Sidney Smith - The Gumps - 1929 Daily from the Death of Mary Gold Story

The story arc of the death of Mary Gold in Sidney Smith's The Gumps kept readers' attention on edge for months. The story was complete with the maligned hero, Tom Carr, and the villainous Mr. Ausstinn (with the snake-like double s). This daily, from February 23, 1929, features Mary Gold's parents, as Mr. Gold finds out that he's been wiped out after playing a stock tip from Mr. Ausstinn. This is only months before the stock crash in October 1929, so Smith and others may have known that something was afoot. The daily shows Smith's wonderful use of dialogue, and even though there are no main characters, the readers truly felt something for these two.

Interestingly, on the back of the piece (additional image), someone was practicing their lettering, while also revealing their identity as Dick Tracy!