2. What meaning does the title of the story invoke in regards to both the murder weapon and the fate of Patrick Maloney?

jenkins wanted the narrator to write a ghost story for his magazine. he wanted the narrator to give the readers a story based on the supernatural. he wanted him to give the readers real 'horror' stories and not the type of live ghosts which he had presented in his earlier stories.

this is a good question! i'll do some research and come back when i have the answer!