The Suspect by Edgar Saltus (1921)
A man narrates his own arrest at a Bowery pawnshop, where he has pawned a gold cigarette case and a gold watch, both engraved with the initials K. M., the watch containing the miniature of a girl's face. The pawnbroker, Alfred Cohen, grows suspicious, secretly telephones Police Headquarters, and has the narrator seized by a fat uniformed policeman and a plainclothes detective, "Jakey." The narrator, unarmed and resigned, goes quietly, though he is startled to learn the matter is not bailable. At headquarters he is brought before an inspector, who reveals that a week earlier a man named Kenneth Mar escorted a young woman home, was seen approaching his own apartment house, and was never seen again. The missing man's cigarette case and watch — the very items just pawned — are shown to the narrator. The inspector questions him about where he obtained them and what he did with Mar's "body." The narrator evasively admits he knew Mar only "slightly," denies receiving the items from him, and reveals under pressure that he has been living in hiding at 999 Great Jones Street since Mar's disappearance. The inspector sends for Janet Faille, the young woman Mar loved and had escorted home that day. While the narrator is held in an adjoining room by the policeman, he reflects on the public mystery: newspapers had speculated endlessly about Mar's fate — robbery, amnesia, even that he might turn up disguised as a farm girl or a hermit — but none mentioned the watch or cigarette case, which is why the narrator felt safe pawning them. Janet Faille arrives and, in conversation with the inspector, confesses she had concealed her true feelings: she loved Mar deeply but had pretended interest in another suitor, a tall, dark man with regular features whose identity had stayed out of the papers, in order to test Mar. She now blames herself for his disappearance, fearing he killed himself over her feigned indifference. The inspector suggests alternative theories, including that the favored rival might have killed Mar out of jealousy and staged a robbery, then lost his nerve and fled. The inspector then orders the "suspect" brought in. When Janet turns and sees him, she cries out, "This is Kenneth Mar!" The narrator confirms silently that this is true — he is Kenneth Mar, who had hidden away deliberately to see whether Janet's feelings would reveal themselves in his absence. Janet, overcome, faints from joy at learning he is alive, and the narrator affirms his own condition despite his relief.
By Edgar Saltus · First published 1921 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Romance · 3,828 words
First lines
"How much do you want? " the pawnbroker asked.
"Oh," I said, with an air of assumed indifference, "a hundred will do."
The pawnbroker gave me a queer, sharp look, one which he instantly diverted to the gold cigarette case, a rather elaborate affair, that I had offered him, and which had on it in jewels the initials K. M.
He looked up at me again.
What this Textopian page supports
The Suspect is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Saltus, dated 1921 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edgar Saltus
- Date: 1921 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Romance, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 3,828 words
- Structure: 1 section, 114 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Suspect by Edgar Saltus
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres
- Mystery — The entire narrative structure revolves around solving Kenneth Mar's disappearance, with clues withheld from the reader until the final reveal of the protagonist's true identity.
- Detective Fiction — An inspector conducts a methodical investigation, interrogating suspects, examining physical evidence (the watch and cigarette case), and following leads to piece together the crime.
- Romance — The emotional core centers on Kenneth Mar's love for Janet Faille and her reciprocated affection, with the protagonist's hidden identity and sacrifice motivated by romantic devotion.
- Crime Fiction — Involves criminal suspicion, fugitive behavior, hiding from authorities, evidence of wrongdoing, and police interrogation regarding a potential murder.
Tags
psychological · thriller · crime · guilt · morality · suspense · Victorian era · decadent · mystery · character study · dark · philosophical