15 Story Detective, April 1950 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

Corpse’s Comeback 45 now, a bit of uncertainty. She got up, strode to the booth, stepped inside. Spencer watched her. He was afraid to look around, afraid that he would see Rincon walking into the bar. He had grasped for his one hope and he was holding onto it now, feeling his fingers slipping. She came back. She stood over him, her face hard, her eyes fixed accusingly on his. “All right, mister—she doesn’t ans- wer. Now what's to stop me from calling the police?” He closed his eyes. He felt himself drowning. “Nothing,” he said. He opened his eyes and he looked at her. ‘Nothing, except that I’m telling the truth, And that if you call the police I'll be accused of murder, Listen,” he pleaded, “if I wasn’t telling the truth, would I be here? Would I be telling you that the police found your aunt’s necklace in my possession, that I managed to get away and came here only to try and clear myself? If I was guilty I’d keep running, wouldn’t I?” She sank on the seat across from him, her eyes wide on his face. “T see no reason to believe you—”’ “I don’t ask that,” Spencer said. “All I ask is that you give me a chance to clear myself, even if it means Rincon’s neck. I know that’s plenty. You’re prob- ably in love with the guy. And if you are, you should have enough faith in him to prove me a liar.” “Aunt Mary never leaves the house,” the girl said, as if speaking to herself. Spencer said, “If I’m wrong I'll give myself up. I swear it.” “You swear it,” the girl said. “I’ve never laid eyes on you before tonight. Yet you know all about me and my aunt and Roy.” She shivered and took a deep breath. “All right. Just how can you clear yourself?” Spencer started to shake. He told him- self to stop it. She was geing along with him and there was nothing to shake about. He said, “Does Rincon ewn a car?” She nodded. “He keeps it parked in the garage downstairs.” “And your coupe?” “Tt’s still out front. Why? — “Because I’ll need to use it. Here it is. In just a few minutes I’m going to drive your car away. I want you to go upstairs to your apartment. Ask Rincon in for a drink. That’s important because about a half hour after I leave you'll get a phone call. Be sure that Rincon doesn’t answer it first. After you hang up, you'll be very frightened. You'll tell Rincon that your aunt called, that she’s badly injured, but that she was unable to say enough to make : sense. It'll mean putting on an act when you answer the phone—”’ “Do you know what you're asking?” There was anger in the girl again, Spen- cer saw. He said, “If I’m right, and I’m staking my life on it, Rincon will want to rush directly to your aunt’s side. And he'll work it so he can go alone. Don’t try to. stop him. Be wearing a housecoat and say that youll follow in your car the moment you're dressed.” She looked at him for a long moment. “And where will you be?” “Til be at your aunt’s place, waiting for him witht a certain cop—if he'll be- lieve me.’ | The girl was silent. The doubt was back again. Then it went away and the hard arrogance had taken its place. She lifted her head. “Don’t ask me why I believe you—” “William Spencer.” “All right, Spencer. I care a hell of a lot more for my aunt than I do for Roy.” She gave a wry smile. “The only reason we disagreed over him was because we’re both stubborn. Now I don’t give a damn. If what you say is true, I want the guilty person caught. That’s all that matters.” “Your car keys and your phone num- ber,”’ Spencer said softly. When he had GEomichbooks (E@)