10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

42 erlet flowing from the bed. A woman let out a httle scream as he and Leymore pulled the body out to view. Gasps went up. The dead man was a double for Roger Leymore. “This dead man is a crook named Buckey,” Race said. “He’s been mas- querading as Roger Leymore while Mr. Leymore has been imprisoned in a secret room. Look.” He pressed the switch, the bed tilted upwards. “This stairway leads to the room. I found it while you folks were searching for Benson. Mr. Leymore and I framed up the little macabre scene you just wit- nessed. I had’ no real proof on Benson and needed a confession. It worked nicely.” 3 He grinned at the relieved expres- sions. “When Mr, Leymere concocted his little prank of asking his relatives here, he decided to do some retouching. He inserted a want ad for a man, preferably a former actor, who could use the art of makeup and double for him. His idea was to remain out of sight and enjoy the fun. Unfortunately, and also unexpected- ly, Buckey and two of his pals saw a chance to exploit the ad to their own gain, the more so when Buckey realized he already resembled Mr. Leymore. Not that it mattered. None of you relatives had ever seen Leymore anyway. “Buckey posed as an actor out of work, landed the job. Their scheme was to loot Leymore’s vault, tie him up, and depart. Two things upset their applecart: the - flood and Leymore’s refusal to tell Buckey the location of his vault. But Buckey, ever alert for bigger profit, and never unwilling to double-cross a pal, de- vided to play for the whole pot. He set out to rid himself of his two partners by the simple expedient of murder. “He knew the secret of the room under the bed. Leymore hid there while Buckey fed him and brought him the news. The cunning Buckey kept this secret from his pals. He tied up Mr. Leymore in the secret room, killed one of his confed- erates but was himself killed by Benson. “If he had rid himself of Benson, he would have killed Leymore, dismissed the relatives and passed himself off as Leymore. The chances of success were 10-STORY DETECTIVE = good. But several little things tripped him. He got on to me and tried to kill me before Benson. That led to Benson seeing his game.” Dr. Lathan smiled ruefully. “And I was quite taken in by the man. What caused you to see through him, Ben- nett?” “First, the little stingaree his two pals put on us by collecting a hundred bucks at the bridge. Leymore is a wealthy man. He would never have countenanced that. Then the body of Leymore’s real guard. I read up on Roger Leymore. He hated rings, never wore one. Buckey had a big - one on his finger. Leymore never forgot a face. I tripped Buckey on that. Lastly, Leymore has a scar on the left side of his head. Buckey did not. That was the clincher.” ) “I suggest,” Roger Leymore said, “that we move back downstairs. I haven’t had any breakfast.” He turned from the window. “The flood is receding fast. I have a motorboat, safe and dry, which I didn’t tell Buckey about.” He pulled a roll of papers from his coat pocket. “You will reeall I asked each relative to answer the question, “What would you do with a million dol- lars?’ I have read the answers with much enjoyment.” He looked around, chuckling. “One answer in particular pleased me. The author was brief, very brief, and to the point. She simply wrote, ‘I weuld do as I darned please.’ A man would have said ‘damned.’ Miss Darrow, you are much like your mother. She was independent— just like me. Other answers were com- mendable. All of you will share in my will. And now, ladies, what about break- fast?” As the women left to prepare the morn- ing meal, Roger Leymore pulled Race aside. “Bennett, I’ve prided myself on the belief that no man could find my secret vault. But now—well, if you had five minutes to locate it, which direction would you take?” Race looked at him, grinned. “I’ve been wondering what ene would find un- der that huge fireplace.” “Say no more,” Leymore said ruefully. “Come along. Let’s go and have a drink.” Gomicbooks (E(@)