10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

\ ae eS. Ae Ses .< senting the police, refused to listen to or consider. The same applied to Doctor Kittring. The M. E. and Kittring attempted to protest and make me retract, but Reade intervened. He pointed out that since they had refused to listen to my conditions they should at least be good sports as I had suggested. Tol- lam, however, was jubilant. He as- sured me that now not only would I lose the wager, but would also make myself the laughing stock of the town and perhaps be subjected to slander suits from the families of the dead doctors. Shortly, reporters appeared at the ‘club to verify my statements, An in- jured attitude, such as I took, can cover a great deal of emptiness, or shall I say ignorance. Or more con- cretely, my obvious pique at the at- titude of the “‘police’’ had closed me. gulp like a clam, and I refused to reveal anything, But I hinted at much, even that I might attempt to seek justice for the deaths of the doctors. The evening sports editions carried the story, carefully worded to avoid libel suits, but nevertheless with clear meaning. And Reade, naturally, was forced to comment upon it during his early evening broadcast, though I think he rather welcomed the oppor- tunity to assist me. So here I was, staring down at a bullet hole in my coat. My bluff had worked. I’d flushed my quarry, even though he, or they as it appeared to be, had taken cover again before I could see them. At least I knew. to my own Satisfaction that my bluff was not just idle boasting for publicity purposes. Now to entice my quarry closer. But before I could take action, action came to me. There was a knock at the door. I thought of the coat trick again, but it would be carrying it too far, even for Bluff McCarty, to expect that to work twice in the same evening. Besides, I figured whoever was out there could not be the same person who had — to take ~ a coe a = etn oe oan ) a” ~ — =," ae A on was the possibility that the person my life. Only a miracle man could | get from the garage roof across the _ street to my room on the fifth floor in a matter of seconds. Still there who had knocked was linked with the — murderer. I decided to continue with my faith in my bluffing abilities. It wasn’t necessary, however, as I soon learned when I opened the door. A man, a thin nervous man, stepped — in quickly, pushing me back. He ~ turned to peer out through the crack of the door before he closed it. —— “Guess I ditched them,” he sighed. “Got anything to drink?’ 66 M I to expect more company ?” I inquired. “How many shall I order for?’ I went to my grip and poured him a stiff one, for he obvi- ously needed it. He downed it ata “Listen,” he gasped, “are you on the level? I mean, are you hot onto — something about them docs?’ - I glanced at my coat on the floor. “I am kind of hot, you might say,” I remarked. His pale-blue eyes studied me in- tently a moment before he spoke _ again. “Is it true you ain’t workin’ Se with the cops?” he demanded. a I motioned to-the pile of news- — papers. “You’ve read the papers, I presume. They all agree on something for once,” I said. eS “T don’t believe what I read inthe — papers,” he snapped, “Are you work- = in’ with the cops?” ee I reached toward the telephone. = “Perhaps you’d like to hear from the police commissioner. He and I had verbal fisticuffs shortly after the sports editions were out.” “Skip it,” he growled. want the cops in on this.” “So I gathered.” There was one of those sparring | silences during which we regarded each other like two cats on a back = fenee. = “Well?” we caress eee: es men re! “1 don't 2 See