Pageant of Comics #2

Harry Tracy began as a peaceful farmer in the Ozarks before a sudden turn toward crime transformed him into one of the most reckless fugitives of his era—wanted across more than ten states for murder, theft, and a daring escape from the Utah Penitentiary. Hunted relentlessly by lawmen, Tracy managed to evade capture for years, until a chance recognition while seeking farm work set in motion his final confrontation in a wheat field.

Crime reporter Jane Arden spots a clever con when a man posing as a wealthy oil baron buys a distinctive pearl, then offers an inflated price for a matching one—banking on the jeweler's desperation to find its twin. When a mysterious widow appears to sell what seems to be the very pearl the jeweler sought, the scheme appears poised to pay off handsomely. But Jane has been watching every move, and she's ready to make her move before the swindlers can cash in.

Crime reporter Jane Arden smells something rotten when a slick employment agency starts peddling government jobs abroad—complete with "mandatory" shots and application fees. With her partner Tubby and detective Milo Dane, Jane goes undercover to expose what lurks behind the promises of Hawaii and Venezuela. What they discover is a swindling operation preying on hopeful applicants, and it's time to bring the con artists to justice.

Crime reporter Jane Arden joins Inspector Murphy to investigate the death of prominent banker Horace Strake, which appears to be suicide—until a detail on the victim's clothing suggests the real crime scene lies elsewhere. Using forensic techniques including footprint casts and a "walking picture" diagram that maps the killer's distinctive gait, the investigation zeroes in on a suspect with a very particular way of moving through the world.