Imperial Valley press., 1937-06-13


murdered. that is news.
when was he found dead?"
Around seven-thirty this morn
ing-by his valet"
How do you know he was muir.
dered?"
The physician who was called
by the valet found contusions
about the throat. Claims the man
was strangled. The valet, Hobson,
says there was a queer odor in
the room. Filbert and Carson of
the homicide squad are out there
now"
ANY clues or fngerprints? ,"
Not yet. Jarrett, my Bertillon
man, is on his way with the pho
tographer. D'you know, Mat, I'm
in a spot. The result, suppose,
will be that I'll be made the goat.
That's why | called you, Mat. If
/ don't break this Barton case
and break it quick, it means the
end of my long service with the
department. Will you look the
ground over. just in case Carson
doesn't get to the bottom of this ?"
In case? Listen, Jim, that fell
low Carson couldn't get TO the
bottom of well if someone
pushed him into it." The scowl on
Henderson face turned into a
smile. Il suppose I'll have to be
the departments saviour at the
expense of a very promising
weekend.
Less than a half hour later a
uniformed policeman admitted
them to the imposing residence of
Joseph Barton, multi-millionaire
shipping magnate and philanth-
ropist Carson, the burly detective
sergeant, cigar askew in his
mouth, was questioning the men,
bers of the household at Mat Hen
derson entered the library
Hello, Sergeant Making any
progress?
Huh" grunted the policeman.
who sent for you? Did you
bring your puzzles along ?"
II didn't have to. The chief told
me I'd find one here. Mind if l
play with it a bit ?"
You're too late, Henderson.
It's an open and shut case. Inside
job I'm taking Hobson, the valet,
to headquarters with me. I've a
hunch he'll talk plenty before the
day is over"
Mat frowned. What makes you
so sure Hobson is the murderer ?"
Because" Carson said, with a
side glance at the cringing figure
of the valet, "he was the last one
to see Barton alive last night and
the first to see him dead this
morning. And no one could have
entered the house during the
night without the burglar alarm
ringing. We tested it and it's
okeh. The bedroom is on the Sec
ond floor and there were no foot
prints in the garden or finger
prints on the window-sills If that
doesn't point to an inside job, I'll
ask for a transfer to the paper
doll cutting squad. Come along,
Hobson. l have some pals / want
you to meet"
Hold on a moment, Carson.
D'you mind if l ask Hobson few
questions ? Also the butler and the
rest of the help? I know you
won't mind. Meanwhile, with
your permission, of course, my as
sistant, Mr.. Huxley will have a
look around upstairs" Observing
the scowl on the policemans face,
he added TN really delighted
to be of service to you, Carson.
have great respect for your sa-
gacity."
IF" Carson growled, that
word means anything like l sus-
pect, you'd better make yourself
scarce, Henderson"
My dear fellow" the straight
faced Huxley interposed, Cap
tain Henderson is really f1attering
you. To possess sagacity means to
have mental agility, quick dis
cernment-"
Mat heard the added fragments
of explanatory synonyms as the
Englishman took the non-plussed
sergeant by the arm and led him
from the library. Good old
David" he smiled.
THE two friends were enjoying
| their after-luncheon smoke in
Mats apartment. Dozens of pieces
of cardboard, cut in triangular
and rectangular shapes, lay spread
out on a small table by his side.
Matthew Henderson was noted for
solving crime mysteries by means
of jig saw and crossword puzzles.
His theory was that every crime
was a puzzle and could be solved
by making the pieces of evidence
fit together-a rather unique de-
parture from the modern and more
scientific method of reconstruct
CON NTR UT ORS