10-Story Detective Magazine, April 1946 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

22 she’s sticking with him. She teld her ma thai” 7 “Eddie didn’t used to be a rat,’ Joe said. “No. When I was on the loeal force before I joined up, he hung around the station a lot. I nearly killed him one day —wish to heaven now I had!” “How’d that happen?” “He stuck his finger in my back and yelled, ‘Stick ’em up!’ I had my gun on him under my arm before he knew what had happened. It was a trick I’'d thought up and practiced until I had it perfect. I recognized his voice a split second he- fore I could pall the trigger. That’s all that saved his hide.” “If he’d had a loaded gun, he’d Kave | eut you down before—” “No. Because he wouldn’t be expecting the maneuver, And in the dark—a cinch! When the lead starts hitting him in the belly, he forgets his gun.” “You're a fast man with a gun, Pete,” Joe said, “The fastest I ever seen.” BrroM far down the road, the long wail of an air-horn signaled the approach of the express. Pete got up quickly. “Who?” Joe asked. “A hood that was in on a bank job across the line today. There were three of them, and two got killed. Semeone thinks they tagged the other one on this bus.” He paused, “Eddie,” he said, Joe’s eyebrows went up. “How’d they. know who it is?” “Basy. It was Eddie’s mob. Just the three of them. Two’s dead. That leaves . Eddie,” Joe’s eyes flickered. - “This is your change, Pete,” he said. “Take him alive and he gets a stretch—and Janie waits for him. Plug him and—” “You go to hell,” Pete said again. Joe grinned nastily. “But he’ll be look- in’ for that trick play of yours—” Pete went out into the road. Yes, he thought, Eddie’d be looking for the play if he knew it was me, but he doesn’t know. He walked on a little, standing in the shadow where the bus would pass and he could watch it pull in. It came up, loaded, and slowed for the station, The emergency door in the rear ef the bus swung open suddenly. A man dropped out, whirled, and darted into the marking lot, Pete smiled, Swiftly he went after the fugitive, but 10-STORY DETECTIVE————____- the lot was big and dark, and there were about a dezen cars in it. He saw no one. He walked slowly, carefully, but as he passed a car at the back of the lot, some- thing hard jabbed into his ribs and a chill voice warned harshly: “Get them up, flatty!” “All right,” Pete said, quick and loud, That was a part of the plan, At the same moment, his hand darted for his holster, then hesitated. He could kill this rat in a split second. But could he? Certainly, he was justified. But this was Janie’s hus- band! And he wanted Janie. And Joe— what had he said? Shoot him—and you get Janie. But he didn’t need to kill Bddie, “AN right,” he said aloud again. He felt his gun being lifted from his holster, He thought, ?’m a fool? But he preferred it that way. “Get goin’, fla laughed. “Ain*t nobody goin’ to be lookin’ for me in a Patrol car!” “No,” Pete agreed dully; He walked ahead in the thick dark, the gun in his spine. Suddenly he fell forward, down and away, hiiting the ground as the guna went off. He thought, The lousy rat—he’s really iryimg to kill me! - Pete caught him then, around the legs and jerked hard. The gun went off again ~ as Eddie spilled. He hit the ground hard and lay still, Feet came pounding across the lot, as men ran toward him. “tee Joe yelled, “Pete, you all right.” “Yes,” Pete said. He turned his torch on the silent figure on the ground. “So you let him have it,” Joe said, suck- ing in his breath, “No,” the corporal said. “i just spilled him. He’ll only have a headache.” H looked at Joe, then stooped and rolled Eddie over on his back. Only it wasn’t Eddie! It was someone Pete had never seen before, ““Then—then Eddie must have been one of the two the bank guards got!” he said, amazed. He handed Joe the flash and the gun. “He’s yours until the local boys arrive to take him off your hands. P’'ll cali Chief Burke for you.” | “Huh? Whatta you goin’ to do?” Joe demanded. : “Gather up Janie’s ma and eatch the one-thirty express for Denver. Anything wrong with that?” he demanded. “No,” Joe said softly. “Not a single thing, Pete.” COMED OO ,” Eddie said, He — (©