title: Cat Crimes: Masters of Mystery Present a Collection of True Cat Tales
author: Martin Harry Greenberg
description: Mystery short stories for cat lovers! 17 mysteries by top mystery authors: Pronzini, Jance, Roberts, Paul, Hess, Breen Lutz. Mystery short stories are in...short supply nowadays. Get 'em while they're hot. Recommended.
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  ![cover](resources/_cover_.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  # The Ebony Cat
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### by REX WHITECHURCH
  
  
  This page formatted 2005 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
      
  
  EText from pulpgen.com
  
  
  _
  
  
    
  Crack Detective Stories
  
  
  _, May 1949 ** _
  
  
    
  
  
  _**
  
  
  
  
  
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  When a miser loans out five grand without security, something is
  
  
  wrong—particularly when the borrower is bumped off within the hour
  
  
  afterwards!
  
  
  _**
  
  
  IT BEGAN just outside my door—the door that bore on pebbled glass
  
  
  the following information:
  
  
  JOHN RANDOLPH BECKETT
  
  
  PRIVATE DETECTIVE
  
  
  SPECIALIST IN SHADOW CASES
  
  
  The blonde girl with the black cat in her arms let out a shriek just
  
  
  beyond the said door. Then she lunged through the said door and fell
  
  
  dead across my desk, and the ebony cat streaked away!
  
  
  “Plain case of murder,” said fizzy Police Inspector Gogalvatty,
  
  
  rolling his little piggy eyes into a glare of suspicion. “Plain case of
  
  
  murder right here in the office of this dumb shamus who tries to