They soon arrived on the scene of another murder. Inspector Lewis greeted Detective Johnson and Mr. Wilson at the front door of the victim's house. "A bad business, being a detective is," Lewis said. "Messy, too. The poor woman's head has been shattered like an eggshell. Here's the murder weapon." Lewis held out a revolver.

"Are there any suspects?" Detective Johnson asked. "None at present, Johnson," answered Lewis. "We talked to the woman's maids. They had been given the day off and were out the whole time. They just came back and found the woman like this."

"Did she have a husband?"

"Yes. The maids said that he usually is at the club until late at night, but we have called him to return home. It looks like it was a burglar who killed her."

"What makes you think an intruder did this?"

"There's a horrible mess in there---things broken all over the place," Lewis replied.

"Hmmm," Johnson murmured. "May we inspect the murder scene?"

"Certainly," replied Lewis.

Inspector Lewis led the way into the house. In the middle of the dining room floor lay a body covered with a sheet. Mr. Johnson gingerly lifted the sheet from her face. He flinched slightly and carefully laid the sheet down again.

"Whoever did this must have great physical strength," he noted. "There is certainly severe damage to her skull." He began to inspect the area around the woman's body, looking for clues.

Presently we heard a police officer outside speaking with a newcomer, a man.

"Please, I beg you...what is going on? What is the meaning of this?"

Lewis went to the door. Johnson and Wilson followed.

"Mr. Gary Walton?" Lewis asked.

"I am. What is the meaning of this?"

"Let him go, officer, let him go," Lewis said to the young officer who was restraining the man.

"Thank you, sir. Could you please tell me why the police are here? Is everything all right? Is it--oh, Martha! My beautiful Martha! Is she all right?"

"I regret to inform you, Mr. Walton, that your wife is no longer with us," Johnson said quietly.

"Please come with us sir," said the inspector.

They entered the house. When Mr. Walton saw the mess and the white sheet-covered body, he completely broke down.

"Now, then, Mr. Walton. If you'll cooperate with us and answer all our questions, we will be much obliged."

"Yes. Yes, sir." He never took his eyes from the murder weapon which Lewis held in his hands.

"Where have you been all evening?"

"At...my...club," Walton replied, his eyes welling with tears again. "Oh, please, sir! Find the monster who beat my poor Martha to death!"

Detective Johnson looked at the man. "We shall try our best, my dear sir," Wilson said.

"We shall have to look no further," Johnson declared.

"What do you mean, Mr. Johnson?" Lewis asked, surprised.

**********

How did Detective Johnson know Gary Walton killed his wife?

anyone yet?

Because he stated "help find the monster who beat my wife." How did he know his wife was beat when his wife was covered by a sheet?????

because he had no way of knowing that she had been beaten if he hadn't done it.. her body was covered with a sheet, and the detective was holding a gun.. an innocent person would assume she was shot.. only the guilty murderer would know the truth about HOW she died without seeing the body.. and THAT is why they pay me the BIG BUCKS !!!

it was a revolver that Det. Lewis held in his hand yet Gary Walton knew, without seeing the body that his wife had been beaten to death with the gun and not shot as would be natural to assume

ANS:"Allow me to explain, Inspector," my friend answered. "You hold the murder weapon in your hands, correct?"

"Why, yes," he replied.

"Mr. Walton has not as yet been informed as to the manner of his wife's death, correct?"

"Yes."

"Therefore, he could not have known right away that she had been beaten with the gun and not shot. He is your killer, Lewis."

"How dare you!" Walton shouted.

"Well, Wilson," Johnson said, "we seem to have cleared up this little matter rather quickly, wouldn't you say?"

id say cuz he just happened to know she was beat to death but if ya see your house in shambles, wife dead, and the blunt object whatever it was i think some people might have just assumed that.....


guess it was the obvious answer LOL