred will say when he gets back.' - -'He'll say plenty if you tell him the story you told me,' interrupted -the Professor. 'I suggest you put the bonds back.' - - - Where did Smith make his incriminating slip? - - - 14 - _A Question of Identity_ - -Professor Fordney and three of his friends were enjoying their weekly -'get together' at the University Club. - -'Professor,' said Patrie, 'tell us something about that Yelpir murder -case you were working on.' - -'Well, gentlemen,' he replied, in his retiring manner, 'as you know, -Yelpir's affairs were common knowledge, and the fact that several women -had reasons to wish him dead complicated matters a bit. - -'His body was found in his study, which opened on to a corridor. At the -other end of the corridor and directly opposite it a staircase led to -the servants' quarters above. - -'Diana Lane, a house guest of Mrs. Yelpir at the time of the murder, was -questioned, and she appeared nervous. She insisted, however, that she -had been in her room at the time Yelpir was slain. - -'Nora, a servant, testified that, as she was descending the stairs -leading from the servants' quarters, at midnight, she saw Diana Lane, -wearing her famous emerald pendant and dressed in an enticing black -neglige, walk down the lighted corridor to Yelpir's room. She said she -followed a minute later and heard Diana and Yelpir violently quarreling. -She returned to the servants' quarters and, as she opened the door of -her room, she heard a shot. - -'In the face of such evidence, Miss Lane admitted having gone to the -study at the time, but protested her innocence, declaring she had -remained only a minute. - -'While Miss Lane was acquitted, you know, her reputation was not above -reproach. Even so, I knew without further investigation that Nora's -testimony was maliciously false.' - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 15 - _A Yachtsman's Alibi_ - -'I've often remarked,' said Professor Fordney, in an expansive mood, -'how very difficult it is to fake an alibi without someone's assistance. -A case in point is a messy affair we cleared up recently. - -'I didn't definitely suspect Picus when I happened to bump into him at -the Fourth-of-July parade, the morning after an acquaintance of his had -been found dead under suspicious circumstances. I rather casually asked -him where he had been and what he had been doing the previous afternoon -about four o'clock, the apparent time of the man's death. He related the -following story: - -'"I took my sailboat out about noon yesterday. It was great on the -water. Around three o'clock, however, when I was perhaps ten miles out, -the wind died down completely. There wasn't a breath of air, and I knew -that, unless I could attract some boat, I was in for an uncomfortable -time. Remembering that the international distress signal is a flag flown -upside down, I ran mine up to the top of the mast in that manner. Thank -God it was a clear day. - -'"In about an hour the steamer Leone hove to, and I went aboard her -after securing my boat with a towline. The Captain said he had seen my -distress signal about four miles away and would put me ashore at -Gladsome Landing. He did so, and, as there was no one about, I hailed a -passing motorist who gave me a lift back to town. Imagine my surprise -when I read in the paper this morning that the Leone had been sunk in a -storm after putting me ashore, and all hands had been lost!" - -'While I knew,' remarked the Professor, 'that the Leone had been sunk -with all on board, after hearing Picus's story I immediately arrested -him on suspicion of murder.' - - - What was wrong with Picus's alibi? - - - 16 - _Murder at Coney Island_ - -Inspector Kelley and Professor Fordney were seated in the former's -office when Policeman Fanning and his charge entered. After Fanning's -hurried explanation, Jasper told his story: - -'I'm the ticket taker on a merry-go-round at Coney Island. This bein' -Saturday, we had a big crowd. The trip was almost over when I reached -out, saying, "Ticket, please," and I see this woman sittin' up in the -middle of the chariot with that terrible look on her face. She didn't -answer, and when I shook her, she slumped over in the corner. I -screamed, jumped off, and ran for the manager. I got blood on my hand -when I shook her. - -'Yes, sir, she'd ridden a couple of times and I seen the man she was -with on the two rides before,' continued Jasper, giving a detailed -description of him. 'I happened to see him jump off just before I got to -her.' - -'The doctor said she had been stabbed through the heart and had died -instantly?' queried Professor Fordney. - -'That's right, sir,' replied the policeman. - -'It seems strange, Jasper,' remarked the Professor, 'that you can give -such a good description of this woman's companion on two previous rides -when you just "happened" to notice him jump off. Does the merry-go-round -ever make you dizzy?' - -'No, sir; I'm used to it.' - -'Well, Inspector,' said Fordney, turning to his friend, 'I suppose you -are going to hold this man?' - -'Certainly,' replied Kelley. 'That's just about the dizziest story I've -heard in a long time.' - - - What justified the police in holding Jasper? - - - 17 - _Too Clever_ - -'Receiving no reply to my ring and finding the door unlocked, I went -in,' said Albert Lynch. 'Dawson was seated at his desk shot through the -head. Seeing he was dead, I called the police and remained here.' - -'Touch anything, Lynch?' asked Professor Fordney. - -'No, sir, nothing.' - -'Positive of that, are you?' - -'Absolutely, sir.' - -The Professor made a careful examination of the desk and found Dawson -had been writing a letter at the bottom of which and covered by the dead -man's hand, was a penned message: 'A. L. did thi----' and weakly trailed -off. - -Further examination disclosed several kinds of writing-paper, a pen-tray -holding the recently used pen, inkwell, eraser, stamps, letters, and -bills. The gun from which the shot had been fired was on the floor by -the side of the chair, and the bullet was found embedded in the divan. - -After a few questions, Fordney was quickly convinced of Lynch's -innocence. - -'What do you make of it, Professor?' inquired Inspector Kelley. - -'Though the scrawled note certainly looks like Dawson's writing, I am -sure an expert will find it isn't. I'm not surprised to find the gun -free of prints. Pretty thorough job, this. Good thing for you, Lynch, -and for us too, that the murderer was careless about something.' - -'Right,' said Kelley. 'But you aren't such a wise old owl, Fordney. This -is like the Morrow case we handled. Remember?' - -'Good for you, Inspector,' laughed the Professor. - - - How did both men so quickly determine that the incriminating note had - not been left by Dawson? - - - 18 - _Bloody Murder_ - -'A bad mess, this,' said Professor Fordney to Sergeant Reynolds, as they -viewed the bloody scene. - -'Yeah, I wish these guys wouldn't be quite so thorough when they bump -themselves off,' replied Reynolds as he set grimly to work. - -A man with his throat cut, the head almost severed, sat slumped over a -blood-spattered desk. What a horrible sight! His bloodstained coat flung -across the room, the razor! the shirt! the tie! his hands! covered with -blood, made a ghastly and awesome picture framed by the flickering light -of a dying candle. - -After turning on the lights, Fordney bent down to take a closer look at -the man. - -'His face seems vaguely familiar, Sergeant, but I can't recall at the -moment where I've seen him. How long has he been dead, Doctor?' - -'About two hours,' replied the police surgeon. - -At this moment the telephone rang. The caller, upon hearing Fordney's -voice, immediately disconnected. - -'Odd,' murmured the Professor as he hung up the receiver. 'I remember -now where I saw this man. His name is Thompson.' - -As he glanced around, he observed that the alarm-clock on the dresser -had stopped just two hours and fifteen minutes before. - -The telephone rang again and Fordney motioned Reynolds to answer. - -'Hello!' he said. 'Mr. Thompson stepped out for a few minutes. Leave -your number. I'll have him call you.' The man at the other end inquired -who was speaking and, when Reynolds replied, 'A friend,' he hung up. - -'Better trace that call, Sergeant; this is murder,' said Fordney. - -'What!' exclaimed Reynolds. 'Still looks like suicide to me!' - - - Do you agree with Reynolds or the Professor? Why? - - - 19 - _Death Back-Stage_ - -Claudia Mason, beautiful and popular young actress, was found lying -across the chaise-longue in her elaborately furnished dressing-room, -dead from a bullet wound in the temple. - -She had sold her jewels and, with an heroic gesture, partially paid her -many debts. - -Near Claudia's right hand, Sergeant Reynolds picked up the revolver with -which she had been killed, and after careful examination said: - -'No finger-prints, of course. Gosh, Fordney, there's two rocks she -didn't sell,' he exclaimed, pointing to a large emerald on her left hand -and a diamond on her right. - -'Call Maria, her maid. I want to find out who this fellow is,' said the -Professor, nodding toward a man's photograph signed, Juan. 'This was -evidently addressed to him,' he said, passing over a note which read: - - Dear Juan: - - I am so despondent. The money from my jewels was not nearly enough. - - Claudia - -'Not many of these dames kill themselves over their debts,' muttered -Reynolds as he went to call Maria. - -The maid entered the room, sobbing and hysterical. - -'Who is Juan?' asked Professor Fordney. - -'He's the leading man in the show.' - -'Why wasn't this note delivered to him?' - -'I forgot it.' - -'You found her?' - -'Yes. When I came to help her dress she--was--like that!' - -'Is Juan in his dressing-room now?' - -'I believe so.' - -When Reynolds brought him into Claudia's room, he dropped to his knees -beside the dead girl. - -'My God! She's killed herself!' - -'No, she hasn't, young man. She was murdered,' said the Professor. - - - Why was he sure it was not suicide? - - - 20 - _An Easy Combination_ - -'I was working late, preparing an advertising campaign,' continued -Fellows whom Professor Fordney had been questioning. 'About ten-fifteen -I heard the outer office door click. Being unarmed, I hurriedly turned -out the lights in my office and waited breathlessly, as there was a -large sum of money in the safe. I knew my chances of attracting -attention from the tenth floor were small, so, reaching for the -telephone, I hastily dialed Headquarters and told them in a low voice to -send help immediately. Then, creeping noiselessly to the open safe, I -gently shut the door, twirled the combination, and crawled behind that -big old-fashioned desk. - -'Shortly afterward the robber entered my office, flashed his light over -the place, and went to the safe. He had it open in a few minutes, took -the money, and left. That's all I know about it.' - -'What time is it now, Mr. Fellows?' inquired Fordney. - -'Why, I haven't a watch.' - -'How, then, did you know it was about ten-fifteen when you heard the -door click?' - -'I had gone next door for a sandwich and as I left I glanced at the -restaurant clock and noticed it was ten-five. I had been back about five -minutes,' replied Fellows. - -'You say the burglar was masked,' continued the Professor. 'How did you -know it?' - -'As he focused his flashlight on the combination and bent over, I saw -the mask,' returned Fellows belligerently. - -'Very interesting,' smiled Fordney, 'but you'll have to be a better liar -than that, Fellows, to fool me.' - - - Where did the Professor detect the lie? - - - 21 - _A Modern Knight_ - -'There was hardly a breath of air as we sat on the terrace enjoying -tea,' reminisced Professor Fordney. 'Rocca excused himself, saying he -wished to telephone. Shortly after he entered the house, we heard a -shot. I rushed into the drawing-room and found Rocca, smoking gun in -hand, staring dumbly at the chair in front of the open window which held -the huddled body of Chase. - -'A hasty examination disclosed the telephone receiver off the hook, a -single cigarette stub of Rocca's brand in the ash-tray, a bullet-hole in -the gauze curtain six inches below the window-sill, and Rocca's open -cigarette-case in Chase's lap. His replies to my hastily put questions -were evasive. Inspector Kelley arrived while I was talking and took up -the questioning.' - -'"Did you use the telephone?" - -'"Yes." - -'"You came directly to this room and did not leave it?" - -'"Yes." - -'"Chase was engaged to your sister?" - -'"Yes, he was." - -'"Did you offer Chase a cigarette?" - -'"I did." - -'"How did that dent get in your cigarette-case?" - -'"I dropped it about a week ago." - -'"Did you shoot Chase?" - -'"I refuse to answer that question." - -'At this point the doctor arrived and located the bullet in Chase's -body. Rocca then admitted Chase had been shot with the gun found in his -own hand, but stubbornly refused to say anything more. - -'"What's your opinion, Professor?" Kelley asked. - -'"Well," I replied, "Rocca is obviously shielding someone. We have -positive proof he came directly here and has not left this room. That, -combined with the other evidence discovered, absolutely exonerates -Rocca."' - - - How did the Professor know Rocca had not shot Chase? - - - 22 - _The Jewel Robbery_ - -'You say that as your butler called for help, a stranger, by the name of -Dudley, was passing the house and rushed in?' - -'That's right,' Owings corroborated, as the two men sat in Fordney's -study. 'It was rather late last Friday evening before I was ready to -leave town for the week-end, and as Stuben, the butler, wasn't feeling -well, I told him to stay upstairs and that I would lock up when I left. - -'I had some diamonds in the safe, so he said he wouldn't leave the house -until I returned,' continued Owings. - -'About eleven that night, he heard a humming noise and, having the -diamonds in mind, ran downstairs to investigate. Finding the wall safe -open and the jewels gone, he let out a scream for help. - -'Stuben has been with me for years, Professor, and I have implicit faith -in him.' - -'Did Dudley see anyone leave?' asked Fordney. - -'No; the robber or robbers must have left by the back door, as Dudley -was right in front of the house when he heard Stuben's call for help,' -replied Owings. 'Both men say the room smelled of cigarette smoke, so -the burglars must have just left.' - -'Was the back door unlocked?' inquired the Professor. - -'No, it was closed. It has a device which locks it automatically from -the outside when it's pulled to.' - -'Well, you'd better swear out a warrant for your butler and Dudley,' -said Fordney. 'I'm sure they know where your diamonds are. Long service, -you know, isn't necessarily a pledge of loyalty.' - - - Why did Fordney so advise Owings? - - - 23 - _Before the Coroner's Inquest_ - -'Let's run over your testimony before the inquest opens,' said Fordney. - -'All right,' replied Curry. - -'About three-thirty on Thursday, I got into the boat in front of my -cottage and rowed upstream. About fifty yards below the bridge, I looked -up and saw Scott and Dawson going across it in opposite directions. As -the two men passed, Scott reached out, grabbed Dawson, and hit him in -the jaw. Then he pulled a gun, and, in the scuffle that followed, Scott -fell off the bridge. He dropped into the water, but, as the current was -strong, by the time I reached the spot, he had sunk. When I finally -pulled him into the boat, he was dead.' - -'Was it a clear day?' asked Fordney. - -'Well, it had been showering early in the afternoon, but the sun was -shining then.' - -'Are you positive Scott got that bruise by hitting his head on the rocks -when he fell? The prosecution, you know, is going to claim that Dawson -hit him on the head with something, then deliberately pushed him off the -bridge,' commented Fordney. - -'I _know_ he got that bruise on the rocks,' stated Curry emphatically. - -'All right,' said the Professor, 'but I don't think the jury will -believe you. Personally, I'm sure Dawson didn't intentionally kill -Scott, but we'll have to have better proof than that if we hope to -acquit him. - -'By the way,' he continued, 'be sure to state you knew of the grudge -Scott bore Dawson.' - - -Why was the Professor doubtful the coroner's jury would believe Curry's - testimony? - - - 24 - _The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up_ - -'What's the hurry?' asked Professor Fordney, as Baldwin collided with -him in the doorway of the office at the back of the exclusive Cross -Jewelry Store. - -'I--I--was going to help search for the robbers,' stammered Baldwin as -he backed into the office. - -'Well, tell me what happened first,' said Fordney, as Dr. Lyman, police -surgeon, knelt beside Mr. Cross. - -'There's the special safe for the emerald behind that miniature -portrait. I was in here when Mr. Cross entered with two gentlemen,' -exclaimed Baldwin nervously. - -'He asked me to bring in a tray of diamonds. I set it on the table--both -men pulled guns and as Cross protested, one of them knocked him -unconscious with a blow on the head. The other forced me into that chair -saying, "All right, buddy. We'll wait on ourselves." Then he put the -diamonds in his pocket. I'm thankful I'm alive. I telephoned -Headquarters, then rushed out into the store, but they had escaped,' -concluded Baldwin. - -'So they got away with the famous Cross emerald, eh?' - -'Yes. The safe door was slightly open. Mr. Cross tried to call my -attention to it with a jerk of his thumb as the robber pocketed the -diamonds. Otherwise they wouldn't have discovered it.' - -'How is he, Doctor?' asked Fordney. - -'He'll never come to, I'm afraid. Those two blows on the head were a bit -too much for him.' - -'Two blows!' ejaculated Fordney. 'Are you sure, Baldwin, you weren't -hurrying away with the emerald? I'm not!' - - - Why did Fordney think Baldwin had stolen the emerald? - - - 25 - _Behind Locked Doors_ - -At the Collingham home Professor Fordney found Clive Kingston, the -Judge's nephew, and Watkins, the butler, greatly excited. Forcing the -library door, locked for three months, they saw the Judge seated in -front of the fireplace opposite the door, apparently dead. - -'Wait!' called Professor Fordney to Watkins, who had rushed into the -room. - -'He's all right,' said Kingston, as he and Fordney halted over the -threshold. - -'Perhaps, but I don't want any clues obliterated. Come back carefully -and get us a couple of small rugs, Watkins,' commanded Fordney. - -Walking only on the rugs placed over the thick, plain carpet, Fordney -and Kingston reached the Judge's side and found him dead--shot through -the heart. - -Kingston called the Professor's attention to footprints in the carpet -near the fireplace. As he fitted his shoe to an impression, he said, -'These are mine, and those, of course, must be Watkins's.' - -'Throw me your shoe,' called Fordney to the butler, standing in the -doorway. 'Yes, these are yours all right, and I can see the third set -was made by the Judge--notice the impression left by his peculiarly -constructed right shoe.' - -'There's the gun under the table,' called the butler. - -'Pretty sharp eyes, Watkins,' said the Professor, picking up and -critically examining the gun. 'No finger-prints, of course,' he mused. - -'Look!' exclaimed Kingston, 'the glass in that picture is broken. Were -two shots fired?' - -'Only one,' said Fordney, as with great care he picked the Judge's -nose-glasses from his lap where they had fallen, unbroken. 'I think I -know now who murdered your uncle.' - - - Whom did Fordney suspect, and why? - - - 26 - _Lost at Sea_ - -'Tell us exactly what happened,' said Professor Fordney as he sat in his -study with Mrs. Rollins. - -'It was a dark, moonless night. - -'At twelve o'clock, when we were about ten miles off Point Breeze, I -retired to my cabin, leaving my husband on deck. We were alone on the -boat. - -'In a few minutes, hearing loud shouts, I joined him again. We could -hear a boat approaching, running without lights, as were we. My husband -told me to return to the cabin, which I did. - -'Soon after doing so a bump, tramping feet, and loud swearing told me -our visitors had come aboard. I went up and, just as I stepped on deck, -a man put a gun against my ribs and told me to keep quiet. My husband -was engaged in a terrific fight with two others. - -'They must have known he always carried that leather bag of loose -diamonds because, when he dropped it in the fight, one of them picked it -up from the deck. - -'They finally knocked him unconscious and took him to their boat after -binding and gagging me. As you know, I was found drifting next morning -by that fisherman.' - -'How was your husband dressed?' inquired Fordney. - -'It was very hot--he had no shirt on, but wore dark trousers.' - -'Shoes or tennis slippers?' - -'Why--shoes, of course,' replied Mrs. Rollins with noticeable -hesitation. - -'Well,' said Fordney tersely, 'it's amazing to me that you expect to -collect insurance on your diamonds on such a flimsy yarn. You and your -husband will be lucky if you aren't prosecuted.' - - - Where did the elaborate story fall down? - - - 27 - _A Suave Gunman_ - -'Can you describe this fellow?' asked Professor Fordney of Henry Taylor, -manager of the National Theater. - -'Yes. He was a tall, well-dressed, good-looking chap. Wore a panama hat, -turned-down brim, blue coat, smart blue tie, natty white flannels with -silver belt-buckle, black-and-white sport shoes, and had a general air -of culture and refinement.' - -'Just what did he do?' - -'As I was counting the receipts, he came into the office, gun in hand, -and commanded me to get up from the desk and move over by that table. - -'After putting the money in a brief-case he carried, he took out a -cigarette and asked me to light it for him, still covering me, of -course. - -'Then he gagged me and tied me to the chair, after which he opened the -door, looked cautiously about, came back and, with a quiet "sorry" and a -warning, turned and left. As he passed through the door, he unbuttoned -his coat and slipped the revolver into his back pocket. The show was -just letting out, so I suppose he mingled with the crowd and escaped,' -Taylor concluded. - -'Are you insured against this loss of eight thousand dollars?' inquired -Fordney. - -'Yes.' - -'Could you see the color of the bandit's hair?' - -'It was blond.' - -'Anything unusual about him?' - -'No. Except that he was constantly clearing his throat in a peculiar -manner,' replied Taylor. - -'Left- or right-handed?' - -'Why--I'm not sure. Right-handed, though, I think.' - -'This has gone far enough, Taylor,' said Fordney sharply. 'The robbery -was obviously framed by you.' - - - How did Fordney know Taylor had faked the hold-up? - - - 28 - _Accidental Death_ - -Returning to town late one night, Professor Fordney was driving along an -unfrequented road when the sight of a motor-cycle policeman examining a -car in a ditch caused him to stop and offer his services. Joining the -policeman, he found that a man, obviously the driver, had been thrown -through the windshield and was lying about six feet from the car. - -His examination disclosed that the man had been terribly cut about the -head. The jugular vein was completely severed. The bent steering-wheel, -shattered glass, and the blood on the front seat and floor of the car -were mute evidence of the tragedy. - -Fordney also noted the speedometer had stopped at 62. - -A search of the body revealed nothing unusual except that the man wore -only one glove. The other could not be found. The Professor was -pondering this when the policeman handed him his report of accidental -death, saying, 'Is that how you see it, sir?' - -'I think,' replied Fordney slowly, 'you'd better change that to murder. -In the absence of any further evidence, it seems to be pretty clearly -indicated.' - -'Murder!' exclaimed the bewildered policeman. 'I don't understand how -you make that out.' - -After explaining his reason and with a final admonition to continue a -careful search for the missing glove, the Professor returned to his car -and drove down the wide, smooth highway toward home and a good night's -rest. - -Fordney's deduction was confirmed when the missing glove and the -murderer were found. - - - How had he arrived at his startling conclusion? - - - 29 - _Easy Money_ - -'Mr. Walker hurried into the kitchen,' said the valet to Professor -Fordney, 'and told me he was called away unexpectedly and that I was to -go to his library and take the money he had won last night to the bank. - -'I was busy,' he continued, 'but in about five minutes I went through -the hall, and, thinking I heard a noise, I stopped and listened at the -study door. There was someone moving about. The door was open. As I -peered around it, I saw a masked man, gun in hand, hesitating near the -fireplace. - -'Then he went over to the table in the center of the room, picked up the -stacks of ten- and twenty-dollar bills, and left by the window. I called -the police immediately and gave them a description.' - -'Exactly what time was that?' asked Fordney. - -'Just about ten o'clock, sir.' - -'Had you been in the library before that, this morning?' - -'No, I hadn't.' - -'Were you in your master's room today?' - -'No. What's that got to do with it?' - -'Nothing,' murmured Fordney, 'nothing at all! Does your master gamble -often?' - -'I don't think so.' - -'How much did he win last night?' - -'He didn't say.' - -'Humph,' said Fordney, as he pointed to a bill on the floor, 'the thief -dropped one. - -'I see your master has quite a library,' he continued, glancing around -the large, beautifully furnished room. 'Do you read much, Wilkins?' - -'A bit, sir.' - -'Did you ever read, "Honesty is the best policy"?' - - - Why did the Professor think Wilkins had robbed his master? - - - 30 - _Robbery at High Noon_ - -'I wonder who had the nerve to commit such a robbery at high noon,' -mused Professor Fordney as he examined the safe, seventeen minutes after -it had been rifled. 'Same old story: no finger-prints, no evidence.' - -'Found anything?' asked Lawson nervously as he entered his drawing-room. - -'Not yet. Are you here alone, Lawson?' - -'No. John, my nephew, is staying with me. Everyone else is in town.' - -'Where is he now?' - -'Oh, he left about an hour ago.' - -At 3.20 P.M. Fordney noticed Jones, the gardener, working at the edge of -a flower-bed. He kept looking furtively at the house while he -frantically covered over the hole he had dug. Finishing, he hurriedly -walked toward the boat-landing. - -Fordney, following, reached the dock just as John guided his motor-boat -in. - -'Have a nice day?' asked Fordney. - -'Yep. Had a grand run up the lakes.' - -'Where were you when your uncle's safe was robbed?' - -'Boy, I was hauling in a big muskie! What a battle he gave me! See him -in the end of the boat? Isn't he a beauty?' - -'When did you return?' demanded Fordney of the gardener. - -'I don't know what time it was,' he replied nervously, glancing at John. - -'You must have some idea.' - -'Well, it was about noon,' he reluctantly answered. - -'By the way, John, do you know the combination of your uncle's safe?' -inquired Fordney. - -'Is that old weasel accusing me?' - -'No, he isn't. But I've got my suspicions!' - - - Whom did Fordney suspect and why? - - - 31 - _The Wrong Foot Forward_ - -'The witness says,' explained the interpreter, 'that as the car came to -a sudden stop the conductor ran to the front and yelled to the motorman, -"You've done it again."' - -The little foreigner on the witness stand looked bewildered and -frightened. - -'He further says that there were two sailors on the car and that they -jumped off and ran.' - -'Have they been located yet?' inquired the Judge. - -'No, Your Honor; we've been unable to trace them, although the conductor -gave a good description,' replied counsel. - -'Proceed.' - -The interpreter continued. - -'Paslovsky, the witness, declares he had a clear view of the plaintiff -when he got off. He states that just as the plaintiff put his foot on -the ground, with his back to the front of the car, it gave a sudden -start and he was thrown to the road.' - -'Can't the witness understand or speak enough English to tell the court -about that?' asked the Judge. - -'No, Your Honor; he's been in this country only two weeks.' - -'How can he get about at that hour of night alone, then?' - -'Some friends put him on the car and telephoned the people with whom he -lives to meet him at the end of the line,' replied counsel for the -plaintiff. - -'Continue.' - -'Paslovsky,' declared the interpreter, 'says he picked up this picture -from the floor of the car--a snapshot of a sailor and a girl.' - -'Case dismissed,' thundered the Judge, 'and don't ever bring another -like that into this court.' - - - 'Why was His Honor justified in so abruptly dismissing the suit for - damages?' - -asked Professor Fordney of his class in criminology. - - - 32 - _Death Attends the Party_ - -'He had a big party last night,' said Graves, the valet. - -'Certainly looks like it,' retorted Professor Fordney, as he surveyed -the crazily balanced glasses, overflowing ash-trays, and liquor rings on -the small, fragile antique table at which Carlton Dawes sat. - -'It was awful, sir. Just as I turned to say "good night" to him, he -lifted his revolver, fired and toppled over.' - -'Funny,' mused Fordney. 'He had everything to live for.' - -'Everything but the thing he wanted,' replied the valet. 'Madeline, his -former wife, was here last night. He is always despondent after seeing -her.' - -'Well, Graves, pretty nice for you, eh? How much did he leave you?' - -'Ten thousand dollars, sir.' - -Fordney leaned over to examine the wound in Dawes's left temple. His -head rested on the edge of the table, his right hand on his knee and his -left hung lifelessly at his side. - -'Anything been touched since the tragedy?' - -'No, sir.' - -Fordney picked up Dawes's revolver where it had apparently fallen from -his hand. After examining it and finding only the dead man's -finger-prints, he laid it on the table. As he did so, Madeline entered -the room. She stopped, horrified. - -'What--what--has happened?' - -'Where did you come from?' demanded Fordney. - -'I've been upstairs. I didn't leave with the guests.' - -'Humph--you should have,' as he shot her a quizzical look. 'Your -presence may prove embarrassing. Your ex-husband was murdered.' - -Madeline slipped to the floor in a dead faint. - - - What convinced Fordney it was murder? - - - 33 - _No Way Out_ - -On a battered desk in the small, dark room lay a penciled note in -handwriting resembling that of the dead man: - - Dear John: - - You know the trouble I'm in. There's only one way out and I'm taking - it. You're my pal and will understand. Good luck. - - (Signed) Paul - -The only other furniture consisted of the chair in which Paul Morrow had -been found with his throat cut, a bed, and a highly ornate and -apparently brand-new waste-basket. It had been definitely established -that the dead man had not left the room during the twenty-four hours -before he was discovered. - -Finishing his examination of the contents of the man's pockets--two -twenty-dollar bills, a cheap watch, and an expensive wallet in which -there was a picture of a beautiful woman--Fordney turned his attention -to the meager inventory of the room. - -'That's all we can find,' said Inspector Kelley, indicating a -dictionary, scraps of a letter in a feminine handwriting found in the -ornate waste-basket, a pen, some cheap stationery, a few clothes, pipe -and tobacco, and a bloody, razor-sharp knife. 'Certainly has all the -appearances of suicide,' he continued. 'This door was locked and no one -could have left by that window. What do you make of it, Fordney?' - -The Professor didn't reply at once. He picked up the photograph, studied -it a moment, and then, with a slow, searching look around the small -room, said: - -'Better try to piece those bits of letter together. This isn't suicide; -it's murder.' - -'I believe you're right,' exclaimed Kelley, with dawning comprehension. - - - What brought Fordney to this conclusion? - - - 34 - _Midnight Murder_ - -'Who are you, and what's this all about?' demanded Inspector Kelley, as -he and Professor Fordney arrived at the apartment in answer to a call. - -'I'm Jack Day. I share this apartment with Al Quale. I returned from the -theater, shortly after midnight, went into his room, and found him lying -there on the bed. When I saw he was dead, I called Headquarters at once. -God, this is terrible!' - -'Those your things on the bed?' asked Kelley, indicating a blood-stained -muffler, a hat, gloves, and cane. - -'Yes, I tossed them there before I rushed to the telephone. Got that -blood on the muffler when I bent over him.' - -'What time did you leave here this evening?' - -'Shortly before seven,' replied Day. - -'Can you prove you were at the theater all evening?' demanded Kelley. - -'Why, yes, I went with a friend.' - -'He's been dead about six hours, Inspector,' said the police surgeon, -finishing his examination at this point. 'A deep knife wound, below the -heart.' - -As Fordney picked up an earring from the floor, Day exclaimed: 'Why, -that belongs to his fiance.' - -'Well, there'll be no wedding bells for him,' remarked Kelley, with a -start as he discovered that Day's cane was a sword-stick with a long, -thin, shining blade. - -'Any blood, Inspector?' asked Fordney. - -'None. Clean as a whistle.' - -'Well, Day, looks mighty bad for you,' stated the Professor. 'I don't -know yet whether you killed him with that cane, or whether you killed -him at all, but I do know you were here a few minutes after he was -stabbed.' - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 35 - _Speakeasy Stick-Up_ - -'I had counted the cash, and as I was working the combination to open -the wall safe I heard this guy in back of me say, "Get 'em up, Bo. This -is a stick-up." I reached for the ceiling as he says, "Make a move and -I'll drill you!" He didn't sound like he was foolin', so I kept quiet. - -'Well, he comes over, gives me a prod with his gun, pockets the dough, -and asks me where the best liquor is, saying he don't want no bar -whiskey either. I told him and he poured himself a drink. - -'Then he got real sociable-like, but wouldn't let me take my hands down. -He kept on talkin' and makin' wise-cracks, but finally got tired, I -guess. - -'With a warnin' that, if I moved before I could count twenty, my wife -would be a widow, he beat it,' concluded Sullivan. - -'How much did he take?' inquired Professor Fordney, who had entered the -speakeasy after hearing the bartender's call for help. - -'About five hundred dollars,' Sullivan replied. 'We had a good day.' - -'Haven't you a gun here?' - -'Sure, but I didn't have a chance. I ain't exactly no boy scout, but -this mug was too big and tough-lookin' for me to tackle.' - -'How did you get that cut on your hand?' inquired the Professor. 'And -that bruise on your finger?' - -'Opening a case of lemons,' answered Sullivan. - -'Well,' said Fordney, 'if your whiskey isn't any better than your -attempt at a fake hold-up, I'll have ginger ale.' - -You're right. The bruise had nothing to do with it, but: - - - How did Fordney know the stick-up was a fake? - - - 36 - _Behind Time_ - -Professor Fordney, on his way to investigate a case of blackmail, was -musing on the perversity of human nature when a jar threw him into the -aisle as the train came to a sudden stop. Jumping off, he rushed ahead -of the engine, where he found a small crowd gathered about the mutilated -body of a man hit by the train. He was identified by a card in his -pocket as John Nelson, an important figure in railroad labor circles. - -'How did it happen?' inquired Fordney. - -'Well,' replied Morton, the engineer, 'I was running twelve minutes late -when I hit him. There are several miles of straight-away along here and -I was beating it along at sixty miles trying to make up time. Didn't see -him until we were about ten yards away, right on top of him. I jammed on -the brakes, of course, but it was too late.' - -'Did you leave New York on time?' - -'Yes, sir. One-thirty exactly.' - -'Why were you running late?' - -'We were held in a block for about fifteen minutes outside of New -Haven.' - -'What was your fireman doing when you hit this man?' - -'Stoking the boiler.' - -'You say it was just a few seconds after four-ten when you hit him?' -demanded the Professor. - -'That's right,' agreed Morton. - -'Did you know this man by any chance?' - -'Yes, slightly--he was an officer in my union,' replied the engineer, -with a worried look. - -'Well,' said Fordney, 'I don't know your object in telling such a story, -or how you hoped to get away with it--you won't.' - - - What justified Fordney in recommending Morton's arrest? - - - 37 - _A Broken Engagement_ - -'Peculiar,' murmured Fordney, as he examined the desk on which lay seven -letters ready for mailing, three gray, one lavender, two pink, and one -lemon-colored. - -As he idly shaped the wax of the candle standing on the desk, he -continued to ponder this unusual choice of color in stationery. - -One of the letters was addressed to Dot Dalton, who had been murdered -between eleven-forty and eleven-fifty. She was one of the guests at this -house party in the Adirondacks. - -All the letters were closed with black sealing wax stamped with the -letter 'F.' - -At midnight, Fordney began his questioning. - -'What time did you retire?' he asked Molly Fleming, in whose bedroom he -was seated. - -'About ten,' she replied. - -'Was your door locked?' - -'Yes.' - -'Hear any disturbance?' - -'No; I was tired, fell asleep almost immediately, and didn't awaken -until you knocked on my door a few minutes ago and told me of the -tragedy.' - -'Why did you write to Dot?' - -'I didn't see her last night and knew she intended leaving early this -morning. Jack Fahey broke our engagement yesterday and told me he was -going to marry Dot. My letter was to tell her just how despicable I -thought she was in luring him away from me. He didn't love her. Of -course, I'm sorry she's dead, but a lot of wives will feel safer.' - -'Why the various colors of stationery?' inquired the Professor. - -'Oh, I always write in a color that seems to reflect the personality of -my correspondent.' - -'I see,' said Fordney; 'but unless you have a better alibi you'll be -held under serious suspicion.' - - - Why was the Professor practically certain Molly was involved in this - horrible murder? - - - 38 - _The Holden Road Murder_ - -'What a night!' sighed Professor Fordney as he hung up the telephone -receiver. Half an hour later, still grumbling, he splashed his way -through the mud and rain to the door of 27 Holden Road. Removing his -rubbers in the spotless vestibule, he stepped into a large, -well-furnished living-room running the entire width of the house. -Introducing himself and explaining he would question everyone later, he -asked to be left alone. - -In the far corner of the room he found a man lying on the floor, his -throat cut. As he bent over, his attention was attracted to a dime lying -about five feet from the head of the dead man. He picked it up, regarded -it curiously, and, with a thoughtful look, put it in his pocket. - -The Professor began his questioning with the butler. - -'You found the dead man?' - -'Yes, sir, I was returning from posting a letter about thirty minutes -ago and, just as I was coming up the path of the front door, I heard a -scream, dashed in, and found Mr. White here gasping his last breath.' - -'Lose a dime?' inquired Fordney mildly. - -'Why, I don't think so, sir,' replied the butler nervously. - -'I heard the scream from upstairs,' volunteered Cannon, owner of the -house, 'and ran in here right behind Wilkins.' - -'Did either of you leave this room before I arrived?' - -'No,' replied Cannon; 'we stayed here until you came.' - -'Did you, Mr. Cannon, lose a dime? No? Well,' remarked Fordney, 'it -looks like collusion to me and I can tell you Inspector Kelley won't -swallow this story.' - - - What was wrong with the story? - - - 39 - _Fishermen's Luck_ - -'Having these stones in my possession, Professor Fordney, isn't proof -that I had any part in the Morris robbery.' - -'I know all about your story, Holmes. Found the jewels yesterday at -three o'clock in the lake, tied up in a chamois bag, didn't you? But -what were you doing out in an open boat in the cloudburst that lasted -all yesterday afternoon?' - -'It was because of that cloudburst that I sallied forth,' explained -Holmes confidently. 