10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

and when we do, I am afraid it will be my unpleasant duty to kill you. It s a step that I shall regret, but it may be necessary.” ._ The voice ceased, and Hammond shut off the machine. Then he played the record again. He studied the into- nations of that voice. He was sure that the last time he heard it was in the fog. Max Ulrich had had a voice like that. Max Ulrich had hairy hands. Max Ulrich and Nevel Nason had tried to kill him, and either they or their agents had murdered Arthur Haycox. The thought that at last he had a definite lead spurred Hammond to fresh activity. He got in touch with Aleatraz and ordered a checkup on prisoners, and on any activity of any sort around the Rock. Other agents were directed to throw out a dragnet for Nevel Nason and Max Ulrich. Morning was near when Paul went to bed, yet he was up again be- fore seven, watching the man who was operating his radio apparatus. “Haven’t raised anything worth mentioning,” the expert complained. Hammond paced up and down the room. He was sure that the members of the gang would not stay together. Messages would have to be sent— but how? “Try this hook-up with the small set and connect it with the wax cyl- inder,” he instructed his aid. “Use the gas pipes for one terminal and the water for the other. It gives a metal eircuit and ordinarily would not at- tract attention.” The radio expert grinned. This was a new line of attack. “Okay,” he said. “Keep at it,” Hammond instruct- ed.-“T’ll be back by noon.” . Hammond spent a busy morning with D. J. agents but failed to un- cover any new leads. When he got back to his room his operator said: “Ain’t much in the telegraph, but that wax cylinder has been running lately.” halt, and the driver gestured — aati he heard a man’s Ba se Ee speaking—a voice with which he i 2 now familiar. “Better go down to the Martel street warehouse and inspect what Harolds has been doing,” the,man be- gan, Ye Hammond stiffened as he awaited the reply. It came in a woman’s voice, a voice that brought a vision of tawny curls. | “Be careful, Danny, be careful.” A rush of blood swept across the young man’s face as he returned the cylinder to its place. He felt his heart pounding. His word trap had caught © something whose importance might be colossal. He turned to the radio operator. = “Catch this out of the air?” he — asked. — “No. From that trick connection — you suggested last night, in case the air failed.” “The gas and water pipes!” = “Yes, sir. That was a great pee It gives a perfect metallic-circuit. Not. one man in a million would think of — it,” the radio man said. “It was used in Paris during the % war by the Germans,” Hammond in- 2 formed him. “These crooks aren't — overlooking any tricks.” He consulted a real estate map a the city. The warehouse on Martel = street was right on the waterfront. — A few minutes later, he was in a taxicab. CHAPTER V LETHAL LOOT OG still enveloped San Francisco. — = The sun was only a light spot in a field of unending gray. As they dropped down toward the waterfront, the fog thickened, and — the cab was forced to go at a Snail’s pace. Stops were made to read street signs and consult the numbers on the ~ houses. Finally the taxi came to a : | Hammond hurriedly put the record the mists ahead. » . = . ‘ : oJ ‘ ¢ - ~~ ~ — ze a ioe Me sd ~~ oe a Oe art Te lato no oa => ~~" —- ZU | | y we