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Detective Murdoch had been planning his attempt at manned flight for some time so he was irritated to be summoned to the scene of a murder. It appeared crime had no respect for scientific advancements.
This particular crime had taken place at the carnival of science and education. As the name implied this was, outwardly at least, a sideshow devoted to educational pursuits. It featured practical demonstrations of scientific principles.
The demonstration on displacement of fluids had a buxom young lady climbing into a tank of water.
The demonstration of thixotropic properties had an attractive young lady with a cauldron of mud.
The exhibition of anatomy had little more than a muscular young man and an uncorsetted young woman.
Murdoch quickly saw a pattern and surmised the main draw of the show might not be it's educational content.
He had been informed that the murder victim was an unfortunate who had been electrocuted whilst demonstrating the principles of conductivity with the aid of a small generator two strategically placed electrodes and a distinct lack of the proper attire.
Murdoch arrived to find Dr Grace wrapping a blanket around a decidedly under dressed woman.
"This should be a new experience for you Inspector, you can interview the murder victim." Said Dr Grace indicating the pantaloon clad woman.
"She does not appear to be particularly murdered." Observed Murdoch.
"Just stunned. The proprietor thought her dead and informed a police constable who happened to be at the event."
"Constable Higgins?"
"How did you guess?"
"I am sorry to cause all this fuss." Said the woman "It was simply an accident. Perhaps I could dress now? Dr Grace said you might want to see me as I was at the time."
"Dr Grace said you weren't to dress?"
"I thought it best to preserve the integrity of the investigation." Said Dr Grace with admirable devotion to duty.
Murdoch didn't entirely believe that. He had to note that while the woman in Dr Graces care wasn't possessed of the more obvious beauty of the other showgirls she did have a certain subtle allure which seemed to have captured Dr Grace's attention.
"You can dress now Mrs?"
"Miss Fawcett."
Dr Grace led Miss Fawcett to the changing area with a promise to return shortly.
Seemingly recovered from her ordeal Miss Fawcett sat on a folding wooden chair in the rear of the show tent. She had dressed, with Dr Grace's assistance, in a thick fishermen's sweater of undyed cream wool and baggy tweed trousers. Her wispy brown hair was pinned in a rather askew bun and she had donned a pair of spectacles. At that moment she looked nothing like the scantily clad showgirls who manned most of the exhibits at the carnival of science and invention.
Murdoch couldn't help remark on it.
"Miss Fawcett forgive me for saying so but you seem somewhat out of place here."
"I am not pretty like the other demonstrator girls if that is what you mean but that is the cleverness of it you see."
Murdoch was about to object and say Miss Fawcett was indeed pretty but he thought better of it. It was wiser to let a suspect talk rather than interrupt a possible confession. In truth Miss Fawcett, while not hideous, was rather drab compared to the glamour of the other demonstrators.
Instead of objecting he simply prompted.
"Cleverness?"
"Inspector you must realize that for all its claims of educational enrichment the main draw of the exhibition is titillation. All those devices used on beautiful young maidens and strapping young men."
"I gathered as much." Admitted Murdoch. "Though there is also educational value in many of the exhibits." He added out of a sense of fairness.
"And that gives the exhibition it's legitimacy and allows it to skirt indecency laws but there are always those who watch looking for reasons to close us down. It is a balancing act between enough salacious content to attract paying guests and not so much as to attract the moral wrath of the authorities."
"Forgive me Miss Fawcett but I don't see your role in this."
"I do not have the looks of a model nor the more generous endowment of figure so I can expose more of my flesh in demonstrations yet still make a case for it being educational. After all if you were intending a show of an erotic nature you would hardly hire someone of my mousey appearance."
"You do yourself a disservice. Many would enjoy seeing you disrobed for more than purely educational reasons." Said Dr Grace earnestly.
Murdoch gave her a mildly appraising look.
"But I accept you would present a less blatantly pornographic spectacle than some of the other demonstrators." Added Dr Grace.
"And that is the cleverness of it. A bluestocking such as myself has intimately feminine areas which might be exposed to attract customers yet still maintain the facade of respectability."
Murdoch nodded in appreciation of the ploy if not approval.
"So can you think who might wish harm to the exhibition?" He asked.
"There are those who still object to us."
"The Public Decency Association?"
