10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

PARTY GIRL MURDER “you're nuts! Get out! Walk ahead of me!” She walked in front of him to the door. He told her to open it, and she did. The car was down by the corner of the house. Frank, whose orders would be to stay with the car, had left the seat and was standing by the run- ning board, peering through the dark- ness. “Walk toward him!” Algie ordered Sophie, He was grasping her shoulder from behind with one hand, directing the gun at Frank with the other. They were within a few feet of Frank be- fore the gunman realized that some- thing was really wrong. : “Throw your gun on the ground,” Algie told Frank. Frank grinned slowly. His hand went to his coat pocket, came out with the gun. But he did not let loose of it; instead, he swung it around toward Algie. “Don’t shoot! Frank, please don’t shoot !”’ cried Sophie. “He won't!” said Algie, and fired. OMETHING plopped against Frank’s windpipe. He dropped his gun to the ground, and followed it himself. Algie, keeping Sophie cov- ered, stooped and picked up the gun. Frank was quite motionless. “Geez!” murmured Sophie. “Swell shot, Algie. Everything’s clear now. Let’s go!” “We'll go,” said Algie, “back to the house.” The gun was again pressed against Sophie’s side. Sophie hesitated only a moment. “T never thought you’d be like that,” she complained bitterly. They returned to the living room. Parsons was crashing against the door. “Listen, you mug!” Algie yelled. “Frank is croaked! And I got Sophie covered! I could easy beat it right now —with the dough!” The crashing on the bedroom side of the door stopped. grimly, 75 “Okay,” grumbled Parsons. “What’s the answer?” “You get the ropes off Felice,” Al- gie ordered. ‘‘Let her come out through the door. [ll unlock the door and—” “And you beat it, anyhow!” snarled Parsons. “When I unlock the door,” Algie pointed out, “you can come out, too!” Parsons seemed to be considering for a moment. “Okay,” he said. There was a rustling in the room for a little while. Sophie was glaring at Algie in a rage. But Algie kept a cool eye on her, “She’s free!” Parsons called pres- ently. “Yeah?” said Algie. “Is that right, Felice?” It thrilled him to be calling her Felice. “Yes,” said the girl. “I’m right here by the door.” “All right,” said Algie. “I’m going to unlock the door, and open it a lit- tle for you to come out. When you come through—come fast!” “All right,” Felice said. , Algie looked at Sophie. “You are her. “Me? Why—” “’m giving you the key, see? And I’m backing away to the front door there. But ’m keeping you covered, and when I say the word, you un- lock the door.” “II could — kill gasped. “Not now,” said Algie. “I’ve got two guns now—Frank’s and yours! And I’m using ’em both. Another thing— when Felice steps through the door, you step right into it, so that you keep Parsons and Armand from coming through too quick!’ ‘““And suppose I don’t?” “T’ll plug you,” said Algie, “‘sure as hell!” you!”’ Sophie going to unlock that door,’ he told He cautiously retreated toward the | front door, until he could feel his back against the door jamb. The door was GomiGcbdooks (C@