10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

o-oo looked meaningly at the ranger. “I get your point,” he exclaimed. “Bushner must have been alive at that time, or the dials would not have been tuned for my wave length!” MacFarlane. nodded. “That's a break for you,” he agreed. “It’s a sure- fire alibi that comes in handy seeing how you hated Bushner! You didn’t happen to include a_hell-stirring screech in t’night’s program?” Speer shook his head. “‘No, just a little wild music, and whispering, and crazy laughter,” he said, puzzled. “But I don’t happen to need an alibi. Bush- ner was my friend and partner!’ “That didn’t keep you from scrap- ping over Bushner’s pretty little sec- retary,’ MacFarlane remarked dryly. “Men have been killed about such trifles, you know! Suppose you send her up to me when you go. I want to question her.” “You’re not going to allow her to come here unattended, are you?” Speer demanded incredulously. “Why she is most probably the one who killed Bushner! She’ll take any chance to escape!” “You heard me!” MacFarlane snapped. “Get going! A girl isn’t necessarily a murderess because she won’t stand for your dirty advances!” Virginia Trace, or Trent, as Mac- Farlane now knew her, entered the room at practically the same instant as Roland Steele and the diminutive Toy San. MacFarlane waved them to chairs, and looked at Toy San sharply. “You’re in a mighty tough spot, young woman,” he told the little Oriental harshly. “I’ve got enough on you to hold you for this murder!” He indicated Bushner’s sheet-covered body. “The best thing that you can do is to talk fast and pretty !” Toy San eyed him with an agate blank stare. “You have no evidence!’’ she stated coolly. “No?” MacFarlane stepped over and jerked the sheet from Bushner’s corpse. “Try to tell a jury that isn’t an Oriental knife! Try to explain how you happened to have these plans in KILLER OF THE CRAGLAND————————————_95 your possession!” He produced a packet of papers from an _ inside pocket. ‘‘Plans that were supposed to be in Bushner’s safe at the time you were making off with them!” Toy San smiled quietly. “I will be taken care of by my government,” she assured him, “Your law will not stir up international trouble when it has a more likely suspect on which to turn its attention!’’ She glanced to- ward Virginia Trent. “This woman was in this room just before the mur- der! And she was quarreling violent- ly with the dead man! And look at her dress! Is it not blood-stained ?” A choking sob came from Virginia Trent. “How did you know that?” she asked. “Oh, it’s true, it’s true! But I swear I did not kill Mr. Bushner !’’ OLAND STEELE slipped an arm around her shaking shoulders and drew her tight against him. Toy San laughed rather hollowly. “So the watchdog of the War Department is not heartless,” she mocked. “Well, do not worry, the funny man in the wrinkled uniform is not going to ar- rest either of us for murder!” She winked impudently at MacFarlane. The ranger grinned wryly. “How do you figure that out?” he demanded. Toy San pointed to the handle of the knife standing out from Bushner’s body. “Do not tell me that you have not already discovered how this weapon reached its mark!” she de- clared. ““You know well that it was not thrust there, it was thrown! And you do not think that either this lady or myself is guilty!” MacFarlane’s eyes widened with sincere respect. “You sure know your stuff!” he stated feelingly. “I’d like to work with you!” “We would make a good pair,” Toy San agreed honestly. “It is, unfortu- nately, impossible. Now I will make a bargain with you. If I can convince you that I am innocent of any crime, that I have stolen nothing, will you release me? I will disappear, and [I will take with me the body of the man COMMIE OOO; KSC)