10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

him. So long as he made no sountl and ‘had an ally in the blackness, he was safe. When one of them came close enough— McKay missed his bayonet more than ever. Packer and Pudge knew nothing of this type of fighting, They thought they were quict in moving about. To McKay, they sounded like a pair of blundering fools, although he still retained considerable respect for Pudge’s gun. The man looked as if he not only knew how to use it, but would like to as well, Someone eame closer, McKay didn’t move a hair. The men cased by, BO more than two feet te McKay’s left, He could have grabbed them, but that wouldn’t help. He knew, sooner or later, that they’d get the jitters, Braver men than they Padge cracked first. “‘Packer, where are you? { think he’s gone. He slipped out the back. Light a match.” “No,” Packer snapped from across the room. “That guy is a killer. He knows how it’s done. I heard what he did to those Japs. He’s here somewhere, but I can’t see him or hear him. Let’s get out of here. We learned what we came for.” Pudge said nothing, but by the sigh he heaved, it was quite apparent he was in His experience fighting the Japs was showing dividends. When the two men left, they clattered down the steps in a terrific hurry. CHAPTER Iii cCKAY moved slowly, warily. He wasn’t falling mto any trap. He lo- cated a rear exit, started down the stairs, and paused. Packer was a smart guy. He’d not be likely to permit McKay to get away with this, McKay stealthily climbed back up the steps. ered one leading to the third floor, That was equally abandoned, He did, however, find a ladder to the roof and reached this quickly. Flat on his stomach, be crawled toward the edge of the roof. Pudge was down there, standing in a darkened door- way, waiting. McKay crawled to the rear. Packer was dimly visible leaning against a refuse bin, covering the rear exit. McKay drew back. = noticed that the building to the ie ee lear, He peered through ~TRICGER MAN FROM TARA WA——————4] them only a matter of six or seven fect wide, He removed his shoes, teceed them tegether and slung them around his meck. ~ Then he slowly approached the left side of the roof, gave a running jump, and cleared the alley easily. It was a simple jump for a Marine, trained to take ad- vantage of much greater leaps ‘than this when they meant safety. He was sure neither crook reatized he’d made the leap. McKay crept down the steps to the front door, put on his shoes again, and got ready to make his way ‘the door and shrugged. The car in which they’ brought him here was pulling away. parently the pair had given up. McKay was careful though. He knew all about ruses. The Japs had pulled one something like this once. A few boys had falien for the trap—and the Jap bullets. McKay intended to find Lieutenant Otis first, but he changed his mind. He had to know if Peggy Garrick was involved. He owed Alex any protection he might offer her A taxi took him to her home, but no one answered his knock. McKay went back to the cab which he’d kept waiting, and had himself driven to Police Head- quarters, Lack was against him. Lieu- tenant Otis was out on business. “Say,” the desk sergeant looked him over, “you must be Corporal McKay. Lorimer and the inspector want to see you.” “Who is Lorrmer?” McKay asked. “Cunningham’s former partner and a candidate for Cunningham's job. Walk down that corridor until you come to an office marked Chief Inspector. Lorimer is in there, helping to try to make head or tail of Cunningham’s murder. Better g0, son, The inspector issued an order to have you picked up ten minutes ago.” “He didn’t have to do that,” McKay said, “T'll see nim.” He reached the door, knocked and opened it. Two detectives stared at him curiously. Lorimer occupied a big chair. He was thirty-eight or thereabouts, He was carefully dressed, had.a pretty waxed mustache. McKay didn’t like him. The in- spector was gray-haired, grizzled and stern-eyed. boa Lorimer ing Re age Me- ee ee ‘J. Ap- > a Ste iS ee pee oe _comicbooks.com. : —, — ee