10 Story Detective, July 1942 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

70—_—_—_—_—_—_—____——_——10-STORY DETECTIVE—-——— details of a lease I had taken on a place east of town. He was to see about getting the terms revised the next day. We sat talking it over, beyond there, in the living room. I came in here, opened the safe and got the lease out. I took it in the living room and we looked it over for a few minutes, then I brought it back and put it in the safe.” “Dobbs didn’t come in this room?’ “NO. “Did you have the safe locked the few minutes you had the lease in the living room with Dobbs?” “It was closed, but not locked. I wasn’t gone more than ten minutes.” Buck indicated the window. “May- be someone could have climbed in there—”’ “Someone did climb in there,” cut in Hooper savagely. “But not the night before last! Today!’ Hooper’s eyes were bright with suspicion. “T had that window closed. I come back here and find it open—and you here! You got in that window—and you probably got the money!” Buek said: ‘You’re talking wild, Mr. Hooper. I eame in the front door. I knew you had a safe in here, but I didn’t know where.” Hooper waved his gun. “That's it!” he cried. “I wondered why you quit your job to help Garcia! You two have been working together. You robbed me! I don’t know just how it was worked, or why you came in here today, but it’s clear you and Garcia were in cahoots—and still are !” Buck gazed at Hooper reflectively. “Okay,” he said, “If that’s the way you feel about it, you’d better eall the police.” He emiled. “This time yesterday, I’d have answered the call myself.” The telephone was on a small stand against the west wall. Hooper moved toward it. Buck watched him; Sam Hooper was a wiry man but would be no match for Buck. Buck didn’t want to hurt him. Hooper reached for the instrument. The movement brought him close to Buck. Buck’s fingers elosed on Hoop- er’s arm and the gun clattered to the floor. Furiously, Hooper started to struggle, but Buck pushed him hard and he whirled backwards across the room. Hooper recovered, started forward again. Buck was already easing through the window. He dropped to the walk and ran to‘his car. Hooper fired at him as he took the wheel, but Buek swung the car about and head- ed back to town. Just short of town he stopped at a filling station and called Stokey Heaton’s pool hall. Heaton himself answered. “Just doing a little mare check- ing,’ Buck said casually. “Did you close up at midnight, the night be- fore last?’ “You know I did,” grumbled Hea- ton. “It’s the law.’’ He paused a mo- ment. “But I was right here, my- self, with a couple of other guys, until three o’clock. Didn’t leave the place. I had the door locked, so it’s nobody’s business what I did here after midnight.” “Sure,” said Buck. ‘“Thanks.” Heaton’s story sounded all right. Buck knew well enough that Heaton often did just that. He locked his door at midnight and then settled down to a big private gambling ses- sion with two or three others. For that matter, Dick Hooper had some- times been in on those big games. UCK took a revolver out of a car pocket, He left the car at the filling station, and walked, using back lots. It was certain that Sam Hooper had phoned the police, and they could hold him for illegal en- try, at least. It was a few minutes after two. Mary would be alone in her little -eafé. By this time the lunch rush would be over. Mary’s kitchen help went off duty at two, and Mary her- self prepared the few orders that MIGoOOo (C(O) S (C(O) nn