BY the time today's story appeared, detective fiction had been around long enough for authors in the field to poke fun at it, Agatha Christie's lighthearted pastiches with Tommy
and Tuppence being for-instances. Today's author really can't be considered a detecfic
writer, however, and so you probably won't be too impressed when . . .
"Bill Dopes It Out."
By John H. Thompson (1890-1949).
First appearance: Argosy All-Story Weekly, September 24, 1927.
Short short short story (3 pages).
(Note: Faded text.)
"There wasn't that element of uncertainty and mystery which drags many a sordid crime to the front page."
THE circumstantial evidence speaks for itself: a murder weapon with the prime suspect's name written all over it and two wills, one cutting the p.s. out of his inheritance, and other incriminating events. Certainly the people of Torrington are convinced of it. The trouble is that circumstantial evidence has been known to speak with forked tongue . . .
Main characters:
~ Howard Hyatt ("the town's leading and wealthiest citizen"), Arthur Hyatt ("a happy-go-lucky chap who had resented an ultimatum that he go to work or be cut off without a bequest"), the butler ("went to bed early, leaving dim lights burning in the hallway and parlor"), the house-keeper ("rushed hysterically from the house and summoned the police"), the "watson" ("They ought to hang him right away"), and Bill ("You've read detective stories, haven't you?").
Reference:
- The word "dope" has found many uses; here it's used as a synonym for a scoop; see Wiktionary.org (HERE).
Resources:
- Our author: "Journalist, Newspaper Editor. Born in New York City, lived in Connecticut" (FictionMags data). He had a number of stories featuring characters named Bill:
"Bill Meets the Widow," (ss) Flynn’s Weekly, November 20, 1926
"Bill Dopes It Out," (ss) Argosy All-Story Weekly, September 24, 1927 (above)
"Listen, Officer," (ss) Cabaret Stories, March 1929
"Feeling Fine, Doctor" (ss) Argosy, April 6, 1929 (online HERE)
"Bill’s Good Turn," (ss) Argosy, March 19, 1932
"Good-by Carnival," (ss) Argosy, October 14, 1933
"Cappers," (ss) Argosy, March 24, 1934
"The Bet," (ss) Argosy, September 22, 1934.
The bottom line:
Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.
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