ARE YOU LISTENIN’?

Professor Fordney walked into the cottage and found Inspector Kelley reclining in a deck chair. “I’m all in, Joe,” Kelley sighed. “Not a sign of a breeze all day and this humidity is terrible! Where have you been?”

“You missed the excitement. Murder’s been done!” Fordney rejoined.

“Where? When?” without enthusiasm.

“Couple of hours ago. Peters’s body was discovered down near Britton’s landing by a fellow named Hart. The river’s about half a mile wide for quite a stretch along there, and rather desolate. Hart said he was moving slowly upstream watching the shore through binoculars when he saw Peters. Anchoring his sailboat in midstream he came ashore in a dinghy. I was with Sheriff Cass when he reported it.

“Cass was quite excited…his first murder case. Peters had been shot in the forehead, but from my examination I’d venture a guess he was drowned first.” There was no response from the deck chair. The Professor continued:

“Hart was eager to assist. He pointed out the peculiar position of the body, footprints along the bank, and marks showing signs of a struggle. He made no comment about the absence of blood, however.

“When I asked to see his binoculars he nervously replied he had dropped them overboard in his haste. Cass didn’t realize the preposterousness of Hart’s story at first but when he did… Say, Kelley! Are you listenin’?”

A refined snore broke the silence and with a sigh Fordney stretched, yawned luxuriously and joined his friend.

Why did Cass arrest Hart? Turn page for solution.