10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

HOLOCAUST HOUSE of a visit before any person was admit- ted.” He studied the speedometer. The needle was hanging steadily on sixty. “T think, Miss Darrow,” he said, “you’re in for an interesting visit, And I’m sure”—laughing—“I won’t be bored my- self,” OST of their trip was made under a glowering sky. The last fifty miles was through a driving rain and crash of thunder. The Leymore island was twenty miles from the nearest town. By the time they pulled up before the huge, steel gate barring entrance to the bridge, the rain had slackened. A tall man wearing a slicker strode out to the car window. “Tell me your names, please,” he said as he took out a paper. “If it’s on here, you can pass through.” The girl gave her name. The gate keep- er nodded. “Okay,” he said and looked at Race. “Who are you?” Janice Darrow spoke up, “He’s my ehauffeur. His name would hardly be on your list.” ‘Oh, yeah? Where’s his uniform? Why ain’t he driving?” “Listen,” the girl speke haughtily. “Since you’re a guard, where ig your uni- form? My chauffeur never wears a uni- form. I’m driving because I wanted to.. Any more silly questions?” The fellow squinted at her. “Sister, you win. The boss said to admit only rel- atives, but if this guy’s got a hundred bucks he can come in, too.” The girl gasped. “What do you mean?” “Boss’s orders, miss. Said each rela- tive had to pay a hundred bucks at the gate, or stay out. Maybe it’s to pay your board here. Don’t ask me the answer. Pay up or stay out.” She glanced at Race, received a nod. “T’J} pay it,” she said, opening her bag. “But just wait till I see that uncle of mine.” Counting out two hundred dol- lars, she gave it to the guard. He - grinned, swung the gate open. As she drove off the bridge Race pulled out a hundred, gave it to her. “Couldn’t pay it sooner,” he chuckled. “Might have ruined your story. That’s a new one, charging relatives for a vis- it. Guess if he had a mother-in-law he'd. charge her a thousand.” , < 2 ¢ - you choose, I’d suggest you detail sev- 31 “It isn’t funny. It’s outrageous. I'll give him a piece of my mind.” The car rolled up a winding driveway bordered by dense shrubbery, followed the concrete in a U turn around the huge, castlelike house, halted under a wide arch, Lights came on, a big man in butler’s uniform stepped out, opened the car door. “I’m Janice Darrow” the girl said. “This is my chauffeur,” “Yes, Miss Darrow. The other rela- tives are waiting.” : They were shown to a huge room that reminded Race of a theater. At one end was a pipe organ. There was a billiard table, slot machine, archery target, bar, and a fountain in the center. Easy chairs covered with bear skins. A huge divan made of cedar and polar bear skins. Race weuldn’t have been surprised to’ have found a calliope in one corner. Grouped about were the relatives. Race counted twelve men and seven women, Not one seemed to recognize Janice Darrow. Race looked at her, saw her glance fastened on a ten-foot-square, gold-and-silver motto in the middle of the ceiling. He read the lettering in min- gled surprise and amusement: This Is My Home And I Do As I Damn Please. Phe floors were solid mahogany, the walls a checkerboard pattern of cedar and mahogany. At the far end was a fireplace fully twenty feet wide. It was piled high with logs. He was looking at a trapeze swung above the big divan when the corner of his eye caught the opening of a door. A medium-sized man with thick black hair. and square face, walked into the reom. Clad in corduroy pants, sport shirt, and moceasins, he walked to the foun- tain. “Good evening, relatives,” he called, his roving eyes going from per- son to person. “I’ve never seen most of you before, neither have you seen me. I’m Roger Leymore: Now that Janice Darrow has arrived we'll get down to business.” He paused to grin at the amazed faces. “First, I reckon all of you are hungry. All the kitchen servants are on vaca- tion” — chuckling in amusement — “so you'll have to fix your own grub. “The kitchen, cold storage room, and grub are in the back. Work it any way — —_—_——_ —_— —_——— —- ———_ — Comichoo a cS (E(@)