The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-11
CHAPTER TEIIRTY-THREE

SUPERINTENDENT BATTLE
looked around the bedroom. The
bed had been made. Otherwise the
room was unchanged. II had been
neat when they first looked around
IL. II was neat now.
That's it, said Superintendent
Battle, pointing to the old-fash-
toned steel fender. do you see any
thing odd about that fender7"
Must take some cleaning" said
Jim Leach. It's well kept Moth
ing odd about II that can see. ex-
eept-yes, the left hand knob Is
brighter than the right hand one"
That's what put Hercule Polrot
into my head" said Battle. You
know his fad about things not be-
ing quite symmetrical-gets him
all worked up. / suppose / thought
unconsciously, That would worry
old Poirot' and then / began talk
ing about him. Got your hngerprint
kit Jones? Wen have a look at
those two knobs"
Jones reported presently.
There are prints on the right
hand knob. sir. none on the left"
It's the left one we want, then.
Those other prints are the house
maids when she last cleaned L..
That left hand one has been cleaned
since"
There was a bit OF screwed up
emery paper In this waste paper
basket volunteered Jones. Il
didn't think 1t meant anything
Because you didn't know what
you were looking for. then. Gently
now, I'll bet anything you like. that
knob unscrews-yes. thought So"
Presently Jones held the knob up.
TITS good weight" he said,
weighing 1t In his hands.
Leach. bending over IL, said:
There's something dark-on the
screw"
Blood, as likely as not said
Battle. Cleaned the knob itself and
wiped It and that little stain on the
screw wasn't noticed. III bet any
thing you like that's the weapon
that caved the old lady's skull In.
But there's more to find. It's up to
you Jones. to search the house
again. This time. you'll know ex-
actly what you're looking for"
He gave a few swift detailed in
structions. Going to the window he
put his head out.
There's something yellow tucked
into the ivy. That may be another
piece Of the puzzle. I rather think
1t Is"
Crossing the hail, Superintendent
Battle was waylaid by Mary Adm.
Can / speak to you a minute,
Superintendent?
Certainly, Miss Adm Shall we
come in here"
He threw open the dining room
door. Lunch had been cleared away
by HurstalL
Il want to ask you something,
superintendent Surely you don't,
you can't still think that this-that
awful crime was done by one OF us +?
1t must have been someone from
outside! Some maniac!
You may not be far wrong
there, Miss Adm. Maniac is a word
that describes this criminal very
well II I'm not mistaken But not
an outsider
Her eyes opened very wide
do you mean that someone in
this house lis mad?"
You're thinking" said the SUI
perintendent -of someone foaming
at the mouth and rolling their eyes.
Mania isn't like that Some OF the
most dangerous criminal lunatics
have looked as sane as you or l. It's
q question. usually. OF having an
ohsession. One Idea, preying on the
mind, gradually distorting It Pa
thetic, reasonable people who come
UP to you and explain how they're
being prosecuted and how everyone
fs spying on them-and you some
times feel 1t must all be true
I'm SURE nobody here has any
Hea Of being prosecuted"
p only gave that as an instance.
There are other forms of insanity.
But I believe whoever committed