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.

PHANTOM LOOTER was with a guilty start that he re- called himself as the inspector ad- dressed him. “We'll soon be there, Keith,” mut- tered Gilmardy, “and Mr. Cranther knows nothing as yet. He may get a bit testy and he may not, but I’m counting on you to help me smooth things over if he does.” Keith nodded, smiling amusedly as he puffed at his wind-blown cigaret. “Oh, P’ve no doubt that he’ll be quite amicable when he learns that some of his treasured baubles are in danger of being annexed by the elusive Ghost.” The luminous dialed cloek on the in- strument board registered ten min- utes of eleven when the big car purred to a stop about half a block from the Cranther house. A few minutes later Inspector Gil- mardy, having stationed his two men at opposite corners of the house, rang the bell, jabbing at it imperiously. A stony-faced butler opened the door and stared haughtily at the two men. Gilmardy started to say something, but the officious butler cut him short. “Mr. Cranther is not at home, and Mrs. Cranther is quite indisposed this evening. Would you care to leave a message?” 7 INSTON KEITH could hardly , repress a smile. He knew the type of butler these nouveau riche usually engaged, but he had a hunch that this particular flunky was due to drop his dignity like a well-punctured balloon, And Keith was right, for In- spector Gilmardy bridled like an angry bulldog. “Never mind the details of the Cranther family, I’m not interested. Just tell your mistress that Inspector Gilmardy of New Scotland Yard is . here to see her. I’ve no doubt that she will be most delighted to postpone her indisposition.” The butler’s face underwent a change, and his abrupt transforma- tion from a dignified butler to an obse- —— quious servant was, as Keith later termed it, exceedingly amusing. Mrs. Cranther puffed laboriously down the broad staircase and wheezed breathlessly into the richly fur- nished library. The room to which the butler had previously conducted them. Keith shuddered inwardly as he sur- veyed the monstrous specimen of fem- inine pulchritude that advanced pon- derously into the room to greet them. “Ah. Inspeetor Gilmardy,” she bur- bled pantmely, “what is it? Has any- thing happened to Wallace, my hus- band? He just will be so terribly rash at times.” Mrs. Cranther was far from beauti- ful when partially composed, and Keith dreaded to think of what it would cost his nerves were she to sud- denly break into a spell of copious weeping. However, Gilmardy, having allayed her fears regarding Mr. Cranther, re- lated, as briefly as possible, all the events leading up to their presence in her home. He told her of the scourge known as the Gray Ghost, but, indeed, she had already heard of that indi- vidual of dubious fame. He told her of the note; of the Ghost’s intentions, and finally showed her the note he had received that morning. Whereup- on Mrs. Cranther immediately burst into agitated tears, bewailing the possible loss of her. valuable jewels. “Oh, Inspector,” wailed Mrs. Cran- ther, “what shall I do? All my jewels are in that flimsy wall safe in the l- brary.” Great tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving distinct rivulets in the heavy make-up on her face. “Now, now,’ eonsoled Gilmardy, under the watchful eye of his seeretly amused friend, “you mustn’t take on so. All I want you to do is to go to bed just as though nothing had happened. Your jewels will be quite safe. We are here to eatch the Ghost, and the best help you can give us is to go to bed and tell all the servants to stay in their own rooms. Everything will be all right, and we'll have the Gray Ghost before this night is very much older.” COMMICLOOolkKks (C@