PELNAR, MOORE & MAGUIRE

“Only the 6th of July and you’re back in New York!” Fordney remarked as Pelnar stepped from the plane at the airport. “Thought you intended spending the summer in Cuba?”

“Well, if you must know why I’m here, my bank failed and I came back to straighten out my affairs.”

“That’s tough. How did you hear about it?”

Pelnar handed Fordney a clipping from the Jacksonville Herald:

New York, July 5 (AP)—City Bank & Trust Company, one of New York’s oldest banking establishments, closed its doors today…

“Sure you didn’t come back to help your pal, Moore?” the criminologist asked. “He’s been in jail for two days…ever since the Fourth of July bombing. Had a letter on him signed by you asking him to get in touch with L. J. Maguire.

“We traced Maguire and discovered he is with an ammunition company. When the District Attorney heard you were on your way here he asked me to meet the plane. He’s confident you know something about the bombing…and so am I!”

“Didn’t know there was a bombing! What’s it all about? Maguire is a cousin of mine—and you say Moore’s in the can?”

“Right! Where did you catch your plane?”

“Why…er…Jacksonville. You see, I was staying at a remote place…no planes serve that part of the island. I had no thought of leaving until I read of the bank failure. Then I hopped a boat, grabbed a plane, and here I am.”

“No—that won’t do,” Fordney retorted. “Your alibi is darn weak.”

“Weak! What do you mean! I suppose somebody wired the D.A. that ‘Crazy’ Kirby met the plane when we landed in Norfolk for gas. In spite of that there’s nothing on me!”

Why did the Professor know that Pelnar’s story was wrong? Turn page for solution.