10-Story Detective, March 1941 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

28 trail. Then they came out high above the lake which was cupped in a long, narrow valley. The lake was long and narrow, too, rounded at both ends like a capsule. As the frozen silver of the lake loomed before them, Kane leaned sideways, pressed his face against the side window, peered cut intently. Law- ler lay back against the cushion, half asleep in the drowsy warmth. “There’s sport for you,” said Kane. “Huh,” said Lawler. Kane shook his companion, said: ‘“‘See, those people down there. That’s sport.” Lawler, now awake, growled: “Damn you and your sport, Kane. What are they doing?” “Skating. The lake’s filled with 7em.”’ Lawler sneered. ‘‘Well, I guess you’re an expert at skating.” Kane said: “I never was on a pair in my life. But there isn’t anything like that I’m not good at.” “Skiing, too,” said Lawler, idly watching a man and a girl flash down a snowy decline. “Yeah. Anything like that.” “Okay! Okay!” said Lawler, net- tled. Crawford pushed down on the gas, the car purred around the eastern end of the lake toward the Sanford farm- house. It was still more than an hour’s drive away. By the time they reached the hilltop on which the building was situated, dark had fall- en against the thick blanket of snow. Crawford swung sharply to the left under the shoulder of a crag and up to a circular drive in front of the building. The snow had been cleared from the drive—evidently by old Quinn, as if he were expecting some- one. , The little chauffeur rolled the car across the drive, stopped. Drawing their coats about them, Kane and his companion sprang out. Kane said: “Keep that motor hot, Bunny. We may have to break out of here in a hurry.” 10-STORY DETECTIVE Crawford did not answer, but rolled the car into the shadow of a conifer further down the drive. The house itself was quite dark, silent. Kane-and Lawler made their way softly to the back door, which Lawler opened with a passkey with- out any difficulty. Kane, automatic outthrust, en- tered first. Lawler, close behind him, swore softly as he thumbed the but- ton of the flashlight and it failed to go on. Without waiting, Kane pro- ceeded cautiously into the darkness. Then the rubber heel of his shoe skid- - ded over something wet, sticky, and he pitched forward. As he struggled to regain his balance, his foot bumped against something soft, yielding. Lawler, still thumbing the button, growled: “What’s the matter?” Kane swore, knelt, groped along the floor. His hand touched something stiff—a shoe—the blunt rounded toe upturned. For a moment he knelt there in the silent darkness. Then he opened his fingers quickly; closed them again about the blunt shoe-cap. “The light,” he snapped. Lawler shook the light, screwed savagely at the bottom, pressed the button again. The light flashed on, a funneling gleam boring into the dark- ness. “Here, you fool!”’ said Kane. AWLER held the light’s eye down, | moved the wavering gleam back and forth. The beam trembled onto the body of a man, inert, prone upon the floor. Lawler gasped, and with a sudden crash the light dropped from his flabby fingers. Kane pounced upon the light, grasped it with his left hand. In a lightning movement he straightened and heaved his balled right fist at Lawler’s dark bulk. There was an- other crash as Lawler careened back against the door. Kane_ snarled: damn much noise Lawler now thoroughly frightened, gasped: “What’s the matter?” “Don’t make so q?? COnmmiclbooolk CO