Black Mask Magazine (Vol. 24, No. 9 — January, 1942)

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Jimmy Legg was guilty as hell — and there were witnesses to prove it. So — why did the worthy Judge Reynolds dismiss the D.A.’s case against the little cracksman? The answer was a surprise even to the shockproof Cellini — paid real dough for the first time in his checkered career to explain why Justice was deaf and dumb as well as stone blind.

He checked a curved wrist watch that you knew he couldn’t have come by honestly and found that it was just two minutes short of nine in the morning. Chewing away at the toothpick between his thin, slitted lips, he entered the Hall of Justice.

His colorless eyes surveyed the signs and arrows on the walls of the vaulted vestibule. Coroner, Traffic, Small Claims, Bail — there were dozens. He read them all and when he didn’t find what he wanted he walked over to the elevator starter.

“Reynolds.” He spoke the word without moving the toothpick.

“Huh?” asked the starter.

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