5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE KILLER FROM BUFFALO gianced over at his fat companion, who pointedly missed the invitation to take the floor by blowing his nose. “The chief and I think you should’ drop this investigation and return to Buffalo,” the mayor said finally. Tony glanced at Chief Ward Murphy. “What do you think, Chief?” “T’m here at Mayor Ainslie’s request,” the fat man said carefully. “I’ve ex- plained to him my official interest in the case is closed, and I was willing to re- peat to you that your investigation doesn’t have my sanction.” “Suppose I continue anyway?” The chief shrugged. “No law I know of to prevent a man asking questions.” “You’re virtually telling him he can stay in town!” the mayor said sharply. Chief Murphy regarded the mayor from half-closed eyes. “You sign a charge of some kind, Sir, and [ll put him on the next train.” Ainslie’s. pale face reddened and ab- ruptly he got to his feet. “I seem to have wasted my time talking to either of you,” he said, and stalked from the room. The fat chief’s left eyelid drooped in what might have been a wink, then he surged to his feet with a grunt and started to follow the mayor. “Just a minute, Chief,” Tony called. In the doorway the fat man turned to look back. “About this Art Jason and this Harry Short. How they get along?” “So so, I guess. Just how you mean?” “Occurred to me this is a kind of small town to support two gamblers. They got a partnership or something?” The fat man grinned a peculiar grin. “You’re wasting your time looking for an underworld setup of some kind in this town. You been in a city too long. Jason and Short are just business men, Friendly competitors, like two grocery stores would be. Far as I know they’re not in partnership, but they ain’t gun- ning for each other either.” “Thanks for dropping in,” Tony said. The chief lingered for a minute. “You shouldn’t have swung on Harry, Ran- some. He’s not a mug who has to take ushing around from cops. Around here he’s considered a prominent citizen. Member of the town council, in fact.” 21 One of Tony’s eyebrows raised. “That so? How about Art Jason?” “Member of the council too.” The pe- culiar grin formed again. “So’s George Erickson. Three of your suspects are part of the local governing body. Ain’t that interesting? Almost a majority, pera there’s only seven of the coun- eile When the chief left the little man mulled over the visit without getting anywhere. About Mayor Ainslie he was even more puzzled than before, but at least Chief Ward Murphy’s position seemed a little clearer. Apparently the fat man wanted Tony to continue his investigation, but wanted no personal connection with it. That could mean either that he was afraid of someone, or was merely taking the politic attitude that a small-town police chief could not afford to step on the toes of influential local citizens unless he had more than suspicion to go on. In either event, if the chief was not exactly on Tony’s side, apparently he was not against him. Vv N EARLY an hour passed before Tony’s next visitor arrived. At an im- erious rap he opened te door to a strik- ing brunette about his own age. She was taller than Tony, with ebon hair and luminous eyes in a square-jawed, olive face. Her nose curved slightly over a ‘sulky mouth which gave her an ap- pearance of restlessness. “I’m Mrs. Larson,” she announced. “Come in,” Tony said, stepping back and waving her toward the easy chair. She entered, closed the door and stood with her back to it, ignoring the prof- fered chair. “If you’re not out of town by morn- ing,” she said, “I’m going to sue you for slander.” “All right,” Tony said agreeably. The anger in her eyes was partially displaced by surprise. “You mean you'll leave?” “IT mean go ahead and sue.” Color rushed to her face and her eyes blazed. But before she could speak again, another knock sounded. Immedi- ately she stepped away from the door and examined it fearfully, as though AMICLOOO (CO) SS (C(O)