10-Story Detective, November 1942 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

BIG TOP KILL-RIDE her ears. It hadn’t been any loving or playful pinch. The thin, dapper man glanced at Hopping as he flung the coat over Eva. He said curiously, “It was your ham- mer, wasn’t it, Hopping, that was flung through the window of the office wagon this morning?” Hopping started and turned quickly. “‘Sure—my name was on it. Proof enough that J didn’t throw it!” he said swiftly. “I’ve never had any trouble with Mr. Stetter—” The detective looked at Stetter. “T suppose that’s true or he wouldn’t say so in front of you. Tell me, Stetter —this man is dressed like a ride fore- man. Did he have anything to do with the ride-car on that other riding de- vice that broke loose and smashed through the rail?” “No,” said Stetter promptly. ‘‘And he didn’t throw the hammer. I ex- plained that to you when you arrived. Someone is trying to disrupt things on this show, but I’ll swear that Dan Hopping had nothing to do with any of these accidents.” “But he is the inventor and builder of this ride, isn’t he?” The detective nodded toward the riding device which had flung Eva to her death. “I am,” Hopping spoke quietly. “But I don’t understand how Eva fell out. There was a safety-belt, and even if that wasn’t fastened, there was a bar across the seat for her to hang on to. Eva wasn’t too bright, maybe— but sheer instinct would have caused her to get a life-and-death grip on that bar.” “Apparently,” said the detective, “it was the death grip she got! I suppose this ride is included in the new liabil- ity insurance which covered the acci- dent on the other ride?” Stetter spoke up with the answer ahead of Hopping. “Tt is,” he said quickly. ‘““While the ride wasn’t ready until tonight, I in- cluded it in a blanket policy. Since ownership reposes in my name I could do that. And I own it—as Hopping will verify.” —37 “Well—” said Hopping. He took a deep breath and nodded, and I saw the faintest gleam of triumph in Stetter’s eyes. The detective shrugged. “In that case, there seems to be no direct viola- tion of any law, excepting that some- one persuaded the freak to take a ride in the car. It would be difficult to prove that there was any murderous in- tent.” No one said anything. I glanced at Gus and at LaVerne. Already tonight I had seen them both torment Eva; and there had been one other who had joined in making life miserable for the pinhead midget. One who was- n’t present at the moment—the diver, Fiero. More than that, I knew beyond all shadow of doubt now, that Eva had been murdered. I knew that it would be possible to prove as much! But I didn’t know why she had been mur- dered, not yet I didn’t; nor by whom. But one other thing I did know, and as it turned out, it was the thing that was most important of all; I knew where Fiero was right now, and from professional experience in Fiero’s own line I was willing to doubt that Fiero had been the murderer. The cop’s gaze swung around the circle of curious faces. He said slowly, “We don’t have a medical examiner in this part of the state. We still use the old coroner system. The body can’t be moved until the coroner gets here. We'll hold a preliminary inquest then.” Stetter looked at his watch. He swore. He said, “Officer, it’s almost opening time.. I’ll] have to shut off the ticket sale at the pay-gate. And there’s no point in wasting gasoline to start up any of the rides. I’d like to talk to the ticket-sellers, and since Hopping is a foreman I want him to contact my other foremen—” The detective hesitated briefly. There was a faint, mocking gleam in his eyes. “All right,” he said at last. “You two can go along about your business.” CoOnmmiclbooks C©