Pink Ears

"Pink Ears" by Murray Leinster is a detective short story published in the early 20th century. Set in a men-only hotel, the narrative explores themes of theft and deception as the protagonist, James Craig, faces the shocking reality of being robbed of a substantial sum of money. The story combines elements of mystery and intrigue, typical of the detective fiction genre of its time. The plot centers around James Craig, who experiences a drastic change in demeanor after discovering that he has been robbed of eighty thousand dollars in bonds while staying at the Stratford hotel. Initially calm and content, his distress escalates when he realizes that the theft has left him vulnerable to suspicion. Detective Jamison is called to investigate the case, and through a series of insightful deductions, he uncovers that Craig himself may have orchestrated the robbery. It is revealed that the bonds were cleverly hidden in a false-bottomed drawer, and despite Craig’s convincing act of victimhood, his pink ears betray his fabricated distress, leading to his arrest. The story showcases the intersection of cunning and oversight in the world of crime and investigation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Murray Leinster was a pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an American writer of genre fiction, particularly of science fiction. He wrote and published more than 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.