'Perfect fishing weather, so I jumped into my boat -and went across the lake for some minnows. I had rowed back to within a -few yards of shore when I just happened to notice the bag lying on the -bottom of the lake, so I landed, tipped my boat over to keep the rain -out, and waded in. Curious, you know. The water at that point was over -my waist and cold, but when I opened the bag--my courage and curiosity -were rewarded.' - -'On which side of the dock did you find it?' asked Fordney. - -Holmes pointed to a spot on the sandy bottom at the left. - -'Think I'll talk with the minnow man,' declared the Professor as he got -into Holmes's boat. He rowed furiously for about fifty yards, suddenly -dropped the oars and, after glancing from the crystal-clear water to the -bottom of the boat, emitted a victorious chuckle. - -'Stupid of me not to have thought of that before,' he mused. 'Wonder if -Holmes is a better fisherman than he is a liar?' - - - Clever fellow, Holmes. Did his story fool you? - - - 40 - _The Unlucky Elephant_ - -'Dead! Bullet-hole in right temple,' said Sergeant Reynolds, as he knelt -by a man lying face down, a revolver clutched in his right hand. - -'All right,' replied Inspector Kelley. 'Let's have a look round. Dressed -for the street, eh?' While speaking, Kelley picked up from the floor -several fragments of glass and a right-hand glove, turned inside-out. - -'Look at this glove, Reynolds. What do you make of it? And I wonder if -that soiled handkerchief on the table belongs to him?' - -'Gee, Chief,' said Reynolds, as he turned the body over and unbuttoned -the topcoat, 'this is young Holman, the millionaire.' - -The body was immaculately clothed in the finest custom tailoring. - -'Broke his watch, too. Stopped at eight-ten,' continued the Sergeant, as -he removed the timepiece from the vest pocket. 'Let's see if those -pieces you've got are part of the crystal. Yep! And look at this jade -elephant at the end of the chain. - -'Bumped himself off, all right, Inspector, but I don't get that glove -business, or that dirty handkerchief either.' - -'We'd better look round and find that other glove,' said Kelley. - -A thorough search failed to disclose it, and while the Inspector was -confident it was suicide, he decided to get Professor Fordney's opinion, -because of the prominence of young Holman. - -After explaining the situation to the Professor over the telephone, he -was puzzled at his reply: - -'I'll be right around, Inspector. From what you've told me, it looks -like murder.' - - - What justified the Professor's belief that it was probably murder? - - - 41 - _The Professor Listens_ - -'Why the rush to get back to New York?' inquired Fordney, a few minutes -after Delavin stepped from the plane. 'Thought you intended spending the -summer in Cuba.' - -'Well, if you must know, my bank failed, and I came back to straighten -out my affairs.' - -'That's too bad, Delavin. How did you hear about it?' - -He handed Fordney a clipping from the _Jacksonville Herald_: - - New York, July 5. (AP)--Foundation Bank & Trust Co., one of New York's - oldest banking establishments, closed its doors today... - -'Sure you didn't come back to help your pal Ryan?' asked the Professor. -'He's been in jail for two days. Ever since the Fourth-of-July bombing. -Had a letter on him signed by you asking him to get in touch with a C. -J. Wallace. - -'We traced Wallace and discovered he is with an ammunition company. When -the District Attorney heard you were on your way here, he asked me to -meet you. He thinks you know something about the bombing.' - -'In jail, huh? I didn't know there had been a bombing. Wallace is a -cousin of mine.' - -'Where did you catch your plane?' - -'Why--er--Jacksonville, Florida. You see, I was staying at a rather -remote place and no planes serve that part of Cuba. Really had no -thought of leaving until I read of the bank failure.' - -'Well, you had better think of a more convincing alibi, before the -District Attorney questions you.' - -'Oh, I suppose somebody wired him that "Spider" McCoy met the plane when -we landed in Norfolk. He's got nothing on me!' exclaimed Delavin. - - - What do you think of Delavin's actions? Suspicious? Why? - - - 42 - _Ten-Fifteen_ - -Professor Fordney glanced at his desk clock as he picked up the -receiver--ten-fifteen. - -'Hello!' came the agitated voice at the other end. 'This is Waters. -Could you come over right away? Something's just happened that I'd like -to discuss with you. I'd appreciate it.' - -'Well,' returned the Professor, again glancing dubiously at the clock, -'if it's important, I'll be round. Good-bye.' - -Twenty minutes later, he was met at the door by Waters's secretary who -was almost incoherent in his excitement. - -'He's dead, Professor. Dead--there in the library!' - -Fordney hurried to the room and found Waters slumped over his desk with -his throat cut. - -'Well, tell me what happened,' he said to the secretary, as he noted the -position of the body, the open window, and the cigar-ash on the rug -about six feet from Waters's chair. - -'I came in about an hour ago, Professor, and went right upstairs to do -some work. Twenty-five minutes ago I came down and heard him talking to -you as I passed the library on my way to the pantry for a sandwich. I -was there about twenty minutes, I imagine, and, as I came back through -the hall, I happened to look in here, and there he was. I can't imagine -who did it or how it happened,' he concluded. - -'Have a cigar,' offered Fordney. - -'Thanks, I will, Professor. It'll kind of steady the nerves.' - -'And now,' said Fordney, 'suppose you tell me the real truth of this -affair.' - - - Why did he doubt Waters? - - - 43 - _Rapid Transit_ - -'I was beatin' along the Boston Post Road, about fifty miles an hour, -when I looks around and sees this bird standing on the tail-gate -fumbling with the lock on the doors. I stopped as fast as I could, -jumped out, and ran round to the back. This mug had hopped off with an -armful of furs and climbed into a car that was following. His partner -even took a shot at me,' said Sullivan, whom Professor Fordney was -questioning. - -'He must have been a very good judge. He took only the best you -carried,' commented Fordney. - -'Yeah. Guess he was. Fur-stealin' is a big racket these days.' - -'Why didn't you report it at the next town instead of waiting until you -got back to the office?' - -'Well, I thought the boss wouldn't want it to get out that the furs of -his wealthy customers had been pinched. He's awful particular about us -usin' our heads.' - -'Where was your helper?' - -'Just after I started out, he said he was feelin' sick, so I told him to -go on home.' - -'Fifty miles an hour is excessive speed for that truck, isn't it?' asked -Fordney, examining the all-steel doors of the massive, dust-proof -moving-van. - -'She's big, but she'll do even better than that!' - -'Always wear those gloves when you're working?' - -'Always,' laughed the driver. 'Have to keep me hands dainty, you know.' - -'I thought so,' retorted Fordney, continuing his close examination of -the doors. - -'Come on, Sullivan, take me for a ride in that truck. I know you're -lying.' - - - How did the Professor know? - - - 44 - _The Professor is Disappointed_ - -'What'll I do, Professor,' implored Vi Cargo, as Fordney examined the -ground beneath her bedroom window. - -Seven A.M. A fine time to start looking for a thief! Why couldn't women -be more careful of their jewelry! - -'I was restless all night,' said Vi, as Fordney knelt beside a deep -impression of a man's right shoe. - -'By Jove, I thought we'd found one of your stones,' he said, pointing to -a leaf in the footprint. 'Look at the sunlight glistening on those -raindrops!' - -'It was the shower that awakened me around six,' chattered Vi. 'It only -lasted about fifteen minutes. I dozed off again and awakened with a -start just as a man jumped to the ground, from my bedroom window.' - -'Was that just before you came for me?' - -'Yes.' - -'Are are you alone, Vi?' - -'Yes. The servants are in the country.' - -'Then why did you have all your jewels in the house?' - -'I had worn them to Mrs. De Forest's party.' - -'Do you know anyone who smokes this brand?' asked Fordney, picking up -from the ground an unsmoked cigarette of English manufacture. - -'Yes. Mr. Nelson, who brought me home last night. However, I threw that -one there.' - -'The thief chiseled open this window directly under your bedroom.' - -'I wondered how he got in! The doors were all locked.' - -'Come, my dear! Don't you think you've treated the old Professor rather -shabbily? You women! I know your jewels are heavily insured and I also -know of your bridge debts. Who helped you fake this robbery? Nelson?' - - - Where is the clue? - - - 45 - _A Dramatic Triumph_ - -A clock softly chimed eight-forty-five as Professor Fordney and -Halloway, dramatic critic of the _Times_, finished their after-dinner -coffee. They strolled leisurely to the corner and reached the Belmont -just in time for the curtain. - -As the first act ended, Fordney remarked enthusiastically: 'Halloway, -it's magnificent! Boswell is certainly our finest dramatic actor. How he -held that audience, for forty-five minutes, from the moment the curtain -arose! That's genius!' - -The final curtain found him even more enthusiastic in his praise of -Boswell's acting. - -Learning next morning of the actor's murder, he became personally -interested. - -Sibyl Mortimer had been questioned by the police and quickly dismissed. -Her alibi appeared sound. She had an engagement with Boswell last -evening, but said he telephoned her shortly after nine breaking it, so -the police concerned themselves with his reason for doing so. - -A taxi-driver, who drove Boswell and another man from the theater, -dropped them at Fifth Avenue and Sixty-Fifth Street at midnight. His -description of the man checked with that of Jenks, Boswell's manager, -who was missing. It was learned that his reason for breaking the -engagement with Sibyl was to discuss a new contract with Jenks, about -which there had been considerable disagreement. - -A charred piece of the contract was found in the actor's fireplace, in -front of which he lay. Jenks's cane and a vanity-case monogrammed 'S. -M.' were also found in the room. - -Acquainted with the facts by Sergeant Reynolds, Fordney replied, - -'I'm afraid you've overlooked a valuable clue.' - - - What was it? - - - 46 - _Murder at the Lake_ - -'Here's all we've been able to learn, Professor. I wish you'd see what -you can make of it,' said Sheriff Darrow. - -'Garden's cottage fronts the lake at a point about halfway between the -head and foot of its mile length. - -'A strong east wind off the lake that morning caused him and his two -guests to abandon their proposed fishing trip. Garden remained behind -while Rice and Johnson set off hiking in opposite directions. - -'Rice said that fifteen minutes later, as he was retrieving his hat -which had blown into the lake, he heard a shot and hurried to the -cottage. There he found Johnson with blood on his hands bending over -Garden, who had been shot through the heart. - -'Johnson said he had gone only about two hundred yards when he heard the -shot and rushed back. He claims he got the blood on his hands when -ascertaining if Garden were alive. He also admits moving some furniture, -although cautioned against it by Rice. - -'Fortunately for Rice, we found his hat still wet, but discovered he had -changed his shirt before the arrival of the police. He had also gone -through Garden's desk, but said he removed nothing. - -'Both men entered through the back door, though the front entrance was -more convenient. - -'We haven't found a gun or any other weapon and we haven't been able to -establish a motive yet,' concluded Darrow. 'What do you make of it?' - -'It's a bit muddled, Sheriff,' replied Fordney, 'but I would question -________ further.' - - - Of whom was he definitely suspicious--and why? - - - 47 - _The Professor Studies a Coat_ - -'They covered us with a gun, and when the cashier tried to give an -alarm, they shot him. Then they handcuffed me, grabbed five stacks of -bills, and beat it.' - -'Calm yourself,' ordered Fordney, 'and tell me who "they" are.' - -'Two fellows who robbed the bank just now,' explained the excited -narrator, who had rushed into Fordney's cottage at Lakeview. 'I knew you -were vacationing in the village, so, as soon as they escaped in their -car, I ran over here.' - -'Didn't you call a doctor for the cashier?' - -'Too late. He must have died instantly.' - -'How do you know the bandits escaped in a car?' - -'I saw them from the window.' - -'Were you and the cashier alone at the time of the shooting?' - -'Yes. I had just made a deposit. I guess they got my money, too.' - -Fordney walked over and picked up the overcoat his visitor had removed -upon entering the living-room. - -'You seem to have had a little accident. How did you get this?' he -asked, examining a long tear in the front of the coat. - -'Why--I guess I tore it on the door when I rushed out of the bank. I -broke a button, too, you'll notice.' - -'Let's see your hat!' demanded Fordney, eyeing his visitor sharply. - -'Why--where is it? I--must have left it in the bank!' - -'Well--let's go. The police will be interested in your story--and bring -that coat with you!' - - - Why did Fordney suspect this man of complicity in the hold-up? - - - 48 - _Too Late_ - -'Perhaps you'd better tell me exactly what happened,' said Professor -Fordney kindly to the agitated man. - -'Well,' continued Palmer, 'Frank has been despondent and talked of -suicide for some time. I thought exercise and the open air would do him -good, so I suggested a vacation at my place in the country. - -'We'd been there three days, and he seemed in much better spirits. Then, -Thursday morning, after we'd been fishing an hour or so, he said he -thought he'd try another stream about a mile away. I was having good -luck, so I told him to go ahead and I'd meet him at the cabin later. - -'About eleven o'clock, when I'd caught my limit, I started back. As I -neared the cabin, I seemed to have a premonition of trouble, and ran the -last few yards. When I opened the door, God! I'll never forget it! I'd -got there not more than five minutes behind him, and yet there he -lay--dead! That hideous look on his face! It haunts me! Why couldn't I -have been just a few minutes earlier? - -'A whiskey bottle on the table and the glass which smelled of cyanide -told me the story. He'd done it, after all! I'll never forgive myself,' -Palmer concluded with a sob. - -'Had you any visitors while at camp?' asked Fordney. - -'No, we hadn't seen anyone for two days.' - -'Did your friend smoke?' - -'Not at all.' - -'Was the door open or closed when you arrived?' - -'Why, closed.' - -'And the windows?' - -'Closed, too, Professor.' - -'If you're innocent, Palmer, why are you lying?' demanded Fordney. - - - What was the lie? - - - 49 - _Sergeant Reynolds's Theory_ - -'Inspector Kelley picks out such nice messy jobs for me.' - -Professor Fordney smiled as Reynolds made a wry face. - -'We found him lying against a boulder about ten feet from the bottom of -a fifty-foot embankment of solid rock. While there were no traces of the -path of his fall, the concrete road directly above him was stained with -blood. I don't know why people insist on walking along the highway. - -'That's such a bad curve right there. I don't suppose we'll ever find -out who struck him. And then, it's possible for someone to have hit him -without knowing it. And I believe the car that did stopped and the -driver seeing how badly he was hurt, in fear, drove on.' - -'What makes you think that, Reynolds?' - -'There are tracks of a car skidding along the shoulder of the road, and -footprints in the blood where the fellow dropped on the pavement. I -suppose the poor old man regained consciousness, staggered to his feet, -and rolled down the embankment. That finished him. Ugh--it was a messy -affair!' - -'Who is he?' - -'We're not sure. The only identification was a small scrap of paper in -his pocket with the name Tabor. By a queer coincidence there was a large -T deeply cut in the blood-stained boulder which stopped his fall.' - -'No doubt, Sergeant, the murderers intended you should take exactly the -inference you have, but don't you see t____ w__ n_ b____ b______ t__ -r___ a__ t__ b______?' - - - What did the Professor tell Reynolds? - - - 50 - _Daylight Robbery_ - -'I went to the office Thursday to do some work,' Shaeffer related. - -'About noon, I happened to look out the window and notice a black sedan -draw up and two tough-looking fellows get out. They looked suspicious to -me, and, as I wasn't armed, I hastily banged the safe door closed and -ran into the washroom--not a bit too soon either. In just a few seconds -they came in, one carrying a sawed-off shotgun. I could see them -plainly. - -'They looked around for a moment and one said, "If anybody comes in here -before we're through, give it to him." - -'He then went over to the safe and, after working on it for about five -minutes, had it open and took the money. They certainly had a lot of -nerve. Even stopped to count it! Then they leisurely strolled out the -door. I called Headquarters immediately.' - -'How much did they get?' questioned Inspector Kelley. - -'Over fifteen thousand. We hadn't banked the money from the day before -because Thursday was a holiday.' - -'Get the number of the car?' - -'No. When it drove up to the office, I didn't see a license plate on the -front, and I couldn't see the back. When I finished telephoning for the -police, it had gone.' - -'Was there anyone at the office besides you?' - -'I was alone. A man telephoned an hour before, however, and asked if we -were open. I told him no, but I'd be there until about two-thirty. He -hung up without answering.' - - -'Well, fellows,' asked Professor Fordney, of the members of his class in - criminology, to whom he was telling the story, 'why did Inspector - Kelley immediately arrest Shaeffer?' - - - 51 - _A Simple Solution_ - -The sun streamed cheerfully through the window, bringing into lively -play the soft tones of the luxurious furnishings, as the two house -guests, Professor Fordney and Inspector Kelley, entered the oil -magnate's bedroom. - -'Nothing in here to get excited about,' said Kelley. - -Fordney, opening the window and seeing Smith lying on the ground three -stories below it, cried, 'Run downstairs, Inspector. Quick! There he -is!' - -Kelley nodded, and was on his way. As he hurried out the door, he came -face to face with the butler. Fordney eyed the servant suspiciously as -he entered. - -'When did you see Mr. Smith last?' he asked. - -'About an hour ago. He had a telephone call which seemed to excite him -and he came right up here to his room.' - -'Who brought this up?' Fordney asked, fingering an unopened letter with -an illegible postmark. - -'He brought it up himself, sir, saying he was not to be disturbed.' - -'Anyone been here since?' - -Kelley's noisy entrance interrupted the butler's 'No, sir.' - -'Smith broke his neck. I found this on him,' he remarked, handing the -Professor a note. - - Ill health and financial trouble have made life a burden. I'm leaving - my bedroom for the last time. A three-story drop and my misery will be - over. - - Smith - -'His suicide will be a blow to the oil industry,' Kelley mused, as -Fordney sat down at the desk and began to write with Smith's fountain -pen. - -'His _death_ will be, Inspector,' said Fordney. 'Better get the servants -together. This is murder--not suicide!' - - - What reason did Fordney have for making such a statement? - - - 52 - _Who?_ - -'I was trying to stop the flow with this, Professor,' said Weeds, the -butler, indicating a blood-covered towel he had just removed from the -bed, 'when Jones struck at me and I dropped it.' - -'And I'm sorry I missed!' angrily exclaimed Jones, the colored -chauffeur. - -'Never mind that,' said Inspector Kelley. - -'Did you find her, Weeds?' asked Professor Fordney. - -'Yes, sir.' - -'She's a good-looking mulatto,' remarked Kelley, looking at the maid -lying on the floor at the side of the bed. Her right hand outstretched, -the wrist deeply cut, rested in a pool of blood on the polished floor. -'Must have slipped off the bed.' - -'I don't think so. The spread hasn't a wrinkle in it,' said Fordney, -noting the immaculate coverlet of pink lace, the edge caught under the -girl's body. - -'She was almost gone when I found her,' offered Weeds, 'and she died -before I could get a doctor.' - -'Is this yours, Jones?' inquired Fordney, picking up a sharp knife -hidden by the girl's dress. - -'Yes. She wanted it to cut the stems of the flowers I had brought up.' - -'I didn't see that knife when I tried to help her,' said Weeds. - -'Course you didn't! You put it there!' shouted Jones angrily. - -'How do you know? You weren't here. And what's more, I heard you -threaten her last night. You don't see any flowers here, do you, -Inspector?' quietly asked Weeds. - -'You're right,' said Kelley. After whispering to Fordney, he continued, -'Come on, _you're_ under arrest. And _you_, we'll question you later!' - - - Whom did Kelley arrest--and why? - - - 53 - _Murder in the Swamp_ - -'We'd better walk along the edge,' said Professor Fordney, as they -started down the only path leading through the swamp. - -'I never thought of that. I was on the porch when Barton left,' said -Bob, as he trudged along. 'Ten minutes later, I heard a shot. I ran down -the path and found him about five hundred yards from the house, bleeding -terribly from a wound in the head. I dashed back for the first-aid kit -and bandaged him as best I could. He died shortly afterwards. Then I -returned and telephoned you.' - -Reaching the body of Barton, he explained, 'I turned him over so that I -could dress his head.' - -'He must have been shot from over there, because those three sets of -footprints are yours and the other one Barton's,' said Fordney, after a -careful examination. 'Let's look in that underbrush.' - -Walking into it a few yards, he said, 'Here's where the murderer stood, -all right. See those powder-marks on the leaves?' - -While removing the branch, Fordney cut his finger. - -'Better sterilize that, Professor.' - -Back at the cottage, as he was about to pick up a mercurochrome bottle -from the kit Bob had used, he observed a spot of blood on the label. -Walking over to the basin, he saw Bob in the mirror above it, furtively -slip a pair of scissors into the kit. - -Turning slowly around, he said, 'I'll have to hold you on suspicion of -murder.' - - - Why? - - - 54 - _Death by Drowning_ - -'We were just getting into our boat,' said the elder Carroll brother, -'when we happened to notice Ridge out there in the middle of the river, -opposite Wolf's old abandoned dock, acting very queerly. He jumped up -and down in the boat, and then, all of a sudden, grabbed an oar, threw -it up in the air, and jumped in. - -'We rowed to the spot, and I dived after him while my brother secured -his boat. The current's fast there, but I'm a strong swimmer. I swam -around while my brother rowed about, but we could find no trace of him,' -he concluded. - -'We found the oar all right, in the weeds at Wolf's dock,' interjected -Riley, of the River Patrol. - -'How wide is the river at that point?' asked Professor Fordney. - -'About half a mile,' said Carroll. - -'Pretty lonely, too, isn't it?' - -'It is that,' replied Riley. - -'The coroner's report says Ridge had received a blow of some kind on the -chin. Know anything about it, Carroll?' inquired Fordney. - -'No, I don't. Might have hit a rock or the side of the boat when he went -over.' - -'Were you up or down river, from Ridge?' - -'Up river, about three hundred yards, on the west side.' - -'Did you and your brother have on bathing-suits at the time?' - -'I did, but my brother didn't.' - -'Are there any blood-stains in Ridge's boat, Riley?' - -'Well, there are stains all right, and they look like blood to me.' - -'I'm not surprised. Hold them both.' - - - Why was the Professor suspicious of the Carroll brothers? - - - 55 - _Tragedy at the Convention_ - -The Convention was in an uproar! The Drys were making a determined stand -and showing some unexpected last-minute strength. - -The Wets were shouting, clamoring, and stamping. The Chairman was vainly -trying to restore order amid a scene of wild confusion. - -As the excitement reached its pitch, Hurlenson, a powerful leader of the -Wets, told a companion seated next to him that he felt a heart attack -coming on and was going back to the hotel. - -An hour later, the Convention was stunned to learn he had committed -suicide in his room. - -Professor Fordney, a guest at the Convention, went immediately to the -hotel. - -In Hurlenson's room he found the police, the doctor, and Pollert, an -influential delegate, who had discovered him. - -'The last time I saw Hurlenson was at the party last night, and he -seemed in excellent spirits,' said Pollert. 'I arose late this -morning--my room's down at the other end of the corridor--and I was just -leaving for the Convention hall when I heard a shot. I dashed directly -here, but it was too late. He must have died immediately.' - -'He did,' said the doctor. 'He apparently stood in front of the mirror, -took aim, and blew out his brains. There are powder-burns all around the -wound.' - -Learning that none of the maids or any of the other guests were on the -floor at the time, Fordney advised the police to hold Pollert on -suspicion of murder. - - - Why? - - - 56 - _A Murderer's Mistake_ - -'Look, Professor! That's how the murderer got in, all right,' said -Tracy. - -As Fordney walked over to the ladder standing two feet from the back of -the house, he knelt down and carefully studied the heavy footprints -around it. - -'Whose room is that?' he inquired, pointing to a second-story window -against which the top of the thirty-foot ladder rested. - -'That's Uncle's study,' replied Tracy. - -Going into the house, Fordney first questioned Withers, who had -discovered the body of Lane, Tracy's uncle. - -'I was reading in my room,' he said. 'About two o'clock I heard a noise, -so I armed myself and crept out into the hall. Then I heard it again, -apparently in the study, so I stole down the corridor, opened the door, -and rushed in. I turned on the lights, ran over to the open window, -looked out, and saw a man scurry down the ladder, jump off, and run. I -fired twice, but evidently missed him,' he concluded. - -'Were you home all evening, Mr. Tracy?' - -'No. I had just put up the car when I heard the shots and saw a figure -dash around the house.' - -'I'll take a look at your car later, Tracy. - -'Withers, show me exactly how you found Lane before you lifted him to -the divan.' - -As Withers righted an overturned chair, fitted its legs carefully to -four impressions in the rug at the right of a smoking-stand, sat down, -and slumped over to the left, Fordney said, 'That's enough. Which one of -you killed him?' - - - Why did Fordney make this startling accusation? - - - 57 - _Babe Comes Through_ - -'Strike two!' shouted Umpire Starlen. - -'Kill the Umpire! You big bum! Thief!' - -Professor Fordney turned in his place directly behind the plate to look -at the excited man in the next box, waving an empty pop-bottle. He -smiled. Couldn't blame a chap for getting excited. Starlen did seem to -be calling them wrong today. That last one _was_ wide! - -What a ball game! Six to three in favor of Philadelphia, last half of -the ninth, three on, two out, and three and two on the mighty Babe. The -crowd was on its feet, yelling and stamping. - -The excited pitcher delivered the next throw quickly. Just as Babe -connected with it for a home run a bottle hurtled through the air with -terrific force and caught Starlen on the back of the head. He went down -like a shot. - -Pandemonium broke loose. Women screamed, and a panic was threatened. - -'That's him! That's him!' shouted several people, as a policeman ran -down the ramp and grabbed the man who had attracted Fordney's attention. - -'Tryin' to get away, are you?' bellowed the cop. - -'I didn't do it! Let go of me!' he cried, as the officer dragged him to -the office. - -Fordney followed. 'May I ask a few questions?' he inquired. - -'Let's see your score card, young man. H'm, why didn't you record that -last hit? Everything else is here.' - -'Why, I was running at the time. I had an engagement.' - -'I see,' said Fordney. 'Officer, you have the wrong man. He didn't do -it.' - - - How did Fordney know? - - - 58 - _A Soldier of Fortune_ - -'You'll find Walter Briggs interesting, Fordney. He's been all over the -world,' said Attorney Hamilton over the telephone. 'He's turned up after -two years, claiming his uncle's fortune. Better dine with us tonight.' - -'Thanks, I'll be glad to. See you at eight.' - -As the three men sat around the dinner-table, Fordney remarked: 'You're -a fortunate chap, Briggs. What have you been doing in the thirty-two -years you have been away from America?' - -'Well, lots of things. Mr. Hamilton, no doubt, told you I went to the -Congo with Father when I was three. When he died, I attended school in -England. Then I traveled for a while; did a bit of tiger-shooting in -Africa, killed elephants in India, and became an ivory-trader, roaming -over the Orient four or five years. I finally drifted into Russia, where -I was a technical advisor to the Soviet.' - -'What a jolly life you've had, Briggs!' - -'Not altogether, Professor. I was in Manchuria, where life was anything -but jolly. And then, being in sympathy with the Chinese, I took an -active part in the Sino-Japanese War. It was in China I learned of my -uncle's death, so I came to New York immediately.' - -'Are you remaining here?' asked Hamilton. - -'No. Me for Paris as soon as things are settled.' - -After a pleasant evening, the three men parted. Reaching home, Fordney -hesitated about telephoning Hamilton. After all, it _was_ his duty to -advise him to check Briggs's story carefully before turning over the -inheritance. As for him, he was frankly skeptical! - - - Are you? Why? - - - 59 - _Number Twenty-Six_ - -'You fellows _must_ remember that more often than otherwise the little, -seemingly inconsequential trifles, placed together, lead to the solution -of crime. Never take anything for granted; examine thoroughly what -appear to be the most unimportant details. You didn't do so well with -your last lesson,' said Professor Fordney, addressing his class. 'Now -try your wits at this one. - -'"I know it sounds fishy, Inspector,"' continued he, reading from a -paper, '"but I was walkin' along Sixteenth Street mindin' my business. -When I gets in front of number 26 I hears a dame scream 'Help! Murder!' -so I dashed up the steps to the house, pushed open the door, and rushed -in. As I was halfway through the hall, a big guy steps out of a room and -says, 'Ah, there, Mr. Farrell, just in time!' I asks him what's goin' -on, and just then three coppers came in and takes me, this guy, and a -woman, in. Neither one of them would talk to me on the way, so I don't -know what it's all about." - -'"I'm going around myself," replied the Inspector. "I'll talk with you -when I get back." - -'As Kelley turned the knob at number 26, the door was violently pushed -open in his face. - -'"Sorry," said Detective Bradford. "Just going back to Headquarters. -Found plenty of dope all right. Here's something you'll be interested -in," showing Kelley a man's hat initialed "D.F." "There are three -packets of cocaine under the sweatband." - -'This story, of course, is fictitious,' said Fordney, putting down the -paper, 'but it illustrates my point. There's just one, small, -unimportant detail that's wrong. To repeat, you _must learn_ to detect -inconsistencies quickly, however insignificant. Quickly, now!' - - - Do _you_ get it? - - -In the next few anecdotes you will see the Professor at work and at -play, on cases both serious and amusing, involving pure deduction. - -As in the preceding cases, however, every fact, with the clue necessary -to the solution, is given. There is only one right and logical answer to -each--to be deduced from the evidence presented. - -Time yourself; see how long it takes _you_ to deduce the answer. And -then, after you have solved or missed them, try them on your friends. -They make a fascinating game--and there are lots of people who don't -play bridge. - - - 60 - _The Pullman Car Murder_ - -'Tell your story to Professor Fordney,' said the superintendent, -introducing the conductor. - -'Well,' said Jackson, 'last night just after we left Albany, lower eight -let out a terrifying shriek. I was standing at one end of the car, the -maid, porter, and brakeman at the other end. We met at the berth as -Briggs was gasping his last from a knife wound in the heart. I -immediately had both doors of the car guarded as well as the doors to -the washrooms. Every berth was occupied, and by this time the passengers -were milling around in the aisle. - -'I began to look for the missing knife with which Briggs had been -killed. Every passenger, even the maid, brakeman, and porter, every inch -of the car and all baggage, were searched, but still we failed to find -it. - -'The window-sills were covered with freshly fallen snow and an -examination proved that none of them had been opened. No one had left -the car and no one had entered either washroom. I knew the knife must be -in the car--but where? - -'Washington, our old Negro porter, really discovered the murderer's -identity by "scrutinizin' 'em all." - -'I know your reputation, Professor, so you will probably have little -difficulty in determining how Washington located the assassin, but I'll -bet you can't tell me where I found the knife.' - -Jackson's face fell as Fordney quickly replied, 'As there was only one -possible place it could have been, you found it....' - - - How long did it take _you_ to discover the knife? - - - 61 - _Forgery_ - -'Can it be possible that this has happened to me!' thought Everett -Taber, as he stood in the National Bank of New York ready to deposit his -fortune. Having completed his arrangements late the day before with the -bank's executives, he was the first patron of the morning. Standing -alone in the bank's commodious quarters, he regretted he had no one with -whom to share his happiness. - -Suddenly, as he was making out his deposit slip, he decided to use his -own name, Everett Mead, instead of his stepfather's name, by which he -had been known most of his life. It would be a simple matter to arrange -this with the officials later. As he blotted the deposit slip, Everett -Mead felt a new sense of poise and self-assurance take possession of -him. He gazed fondly at the name which proclaimed him a wealthy man. By -changing it he could completely sever former associations and start life -anew. What a wonderful day it was! - -The cashier, impressed with the amount of the deposit, was very obliging -and wondered, as he thought of his own meager salary, how it would feel -to have so much money. - -'I see you are left-handed, Mr. Mead,' he said, in an effort to appear -interested in such an important personage. - -'Yes,' smilingly. - -He left the bank without further conversation. Less than an hour later -his name had been forged to a check for five thousand dollars, despite -the fact that no one knew he had changed his name and no one had seen -him make out his deposit slip. - - - Professor Fordney, acquainted with the facts, knew immediately how the - forgery had been accomplished. Do you? - - - 62 - _The Christmas Eve Tragedy_ - -'Professor Fordney,' said Sheriff Brown, of Lake Dalton, 'I came to New -York to ask your help in clearing up the murder of Horace Perkins at -Luckley Lodge.' - -'Sit down and tell me about it,' invited Fordney. - -'The family chauffeur, returning from the station at ten o'clock on -Christmas Eve, found Perkins lying in a field, five yards off the Lodge -drive, with his skull bashed in.' - -'He telephoned me immediately and I instructed him to see that nothing -was disturbed. Arriving fifteen minutes later, I personally examined the -ground so no clues would be destroyed. - -'The _only_ footprints to be found were six of Perkins's leading from -the drive to the spot where he lay. Around the body were a number of -deep impressions about two inches square. It had been snowing all day -until half an hour before the discovery of Perkins. - -'Leading away from the body and ending at the main road, two hundred -yards distant, were four lines of these same impressions, about three -and a half feet apart in length and about fourteen inches in width. In -some places, however, they were badly run together. - -'A stranger in our parts is quickly noted and investigation failed to -reveal a recent one. There were absolutely no other clues and I could -find no motive for the crime. It has me stumped, Professor,' concluded -Brown. - -'Give me a little time,' said Fordney. 'Perhaps I can help. I'll call -you at your hotel.' - -An hour later, he said over the telephone, 'Sheriff, look for a man -who.... Such a person only could possibly have committed the murder.' - - - What did Fordney say to Brown? - - - 63 - _A Knight of the Bath_ - -'You've heard me speak of my eccentric friend, Joe Leimert, haven't you, -Professor?' inquired Jud. 