10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

we Kady’s eyes glowed. “I am dumb. Fif- teen years I planned this job and never figured out a little detail like that. Pll probably go scot free.” “No, I’m sure you won’t,” Rourke said. “After all, it’s theoretically murder even though you can’t be tried for it, The judge is bound to hand you the stiffest possible sentence for discharging fire- arms but, as I said, perhaps I can ar- range it so you’ll only be fined. How much cash have you got?” “Four hundred dollars.” Kady was be- side himself with delight at Rourke’s attitude. “I couldn’t raise another dime.” Rourke sent for a turnkey and had Kady locked up. Then he hurried to the district attorney’s office and told his story. The D.A. was sympathetic. “Tough si: you, Rourke. Coming as it does now, when you’re in line for a detective com- mand. But Kady is right. We ean’t prose- eute him for murdering Norris.” “IT know that,” Rourke said. “All I want is some co-operation. This is against all the ethics of legal procedure, but it has to be done. I’m going to see the judge and arrange things so that Kady will be fined every dime he owns. I want him broke flat. You ean help by having the body that was buried as Nick Norris, exhumed and sent to the morgue,” “What’s on your aoa. Lieutenant?” the D.A. frowned. “Plenty—about rats,” Rourke grinned. “Trust me, that’s all I ask.” The D.A. shrugged. ‘You don’t want me mixed up in something slightly il- legal, is that it? Very well, PN) do as you say and I’ have my assistant, who will prosecute Kady, ask for a strapping big fine. Good luck, Rourke.” T WAS that afternoon when Kady was led into the court to the aceompani- ment of flashing photographer’s bulbs. Already the sob sisters were playing up Kady’s predicament big. His story was unusual enough to take priority over some of the war news, Kady looked a little green around the gills when the judge delivered a stern rebuke at his aetions and fined him all but a dollar and a half of the cash he had. Kady paid up, though, and walked out a free man, less than a day after he’d be HOMICIDE’S MY RIGHT a 59 aie tM i Sige RET geile Td ——— Sy. > fete = Vo Fae Ww « SS — & 7% -, committed a murder to which he freely confessed. There was a Smug smile on his face, an utter contempt for the due process of law. He’d outwitted it, done the impossi- - ble, and now he was free. A trifle suspi- cious, perhaps, because Lieutenant Rourke had fallen so easily. But then, he reassured himself, Rourke certainly must have felt bad over convicting him for a murder he didn’t do those fifteen years ago. Now and then Kady tried to find out ‘f he was being followed. An hour or so of these attempts and he was sure he wasn’t trailed. But Kady was a little rus- ty in things of that sort. He’d never been a professional crook and the tricks of the trade were lost to him. But Lieutenant Rourke never let Kady out of his sight. He was worried too, for the slightest slip would throw the whole delicate procedure off balance. He watched Kady approach a rather swanky restaurant, study the menu posted in the window, then feel in his pocket. Kady turned sadly away and headed far- ther downtown where the restaurant prices were cheaper.. Rourke smiled grimly. Kady was hun- gry, for part of Rourke’s scheme con- sisted of rank carelessness on the part of the lock-up attendants. They’d forgot- ten to feed Kady. The killer finally patronized a one- arm joint. Rourke stayed on the other side of the street, in a tobacco store from where he could keep the restau- rant under elose observation. While there Rourke had time enough to phone the medical examiner and receive a de- tailed report on the post morten per- formed on the bones which had reposed in a grave under Nick Norris’s head- stone. Finally Kady emerged. He looked a bit worried. He boarded a subway train at the next station. Rourke got aboard also, barely making the train.-His heart was beating like a triphammer now. If he lost Kady, for even so long as an hour, the whole plan might tumble like a house made of matchsticks. He knew that Kady must be desper- ate. He coukin’t have more than a dollar left, and he’d need a place to stay. With- out money, he’d be worse off than if he were in prison. Kady, Rourke knew, had always possessed a liking for luxury. Ehoo GS (E(@)