The Tragedy of Z by Ellery Queen Page A

entirely innocent of whatever hold Dow had over him. He attempted to explain his concern by saying that, even though the story was a lie, publication of it would seriously endanger, if not defeat, his chances for re-election to the State Senate.”
    â€œSeriously endanger his chance, eh?” said Hume grimly. “He never had a chance. However, that’s beside the point. I’d bet that whatever Dow had on him was legitimate enough.”
    Warden Magnus shrugged. “I thought so, too. And the same time I was in a peculiar position. On Fawcett’s word alone I couldn’t punish Dow, and I told the man so. Of course, if he wished to press the charge, tell what the ‘lie’ was.… But the Senator was almost as excited about the suggestion as he’d been about asking me to muzzle a Grade-A prisoner. He wanted no publicity, he said. And then he insinuated that he might be able to “help” me politically if Dow were placed in solitary for a few months.” Magnus bared his teeth in an ugly grin. “The interview developed into a scene from an old-time melodrama. Corrupting the official, and all that sort of thing. You know, of course, that no politics gets behind these walls. I’ve something of a reputation for incorruptibility and I reminded Fawcett of it. He saw it was no use, and went away.”
    â€œScared?” growled father.
    â€œPetrified. Naturally, I didn’t let grass grow under my feet. As soon as Fawcett left, I summoned Aaron Dow to my office. He played innocent, denying that he’d attempted to blackmail the Senator. So, since Fawcett’s refusal to press a charge tied my hands, I merely warned Dow that if I found any truth in the story I’d see his parole was revoked and all his privileges taken away.”
    â€œAnd that’s all?” asked Hume.
    â€œNearly all. This morning—I should say yesterday morning—Fawcett telephoned me here to say that he had decided to ‘buy’ Dow’s silence rather than to permit a ‘false story’ to be circulated, and asked me to forget the entire incident.”
    â€œThat’s downright screwy,” said father thoughtfully. “Smells bad, in fact! Doesn’t sound like this Fawcett bird at all. You’re sure it was Fawcett who called?”
    â€œPositive. I thought, too, that his call was queer, and wondered why he took the trouble to tell me that he meant to pay blackmail.”
    â€œIt is funny,” frowned the district attorney. “Did you tell him Dow was being released yesterday?”
    â€œNo. He didn’t ask, and I didn’t say.”
    â€œYou know,” drawled father, crossing his legs with the grace of the Colossus, “I got an idea about that call. Yes, sir. Struck me all of a sudden. I got an idea Senator Fawcett was framin’ poor old Aaron Dow both ways to the ace.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked the warden with interest.
    Father grinned. “He was layin’ the trail, Warden. Preparin’ an alibi. Hume, I bet you all the money you’ve got in your jeans that you find Fawcett drew fifty grand out of his bank. Nice and innocent, see? He was goin’ to pay the blackmail, all right,—and zowie! somethin’ happened.”
    â€œI don’t get you,” snapped the district attorney.
    â€œLook here. Fawcett meant to kill Dow! And then he’d show by the warden’s testimony and his withdrawal of the money, if it ever came out, that he was goin’ to pay the dough, but Dow got tough and in a scrap got the worst of it. He was in a hot spot, Hume. He must have figured even a risky killing was better than havin’ Dow floatin’ around.”
    â€œPossible,” muttered Hume thoughtfully. “Possible! But his plans went wrong, and he got it instead. Hmm.”
    â€œI tell you,” cried Father Muir, “that Aaron Dow is innocent of the crime of shedding that man’s