Life — August 13, 1925 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Third Door from the Left" — A Mystery Story Opening This page opens a serialized mystery story in *Life* magazine. The illustration shows two figures in an intense dramatic moment—one person appears distressed or threatened while another figure looms nearby, consistent with the cry "Help!" mentioned in the caption. The story concerns a murder investigation led by Inspector Boyd. The setup involves society figures: Ralph Fairfax (a reporter), Faith Abersleigh (a wealthy young woman), her uncle Mrs. Humphrey (found murdered in his library), and various suspects including a taxi driver and a mysterious Spanish woman. This appears to be a standard mystery fiction serialization—common entertainment in early 20th-century magazines—rather than political satire or social commentary.