10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

el Nason’s case would have to wait. Besides, he did not even know she was Nevel Nason. She might be Bette Langwell. Morning of his fourth day upon the transcontinental saw him disem- bark upon the Oakland Mole and board a ferry to cross the bay to San Francisco. One of the fogs for which the Golden Gate district is noted had swept over the harbor, blanketing everything in its brownish-gray folds. Whistles screamed their warnings as the ferry started for the San Fran- cisco side. From right and left came the deep-throated bellow of foghorns. Ghostly ships appeared, and then faded into the enveloping curtain of clinging mist. At last they reached the pictur- esque ferry building. Paul Hammond hurried to the baggage room to have his trunks forwarded to the Danvers Hotel. He had read in one of the San Francisco newspapers he had pur- chased on the train that Sefor Pom- bal and a group of South American business men were stopping there. He wormed his. way through a crowd of transcontinental tourists, and had started for one of the win- dows when he saw a woman approach the same opening. He could not see her face, but the cluster of tawny curls that clung to her neck claimed his attention. Nevel Nason, here in San Francisco! He edged in closer and heard her giving instructions for the — of her trunks. “Hotel Danvers? Yes, ma’am,” ’ the baggage master said. Hammond touched her on the arm. “Hello,” he said. “I didn’t expect to find you here ahead of us.” The woman turned. For a moment, a puzzled expression came into her eyes. Then she smiled. “Oh, hello, Mr. Hammond. Yes, I took a plane after that horrible affair in Pittsburgh, and beat you here.” “Did Mr. Ulhich come on, too?” he asked, 7 “Mr Ulrich?’ she said uncertainly. LOOT OF THE LAUGHING GHOUL—————— : wo “I’m sure I don’t know. He was very kind, however, in aiding me.” Hammond’s eyes were fixed on the girl’s face. Something had changed her. Her features seemed harder. Perhaps it was because the light was harsher than the candlelight of the railroad dining-car. Then, too, she had gone through a murder inquiry. Now even her features seemed dif- ferent. They were familiar, yet strange. He had seen her only a few min- utes, face to face, but he felt a sud- den whirling in a mind that was usu- ally cool and analytical. Could she be the same girl, yet seem like a dif- ferent person? “So glad to have seen you again, Mr. Hammond.” The girl turned to — go. “I hope we'll run into each other again.” “That’s good of you. I hope so, too.” Hammond forgot his own luggage for the time being. Waiting until Nevel Nason had mingled with the crowd, he followed her out onto the wide esplanade that marks the eity side of the Ferry Building. The heavy fog was rolling in from the bay, and the taxicabs which glided up to the curb seemed like ghostly vehicles. horns tooted, while the wraiths of men and women hurried in all direc- tions. “Here’s your car, ma’am,” a voice called to the girl. “Thank you. Which is it? I can’t see in this fog.” “This way, ma’am.” Paul Hammond hurried through the ghostly throng, and reached the girl just as she stepped into a long, An arm was black limousine. stretched out from the inside to aid her. Hammond caught a glimpse of a powerful hand, hairy and long-fin- gered, with dark tufts that extended almost to the nails. Then the limousine door banged ‘ shut and the car glided into the fog, its horn sounding raucously. : = A= ) | ; te, ee I — » Sta - Street cars clanged and WRAL eid atte ee UP ate Sad it cay hi ; (n, at we: t 4) “ dueshy't\ a" t * P ’ a Vi seetn' | shee ae if tf Ve f : ii’ ela" le? 4 WAR we a { PAA) Cana Re WAL, Ce PTL Pa as co at} ney rape y a or (At Aa » $ 4 vat a, . ead Cal Oe “ ‘bins i Aare AN : AN y SET a 5 ’ ea aN i iis ot he See ty) ru hs) hull yb 1 i Mey fh alk ; : 3G chy ova yf 5 Wn fy VTA ae al Vitra! Rae hl ee CK RIES Cpa ee pS i ayy , x wb Pal ANOS fete BEC OR is Syke heyk4 Peat) Bin in ee LAMY aL ” tee ' a a 1 ihre Fy an 7 pine 5 yn Aes SUL) sau J ty “(hl Nis) ral th " ny r aa? Are } i | Mie t ith oe uly ya Bie,