THE CALL OF DEATH

Phew! He’d almost slipped there. It just wasn’t in character. And that… What was the matter with him? A drink was what he needed.

* * * *

“Rowel’s prints are on this glass and over those of the girl’s on the empty cocktail shaker,” Sergeant Aden said. “But while Manfield’s prints are on this other glass they are not on…”

“I can’t help how it looks—or sounds,” Rex Manfield interrupted, “but it’s the truth, Professor. Lil dropped in about 3 o’clock. At 3:15 Walter here came down—his apartment is two floors above. He shook up a cocktail. We had a drink and he left. A few minutes later I received a phone call to report immediately for an emergency air raid warden meeting. I left Lil here. At headquarters I learned the call was a hoax. When I returned, Lil was strangled to death!”

“How many drinks did you and Lil have?” Fordney asked.

“Just the one Walter poured us,” Manfield replied.

“The shaker is practically empty.”

“Then Lil finished it after I left. One drink never did satisfy her.”

“What about that…” The Professor pointed.

“I…I…don’t know,” answered Manfield. “Somebody must have…but why should they?”

“I don’t suppose, Rowel, you returned here after you left?” said Fordney.

“No. I didn’t know Rex had gone out.”

“How is it, Mr. Manfield, that you didn’t inform Rowel of the tragedy immediately after calling the police?”

“Too upset, I guess.”

“Quite,” murmured the Professor. To himself he added, “I wonder if the murderer sees his mistake yet?”

Whom did Fordney suspect? What mistake did he make? Turn page for solution.