1938-12-07 — Page 8

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MUTT AND JEFF?“

TOUCHDOWN!

WHERE'S

WELL COACHIE),

WHAT DO YOU:

THE BALL?

THINK OF THAT.

SIXTY-YARD DASH FOR A TOUCHDOWN?

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 7, 1988

By BUD FISHER

DOGGONE, THAT'S FONNY! I HADITS -BUT I GUESSAIH FORGOT TO BRING IT ALONG!

IF I'M

WRONG

SUE ME

137 HORTENSE DIEBS

"THERE ARG N SALORS SWEETH IN SWITZERLA; || AND NO HITCHINS PV

FOR THAT MAT

HORT

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THE DAILY SHORT STORY

The Telltale Print

"Yes,". Inspector Bije Sothern was Sperry and was surprised to discover saying, "finger-prints and the analyses, from words dropped here and there, of finger-prints are still the most im- that he and Sally were much more portant factors in crime detection". deeply in love than anyone had sus- the "What do you mean 'finger-print pécted. There was nothing of

the analyses?'" I asked.

harmless flirtation angle about way he felt.

"In reference to the case I have in mind," the inspector replied, "it means nothing more than the prints and drawing our own con clusions.

The

Then I examined the gun. I had

prints. observing pictures made of the

pictures told the story. Sally's prints were there all right and so were Mel's

entirely but they told an

different story than the one Sally had told me. "I went to her cabin. Mr. and Mrs. She had Wheelock were with her.

"The murder happened last summer up at The Evergreen Camps. A party of six had come up for the fishing, all prominent New Yorkers. Young folks for the most part. Mel Christian was packed her bags and was leaving for there and Sally Stewart and Rance New York on the afternoon train.

Mr..

leave. Sperry and Fay Ostrand, and

"I asked the Wheelocks to and Mrs. Dana Wheelock. All big Then I sat down and talked to Sally. I started in at 1 o'clock in the after- "Naturally I knew that Mel and noon, and at 2.80 she broke down and Mel Sally were engaged to be married. confessed she had murdered Everyone knew it. The papers had Christian in a fit of rage, because been full of their activities. But as he had insulted her and refused to far as knowing anything else about release her from her promise to marry their private affairs, I didn't. All I hew him so she could marry Rance. was that those youngsters had more "Brutal? To be sure. But the girl

names

A

By James Freeman

money to spend than was good for had committed murder. She wasn't them and not enough responsibility. safe to be allowed to go and come in Also, I knew that they were human Society. Not a girl who would kill beings like the rest of us, a fact which and who was smart enough to cover is mighty helpful and dependable up crime the way Sally Stewart did. when you're dealing with people who, No, she deserved any brutality I might to ordinary folks, sometimes seem have resorted to in my examination. inhuman.

"How did I know she had committed "Joe Servence, who owned the murder? Why, the finger-prints. The camps, reported the murder. He finger-prints on the gun were as clear- claimed it was suicide.

ly etched as any you'd want to see. "No doubt about it,' he confided. If she had snatched the gun from 'Miss Stewart saw it happen. She's Mel's hand, and if he had struggled pretty upset,'

to get it back as she had claimed, but those finger-prints couldn't help be smudged,

...

saw

He

"You mean, the girl actually Mel Christian shoot himself?'

"It's like this, Joe explained.

"Sally had shot him all right. Cold- was worried. He didn't want the ly and deliberately. And then had care- news to get out. 'It's like this: Miss fully pressed his fingers against the Stewart and Mel Christian were en- gun so that when the weapon

was

examined it wduld reveal hers and Mel's prints to coincide with her story. finger- "That's what I mean by print. analyses?"

gaged. Everyone knows that. Well, up here where there's not much to do, young folks got uneasy. Rane Sperry who is one of the party, got interested in Sally. He's a handsome devil (Copyright, 1988, By The Associat- and has a reputation for being adven- ed Newspapers). turous Men like that attract women. Sally was flattered. Nothing serious, you understand.

a harmless flirtation. But Mel found out about it, Saw them kissing. He went to Sally's cabina. He accused her of being dis- loyal. He was ugly. Sally got mad She said things she didn't mean, not realising the effect her words would

have

Just

'Mel dragged a gun out of his. pocket and said that he was going to shoot himself. If he couldn't have her, life wasn't worth living.”

Sally realised then that he had

·been drinking: and ⋅ was, "dead serious. She pleaded with him to come::to his senses. When he put the gun to his head she jumped, at him tore the wea mon from his hands. They struggled.c: Finally Měl got the weaponr away from her and shot himself. A second later the door opened and Rance Sperry stepped inside, follow- ed by Mrs. Wheelock. They had been attracted by the struggle. Sally had fainted.'

"It sounded all right. I talked to Sally and she confirmed everything Joe. had said. Right down to the last detail. Frankly, I was convinced that. Mel Christian had actually died by his own ̈hand.

"However, there are certain› routine. duties that must be performed in a caso like this. I talked with Rance

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