15 Story Detective, April 1950 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

ae Spencer nodded. The girl looked at him a moment lon- ger. Her lips quivered, her face crumpled and she began to weep. Spencer went to her, folded her in his arms. Her body shook with her weeping. He heard Brent say softly, “Better take them back to town. We can go over it in the morning.” {t was noon of the next day in Brent's office, and Dora was telling how Rincon had reacted on hearing about the phone call. She looked at Spencer. “I did just as you said. [invited him up and changed into a house coat. Then, when your call came, and [ cried ‘Aunt Mary!’ he—I thought he was coming at me. But I kept talking and then [ hung up. He started te walk toward me with a terrible look on his face, and then [ told him that Aunt Mary was hurt, and that I’d heard her phone drop. I said we had to go to-her right away, that [{'d get dressed. Then he said that would take too long, that he weuld go on ahead. “Then € couldn’t bear the waiting so— I called the police.” | Spencer blew out a long breath. “It’s a good thing you. did. That siren was just what he needed to make up his mind. He still wasn't certain but what your aunt might be alive.” “Yeah,” Brent said dryly. “That brings us back to you, doesn’t it?” Spencer flushed, stole a glance at Dora. “T didn’t tell you about that,” he said in a low voice. “I’m supposed to be under arrest for stealing my former boss’ bank- roll.” “Oh, no—” Dora breathed. couldn't have—”’ Brent broke the following silence. “As it turned out, he didn’t.” Spencer shot him a quick look, found Brent grinning. “That's right, | paid Bogan a visit early this morning, made him swear again that you'd cleaned out his tin box. Then I told “You him that you were involved in a murder, that he would-be pulled in as a witness. . ~ 15 Story } Detective He didn’t like that at all. I told him to produce his tin box and he changed his tune, saying that as long as you were in real trouble he’d drop his charges. That was one way of getting out of it, but [ told him to bring out the box. I let him go in after it, and then went to a side window and watched him take a roll out of the box and slip it under-his mattress. So he brought me the empty box and I marched him inside and made him admit that he’d been lying all along. He’s warming up a cell right now.” Spencer gave a tremulous smile. “And so you're going to Mexico, eh?” Brent asked idly. “Well, I—” Spencer was looking at Dora, remembering all they had been through in the past twenty-four hours, and thinking that this was the first time in his young life that he had ever cared for a girl. But there was more to it than that, he told himself. He had nothing to offer her. Two hundred dollars. That was fine, wasn't it? He said, “Yeah, [ guéss that’s where I'm going all right,” and thought he saw her face cloud up a little. “Did you ever think of becoming a cop?”’ Brent asked. Spencer looked at him. “Me?” “Why not? It’s a future.” Spencer smiled. } Brent nodded, grinning. Then he became serious. “We do need good men on the force. I think you're a ‘good man. What do you say?” “T don’t know— He was looking at Dora again, finding her eyes calm on his. “T’ll be staying around here?” “You won't regret it,” Brene said. “There are worse places than Border City. And,” he added dryly, “you can still spend your days off in Mexico.” Spencer drew a breath. “All right,” he said. “But [ can think of better places to spend my free days.” And what he was hoping for, happened. Dora smiled happily. EOPMICLOOOKS (E@)