'Great character! His costly new Los Angeles -penthouse is the despair of architects, but it reflects Joe, who cares -little for the opinions of others. Particularly in the matter of baths -is his independence reflected. While he has six of them, he is fondest -of the one leading off his own room. - -'It is a large all-tile bath twenty-four feet long, fifteen wide, and -seven high, without a single window. He went in to bathe a few days ago, -locked the door on the inside, as was his habit, and turned the cold -water full on. When he went to turn it off, he found to his dismay that -the mechanism controlling the drain and the taps was out of order. He -couldn't let the water out and he couldn't turn the tap off. Neither -could he unlock the door, and it was impossible to make himself heard. -What a predicament! There he was in a locked bath with no window, -couldn't open or break down the door, couldn't let the water out, or -turn it off, and he had no way of attracting attention. - -'Such a situation might have disturbed most people, but not Joe. He -leisurely proceeded with his bath and, when finished, nonchalantly -departed.' - -'My dear Jud,' smiled the Professor, 'your friend was indeed eccentric. -Of course, there was only one way out for him.' - - - This one's easy, don't you think? - - - 64 - _Murder in the First Degree_ - -'Well, Inspector, we have your man,' said Fordney as he walked into the -office. 'He gave us a merry chase, though. - -'What a cool one this murderer is! He calmly ate his dinner while -planning the crime. He didn't give the cashier a chance--just brutally -shot him down in cold blood--and all for thirty dollars. I tell you, -Inspector, a man doesn't need much incentive to commit murder these -days. After shooting the cashier, he made a fast get-away in a waiting -car. - -'Fortunately, there was a policeman having dinner in the restaurant at -the time, and he gave orders that nothing was to be disturbed at the -table where the suspected murderer had eaten. - -'There are several witnesses who will identify him, including the -waitress who served him, but no jury will convict on that alone. - -'While I found none of the suspect's fingerprints, personal effects, or -physical traces at or on the table, I did find there a sure means of -conviction. I am positive he calmly premeditated this outrage while -eating his dinner.' - -'I hope you're right, Professor,' said Inspector Kelley, 'but both he -and his attorney seem confident. They claim the gun was discharged -accidentally.' - -'They'll never get away with that. The Prosecuting Attorney will be able -to prove that this man deliberately planned the crime while eating his -dinner. It's murder in the first degree!' - - - How did the Professor know the crime was premeditated? - - - 65 - _A Rendezvous with Death_ - -'One runs into unique conspiracies in my work,' said Professor Fordney -over his after-dinner coffee. 'Here is the clue to that Stone case you -are all interested in,' he continued, passing the following newspaper -advertisement: - - WANTED. Competent private secretary. Unusual salary and opportunity - for young man speaking Spanish. Culture and refinement necessary - qualifications. Address KR 164. - -'I don't see how that gave you a lead. Looks innocent enough to me,' -remarked one of the guests. - -'Well,' said the Professor, 'that ad furnished the strongest link in my -chain of evidence. I had information that Jack Carroll was infatuated -with Stone's wife. At the suggestion of his wife, Stone answered this ad -and received a reply requesting him to call for a personal interview. -That interview was with death! - -'Mrs. Stone, when questioned, said she and her husband had not been on -particularly friendly terms recently and that the last she saw of him -was when he left for White Plains to see about the position. - -'I called at the newspaper office and was informed that the ad had been -inserted by Jonathan Gills, Pomeroy Hotel. They remembered it because -Mr. Gills had telephoned asking if there were any replies to his ad. -Despite the affirmative answer, they had never been called for. I found -Jonathan Gills was unknown at the Pomeroy Hotel. - -'I learned from Mrs. Stone that her husband had answered the ad in -long-hand and that he was left-handed and a very poor penman. - -'Pondering the matter, though puzzled at first, I finally hit upon the -manner in which Stone had been led to his death,' concluded Fordney. - - - How do _you_ think it was done? - - - 66 - _A Rum Regatta_ - -'Here's a story that should amuse you, Jean,' said Professor Fordney to -his efficient and charming secretary. - -He laughed heartily as he handed her a letter from his old friend, -George Collins, government investigator in Florida. - -Jean read the following: - - An old sailor sitting on the sands of Nassau mending his fishing net - was approached by three rum-runners shortly after the break of dawn. - They came seeking his advice in connection with a wager they had made - among themselves the night before. - - The three of them, having sampled too freely of the liquor they were - to take the next day to Miami, had put up three thousand dollars as a - prize for the owner of the last boat to reach Miami. The fact that - their boss was in a hurry for the liquor had been completely - forgotten. - - Sobered, they realized the ridiculousness of the wager but while - anxious to reach Miami as quickly as possible, they all agreed it was - not to be changed. - - The old sailor continued weaving the cords into his net with slow - deliberation. In a few minutes, calling them to his side, he whispered - exactly the same advice into the ear of each. - - A smile spread over his weather-beaten face and he chuckled as the - three rum-runners raced to the boats and started for Miami at top - speed. - -'It is amusing,' laughed Jean, 'but he forgot to say what the old sailor -whispered!' - -'That's for you to figure out, young lady. I've never been a rum-runner, -but I've got the answer.' - - - What advice did the old sailor whisper to the rum-runners? - - - 67 - _Who is the Heir?_ - -'As the le de France slipped from her berth, Europe-bound, John Morgan, -the brother of New York's largest theatrical producer, waved good-bye to -his family on the dock,' said Professor Fordney. - -'Arriving in Paris a week later, he registered at the Htel Crillon. At -two o'clock next morning, he called the office and demanded he be given -another suite immediately, saying he didn't like the view from his -present rooms. This, despite the fact that he had occupied--in fact, -insisted upon--this suite many times in the past. - -'Because of his prominence and wealth, he was accommodated at once. - -'Moving on to Berlin four days later, he registered at the Hotel Adlon. -The manager, anxious to please a brother of the internationally known -producer, greeted him personally. He afterward remarked how worried Mr. -Morgan appeared at the time. - -'At two o'clock in the morning a repetition of the Paris occurrence took -place. - -'From Berlin he went in turn to London, Copenhagen, Brussels, Vienna, -Bucharest, and Sofia, spending exactly four days in each place. He then -went to Teheran, Persia. He explained to the American Consul there that -he had come to Persia to sample at first hand the celebrated wines of -Shiraz, and also to continue his search for one Mirah Svari, a mystic he -had met in New York, and for whom he had sought vainly all over Europe. - -'On the fourth day in Teheran, he was found dead of an overdose of -hashish, in a squalid house in an unsavory quarter. - -'Receiving news of his death, his attorney in New York, acting on -previous instructions, opened his will, in which he had left his entire -fortune of five million dollars to the producer. - -'But, strange as it may seem, it was found John Morgan never had a -brother. What a situation! - - - 'Under the circumstances, and according to law, who received the huge - fortune?' smiled Fordney to his dinner guests. - - - 68 - _The Professor Stops a Blunder_ - -At four o'clock Thursday afternoon, Louis Mundy unexpectedly received a -telegram requesting him to return home immediately, as his brother was -ill. - -At eight that evening, he alighted from the plane in Washington. He had -not been in the city during the past two months. Hurrying to his -suburban home, he found his brother greatly improved. At ten o'clock he -set out on a hike through the country, returning at midnight. - -These facts were all verified. - -Between eleven and twelve o'clock that night, John Skidder was murdered, -and the only thing missing from his house was a note for ten thousand -dollars signed by Mundy. - -Skidder's secretary said the note was habitually kept at the office and -that she was very surprised when he took it home that evening. - -Mundy declared he saw or passed no one on his hike, but under severe -questioning admitted having been near Skidder's house shortly after -eleven o'clock. - -A thorough investigation revealed that Skidder had no known enemies and -no one, other than Mundy, had the slightest reason for wishing him dead. - -Mundy was consequently arrested. As he knew Skidder lived with only an -old man servant (who was out until after twelve that night), the police -believed he had gone unobserved to the house, demanded the note, and, -when refused, had murdered Skidder. No one but Mundy could possibly -profit by the disappearance of the note. As it was due in ten days and -he was in no position to meet it, they anticipated little difficulty in -obtaining a conviction due to the strong motive and weak alibi. - -Asked his opinion, Professor Fordney surprisingly said he DIDN'T believe -any American jury would convict Mundy. - - - He was right-- Now, don't argue! There's only one answer. Don't peek! - Figure it out. - - - 69 - _The Perfect Crime_ - -Peter Johannes had one burning ambition--to commit a perfect crime. -After much thinking and careful planning, he chose burglary for his -experiment and a large brownstone mansion for the scene of his action. - -Learning its occupants had left town, he arrayed himself in a business -suit of conservative cut, flung a light topcoat over his arm, picked up -a Gladstone bag, covered with foreign labels, and set out. - -He had ascertained, of course, when the policeman patrolling that beat -was farthest away. At such a time he drove up in his swanky sport -roadster, swung jauntily to the sidewalk, skipped up the steps, and -fitted a skeleton key into the lock, which yielded easily. So far so -good, he thought. - -Inside, he adjusted a black mask to his eyes and silk gloves to his -hands: the former for a bit of local color he couldn't resist; the -latter for more practical purposes. What a jolly thing this burglaring -was! - -He quickly filled his Gladstone with silver and other valuables. -Hurrying out, he removed his gloves after closing the door. - -'Done, and not a single clue left!' he said to himself. - -As he was about to descend the steps, he saw out of the corner of his -eye the policeman rounding the corner. Feigning disinterest, he quickly -pushed the bell-button and stood there whistling. - -'Hey, you!' shouted the policeman, now standing at the bottom of the -steps. 'What are you doin' there? Them people ain't home.' - -'Howdy, Officer. How goes it?' said our hero blithely as he turned to -greet the bluecoat. 'I know they're not home; been trying to raise -someone for five minutes. Annoying, too, after running out to see them. -Oh, well,' he continued, 'I'll be going along,' as he unconcernedly -picked up his bag. - -'You bet you will--right to the hoosegow,' bellowed the guardian of the -peace. 'Your story I might have believed, but.... Come on, now, I'm -takin' you down.' - - - Alas for the perfect crime! 'What caused our hero's arrest?' asked - Professor Fordney of his class. - - - 70 - _The Professor Sees Through It_ - -'Let's go in to dinner--it's twenty minutes after six, and I'm starved,' -said Hawkins. - -'Right!' responded Professor Fordney, his train companion, 'I'm hungry, -too.' - -The two men had met only a few minutes before, as casually as travelers -do, but already seemed to find each other agreeable company. - -At dinner Hawkins explained he was a conductor on another railroad and -bemoaned the loss of passenger traffic. Fordney, too, decried the -depression and its effects. - -When the conductor came through, Hawkins tendered a pass with a friendly -remark, and Fordney, who said he had boarded the train in such a hurry -he didn't have time to purchase a ticket, paid a cash fare. Neither he -nor the conductor having proper change, he borrowed fourteen cents from -Hawkins. - -After an enjoyable dinner, they went back to the club car for a smoke -and continued their chat. - -'Ever been in Savannah, Mr. Hawkins?' asked Fordney. - -'Why, yes. Several times. Why?' - -'Oh, nothing in particular. Charming city, isn't it?' - -'Yes, it is, but I like the quaintness of New Orleans better, myself.' - -And so they chatted through a pleasant evening until Hawkins, with a -yawn, said: 'Well, it's a quarter to eleven. Bedtime for me. See you in -the morning. Good-night, Professor. I've enjoyed knowing you.' - -'Good-night,' responded Fordney. 'I'll give you the fourteen cents in -the morning. Don't let the fact that I'm aware of your deception keep -you awake!' - -'What?' cried the amazed Hawkins. - - - What did Fordney mean? - - - 71 - _The Kidnapers' Cleverness_ - -'There are times,' mused Professor Fordney from the depths of the most -comfortable chair in the lounge of the University Club, 'when the -criminal does show ingenuity of a high order. I recall a most -interesting and baffling case on which I worked ten years ago. - -'A wealthy man whose daughter had been kidnaped had been warned that, if -he appealed to the police, she would be killed. Consequently, it was -difficult to get his coperation in running down the criminals. However, -upon receiving the following note delivered in an express package 12" x -12" x 12" he sought my advice. - - Send us, by the means herein given you, $5,000 in cash, at exactly - midnight tonight. If you do so, your daughter will be returned - unharmed. - -'My client did as directed and his child was returned safely next day. - -'Do you know, Jim,' asked Fordney of his fireside companion, 'what means -the kidnapers employed that made trapping of them, or discovery of their -whereabouts, absolutely impossible? There's a nice little problem in -deduction for a rising young attorney,' he laughed. - - - After ten minutes of deep silence on Jim's part, he said, 'I can't - figure it out, Professor. What was it?' - - - - - SOLUTIONS - - - 1. _A Crack Shot_ - -It was a dark, starless, moonless night. The nearest habitation was five -miles. The eyes of no animal ever shine in the dark unless there is a -light by which they can be reflected, and a man's eyes never shine under -any circumstances. - -Therefore, Butler could not possibly have seen any eyes shining at him -in the dark. It was clearly murder. - - And thy deep eyes, amid the gloom, - Shine like jewels in a shroud. - Longfellow. - - - 2. _On the Scent_ - -Not even a prohibition agent would use alcohol in an automobile radiator -in or about Miami! - - The oil and wine of merry meeting. - Irving. - - - 3. _Fatal Error_ - -The Professor knew it would take a keener pair of eyes than Bronson's to -see a nod in the dark. - -The lights had not been turned on. Remember? - - Darkness visible. - Milton. - - - 4. _The Poison Murder Case_ - -Unless Bob Kewley had returned home after telling the Professor he was -going to the theater, he could not have known the library door was -locked. The fact that he did, coupled with the strong motive, naturally -directed suspicion to him. He inadvertently gave himself away. - - Error will slip through a crack, while truth will stick in a doorway. - Shaw. - - - 5. _A Strange 'Kidnaping'_ - -Had Johnson wound his watch immediately before 2 A.M. Friday, the time -of his alleged kidnaping, it would not have been running Sunday -afternoon when he recovered consciousness and said he heard it ticking. - -No standard-make watch will run sixty hours without winding. - - This act is an ancient tale new told; - Being urged at a time unseasonable. - Shakespeare. - - - 6. _A Valuable Formula_ - -In a small room the intruder would _unquestionably_ have heard Hyde -dialing Headquarters, and therefore could not have been unaware of his -presence. - -As Hyde had obviously lied about this, Fordney was convinced he had -fabricated the entire story in order to sell the formula twice. - - Don't tell me of deception; a lie is a lie, whether it be a lie to the - eye or a lie to the ear. - Dr. Johnson. - - - 7. _Strangled_ - -There had been a dry, hot spell at that place for twenty-two days. Irene -Greer's hair was matted with mud; therefore, she must have been attacked -elsewhere. - - The face of things appeareth not the same far off and when we see them - right at hand. - Euripides. - - - 8. _Death in the Office_ - -Gifford could not have been shot at the time he called Fordney, as he -was found with a bullet through his heart. The Professor's theory was -that Gifford wanted his death to appear as murder in order to protect -his heavy insurance. - - The heart does not lie. - Alfieri. - - - 9. _They Usually Forget Something_ - -The note, although misspelled, poorly expressed, and written by a -seemingly illiterate hand, was punctuated properly, in two places. A -semicolon and a comma would not have been used had the writer been an -uneducated man. - -Force of habit had betrayed him! - - You write with ease to show your breeding, - But easy writing's curst hard reading. - Sheridan. - - - 10. _The Professor Gives a Lesson_ - -Cardoni said he saw the kidnapers around a table as he peered through -the keyhole. Yale locks do not have keyholes. - -Kelley was justified in throwing him out, don't you think? The class -found this an easy one--did you? - - Since your eyes are so sharpe that you cannot onely looke through a - milstone, but cleane through the minde. - Lyly. - - - 11. _Upstairs and Down_ - -The policeman ran through the hall and unlocked the kitchen door. - -The doors to the porch and cellar were locked on the inside. Had the old -lady committed suicide, she could not have locked the door leading to -the hall from the outside. - -The murderer, in leaving, locked this door and forgot to remove the key. -The inevitable slip! - - A blockhead cannot come in, nor go away, like a man of sense. - Bruyre. - - - 12. _Class Day_ - -The student readily recognized the absurdity of the Professor's story -which he had given to his class to test their quick detection of a -glaring inconsistency. If it must be explained, an orchestra under -personal leadership does not play during the showing of a 'talkie.' -Right? - - Wit marries ideas lying far apart, by a sudden jerk of the - understanding. - Whipple. - - - 13. _A Hot Pursuit_ - -Smith said he _ran_ after the burglar. Had he done so he could not have -known the cellar window had been chiseled open. Therefore, his story was -obviously faked. - - A lie never lives to be old. - Sophocles. - - - 14. _A Question of Identity_ - -As Diana Lane was walking down the corridor with her back to Nora, it -was impossible for the servant to know Diana was wearing her famous -emerald pendant. - - There is an alchemy of quiet malice by which women can concoct a - subtle poison from ordinary trifles. - Hawthorne. - - - 15. _A Yachtsman's Alibi_ - -As Picus said there was no breeze, the distress flag would have hung -limp against the mast, and the Captain could not have seen, at that -distance, whether or not the flag was upside down. - -That's all the Professor needed to determine the falsity of his alibi. -However, Picus was a poor sailor. While the International Distress -Signal is a flag flown upside down, it is by custom and regulation -always flown at half-mast. - - ... And the sea charm'd into a calm so still - That not a wrinkle ruffles her smooth face. - Dryden. - - - 16. _Murder at Coney Island_ - -Jasper said he found the woman sitting _up_ in the _middle_ of the -chariot. The motion of the merry-go-round would have made it impossible -for a dead body to remain upright in the middle of the chariot. - - Sir, you are giving a reason for it; but that will not make it - right.... - Johnson. - - - 17. _Too Clever_ - -The murderer tried to give the impression that Dawson had died before -finishing the incriminating note. Had he written it and died before -completing it, he could not have put the pen back in the tray where it -was found. - -In his effort to incriminate Lynch, the murderer had been too cautious. -A costly oversight. - - Man's caution often into danger turns, - And his guard falling crushes him to death. - Young. - - - 18. _Bloody Murder_ - -The Professor knew it was not suicide, because Thompson's coat, which -was flung _across_ the room, was blood-stained. Quite impossible if he -had taken his own life. - - Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. - Chapman. - - - 19. _Death Back-Stage_ - -There were _no_ finger-prints on the gun which killed Claudia Mason. She -could not have shot herself in the temple and then wiped off the -revolver. - -The murderer neglected to get her fingerprints on the gun. - - A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part. - Sophocles. - - - 20. _An Easy Combination_ - -It would have been impossible for Fellows to have hastily dialed a -number in the _dark_. Try it! - - Haste trips up its own heels, fetters and stops itself. - Seneca. - - - 21. _A Modern Knight_ - -The fact that the bullet was found in the body and the only trace of its -firing was the hole in the curtain _below_ the window-sill proved -conclusively the shot could not have been fired from within the room. - -Rocca entered at the moment his sister shot Chase from outside. Grabbing -the gun from her hand, he chivalrously protected her. - - But, friend, the thing is clear--speaks for itself. - Aristophanes. - - - 22. _The Jewel Robbery_ - -The butler said that, as he called for help, Dudley, a stranger, rushed -in. - -Owings had locked up before leaving and, therefore, Dudley could not -have rushed in through a locked door. The robbery was obviously framed -by Stuben and Dudley. - - Absurdities die of self-strangulation. - Haliburton. - - - 23. _Before the Coroner's Inquest_ - -Curry could not possibly have 'looked up' while rowing _upstream_ and -seen the action he described which took place fifty yards _behind_ him. - - The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. - Franklin. - - - 24. _The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up_ - -Baldwin said, 'Mr. Cross tried to call my attention to it [safe] with a -jerk of his thumb' at a time when Cross was unconscious. Obviously -impossible. Baldwin was lying, which there was no reason for doing had -he been innocent. - - When all sins are old in us, and go upon crutches. - Covetousness does but then lie in her cradle. - Decker. - - - 25. _Behind Locked Doors_ - -Kingston thought his boldness in calling attention to his own footprints -in the carpet would distract Fordney's attention from their -significance. - -The room had been locked for three months. Of the three men, only -Watkins rushed into the room; Fordney and Kingston halting over the -threshold. Therefore, the fact that Kingston's footprints were found -near the chair in which his uncle sat dead pointed directly to him as -the murderer. - - Cunning differs from wisdom - As twilight from open day. - Dr. Johnson. - - - 26. _Lost at Sea_ - -It would have been impossible for Mrs. Rollins to have seen a man pick -up from the deck the bag of diamonds. On a dark, moonless night at sea -one literally cannot see his hand before his face. - - The repose of darkness is deeper on the water than on the land. - Victor Hugo. - - - 27. _A Suave Gunman_ - -Taylor said the bandit wore a silver belt-buckle. This he could not have -seen, for he stated: 'As the robber passed through the door, he -unbuttoned his coat and slipped the revolver in his back pocket.' - -It would have been impossible for Taylor to have seen the man's -belt-buckle when his coat was buttoned. - -As this statement was false, the rest of his account was disregarded by -the Professor. - - He draweth out the thread of his verbosity - Finer than the staple of his argument. - Shakespeare. - - - 28. _Accidental Death_ - -Had the man's injuries been caused only by being thrown through the -windshield, there would have been no blood on the front seat of the car. -Therefore, the Professor knew the blood on the seat had been caused by -injuries to the man, with probable murderous intent, before he was -thrown through the windshield. - -His assailant had killed him, started the car, and had then hopped off -the running-board, hoping the wreckage would cover the murder. - - Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight. - Napoleon. - - - 29. _Easy Money_ - -Wilkins said he saw the burglar pick up a stack of ten- and -twenty-dollar bills from the table in the center of the large library. - -Had he not been guilty, he could not have known what the denominations -of the bills were. It would have been impossible to have determined this -from the doorway. - -An unconscious slip on his part. - -If you are doubtful, just try to determine the denomination of a stack -of bills on a table in the center of a large room, from the doorway. - - For any man with half an eye, - What stands before him may espy; - But optics sharp it needs I ween, - To see what is not to be seen. - John Trumbull. - - - 30. _Robbery at High Noon_ - -He was suspicious of John, the nephew, of course. Upon being asked where -he was at the time of the robbery, he stated he was 'hauling in a -muskie.' - -Unless he had guilty knowledge, he could not possibly have known at what -time the robbery was committed. - -He fell neatly into the Professor's trap, don't you think? - - Let guilty men remember, their black deeds - Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds. - John Webster. - - - 31. _The Wrong Foot Forward_ - -Paslovsky, the witness, who could not understand or speak enough English -to make a simple statement to the court, yet knew _exactly_ what the -conductor yelled to the motorman. - -This was so patently impossible that the Judge was entirely justified in -dismissing the suit. - - Liars are verbal forgers. - Chatfield. - - - 32. _Death Attends the Party_ - -Had Dawes fallen on the table after being shot, the jar would have -knocked over the 'crazily balanced glasses.' As the Professor found the -glasses on the table, _balanced_, it was obvious Dawes had been shot, -then carefully placed at the table to give the appearance of suicide. A -bad slip! - - There is nothing insignificant, nothing! - Coleridge. - - - 33. _No Way Out_ - -The note was written with _pencil_, yet there was no pencil found in the -room. Apparently the murderer wrote the note to resemble the dead man's -handwriting and through force of habit put it in his pocket. - - Men are men; the best sometimes forget. - Shakespeare. - - - 34. _Midnight Murder_ - -Day said he got the blood on his muffler when he bent over Quale's body. -As blood coagulates and dries in a short time, it would have been -impossible for him to have stained his muffler unless it had touched the -blood of Quale shortly after his death. Therefore, Fordney knew he must -have been with Quale soon after he was stabbed. - - Murder, though it have no tongue, - Will speak with most miraculous organ. - Shakespeare. - - - 35. _Speakeasy Stick-Up_ - -Sullivan, the bartender, said that, as he worked the combination to open -the wall safe, he _heard_ the hold-up man _behind him_. As he was not -permitted to move, he could not have known the gunman was a _big, -tough-looking mug_, as he described him. - -As there would be no other motive in telling this impossible story, the -hold-up was faked. - - Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn, - What dangers thou canst make us scorn. - Burns. - - - 36. _Behind Time_ - -The engineer said he had not seen Nelson until he was practically on top -of him. That, of course, is impossible. An engineer of a train running -on a straight-away can see nothing as close as ten yards in front of -him. - - You cram these words into mine ears, - Against the stomach of my sense. - Shakespeare. - - - 37. _A Broken Engagement_ - -Molly said she had retired at ten, after locking her door, and had not -awakened until Fordney had aroused her. - -Yet a few minutes after Dot had been murdered, the Professor idly -'shaped the wax' of the candle on her desk. This would have been -impossible had not the candle been burning within a few minutes before -he entered. - -Her insistence that she had been asleep, together with the strong -motive, convinced Fordney she was involved, as was later proved. - - Love can make us fiends as well as angels. - Charles Kingsley. - - - 38. _The Holden Road Murder_ - -Had the butler dashed in the front door as he said he did, there would -have been foot-tracks in the vestibule. - -Remember, the Professor 'splashed his way through the mud and rain, to -the _door_ of 27 Holden Road,' and found the vestibule spotless. -Therefore, Wilkins was lying, and as Cannon corroborated his story, he -was also necessarily involved. - - Nay, her foot speaks. - Shakespeare. - - - 39. _Fishermen's Luck_ - -Holmes could not have seen the bag on the bottom of the lake during a -cloudburst. The agitation of even crystal clear water under such -conditions would have so disturbed the surface that an object on the -bottom could not be seen. - - A man so lucky is rarer than a white crow. - Juvenal. - - - 40. _The Unlucky Elephant_ - -Holman was lying face down with his topcoat buttoned; therefore, if his -watch crystal had been broken by his fall, none of the glass could have -been found on the floor. - - For never, never wicked man was wise. - Homer. - - - 41. _The Professor Listens_ - -The notice of the bank failure, appearing in the _Jacksonville Herald_, -was dated July 5th. This could not have reached Delavin at a remote part -of Cuba, unserviced by planes, in time for him to get back to New York -on the 6th. - -His alibi, therefore, was completely broken, as he said the newspaper -clipping brought him back. - - Time is the herald of truth. - Cicero. - - - 42. _Ten-Fifteen_ - -The secretary said he heard Waters talking to Fordney over the -telephone. As Fordney's name was not mentioned during the conversation, -the secretary could not have known to whom Waters was talking. - -It's the little things that count--in crime detection. - - Take care lest your tongue cut off your head. - Persian. - - - 43. _Rapid Transit_ - -The driver could not possibly have seen from the front seat anyone -standing on the tail-gate of the big van. - - If common sense has not the brilliancy of the sun, it has the fixity - of the stars. - Fernan Caballero. - - - 44. _The Professor is Disappointed_ - -Fordney pointed to the raindrops glistening on a leaf in the shoe -impression. - -According to Vi Cargo's statement, the burglar had jumped from her -window after it had stopped raining. - - The shameless have a brow of brass. - Hindu Proverb. - - - 45. _A Dramatic Triumph_ - -Sibyl Mortimer said Boswell had telephoned her shortly after nine. As he -was on the stage continuously for forty-five minutes after the curtain -rose, he could not have telephoned her. - -Obviously she had some reason for stating he did. Fordney was quick to -detect the flaw in her alibi. - - It is not wise to be wiser than is necessary. - Quinault. - - - 46. _Murder at the Lake_ - -A strong east wind blew _off_ the lake; therefore, regardless of the -direction in which he was walking, Rice's hat could not possibly have -blown into the lake. - -The Professor was naturally suspicious of him when he told such a -ridiculous lie. - - Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner? - Shakespeare. - - - 47. _The Professor Studies a Coat_ - -As the man had removed his overcoat on entering the Professor's -living-room, it was perfectly patent he had not been handcuffed. - -He said he ran over to Fordney's immediately after the bandits left. - - Truth has not such an urgent air. - Boileau. - - - 48. _Too Late_ - -Fordney doubted Palmer's innocence because of his statement, 'I'd got -there not more than five minutes behind him.' - -There was, of course, no way he could have determined when Frank had -arrived at the cabin. - - In general, treachery, though at first sufficiently cautious, yet in - the end betrays itself. - Livy. - - - 49. _Sergeant Reynolds's Theory_ - -The Professor told Reynolds, 'There was no blood between the road and -the boulder.' - -Had the man _rolled_ down the embankment, there would have been some -blood on the rocks along the path his body took. - - How hast thou purchased this experience? - By my penny of observation. - Shakespeare. - - - 50. _Daylight Robbery_ - -As no safe locks unless the combination is turned, Shaeffer's story of -_banging_ it closed and then the robbers working on it five minutes was -ridiculous! - - He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from play, and - old men from the chimney corner. - Sir Philip Sidney. - - - 51. _A Simple Solution_ - -Had Smith committed suicide, the window through which he jumped would -not have been closed as Fordney found it. - - Every crime has, in the moment of its perpetration, its own avenging - angel. - Coleridge. - - - 52. _Who?_ - -Kelley arrested Weeds, the butler. He said he dropped on the bed the -blood-covered towel with which he was trying to arrest the flow from the -maid's wrist as Jones struck at him. - -Yet Kelley and Fordney found the bed coverlet _immaculate_. Had Weeds -done as he said, there would have been blood-stains on the bedcover. - - Blood follows blood. - Defoe. - - - 53. _Murder in the Swamp_ - -The three sets of Bob's footprints in the path told Fordney the story. -Had Bob been at the house when his friend was shot, as he contended, -there would have been _four_ sets of his footprints. - - That is to be wise to see that which lies before your feet. - Terence. - - - 54. _Death by Drowning_ - -Had the accident occurred as explained by Carroll, the oar of Ridge's -boat could not have been found, as it was, at the dock _opposite_ the -point where he jumped in. The current would have deposited it -downstream. Therefore, the Professor recommended the detention of the -brothers. - - More water glideth by the mill, than wots the miller of. - Shakespeare. - - - 55. _Tragedy at the Convention_ - -Fordney suspected Pollert because of his own statements that he did not -know Hurlenson had returned to the hotel. Yet, when he said he heard a -shot, he ran _directly_ to Hurlenson's room. - -As his own room was down the corridor, he could not have known from what -room the shot came, and he had no reason to assume it came from -Hurlenson's room. - - Politics, as a trade, finds most and leaves nearly all dishonest. - Abraham Lincoln. - - - 56. _A Murderer's Mistake_ - -These murderers, like many others, betrayed themselves by a simple -oversight. One look at the ladder and Fordney knew no man could have -climbed up or down it. The thirty-foot ladder was placed _two_ feet from -the house. Any person ascending or descending the ladder in such a -position would have fallen backwards before reaching the top or bottom. - - To all facts there are laws, - The effect has its cause, - And I mount to the cause. - Lord Lytton. - - - 57. _Babe Comes Through_ - -There is a screen on the grandstand behind the home plate. - -Fordney had noticed a few seconds before, in the box next to him, the -man whom the policeman had caught running down the ramp. As he could not -have thrown a bottle through the screen, and, in the time at his -disposal, could not have reached either side of the screen, Fordney knew -he was innocent. - -He had noticed the man _after_ two strikes and three balls had been -called, and the pitcher delivered the next ball quickly. - - We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns, - God's me, my horse! - Shakespeare. - - - 58. _A Soldier of Fortune_ - -Hamilton knew the real Walter Briggs had gone to Africa as a child. So, -when this chap said he had shot tigers in Africa, Fordney was very, very -skeptical. There are no tigers in Africa. Oh, well--look it up yourself! - - A traveler without observation is a bird without wings. - Saadi. - - - 59. _Number Twenty-Six_ - -The inconsistency is this: Farrell said he _pushed_ open the door. Yet -Bradford, _inside_ the house, _pushed_ the door in Kelley's face as the -Inspector was entering. - -If Bradford _pushed_ the door in Kelley's face, Farrell must have -_pulled_ the door to open it. - - The smallest hair throws its shadow. - Goethe. - - - 60. _The Pullman Car Murder_ - -Every piece of baggage had been examined and every inch of the car -inspected. All passengers, even the maid, porter, and brakeman, had been -searched. The knife was still in the car. - -Remember?--there was nothing said about the conductor being searched. -The knife was found in his pocket. - - He was in logic a great crytic, - Profoundly skilled in analytic; - He could distinguish and divide - A hair twixt south and south-west side. - Butler. - - - 61. _Forgery_ - -The forged signature was copied from the blotter which Mead had used. - - Thou strong seducer, opportunity. - Dryden. - - - 62. _The Christmas Eve Tragedy_ - -The Professor said to Brown, 'Sheriff, look for a man in your community -who is skilled or adept in the use of _stilts_. Only a man on stilts -could have made the marks in the snow you described.' - -P.S. The Professor was right. - - Be the first to say what is self-evident, - And you are immortal. - Ebner-Eschenbach. - - - 63. _A Knight of the Bath_ - -You recall that Leimert was eccentric. No mention of bath _room_ was -made. Leimert's bath had no top, so he climbed out! - -Silly, what? - - If anything is spoken in jest, it is not fair to turn it to earnest. - Plautus. - - - 64. _Murder in the First Degree_ - -The fact that _none_ of the suspect's fingerprints were on the dishes or -silver used while eating convicted him of first-degree murder. - -In wiping his _own_ prints from the things he had handled, he destroyed -_all_ prints--those of the waitress, cook, etc. - -A damning bit of evidence that proved premeditation. - - The weakest spot in every man is when he thinks himself to be the - wisest. - Emmons. - - - 65. _A Rendezvous with Death_ - -No one called at the _Times_ for the answers to the advertisement, yet -Stone received a reply to his letter of application. The ad was inserted -by Carroll under the fictitious name of Jonathan Gills and answered by -Stone at his wife's suggestion. She acquainted her lover, Carroll, with -this fact, and he wrote Stone, arranging the meeting at which he -disappeared. - - When any great design thou dost intend, - Think on the means, the manner, and the end. - Denham. - - - 66. _A Rum Regatta_ - -The old sailor whispered to each, 'Run the other man's boat.' As the -owner of the _last_ boat to reach Miami was to get the money, each one -raced the boat he was driving. By doing so, he hoped to beat his own -boat, which was being driven by one of the others. - - Lookers-on many times see more than gamesters. - Bacon. - - - 67. _Who is the Heir?