‘Were you home all evening, Mr. Tracy?’
‘No. I had just put up the car when I heard the shots and saw a figure dash around the house.’
‘I’ll take a look at your car later, Tracy.
‘Withers, show me exactly how you found Lane before you lifted him to the divan.’
As Withers righted an overturned chair, fitted its legs carefully to four impressions in the rug at the right of a smoking-stand, sat down, and slumped over to the left, Fordney said, ‘That’s enough. Which one of you killed him?’
[Why did Fordney make this startling accusation?]
57
Babe Comes Through
‘Strike two!’ shouted Umpire Starlen.
‘Kill the Umpire! You big bum! Thief!’
Professor Fordney turned in his place directly behind the plate to look at the excited man in the next box, waving an empty pop-bottle. He smiled. Couldn’t blame a chap for getting excited. Starlen did seem to be calling them wrong today. That last one was wide!