10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

lie 2 att 4. ; t “elas ® ? \" ge ROR UAY'S _ TONIGHT!” the black banner read. him. Perles’ attempt to escape cost him his life. A silenced gun was found on him which police expect to prove is the weapon he used in his at- tempts to murder Webster. A bullet embedded in the door of the office of the district attorney will establish—” “Jack!” Mae Gary exclaimed as Brown snapped the radio off and grinned in cold satisfaction. ‘What have you done?” Jack Webster answered: “Cracked a case!” He peered at Brown as he spun the dial of the telephone. “I’ve overlooked something in the rush, Teddy. Thanks for my life. But— you'll never be able to get clear now.” “That’s okay with me, skipper,” Brown said, still grinning. “Okay, be- cause you’re clear!” Webster’s request brought the voice of Inspector Mattison on the wire. “Webster! You listen! I’ve got Natto here on a warrant for murder. Dr. Norton just phoned to say his analysis shows arsenic present in the judge’s hair. How the devil do you know things like that—that arsenic can be detected in the hair? You’ve had it from the start—Nat Brock poi- soned that old man. Considering that, Webster, forget what I said at Craw- ford’s house, will you?’ “Gladly,’ Webster quietly an- swered. ‘As for Brock, he’ll never squeal on Natto now. That’s probably the reason Natto got him, wasn’t it, inspector? And the reason Brock is now roasting in hell—probably wish- ing for a eold glass of ale!’ ACK WEBSTER moved agitated- ly baek and forth across his office. The atmosphere of the court-house was bustling, tense, expectant. Down- stairs, a jury was deliberating behind a locked door on the most vital case Jack Webster had ever handled. He paused at his desk to gaze again at the headlines of the special editions which had roared off the presses since the jury had retired. “NATTO VERDICT EXPECTED BULLDOG OF JUSTICE Webster’s eyes skipped to para- graphs which shi him cold satis- faction, In his Cate to the jury, Judge Joseph Cheever said: “The counsel for the defense has ad- vanced the alibi that at the time of the mur- der of Nathan Brock, the defendant Ray- mond Natto, was being held by kidnapers. You are to examine the statements of the telephone operator at the defendant’s home that it was the defendant’s voice which tele- phoned that night, asking for himself— which, according to the state, was an at- tempt to establish an alibi for premeditated homicide. “Defendant’s statements concerning this alleged kidnapping are unsupported. No one saw the act committed as he states. He can- not name or identify the kidnapers. These statements you must consider against the testimony of six persons who said they saw Natto fiee his apartment at the time of the murder, a smoking gun in his hand. One of these witnesses was Inspector Mattison. “You must decide, gentlemen of the jury, whether defendant’s alibi can stand against the testimony of these eye witnesses.” Webster looked up to see Mae Gary quickly entering, her color high, met eyes shining, “The jury’s reporting!’ she ex- claimed. “‘And you have a caller—Mr. Flarigan.” Webster’s eyes lingered on her face as he stepped out to confront Flarigan. Flarigan was blinking, looking sol- emn. He said slowly: “Webster, you went ahead in spite of my—sugges- tion. It happens that you’re coming through okay but—that’s dangerous. Be wise. Get the idea? Be wise and be mayor or governor if you choose. Get the idea?” “You made me, Flarigan,’”’ Webster - answered with a wry smile, “and you can break me, I won’t be surprised if you find occasion again to remind me of that!” He felt Flarigan glowering after him threateningly as he ran down the stairs. He entered a courtroom hushed . and tense. He saw the jury already in the box, the dignified Judge Cheever eyeing the foreman. The court’s ques- tion came; comicbook 39 (e(e)