Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 35 – Ripley · Verses Across
Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 35Chapter 34
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Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 35
Chapter 34
RipleyEnglish
Midnight Murder
‘Who are you, and what’s this all about?’ demanded Inspector Kelley, as he and Professor Fordney arrived at the apartment in answer to a call.
‘I’m Jack Day. I share this apartment with Al Quale. I returned from the theater, shortly after midnight, went into his room, and found him lying there on the bed. When I saw he was dead, I called Headquarters at once. God, this is terrible!’
‘Those your things on the bed?’ asked Kelley, indicating a blood-stained muffler, a hat, gloves, and cane.
‘Yes, I tossed them there before I rushed to the telephone. Got that blood on the muffler when I bent over him.’
‘What time did you leave here this evening?’
‘Shortly before seven,’ replied Day.
‘Can you prove you were at the theater all evening?’ demanded Kelley.
‘Why, yes, I went with a friend.’
‘He’s been dead about six hours, Inspector,’ said the police surgeon, finishing his examination at this point. ‘A deep knife wound, below the heart.’
As Fordney picked up an earring from the floor, Day exclaimed: ‘Why, that belongs to his fiancée.’
‘Well, there’ll be no wedding bells for him,’ remarked Kelley, with a start as he discovered that Day’s cane was a sword-stick with a long, thin, shining blade.
‘Any blood, Inspector?’ asked Fordney.
‘None. Clean as a whistle.’
‘Well, Day, looks mighty bad for you,’ stated the Professor. ‘I don’t know yet whether you killed him with that cane, or whether you killed him at all, but I do know you were here a few minutes after he was stabbed.’
