# It explained — Continental Op Stories

> Chapter companion for Continental Op Stories by Dashiell Hammett.

## What happens

The Op investigates the disappearance of Daniel Rathbone, who vanished after withdrawing bonds from a safe deposit box. The trail leads to a buried body and a confession from partner Lester Zumwalt, who claims self-defense. The chapter concludes with a court verdict and the unraveling of Rathbone's planned elopement with Mrs. Earnshaw.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Detection

The Op systematically investigates Rathbone's disappearance, uncovering theft, murder, and a cover-up.

### Deception and Identity

Rathbone's planned elopement and false trail contrast with Zumwalt's hidden guilt and the stenographer's complicity.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Zumwalt betrays his partner, while Mildred Narbett's loyalty to Zumwalt leads her to assist in the cover-up.

## Character check-ins

### The Continental Op

Investigates Rathbone's disappearance and uncovers the murder.

### Daniel Rathbone

Missing partner; later found murdered and buried.

### Lester Zumwalt

Rathbone's partner; confesses to killing him in self-defense.

### Mildred Narbett

Stenographer who helped cover up the murder; acquitted.

### Mrs. Earnshaw

Rathbone's romantic interest; planned to elope with him.

## Key lines

> I had found 'it,' and I had no stomach for looking at 'it' after three weeks of lying in the wet ground.

The Op discovered Rathbone's buried corpse but couldn't bear to examine it after three weeks of decay.

_Climactic moment of the investigation._

> Zumwalt testified that he had taken the Gorham bonds in a futile attempt to recover losses in the stock market; and that when Rathbone... had visited the safe deposit box and found them gone, he had returned to the office and charged Zumwalt with the theft.

Zumwalt claimed he stole the bonds to cover stock market losses, and Rathbone confronted him after discovering the theft.

_Key testimony explaining the motive and confrontation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/it
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/continental_op_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters