Miss Jerane Ibershoff, the daughter of a prominent Cleveland doctor, was found murdered in the Swiss Alps, her head crushed by a stone. The girl, 21, had been touring Europe with her sister Helen. Helen and Jerane had decided to separate up for their trip down the valley, with Helen taking the train to the railroad station at the bottom where they had agreed to meet, while Jerane traveled alone by bicycle. When Jerane does not arrive well after their agreed upon time, Helen begins to search for her, ultimately walking back up the valley through the night. When the police and people of the valley become involved, newspapers around the world pick up the story, and suddenly a leisurely bicycle ride beneath the Matterhorn becomes a search for a cold-blooded murderer, causing international intrigue and scandal.
