10-Story Detective, September 1941 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

HOT SEAT DOUBLE-CROSSER———-————_-——_93 ‘“‘We’re here to talk business,” the big man snapped. “I want those pa- pers, and I intend to have them!” “And the fifty grand?’ Devon asked. A dirty laugh answered him. Devon shrugged. “I wonder which of these two headlines you prefer? ‘Martin D. Wyndell, candidate for governor held up and robbed by armed thug!’ Or perhaps this, ‘Candidate for governor arrested on four-year-old charge of murder’! | “What d’you mean by that?” Wyn- dell snarled. His large florid face lost some of its color. “You’re a killer, Wyndell!” Devon by the butler was another break for you. You put pressure on Smiley, forced him out of the fight. Even that didn’t satisfy you. “You bled the poor devil of every- thing he had, all for one little mistake he’d made years before. And Austin would have died for your crime, had he been caught. But he outsmarted you and the police—until last night. You’ve always been afraid he might have heard your voice that night, would hear it again some day and rec- ognize you.” “Pure guess work.” Wyndell laughed uneasily. “But it won’t help you. Even with the papers, you could said harshly. “The papers I found in your safe were taken from Bracker’s safe the night you murdered him. Financing Dan Smiley’s campaign, Bracker was holding those papers over him with the idea of running the D.A.’s office once Smiley was elected. You learned of it somehow, saw a way to eliminate Smiley from the election and leave a clear field for yourself.” “I’m not interested in fairy tales,” Wyndell spat viciously. “The papers, vou” Devon waved him silent. “You visit- ed Bracker that night,” he went on relentlessly, “and carried out your plan to kill him and grab the papers. The fifty grand there was extra. Aus- tin being in the house and seen later never prove a word of that story. The important thing is, you’ve walked into a trap. I phoned the boys after you called, brought them here by the service elevator. You’ll be damn glad to tell where you’ve planted the pa- pers after they get through with you! All right, Bradley, work him over, The room’s soundproof !” The Bloodhound Reporter smiled confidently. He ignored the two thugs crowding forward, leather saps swing- ing in their hands. ¢¢HDETTER hear the rest, Wyn- dell,” he said easily. “And I think your two gorillas will be inter- ested. You see, one of the boys made | a bad slip last night.” comicoolk CO