_ - -John Morgan's _sister_, of course! - - Let us consider the reason of the case. For nothing is law that is not - reason. - Powell. - - - 68. _The Professor Stops a Blunder_ - -Mundy had been unexpectedly called to Washington. Skidder's secretary -said the note was habitually kept at the office. Mundy, therefore, could -not possibly have known of Skidder's intention of taking it home. That -was exactly the weakness in the case of the police. Despite the damning -circumstantial evidence, motive could not be proved unless it could be -shown that Mundy knew the note would be at Skidder's house. - - How little do they see what is, who frame - Their hasty judgments upon that which seems. - Southey. - - - 69. _The Perfect Crime_ - -Alas! Peter Johannes had forgotten to remove his mask on leaving the -house! - - Whoever thinks a perfect work to see, - Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be. - Pope. - - - 70. _The Professor Sees Through It_ - -When Hawkins said, 'it's twenty minutes after six' and 'it's a quarter -to eleven,' Fordney knew he was not a railroad man. - -No railroad worker _ever_ speaks of the time in any other manner than, -'it's six-twenty' and 'it's ten-forty-five.' - -_Ask the next conductor!_ - - There is nothing more nearly permanent in human life than a - well-established custom. - Joseph Anderson. - - - 71. _The Kidnapers' Cleverness_ - -The express package contained a carrier pigeon. - - A bird of the air shall carry, and that which hath wings shall tell - the matter. - Ecclesiastes. - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italicized text by _underscores_. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Minute Mysteries, by Harold Austin Ripley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - -***** This file should be named 50603-8.txt or 50603-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/6/0/50603/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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} - .toc dt.jr { text-align:right; } - .toc dt.smaller { max-width:25em; } - .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; } - .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; } - .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; } - .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; } - .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } - .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; } - .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; } - .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } - .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } - .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; } - .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn { width:2.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; } - dt .large {font-weight:bold; } - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - -.clear { clear:both; } -.htab { margin-left:8em; } -/* MINUTE MYSTERY SPECIALS */ -p.pqq { text-align:center; font-variant:small-caps; margin-top:2em; - border-style:solid; } -p.pqq a { text-decoration:none; } -.verse { margin-left:1em; } -.verse, .solution blockquote { font-style:italic; } -div.verse p.lr { font-style:normal; text-align:right; margin-top:0em; margin-right:2em; } -blockquote span.jr { font-style:normal; text-align:right; margin-top:0em; } -/* book advertisements */ - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Minute Mysteries, by Harold Austin Ripley - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Minute Mysteries - [Detectograms] - -Author: Harold Austin Ripley - -Release Date: December 4, 2015 [EBook #50603] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Minute Mysteries (Detectograms)" width="500" height="754" /> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<h1>MINUTE MYSTERIES -<br />[<i>Detectograms</i>]</h1> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">BY</span> -<br />H. A. RIPLEY</p> -<p class="center"><span class="smaller">WITH A FOREWORD BY</span> -<br /><span class="small">LEWIS E. LAWES -<br /><i>Warden of Sing Sing Prison</i></span></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p001.jpg" alt="" width="146" height="199" /> -</div> -<p class="center"><span class="smaller">BOSTON AND NEW YORK</span> -<br /><span class="small">HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY -<br /><b><i>The Riverside Press Cambridge</i></b></span> -<br />1932</p> -</div> -<p class="center small">COPYRIGHT, 1932, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY -<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM</p> -<p class="tbcenter">The Riverside Press -<br />CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS -<br />PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="large">TO -<br />MY MOTHER</span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_vii">vii</div> -<h2 id="c1"><br />FOREWORD</h2> -<p>The solution of criminal mysteries constitutes -one of the most absorbing, possibly the most -intriguing forms of mental activity existent. -It calls for something more than mere cold intelligence -and reasoning ability, requiring in -addition native perception, intuition, and a -natural understanding of human behavior -under stress of emotion and passion. Furthermore, -some knowledge of pathological or abnormal -behaviorism is a requisite.</p> -<p>Mr. Ripley’s excellently thought-out series -of mysteries might be said to represent a very -adequate cross-section of the problems perennially -confronting the law-enforcers and official -crime-solvers of the nation. The points of -evidence are cleverly assembled and the -<i>nuances</i> of incrimination are very subtly -shaded.</p> -<p>It would be well for the reader interested in -successfully solving these problems to endeavor -to think, not as a detective, but as the -criminal in the case would think, in order to -arrive at a correct solution. I have found that -<span class="pb" id="Page_viii">viii</span> -to deal adequately with the criminal after -conviction, and while in confinement, it is -necessary to understand his personal problems. -To accomplish this, one must first think as does -the criminal, discover the sequent conclusions -upon which he based his anti-social activities, -and thereupon make use of these findings to -assist him toward rehabilitation.</p> -<p>In this novel challenge to amateur criminologists, -who suffer from a dearth of laboratory -specimens upon which to experiment, Mr. -Ripley offers an excellent opportunity—that -of examining and forming conclusions upon the -more elemental, vital, and dramatic aspects of -various typical criminal situations, without -the drawback of fantasy and concocted sordidness, -which, for the practical criminologist, -takes the glamour and color out of this thing -called—<span class="sc">Crime</span>.</p> -<p><span class="jr"><span class="sc">Lewis E. Lawes</span></span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_ix">ix</div> -<h2 id="c2"><br />AUTHOR’S PREFACE</h2> -<p>Chief Inspector Kelley, that grizzled veteran -of the Detective Bureau, was talking to -his nephew, Jim Barry, who had indicated a -desire to enter the uncrowded field of criminology.</p> -<p>‘The average policeman,’ he said, ‘looks -upon the lay criminologist in much the same -manner as the professional in any field regards -the amateur. Generally speaking, that attitude -is justified.</p> -<p>‘In thirty years of police work, however, I -have met no one in detective circles, in or out -of the force, who so effectively combines theoretical -knowledge with practical application -as Professor Fordney.</p> -<p>‘A man of definite scientific attainments and -recognition, he yet appreciates that the simple -fundamentals of crime detection are effective -in ninety per cent of all criminal cases. While -he has unraveled by scientific means some -amazing and extremely baffling crimes that -otherwise would have gone unsolved, he puts -his greatest reliance on those basic principles -<span class="pb" id="Page_x">x</span> -upon which rests the whole structure of crime -detection.</p> -<p>‘His major theory is that most crimes are -simple; that their solution calls only for the -exercise of ordinary talents developed to an -extraordinary degree; that the stupidity of the -average criminal himself, and not the brilliance -of the detective, is responsible for his -detection.</p> -<p>‘In that, I might tell you, he finds complete -corroboration in the experience of such an outstanding -detective of world-wide reputation -as Sir Melville L. Macnaghten, C.B., late -Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department -of Scotland Yard. Commenting on the -capture of a particularly vicious murderer, he -remarked, “But for the fact that the student -of criminal history is constantly faced with -the stupidity of the criminal, there would be -nothing more remarkable in this case than the -fatuity of the man who, having murdered -solely for personal gratifications, and taken -every precaution, as he thought, to avoid discovery, -immediately wrote blackmailing letters -in which he showed guilty knowledge of a -secret murder.”</p> -<p>‘Fordney could undoubtedly explain such -<span class="pb" id="Page_xi">xi</span> -an inconsistency as this by his uncanny knowledge -of criminal psychology,’ continued Kelley. -‘Among psychologists his insight into -the criminal mind and its reactions is appreciated -as being authoritative.</p> -<p>‘His greatest interest is his class in criminology -at the University. He still finds time, -however, to assist actively the police of many -cities who frequently consult him on cases -they find unusually puzzling.</p> -<p>‘There are instances also in which his part -has been that of a bystander, where a word of -suggestion, modestly given, has frequently -disposed of cases before they were brought to -the attention of the police.</p> -<p>‘If the Professor is convinced you have the -natural qualifications, Jim, and a real inclination -for work, I can get you into his class. He -will take not only a personal, but a fatherly, -interest in you, as in the rest of his students. -You will receive the finest possible training -given by a man of broad understanding and -great human sympathies. Out of his vast experience -and knowledge, gained in studying -crime in all parts of the world, he will develop -in you those qualities essential to success in -this field.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_xii">xii</div> -<p>‘You will find him a genial, ruddy, kindly -man of fifty, with a waistline of forty. There -is nothing subtle in his face or manner. A -characterful nose rises above a strong and determined -mouth, adorned by a blond mustache. -A pair of keen but smiling blue eyes -completes a commonplace face. Although he -refuses to admit it, his rapidly thinning hair -causes him great concern. A bit vain, the old -codger, but don’t tell him I told you so,’ -laughed the Inspector.</p> -<p>‘Scrupulously dressed, he looks like an -amiable and highly successful business executive. -He’s a mixer and thoroughly enjoys the -good things of life. He views the passing -parade with a keen sense of humor, few illusions, -and a genuine interest in his fellow man. -Detests hypocrisy; would rather see ten guilty -men acquitted than one innocent man condemned. -Recognizes his own fallibility, but -knows his own worth and does not suffer from -that abominable social vice, false modesty.</p> -<p>‘You might be interested in knowing his -only hobby is that of designing, making, and -repairing toys for children. He’s known to -hundreds of them as the Toy Man.</p> -<p>‘Though a bachelor, he looks with favor on -<span class="pb" id="Page_xiii">xiii</span> -the ladies, enjoys their company and is thoroughly -sociable.</p> -<p>‘It’s a pleasure and an education to know -him. More than once he’s helped your old -uncle and absolutely refused the credit that -was his,’ concluded Inspector Kelley.</p> -<p class="tb">In the following pages you will find some -interesting experiences taken from the Professor’s -case book. They illustrate forcibly his -contention that crime is simple and that most -criminals are caught, not by any superhuman -qualities of the detective, but by their own -ignorance, stupidity, or carelessness.</p> -<p>In these accounts every fact, every clue -necessary to the solution is given. The answer -is in the story itself. You need look nowhere -else but there. Each problem has only one -possible solution.</p> -<p>Written in less than two hundred and sixty -words, these little stories can be read in a -minute.</p> -<p>Here is your chance to work on an absolute -equality with the Professor; to match your -wits with his and the criminal’s. You know as -much as the Professor does. Now you have an -opportunity of proving just how good a detective -<span class="pb" id="Page_xiv">xiv</span> -you are and what poor detectives your -friends are.</p> -<p>The author hopes you will find them as fascinating -reading as they were in the telling by -the Professor.</p> -<p><span class="jr"><span class="sc">H. A. Ripley</span></span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_xv">xv</div> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="sc">Foreword by Lewis E. Lawes</span></a> vii</dt> -<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="sc">Author’s Preface</span></a> ix</dt> -<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="sc">It Stands to Reason!</span> <i>A New National Game</i></a> xix</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_1">1. <span class="sc">A Crack Shot</span></a> 1</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_2">2. <span class="sc">On the Scent</span></a> 3</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_3">3. <span class="sc">Fatal Error</span></a> 5</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_4">4. <span class="sc">The Poison Murder Case</span></a> 7</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_5">5. <span class="sc">A Strange ‘Kidnaping’</span></a> 9</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_6">6. <span class="sc">A Valuable Formula</span></a> 11</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_7">7. <span class="sc">Strangled</span></a> 13</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_8">8. <span class="sc">Death in the Office</span></a> 15</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_9">9. <span class="sc">They Usually Forget Something</span></a> 17</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_10">10. <span class="sc">The Professor Gives a Lesson</span></a> 19</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_11">11. <span class="sc">Upstairs and Down</span></a> 21</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_12">12. <span class="sc">Class Day</span></a> 23</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_13">13. <span class="sc">A Hot Pursuit</span></a> 25</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_14">14. <span class="sc">A Question of Identity</span></a> 27</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_15">15. <span class="sc">A Yachtsman’s Alibi</span></a> 29</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_16">16. <span class="sc">Murder at Coney Island</span></a> 31</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_17">17. <span class="sc">Too Clever</span></a> 33</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_18">18. <span class="sc">Bloody Murder</span></a> 35</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_19">19. <span class="sc">Death Back-Stage</span></a> 37</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_20">20. <span class="sc">An Easy Combination</span></a> 39</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_21">21. <span class="sc">A Modern Knight</span></a> 41</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_22">22. <span class="sc">The Jewel Robbery</span></a> 43</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_23">23. <span class="sc">Before the Coroner’s Inquest</span></a> 45</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_24">24. <span class="sc">The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up</span></a> 47</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_25">25. <span class="sc">Behind Locked Doors</span></a> 49</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_26">26. <span class="sc">Lost at Sea</span></a> 51</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_27">27. <span class="sc">A Suave Gunman</span></a> 53</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_28">28. <span class="sc">Accidental Death</span></a> 55</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_29">29. <span class="sc">Easy Money</span></a> 57</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_30">30. <span class="sc">Robbery at High Noon</span></a> 59</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_31">31. <span class="sc">The Wrong Foot Forward</span></a> 61</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_32">32. <span class="sc">Death Attends the Party</span></a> 63</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_33">33. <span class="sc">No Way Out</span></a> 65</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_34">34. <span class="sc">Midnight Murder</span></a> 67</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_35">35. <span class="sc">Speakeasy Stick-Up</span></a> 69</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_36">36. <span class="sc">Behind Time</span></a> 71</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_37">37. <span class="sc">A Broken Engagement</span></a> 73</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_38">38. <span class="sc">The Holden Road Murder</span></a> 75</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_39">39. <span class="sc">Fisherman’s Luck</span></a> 77</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_40">40. <span class="sc">The Unlucky Elephant</span></a> 79</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_41">41. <span class="sc">The Professor Listens</span></a> 81</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_42">42. <span class="sc">Ten-Fifteen</span></a> 83</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_43">43. <span class="sc">Rapid Transit</span></a> 85</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_44">44. <span class="sc">The Professor is Disappointed</span></a> 87</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_45">45. <span class="sc">A Dramatic Triumph</span></a> 89</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_46">46. <span class="sc">Murder at the Lake</span></a> 91</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_47">47. <span class="sc">The Professor Studies a Coat</span></a> 93</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_48">48. <span class="sc">Too Late</span></a> 95</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_49">49. <span class="sc">Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory</span></a> 97</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_50">50. <span class="sc">Daylight Robbery</span></a> 99</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_51">51. <span class="sc">A Simple Solution</span></a> 101</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_52">52. <span class="sc">Who?</span></a> 103</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_53">53. <span class="sc">Murder in the Swamp</span></a> 105</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_54">54. <span class="sc">Death by Drowning</span></a> 107</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_55">55. <span class="sc">Tragedy at the Convention</span></a> 109</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_56">56. <span class="sc">A Murderer’s Mistake</span></a> 111</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_57">57. <span class="sc">Babe Comes Through</span></a> 113</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_58">58. <span class="sc">A Soldier of Fortune</span></a> 115</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_59">59. <span class="sc">Number Twenty-Six</span></a> 117</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_60">60. <span class="sc">The Pullman Car Murder</span></a> 121</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_61">61. <span class="sc">Forgery</span></a> 123</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_62">62. <span class="sc">The Christmas Eve Tragedy</span></a> 125</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_63">63. <span class="sc">A Knight of the Bath</span></a> 127</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_64">64. <span class="sc">Murder in the First Degree</span></a> 129</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_65">65. <span class="sc">A Rendezvous with Death</span></a> 131</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_66">66. <span class="sc">A Rum Regatta</span></a> 133</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_67">67. <span class="sc">Who is the Heir?</span></a> 135</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_68">68. <span class="sc">The Professor Stops a Blunder</span></a> 137</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_69">69. <span class="sc">The Perfect Crime</span></a> 139</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_70">70. <span class="sc">The Professor Sees Through It</span></a> 141</dt> -<dt><a href="#mys_71">71. <span class="sc">The Kidnapers’ Cleverness</span></a> 143</dt> -<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="sc">Solutions</span></a> 145</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_xix">xix</div> -<h2 id="c3"><br />IT STANDS TO REASON! -<br /><span class="small">A NEW NATIONAL GAME</span></h2> -<p>Here is a fascinating game of wits for a party -of any size. It can be played in either of -two ways.</p> -<p>1. Select one or more stories from the -<i>Minute Mysteries</i> that particularly appeal -to you. Make as many copies of each as -there are guests at the party. Then pass the -copies around and allow three minutes, say, -for your guests to study them. At the end -of this time each must hand you a written -solution, giving the line of reasoning which -was used. You compare these with the solutions -at the back of the book; the one who -is most often correct is the winner.</p> -<p>2. Instead of making copies of each story, -you may read it aloud, slowly and carefully. -If any of the listeners so desire, it may be -read a second time. But after this no questions -may be asked.</p> -<p>After the period agreed upon has elapsed, -each guest writes out his solution as in (1), -<span class="pb" id="Page_xx">xx</span> -and hands it to you for comparison with the -book.</p> -<p class="tb">Method number 1 puts the emphasis on -one’s powers of reasoning and analysis; method -number 2 adds to these a premium on an -accurate memory.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_xxi">xxi</div> -<h1 title="">MINUTE MYSTERIES</h1> -<div class="pb" id="Page_1">1</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_1">1 -<br /><i>A Crack Shot</i></h3> -<p>Professor Fordney was hunting in the -Rockies when informed of a tragedy at one -of the camps. Thinking he might be of some -help, he went over, and, after introducing himself, -Butler, the victim’s companion, told him -of the accident.</p> -<p>‘When Marshall hadn’t returned to camp at -nine o’clock last night, I was a bit worried because -he didn’t know these mountains. There -wasn’t a star out and it was dark and moonless, -so I decided to look around for him. -We’re five miles from anyone, you know.</p> -<p>‘Putting more wood on the fire, I set out. -After searching for an hour, I was coming up -the slope of a ravine when I saw a pair of -eyes shining out at me in the dark.</p> -<p>‘Calling twice, and getting no answer, I -fired, thinking it was a mountain lion. Imagine -my horror when I reached the spot, struck -<span class="pb" id="Page_2">2</span> -a match, and saw I had nearly blown the head -off Marshall. A terrible experience!</p> -<p>‘I carried his body back to camp and then -walked to the nearest house to report the -accident.’</p> -<p>‘How far from camp did you find Marshall?’ -asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘About a quarter of a mile.’</p> -<p>‘I see your right hand is bandaged. How do -you manage to shoot with it?’</p> -<p>‘Oh, I use either hand.’</p> -<p>‘Mind if I look at the gun?’</p> -<p>‘Not at all,’ said Butler, handing it over.</p> -<p>‘H’m, European make, I see. Had it long?’</p> -<p>‘No, it’s rather new.’</p> -<p>‘Why did you deliberately murder Marshall?’ -demanded Fordney abruptly ... ‘for -that’s what you did.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_1">How did the Professor know Butler had murdered his companion?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_3">3</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_2">2 -<br /><i>On the Scent</i></h3> -<p>‘I couldn’t wait to be announced,’ said George -Collins, Florida’s foremost prohibition agent, -and a great wit, as he stepped into the Professor’s -office.</p> -<p>‘How long are you going to be in New York?’ -asked Fordney, as the two friends shook -hands.</p> -<p>‘I’m due back in Miami now,’ replied Collins, -‘but I wanted to congratulate you on your -success in the Hicks murder case. I wish interesting -things like that would happen in -my game. However, I did have an amusing experience -last December.</p> -<p>‘Sneaky Joe, a stool-pigeon, tipped me off -to a huge still he said was working about forty -miles from headquarters. A narrow road -through dense woods led to the spot. Arriving -there, I found an old dilapidated shanty -screened by trees. As I entered the woods, I -smelled alcohol. Sneaky Joe was right, after -all, I thought, as I drove up to the shanty.</p> -<p>‘I got out and peered cautiously around, but -the place seemed deserted. After opening the -<span class="pb" id="Page_4">4</span> -door and entering the house, however, I knew -liquor was not being made there. I searched -the woods, but found nothing. As I was driving -back along the road at a good rate, I discovered -the alcohol I smelled was coming from -my own radiator! Imagine my chagrin!’</p> -<p>The Professor laughed heartily and said to -his friend, ‘Stay over for my birthday party -tonight, the ladies would love to hear that -yarn of yours.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_2">What did the Professor find preposterous in Collins’s story?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_5">5</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_3">3 -<br /><i>Fatal Error</i></h3> -<p>‘Crowley was an eccentric and taciturn old -fellow, but I liked him,’ remarked Fordney. -‘When he was found dead last December, I -took a personal interest in the case. Harold -Bronson, his last known caller, had this to say -of his visit:</p> -<p>‘“After leaving word at my hotel where I -might be reached if wanted, I arrived at -Crowley’s suburban estate shortly after five -o’clock. I found him seated in the dusk at the -end of his library table. Courteously enough -for him, he waved me into a chair at the other -end and invited me to dine with him at eight -o’clock. Reaching for my cigarettes, I remembered -that Crowley did not permit -smoking.</p> -<p>‘“His principal contributions to our discussion -were his usual nods of approval, grunts, -and monosyllables. Very sparing of words, -was Mr. Crowley.</p> -<p>‘“About seven o’clock the telephone rang -and he asked me to answer it. It was my wife -asking me to return at once to see an unexpected -<span class="pb" id="Page_6">6</span> -visitor. Finishing the conversation, I -returned to my chair and, after I explained the -call, Crowley nodded assent to my request to -leave immediately.</p> -<p>‘“On the way out, as the lights had not been -turned on, I bumped my head, which explains -this bruise. Just as I reached the door, he -called after me—‘See you tomorrow at ten.’ -He was certainly all right when I left him -shortly after seven.”</p> -<p>‘Although Bronson’s telephone alibi was -later proved sound, he had hardly finished his -story before I was convinced he was implicated,’ -concluded Fordney.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_3">What directed suspicion to Bronson?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_4">4 -<br /><i>The Poison Murder Case</i></h3> -<p>‘I’m going to the theater now,’ Bob Kewley -told Professor Fordney at their club. ‘I wish -you’d spend the evening with Uncle John. -He’s been worried lately.’</p> -<p>Upon reaching the Kewley home an hour -later, Fordney found the butler in an agitated -state.</p> -<p>‘After ordering coffee, Mr. Kewley locked -himself in his library an hour ago, sir. When I -rapped on the door just now, he didn’t answer.’</p> -<p>The two men forced the lock and found John -Kewley on the floor, an empty strychnine -bottle at his side. The terrace door was -open. After a careful examination, Fordney -returned home. A few hours later, Bob Kewley -entered his living-room.</p> -<p>‘Thought I’d stop in on my way home. -Don’t you think Uncle John looks worried?’</p> -<p>‘Your uncle, Bob, is dead. Strychnine. -Your butler and I found him lying on the -floor, but were too late to save him.’</p> -<p>‘How horrible, Fordney! Why was the -library door locked, do you suppose?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<p>‘That puzzles me. Has your butler been -with you long?’</p> -<p>‘For years,’ replied Bob, his head buried in -his hands.</p> -<p>‘Well, you’re a wealthy man now.’</p> -<p>‘What of it? Uncle John meant more to me -than all the money in the world.’</p> -<p>‘I wish I could believe that,’ replied Fordney. -‘You’ll need a better alibi than those,’ -pointing to the ticket stubs Bob was nervously -fingering.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_4">How had Kewley aroused the Professor’s suspicions?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_5">5 -<br /><i>A Strange ‘Kidnaping’</i></h3> -<p>‘I haven’t the faintest idea why I was kidnaped,’ -said Johnson to Professor Fordney, an -hour after he returned home. ‘I never miss -Sunday evening services, you know, so I’m -afraid I haven’t much time to discuss it now.’</p> -<p>‘Oh, just a brief account of your experience -is all that is necessary,’ remarked the Professor.</p> -<p>So Johnson proceeded.</p> -<p>‘I was walking along Burnham Street about -2 <span class="small">A.M.</span> Friday when two masked men, with -drawn guns, ordered me into a blue sedan. I -was blindfolded and gagged. After driving for -about an hour, I was led into a house and down -some stairs to a small room, where they removed -my blindfold and gag. They took off -my outer clothing and hung it on a chair. -Then they questioned me at length about the -Shirley case and refused to believe I knew -nothing of it.</p> -<p>‘Exasperated, they threatened to kill me, -and when I remonstrated, one of them hit me -on the head with a black-jack and I went down -unconscious.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>‘The next thing I knew was when I came to -with a terrific headache. I lay still for a few -minutes and, hearing nothing but the ticking -of my watch, I cautiously got to my feet and -groped for the door, as the room was in darkness. -Before I could locate it, two men, still -masked, entered, turned on the light, apologized -profusely for the treatment I had received, -and said they had mistaken me for -someone else. Then they gave me something to -eat, blindfolded me again, and drove me to -within a block of my home, still apologizing for -the mistake. Before I could remove my blindfold -after getting out of the car, it had sped -away.</p> -<p>‘It’s all very mysterious to me. I can’t make -anything of it.’</p> -<p>‘I won’t give you away, Johnson,’ smiled the -Professor. ‘Your wife undoubtedly believes -your yarn, but you’d better think up a better -one the next time.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_5">What flaw did the Professor find in Johnson’s story which proved the ‘kidnaping’ was a fake?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_6">6 -<br /><i>A Valuable Formula</i></h3> -<p>‘I had just stepped behind that screen near the -door to wash my hands when a man, gun in -hand, entered the room and stood motionless -for a few seconds,’ said Hyde. ‘Apparently satisfied -no one was here, he walked to the desk -over there by the window. As he rummaged -through the papers in the drawer, I hastily -dialed headquarters, leaving the receiver off -the hook, trusting you would trace the call. I -was afraid to talk because I was unarmed and -he looked like a desperate fellow.’</p> -<p>‘You say he took nothing but a valuable -formula from your desk?’ inquired the Professor.</p> -<p>‘That’s all; he touched nothing else.’</p> -<p>‘Rather careless to leave such an important -paper lying about like that, wasn’t it?’</p> -<p>‘Well, I suppose so, though it was only a -copy. I sold the original to Schmitz yesterday -for twenty thousand dollars and I intended to -destroy the duplicate tonight.’</p> -<p>‘Would that formula be valuable to anyone -else?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>‘Yes, it would be worth twice as much to -Schmitz’s competitors.’</p> -<p>‘Why didn’t you sell it to them in the first -place, then?’</p> -<p>‘Schmitz financed me while I was perfecting -the formula, so I thought it only right to sell -it to him, even though I could have got more -for it from the other firm.’</p> -<p>‘As this is such a small, bright room and you -observed so much through that crack in the -screen,’ said Fordney sarcastically, ‘you should -be able to give us a <i>very</i> good description of the -intruder.’</p> -<p>‘Oh, I can do that,’ Hyde replied, with assurance. -‘He was a big fellow about six feet -tall and weighed around two hundred pounds. -He had jet-black hair, swarthy complexion, an -unusually large nose, and a vicious-looking -mouth. As he left obviously unaware of my -presence, I noticed he had a big rip in the -back of his blue coat.’</p> -<p>‘Well, Hyde, as part of your story is incredible, -you can’t expect me to believe any -of it.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_6">Why did the Professor say this?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_7">7 -<br /><i>Strangled</i></h3> -<p>‘Twenty-two days of this hot, dry spell,’ -groaned Professor Fordney. ‘I can’t remember -a stretch like it.’</p> -<p>‘Tell us about the Greer case, Professor,’ -urged the rocking-chair brigade. ‘It’ll take -your mind off the heat.’</p> -<p>‘Well, you know the salient facts. The body -of Irene Greer, lying on the railroad right-of-way, -was found half a mile from here by a -fishing party at 6 <span class="small">A.M.</span> day before yesterday. -It could be seen that she was a beautiful girl -despite the tousled hair matted with mud and -a nasty bruise on her cheek. Her flaming red -dress was torn and dirty. She had on shoes, -but no stockings. Incidentally, her clothes -were of the finest quality. Her body indicated -that she had received a terrific beating, poor -girl.</p> -<p>‘From appearances she had been placed on -the track with the expectation that she would -be struck by a train and identification made -impossible. No doubt she was unconscious -when this was done, but she must have revived -<span class="pb" id="Page_14">14</span> -temporarily and crawled to the gravel -right-of-way before a train came along. There -she died.</p> -<p>‘A peculiar circumstance is that, while her -body was bruised and twisted, there were no -marks on her throat to indicate strangulation, -yet Dr. Bridewell says that was the cause of -death.</p> -<p>‘She was found in a desolate spot. Oh, yes, -she was probably strangled with a scarf which, -employed in a certain manner, would leave no -outward trace.</p> -<p>‘Now you folks should know how I learned -Irene Greer was attacked elsewhere and then -brought to the vicinity where she was found,’ -smiled the Professor.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_7">Do you?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_8">8 -<br /><i>Death in the Office</i></h3> -<p>When Professor Fordney reached Gifford’s -office, he found a policeman already there.</p> -<p>‘Gifford’s dead,’ he was told. ‘What brings -you here?’</p> -<p>‘He telephoned me a few minutes ago; -said he had been shot; then I had a hard time -understanding him. This street is on your -beat, isn’t it?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. I heard the shot when I was in Smith’s -cigar store. It took me a while to locate it. -The door was locked and I had to break in.’</p> -<p>As they walked into an inner office, they -saw Gifford’s body, a bullet through the heart, -lying in a pool of blood.</p> -<p>Fordney stooped to pick up a revolver.</p> -<p>‘It’s an easy jump to the ground,’ observed -the policeman, who was standing by an open -window.</p> -<p>‘Did you know, sir,’ he added, ‘that Gifford -has been troubled lately by blackmailers?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. The last time I saw him, he told me -he had been shot at a couple of weeks ago.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>Fordney walked over to the door and found -the lock was sprung, but the key still in it.</p> -<p>‘I suppose,’ ventured the policeman, ‘that -the blackmailers got him. They must have -locked the door from the inside when they -entered, shot him, and then jumped out the -window.’</p> -<p>‘No,’ said Fordney, who was examining the -key he had removed from the lock. ‘There -weren’t any murderers in here. Gifford committed -suicide.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_8">Why was the Professor sure that it was suicide?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_9">9 -<br /><i>They Usually Forget Something</i></h3> -<p>‘Here is a good illustration of the old bromide -that the smartest criminal leaves some clue in -even the most carefully planned crime,’ mused -Professor Fordney.</p> -<p>‘While in Colshire, a beautiful little English -village, I was asked by the local police to assist -them in a rather puzzling affair.</p> -<p>‘Suspicion of a particularly brutal murder -had been directed toward an illiterate underworld -character. He was accused of sending -the following note found in the murdered man’s -pocket:</p> -<blockquote> -<p><i>sir john when i last seen you -i sed i will kill you if the muney -ain’t here by mundy; all of it</i></p> -<p><span class="center"><i>yurs truly,</i></span> -<span class="jr"><i>XX</i></span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘When Wellington, the Chief Constable, -asked my opinion, I told him the writer of the -<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span> -note, and therefore probably the murderer, -was obviously an educated man. After explaining -why I was sure of that, he agreed -with me.</p> -<p>‘An odd sort of case. The murderer was -found to be an extremely wealthy American -whose sister had married the murdered man’s -brother.’