The smear

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

75855

Title

The smear

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the Malamute Saloon during the Yukon winter, this suspenseful tale follows Finn Charley, a suddenly wealthy prospector hiding a dark secret. When Royal Canadian Mounted Police announce a murder, the victim's dying words implicate a man with a distinctive black smear on his cheek. As the officer scans the room, Finn Charley freezes in terror, only to discover the twist that resolves the mystery in a shocking conclusion.

Summary up to 500 words

In the biting cold of the Yukon winter, the Malamute Saloon in Dawson City buzzes with the chaotic energy of whisky, gambling, and the rough-and-tumble life of the Klondike. Finn Charley, a man who has suddenly become prosperous, enters this scene seeking to celebrate his wealth, though he is plagued by a guilty conscience. He knows a man was murdered nearby and fears that his own identity as the killer will be exposed. The atmosphere is thick with tension as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police enter the establishment. While a constable secures the perimeter, the corporal takes command, his keen eyes scanning the room until they rest intently on Finn Charley. The corporal addresses the gathered crowd, revealing that a man was robbed and murdered on the trail just a mile out of town. He explains that the victim was shot from behind but managed to speak his last words before dying. In a dramatic crescendo, the corporal claims the dying man identified the murderer by a specific detail: a big black smear on the suspect's left cheek. Panic instantly grips Finn Charley. Instinctively, his hand shoots up to his face as he fears arrest, his jaw tightening beneath a forced grin. The corporal's steady, unblinking gaze passes from face to face, culminating in the accusation against Finn. Finn Charley is dragged away, fighting like a maniac, and taken to the Mounted Police post. There, the constable discovers the old silver monogrammed watch of the dead man on Finn's person, seemingly confirming his guilt. However, a stunning twist is revealed later. When the constable questions the corporal about how he knew the murderer had a smear on his face, the corporal delivers a chilling admission: the victim never actually spoke. The dying man was stone dead when found and could not have given any description. Furthermore, the corporal reveals that the murderer did not have a smear on his face at all. This story, by John Beames, serves as a profound exploration of perception versus reality. The corporal's ability to identify the true culprit relied not on the victim's testimony, but on his own keen observation and the psychological pressure he applied to the room. By fabricating a specific detail—the smear on the cheek—he manipulated the suspects' reactions. Finn Charley's panic and his unconscious gesture to his face were the only evidence needed to expose him. The narrative leaves the reader pondering the nature of truth in a harsh frontier setting, where the line between observation and deception is dangerously thin, and where a clever mind can turn a victim's silence into a weapon against the guilty.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Adventure
• Fiction
• Mystery