10-Story Detective, November 1942 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

rere ema aa ae l’ll get out of here and save both Bob and myself. I’ never talk to you, Jim Banning. I’ll see you in hell first.” OLOR had flooded into Eva’s face now, and her eyes were blazing. “Just try to get a confession out of me!” she dared him. “Beat me! Use all your vicious methods! I'll never talk! You ought to be good at it, too. Tough Jim Banninss, the woman beat- er.” Her lips curled around the last words. Banning gritted his teeth, turned speechless from the cell door. He tromped along the cell corridor, the main corridor, and out to the squad car. He was white-faced when he slid into the seat, and Reilly knew he had failed. But Reilly said nothing, just sat and watched his chief staring straight ahead. Suddenly Banning straight- ened. “We’ll go to the hospital, get Doc Prescott, Have him talk to Eva, He’ll be able to convince her there’s only one way to save Bob.” At the hospital Dr. Prescott was busy, and they had to wait almost half an hour before he came into his office, “We had to give Perry another trans- fusion. lf he doesn’t rally by tomorrow TI can’t hold out much hope for his re- covery.” “That’s what we came to see you about,” Banning explained. “If you talk to Eva Perry, explain all about this, she’ll probably confess. Then we can rig up a self-defense plea and get her acquitted. Then Bob will get well.” “But you’ve told her all this, have- ’t you? What good will it do for me to repeat it?” “iva doesn’t trust me,” Banning explained. ‘I—well—she thinks I’m trying to deceive her.” Dr. Prescott looked out the window for a full minute before he turned back to them. “T’ll do all I can to save my patient, Ill talk to his wife, tell her the true conditions, but I’ll have no part in advising her to make a con- fession.” Banning leaped up. “That’s great, 10-STORY DETECTIVE doctor. We’ve got a car waiting. We'll take you right over.” “T’ll be busy here for fifteen or twenty minutes. You go ahead. I['ll come soon as I’m free.” On the way back to the jail Banning argued with Reilly. “You’ve got to talk to Eva, Reilly. Prepare her for the doctor’s visit. You can convince her a confession is Bob’s only chance. Tell her anything. Tell her I’m a heel. Tell her I'll quit the force if she'll con- fess.” “Will you?” “T’ll do anything to help Bob. I can get on the force in another city.” ‘*You’ll lose your seniority.” Banning turned to his sergeant in exasperation. “Good Lord, Reilly, what good is my seniority if Bob di— doesn’t get well. I’d say I shot Lulu if it would help.” Sergeant Reilly shook his grizzled head. “TI’ll do all I can, Jim, but she probably won’t listen to me either.” He parked in front of the jail, fum- bled with the gear shift, wiped imag- inary spots off the windshield.” “Get going,” Banning said in irrita- tion. “All right,” Reilly answered. He elimbed out and crossed the walk re- luctantly. In less than a minute Reilly burst out of the jail shouting, “She’s gone!” “Escaped ?” Reilly shook his head. ‘Jake Fol- rem bailed her out!” ANNING stared at Reilly for just a moment, then slid over into the driver’s seat, jabbed the starter. Reilly leaped onto the running board, climbed in as Banning roared away from the curb in second. With the siren wailing, Banning needled his way through downtown traffic, cars scuttling aside like fowls from the scream of the hawk. Through town and out onto the west side he roared, so intent on his driving that he failed to heed Reilly’s shouts as to where they were going. He skidded the car into a side street, into an alley, cCoOnmmiclbooks C©