Crime Does Not Pay #54

Mr. Crime introduces Peter Treadway, a criminal whose early attempts at crime are marked by clumsy mistakes and near-disasters, from botched robberies to accidentally revealing himself during a surprise party. Though initially inept and driven by nervous energy, Peter gradually learns from his failures—especially after a disastrous bootlegging run with a reckless partner—before setting his sights on a more elaborate scheme.

In 1897, a clever and dangerous woman known only as Clarence—posing as a man—uses her sharp wit and disguises to escape a small New Hampshire town after a murder, fleeing to Montreal where she continues her deception. As she evades detection, her elaborate ruse begins to unravel when a dog steals her fake mustache and a detective starts closing in.

Mike Malloy, a man seemingly immune to death, survives repeated attempts by a group of conspirators to kill him through poison, fire, and exposure—each scheme failing as he thrives on the very substances meant to destroy him. As the men grow desperate, they escalate their efforts, only to be baffled by Malloy’s uncanny resilience, leaving them questioning whether he’s truly human.