10-Story Detective, June 1945 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

34-——___—_———_—_——_——- 10-STORY DETECTIVE “T was that sucker, ladies and gents. ee ie killer laid the trap for somebody else!” A guitar string snapped, loud as a shot in. the silence, Doug Drake cracked. He was on his feet, shaking like a leaf, the clean-cut lines of his handsome face blurred now, and twisted, in the red firelight, A flat automatic lay in his hand. “Damn you!” he gasped. “You—you’ve ruined me!” A harsh, choked voice cut in. “No, I’m gonna do that! Frame me, would you? Why you—” — Liscomb towered ‘above Drake from behind, reached out and clamped a big handful of steel fingers on his shoulder. Doug Drake, his handsome face twisted in a snarl, turned and triggered the auto- matic. One, two, three four times he smashed lead through Liscomb’s chest before the city dicks could reach him. uk clicking of the taximeter sounded like music to my ears as we topped a hill and Hollywood’s lights spread out below us. I was seeing Mary O’Quinn home, In my pocket was a signed con- tract, hot off the stove. “You really think i can get a few bit parts in the flickers?” i asked for the umteenth time. “IT know it,” she assured me, “Now will you tell me something? How did you know the killer was Doug Drake?” “Remember the charcoal sketch of Melton?” “Yes. In the master bedroom,” “It was signed ‘Tony Wheeler’ and you told me yourself earlier that Drake’s real name had been Anthony Wheeler. He knew James Melton :ong before either of them ever came to Hollywood.” “Go on, don’t stop there.” “If he knew the reai James Melton, why didn’t he call my bluff? Only one answer to that, “e expected to find his partner, Liscomb, in the trap. Maybe he thought Liscomb would shoot it out with the cops and get rubbed. “When he found me, he knew there’d be two of us alive to stand our word against his i. court. So he had to lie low until he cou:. see Low the cards would fall. Of course he’s the one who took a shot at me tonight when I found the hidden car.” in looked at her, “Now you tell me some- in ae “What” “How did you know I was an actor?” Mary O’Quinn laughed. “It’s not in the contract,” she told me, “but ’'m going to darn those holes in your socks,” wwwy Ww WWW 50% OFF ON FICTION MAGAZINES * Ww To Service Men Only You Can Send Him a Package of 5 Popular Magazines for Only 25c We Will Forward Your Gift Card FREE Every service man you know will welcome this gift package of the best action stories. For nothing hel to while away many otherwise lonesome hours than good exciting fiction. o make it easy for you to remember your fighting friends or relatives, we have prepared several eift packages containing FOUR recently published ACE Fiction Magazines and ONE comic magazins at amazing savings to you. anne all you have to do: 1. Select the package desired. 2. Fill out the coupon below. 3. Enclose for each package desired a On do te rest which includes sending the recipient a special gift card in your name, AVE NOW | These arc “he packages—Send him his favorite type of stories. (This offer good in the U. S. only.) Package #1—4 Detective and Sports Magazines and 1 Comic, Package #2—4 Sports and Western Magazines anc 1 Comic, Package #3—4 Western and Detective Magazines and 1 Comic. Package #4—5 rted Magazines. FILL OUT AND MAIL NOW &CE vai igsrhle 67 hee 4 44th a Now Yor 18, N. Y, I enclose 25c, Please Send Number (circle No. of package desired). | 0: WAME CROCE RETR TERR eee ee HEH eH ESHEETS MY N AME Is ee , eeene ~* Se OCOE PCR OH ESTEE E GOFF ORO OA ODE TPA Se ADDREGS cevcceccccscveresecenctovecseeveestterenssasutees ADD BUG ee src ce 05 04 weiss 9:00.00 6900d es Mh ce seen bess bes beeen ees i g PEO RE ee Pr eee 17 US Eee eee, ob Se ee eee ee Re Ls eee Nk ane Rea ee oe STATS risvvks coon For Caer A. STATE it You gy — Than One Package Enclose 25c¢ Additional gee Each Gift You Order And Use A Separate Sheet Of Paper st EComichoo ‘S (e(o)