10-Story Detective, November 1942 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

o8 to find out who killed Benson and why. Then we'll get the medical examiner.” Whitten gave Kerrigan a sharp glance. “You won’t find who killed Benson or why. It was not a human being. Or, at the very least, if you discover that young Keith did it, he wasn’t responsible. Go ahead and laugh. I can see the snicker on your face already, but explain that wisp of smoke if you can. Explain why Ben- son was spreadeagied on the rock, in the position the Druids used for sacri- fice, Whatever has happened here is the direct result of that accursed rock. If I had real dynamite, I’d blow the damned thing into bits.” “And release those millions of Druid ghosts?’ Attorney Cotter laughed sarcastically. “I gave you credit for more sense, Whitten. Come on, Kerrigan. We have a dead man to take care of.” CHAPTER III BLOOD FROM A STONE HEY disposed of the corpse in a boat house near the beach. Cot- ter offered Kerrigan a cigar and lit it for him. They walked slowly back to the house. “What do you make of it?’ he asked. “Plain murder, with a plain motive when I bring it to earth,” Kerrigan grunted. “Just why are you here?” Cotter grinned. “Getting right to work, aren’t you? That’s all right. I came because Whitten retained me about six months ago to handle his af- fairs. He had some things to do in connection with the lease of this is- land so I came along to fix them up and, incidentally, to enjoy a short va- cation, Vacation? Ha!”’ “And Keith came beeause he was following Mary Lee about, I suppose,” Kerrigan grunted. ‘“‘What about Ben- son?” “Don’t ask me. Benson didn’t seem open and aboveboard to my way of thinking. He acted funny and was IGSTORSEDETECTIVE ————_—___ ———_—__ = plenty happy about being here, isolat- ed like this. I guess he had some busi- ness with Whitten.” “Keep your eyes and ears open, will you?” Kerrigan asked. ‘‘Whitten is too scared of his Druid ghosts to make much sense and I hate questioning that girl. I doubt she knows much about this anyhow, This Maguire, the servant, does he stay on the island all the time?” “He goes with the lease, I guess. More of a caretaker than a servant. Where are you going?” “To look for Keith. This island is only a couple of miles long. He’ll have to take refuge somewhere. I'll find him.” But Kerrigan didn’t. He spent more than an hour in a vain hunt and did- n’t even locate a footprint. Stuffing his flashlight into a hip pocket, he ambled back to the big house. Maguire was standing on the porch, like a wooden Indian. He didn’t so much as glance around when Kerrigan walked Cotter had gone to his room. Mary Lee was still seated in the same chair and Whitten was avidly reading a book concerned with Druids. He looked up as Kerrigan entered. So did Mary Lee, and her eyes spoke vol- umes. “T didn’t find him,” Kerrigan an- nounced. ‘“‘He’s as elusive as one of your Druid ghosts, Mr. Whitten.” Whitten flushed. He stood up, slammed the book on a table and closed the living room door. Then he walked up to Kerrigan. ““You’re a fool not to believe. Ben- son didn’t, and he’s dead. You'll be the next. You or Cotter. I’ve warned him, too, that this is no time to scoff. And you won't find Keith because he isn’t himself any more. He won’t even act like a normal person. The soul ot that Druid, represented by the wisp of smoke we saw, has taken posses- sion of his body. I’ve just rechecked on those details and they are true.” “And what happens when the Druid DOOLK C©