15 Story Detective, April 1950 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

Corpse’s Comeback Spencer passed it over. The man drank quickly, tossed the bottle out. Rincon, Spencer thought. An odd name. They dreve away from the house. For five or six miles they did not speak. Up ahead, there was an intersection, a sign saying Border City was ten miles away. There was a roadside liquor store on the corner. They crossed, went on for three or four hundred yards. Suddenly Rincon pulled to a stop, turned off the headlights. He reached inside his coat, pulled out a wallet and handed Spencer a bill. “I can use another drink. Mind running back and getting a bottle?” It was in Spencer to refuse. He wanted no more drinks until he hit the city. But thé guy was giving him a lift. He was buying the drinks. Spencer walked back to the liquor store and brought the bottle back. The man had a long drink, sighed and started the car. They drove on. The lights of Border City showed up ahead. A few service stations and eating places were scattered along the highway. Traffic thickened. The buildings of the city came into view. Rincon turned the coupe up a dark side street‘ and stopped. He said, “TI’ll have to drop you off here.” “Sure,” Spencer said. He stepped out with the suitcase. ‘Thanks, mister.”’ The man lifted a hand. The coupe rolled away. Spencer watched it turn at the next cor- ner. Then he headed along the sidewalk. The hotel was cheap but clean. 2g 39 registered, followed a boy to the second floor. He washed up, thought about un- packing and decided to forget:it. It would only mean packing all over again in the morning. E WENT downstairs, asked the desk clerk for information on air travel out of Tijuana. The clerk didn’t know. He said Spencer could find out by calling there. Spencer thanked him and went out- side. Time enough to call in the morning after he got his tourist permit. He walked along the street and found a barber shop still open. He. had a hair- cut, his shoes shined, and then walked to the nearest bar for a drink. He had three drinks and when he went outside again it was nearly eleven and he was feeling fine. He turned back to the hotel. A thick man wearing an iron-gray suit stood be- side the desk. The clerk spoke to him as Spencer entered the lobby. The man nodded, stepped forward. He looked at Spencer with flat blue eyes.) “William Spencer?” he asked, Spencer nodded, .puzzled. : The man opened a thick hand, showed Spencer a badge. “Brent,” he said. “Border City police.” He waited. Spencer said curtly, “If Bogan brought this on, forget it. You’re on the wrong track. He owed me two hundred dollars. I took two hundred dollars.” “Bogan says different,” Brent said HOOOSOO \ ‘ states * eet en tet ath we ¢ PROLONGS RECORD LIFE © IMPROVES TONE QUALITY @ REDUCES NEEDLE SHOCK @ INCREASES NEEDLE LIFE seas it 4 SO NOSBOOOr eet If Not Available At Year Dealer » SAVE YOUR REC OEE fs re eee CORMICLOoOokKs Send $1.00-Regular ... $2.50-Deluxe Model. SHIRE AVE. ST. LOUIS 9, MO, (C@