Part Three - Short Stories Review

This is the third part of the short stories collection that I have been reading. They are listed in the book Masterpieces of Mystery and Suspense by Martin H. Greenberg. For this article, I read "Danger Out of the Past" by Erle Stanley Gardner, "Little Terror" by Robert Barnard, and "The Case of the Emerald Sky" by Eric Ambler.

In the first story, "Danger Out of the Past" by Erle Stanley Gardner, the main characters were George Ollie, Stella, and Larry Giffin. George Ollie was the manager of a restaurant and an ex-con. Stella was his head waitress. One day, Larry, who was also an ex-con, came into the restaurant to visit with George. He told George that he would return later on. That night, after George had locked and bolted the door, Larry returned and kicked the door until George opened it. Larry forced them to tell him where the safe was. George refused, but Stella wasn't as brave. After Larry took out some of the money, he told George that this was his half of the business, and they were going to be partners. When Larry left, George was upset with Stella for telling Larry where the safe was located.

This was a great story. Now, you'll have to read it to find out what happened. Was Larry caught? Was everything settled between George and Stella? Did the police enter the story?

In the second story, "Little Terror" by Robert Barnard, the main characters were Albert Wimpole, Terry, Wayne Catherick, Little Terror, and Mr. and Mrs. Mumford. This story was a little more confusing to understand, but I still enjoyed reading it. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford wanted Albert to take care of Terry while they were gone. He wasn't wanting to take the job, but he agreed. One day, Terry told Albert that he and his friend killed his Gram, meaning Grandmother. Albert wasn't sure what to think. Was Terry telling Albert the truth? Why did they kill Terry's grandmother? These are questions for you to think about as you read the story.

In the third story, "The Case of the Emerald Sky" by Eric Ambler, the main characters were Assistant Commissioner Mercer of Scotland Yard, Sergeant Flecker, Dr. Jan Czissar, Thomas Medley married Helena Merlin. One day, Thomas Medley died. The doctor said he died because of gastroenteritis. Other people believed he was poisoned. After examining the body again, the doctor found traces of poison in the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Mr. Harold Medley was a medical student. He is accused of killing his father. Dr. Czissar believes someone else committed the crime. He started telling Mercer whom he thought may have killed him and why. Now, you can read the story to find out who killed Thomas Medley. This was another good story.

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