</p> -<p>‘Well,’ laughed Bill Cargo to whom Fordney -had been speaking. ‘It’s getting too involved -for me. I can’t figure it out.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_9">How had Fordney determined the American was an educated man?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_10">10 -<br /><i>The Professor Gives a Lesson</i></h3> -<p>‘Cardoni came into Inspector Kelley’s office -yesterday,’ said Fordney to his Criminology -Class.</p> -<p>‘“I want to speak to you alone, Chief,” he -said, eyeing me with frank suspicion.</p> -<p>‘“It’s all right. Go ahead,” said Kelley.</p> -<p>‘“I’ve got some information on the Curtis -kidnapers. How much is it worth?”</p> -<p>‘“That all depends. Let’s hear the story.”</p> -<p>‘“They’re in one of my old buildings, down -on the East Side. Three men and a woman. -All you’ve got to do, Chief, is to take this, -walk in an’ surprise ’em,” said our informer, -tossing a Yale key on Kelley’s desk. “They -rented a room from me about a week ago.”</p> -<p>‘“Sounds much too easy, Cardoni. I want -something more definite than that. What -makes you think they’re the kidnapers?”</p> -<p>‘“I heard them having an argument as I -was doing some repair work in the hall. One -of the guys threatened to squeal if he didn’t -get a bigger cut. It sounded interestin’, so I -peeked through the keyhole. They were sittin’ -<span class="pb" id="Page_20">20</span> -at a table in the middle of the room on which -there was a stack of money.”</p> -<p>‘“Your story doesn’t yet show they had any -connection with the Curtis kidnaping,” Kelley -said.</p> -<p>“NO? Well, last night I heard them mention -‘Curtis’ several times. And that ain’t all,” -continued Cardoni, with a triumphant air. -“Here’s a code message one of them must have -dropped. Well, Chief, how much do I get?”</p> -<p>“Get out!” hollered Kelley as he made a -pass at Cardoni.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_10">Why was the informer treated so rudely?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_11">11 -<br /><i>Upstairs and Down</i></h3> -<p>‘Let’s hear your story,’ said Inspector Kelley -to Policeman Kirk, as Fordney dropped into a -comfortable chair at Headquarters.</p> -<p>‘The neighbors were worried because they -hadn’t seen old lady Brill about for a couple of -days and asked me to investigate.</p> -<p>‘Getting no answer to my ring, I broke open -the front door, ran upstairs, and, not seeing -her, ran down and through the hall, unlocked -the kitchen door, and found her on the floor, -a bullet through her heart and a gun beside her. -The windows and the doors to the porch and -cellar were locked on the inside and nothing -seemed to be disturbed.</p> -<p>‘Looked like suicide to me. However, I -learned her nephew was at the house yesterday -about the time the doctor said she died, so I -brought him in,’ concluded Kirk.</p> -<p>‘Why did you run upstairs before examining -the lower floor?’ asked Kelley.</p> -<p>‘Thought I heard a noise up there, sir,’ -replied the policeman.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>‘Any finger-prints on the gun?’ inquired -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Just those of the old lady,’ answered Kelley.</p> -<p>‘I have a key to the house,’ interrupted the -nephew. ‘I went in yesterday, called to her, -but she didn’t answer, so I thought she’d gone -out.’</p> -<p>‘Did you go upstairs?’ asked the Professor.</p> -<p>‘Yes, I ran up there, calling her name, but -came right down again and left immediately.’</p> -<p>‘Well, Kelley, of course it’s murder—as -you probably know. I suppose you’ll hold this -fellow?’</p> -<p>‘I certainly intend to,’ replied the Inspector.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_11">How did Fordney know the old lady had been murdered?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_12">12 -<br /><i>Class Day</i></h3> -<p>‘Baklioff, in person, combined with “Grand -Hotel,” had packed the Paramount,’ said the -Professor. ‘Every seat was occupied and -standing-room was at a premium. What an -opening it was!’ he continued.</p> -<p>‘As the picture neared its end and the orchestra, -under the magnificent leadership of -Baklioff, reached the climax of Mascagni’s -“Cavalleria Rusticana,” a shot rang out.</p> -<p>‘Inspector Kelley who accompanied me, was -immediately on his feet bellowing, “Lights!” -They were quickly turned on and the picture -stopped. Warning everyone to keep his seat, -we started for the back of the theater, when a -man’s body slumped out of a seat and fell -almost at our feet. A hurried examination -disclosed he had been shot in the back of the -head and that he was an extremely tall man.</p> -<p>‘Leaving Kelley to look after things, I -hurried to the operator’s booth. When almost -there, I heard another shot and knew I was too -late. Entering the small compartment, hung -under the balcony, I found the operator with -<span class="pb" id="Page_24">24</span> -a bullet through his temple and a smoking -revolver by his side.</p> -<p>‘“Not much to this,” I remarked, as Kelley -joined me.</p> -<p>‘“I wonder if he got the right man,” commented -the Inspector. “I don’t understand -how he could have made such a splendid shot -under the circumstances. Amazing!”’</p> -<p>‘Was the dead man sitting in an aisle seat?’ -interrupted one of the class.</p> -<p>‘Yes,’ replied Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Gee, that’s a good one, Professor, but I -know now the one thing wrong with your -story,’ said the student.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_12">Do you?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_13">13 -<br /><i>A Hot Pursuit</i></h3> -<p>‘Hello, Smith,’ said Professor Fordney as he -opened the door. ‘What’s up?’</p> -<p>‘Uncle Fred’s house has been robbed. He -had some negotiable bonds in the library safe -and told me to stick close to home until he -returned from New York.’</p> -<p>‘Were they stolen?’ interrogated Fordney.</p> -<p>‘I’m afraid so. I was up in my bedroom -about twenty minutes ago when I heard a -noise. I rushed downstairs just in time to see -a man dash out of the library. I ran after him -and, as I passed the door, I noticed the safe -was open, so I suppose he got the bonds. He -jumped into a waiting automobile and I trailed -him in my car which, fortunately, was standing -in front of the house, but he got away from -me.’</p> -<p>‘Did you get his license number?’</p> -<p>‘No. Couldn’t see it. When I lost him in -the traffic, I drove right over here.’</p> -<p>‘Didn’t you keep the house locked while -you were upstairs?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>‘Yes, but the burglar chiseled open a cellar -window.’</p> -<p>‘Well, let’s go over and have a look,’ suggested -Fordney.</p> -<p>When they reached the Smith home, they -found the bonds gone.</p> -<p>‘Did you lock the front door when you ran -out of the house?’</p> -<p>‘Why—er,’ replied Smith nervously, ‘the door -locks automatically. I don’t know what Uncle -Fred will say when he gets back.’</p> -<p>‘He’ll say plenty if you tell him the story -you told me,’ interrupted the Professor. ‘I -suggest you put the bonds back.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_13">Where did Smith make his incriminating slip?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_14">14 -<br /><i>A Question of Identity</i></h3> -<p>Professor Fordney and three of his friends -were enjoying their weekly ‘get together’ at -the University Club.</p> -<p>‘Professor,’ said Patrie, ‘tell us something -about that Yelpir murder case you were working -on.’</p> -<p>‘Well, gentlemen,’ he replied, in his retiring -manner, ‘as you know, Yelpir’s affairs were -common knowledge, and the fact that several -women had reasons to wish him dead complicated -matters a bit.</p> -<p>‘His body was found in his study, which -opened on to a corridor. At the other end of -the corridor and directly opposite it a staircase -led to the servants’ quarters above.</p> -<p>‘Diana Lane, a house guest of Mrs. Yelpir -at the time of the murder, was questioned, and -she appeared nervous. She insisted, however, -that she had been in her room at the time -Yelpir was slain.</p> -<p>‘Nora, a servant, testified that, as she was -descending the stairs leading from the servants’ -quarters, at midnight, she saw Diana -<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span> -Lane, wearing her famous emerald pendant -and dressed in an enticing black negligée, walk -down the lighted corridor to Yelpir’s room. -She said she followed a minute later and heard -Diana and Yelpir violently quarreling. She -returned to the servants’ quarters and, as she -opened the door of her room, she heard a shot.</p> -<p>‘In the face of such evidence, Miss Lane -admitted having gone to the study at the time, -but protested her innocence, declaring she had -remained only a minute.</p> -<p>‘While Miss Lane was acquitted, you know, -her reputation was not above reproach. Even -so, I knew without further investigation that -Nora’s testimony was maliciously false.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_14">How did the Professor know?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_15">15 -<br /><i>A Yachtsman’s Alibi</i></h3> -<p>‘I’ve often remarked,’ said Professor Fordney, -in an expansive mood, ‘how very difficult it is -to fake an alibi without someone’s assistance. -A case in point is a messy affair we cleared up -recently.</p> -<p>‘I didn’t definitely suspect Picus when I -happened to bump into him at the Fourth-of-July -parade, the morning after an acquaintance -of his had been found dead under suspicious -circumstances. I rather casually asked -him where he had been and what he had been -doing the previous afternoon about four -o’clock, the apparent time of the man’s death. -He related the following story:</p> -<p>‘“I took my sailboat out about noon yesterday. -It was great on the water. Around three -o’clock, however, when I was perhaps ten -miles out, the wind died down completely. -There wasn’t a breath of air, and I knew that, -unless I could attract some boat, I was in for -an uncomfortable time. Remembering that -the international distress signal is a flag flown -upside down, I ran mine up to the top of the -<span class="pb" id="Page_30">30</span> -mast in that manner. Thank God it was a -clear day.</p> -<p>‘“In about an hour the steamer Leone hove -to, and I went aboard her after securing my -boat with a towline. The Captain said he had -seen my distress signal about four miles away -and would put me ashore at Gladsome Landing. -He did so, and, as there was no one about, I -hailed a passing motorist who gave me a lift -back to town. Imagine my surprise when I -read in the paper this morning that the Leone -had been sunk in a storm after putting me -ashore, and all hands had been lost!”</p> -<p>‘While I knew,’ remarked the Professor, -‘that the Leone had been sunk with all on -board, after hearing Picus’s story I immediately -arrested him on suspicion of murder.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_15">What was wrong with Picus’s alibi?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_16">16 -<br /><i>Murder at Coney Island</i></h3> -<p>Inspector Kelley and Professor Fordney -were seated in the former’s office when Policeman -Fanning and his charge entered. After -Fanning’s hurried explanation, Jasper told -his story:</p> -<p>‘I’m the ticket taker on a merry-go-round -at Coney Island. This bein’ Saturday, we had -a big crowd. The trip was almost over when -I reached out, saying, “Ticket, please,” and -I see this woman sittin’ up in the middle of the -chariot with that terrible look on her face. She -didn’t answer, and when I shook her, she -slumped over in the corner. I screamed, -jumped off, and ran for the manager. I got -blood on my hand when I shook her.</p> -<p>‘Yes, sir, she’d ridden a couple of times and -I seen the man she was with on the two rides -before,’ continued Jasper, giving a detailed -description of him. ‘I happened to see him -jump off just before I got to her.’</p> -<p>‘The doctor said she had been stabbed -through the heart and had died instantly?’ -queried Professor Fordney.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>‘That’s right, sir,’ replied the policeman.</p> -<p>‘It seems strange, Jasper,’ remarked the -Professor, ‘that you can give such a good -description of this woman’s companion on two -previous rides when you just “happened” to -notice him jump off. Does the merry-go-round -ever make you dizzy?’</p> -<p>‘No, sir; I’m used to it.’</p> -<p>‘Well, Inspector,’ said Fordney, turning to -his friend, ‘I suppose you are going to hold -this man?’</p> -<p>‘Certainly,’ replied Kelley. ‘That’s just -about the dizziest story I’ve heard in a long -time.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_16">What justified the police in holding Jasper?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_17">17 -<br /><i>Too Clever</i></h3> -<p>‘Receiving no reply to my ring and finding -the door unlocked, I went in,’ said Albert -Lynch. ‘Dawson was seated at his desk shot -through the head. Seeing he was dead, I called -the police and remained here.’</p> -<p>‘Touch anything, Lynch?’ asked Professor -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘No, sir, nothing.’</p> -<p>‘Positive of that, are you?’</p> -<p>‘Absolutely, sir.’</p> -<p>The Professor made a careful examination -of the desk and found Dawson had been writing -a letter at the bottom of which and covered -by the dead man’s hand, was a penned message: -‘A. L. did thi——’ and weakly trailed -off.</p> -<p>Further examination disclosed several kinds -of writing-paper, a pen-tray holding the recently -used pen, inkwell, eraser, stamps, letters, -and bills. The gun from which the shot -had been fired was on the floor by the side of -the chair, and the bullet was found embedded -in the divan.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>After a few questions, Fordney was quickly -convinced of Lynch’s innocence.</p> -<p>‘What do you make of it, Professor?’ inquired -Inspector Kelley.</p> -<p>‘Though the scrawled note certainly looks -like Dawson’s writing, I am sure an expert -will find it isn’t. I’m not surprised to find the -gun free of prints. Pretty thorough job, this. -Good thing for you, Lynch, and for us too, that -the murderer was careless about something.’</p> -<p>‘Right,’ said Kelley. ‘But you aren’t such -a wise old owl, Fordney. This is like the Morrow -case we handled. Remember?’</p> -<p>‘Good for you, Inspector,’ laughed the -Professor.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_17">How did both men so quickly determine that the incriminating note had not been left by Dawson?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_18">18 -<br /><i>Bloody Murder</i></h3> -<p>‘A bad mess, this,’ said Professor Fordney to -Sergeant Reynolds, as they viewed the bloody -scene.</p> -<p>‘Yeah, I wish these guys wouldn’t be quite -so thorough when they bump themselves off,’ -replied Reynolds as he set grimly to work.</p> -<p>A man with his throat cut, the head almost -severed, sat slumped over a blood-spattered -desk. What a horrible sight! His bloodstained -coat flung across the room, the razor! -the shirt! the tie! his hands! covered with -blood, made a ghastly and awesome picture -framed by the flickering light of a dying candle.</p> -<p>After turning on the lights, Fordney bent -down to take a closer look at the man.</p> -<p>‘His face seems vaguely familiar, Sergeant, -but I can’t recall at the moment where I’ve -seen him. How long has he been dead, Doctor?’</p> -<p>‘About two hours,’ replied the police surgeon.</p> -<p>At this moment the telephone rang. The -<span class="pb" id="Page_36">36</span> -caller, upon hearing Fordney’s voice, immediately -disconnected.</p> -<p>‘Odd,’ murmured the Professor as he hung -up the receiver. ‘I remember now where I saw -this man. His name is Thompson.’</p> -<p>As he glanced around, he observed that the -alarm-clock on the dresser had stopped just -two hours and fifteen minutes before.</p> -<p>The telephone rang again and Fordney -motioned Reynolds to answer.</p> -<p>‘Hello!’ he said. ‘Mr. Thompson stepped -out for a few minutes. Leave your number. -I’ll have him call you.’ The man at the other -end inquired who was speaking and, when -Reynolds replied, ‘A friend,’ he hung up.</p> -<p>‘Better trace that call, Sergeant; this is -murder,’ said Fordney.</p> -<p>‘What!’ exclaimed Reynolds. ‘Still looks -like suicide to me!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_18">Do you agree with Reynolds or the Professor? Why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_19">19 -<br /><i>Death Back-Stage</i></h3> -<p>Claudia Mason, beautiful and popular young -actress, was found lying across the chaise-longue -in her elaborately furnished dressing-room, -dead from a bullet wound in the temple.</p> -<p>She had sold her jewels and, with an heroic -gesture, partially paid her many debts.</p> -<p>Near Claudia’s right hand, Sergeant Reynolds -picked up the revolver with which she -had been killed, and after careful examination -said:</p> -<p>‘No finger-prints, of course. Gosh, Fordney, -there’s two rocks she didn’t sell,’ he exclaimed, -pointing to a large emerald on her left hand -and a diamond on her right.</p> -<p>‘Call Maria, her maid. I want to find out -who this fellow is,’ said the Professor, nodding -toward a man’s photograph signed, Juan. -‘This was evidently addressed to him,’ he said, -passing over a note which read:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Dear Juan:</p> -<p>I am so despondent. The money from -my jewels was not nearly enough.</p> -<p><span class="jr">Claudia</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>‘Not many of these dames kill themselves -over their debts,’ muttered Reynolds as he -went to call Maria.</p> -<p>The maid entered the room, sobbing and -hysterical.</p> -<p>‘Who is Juan?’ asked Professor Fordney.</p> -<p>‘He’s the leading man in the show.’</p> -<p>‘Why wasn’t this note delivered to him?’</p> -<p>‘I forgot it.’</p> -<p>‘You found her?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. When I came to help her dress she—was—like -that!’</p> -<p>‘Is Juan in his dressing-room now?’</p> -<p>‘I believe so.’</p> -<p>When Reynolds brought him into Claudia’s -room, he dropped to his knees beside the dead -girl.</p> -<p>‘My God! She’s killed herself!’</p> -<p>‘No, she hasn’t, young man. She was murdered,’ -said the Professor.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_19">Why was he sure it was not suicide?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_20">20 -<br /><i>An Easy Combination</i></h3> -<p>‘I was working late, preparing an advertising -campaign,’ continued Fellows whom Professor -Fordney had been questioning. ‘About ten-fifteen -I heard the outer office door click. Being -unarmed, I hurriedly turned out the lights -in my office and waited breathlessly, as there -was a large sum of money in the safe. I knew -my chances of attracting attention from the -tenth floor were small, so, reaching for the telephone, -I hastily dialed Headquarters and told -them in a low voice to send help immediately. -Then, creeping noiselessly to the open safe, I -gently shut the door, twirled the combination, -and crawled behind that big old-fashioned -desk.</p> -<p>‘Shortly afterward the robber entered my -office, flashed his light over the place, and -went to the safe. He had it open in a few -minutes, took the money, and left. That’s all -I know about it.’</p> -<p>‘What time is it now, Mr. Fellows?’ inquired -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Why, I haven’t a watch.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>‘How, then, did you know it was about ten-fifteen -when you heard the door click?’</p> -<p>‘I had gone next door for a sandwich and as -I left I glanced at the restaurant clock and -noticed it was ten-five. I had been back about -five minutes,’ replied Fellows.</p> -<p>‘You say the burglar was masked,’ continued -the Professor. ‘How did you know it?’</p> -<p>‘As he focused his flashlight on the combination -and bent over, I saw the mask,’ returned -Fellows belligerently.</p> -<p>‘Very interesting,’ smiled Fordney, ‘but -you’ll have to be a better liar than that, -Fellows, to fool me.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_20">Where did the Professor detect the lie?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_21">21 -<br /><i>A Modern Knight</i></h3> -<p>‘There was hardly a breath of air as we sat -on the terrace enjoying tea,’ reminisced Professor -Fordney. ‘Rocca excused himself, saying -he wished to telephone. Shortly after he -entered the house, we heard a shot. I rushed -into the drawing-room and found Rocca, -smoking gun in hand, staring dumbly at the -chair in front of the open window which held -the huddled body of Chase.</p> -<p>‘A hasty examination disclosed the telephone -receiver off the hook, a single cigarette -stub of Rocca’s brand in the ash-tray, a bullet-hole -in the gauze curtain six inches below the -window-sill, and Rocca’s open cigarette-case -in Chase’s lap. His replies to my hastily put -questions were evasive. Inspector Kelley -arrived while I was talking and took up the -questioning.’</p> -<p>‘“Did you use the telephone?”</p> -<p>‘“Yes.”</p> -<p>‘“You came directly to this room and did -not leave it?”</p> -<p>‘“Yes.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>‘“Chase was engaged to your sister?”</p> -<p>‘“Yes, he was.”</p> -<p>‘“Did you offer Chase a cigarette?”</p> -<p>‘“I did.”</p> -<p>‘“How did that dent get in your cigarette-case?”</p> -<p>‘“I dropped it about a week ago.”</p> -<p>‘“Did you shoot Chase?”</p> -<p>‘“I refuse to answer that question.”</p> -<p>‘At this point the doctor arrived and located -the bullet in Chase’s body. Rocca then admitted -Chase had been shot with the gun found -in his own hand, but stubbornly refused to say -anything more.</p> -<p>‘“What’s your opinion, Professor?” Kelley -asked.</p> -<p>‘“Well,” I replied, “Rocca is obviously -shielding someone. We have positive proof he -came directly here and has not left this room. -That, combined with the other evidence discovered, -absolutely exonerates Rocca."’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_21">How did the Professor know Rocca had not shot Chase?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_22">22 -<br /><i>The Jewel Robbery</i></h3> -<p>‘You say that as your butler called for help, a -stranger, by the name of Dudley, was passing -the house and rushed in?’</p> -<p>‘That’s right,’ Owings corroborated, as the -two men sat in Fordney’s study. ‘It was rather -late last Friday evening before I was ready to -leave town for the week-end, and as Stuben, -the butler, wasn’t feeling well, I told him to -stay upstairs and that I would lock up when -I left.</p> -<p>‘I had some diamonds in the safe, so he said -he wouldn’t leave the house until I returned,’ -continued Owings.</p> -<p>‘About eleven that night, he heard a humming -noise and, having the diamonds in mind, -ran downstairs to investigate. Finding the -wall safe open and the jewels gone, he let out -a scream for help.</p> -<p>‘Stuben has been with me for years, Professor, -and I have implicit faith in him.’</p> -<p>‘Did Dudley see anyone leave?’ asked -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘No; the robber or robbers must have left -<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span> -by the back door, as Dudley was right in front -of the house when he heard Stuben’s call for -help,’ replied Owings. ‘Both men say the -room smelled of cigarette smoke, so the burglars -must have just left.’</p> -<p>‘Was the back door unlocked?’ inquired the -Professor.</p> -<p>‘No, it was closed. It has a device which -locks it automatically from the outside when -it’s pulled to.’</p> -<p>‘Well, you’d better swear out a warrant for -your butler and Dudley,’ said Fordney. ‘I’m -sure they know where your diamonds are. -Long service, you know, isn’t necessarily a -pledge of loyalty.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_22">Why did Fordney so advise Owings?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_23">23 -<br /><i>Before the Coroner’s Inquest</i></h3> -<p>‘Let’s run over your testimony before the inquest -opens,’ said Fordney.</p> -<p>‘All right,’ replied Curry.</p> -<p>‘About three-thirty on Thursday, I got into -the boat in front of my cottage and rowed upstream. -About fifty yards below the bridge, -I looked up and saw Scott and Dawson going -across it in opposite directions. As the two men -passed, Scott reached out, grabbed Dawson, -and hit him in the jaw. Then he pulled a gun, -and, in the scuffle that followed, Scott fell off -the bridge. He dropped into the water, but, -as the current was strong, by the time I -reached the spot, he had sunk. When I finally -pulled him into the boat, he was dead.’</p> -<p>‘Was it a clear day?’ asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Well, it had been showering early in the -afternoon, but the sun was shining then.’</p> -<p>‘Are you positive Scott got that bruise by -hitting his head on the rocks when he fell? The -prosecution, you know, is going to claim that -Dawson hit him on the head with something, -<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span> -then deliberately pushed him off the bridge,’ -commented Fordney.</p> -<p>‘I <i>know</i> he got that bruise on the rocks,’ -stated Curry emphatically.</p> -<p>‘All right,’ said the Professor, ‘but I don’t -think the jury will believe you. Personally, -I’m sure Dawson didn’t intentionally kill -Scott, but we’ll have to have better proof than -that if we hope to acquit him.</p> -<p>‘By the way,’ he continued, ‘be sure to state -you knew of the grudge Scott bore Dawson.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_23">Why was the Professor doubtful the coroner’s jury would believe Curry’s testimony?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_24">24 -<br /><i>The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up</i></h3> -<p>‘What’s the hurry?’ asked Professor Fordney, -as Baldwin collided with him in the doorway -of the office at the back of the exclusive Cross -Jewelry Store.</p> -<p>‘I—I—was going to help search for the -robbers,’ stammered Baldwin as he backed -into the office.</p> -<p>‘Well, tell me what happened first,’ said -Fordney, as Dr. Lyman, police surgeon, knelt -beside Mr. Cross.</p> -<p>‘There’s the special safe for the emerald -behind that miniature portrait. I was in here -when Mr. Cross entered with two gentlemen,’ -exclaimed Baldwin nervously.</p> -<p>‘He asked me to bring in a tray of diamonds. -I set it on the table—both men -pulled guns and as Cross protested, one of -them knocked him unconscious with a blow on -the head. The other forced me into that chair -saying, “All right, buddy. We’ll wait on ourselves.” -Then he put the diamonds in his -pocket. I’m thankful I’m alive. I telephoned -<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span> -Headquarters, then rushed out into the store, -but they had escaped,’ concluded Baldwin.</p> -<p>‘So they got away with the famous Cross -emerald, eh?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. The safe door was slightly open. Mr. -Cross tried to call my attention to it with a -jerk of his thumb as the robber pocketed the -diamonds. Otherwise they wouldn’t have -discovered it.’</p> -<p>‘How is he, Doctor?’ asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘He’ll never come to, I’m afraid. Those two -blows on the head were a bit too much for him.’</p> -<p>‘Two blows!’ ejaculated Fordney. ‘Are you -sure, Baldwin, you weren’t hurrying away -with the emerald? I’m not!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_24">Why did Fordney think Baldwin had stolen the emerald?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_25">25 -<br /><i>Behind Locked Doors</i></h3> -<p>At the Collingham home Professor Fordney -found Clive Kingston, the Judge’s nephew, and -Watkins, the butler, greatly excited. Forcing -the library door, locked for three months, they -saw the Judge seated in front of the fireplace -opposite the door, apparently dead.</p> -<p>‘Wait!’ called Professor Fordney to Watkins, -who had rushed into the room.</p> -<p>‘He’s all right,’ said Kingston, as he and -Fordney halted over the threshold.</p> -<p>‘Perhaps, but I don’t want any clues obliterated. -Come back carefully and get us a -couple of small rugs, Watkins,’ commanded -Fordney.</p> -<p>Walking only on the rugs placed over the -thick, plain carpet, Fordney and Kingston -reached the Judge’s side and found him dead—shot -through the heart.</p> -<p>Kingston called the Professor’s attention to -footprints in the carpet near the fireplace. -As he fitted his shoe to an impression, he said, -‘These are mine, and those, of course, must be -Watkins’s.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>‘Throw me your shoe,’ called Fordney to -the butler, standing in the doorway. ‘Yes, -these are yours all right, and I can see the -third set was made by the Judge—notice -the impression left by his peculiarly constructed -right shoe.’</p> -<p>‘There’s the gun under the table,’ called the -butler.</p> -<p>‘Pretty sharp eyes, Watkins,’ said the Professor, -picking up and critically examining the -gun. ‘No finger-prints, of course,’ he mused.</p> -<p>‘Look!’ exclaimed Kingston, ‘the glass in -that picture is broken. Were two shots fired?’</p> -<p>‘Only one,’ said Fordney, as with great care -he picked the Judge’s nose-glasses from his -lap where they had fallen, unbroken. ‘I think -I know now who murdered your uncle.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_25">Whom did Fordney suspect, and why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_26">26 -<br /><i>Lost at Sea</i></h3> -<p>‘Tell us exactly what happened,’ said Professor -Fordney as he sat in his study with -Mrs. Rollins.</p> -<p>‘It was a dark, moonless night.</p> -<p>‘At twelve o’clock, when we were about ten -miles off Point Breeze, I retired to my cabin, -leaving my husband on deck. We were alone -on the boat.</p> -<p>‘In a few minutes, hearing loud shouts, I -joined him again. We could hear a boat approaching, -running without lights, as were we. -My husband told me to return to the cabin, -which I did.</p> -<p>‘Soon after doing so a bump, tramping feet, -and loud swearing told me our visitors had -come aboard. I went up and, just as I stepped -on deck, a man put a gun against my ribs and -told me to keep quiet. My husband was engaged -in a terrific fight with two others.</p> -<p>‘They must have known he always carried -that leather bag of loose diamonds because, -when he dropped it in the fight, one of them -picked it up from the deck.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>‘They finally knocked him unconscious and -took him to their boat after binding and gagging -me. As you know, I was found drifting -next morning by that fisherman.’</p> -<p>‘How was your husband dressed?’ inquired -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘It was very hot—he had no shirt on, but -wore dark trousers.’</p> -<p>‘Shoes or tennis slippers?’</p> -<p>‘Why—shoes, of course,’ replied Mrs. -Rollins with noticeable hesitation.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ said Fordney tersely, ‘it’s amazing -to me that you expect to collect insurance on -your diamonds on such a flimsy yarn. You -and your husband will be lucky if you aren’t -prosecuted.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_26">Where did the elaborate story fall down?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_27">27 -<br /><i>A Suave Gunman</i></h3> -<p>‘Can you describe this fellow?’ asked Professor -Fordney of Henry Taylor, manager of the -National Theater.</p> -<p>‘Yes. He was a tall, well-dressed, good-looking -chap. Wore a panama hat, turned-down -brim, blue coat, smart blue tie, natty -white flannels with silver belt-buckle, black-and-white -sport shoes, and had a general air of -culture and refinement.’</p> -<p>‘Just what did he do?’</p> -<p>‘As I was counting the receipts, he came -into the office, gun in hand, and commanded -me to get up from the desk and move over by -that table.</p> -<p>‘After putting the money in a brief-case he -carried, he took out a cigarette and asked me -to light it for him, still covering me, of course.</p> -<p>‘Then he gagged me and tied me to the -chair, after which he opened the door, looked -cautiously about, came back and, with a quiet -“sorry” and a warning, turned and left. As -he passed through the door, he unbuttoned his -coat and slipped the revolver into his back -<span class="pb" id="Page_54">54</span> -pocket. The show was just letting out, so I -suppose he mingled with the crowd and escaped,’ -Taylor concluded.</p> -<p>‘Are you insured against this loss of eight -thousand dollars?’ inquired Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Yes.’</p> -<p>‘Could you see the color of the bandit’s -hair?’</p> -<p>‘It was blond.’</p> -<p>‘Anything unusual about him?’</p> -<p>‘No. Except that he was constantly clearing -his throat in a peculiar manner,’ replied Taylor.</p> -<p>‘Left- or right-handed?’</p> -<p>‘Why—I’m not sure. Right-handed, -though, I think.’</p> -<p>‘This has gone far enough, Taylor,’ said -Fordney sharply. ‘The robbery was obviously -framed by you.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_27">How did Fordney know Taylor had faked the hold-up?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_28">28 -<br /><i>Accidental Death</i></h3> -<p>Returning to town late one night, Professor -Fordney was driving along an unfrequented -road when the sight of a motor-cycle policeman -examining a car in a ditch caused him to -stop and offer his services. Joining the policeman, -he found that a man, obviously the -driver, had been thrown through the windshield -and was lying about six feet from the -car.</p> -<p>His examination disclosed that the man had -been terribly cut about the head. The jugular -vein was completely severed. The bent steering-wheel, -shattered glass, and the blood on the -front seat and floor of the car were mute evidence -of the tragedy.</p> -<p>Fordney also noted the speedometer had -stopped at 62.</p> -<p>A search of the body revealed nothing unusual -except that the man wore only one glove. -The other could not be found. The Professor -was pondering this when the policeman handed -him his report of accidental death, saying, -‘Is that how you see it, sir?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>‘I think,’ replied Fordney slowly, ‘you’d -better change that to murder. In the absence -of any further evidence, it seems to be pretty -clearly indicated.’</p> -<p>‘Murder!’ exclaimed the bewildered policeman. -‘I don’t understand how you make that -out.’</p> -<p>After explaining his reason and with a final -admonition to continue a careful search for -the missing glove, the Professor returned to -his car and drove down the wide, smooth highway -toward home and a good night’s rest.</p> -<p>Fordney’s deduction was confirmed when -the missing glove and the murderer were -found.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_28">How had he arrived at his startling conclusion?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_29">29 -<br /><i>Easy Money</i></h3> -<p>‘Mr. Walker hurried into the kitchen,’ said -the valet to Professor Fordney, ‘and told me -he was called away unexpectedly and that I -was to go to his library and take the money -he had won last night to the bank.</p> -<p>‘I was busy,’ he continued, ‘but in about -five minutes I went through the hall, and, -thinking I heard a noise, I stopped and listened -at the study door. There was someone -moving about. The door was open. As I -peered around it, I saw a masked man, gun in -hand, hesitating near the fireplace.</p> -<p>‘Then he went over to the table in the center -of the room, picked up the stacks of ten- and -twenty-dollar bills, and left by the window. I -called the police immediately and gave them a -description.’</p> -<p>‘Exactly what time was that?’ asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Just about ten o’clock, sir.’</p> -<p>‘Had you been in the library before that, -this morning?’</p> -<p>‘No, I hadn’t.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>‘Were you in your master’s room today?’</p> -<p>‘No. What’s that got to do with it?’</p> -<p>‘Nothing,’ murmured Fordney, ‘nothing at -all! Does your master gamble often?’</p> -<p>‘I don’t think so.’</p> -<p>‘How much did he win last night?’</p> -<p>‘He didn’t say.’</p> -<p>‘Humph,’ said Fordney, as he pointed to a -bill on the floor, ‘the thief dropped one.</p> -<p>‘I see your master has quite a library,’ he -continued, glancing around the large, beautifully -furnished room. ‘Do you read much, -Wilkins?’</p> -<p>‘A bit, sir.’</p> -<p>‘Did you ever read, “Honesty is the best -policy”?’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_29">Why did the Professor think Wilkins had robbed his master?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_30">30 -<br /><i>Robbery at High Noon</i></h3> -<p>‘I wonder who had the nerve to commit such -a robbery at high noon,’ mused Professor -Fordney as he examined the safe, seventeen -minutes after it had been rifled. ‘Same old -story: no finger-prints, no evidence.’</p> -<p>‘Found anything?’ asked Lawson nervously -as he entered his drawing-room.</p> -<p>‘Not yet. Are you here alone, Lawson?’</p> -<p>‘No. John, my nephew, is staying with me. -Everyone else is in town.’</p> -<p>‘Where is he now?’</p> -<p>‘Oh, he left about an hour ago.’</p> -<p>At 3.20 <span class="small">P.M.</span> Fordney noticed Jones, the -gardener, working at the edge of a flower-bed. -He kept looking furtively at the house while -he frantically covered over the hole he had -dug. Finishing, he hurriedly walked toward -the boat-landing.</p> -<p>Fordney, following, reached the dock just as -John guided his motor-boat in.</p> -<p>‘Have a nice day?’ asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Yep. Had a grand run up the lakes.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>‘Where were you when your uncle’s safe was -robbed?’</p> -<p>‘Boy, I was hauling in a big muskie! What -a battle he gave me! See him in the end of the -boat? Isn’t he a beauty?’</p> -<p>‘When did you return?’ demanded Fordney -of the gardener.</p> -<p>‘I don’t know what time it was,’ he replied -nervously, glancing at John.</p> -<p>‘You must have some idea.’</p> -<p>‘Well, it was about noon,’ he reluctantly -answered.</p> -<p>‘By the way, John, do you know the combination -of your uncle’s safe?’ inquired Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Is that old weasel accusing me?’</p> -<p>‘No, he isn’t. But I’ve got my suspicions!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_30">Whom did Fordney suspect and why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_31">31 -<br /><i>The Wrong Foot Forward</i></h3> -<p>‘The witness says,’ explained the interpreter, -‘that as the car came to a sudden stop the conductor -ran to the front and yelled to the motorman, -“You’ve done it again."’