INCIDENT OF THE IMAGINATIVE MURDER

After the police photographer took a final picture of the strangled girl as she lay in the thick underbrush, Fordney removed the large, white-rimmed sunglasses from the girl’s face, and the large, gaily colored kerchief which covered her head. She was an extremely beautiful brunette. From a close examination the Professor believed she had been taken by surprise and strangled from behind. As the only contents of her shallow pockets were a package of cigarettes, a match folder, a fish hook and a dollar bill, she was not identified as dancing teacher Shirley Vie until after she had been taken to the morgue.

* * * *

“Say look!” excitedly exclaimed Harry Talmadge indicating the evening newspaper. “That’s the girl I saw arguing with a fellow on shore when I was fishing this afternoon.”

Talmadge’s companion, Joe Morrisey, looked at the photograph of the smiling Shirley in a brief dance costume.

“Come on,” said Harry, “I’d better tell the cops.”

* * * *

“…and that’s the description of the man I saw arguing with this girl in the paper this afternoon. From what you say she must have been murdered almost immediately afterwards,” Harry Talmadge concluded.

“She was,” said Fordney. “Did you hear their conversation?”

“No, but his voice was loud and his manner threatening.”

“Ever see Miss Vie before this afternoon?”

“No, sir.”

“How far off shore were you?”

“I was in a small bay, about 200 yards away when they passed me.”

“When did you cut your finger?”

“About an hour ago—when I shaved.”

“That’s enough,” Fordney snapped. “You will be held for investigation.”

Why did Fordney hold Talmadge? Turn page for solution.