Not Nearly As Smart As They Think

IT isn't often we get two ultra-short stories in one place, but that's the case here:

   "This was deliberate arson—attempted murder, too . . ."

"Adventures of P. C. Conway - The Shadow in the Mirror."

By L. H. Hart (?-?).

First appearance: Topical Times, January 14, 1939.

Artist uncredited.

Short short short story (2 pages).

Online at Comic Book Plus (HERE; go to text page 12).

   "A shadow darkened the mirror."

NO sooner has a damsel in distress been rescued than she disappears as if in a puff of smoke—appropriate, since she was supposed to die in a burning building. The copper who rescues her is dead set on finding out who and why—assuming, that is, that he's able to recover from a potentially fatal fall and a vase crashing into his head ("Everything blurred in front of my eyes") . . .

Main characters:

~ P. C. Conway ("There were seven steps down to that cellar door, and my spine hit every one"), Joyce Merril ("was nowhere to be seen"), Sergeant Baines ("You can't go hobbling round your beat like that"), Detective Watts ("What in thunder are you up to, Conway?"), and Johnson ("Sallow and lantern jawed, something like a bilious wolf").

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   "Bend your ears forward and I'll slip you an earful of inside stuff."

"He Gave Himself Away."

By Jack Hall (?-?).

First appearance: Topical Times, January 14, 1939.

Artist uncredited.

Short short short story (1 page).

Online at Comic Book Plus (HERE; go to text page 29).

   "There was no denying the menace and authority of the glinting gun . . ."

AS a rule, criminals aren't very smart, otherwise they wouldn't be criminals. What's worse is when they think they're smarter than everybody else, especially the police. Blackie thinks as much, with five stick-ups in a week to bolster his confidence. Soon, however, he will come to realize just how smart he isn't when, in short order, he comes to see the light . . .

Main characters:

~ Sergeant Casey ("So you think yourself a wise guy?"), Blackie Cavella ("one of the most daring gunmen the police of Seattle had ever encountered"), the Chief ("Get him!"), and the gas station attendant ("Yeah, that's the bird").

Resources:

- L. H. Hart's P. C. Conway, one "smart cop," had at least a half dozen adventures in the Topical Times (FictionMags data):

  (1) "The Shadow in the Mirror" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1000, January 14, 1939 (above)

  (2) "The Sandwich-Board Detective" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1001, January 21, 1939

  (3) "The Burglar Left a Message" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1002, January 28, 1939

  (4) "The Girl Who Ran Away" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1003, February 4, 1939

  (5) "The Silk-Stocking Clue" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1004, February 11, 1939

  (6) "Jake Flynn’s Disappearing Trick" [P. C. Conway], (ss) Topical Times #1005, February 18, 1939.

- As far as we can tell, this was the one and only appearance of our author Jack Hall and his creation, Sergeant Casey.

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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