A WEAK ALIBI

The petals of a four leaf clover, which the body of Charles DeLong had pressed against a spot of green in the Oriental rug, did not escape the trained eye of Professor Fordney, and the great criminologist placed it between the pages of a personal letter. He looked down at the knife wound over DeLong’s heart.

* * * *

“I wish you could remember the exact time you left Adolph Lyon,” patiently insisted Fordney. He was questioning Irene Adler in her apartment. “Lyon said you found that four leaf clover and stuck it in his buttonhole for luck. He can’t place the time of your walk together in the country, but if you could, it might help his rather weak alibi.”

“Adolph found DeLong dead?” exclaimed Irene in a faltering voice.

“That’s correct. He says he stepped into DeLong’s apartment after leaving you. Upon entering the room, and seeing in a horrified glance that DeLong was obviously dead, he ran immediately to the library, phoned the doctor and police, and there awaited our arrival.

“What are your relations with Lyon?” The Professor’s smile relieved the abruptness of the personal question.

“We’re engaged. Surely you don’t believe him guilty?”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that. I had hoped to learn something from you that would clear Lyon of all suspicion. Did you also pick these this afternoon?” Fordney asked, lightly touching the flowers in a vase and removing a dead leaf.

“Yes…yes…we did. You’re hot holding Adolph…?”

“For the present—yes.”

Why? Turn page for solution.