Story Information:
First Composed: 1938
First Published: 1939
Location: New York City
& upstate New York
Wolfe's Brownstone: Click to View Floorplan
Victim #1: Clyde Osgood (in upstate NY pasture)
Murderer: Monte McMillan (suicides with anthrax serum in front of Wolfe)
Motive: Osgood knew McMillan had committed fraud
Weapon: Pick (to chest)
Client: Frederick Osgood
Fee: $1,000 + unspecified amount
Victim #2: Caesar (in the bull's pasture)
Murderer: Monte McMillan
Motive: Afraid experts will determine that the bull is not Caesar
Weapon: Anthrax in feed
Client: None
Fee: None
Victim #3: Howard Bronson (in a county fairgrounds stable)
Murderer: Monte McMillan
Motive: Bronson attempted to blackmail McMillan
Weapon: Pitchfork (in chest)
Client: None
Fee: None Story Synopsis: Nero Wolfe and
Archie Goodwin share hardships in this action-filled
episode in which they foray north to exhibit orchids and get entangled in murder. Their car hits a tree, a "championship" bull chases them,
and Archie goes to the hoosegow as a murder suspect. Archie stands guard over the bull while murder is committed in the pasture. Wolfe takes
the case in what Archie calls an attempt to get a decent bed and chair.
Lily Rowen makes her sultry first appearance.