1939 THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING BY CLAYTON RAWSON DELL 1ST EDITION #121

Description: Very good or better condition. Skeleton Island, Bronx, New York map on back cover THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING Persons this Mystery is about- THE GREAT MERLINI, a magician, stems from a long line of circus people. Long and lank of frame, he wears an impish twinkle in his black eyes, an enig- matic smile on his friendly face, and is nimble of mind as well as INSPECTOR HOMER GAVIGAN, of hand. of the New York Police Department, is a straightforward gentleman of the law whose frosty blue eyes don't miss a thing and whose sense of humor helps him through some extremely irritating murder LINDA SKELTON, investigations. a spinster fury who controls the lian's share of a huge family fortune, is only thirty-five, but has snow-white hair, caused, her FLOYD SKELTON, doctor says, by a very interesting phobia, Linda's half brother, heavy-set and rather flabby, has permanent- looking morning-after circles under his eyes, sleek black hair and a small mustache. He is interested mainly in buried treasure and ARNOLD SKELTON, night-club binges. another half-brother, tall and definitely handsome, has an almost classic regularity of feature and a matinee idol's wave in his dark hair. There is, however, something oddly wrong with the color of his skin, and when he speaks it is hard to tell where the pleasant, SIGRID VERRILL, deep voice comes from; his lips hardly move. a niece of the Skeltons, knows how to use her deep blue eyes. She is a trim model with an inticing blond color scheme and a figure that COLONEL WATROUS, would be tops even on Broadway. dignified and slightly pompous, is an eminent authority on spooks. Short and gray-haired, he has a military mustache, black-rimmed MADAME RAPPOURT, pince-nez, and a flair for showmanship. a large mountain of a woman with swarthy, Slavic features and jet-black hair, can radiate mystery like a sphinx and affects the CHARLES LAMB, habit of smoking small, black cigars. retired broker, doesn't like to have people making remarks about the essayist by the same name. Solidly built and quiet, he has a face so blank that no emotion seems ever to push through. IRA BROOKE, an inventor with a great shock of iron-gray hair and a bland, absent-minded face, has brown eyes that are frank and guile- less, though they have an odd habit of not looking quite where DOCTOR GAIL, you expect them to.. tops in his field of psychiatry, is a man in his early thirties whose manner makes him seem older. He has a pleasant, easygoing face and a brisk, competent air. There is humor and quick intelligence in his gray eyes. ----------- 3 ----------- THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING Things this Mystery is about- A nail-polish BOTTLE . . . A solution of CYANIDE... A typewrifer RIBBON ... A knitted, blue ASCOT . . . A bottle of SILVER NITRATE ... A Wedgwood PITCHER. . . A black SUITCASE... A cigarette LIGHTER Some treasur ----------- 3 ----------- NG A GREAT MERLINI MURDER MYSTERY THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING By CLAYTON RAWSON Author of "The Headless Lady," "Death From a Top Hat," "No Coffin for the Corpse," etc. Author's Dedication- FOR HUGH AND THE FISH DELL PUBLISHING George T. Delacorte, Jr., President 149 Madison Avenue COMPANY Printed in U.S.A. Helen Meyer, Vice-President New York 16, N. Y. ----------- 4 ----------- THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING List of Exciting Chapters- 1. The Girl and the Gun II. Treasure Trove III. The Ghost of Captain Skelton IV. The Fire V. The Agoraphobe .. C M a to go VI. Council of War the W VII. The Man From Mars dc VIII. SOS. 6es W IX. Sorcerer's Apprentices X. Eight Million Dollars XI. Messrs. X, Y, and Z. XII. The Letter 7on on 91 XIII. Thirty Deadly Poisons XIV. The Blue Man 10 yo ala XV. The Perfect Crime XVI. The Man With the Bends XVII. Eighteen Fathoms Deep XVIII. Murder Weapon. 13 .14 me is. 15 no 16 am 18 XIX. Upside Down. XX. Handcuffs mi B 19 20 off 22 for pu XXI. Hocus-Pocustapil betaen betasta Copyright, MCMXXXIX, by Clayton Rawson. All rights reserved. Reprinted arrangement with G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, N. Y. G ----------- 5 ----------- 2 2 5 The Footprints On The Ceiling Chapter One: THE GIRL AND THE GUN MY FIRST reaction was cynical-an ad like that must be a publicity stunt; it was far too good to be true. I turned to the theatrical section and began reading. But it was no go; the haunted house won out. I turned back and read the ad again: WANTED TO RENT: Haunted House, preferably in run- down condition. Must be adequately supplied with inter- esting ghost. Write details, location, history, price. K492 World-Telegram. There just might be a story in it. So I phoned a friend on the Telegram city desk. "Could you use a drink after work, Ted?" I asked. "It's on me." "Sounds fair enough, Ross. My trick's over at eleven. See you at Joe's. And now go away; I'm busy. There's a four- alarm fire, a love nest, and two wars." But quickly before he could hang up, I said, "In the meantime ask your Classified Department who Box K492 is." He took time out to think it over. Then he said slowly, "Uh-huh. I get it. Bribery. Just for that I've a good notion not to tell you. You mean the haunted house with the hot and cold running ghosts, don't you?" "Oh." Disappointment sneaked up on me from behind. "You're on to it then?" "Well, we don't sleep all the time; this is a newspaper office. I thought about putting a man on it, but when I found out who'd inserted it I didn't bother. Looks like 0 publicity. Though, if you're interested, maybe-" "What do you mean, if I'm interested, maybe-'?" "Well, you should know. K492 is a friend of yours. The Great Merlini." by 5

Price: 25 USD

Location: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

End Time: 2024-09-27T15:32:11.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.63 USD