10-Story Detective, November 1942 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

KEEP YOUR SHROUD ON!—————_——_71 solve anything, for there’s always an- other one. Now me, I never believed in violehce. I always say the tongue is mightier than the gun.” “Are you sure, Jones, that Lulu had- n’t already got her money, and that you were collecting your five-dollar loan with interest?” “There you go, captain, always thinking evil of people. Would I be sitting here if I had the bucks?” “You’re smart enough to do just that.” ; “I’m also smart enough not to shoot anyone.” N THE way back downtown Ban- ning answered Reilly’s question. “Rube’s story checks with what we already know. I want to see Jake Fol- -rem, then I’ll talk to Eva.” But Folrem was not at his office, so they went on. As Reilly curbed the car in front of the country jail he ex- claimed: “There’s Jake Folrem just coming out now.” Banning leaped out, called, “Fol- rem !” : The criminal lawyer turned slowly. He was a big man, as big as Banning, but there was a smoothness about him that the detective captain lacked. Where Banning was square and angu- lar, Folrem had the silkiness of the jungle cat. And it wasn’t the hundred- dollar suit Folrem wore or the re- cent shave and massage his face showed that gave him his appear- ance. He was naturally that way. There was a belligerent glint in his eyes now as he faced Banning. “If you’re sore about Lulu Shard’s mur- der, what do you think I am? I lost a good client. There ought to be a law against policemen’s wives shooting criminals.” ‘““Maybe there is,” Banning said. Even Folrem lost his composure for a moment. “You don’t mean you’re go- ing to prosecute?” Then he added: “You didn’t stop to tell me that.” “I want to know where Lulu Shard got the money for her bail bond. You must have charged her a stiff pre- mium for a ten-thousand-dollar bond.” “I never pry into the financial af- fairs of my client,’’ Folrem said stiff- ly, and then he seemed to mellow. “Hell, Banning, I don’t know why Lulu was such an idiot as to shoot Perry. The charge you were arresting her on didn’t mean a thing. I could have beat it without half trying. But she has to up and shoot a cop, and even I could- n’t beat a case like that with a packed jury.” “All women are like that,” Banning declared, and stalked into the jail. Banning stood in the open cell door and looked down at Eva Perry, who crouched dry-eyed and tight-lipped on a stool in the corner. She was a little thing. “No bigger than a minute,” Bob Perry had said. She had dark hair and eyes, almost doll-like features, and a pensive expression that made most men stop and look twice. | “Why don’t you admit you did it?” Banning shot at her. “It’s your best chance to help Bob. Then we could rig up a self-defense plea and get you off.” “If I were sure I could save Bob by confessing, I’d do it, even though I’m innocent,” Eva declared. Banning snorted his disgust, and Eva Perry leaped up, standing rigid with clenched fists, facing him. “You don’t want to believe me!” she cried. “That’s why you don’t go out and get the real murderer. You would- n’t believe me even if you knew I was telling the truth. You want to hurt Bob and me.”’ “You’re the one who's hurting Bob,” Banning said gruffly. ‘“You with your ideas of revenge. Like all wom- en you’re not satisfied to let the law take its course. You want things done your way. You’ve had your way now. Why don’t you admit it? I doubt if a jury would convict you. You’re pretty enough to charm any dozen men and lead them around by the nose the way you’ve led Bob Perry.” “You hate me!” Eva raced on. ‘‘You’ve hated me since the day Bob and I were married! I know it, Jim Banning. That’s why I don’t trust you. cCoOmiclbooks (©