"Yes, the PDA have protested. They feel the exhibition is immoral but they draw attention and publicity from the protest. I don't see them actually wanting to shut us down."
"A rival then? A jealous lover?"
"The exhibition draws a crowd. This is good for local business. I don't know of any who would consider us rivals. And as for a lover I am quite self contained in that regard. I go to bed alone with a good book and I have done for some time."
"Now that is a tragedy." Murmured Dr Grace. "Is there no man in your life?"
"I have never felt the need for one."
"I quite understand."
"Shouldn't you be getting back to the morgue Dr Grace?" Hinted Murdoch.
"Actually I thought it pertinent to the investigation that I stay and observe Miss Fawcett's show."
"Really?" Murdoch put a lot of doubt into that one word.
"I have no objection." Said Miss Fawcett. "I would welcome a medical professionals attention. To enhance the educational aspects of my performance obviously."
"I'm sure you will perform admirably but is it not painful?" Said Dr Grace.
"Only mildly Doctor and we do not all take our pleasures in the same ways do we?"
"We do not and I purport it would be a much less interesting world if we did." Said Dr Grace.
Murdoch coughed discreetly.
"I shall leave you ladies to it then. It does appear this may have been an honest accident but I will investigate to satisfy myself of that fact."
That night Murdoch lay in bed with his wife Dr Julia Ogden. As always he contemplated how lucky he was to be married to a woman of such intelligence achievement and beauty. He was flattered that she did indeed feel the same about him and they had spent a very enjoyable time demonstrating their mutual affection so both were feeling pleasantly relaxed in the afterglow.
"Chief Inspector Brackenreid spoke to you about Dr Grace didn't he?"
"Yes William, you know he did, he was worried about rumours concerning Emily's personal acquaintances. He actually had the nerve to asked me if she was a practicing sapphic."
"And I believe you told him no."
"What is your point William? The Inspector was happy with my answer, the reputation of the station house is safe."
"Events I witnessed today suggest your reply to the Inspector may not be factually correct."
"But it was William. Emily is by all accounts quite an accomplished sapphic. She has no need to practice." Julia smiled. "I didn't lie to the Inspector."
Murdoch sighed. "I suppose not."
"Who Emily shares a bed with is her business alone."
"Well I believe it may soon also be Miss Fawcett's business."
Julia laughed.
"Shouldn't you be worrying more about tomorrow's demonstration of your personal flying device?"
"I have utmost confidence in my design as does Constable Crabtree."
The next day George Crabtree looked down from the roof of the station house. He had a lot of faith in the inventions of William Murdoch but at times like this he had to recall that they didn't always work.
Murdoch's latest contrivance was a broad wing made of sailcloth stretched over a wicker frame with straps to hold a man beneath. There was a bulky engine mounted above the sailcloth wing. The engine powered a rotating wooden blade.
Crabtree looked at it nervously.
"Begging your pardon Sir but it seems a lot further to the ground looking down than it did looking up."
"Don't worry Constable, if my calculations are correct you should be perfectly safe. At a certain rate of fall you should reach a terminal rate of velocity and there will be no further acceleration downward."
"If I understand correctly Sir that doesn't mean I magically stop falling does it?"
"Of course not George but you will be hanging from my gliding wing so you should stay aloft while the motor gives you forward motion."
Chief Inspector Brackenreid approached across the rooftop.
"You'll be fine George and if there are any mishaps Dr Grace is on hand."
"She's the coroner Sir!"
"Exactly. Murdoch I pity the fool who tries this deathtrap."
"Chief Inspector there have been huge advances in aeronautical science. One day manned flight will be as common as the bicycle. Wouldn't that be something?" Enthused Murdoch. "Just imagine crossing oceans on aeroplane machines as easily as we cross the street!"
"Murdoch I'll tell you something for free, I ain't getting on no plane. Aero machine or otherwise."
Crabtree peered over the edge.
"Perhaps just for safety we could test it without me in it first Sir? An unmanned flight maybe?"
"It's you that's unmanned Crabtree." Scoffed Brackenreid.
But Murdoch nodded.
"Perhaps you're right George."
"I was thinking Sir maybe in the future machines could fly on their own."
"How would they know where to go?"
"Well maybe they would use telephone signals?"
"Crabtree what rubbish are you droning on about now? If you're not going to fly get back to work!" Barked Brackenreid.
Murdoch looked at his wing. Maybe another day.