The guardian., 1940-11-09
GUESSWORK
g
By CARLTON JAMES
ASSOCIATED Newspapers.)
WNU Service.
EAVY, dense fog engulfed
the city. Great clouds of it,
resembling phantom ships,


/ ! resembling phantom ships,
rose from the river bottom
and foated spectra-fashion beneath
the yellow eye of light that was the
street lamp.
Inspector Joe Warren paused to
watch the curious apparition. For
moment he stood in the deep shad-
ow near the bridges ironwork, his
hat pulled down and coat collar
turned up against the bleak, wet
cold.
He shivered and was about to
move on when a figure emerged
from the darkness beyond and came
into the light of the street lamp. The
figure was that of a man, and at
sight of the inspector standing alone
there he came forward.
AS the stranger drew near, War
ren saw that his face was drawn
and white, and that his eyes held a
frightened look.
You're Inspector Warren, aren't
you?" he asked, and Warren peered
at him in some surprise. Queer,
he thought, that this stranger should
recognize him at glance.
Without waiting for a reply the
other man rushed on. you'd bet
ter get help! A man just now COM
mitted suicide! Jumped off the
bridge there, into the river"
Warren was used to emergencies,
hoH cahpn1oI h f1v,
ing. Scarcely before the stranger
had finished speaking, he had pro-
duced police whistle and was blow
ing it shrilly.
Dimly, out of the darkness came
an answering whistle, and seconds
later uniformed policeman materi-
allied out of the fog and gloom. A
second followed and then a third.
Warren issued short, crisp orders.
The policemen vanished as quickly
as they came. Warren and the
stranger were alone again.
"They'l get him." Warren said.
"May be too late, though"
"Good. I hope so. It was aw-
full" The stranger nodded nervous
ly and moved away.
"Wait minute"
The other man paused, looked over
his shoulder inquiringly.
Whats your name? May want
to look you up later"
"Oh!" The stranger turned, came
back. 'Name of Blair. George
P1oir yr-1c oo,,oipc 0oroee +L,o
bridge" he further volunteered.
"Saw man standing near the rail.
AS l approached he climbed up
and
Let's walk back" Warren cut in.
"You can show me the exact spot.
Maybe" he added, as if by way of
apology, 1--WE can help the cops"
Blair seemed to hesitate, seemed
to recoil at the idea. He said after
a moment, "All right"
The two men walked silently out
on the bridge. Midway across Blair
halted.
There's his coat, there" He
pointed to a dim outline on the
ground. Warren made out a crum-
pied coat, weighted down by small
box. "He was standing here" Blair
went on, 'When | came up. grasped
at his arm and he turned on me
snarling."
What did he say?" Warren
asked.
Blair seemed to reflect. Present
ly: Something about letting him
alone. A man could do what he
chose with his own life. Then he
dropped the box he was carrying
and struck me in the chest. By the
time 1 had regained my balance he
was overheard"
'Hum-m," said Warren, and
peered over the high railing into
that black void that lay below. Os-
tensibly he was listening for sounds
of the rescuing policeman. Suddenly
he turned.
''Blair, you're lying! If those cops
down there find the body they'll find
the body of man who has been
murdered"
Blair's eyes bulged. He seemed
on the point of collapsing. But War
rem continued: Get a grip on your
self, mani Let's have the story. It's
your only chance"
"Only chance of what?" hopefully.
"Only chance of not making things
worse. l suspect you had a reason
for killing him."
81 didn't kill him! l didn't He
There was a sob in the mans voice
He seemed to be struggling to main.
tain his senses. 'He-he stole some
jewelry from my store. came from
the back room in time to see him
going through the door. | gave
chase, caught up with him on the
bridge. He dropped the box anc
flung off his coat. We struggled. He
tried to throw me over the railing
almost succeeded, but l managed tC
break loose. | struck out fercely
The blow knocked him off balance
and he fell into the river below" He
finished, painting heavily.
"And you thought you killed him, D
Warren went on "You became
frightened, and then, instead of go
ing to the police like you should
have done, you thought up this sui
eide gag. Is that it?"