Z (Street & Smith)

The city desk of the newspaper The Evening Standard receives a mysterious call, telling them of a murder of a manager at a bank, and to look for apple seeds. The star reporter, Waldron Shumway, heads out to investigate. A variety of newspapermen have congregated at the bank, all receiving the same call. Shumway finds the bank manager murdered by an assailant who leaves behind his calling card, the letter “Z”, scrawled on a paper clutched in the victim’s hand. At first perplexed, Shumway slowly gathers clues, including apple seeds and an apple core, and develops a theory, but Z calls again, informing Shumway he’s killed another bank manager. Shumway interviews an office boy, who says a Mr. Zander had visited the manager. Shumway finds more apple seeds. He puts in play a trap for the killer, fabricating a story in the paper that might interest Z, and setting up a fake location. Z informs the newspapers and the police of a third murder, but to take place at a prescribed time later in the day. Although surrounded by police and reporters, a third bank manager dies, via a marksman’s bullet. The murderer finally falls for Shumway’s trap, meeting with him at a dilapidated cabin, where, after being plied with alcohol and goaded by competitive pride, confesses. Two police officers and friends of Shumway help arrest the madman before he can kill his fourth victim, Shumway’s girlfriend’s father.