</p> -<p>The little foreigner on the witness stand -looked bewildered and frightened.</p> -<p>‘He further says that there were two sailors -on the car and that they jumped off and ran.’</p> -<p>‘Have they been located yet?’ inquired the -Judge.</p> -<p>‘No, Your Honor; we’ve been unable to -trace them, although the conductor gave a -good description,’ replied counsel.</p> -<p>‘Proceed.’</p> -<p>The interpreter continued.</p> -<p>‘Paslovsky, the witness, declares he had a -clear view of the plaintiff when he got off. He -states that just as the plaintiff put his foot -on the ground, with his back to the front of the -car, it gave a sudden start and he was thrown -to the road.’</p> -<p>‘Can’t the witness understand or speak -<span class="pb" id="Page_62">62</span> -enough English to tell the court about that?’ -asked the Judge.</p> -<p>‘No, Your Honor; he’s been in this country -only two weeks.’</p> -<p>‘How can he get about at that hour of night -alone, then?’</p> -<p>‘Some friends put him on the car and telephoned -the people with whom he lives to -meet him at the end of the line,’ replied counsel -for the plaintiff.</p> -<p>‘Continue.’</p> -<p>‘Paslovsky,’ declared the interpreter, ‘says -he picked up this picture from the floor of the -car—a snapshot of a sailor and a girl.’</p> -<p>‘Case dismissed,’ thundered the Judge, ‘and -don’t ever bring another like that into this -court.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_31">‘Why was His Honor justified in so abruptly dismissing the suit for damages?’</a></p> -<p>asked Professor Fordney of his class in criminology.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_32">32 -<br /><i>Death Attends the Party</i></h3> -<p>‘He had a big party last night,’ said Graves, -the valet.</p> -<p>‘Certainly looks like it,’ retorted Professor -Fordney, as he surveyed the crazily balanced -glasses, overflowing ash-trays, and liquor rings -on the small, fragile antique table at which -Carlton Dawes sat.</p> -<p>‘It was awful, sir. Just as I turned to say -“good night” to him, he lifted his revolver, -fired and toppled over.’</p> -<p>‘Funny,’ mused Fordney. ‘He had everything -to live for.’</p> -<p>‘Everything but the thing he wanted,’ replied -the valet. ‘Madeline, his former wife, -was here last night. He is always despondent -after seeing her.’</p> -<p>‘Well, Graves, pretty nice for you, eh? -How much did he leave you?’</p> -<p>‘Ten thousand dollars, sir.’</p> -<p>Fordney leaned over to examine the wound -in Dawes’s left temple. His head rested on the -edge of the table, his right hand on his knee -and his left hung lifelessly at his side.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>‘Anything been touched since the tragedy?’</p> -<p>‘No, sir.’</p> -<p>Fordney picked up Dawes’s revolver where -it had apparently fallen from his hand. After -examining it and finding only the dead man’s -finger-prints, he laid it on the table. As he -did so, Madeline entered the room. She -stopped, horrified.</p> -<p>‘What—what—has happened?’</p> -<p>‘Where did you come from?’ demanded -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘I’ve been upstairs. I didn’t leave with the -guests.’</p> -<p>‘Humph—you should have,’ as he shot her -a quizzical look. ‘Your presence may prove -embarrassing. Your ex-husband was murdered.’</p> -<p>Madeline slipped to the floor in a dead -faint.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_32">What convinced Fordney it was murder?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_33">33 -<br /><i>No Way Out</i></h3> -<p>On a battered desk in the small, dark room -lay a penciled note in handwriting resembling -that of the dead man:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Dear John:</p> -<p>You know the trouble I’m in. There’s -only one way out and I’m taking it. -You’re my pal and will understand. -Good luck.</p> -<p><span class="jr">(Signed)<span class="hst"> Paul</span></span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>The only other furniture consisted of the -chair in which Paul Morrow had been found -with his throat cut, a bed, and a highly ornate -and apparently brand-new waste-basket. It -had been definitely established that the dead -man had not left the room during the twenty-four -hours before he was discovered.</p> -<p>Finishing his examination of the contents of -the man’s pockets—two twenty-dollar bills, -a cheap watch, and an expensive wallet in -which there was a picture of a beautiful -woman—Fordney turned his attention to -the meager inventory of the room.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>‘That’s all we can find,’ said Inspector -Kelley, indicating a dictionary, scraps of a -letter in a feminine handwriting found in the -ornate waste-basket, a pen, some cheap stationery, -a few clothes, pipe and tobacco, and a -bloody, razor-sharp knife. ‘Certainly has all -the appearances of suicide,’ he continued. -‘This door was locked and no one could have -left by that window. What do you make of it, -Fordney?’</p> -<p>The Professor didn’t reply at once. He -picked up the photograph, studied it a moment, -and then, with a slow, searching look -around the small room, said:</p> -<p>‘Better try to piece those bits of letter together. -This isn’t suicide; it’s murder.’</p> -<p>‘I believe you’re right,’ exclaimed Kelley, -with dawning comprehension.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_33">What brought Fordney to this conclusion?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_34">34 -<br /><i>Midnight Murder</i></h3> -<p>‘Who are you, and what’s this all about?’ demanded -Inspector Kelley, as he and Professor -Fordney arrived at the apartment in answer -to a call.</p> -<p>‘I’m Jack Day. I share this apartment with -Al Quale. I returned from the theater, shortly -after midnight, went into his room, and found -him lying there on the bed. When I saw he -was dead, I called Headquarters at once. -God, this is terrible!’</p> -<p>‘Those your things on the bed?’ asked -Kelley, indicating a blood-stained muffler, a -hat, gloves, and cane.</p> -<p>‘Yes, I tossed them there before I rushed to -the telephone. Got that blood on the muffler -when I bent over him.’</p> -<p>‘What time did you leave here this evening?’</p> -<p>‘Shortly before seven,’ replied Day.</p> -<p>‘Can you prove you were at the theater all -evening?’ demanded Kelley.</p> -<p>‘Why, yes, I went with a friend.’</p> -<p>‘He’s been dead about six hours, Inspector,’ -said the police surgeon, finishing his examination -<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span> -at this point. ‘A deep knife wound, below -the heart.’</p> -<p>As Fordney picked up an earring from the -floor, Day exclaimed: ‘Why, that belongs to -his fiancée.’</p> -<p>‘Well, there’ll be no wedding bells for him,’ -remarked Kelley, with a start as he discovered -that Day’s cane was a sword-stick with a long, -thin, shining blade.</p> -<p>‘Any blood, Inspector?’ asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘None. Clean as a whistle.’</p> -<p>‘Well, Day, looks mighty bad for you,’ -stated the Professor. ‘I don’t know yet -whether you killed him with that cane, or -whether you killed him at all, but I do know -you were here a few minutes after he was -stabbed.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_34">How did the Professor know?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_35">35 -<br /><i>Speakeasy Stick-Up</i></h3> -<p>‘I had counted the cash, and as I was working -the combination to open the wall safe I heard -this guy in back of me say, “Get ’em up, Bo. -This is a stick-up.” I reached for the ceiling -as he says, “Make a move and I’ll drill you!” -He didn’t sound like he was foolin’, so I kept -quiet.</p> -<p>‘Well, he comes over, gives me a prod with -his gun, pockets the dough, and asks me where -the best liquor is, saying he don’t want no bar -whiskey either. I told him and he poured himself -a drink.</p> -<p>‘Then he got real sociable-like, but wouldn’t -let me take my hands down. He kept on -talkin’ and makin’ wise-cracks, but finally got -tired, I guess.</p> -<p>‘With a warnin’ that, if I moved before I -could count twenty, my wife would be a widow, -he beat it,’ concluded Sullivan.</p> -<p>‘How much did he take?’ inquired Professor -Fordney, who had entered the speakeasy after -hearing the bartender’s call for help.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>‘About five hundred dollars,’ Sullivan replied. -‘We had a good day.’</p> -<p>‘Haven’t you a gun here?’</p> -<p>‘Sure, but I didn’t have a chance. I ain’t -exactly no boy scout, but this mug was too -big and tough-lookin’ for me to tackle.’</p> -<p>‘How did you get that cut on your hand?’ -inquired the Professor. ‘And that bruise on -your finger?’</p> -<p>‘Opening a case of lemons,’ answered Sullivan.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ said Fordney, ‘if your whiskey isn’t -any better than your attempt at a fake hold-up, -I’ll have ginger ale.’</p> -<p>You’re right. The bruise had nothing to do -with it, but:</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_35">How did Fordney know the stick-up was a fake?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_36">36 -<br /><i>Behind Time</i></h3> -<p>Professor Fordney, on his way to investigate -a case of blackmail, was musing on the perversity -of human nature when a jar threw him -into the aisle as the train came to a sudden -stop. Jumping off, he rushed ahead of the -engine, where he found a small crowd gathered -about the mutilated body of a man hit by -the train. He was identified by a card in his -pocket as John Nelson, an important figure in -railroad labor circles.</p> -<p>‘How did it happen?’ inquired Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ replied Morton, the engineer, ‘I -was running twelve minutes late when I hit -him. There are several miles of straight-away -along here and I was beating it along at sixty -miles trying to make up time. Didn’t see -him until we were about ten yards away, right -on top of him. I jammed on the brakes, of -course, but it was too late.’</p> -<p>‘Did you leave New York on time?’</p> -<p>‘Yes, sir. One-thirty exactly.’</p> -<p>‘Why were you running late?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>‘We were held in a block for about fifteen -minutes outside of New Haven.’</p> -<p>‘What was your fireman doing when you hit -this man?’</p> -<p>‘Stoking the boiler.’</p> -<p>‘You say it was just a few seconds after -four-ten when you hit him?’ demanded the -Professor.</p> -<p>‘That’s right,’ agreed Morton.</p> -<p>‘Did you know this man by any chance?’</p> -<p>‘Yes, slightly—he was an officer in my -union,’ replied the engineer, with a worried -look.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ said Fordney, ‘I don’t know your -object in telling such a story, or how you -hoped to get away with it—you won’t.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_36">What justified Fordney in recommending Morton’s arrest?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_37">37 -<br /><i>A Broken Engagement</i></h3> -<p>‘Peculiar,’ murmured Fordney, as he examined -the desk on which lay seven letters -ready for mailing, three gray, one lavender, -two pink, and one lemon-colored.</p> -<p>As he idly shaped the wax of the candle -standing on the desk, he continued to ponder -this unusual choice of color in stationery.</p> -<p>One of the letters was addressed to Dot -Dalton, who had been murdered between -eleven-forty and eleven-fifty. She was one of -the guests at this house party in the Adirondacks.</p> -<p>All the letters were closed with black sealing -wax stamped with the letter ‘F.’</p> -<p>At midnight, Fordney began his questioning.</p> -<p>‘What time did you retire?’ he asked Molly -Fleming, in whose bedroom he was seated.</p> -<p>‘About ten,’ she replied.</p> -<p>‘Was your door locked?’</p> -<p>‘Yes.’</p> -<p>‘Hear any disturbance?’</p> -<p>‘No; I was tired, fell asleep almost immediately, -and didn’t awaken until you -<span class="pb" id="Page_74">74</span> -knocked on my door a few minutes ago and -told me of the tragedy.’</p> -<p>‘Why did you write to Dot?’</p> -<p>‘I didn’t see her last night and knew she -intended leaving early this morning. Jack -Fahey broke our engagement yesterday and -told me he was going to marry Dot. My -letter was to tell her just how despicable I -thought she was in luring him away from -me. He didn’t love her. Of course, I’m sorry -she’s dead, but a lot of wives will feel safer.’</p> -<p>‘Why the various colors of stationery?’ inquired -the Professor.</p> -<p>‘Oh, I always write in a color that seems to -reflect the personality of my correspondent.’</p> -<p>‘I see,’ said Fordney; ‘but unless you have a -better alibi you’ll be held under serious suspicion.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_37">Why was the Professor practically certain Molly was involved in this horrible murder?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_38">38 -<br /><i>The Holden Road Murder</i></h3> -<p>‘What a night!’ sighed Professor Fordney as -he hung up the telephone receiver. Half an -hour later, still grumbling, he splashed his way -through the mud and rain to the door of 27 -Holden Road. Removing his rubbers in the -spotless vestibule, he stepped into a large, -well-furnished living-room running the entire -width of the house. Introducing himself and -explaining he would question everyone later, -he asked to be left alone.</p> -<p>In the far corner of the room he found a man -lying on the floor, his throat cut. As he bent -over, his attention was attracted to a dime -lying about five feet from the head of the dead -man. He picked it up, regarded it curiously, -and, with a thoughtful look, put it in his -pocket.</p> -<p>The Professor began his questioning with -the butler.</p> -<p>‘You found the dead man?’</p> -<p>‘Yes, sir, I was returning from posting a letter -about thirty minutes ago and, just as I was -coming up the path of the front door, I heard a -<span class="pb" id="Page_76">76</span> -scream, dashed in, and found Mr. White here -gasping his last breath.’</p> -<p>‘Lose a dime?’ inquired Fordney mildly.</p> -<p>‘Why, I don’t think so, sir,’ replied the butler -nervously.</p> -<p>‘I heard the scream from upstairs,’ volunteered -Cannon, owner of the house, ‘and ran -in here right behind Wilkins.’</p> -<p>‘Did either of you leave this room before I -arrived?’</p> -<p>‘No,’ replied Cannon; ‘we stayed here until -you came.’</p> -<p>‘Did you, Mr. Cannon, lose a dime? No? -Well,’ remarked Fordney, ‘it looks like collusion -to me and I can tell you Inspector Kelley -won’t swallow this story.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_38">What was wrong with the story?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_39">39 -<br /><i>Fishermen’s Luck</i></h3> -<p>‘Having these stones in my possession, Professor -Fordney, isn’t proof that I had any part -in the Morris robbery.’</p> -<p>‘I know all about your story, Holmes. -Found the jewels yesterday at three o’clock -in the lake, tied up in a chamois bag, didn’t -you? But what were you doing out in an open -boat in the cloudburst that lasted all yesterday -afternoon?’</p> -<p>‘It was because of that cloudburst that I -sallied forth,’ explained Holmes confidently. -‘Perfect fishing weather, so I jumped into my -boat and went across the lake for some minnows. -I had rowed back to within a few yards -of shore when I just happened to notice the -bag lying on the bottom of the lake, so I -landed, tipped my boat over to keep the rain -out, and waded in. Curious, you know. The -water at that point was over my waist and -cold, but when I opened the bag—my courage -and curiosity were rewarded.’</p> -<p>‘On which side of the dock did you find it?’ -asked Fordney.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>Holmes pointed to a spot on the sandy bottom -at the left.</p> -<p>‘Think I’ll talk with the minnow man,’ -declared the Professor as he got into Holmes’s -boat. He rowed furiously for about fifty -yards, suddenly dropped the oars and, after -glancing from the crystal-clear water to the -bottom of the boat, emitted a victorious -chuckle.</p> -<p>‘Stupid of me not to have thought of that -before,’ he mused. ‘Wonder if Holmes is a -better fisherman than he is a liar?’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_39">Clever fellow, Holmes. Did his story fool you?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_40">40 -<br /><i>The Unlucky Elephant</i></h3> -<p>‘Dead! Bullet-hole in right temple,’ said -Sergeant Reynolds, as he knelt by a man lying -face down, a revolver clutched in his right -hand.</p> -<p>‘All right,’ replied Inspector Kelley. ‘Let’s -have a look round. Dressed for the street, eh?’ -While speaking, Kelley picked up from the -floor several fragments of glass and a right-hand -glove, turned inside-out.</p> -<p>‘Look at this glove, Reynolds. What do you -make of it? And I wonder if that soiled handkerchief -on the table belongs to him?’</p> -<p>‘Gee, Chief,’ said Reynolds, as he turned the -body over and unbuttoned the topcoat, ‘this -is young Holman, the millionaire.’</p> -<p>The body was immaculately clothed in the -finest custom tailoring.</p> -<p>‘Broke his watch, too. Stopped at eight-ten,’ -continued the Sergeant, as he removed -the timepiece from the vest pocket. ‘Let’s see -if those pieces you’ve got are part of the crystal. -Yep! And look at this jade elephant at the end -of the chain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>‘Bumped himself off, all right, Inspector, but -I don’t get that glove business, or that dirty -handkerchief either.’</p> -<p>‘We’d better look round and find that other -glove,’ said Kelley.</p> -<p>A thorough search failed to disclose it, and -while the Inspector was confident it was suicide, -he decided to get Professor Fordney’s -opinion, because of the prominence of young -Holman.</p> -<p>After explaining the situation to the Professor -over the telephone, he was puzzled at -his reply:</p> -<p>‘I’ll be right around, Inspector. From what -you’ve told me, it looks like murder.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_40">What justified the Professor’s belief that it was probably murder?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_41">41 -<br /><i>The Professor Listens</i></h3> -<p>‘Why the rush to get back to New York?’ inquired -Fordney, a few minutes after Delavin -stepped from the plane. ‘Thought you intended -spending the summer in Cuba.’</p> -<p>‘Well, if you must know, my bank failed, -and I came back to straighten out my affairs.’</p> -<p>‘That’s too bad, Delavin. How did you hear -about it?’</p> -<p>He handed Fordney a clipping from the -<i>Jacksonville Herald</i>:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>New York, July 5. (AP)—Foundation -Bank & Trust Co., one of New York’s -oldest banking establishments, closed its -doors today...</p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘Sure you didn’t come back to help your pal -Ryan?’ asked the Professor. ‘He’s been in jail -for two days. Ever since the Fourth-of-July -bombing. Had a letter on him signed by you -asking him to get in touch with a C. J. Wallace.</p> -<p>‘We traced Wallace and discovered he is -<span class="pb" id="Page_82">82</span> -with an ammunition company. When the District -Attorney heard you were on your way -here, he asked me to meet you. He thinks you -know something about the bombing.’</p> -<p>‘In jail, huh? I didn’t know there had been a -bombing. Wallace is a cousin of mine.’</p> -<p>‘Where did you catch your plane?’</p> -<p>‘Why—er—Jacksonville, Florida. You -see, I was staying at a rather remote place -and no planes serve that part of Cuba. Really -had no thought of leaving until I read of the -bank failure.’</p> -<p>‘Well, you had better think of a more convincing -alibi, before the District Attorney -questions you.’</p> -<p>‘Oh, I suppose somebody wired him that -“Spider” McCoy met the plane when we -landed in Norfolk. He’s got nothing on me!’ -exclaimed Delavin.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_41">What do you think of Delavin’s actions? Suspicious? Why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_42">42 -<br /><i>Ten-Fifteen</i></h3> -<p>Professor Fordney glanced at his desk clock -as he picked up the receiver—ten-fifteen.</p> -<p>‘Hello!’ came the agitated voice at the other -end. ‘This is Waters. Could you come over -right away? Something’s just happened that -I’d like to discuss with you. I’d appreciate it.’</p> -<p>‘Well,’ returned the Professor, again glancing -dubiously at the clock, ‘if it’s important, -I’ll be round. Good-bye.’</p> -<p>Twenty minutes later, he was met at the -door by Waters’s secretary who was almost -incoherent in his excitement.</p> -<p>‘He’s dead, Professor. Dead—there in the -library!’</p> -<p>Fordney hurried to the room and found -Waters slumped over his desk with his throat -cut.</p> -<p>‘Well, tell me what happened,’ he said to the -secretary, as he noted the position of the body, -the open window, and the cigar-ash on the rug -about six feet from Waters’s chair.</p> -<p>‘I came in about an hour ago, Professor, -and went right upstairs to do some work. -<span class="pb" id="Page_84">84</span> -Twenty-five minutes ago I came down and -heard him talking to you as I passed the library -on my way to the pantry for a sandwich. -I was there about twenty minutes, I imagine, -and, as I came back through the hall, I happened -to look in here, and there he was. I -can’t imagine who did it or how it happened,’ -he concluded.</p> -<p>‘Have a cigar,’ offered Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Thanks, I will, Professor. It’ll kind of -steady the nerves.’</p> -<p>‘And now,’ said Fordney, ‘suppose you tell -me the real truth of this affair.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_42">Why did he doubt Waters?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_43">43 -<br /><i>Rapid Transit</i></h3> -<p>‘I was beatin’ along the Boston Post Road, -about fifty miles an hour, when I looks around -and sees this bird standing on the tail-gate -fumbling with the lock on the doors. I stopped -as fast as I could, jumped out, and ran round -to the back. This mug had hopped off with an -armful of furs and climbed into a car that was -following. His partner even took a shot at me,’ -said Sullivan, whom Professor Fordney was -questioning.</p> -<p>‘He must have been a very good judge. He -took only the best you carried,’ commented -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Yeah. Guess he was. Fur-stealin’ is a big -racket these days.’</p> -<p>‘Why didn’t you report it at the next town -instead of waiting until you got back to the -office?’</p> -<p>‘Well, I thought the boss wouldn’t want it -to get out that the furs of his wealthy customers -had been pinched. He’s awful particular -about us usin’ our heads.’</p> -<p>‘Where was your helper?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>‘Just after I started out, he said he was -feelin’ sick, so I told him to go on home.’</p> -<p>‘Fifty miles an hour is excessive speed for -that truck, isn’t it?’ asked Fordney, examining -the all-steel doors of the massive, dust-proof -moving-van.</p> -<p>‘She’s big, but she’ll do even better than -that!’</p> -<p>‘Always wear those gloves when you’re -working?’</p> -<p>‘Always,’ laughed the driver. ‘Have to keep -me hands dainty, you know.’</p> -<p>‘I thought so,’ retorted Fordney, continuing -his close examination of the doors.</p> -<p>‘Come on, Sullivan, take me for a ride in -that truck. I know you’re lying.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_43">How did the Professor know?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_44">44 -<br /><i>The Professor is Disappointed</i></h3> -<p>‘What’ll I do, Professor,’ implored Vi Cargo, -as Fordney examined the ground beneath her -bedroom window.</p> -<p>Seven <span class="small">A.M.</span> A fine time to start looking for -a thief! Why couldn’t women be more careful -of their jewelry!</p> -<p>‘I was restless all night,’ said Vi, as Fordney -knelt beside a deep impression of a man’s right -shoe.</p> -<p>‘By Jove, I thought we’d found one of your -stones,’ he said, pointing to a leaf in the footprint. -‘Look at the sunlight glistening on those -raindrops!’</p> -<p>‘It was the shower that awakened me -around six,’ chattered Vi. ‘It only lasted -about fifteen minutes. I dozed off again and -awakened with a start just as a man jumped -to the ground, from my bedroom window.’</p> -<p>‘Was that just before you came for me?’</p> -<p>‘Yes.’</p> -<p>‘Are are you alone, Vi?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. The servants are in the country.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>‘Then why did you have all your jewels in -the house?’</p> -<p>‘I had worn them to Mrs. De Forest’s party.’</p> -<p>‘Do you know anyone who smokes this -brand?’ asked Fordney, picking up from the -ground an unsmoked cigarette of English -manufacture.</p> -<p>‘Yes. Mr. Nelson, who brought me home -last night. However, I threw that one there.’</p> -<p>‘The thief chiseled open this window directly -under your bedroom.’</p> -<p>‘I wondered how he got in! The doors were -all locked.’</p> -<p>‘Come, my dear! Don’t you think you’ve -treated the old Professor rather shabbily? -You women! I know your jewels are heavily -insured and I also know of your bridge debts. -Who helped you fake this robbery? Nelson?’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_44">Where is the clue?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_45">45 -<br /><i>A Dramatic Triumph</i></h3> -<p>A clock softly chimed eight-forty-five as -Professor Fordney and Halloway, dramatic -critic of the <i>Times</i>, finished their after-dinner -coffee. They strolled leisurely to the corner -and reached the Belmont just in time for the -curtain.</p> -<p>As the first act ended, Fordney remarked -enthusiastically: ‘Halloway, it’s magnificent! -Boswell is certainly our finest dramatic actor. -How he held that audience, for forty-five -minutes, from the moment the curtain arose! -That’s genius!’</p> -<p>The final curtain found him even more enthusiastic -in his praise of Boswell’s acting.</p> -<p>Learning next morning of the actor’s murder, -he became personally interested.</p> -<p>Sibyl Mortimer had been questioned by the -police and quickly dismissed. Her alibi appeared -sound. She had an engagement with -Boswell last evening, but said he telephoned -her shortly after nine breaking it, so the police -concerned themselves with his reason for doing -so.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>A taxi-driver, who drove Boswell and another -man from the theater, dropped them at -Fifth Avenue and Sixty-Fifth Street at midnight. -His description of the man checked with -that of Jenks, Boswell’s manager, who was -missing. It was learned that his reason for -breaking the engagement with Sibyl was to -discuss a new contract with Jenks, about -which there had been considerable disagreement.</p> -<p>A charred piece of the contract was found -in the actor’s fireplace, in front of which he -lay. Jenks’s cane and a vanity-case monogrammed -‘S. M.’ were also found in the room.</p> -<p>Acquainted with the facts by Sergeant Reynolds, -Fordney replied,</p> -<p>‘I’m afraid you’ve overlooked a valuable -clue.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_45">What was it?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_46">46 -<br /><i>Murder at the Lake</i></h3> -<p>‘Here’s all we’ve been able to learn, Professor. -I wish you’d see what you can make of it,’ -said Sheriff Darrow.</p> -<p>‘Garden’s cottage fronts the lake at a point -about halfway between the head and foot of -its mile length.</p> -<p>‘A strong east wind off the lake that morning -caused him and his two guests to abandon -their proposed fishing trip. Garden remained -behind while Rice and Johnson set off hiking -in opposite directions.</p> -<p>‘Rice said that fifteen minutes later, as he -was retrieving his hat which had blown into -the lake, he heard a shot and hurried to the -cottage. There he found Johnson with blood -on his hands bending over Garden, who had -been shot through the heart.</p> -<p>‘Johnson said he had gone only about two -hundred yards when he heard the shot and -rushed back. He claims he got the blood on his -hands when ascertaining if Garden were alive. -He also admits moving some furniture, although -cautioned against it by Rice.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>‘Fortunately for Rice, we found his hat -still wet, but discovered he had changed his -shirt before the arrival of the police. He had -also gone through Garden’s desk, but said he -removed nothing.</p> -<p>‘Both men entered through the back door, -though the front entrance was more convenient.</p> -<p>‘We haven’t found a gun or any other weapon -and we haven’t been able to establish a -motive yet,’ concluded Darrow. ‘What do -you make of it?’</p> -<p>‘It’s a bit muddled, Sheriff,’ replied Fordney, -‘but I would question ________ further.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_46">Of whom was he definitely suspicious—and why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_47">47 -<br /><i>The Professor Studies a Coat</i></h3> -<p>‘They covered us with a gun, and when the -cashier tried to give an alarm, they shot him. -Then they handcuffed me, grabbed five stacks -of bills, and beat it.’</p> -<p>‘Calm yourself,’ ordered Fordney, ‘and tell -me who “they” are.’</p> -<p>‘Two fellows who robbed the bank just -now,’ explained the excited narrator, who had -rushed into Fordney’s cottage at Lakeview. -‘I knew you were vacationing in the village, -so, as soon as they escaped in their car, I ran -over here.’</p> -<p>‘Didn’t you call a doctor for the cashier?’</p> -<p>‘Too late. He must have died instantly.’</p> -<p>‘How do you know the bandits escaped in a -car?’</p> -<p>‘I saw them from the window.’</p> -<p>‘Were you and the cashier alone at the time -of the shooting?’</p> -<p>‘Yes. I had just made a deposit. I guess -they got my money, too.’</p> -<p>Fordney walked over and picked up the -<span class="pb" id="Page_94">94</span> -overcoat his visitor had removed upon entering -the living-room.</p> -<p>‘You seem to have had a little accident. -How did you get this?’ he asked, examining -a long tear in the front of the coat.</p> -<p>‘Why—I guess I tore it on the door when I -rushed out of the bank. I broke a button, too, -you’ll notice.’</p> -<p>‘Let’s see your hat!’ demanded Fordney, -eyeing his visitor sharply.</p> -<p>‘Why—where is it? I—must have left it -in the bank!’</p> -<p>‘Well—let’s go. The police will be interested -in your story—and bring that coat -with you!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_47">Why did Fordney suspect this man of complicity in the hold-up?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_48">48 -<br /><i>Too Late</i></h3> -<p>‘Perhaps you’d better tell me exactly what -happened,’ said Professor Fordney kindly to -the agitated man.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ continued Palmer, ‘Frank has been -despondent and talked of suicide for some -time. I thought exercise and the open air -would do him good, so I suggested a vacation -at my place in the country.</p> -<p>‘We’d been there three days, and he seemed -in much better spirits. Then, Thursday morning, -after we’d been fishing an hour or so, he -said he thought he’d try another stream about -a mile away. I was having good luck, so I told -him to go ahead and I’d meet him at the cabin -later.</p> -<p>‘About eleven o’clock, when I’d caught my -limit, I started back. As I neared the cabin, -I seemed to have a premonition of trouble, and -ran the last few yards. When I opened the -door, God! I’ll never forget it! I’d got there -not more than five minutes behind him, and -yet there he lay—dead! That hideous look -<span class="pb" id="Page_96">96</span> -on his face! It haunts me! Why couldn’t I -have been just a few minutes earlier?</p> -<p>‘A whiskey bottle on the table and the glass -which smelled of cyanide told me the story. -He’d done it, after all! I’ll never forgive myself,’ -Palmer concluded with a sob.</p> -<p>‘Had you any visitors while at camp?’ asked -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘No, we hadn’t seen anyone for two days.’</p> -<p>‘Did your friend smoke?’</p> -<p>‘Not at all.’</p> -<p>‘Was the door open or closed when you arrived?’</p> -<p>‘Why, closed.’</p> -<p>‘And the windows?’</p> -<p>‘Closed, too, Professor.’</p> -<p>‘If you’re innocent, Palmer, why are you -lying?’ demanded Fordney.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_48">What was the lie?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_49">49 -<br /><i>Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory</i></h3> -<p>‘Inspector Kelley picks out such nice messy -jobs for me.’</p> -<p>Professor Fordney smiled as Reynolds made -a wry face.</p> -<p>‘We found him lying against a boulder about -ten feet from the bottom of a fifty-foot embankment -of solid rock. While there were no -traces of the path of his fall, the concrete road -directly above him was stained with blood. -I don’t know why people insist on walking -along the highway.</p> -<p>‘That’s such a bad curve right there. I -don’t suppose we’ll ever find out who struck -him. And then, it’s possible for someone to -have hit him without knowing it. And I -believe the car that did stopped and the -driver seeing how badly he was hurt, in fear, -drove on.’</p> -<p>‘What makes you think that, Reynolds?’</p> -<p>‘There are tracks of a car skidding along the -shoulder of the road, and footprints in the -blood where the fellow dropped on the pavement. -I suppose the poor old man regained -<span class="pb" id="Page_98">98</span> -consciousness, staggered to his feet, and rolled -down the embankment. That finished him. -Ugh—it was a messy affair!’</p> -<p>‘Who is he?’</p> -<p>‘We’re not sure. The only identification -was a small scrap of paper in his pocket with -the name Tabor. By a queer coincidence there -was a large T deeply cut in the blood-stained -boulder which stopped his fall.’</p> -<p>‘No doubt, Sergeant, the murderers intended -you should take exactly the inference you have, -but don’t you see t____ w__ n_ b____ b______ t__ -r___ a__ t__ b______?’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_49">What did the Professor tell Reynolds?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_50">50 -<br /><i>Daylight Robbery</i></h3> -<p>‘I went to the office Thursday to do some -work,’ Shaeffer related.</p> -<p>‘About noon, I happened to look out the -window and notice a black sedan draw up -and two tough-looking fellows get out. They -looked suspicious to me, and, as I wasn’t -armed, I hastily banged the safe door closed -and ran into the washroom—not a bit too -soon either. In just a few seconds they came -in, one carrying a sawed-off shotgun. I could -see them plainly.</p> -<p>‘They looked around for a moment and one -said, “If anybody comes in here before we’re -through, give it to him.”</p> -<p>‘He then went over to the safe and, after -working on it for about five minutes, had it -open and took the money. They certainly had -a lot of nerve. Even stopped to count it! -Then they leisurely strolled out the door. I -called Headquarters immediately.’</p> -<p>‘How much did they get?’ questioned Inspector -Kelley.</p> -<p>‘Over fifteen thousand. We hadn’t banked -<span class="pb" id="Page_100">100</span> -the money from the day before because Thursday -was a holiday.’</p> -<p>‘Get the number of the car?’</p> -<p>‘No. When it drove up to the office, I didn’t -see a license plate on the front, and I couldn’t -see the back. When I finished telephoning -for the police, it had gone.’</p> -<p>‘Was there anyone at the office besides you?’</p> -<p>‘I was alone. A man telephoned an hour -before, however, and asked if we were open. I -told him no, but I’d be there until about two-thirty. -He hung up without answering.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_50">‘Well, fellows,’ asked Professor Fordney, of the members of his class in criminology, to whom he was telling the story, ‘why did Inspector Kelley immediately arrest Shaeffer?’</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_51">51 -<br /><i>A Simple Solution</i></h3> -<p>The sun streamed cheerfully through the -window, bringing into lively play the soft tones -of the luxurious furnishings, as the two house -guests, Professor Fordney and Inspector Kelley, -entered the oil magnate’s bedroom.</p> -<p>‘Nothing in here to get excited about,’ said -Kelley.</p> -<p>Fordney, opening the window and seeing -Smith lying on the ground three stories below -it, cried, ‘Run downstairs, Inspector. Quick! -There he is!’</p> -<p>Kelley nodded, and was on his way. As he -hurried out the door, he came face to face with -the butler. Fordney eyed the servant suspiciously -as he entered.</p> -<p>‘When did you see Mr. Smith last?’ he -asked.</p> -<p>‘About an hour ago. He had a telephone -call which seemed to excite him and he came -right up here to his room.’</p> -<p>‘Who brought this up?’ Fordney asked, -fingering an unopened letter with an illegible -postmark.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>‘He brought it up himself, sir, saying he was -not to be disturbed.’</p> -<p>‘Anyone been here since?’</p> -<p>Kelley’s noisy entrance interrupted the -butler’s ‘No, sir.’</p> -<p>‘Smith broke his neck. I found this on him,’ -he remarked, handing the Professor a note.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Ill health and financial trouble have -made life a burden. I’m leaving my bedroom -for the last time. A three-story drop -and my misery will be over.</p> -<p><span class="jr">Smith</span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘His suicide will be a blow to the oil industry,’ -Kelley mused, as Fordney sat down at -the desk and began to write with Smith’s -fountain pen.</p> -<p>‘His <i>death</i> will be, Inspector,’ said Fordney. -‘Better get the servants together. This is -murder—not suicide!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_51">What reason did Fordney have for making such a statement?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_52">52 -<br /><i>Who?</i></h3> -<p>‘I was trying to stop the flow with this, Professor,’ -said Weeds, the butler, indicating a -blood-covered towel he had just removed from -the bed, ‘when Jones struck at me and I -dropped it.’</p> -<p>‘And I’m sorry I missed!’ angrily exclaimed -Jones, the colored chauffeur.</p> -<p>‘Never mind that,’ said Inspector Kelley.</p> -<p>‘Did you find her, Weeds?’ asked Professor -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Yes, sir.’</p> -<p>‘She’s a good-looking mulatto,’ remarked -Kelley, looking at the maid lying on the floor -at the side of the bed. Her right hand outstretched, -the wrist deeply cut, rested in a -pool of blood on the polished floor. ‘Must -have slipped off the bed.’</p> -<p>‘I don’t think so. The spread hasn’t a -wrinkle in it,’ said Fordney, noting the immaculate -coverlet of pink lace, the edge caught -under the girl’s body.