10-Story Detective, November 1942 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

CURSE OF THE BLEEDING STONE Whitten frowned. “It’s about Billy Keith, one of my guests here. Came with Mary Lee and she is engaged to him. But Benson horned in, really gave her quite a play. Keith threat- ened to knock his block off if he didn’t stop. And when Benson got sore, Keith told him he’d also notify the cops. Benson shut up like a clam.” “This Bill Keith may be interest- ing,” Kerrigan said. “Don’t forget— the death of Benson was murder and the killer must be on this island. Therefore, everyone here is a suspect, including you.” HE others were waiting inside the big house. McGuire, the care- taker, turned out to be a taciturn, grizzle-faced man of about fifty. Ker- rigan transferred his gaze to Billy Keith. He stood beside Mary Lee and kept a protective arm about her waist. Mary Lee was something. Even in a sweater and slacks she looked like a young goddess. Her hair was light, her complexion vividly beautiful. Keith was beginning to turn pink because Kerrigan kept staring at the girl, Or he seemed to be anyhow. Then Kerrigan strode eloser to the pair. “Keith,” he said, “you and Mary didn’t walk along the beach at the time Benson was murdered.” “All right,” Keith said curtly, “I did go back to the altar and I’]! tell you why. I wanted to warn Benson again about—well, the way he was acting toward Mary. I looked all over for him. I even went to the Druid rock and leaned against it for some time wondering if he’d show up. He didn’t, so I returned to the house and went to sleep.” Kerrigan’s right hand suddenly jerked forward and grabbed Keith’s wrist. He pulled back his coat sleeve. “That’s blood on your shirt, Keith. Plenty of it on the cuffs. Benson was stabbed over the heart. He bled a lot. You admit going back to the altar. Now explain how this blood got on your shirt cuff.” o7 Keith pulled himself free. He gave Mary Lee a peculiar glance. “TI’ll tell you. It involves this article in my pocket.”’ : He dug his hand into his hxp pocket and it came out holding a thirty-two automatic. Keith stepped back. “Freeze,” he snarled. “Kerrigan, take your gun out and use just two fingers doing it. Whitten, stand just as you are. Cotter, if you even start to get out of that chair, I'll let you have it.” Mary Lee stepped back several paces. “Billy,” she gasped. “Billy—l don’t understand—” “TI do,” Keith snapped. “Someone is trying to frame the murder of Ben- son on me. Well, I didn’t kill him, al- though he deserved it—the double- crossing ex-con. Now listen, all of you. I’m getting out of here. If anybody follows me, I’ll shoot.” Keith backed toward the door, opened it and rushed out. A moment later, Kerrigan went into action, too. He seized the gun Keith had made him drop, slid it into his holster and hur- ried out. He was gone about half an hour. When he returned, Mary Lee was sobbing quietly. Whitten looked dis- gusted. Attorney George Cotter was just bored. Kerrigan did notice that the caretaker kept rather close so as not to miss a word that was being said. “Well,” Whitten demanded. “Did you find the ungrateful—”’ “T didn’t look,” Kerrigan answered. “Maybe you forgot, but this is an is- land, three miles off shore. To make sure Keith stays with us, I just fixed the only three boats so they won’t work. Cotter, I want your help.” “About removing Benson?” Cotter grunted. “Sure, I don’t mind, but isn’t it customary to bring in a medical ex- aminer ?” “How?” Kerrigan asked. “By send- ing one of you to the mainland and find out the messenger I selected is the murderer, who promptly takes a runout powder? No, sir—I’m going NOOK C©