10 Story Detective, July 1942 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

24, 10-STORW DETECTIVE—-——— me out and have a good excuse for shooting. Smart guy—so smart vou’re about to die.” TUART glanced at Gordon. “Looks like you let yourself in for more than you can handle, Mr. Murderer. Oh, I guessed you were behind it, Gordon. You made sure Bates would get loose. You were the least affected by the Storm God’s manifestations. Bates came here to collect. Instead, you hired him to do more murder at a greater profit. “You wanted all your partners out of the way so you’d control the mines, jointly owned and jointly shared. Fhose mines are worth millions. The granite idol business was just a eover-up—to remove suspicion from the correct motive. Alexander guessed what was going to happen and he phoned me.” “Oh, stop it,’ Gordon snapped. “We're both on a spot now. Help me - out and you’ll be well paid.” “With a bullet? Or a dose of aconi- tine?” Stuart asked. “The stuff that killed Meredith and Terry. Yes, I know about that too. Aconitine causes almost instant death and one symp- tom is a constriction of the throat. Those men called for air, not because the Storm God was killing them, but because of poison you administered and timed to take effect just as Bates turned on the fake storm. “That was done from the sub-cellar. Compressed air to throw chemical] rain of some volatile substance that evaporated immediately. A recording of a storm amplified many times. The Storm God! That was just your way to tie the murders up with what hap- pened in Alaska, so when the neces- sary showdown came, you _ could blame Bates. I found the apparatus. It could even be rigged so it would work all by itself.” Bates said, “Gordon is twice a rat. I knew Alexander had escaped death. Then I heard he was heading for the States just as soon as he got strong enough. I took a boat, but he beat me here, He trusted Terry—that weak- kneed, milk-blooded sap. So he went to him and Terry told Gordon. I con- tacted Gordon and he gave me dough. I knocked off Alexander and reportec it to Terry at this house, He answere@ the phone. I knew he was a right guy so I told him.” “So it all comes out in the wash,” Stuart grunted. “A fine time though, when we’re all lined up to be killed. You were the glittering man, Bates. You put on some kind of an outfit that seemed to increase your height and shimmered nicely, like ice. I put a few bullet holes through it. In fact, I knocked the thing down with lead after you hung it on the cave wall to draw my fire. That’s how it vanished so quickly. “Then you crept up behind and slugged me. To build up the Storm God, you even tried to gun me out while I was on my. way up here. Ter- ry was ordered to say that a ghost snatched Meredith’s corpse. Poor Terry, between two fires, even though Gordon was after the Alaskan enter- prises so he lad his granite god tested for minerals. He didn’t know he was doomed too.” Bates moved the guns suggestively. “We’ve had enough chatter, pals. Stand up, Gordon, and take it. The copper goes next and then that guy who is still out cold.” “Just a minute, Bates,” Stuart said. “Do you really think you’ll leave the cave too?” “Why not?’ Bates asked sus- piciously. “I’m winged, sure, but not so bad I can’t navigate. I got Gor- don’s dough, enough to get to Alaska on and give me a nice little stake be- sides. Why shouldn’t I leave the cave?” “Because when you eame through the house a few moments ago, you stopped and took a drink of brandy. You were in such a hurry that you didn’t even replace the stopper.” “Okay—so i needed a_ drink. Whai’s that got to do with it?” MIGoOo (C(O) S (C(O) nn