THE MORRISEY CASE

“I don’t know nothin’ about his murder,” nervously retorted Nell Gillson in reply to Professor Fordney’s remark: “You’re the first arrest in the Morrisey case.” He stepped up and drew her back from the train gate. Just then a passer-by brushed against Nell, knocking her purse to the ground. Fordney, hastily retrieving it, felt a gun in it. No question now about Nell being involved!

* * * *

“You’ve befriended me more ’an once, Professor,” old Annie had hiccoughed as she admitted Fordney to her room in the tenement house. “And that’s why I sent for you. I just came from Tony’s,” she whispered with an air of secrecy, “and I heard Nell Gillson havin’ an argument with that bum Richards she’s been hangin’ around with. He told her to beat it out of town on the 5:20 from Central Station—that he’d meet her there…”

“Get to the point, Annie,” interrupted Fordney. “You didn’t call me…”

“The point! They’d just murdered Pat Morrisey in his room!”

“Why in thunder didn’t you say so before!” exclaimed the Professor. He hurried to Morrisey’s hideout and found the man’s bullet-riddled body! Glancing at his watch he discovered he could just make the station in time. And if Annie was right…

* * * *

“So you don’t know anything about the murder, eh?” said the Professor, pocketing Nell Gillson’s purse. “Then why signal a tipoff to your pal Richards, who just came out of the waiting room? A confession, Nell, might save you from the chair!”

How did Fordney know Nell was involved in the murder? Turn page for solution.