</p> -<p>‘She was almost gone when I found her,’ -<span class="pb" id="Page_104">104</span> -offered Weeds, ‘and she died before I could get -a doctor.’</p> -<p>‘Is this yours, Jones?’ inquired Fordney, -picking up a sharp knife hidden by the girl’s -dress.</p> -<p>‘Yes. She wanted it to cut the stems of the -flowers I had brought up.’</p> -<p>‘I didn’t see that knife when I tried to help -her,’ said Weeds.</p> -<p>‘Course you didn’t! You put it there!’ -shouted Jones angrily.</p> -<p>‘How do you know? You weren’t here. -And what’s more, I heard you threaten her -last night. You don’t see any flowers here, do -you, Inspector?’ quietly asked Weeds.</p> -<p>‘You’re right,’ said Kelley. After whispering -to Fordney, he continued, ‘Come on, <i>you’re</i> -under arrest. And <i>you</i>, we’ll question you -later!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_52">Whom did Kelley arrest—and why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_53">53 -<br /><i>Murder in the Swamp</i></h3> -<p>‘We’d better walk along the edge,’ said Professor -Fordney, as they started down the only -path leading through the swamp.</p> -<p>‘I never thought of that. I was on the porch -when Barton left,’ said Bob, as he trudged -along. ‘Ten minutes later, I heard a shot. I -ran down the path and found him about five -hundred yards from the house, bleeding terribly -from a wound in the head. I dashed back -for the first-aid kit and bandaged him as best -I could. He died shortly afterwards. Then I -returned and telephoned you.’</p> -<p>Reaching the body of Barton, he explained, -‘I turned him over so that I could -dress his head.’</p> -<p>‘He must have been shot from over there, -because those three sets of footprints are yours -and the other one Barton’s,’ said Fordney, -after a careful examination. ‘Let’s look in -that underbrush.’</p> -<p>Walking into it a few yards, he said, -‘Here’s where the murderer stood, all right. -See those powder-marks on the leaves?’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>While removing the branch, Fordney cut his -finger.</p> -<p>‘Better sterilize that, Professor.’</p> -<p>Back at the cottage, as he was about to -pick up a mercurochrome bottle from the kit -Bob had used, he observed a spot of blood -on the label. Walking over to the basin, he -saw Bob in the mirror above it, furtively slip -a pair of scissors into the kit.</p> -<p>Turning slowly around, he said, ‘I’ll have -to hold you on suspicion of murder.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_53">Why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_54">54 -<br /><i>Death by Drowning</i></h3> -<p>‘We were just getting into our boat,’ said the -elder Carroll brother, ‘when we happened to -notice Ridge out there in the middle of the -river, opposite Wolf’s old abandoned dock, -acting very queerly. He jumped up and down -in the boat, and then, all of a sudden, grabbed -an oar, threw it up in the air, and jumped in.</p> -<p>‘We rowed to the spot, and I dived after -him while my brother secured his boat. The -current’s fast there, but I’m a strong swimmer. -I swam around while my brother rowed about, -but we could find no trace of him,’ he concluded.</p> -<p>‘We found the oar all right, in the weeds at -Wolf’s dock,’ interjected Riley, of the River -Patrol.</p> -<p>‘How wide is the river at that point?’ asked -Professor Fordney.</p> -<p>‘About half a mile,’ said Carroll.</p> -<p>‘Pretty lonely, too, isn’t it?’</p> -<p>‘It is that,’ replied Riley.</p> -<p>‘The coroner’s report says Ridge had received -a blow of some kind on the chin. Know -<span class="pb" id="Page_108">108</span> -anything about it, Carroll?’ inquired Fordney.</p> -<p>‘No, I don’t. Might have hit a rock or the -side of the boat when he went over.’</p> -<p>‘Were you up or down river, from Ridge?’</p> -<p>‘Up river, about three hundred yards, on -the west side.’</p> -<p>‘Did you and your brother have on bathing-suits -at the time?’</p> -<p>‘I did, but my brother didn’t.’</p> -<p>‘Are there any blood-stains in Ridge’s boat, -Riley?’</p> -<p>‘Well, there are stains all right, and they -look like blood to me.’</p> -<p>‘I’m not surprised. Hold them both.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_54">Why was the Professor suspicious of the Carroll brothers?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_55">55 -<br /><i>Tragedy at the Convention</i></h3> -<p>The Convention was in an uproar! The Drys -were making a determined stand and showing -some unexpected last-minute strength.</p> -<p>The Wets were shouting, clamoring, and -stamping. The Chairman was vainly trying -to restore order amid a scene of wild confusion.</p> -<p>As the excitement reached its pitch, Hurlenson, -a powerful leader of the Wets, told a companion -seated next to him that he felt a heart -attack coming on and was going back to the -hotel.</p> -<p>An hour later, the Convention was stunned -to learn he had committed suicide in his room.</p> -<p>Professor Fordney, a guest at the Convention, -went immediately to the hotel.</p> -<p>In Hurlenson’s room he found the police, the -doctor, and Pollert, an influential delegate, -who had discovered him.</p> -<p>‘The last time I saw Hurlenson was at the -party last night, and he seemed in excellent -spirits,’ said Pollert. ‘I arose late this morning—my -room’s down at the other end of the -corridor—and I was just leaving for the Convention -<span class="pb" id="Page_110">110</span> -hall when I heard a shot. I dashed -directly here, but it was too late. He must -have died immediately.’</p> -<p>‘He did,’ said the doctor. ‘He apparently -stood in front of the mirror, took aim, and -blew out his brains. There are powder-burns -all around the wound.’</p> -<p>Learning that none of the maids or any of -the other guests were on the floor at the time, -Fordney advised the police to hold Pollert -on suspicion of murder.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_55">Why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_56">56 -<br /><i>A Murderer’s Mistake</i></h3> -<p>‘Look, Professor! That’s how the murderer -got in, all right,’ said Tracy.</p> -<p>As Fordney walked over to the ladder standing -two feet from the back of the house, he -knelt down and carefully studied the heavy -footprints around it.</p> -<p>‘Whose room is that?’ he inquired, pointing -to a second-story window against which the -top of the thirty-foot ladder rested.</p> -<p>‘That’s Uncle’s study,’ replied Tracy.</p> -<p>Going into the house, Fordney first questioned -Withers, who had discovered the body -of Lane, Tracy’s uncle.</p> -<p>‘I was reading in my room,’ he said. ‘About -two o’clock I heard a noise, so I armed myself -and crept out into the hall. Then I -heard it again, apparently in the study, so I -stole down the corridor, opened the door, and -rushed in. I turned on the lights, ran over to -the open window, looked out, and saw a man -scurry down the ladder, jump off, and run. -I fired twice, but evidently missed him,’ he -concluded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>‘Were you home all evening, Mr. Tracy?’</p> -<p>‘No. I had just put up the car when I heard -the shots and saw a figure dash around the -house.’</p> -<p>‘I’ll take a look at your car later, Tracy.</p> -<p>‘Withers, show me exactly how you found -Lane before you lifted him to the divan.’</p> -<p>As Withers righted an overturned chair, -fitted its legs carefully to four impressions in -the rug at the right of a smoking-stand, sat -down, and slumped over to the left, Fordney -said, ‘That’s enough. Which one of you killed -him?’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_56">Why did Fordney make this startling accusation?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_57">57 -<br /><i>Babe Comes Through</i></h3> -<p>‘Strike two!’ shouted Umpire Starlen.</p> -<p>‘Kill the Umpire! You big bum! Thief!’</p> -<p>Professor Fordney turned in his place directly -behind the plate to look at the excited -man in the next box, waving an empty pop-bottle. -He smiled. Couldn’t blame a chap for -getting excited. Starlen did seem to be calling -them wrong today. That last one <i>was</i> wide!</p> -<p>What a ball game! Six to three in favor of -Philadelphia, last half of the ninth, three on, -two out, and three and two on the mighty -Babe. The crowd was on its feet, yelling -and stamping.</p> -<p>The excited pitcher delivered the next throw -quickly. Just as Babe connected with it for -a home run a bottle hurtled through the air -with terrific force and caught Starlen on the -back of the head. He went down like a shot.</p> -<p>Pandemonium broke loose. Women -screamed, and a panic was threatened.</p> -<p>‘That’s him! That’s him!’ shouted several -people, as a policeman ran down the ramp -<span class="pb" id="Page_114">114</span> -and grabbed the man who had attracted -Fordney’s attention.</p> -<p>‘Tryin’ to get away, are you?’ bellowed the -cop.</p> -<p>‘I didn’t do it! Let go of me!’ he cried, as -the officer dragged him to the office.</p> -<p>Fordney followed. ‘May I ask a few questions?’ -he inquired.</p> -<p>‘Let’s see your score card, young man. H’m, -why didn’t you record that last hit? Everything -else is here.’</p> -<p>‘Why, I was running at the time. I had an -engagement.’</p> -<p>‘I see,’ said Fordney. ‘Officer, you have the -wrong man. He didn’t do it.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_57">How did Fordney know?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_58">58 -<br /><i>A Soldier of Fortune</i></h3> -<p>‘You’ll find Walter Briggs interesting, Fordney. -He’s been all over the world,’ said Attorney -Hamilton over the telephone. ‘He’s -turned up after two years, claiming his uncle’s -fortune. Better dine with us tonight.’</p> -<p>‘Thanks, I’ll be glad to. See you at eight.’</p> -<p>As the three men sat around the dinner-table, -Fordney remarked: ‘You’re a fortunate -chap, Briggs. What have you been doing in -the thirty-two years you have been away -from America?’</p> -<p>‘Well, lots of things. Mr. Hamilton, no -doubt, told you I went to the Congo with -Father when I was three. When he died, I -attended school in England. Then I traveled -for a while; did a bit of tiger-shooting in Africa, -killed elephants in India, and became an -ivory-trader, roaming over the Orient four or -five years. I finally drifted into Russia, where -I was a technical advisor to the Soviet.’</p> -<p>‘What a jolly life you’ve had, Briggs!’</p> -<p>‘Not altogether, Professor. I was in Manchuria, -where life was anything but jolly. And -<span class="pb" id="Page_116">116</span> -then, being in sympathy with the Chinese, I -took an active part in the Sino-Japanese War. -It was in China I learned of my uncle’s death, -so I came to New York immediately.’</p> -<p>‘Are you remaining here?’ asked Hamilton.</p> -<p>‘No. Me for Paris as soon as things are -settled.’</p> -<p>After a pleasant evening, the three men -parted. Reaching home, Fordney hesitated -about telephoning Hamilton. After all, it <i>was</i> -his duty to advise him to check Briggs’s story -carefully before turning over the inheritance. -As for him, he was frankly skeptical!</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_58">Are you? Why?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_59">59 -<br /><i>Number Twenty-Six</i></h3> -<p>‘You fellows <i>must</i> remember that more often -than otherwise the little, seemingly inconsequential -trifles, placed together, lead to the -solution of crime. Never take anything for -granted; examine thoroughly what appear -to be the most unimportant details. You -didn’t do so well with your last lesson,’ said -Professor Fordney, addressing his class. ‘Now -try your wits at this one.</p> -<p>‘“I know it sounds fishy, Inspector,”’ continued -he, reading from a paper, ‘“but I was -walkin’ along Sixteenth Street mindin’ my -business. When I gets in front of number 26 -I hears a dame scream ‘Help! Murder!’ so I -dashed up the steps to the house, pushed open -the door, and rushed in. As I was halfway -through the hall, a big guy steps out of a room -and says, ‘Ah, there, Mr. Farrell, just in time!’ -I asks him what’s goin’ on, and just then three -coppers came in and takes me, this guy, and -a woman, in. Neither one of them would talk -to me on the way, so I don’t know what it’s -all about.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>‘“I’m going around myself,” replied the -Inspector. “I’ll talk with you when I get -back.”</p> -<p>‘As Kelley turned the knob at number 26, -the door was violently pushed open in his -face.</p> -<p>‘“Sorry,” said Detective Bradford. “Just -going back to Headquarters. Found plenty -of dope all right. Here’s something you’ll be -interested in,” showing Kelley a man’s hat -initialed “D.F.” “There are three packets of -cocaine under the sweatband.”</p> -<p>‘This story, of course, is fictitious,’ said -Fordney, putting down the paper, ‘but it illustrates -my point. There’s just one, small, -unimportant detail that’s wrong. To repeat, -you <i>must learn</i> to detect inconsistencies -quickly, however insignificant. Quickly, now!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_59">Do <i>you</i> get it?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p class="tb">In the next few anecdotes you will see the -Professor at work and at play, on cases both -serious and amusing, involving pure deduction.</p> -<p>As in the preceding cases, however, every -fact, with the clue necessary to the solution, is -given. There is only one right and logical answer -to each—to be deduced from the evidence -presented.</p> -<p>Time yourself; see how long it takes <i>you</i> to -deduce the answer. And then, after you have -solved or missed them, try them on your -friends. They make a fascinating game—and -there are lots of people who don’t play -bridge.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_60">60 -<br /><i>The Pullman Car Murder</i></h3> -<p>‘Tell your story to Professor Fordney,’ said -the superintendent, introducing the conductor.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ said Jackson, ‘last night just after we -left Albany, lower eight let out a terrifying -shriek. I was standing at one end of the car, -the maid, porter, and brakeman at the other -end. We met at the berth as Briggs was gasping -his last from a knife wound in the heart. I -immediately had both doors of the car guarded -as well as the doors to the washrooms. Every -berth was occupied, and by this time the passengers -were milling around in the aisle.</p> -<p>‘I began to look for the missing knife with -which Briggs had been killed. Every passenger, -even the maid, brakeman, and porter, -every inch of the car and all baggage, were -searched, but still we failed to find it.</p> -<p>‘The window-sills were covered with freshly -fallen snow and an examination proved that -none of them had been opened. No one had -left the car and no one had entered either -washroom. I knew the knife must be in the -car—but where?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>‘Washington, our old Negro porter, really -discovered the murderer’s identity by “scrutinizin’ -’em all.”</p> -<p>‘I know your reputation, Professor, so you -will probably have little difficulty in determining -how Washington located the assassin, -but I’ll bet you can’t tell me where I found the -knife.’</p> -<p>Jackson’s face fell as Fordney quickly replied, -‘As there was only one possible place it -could have been, you found it....’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_60">How long did it take <i>you</i> to discover the knife?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_61">61 -<br /><i>Forgery</i></h3> -<p>‘Can it be possible that this has happened to -me!’ thought Everett Taber, as he stood in -the National Bank of New York ready to deposit -his fortune. Having completed his arrangements -late the day before with the bank’s -executives, he was the first patron of the morning. -Standing alone in the bank’s commodious -quarters, he regretted he had no one with -whom to share his happiness.</p> -<p>Suddenly, as he was making out his deposit -slip, he decided to use his own name, Everett -Mead, instead of his stepfather’s name, by -which he had been known most of his life. -It would be a simple matter to arrange this -with the officials later. As he blotted the deposit -slip, Everett Mead felt a new sense of -poise and self-assurance take possession of -him. He gazed fondly at the name which proclaimed -him a wealthy man. By changing it -he could completely sever former associations -and start life anew. What a wonderful day it -was!</p> -<p>The cashier, impressed with the amount of -<span class="pb" id="Page_124">124</span> -the deposit, was very obliging and wondered, -as he thought of his own meager salary, how it -would feel to have so much money.</p> -<p>‘I see you are left-handed, Mr. Mead,’ he -said, in an effort to appear interested in such -an important personage.</p> -<p>‘Yes,’ smilingly.</p> -<p>He left the bank without further conversation. -Less than an hour later his name had -been forged to a check for five thousand -dollars, despite the fact that no one knew he -had changed his name and no one had seen -him make out his deposit slip.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_61">Professor Fordney, acquainted with the facts, knew immediately how the forgery had been accomplished. Do you?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_62">62 -<br /><i>The Christmas Eve Tragedy</i></h3> -<p>‘Professor Fordney,’ said Sheriff Brown, of -Lake Dalton, ‘I came to New York to ask your -help in clearing up the murder of Horace -Perkins at Luckley Lodge.’</p> -<p>‘Sit down and tell me about it,’ invited -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘The family chauffeur, returning from the -station at ten o’clock on Christmas Eve, found -Perkins lying in a field, five yards off the Lodge -drive, with his skull bashed in.’</p> -<p>‘He telephoned me immediately and I instructed -him to see that nothing was disturbed. -Arriving fifteen minutes later, I personally -examined the ground so no clues would be -destroyed.</p> -<p>‘The <i>only</i> footprints to be found were six of -Perkins’s leading from the drive to the spot -where he lay. Around the body were a number -of deep impressions about two inches square. -It had been snowing all day until half an hour -before the discovery of Perkins.</p> -<p>‘Leading away from the body and ending at -the main road, two hundred yards distant, -<span class="pb" id="Page_126">126</span> -were four lines of these same impressions, about -three and a half feet apart in length and about -fourteen inches in width. In some places, however, -they were badly run together.</p> -<p>‘A stranger in our parts is quickly noted and -investigation failed to reveal a recent one. -There were absolutely no other clues and I -could find no motive for the crime. It has me -stumped, Professor,’ concluded Brown.</p> -<p>‘Give me a little time,’ said Fordney. ‘Perhaps -I can help. I’ll call you at your hotel.’</p> -<p>An hour later, he said over the telephone, -‘Sheriff, look for a man who.... Such -a person only could possibly have committed -the murder.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_62">What did Fordney say to Brown?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_63">63 -<br /><i>A Knight of the Bath</i></h3> -<p>‘You’ve heard me speak of my eccentric -friend, Joe Leimert, haven’t you, Professor?’ -inquired Jud. ‘Great character! His costly -new Los Angeles penthouse is the despair of -architects, but it reflects Joe, who cares little -for the opinions of others. Particularly in the -matter of baths is his independence reflected. -While he has six of them, he is fondest of the -one leading off his own room.</p> -<p>‘It is a large all-tile bath twenty-four feet -long, fifteen wide, and seven high, without a -single window. He went in to bathe a few -days ago, locked the door on the inside, as was -his habit, and turned the cold water full on. -When he went to turn it off, he found to his -dismay that the mechanism controlling the -drain and the taps was out of order. He -couldn’t let the water out and he couldn’t turn -the tap off. Neither could he unlock the door, -and it was impossible to make himself heard. -What a predicament! There he was in a locked -bath with no window, couldn’t open or break -down the door, couldn’t let the water out, or -<span class="pb" id="Page_128">128</span> -turn it off, and he had no way of attracting -attention.</p> -<p>‘Such a situation might have disturbed -most people, but not Joe. He leisurely proceeded -with his bath and, when finished, nonchalantly -departed.’</p> -<p>‘My dear Jud,’ smiled the Professor, ‘your -friend was indeed eccentric. Of course, there -was only one way out for him.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_63">This one’s easy, don’t you think?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_64">64 -<br /><i>Murder in the First Degree</i></h3> -<p>‘Well, Inspector, we have your man,’ said -Fordney as he walked into the office. ‘He gave -us a merry chase, though.</p> -<p>‘What a cool one this murderer is! He -calmly ate his dinner while planning the crime. -He didn’t give the cashier a chance—just -brutally shot him down in cold blood—and -all for thirty dollars. I tell you, Inspector, a -man doesn’t need much incentive to commit -murder these days. After shooting the cashier, -he made a fast get-away in a waiting car.</p> -<p>‘Fortunately, there was a policeman having -dinner in the restaurant at the time, and he -gave orders that nothing was to be disturbed -at the table where the suspected murderer had -eaten.</p> -<p>‘There are several witnesses who will identify -him, including the waitress who served -him, but no jury will convict on that alone.</p> -<p>‘While I found none of the suspect’s fingerprints, -personal effects, or physical traces at or -on the table, I did find there a sure means of -<span class="pb" id="Page_130">130</span> -conviction. I am positive he calmly premeditated -this outrage while eating his dinner.’</p> -<p>‘I hope you’re right, Professor,’ said Inspector -Kelley, ‘but both he and his attorney -seem confident. They claim the gun was discharged -accidentally.’</p> -<p>‘They’ll never get away with that. The -Prosecuting Attorney will be able to prove -that this man deliberately planned the crime -while eating his dinner. It’s murder in the first -degree!’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_64">How did the Professor know the crime was premeditated?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_65">65 -<br /><i>A Rendezvous with Death</i></h3> -<p>‘One runs into unique conspiracies in my -work,’ said Professor Fordney over his after-dinner -coffee. ‘Here is the clue to that Stone -case you are all interested in,’ he continued, -passing the following newspaper advertisement:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>WANTED. Competent private secretary. -Unusual salary and opportunity for young -man speaking Spanish. Culture and refinement -necessary qualifications. Address -KR 164.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘I don’t see how that gave you a lead. -Looks innocent enough to me,’ remarked one -of the guests.</p> -<p>‘Well,’ said the Professor, ‘that ad furnished -the strongest link in my chain of evidence. -I had information that Jack Carroll was infatuated -with Stone’s wife. At the suggestion -of his wife, Stone answered this ad and received -a reply requesting him to call for a -personal interview. That interview was with -death!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>‘Mrs. Stone, when questioned, said she and -her husband had not been on particularly -friendly terms recently and that the last she -saw of him was when he left for White Plains -to see about the position.</p> -<p>‘I called at the newspaper office and was informed -that the ad had been inserted by Jonathan -Gills, Pomeroy Hotel. They remembered -it because Mr. Gills had telephoned asking if -there were any replies to his ad. Despite the -affirmative answer, they had never been called -for. I found Jonathan Gills was unknown at -the Pomeroy Hotel.</p> -<p>‘I learned from Mrs. Stone that her husband -had answered the ad in long-hand and that he -was left-handed and a very poor penman.</p> -<p>‘Pondering the matter, though puzzled at -first, I finally hit upon the manner in which -Stone had been led to his death,’ concluded -Fordney.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_65">How do <i>you</i> think it was done?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_66">66 -<br /><i>A Rum Regatta</i></h3> -<p>‘Here’s a story that should amuse you, Jean,’ -said Professor Fordney to his efficient and -charming secretary.</p> -<p>He laughed heartily as he handed her a letter -from his old friend, George Collins, government -investigator in Florida.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>Jean read the following:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>An old sailor sitting on the sands of -Nassau mending his fishing net was approached -by three rum-runners shortly -after the break of dawn. They came -seeking his advice in connection with a -wager they had made among themselves -the night before.</p> -<p>The three of them, having sampled too -freely of the liquor they were to take the -next day to Miami, had put up three -thousand dollars as a prize for the owner -of the last boat to reach Miami. The -fact that their boss was in a hurry for the -liquor had been completely forgotten.</p> -<p>Sobered, they realized the ridiculousness -of the wager but while anxious to -reach Miami as quickly as possible, they -all agreed it was not to be changed.</p> -<p>The old sailor continued weaving the -cords into his net with slow deliberation. -In a few minutes, calling them to his side, -he whispered exactly the same advice into -the ear of each.</p> -<p>A smile spread over his weather-beaten -face and he chuckled as the three rum-runners -raced to the boats and started for -Miami at top speed.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘It is amusing,’ laughed Jean, ‘but he forgot -to say what the old sailor whispered!’</p> -<p>‘That’s for you to figure out, young lady. -I’ve never been a rum-runner, but I’ve got the -answer.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_66">What advice did the old sailor whisper to the rum-runners?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_67">67 -<br /><i>Who is the Heir?</i></h3> -<p>‘As the Île de France slipped from her berth, -Europe-bound, John Morgan, the brother of -New York’s largest theatrical producer, waved -good-bye to his family on the dock,’ said Professor -Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Arriving in Paris a week later, he registered -at the Hôtel Crillon. At two o’clock next -morning, he called the office and demanded -he be given another suite immediately, saying -he didn’t like the view from his present rooms. -This, despite the fact that he had occupied—in -fact, insisted upon—this suite many times -in the past.</p> -<p>‘Because of his prominence and wealth, he -was accommodated at once.</p> -<p>‘Moving on to Berlin four days later, he -registered at the Hotel Adlon. The manager, -anxious to please a brother of the internationally -known producer, greeted him personally. -He afterward remarked how worried Mr. -Morgan appeared at the time.</p> -<p>‘At two o’clock in the morning a repetition of -the Paris occurrence took place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>‘From Berlin he went in turn to London, -Copenhagen, Brussels, Vienna, Bucharest, -and Sofia, spending exactly four days in each -place. He then went to Teheran, Persia. He -explained to the American Consul there that -he had come to Persia to sample at first hand -the celebrated wines of Shiraz, and also to -continue his search for one Mirah Svari, a -mystic he had met in New York, and for whom -he had sought vainly all over Europe.</p> -<p>‘On the fourth day in Teheran, he was found -dead of an overdose of hashish, in a squalid -house in an unsavory quarter.</p> -<p>‘Receiving news of his death, his attorney in -New York, acting on previous instructions, -opened his will, in which he had left his entire -fortune of five million dollars to the producer.</p> -<p>‘But, strange as it may seem, it was found -John Morgan never had a brother. What a -situation!</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_67">‘Under the circumstances, and according to law, who received the huge fortune?’ smiled Fordney to his dinner guests.</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_68">68 -<br /><i>The Professor Stops a Blunder</i></h3> -<p>At four o’clock Thursday afternoon, Louis -Mundy unexpectedly received a telegram requesting -him to return home immediately, as -his brother was ill.</p> -<p>At eight that evening, he alighted from the -plane in Washington. He had not been in the -city during the past two months. Hurrying to -his suburban home, he found his brother -greatly improved. At ten o’clock he set out -on a hike through the country, returning at -midnight.</p> -<p>These facts were all verified.</p> -<p>Between eleven and twelve o’clock that -night, John Skidder was murdered, and the -only thing missing from his house was a note -for ten thousand dollars signed by Mundy.</p> -<p>Skidder’s secretary said the note was habitually -kept at the office and that she was very -surprised when he took it home that evening.</p> -<p>Mundy declared he saw or passed no one on -his hike, but under severe questioning admitted -having been near Skidder’s house -shortly after eleven o’clock.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>A thorough investigation revealed that -Skidder had no known enemies and no one, -other than Mundy, had the slightest reason -for wishing him dead.</p> -<p>Mundy was consequently arrested. As he -knew Skidder lived with only an old man servant -(who was out until after twelve that -night), the police believed he had gone unobserved -to the house, demanded the note, -and, when refused, had murdered Skidder. -No one but Mundy could possibly profit by -the disappearance of the note. As it was due in -ten days and he was in no position to meet it, -they anticipated little difficulty in obtaining -a conviction due to the strong motive and -weak alibi.</p> -<p>Asked his opinion, Professor Fordney surprisingly -said he <span class="small">DIDN’T</span> believe any American -jury would convict Mundy.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_68">He was right— Now, don’t argue! There’s only one answer. Don’t peek! Figure it out.</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_69">69 -<br /><i>The Perfect Crime</i></h3> -<p>Peter Johannes had one burning ambition—to -commit a perfect crime. After much thinking -and careful planning, he chose burglary -for his experiment and a large brownstone -mansion for the scene of his action.</p> -<p>Learning its occupants had left town, he -arrayed himself in a business suit of conservative -cut, flung a light topcoat over his arm, -picked up a Gladstone bag, covered with -foreign labels, and set out.</p> -<p>He had ascertained, of course, when the -policeman patrolling that beat was farthest -away. At such a time he drove up in his -swanky sport roadster, swung jauntily to the -sidewalk, skipped up the steps, and fitted a -skeleton key into the lock, which yielded -easily. So far so good, he thought.</p> -<p>Inside, he adjusted a black mask to his eyes -and silk gloves to his hands: the former for a -bit of local color he couldn’t resist; the latter -for more practical purposes. What a jolly -thing this burglaring was!</p> -<p>He quickly filled his Gladstone with silver -<span class="pb" id="Page_140">140</span> -and other valuables. Hurrying out, he removed -his gloves after closing the door.</p> -<p>‘Done, and not a single clue left!’ he said to -himself.</p> -<p>As he was about to descend the steps, he saw -out of the corner of his eye the policeman -rounding the corner. Feigning disinterest, he -quickly pushed the bell-button and stood there -whistling.</p> -<p>‘Hey, you!’ shouted the policeman, now -standing at the bottom of the steps. ‘What -are you doin’ there? Them people ain’t home.’</p> -<p>‘Howdy, Officer. How goes it?’ said our -hero blithely as he turned to greet the bluecoat. -‘I know they’re not home; been trying to raise -someone for five minutes. Annoying, too, -after running out to see them. Oh, well,’ he -continued, ‘I’ll be going along,’ as he unconcernedly -picked up his bag.</p> -<p>‘You bet you will—right to the hoosegow,’ -bellowed the guardian of the peace. -‘Your story I might have believed, but.... -Come on, now, I’m takin’ you down.’</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_69">Alas for the perfect crime! ‘What caused our hero’s arrest?’ asked Professor Fordney of his class.</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_70">70 -<br /><i>The Professor Sees Through It</i></h3> -<p>‘Let’s go in to dinner—it’s twenty minutes -after six, and I’m starved,’ said Hawkins.</p> -<p>‘Right!’ responded Professor Fordney, his -train companion, ‘I’m hungry, too.’</p> -<p>The two men had met only a few minutes -before, as casually as travelers do, but already -seemed to find each other agreeable -company.</p> -<p>At dinner Hawkins explained he was a conductor -on another railroad and bemoaned the -loss of passenger traffic. Fordney, too, decried -the depression and its effects.</p> -<p>When the conductor came through, Hawkins -tendered a pass with a friendly remark, and -Fordney, who said he had boarded the train -in such a hurry he didn’t have time to purchase -a ticket, paid a cash fare. Neither he -nor the conductor having proper change, he -borrowed fourteen cents from Hawkins.</p> -<p>After an enjoyable dinner, they went back -to the club car for a smoke and continued their -chat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>‘Ever been in Savannah, Mr. Hawkins?’ -asked Fordney.</p> -<p>‘Why, yes. Several times. Why?’</p> -<p>‘Oh, nothing in particular. Charming city, -isn’t it?’</p> -<p>‘Yes, it is, but I like the quaintness of New -Orleans better, myself.’</p> -<p>And so they chatted through a pleasant -evening until Hawkins, with a yawn, said: -‘Well, it’s a quarter to eleven. Bedtime for -me. See you in the morning. Good-night, -Professor. I’ve enjoyed knowing you.’</p> -<p>‘Good-night,’ responded Fordney. ‘I’ll give -you the fourteen cents in the morning. Don’t -let the fact that I’m aware of your deception -keep you awake!’</p> -<p>‘What?’ cried the amazed Hawkins.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_70">What did Fordney mean?</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<h3 class="hq" id="mys_71">71 -<br /><i>The Kidnapers’ Cleverness</i></h3> -<p>‘There are times,’ mused Professor Fordney -from the depths of the most comfortable chair -in the lounge of the University Club, ‘when -the criminal does show ingenuity of a high -order. I recall a most interesting and baffling -case on which I worked ten years ago.</p> -<p>‘A wealthy man whose daughter had been -kidnaped had been warned that, if he appealed -to the police, she would be killed. Consequently, -it was difficult to get his coöperation -in running down the criminals. However, -upon receiving the following note delivered -in an express package 12″ × 12″ × -12″ he sought my advice.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Send us, by the means herein given you, -$5,000 in cash, at exactly midnight tonight. -If you do so, your daughter will be -returned unharmed.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>‘My client did as directed and his child -was returned safely next day.</p> -<p>‘Do you know, Jim,’ asked Fordney of his -<span class="pb" id="Page_144">144</span> -fireside companion, ‘what means the kidnapers -employed that made trapping of them, or discovery -of their whereabouts, absolutely impossible? -There’s a nice little problem in deduction -for a rising young attorney,’ he -laughed.</p> -<p class="pqq"><a href="#msol_71">After ten minutes of deep silence on Jim’s part, he said, ‘I can’t figure it out, Professor. What was it?’</a></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<div class="solution"> -<h2 id="c4"><br />SOLUTIONS</h2> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_1"><a href="#mys_1">1. <i>A Crack Shot</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">It was a dark, starless, moonless night. The -nearest habitation was five miles. The eyes of -no animal ever shine in the dark unless there is -a light by which they can be reflected, and a -man’s eyes never shine under any circumstances.</p> -<p class="psol">Therefore, Butler could not possibly have -seen any eyes shining at him in the dark. It -was clearly murder.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">And thy deep eyes, amid the gloom,</p> -<p class="t0">Shine like jewels in a shroud.</p> -<p class="lr">Longfellow.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_2"><a href="#mys_2">2. <i>On the Scent</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Not even a prohibition agent would use -alcohol in an automobile radiator in or about -Miami!</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">The oil and wine of merry meeting.</p> -<p class="lr">Irving.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_3"><a href="#mys_3">3. <i>Fatal Error</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The Professor knew it would take a keener -pair of eyes than Bronson’s to see a nod in the -dark.</p> -<p class="psol">The lights had not been turned on. Remember?</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Darkness visible.</p> -<p class="lr">Milton.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_4"><a href="#mys_4">4. <i>The Poison Murder Case</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Unless Bob Kewley had returned home after -telling the Professor he was going to the -theater, he could not have known the library -door was locked. The fact that he did, coupled -with the strong motive, naturally directed -suspicion to him. He inadvertently gave himself -away.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Error will slip through a crack, while truth will -stick in a doorway. -<span class="jr">Shaw.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_5"><a href="#mys_5">5. <i>A Strange ‘Kidnaping’</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had Johnson wound his watch immediately -before 2 <span class="small">A.M.</span> Friday, the time of his alleged -<span class="pb" id="Page_147">147</span> -kidnaping, it would not have been running -Sunday afternoon when he recovered consciousness -and said he heard it ticking.</p> -<p class="psol">No standard-make watch will run sixty -hours without winding.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">This act is an ancient tale new told;</p> -<p class="t0">Being urged at a time unseasonable.