nto his pocket and brought out what appeared to be a
fountain pen. "This. It kills instantly and leaves no mark whatever.
Heart failure is invariably stated as the cause of death."

The Coroner felt better. Obviously, Cole was not armed. As the Coroner
raised a hand to signal the officers, Cole said, "You understand, of
course, that I can't let you live."

"Take this man into custody."

The police officers did not move. The Coroner turned on them sharply.
They were smiling. Cole pointed the fountain pen. The Coroner felt a
sharp chill on his flesh. He looked at the jury, at the newspaperman,
the spectators. They were all smiling cold, thin, terrible smiles....

* * * * *

A short time later, the newspaperman phoned in his story. The afternoon
editions carried it:

CORONER BELL DIES OF HEART ATTACK

Shortly after this morning's inquest, which resulted in a jury
verdict of suicide in the case of Sanford Smith, Coroner James Bell
dropped dead of heart failure in the hearing room of the County
building. Mr. Bell leaves a wife and--

THE END

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_ July
1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.

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