Speed Saunders in San José: Do You Know The Way?

You really didn't think the Fourth Wall could stop Speed Saunders, did  you?

It's 1937 and Detective Comics is ruled by the one and only

(not yet "Ace Investigator")

who is about to tackle

I am assuming "Fless" is Creig Flessel,  frequent 'Tec cover artist of this era.

To save time (always a priority in a Speed Saunders story), the plot is given to you by an exposition box in the first panel.

I like to imagine that "Peace" and "Happiness" were the names of the two rival sugar plantations.

Sounds too simple!  Next, with no further ado or explanation, we are given the dramatis personae:

The comic didn't give a caption, so I won't either.

Well, the two guys on the left are comedically evil-looking, so I bet that's a red herring. I'm betting our villain is, in fact, the brutally handsome Arthur Bell.  I'd also keep my eye on that dame, Adams!  

Oops. I guessed wrong.

So much for the Arthur Bell theory. Since he's the victim, I supposed the other four are the suspects (three, really, since Speed Saunders only kills in the line of duty).  But all this is prologue. The story proper begins with a newsie interrupting Speed, who was about to travel by silhouette (his favorite mode of transport while in the big city).

Speed's Face of Judgement must be husbanded for the guilty.

Apparently, Tommy the Newsie has been specifically waiting to deliver the paper to Speed.

As always, everyone knows and defers to Speed Saunders, who definitely did NOT pay for that paper.

Of course Speed knows Tommy; Speed knows everyone (or, at least, everyone he needs to). And sure enough....

Speed knows the murder victim.  Because of course he does. Because it's convenient.

Exactly how a harbor patrol detective in New York City knows a sugar cane plantation manager on the (fictional) Caribbean island of San José we will never know.  I mean, at least, Jessica Fletcher would give us a throwaway line to explain her connection to the deceased!  But Jessica had 50 minutes to work with and Speed has only six pages.

His connection must be strong enough to call for Speed's investigation of the murder; the Bell tolls for he.  

Speed's putative boss, Mr. Marr.

Mr. Marr threatens to fire Speed if he gets involved. Mr. Marr, by the way, is never heard from again.  

Ignoring Mr. Marr's bluff, Speed heads right out.

"Do you KNOW the way to San José?"

Speed has a map. That's all you needed back in the day.  That's how he knows that it's too far to travel by tesseract, or silhouette, or even with the Saundersmobile!

Did I mention that after calling Speed crazy, Mr. Marr was never seen again?

Aeroplane; yes, that's the usual means of access for Caribbean islands.  So I guess Speed just buys some tickets for the next island hopper and relaxes with a drink on board.

Oh. That was bad guess, too.

Tomorrow: SPEED ARRIVES AT SAN JOSÉ.