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_6"><a href="#mys_6">6. <i>A Valuable Formula</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">In a small room the intruder would <i>unquestionably</i> -have heard Hyde dialing Headquarters, -and therefore could not have been -unaware of his presence.</p> -<p class="psol">As Hyde had obviously lied about this, -Fordney was convinced he had fabricated the -entire story in order to sell the formula twice.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Don’t tell me of deception; a lie is a lie, whether it -be a lie to the eye or a lie to the ear. -<span class="jr">Dr. Johnson.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_7"><a href="#mys_7">7. <i>Strangled</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">There had been a dry, hot spell at that place -for twenty-two days. Irene Greer’s hair was -<span class="pb" id="Page_148">148</span> -matted with mud; therefore, she must have -been attacked elsewhere.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>The face of things appeareth not the same far off -and when we see them right at hand. -<span class="jr">Euripides.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_8"><a href="#mys_8">8. <i>Death in the Office</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Gifford could not have been shot at the -time he called Fordney, as he was found with -a bullet through his heart. The Professor’s -theory was that Gifford wanted his death to -appear as murder in order to protect his heavy -insurance.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">The heart does not lie.</p> -<p class="lr">Alfieri.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_9"><a href="#mys_9">9. <i>They Usually Forget Something</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The note, although misspelled, poorly expressed, -and written by a seemingly illiterate -hand, was punctuated properly, in two places. -A semicolon and a comma would not have been -used had the writer been an uneducated man.</p> -<p class="psol">Force of habit had betrayed him!</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">You write with ease to show your breeding,</p> -<p class="t0">But easy writing’s curst hard reading.</p> -<p class="lr">Sheridan.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_10"><a href="#mys_10">10. <i>The Professor Gives a Lesson</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Cardoni said he saw the kidnapers around a -table as he peered through the keyhole. Yale -locks do not have keyholes.</p> -<p class="psol">Kelley was justified in throwing him out, -don’t you think? The class found this an easy -one—did you?</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Since your eyes are so sharpe that you cannot -onely looke through a milstone, but cleane through -the minde. -<span class="jr">Lyly.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_11"><a href="#mys_11">11. <i>Upstairs and Down</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The policeman ran through the hall and unlocked -the kitchen door.</p> -<p class="psol">The doors to the porch and cellar were -locked on the inside. Had the old lady committed -suicide, she could not have locked the -door leading to the hall from the outside.</p> -<p class="psol">The murderer, in leaving, locked this door -and forgot to remove the key. The inevitable -slip!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A blockhead cannot come in, nor go away, like a -man of sense. -<span class="jr">Bruyère.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_12"><a href="#mys_12">12. <i>Class Day</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The student readily recognized the absurdity -of the Professor’s story which he had given to -his class to test their quick detection of a glaring -inconsistency. If it must be explained, an -orchestra under personal leadership does not -play during the showing of a ‘talkie.’ Right?</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Wit marries ideas lying far apart, by a sudden -jerk of the understanding. -<span class="jr">Whipple.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_13"><a href="#mys_13">13. <i>A Hot Pursuit</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Smith said he <i>ran</i> after the burglar. Had he -done so he could not have known the cellar -window had been chiseled open. Therefore, -his story was obviously faked.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">A lie never lives to be old.</p> -<p class="lr">Sophocles.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_14"><a href="#mys_14">14. <i>A Question of Identity</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">As Diana Lane was walking down the corridor -with her back to Nora, it was impossible -<span class="pb" id="Page_151">151</span> -for the servant to know Diana was wearing -her famous emerald pendant.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>There is an alchemy of quiet malice by which -women can concoct a subtle poison from ordinary -trifles. -<span class="jr">Hawthorne.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_15"><a href="#mys_15">15. <i>A Yachtsman’s Alibi</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">As Picus said there was no breeze, the distress -flag would have hung limp against the -mast, and the Captain could not have seen, -at that distance, whether or not the flag was -upside down.</p> -<p class="psol">That’s all the Professor needed to determine -the falsity of his alibi. However, Picus was a -poor sailor. While the International Distress -Signal is a flag flown upside down, it is by -custom and regulation always flown at half-mast.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">... And the sea charm’d into a calm so still</p> -<p class="t0">That not a wrinkle ruffles her smooth face.</p> -<p class="lr">Dryden.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_16"><a href="#mys_16">16. <i>Murder at Coney Island</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Jasper said he found the woman sitting <i>up</i> -in the <i>middle</i> of the chariot. The motion of -<span class="pb" id="Page_152">152</span> -the merry-go-round would have made it impossible -for a dead body to remain upright in -the middle of the chariot.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Sir, you are giving a reason for it; but that will -not make it right.... -<span class="jr">Johnson.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_17"><a href="#mys_17">17. <i>Too Clever</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The murderer tried to give the impression -that Dawson had died before finishing the -incriminating note. Had he written it and died -before completing it, he could not have put -the pen back in the tray where it was found.</p> -<p class="psol">In his effort to incriminate Lynch, the murderer -had been too cautious. A costly oversight.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Man’s caution often into danger turns,</p> -<p class="t0">And his guard falling crushes him to death.</p> -<p class="lr">Young.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_18"><a href="#mys_18">18. <i>Bloody Murder</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The Professor knew it was not suicide, because -Thompson’s coat, which was flung -<span class="pb" id="Page_153">153</span> -<i>across</i> the room, was blood-stained. Quite -impossible if he had taken his own life.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies.</p> -<p class="lr">Chapman.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_19"><a href="#mys_19">19. <i>Death Back-Stage</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">There were <i>no</i> finger-prints on the gun which -killed Claudia Mason. She could not have -shot herself in the temple and then wiped off -the revolver.</p> -<p class="psol">The murderer neglected to get her fingerprints -on the gun.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act -a fool’s part. -<span class="jr">Sophocles.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_20"><a href="#mys_20">20. <i>An Easy Combination</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">It would have been impossible for Fellows -to have hastily dialed a number in the <i>dark</i>. -Try it!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Haste trips up its own heels, fetters and stops -itself. -<span class="jr">Seneca.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_21"><a href="#mys_21">21. <i>A Modern Knight</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The fact that the bullet was found in the -body and the only trace of its firing was the -hole in the curtain <i>below</i> the window-sill proved -conclusively the shot could not have been fired -from within the room.</p> -<p class="psol">Rocca entered at the moment his sister shot -Chase from outside. Grabbing the gun from -her hand, he chivalrously protected her.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>But, friend, the thing is clear—speaks for itself. -<span class="jr">Aristophanes.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_22"><a href="#mys_22">22. <i>The Jewel Robbery</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The butler said that, as he called for help, -Dudley, a stranger, rushed in.</p> -<p class="psol">Owings had locked up before leaving and, -therefore, Dudley could not have rushed in -through a locked door. The robbery was obviously -framed by Stuben and Dudley.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Absurdities die of self-strangulation. -<span class="jr">Haliburton.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_23"><a href="#mys_23">23. <i>Before the Coroner’s Inquest</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Curry could not possibly have ‘looked up’ -while rowing <i>upstream</i> and seen the action -<span class="pb" id="Page_155">155</span> -he described which took place fifty yards <i>behind</i> -him.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. -<span class="jr">Franklin.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_24"><a href="#mys_24">24. <i>The Fifth Avenue Hold-Up</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Baldwin said, ‘Mr. Cross tried to call my -attention to it [safe] with a jerk of his thumb’ -at a time when Cross was unconscious. Obviously -impossible. Baldwin was lying, which -there was no reason for doing had he been -innocent.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">When all sins are old in us, and go upon crutches.</p> -<p class="t0">Covetousness does but then lie in her cradle.</p> -<p class="lr">Decker.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_25"><a href="#mys_25">25. <i>Behind Locked Doors</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Kingston thought his boldness in calling -attention to his own footprints in the carpet -would distract Fordney’s attention from their -significance.</p> -<p class="psol">The room had been locked for three months. -Of the three men, only Watkins rushed into -the room; Fordney and Kingston halting over -<span class="pb" id="Page_156">156</span> -the threshold. Therefore, the fact that Kingston’s -footprints were found near the chair in -which his uncle sat dead pointed directly to -him as the murderer.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Cunning differs from wisdom</p> -<p class="t0">As twilight from open day.</p> -<p class="lr">Dr. Johnson.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_26"><a href="#mys_26">26. <i>Lost at Sea</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">It would have been impossible for Mrs. -Rollins to have seen a man pick up from the -deck the bag of diamonds. On a dark, moonless -night at sea one literally cannot see his hand -before his face.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>The repose of darkness is deeper on the water -than on the land. -<span class="jr">Victor Hugo.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_27"><a href="#mys_27">27. <i>A Suave Gunman</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Taylor said the bandit wore a silver belt-buckle. -This he could not have seen, for he -stated: ‘As the robber passed through the -door, he unbuttoned his coat and slipped the -revolver in his back pocket.’</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p class="psol">It would have been impossible for Taylor -to have seen the man’s belt-buckle when his -coat was buttoned.</p> -<p class="psol">As this statement was false, the rest of his -account was disregarded by the Professor.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">He draweth out the thread of his verbosity</p> -<p class="t0">Finer than the staple of his argument.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_28"><a href="#mys_28">28. <i>Accidental Death</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had the man’s injuries been caused only -by being thrown through the windshield, there -would have been no blood on the front seat of -the car. Therefore, the Professor knew the -blood on the seat had been caused by injuries -to the man, with probable murderous intent, -before he was thrown through the windshield.</p> -<p class="psol">His assailant had killed him, started the car, -and had then hopped off the running-board, -hoping the wreckage would cover the murder.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not -foresight. -<span class="jr">Napoleon.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_29"><a href="#mys_29">29. <i>Easy Money</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Wilkins said he saw the burglar pick up a -stack of ten- and twenty-dollar bills from the -table in the center of the large library.</p> -<p class="psol">Had he not been guilty, he could not have -known what the denominations of the bills -were. It would have been impossible to have -determined this from the doorway.</p> -<p class="psol">An unconscious slip on his part.</p> -<p class="psol">If you are doubtful, just try to determine -the denomination of a stack of bills on a table -in the center of a large room, from the doorway.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">For any man with half an eye,</p> -<p class="t0">What stands before him may espy;</p> -<p class="t0">But optics sharp it needs I ween,</p> -<p class="t0">To see what is not to be seen.</p> -<p class="lr">John Trumbull.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_30"><a href="#mys_30">30. <i>Robbery at High Noon</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">He was suspicious of John, the nephew, of -course. Upon being asked where he was at the -time of the robbery, he stated he was ‘hauling -in a muskie.’</p> -<p class="psol">Unless he had guilty knowledge, he could not -<span class="pb" id="Page_159">159</span> -possibly have known at what time the robbery -was committed.</p> -<p class="psol">He fell neatly into the Professor’s trap, -don’t you think?</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Let guilty men remember, their black deeds</p> -<p class="t0">Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.</p> -<p class="lr">John Webster.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_31"><a href="#mys_31">31. <i>The Wrong Foot Forward</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Paslovsky, the witness, who could not understand -or speak enough English to make a -simple statement to the court, yet knew -<i>exactly</i> what the conductor yelled to the -motorman.</p> -<p class="psol">This was so patently impossible that the -Judge was entirely justified in dismissing the -suit.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Liars are verbal forgers. -<span class="jr">Chatfield.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_32"><a href="#mys_32">32. <i>Death Attends the Party</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had Dawes fallen on the table after being -shot, the jar would have knocked over the -‘crazily balanced glasses.’ As the Professor -<span class="pb" id="Page_160">160</span> -found the glasses on the table, <i>balanced</i>, it was -obvious Dawes had been shot, then carefully -placed at the table to give the appearance of -suicide. A bad slip!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>There is nothing insignificant, nothing! -<span class="jr">Coleridge.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_33"><a href="#mys_33">33. <i>No Way Out</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The note was written with <i>pencil</i>, yet there -was no pencil found in the room. Apparently -the murderer wrote the note to resemble the -dead man’s handwriting and through force of -habit put it in his pocket.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Men are men; the best sometimes forget.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_34"><a href="#mys_34">34. <i>Midnight Murder</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Day said he got the blood on his muffler -when he bent over Quale’s body. As blood -coagulates and dries in a short time, it would -have been impossible for him to have stained -his muffler unless it had touched the blood of -Quale shortly after his death. -<span class="pb" id="Page_161">161</span> -Therefore, Fordney knew he must have been -with Quale soon after he was stabbed.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Murder, though it have no tongue,</p> -<p class="t0">Will speak with most miraculous organ.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_35"><a href="#mys_35">35. <i>Speakeasy Stick-Up</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Sullivan, the bartender, said that, as he -worked the combination to open the wall safe, -he <i>heard</i> the hold-up man <i>behind him</i>. As he -was not permitted to move, he could not -have known the gunman was a <i>big, tough-looking -mug</i>, as he described him.</p> -<p class="psol">As there would be no other motive in telling -this impossible story, the hold-up was faked.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn,</p> -<p class="t0">What dangers thou canst make us scorn.</p> -<p class="lr">Burns.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_36"><a href="#mys_36">36. <i>Behind Time</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The engineer said he had not seen Nelson -until he was practically on top of him. That, -of course, is impossible. An engineer of a train -<span class="pb" id="Page_162">162</span> -running on a straight-away can see nothing as -close as ten yards in front of him.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">You cram these words into mine ears,</p> -<p class="t0">Against the stomach of my sense.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_37"><a href="#mys_37">37. <i>A Broken Engagement</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Molly said she had retired at ten, after locking -her door, and had not awakened until -Fordney had aroused her.</p> -<p class="psol">Yet a few minutes after Dot had been murdered, -the Professor idly ‘shaped the wax’ of -the candle on her desk. This would have -been impossible had not the candle been burning -within a few minutes before he entered.</p> -<p class="psol">Her insistence that she had been asleep, together -with the strong motive, convinced Fordney -she was involved, as was later proved.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Love can make us fiends as well as angels. -<span class="jr">Charles Kingsley.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_38"><a href="#mys_38">38. <i>The Holden Road Murder</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had the butler dashed in the front door as -he said he did, there would have been foot-tracks -in the vestibule.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p class="psol">Remember, the Professor ‘splashed his way -through the mud and rain, to the <i>door</i> of 27 -Holden Road,’ and found the vestibule spotless. -Therefore, Wilkins was lying, and as -Cannon corroborated his story, he was also -necessarily involved.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Nay, her foot speaks.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_39"><a href="#mys_39">39. <i>Fishermen’s Luck</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Holmes could not have seen the bag on the -bottom of the lake during a cloudburst. The -agitation of even crystal clear water under -such conditions would have so disturbed the -surface that an object on the bottom could -not be seen.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A man so lucky is rarer than a white crow. -<span class="jr">Juvenal.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_40"><a href="#mys_40">40. <i>The Unlucky Elephant</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Holman was lying face down with his topcoat -buttoned; therefore, if his watch crystal -<span class="pb" id="Page_164">164</span> -had been broken by his fall, none of the glass -could have been found on the floor.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">For never, never wicked man was wise.</p> -<p class="lr">Homer.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_41"><a href="#mys_41">41. <i>The Professor Listens</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The notice of the bank failure, appearing in -the <i>Jacksonville Herald</i>, was dated July 5th. -This could not have reached Delavin at a -remote part of Cuba, unserviced by planes, in -time for him to get back to New York on the -6th.</p> -<p class="psol">His alibi, therefore, was completely broken, -as he said the newspaper clipping brought him -back.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Time is the herald of truth.</p> -<p class="lr">Cicero.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_42"><a href="#mys_42">42. <i>Ten-Fifteen</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The secretary said he heard Waters talking -to Fordney over the telephone. As Fordney’s -name was not mentioned during the conversation, -the secretary could not have known to -whom Waters was talking.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p class="psol">It’s the little things that count—in crime -detection.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Take care lest your tongue cut off your head. -<span class="jr">Persian.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_43"><a href="#mys_43">43. <i>Rapid Transit</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The driver could not possibly have seen -from the front seat anyone standing on the -tail-gate of the big van.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>If common sense has not the brilliancy of the sun, -it has the fixity of the stars. -<span class="jr">Fernan Caballero.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_44"><a href="#mys_44">44. <i>The Professor is Disappointed</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Fordney pointed to the raindrops glistening -on a leaf in the shoe impression.</p> -<p class="psol">According to Vi Cargo’s statement, the -burglar had jumped from her window after it -had stopped raining.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>The shameless have a brow of brass. -<span class="jr">Hindu Proverb.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_45"><a href="#mys_45">45. <i>A Dramatic Triumph</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Sibyl Mortimer said Boswell had telephoned -her shortly after nine. As he was on the stage -<span class="pb" id="Page_166">166</span> -continuously for forty-five minutes after the -curtain rose, he could not have telephoned her.</p> -<p class="psol">Obviously she had some reason for stating -he did. Fordney was quick to detect the flaw -in her alibi.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>It is not wise to be wiser than is necessary. -<span class="jr">Quinault.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_46"><a href="#mys_46">46. <i>Murder at the Lake</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">A strong east wind blew <i>off</i> the lake; therefore, -regardless of the direction in which he was -walking, Rice’s hat could not possibly have -blown into the lake.</p> -<p class="psol">The Professor was naturally suspicious of -him when he told such a ridiculous lie.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Is’t possible? Sits the wind in that corner?</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_47"><a href="#mys_47">47. <i>The Professor Studies a Coat</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">As the man had removed his overcoat on -entering the Professor’s living-room, it was -perfectly patent he had not been handcuffed.</p> -<p class="psol">He said he ran over to Fordney’s immediately -after the bandits left.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Truth has not such an urgent air.</p> -<p class="lr">Boileau.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_48"><a href="#mys_48">48. <i>Too Late</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Fordney doubted Palmer’s innocence because -of his statement, ‘I’d got there not more -than five minutes behind him.’</p> -<p class="psol">There was, of course, no way he could have -determined when Frank had arrived at the -cabin.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>In general, treachery, though at first sufficiently -cautious, yet in the end betrays itself. -<span class="jr">Livy.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_49"><a href="#mys_49">49. <i>Sergeant Reynolds’s Theory</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The Professor told Reynolds, ‘There was no -blood between the road and the boulder.’</p> -<p class="psol">Had the man <i>rolled</i> down the embankment, -there would have been some blood on the -rocks along the path his body took.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">How hast thou purchased this experience?</p> -<p class="t">By my penny of observation.</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_50"><a href="#mys_50">50. <i>Daylight Robbery</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">As no safe locks unless the combination is -turned, Shaeffer’s story of <i>banging</i> it closed -<span class="pb" id="Page_168">168</span> -and then the robbers working on it five minutes -was ridiculous!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth -children from play, and old men from the chimney -corner. -<span class="jr">Sir Philip Sidney.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_51"><a href="#mys_51">51. <i>A Simple Solution</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had Smith committed suicide, the window -through which he jumped would not have been -closed as Fordney found it.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Every crime has, in the moment of its perpetration, -its own avenging angel. -<span class="jr">Coleridge.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_52"><a href="#mys_52">52. <i>Who?</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Kelley arrested Weeds, the butler. He said -he dropped on the bed the blood-covered towel -with which he was trying to arrest the flow -from the maid’s wrist as Jones struck at him.</p> -<p class="psol">Yet Kelley and Fordney found the bed -coverlet <i>immaculate</i>. Had Weeds done as he -said, there would have been blood-stains on -the bedcover.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Blood follows blood.</p> -<p class="lr">Defoe.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_53"><a href="#mys_53">53. <i>Murder in the Swamp</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The three sets of Bob’s footprints in the path -told Fordney the story. Had Bob been at the -house when his friend was shot, as he contended, -there would have been <i>four</i> sets of his -footprints.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>That is to be wise to see that which lies before your -feet. -<span class="jr">Terence.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_54"><a href="#mys_54">54. <i>Death by Drowning</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Had the accident occurred as explained by -Carroll, the oar of Ridge’s boat could not have -been found, as it was, at the dock <i>opposite</i> the -point where he jumped in. The current would -have deposited it downstream. Therefore, the -Professor recommended the detention of the -brothers.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>More water glideth by the mill, than wots the -miller of. -<span class="jr">Shakespeare.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_55"><a href="#mys_55">55. <i>Tragedy at the Convention</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Fordney suspected Pollert because of his -own statements that he did not know Hurlenson -<span class="pb" id="Page_170">170</span> -had returned to the hotel. Yet, when he -said he heard a shot, he ran <i>directly</i> to Hurlenson’s -room.</p> -<p class="psol">As his own room was down the corridor, he -could not have known from what room the -shot came, and he had no reason to assume -it came from Hurlenson’s room.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Politics, as a trade, finds most and leaves nearly -all dishonest. -<span class="jr">Abraham Lincoln.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_56"><a href="#mys_56">56. <i>A Murderer’s Mistake</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">These murderers, like many others, betrayed -themselves by a simple oversight. One look -at the ladder and Fordney knew no man -could have climbed up or down it. The thirty-foot -ladder was placed <i>two</i> feet from the house. -Any person ascending or descending the ladder -in such a position would have fallen backwards -before reaching the top or bottom.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">To all facts there are laws,</p> -<p class="t0">The effect has its cause,</p> -<p class="t0">And I mount to the cause.</p> -<p class="lr">Lord Lytton.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_57"><a href="#mys_57">57. <i>Babe Comes Through</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">There is a screen on the grandstand behind -the home plate.</p> -<p class="psol">Fordney had noticed a few seconds before, -in the box next to him, the man whom the -policeman had caught running down the ramp. -As he could not have thrown a bottle through -the screen, and, in the time at his disposal, -could not have reached either side of the -screen, Fordney knew he was innocent.</p> -<p class="psol">He had noticed the man <i>after</i> two strikes -and three balls had been called, and the pitcher -delivered the next ball quickly.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">We must have bloody noses and crack’d crowns,</p> -<p class="t0">God’s me, my horse!</p> -<p class="lr">Shakespeare.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_58"><a href="#mys_58">58. <i>A Soldier of Fortune</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Hamilton knew the real Walter Briggs had -gone to Africa as a child. So, when this chap -said he had shot tigers in Africa, Fordney was -very, very skeptical. There are no tigers in -Africa. Oh, well—look it up yourself!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A traveler without observation is a bird without -wings. -<span class="jr">Saadi.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_59"><a href="#mys_59">59. <i>Number Twenty-Six</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The inconsistency is this: Farrell said he -<i>pushed</i> open the door. Yet Bradford, <i>inside</i> -the house, <i>pushed</i> the door in Kelley’s face as -the Inspector was entering.</p> -<p class="psol">If Bradford <i>pushed</i> the door in Kelley’s face, -Farrell must have <i>pulled</i> the door to open it.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">The smallest hair throws its shadow.</p> -<p class="lr">Goethe.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_60"><a href="#mys_60">60. <i>The Pullman Car Murder</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Every piece of baggage had been examined -and every inch of the car inspected. All -passengers, even the maid, porter, and brakeman, -had been searched. The knife was still -in the car.</p> -<p class="psol">Remember?—there was nothing said about -the conductor being searched. The knife was -found in his pocket.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">He was in logic a great crytic,</p> -<p class="t0">Profoundly skilled in analytic;</p> -<p class="t0">He could distinguish and divide</p> -<p class="t0">A hair twixt south and south-west side.</p> -<p class="lr">Butler.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_61"><a href="#mys_61">61. <i>Forgery</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The forged signature was copied from the -blotter which Mead had used.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Thou strong seducer, opportunity.</p> -<p class="lr">Dryden.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_62"><a href="#mys_62">62. <i>The Christmas Eve Tragedy</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The Professor said to Brown, ‘Sheriff, look -for a man in your community who is skilled or -adept in the use of <i>stilts</i>. Only a man on stilts -could have made the marks in the snow you -described.’</p> -<p class="psol">P.S. The Professor was right.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Be the first to say what is self-evident,</p> -<p class="t0">And you are immortal.</p> -<p class="lr">Ebner-Eschenbach.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_63"><a href="#mys_63">63. <i>A Knight of the Bath</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">You recall that Leimert was eccentric. No -mention of bath <i>room</i> was made. Leimert’s -bath had no top, so he climbed out!</p> -<p class="psol">Silly, what?</p> -<blockquote> -<p>If anything is spoken in jest, it is not fair to turn -it to earnest. -<span class="jr">Plautus.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_64"><a href="#mys_64">64. <i>Murder in the First Degree</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The fact that <i>none</i> of the suspect’s fingerprints -were on the dishes or silver used while -eating convicted him of first-degree murder.</p> -<p class="psol">In wiping his <i>own</i> prints from the things he -had handled, he destroyed <i>all</i> prints—those -of the waitress, cook, etc.</p> -<p class="psol">A damning bit of evidence that proved premeditation.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>The weakest spot in every man is when he thinks -himself to be the wisest. -<span class="jr">Emmons.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_65"><a href="#mys_65">65. <i>A Rendezvous with Death</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">No one called at the <i>Times</i> for the answers -to the advertisement, yet Stone received a -reply to his letter of application. The ad was -inserted by Carroll under the fictitious name -of Jonathan Gills and answered by Stone at -his wife’s suggestion. She acquainted her lover, -Carroll, with this fact, and he wrote Stone, -arranging the meeting at which he disappeared.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">When any great design thou dost intend,</p> -<p class="t0">Think on the means, the manner, and the end.</p> -<p class="lr">Denham.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_66"><a href="#mys_66">66. <i>A Rum Regatta</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The old sailor whispered to each, ‘Run the -other man’s boat.’ As the owner of the <i>last</i> -boat to reach Miami was to get the money, -each one raced the boat he was driving. By -doing so, he hoped to beat his own boat, which -was being driven by one of the others.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Lookers-on many times see more than gamesters. -<span class="jr">Bacon.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_67"><a href="#mys_67">67. <i>Who is the Heir?</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">John Morgan’s <i>sister</i>, of course!</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Let us consider the reason of the case. For nothing -is law that is not reason. -<span class="jr">Powell.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_68"><a href="#mys_68">68. <i>The Professor Stops a Blunder</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Mundy had been unexpectedly called to -Washington. Skidder’s secretary said the note -was habitually kept at the office. Mundy, -therefore, could not possibly have known of -Skidder’s intention of taking it home. That -was exactly the weakness in the case of the -police. Despite the damning circumstantial -evidence, motive could not be proved unless it -<span class="pb" id="Page_176">176</span> -could be shown that Mundy knew the note -would be at Skidder’s house.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">How little do they see what is, who frame</p> -<p class="t0">Their hasty judgments upon that which seems.</p> -<p class="lr">Southey.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_69"><a href="#mys_69">69. <i>The Perfect Crime</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">Alas! Peter Johannes had forgotten to remove -his mask on leaving the house!</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Whoever thinks a perfect work to see,</p> -<p class="t0">Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er shall be.</p> -<p class="lr">Pope.</p> -</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_70"><a href="#mys_70">70. <i>The Professor Sees Through It</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">When Hawkins said, ‘it’s twenty minutes -after six’ and ‘it’s a quarter to eleven,’ Fordney -knew he was not a railroad man.</p> -<p class="psol">No railroad worker <i>ever</i> speaks of the time -in any other manner than, ‘it’s six-twenty’ -and ‘it’s ten-forty-five.’</p> -<p class="psol"><i>Ask the next conductor!</i></p> -<blockquote> -<p>There is nothing more nearly permanent in -human life than a well-established custom. -<span class="jr">Joseph Anderson.</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<h3 class="hsol" id="msol_71"><a href="#mys_71">71. <i>The Kidnapers’ Cleverness</i></a></h3> -<p class="psol">The express package contained a carrier -pigeon.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A bird of the air shall carry, and that which hath -wings shall tell the matter. -<span class="jr">Ecclesiastes.</span></p> -</blockquote> -</div> -<h2 id="c5"><br />Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul><li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italicized text by _underscores_.</li></ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Minute Mysteries, by Harold Austin Ripley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINUTE MYSTERIES *** - -***** This file should be named 50603-h.htm or 50603-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/6/0/50603/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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