Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-08-23

tween his lips, his bushy eyebrows
bristled up like miniature porcupines
his swapping eyes glued upon the
sheet of heavy bond paper
between his freckled fingers. And
behind him stood Detective Holcomb
bedding low, his brown face drawn
in great concern as his own eyes ran
rapidly over the words again and
again.
Chief of Detectives. Chicago.
Dear Sir:
This is to inform you that there
has been launched in your city
an experimental enterprise to be
known as MessrS. Death & Com
pany. and also to inform you of
the successful completion of con-
tract with our first client-Mrs.
David Griffin. whom you will find
in Room 613, Park Hotel. You
will. of course. find her dead.
Both for your information, and
in justice to the aims of this firm,
1 wish to point out that this is
not to be confused with the Or
binary murder. for the reason
that our clients contract for their
deaths: they pay for this precise
ly as they would for any other
highly specialized service.
This firm is conceived in the
belief that there exists a field for
the professional Death Inducer.
Further, we believe that after the
human body deteriorateS to the
extent that it becomes liability
on the mind. with the resultant
miserable existence, the owner OF
such body should have at his or
her command, a specialist to take
matters in hand and ease him
into q more agreeable world;
namely. death.
Hence, thanks to an important
scientific discovery made by men,
bers of this firm. we are dedicated
to the painless, scientific type OF
death as against the ordinary
feared death or suicide.
Our method is 100 per cent
painless. Our experience with the
first client proved this beyond
doubt. ;,
Finally. I wish to say that it
shall be the policy OF this firm TO
inform your office upon the COM
pletion of each contract, so that
our activities will not be confused
with ordinary crime.
Very truly yours,
P. D. @.
"Well, I'll be durn!" Chief Roggerty
suddenly whisked up the telephone
and commenced to bark. 'I'n phone
Holcomb," he growled, waiting
for the connection. "You beat il
over there! Of ali the crazy ideas!"
Already Holcomb had snatched ur
his hat and rushed from the room
Out in the hall he encountered Of
fcer Brown, of the Missing Persons
Bureau. "Just looking for you, Hol-
comb!" he cried, thrusting a yellow
report sheet into his hand. Case
over the wires from Brighten"
The elevator door opened and
swallowed Holcomb up instantly. On
the way down he was hurriedly scam
ming the report-Missing from home;
Mrs. David Griffin, sixty, dark, frail,
ninety-eight pounds. Last seen at
nine o'clock this morning. -.
Holcomb left the building on the
run.
A half hour later, with Resident
Manager Hopkins and House Detec-
tive Smith, Holcomb was standing in
Room 613, Park Hotel. The two win
dows had been thrown open, but
still that sitting scent that had
smote their nostrils moment before
Iingered-a strange odor that had
been like hundred different brands
Of perfume mixed with something
putrid!
In a chair over against the wall,
10 the right of the little dressing
table, a frail old woman sat slumped
forward over the right arm rest; a
yrey-haired bit Of a woman, she was
dressed simply in black broadcloth,
and there was the mark of long SUI
fering imprinted upon her drawn,
brown features. At her feet lay an
handbag; in her lap
was a small handkerchief, and on
the bed lay furled umbrella, and
a shabby black hat.
Holcomb touchei the bony little
fingers and drew away; they were
still warm. Again he advanced and,
handing examined with interest the