5 Detective Novels Magazine — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

DEATH TAKES “Look, Hilly,” he said, “I never kid this early in the morning. Last night you were looking for Ray Gaudel’s son. An hour or so after you left my place he was kidnaped from the house of one of my pals. Did you get him?” Hilly looked incredulous. “Listen, Harrigan, if you think you’ll throw us off by coming up here with a story like that—” “It’s true, Chief,” Scarface cut in. “It come over the radio not ten minutes ago. They arrested Harrigan, and he walked out with Thomas and the district attorney under his gun.” Hilly Wright was fully awake now. He swung his purple-covered legs over the edge of the bed, found his slippers and rose. When he straightened up, he was grinning. “Snatched the D.A., huh?” “Right out of his own office.” was awe in Scarface’s voice. — Wright chuckled. “This is the best laugh I’ve had in years. You’re quite a guy, Harrigan, but, boy, you’ve built a fire under yourself in this town.” He so- bered, and his voice changed. “So some- one got the kid. How?” Wright listened thoughtfully as Har- rigan told him. 3 There “My guess is the Gaudels,” he said - when the detective had finished. “Well, that lets me out. I know when something is too hot to play with. If Ray jumps her bail, I’m out ten grand, but I’d rather be out twice that than be tied in with a snatch.” Harrigan hesitated. He didn’t know whether to believe Wright or not. The man would probably have acted about the same if he had taken the child, but there was nothing Harrigan could do. “Okay,” he said. “My mistake. I thought it might be you. I’m getting out. If you want to tell the cops I was here, I can’t stop you.” “No. After what you’ve done, I’d give you a break even if I loved cops,” Wright answered. “Scram. No one will turn you in from here.” Harrigan scrammed. He took a cab NO HOLIDAY © 85 out to Holmby Hills where the Gaudels occupied a huge mansion. Telling the driver to wait, he went up the steps and rang the bell. NEGRO _ houseboy answered the door. The detective gave Scott’s name and said that it was urgent. Morton Gaudel was eating breakfast on a small sun porch and asked the vis- itor to join him before he realized who it was. He started out of his seat and then settled back slowly as he saw the gun peeping above the top of Harrigan’s pocket. Harrigan sat down. The coffee smelled good, and he asked for some. Gaudel did not speak until the servant had left to get china and silver. Then he said: “You certainly have your nerve, com- ing here and calmly asking for break- fast.” Harrigan watched the man’s face. “You wanted me to do something last night. I wouldn’t then. I will now—for ten grand.” As he spoke, his mind was working rapidly. If the Gaudels had stolen the boy, Morton would be astounded by the offer and his reaction would show in his face. At least, Harrigan had hoped that it would, but he was doomed to disap- pointment. Morton’s face showed noth- ing but craftiness. “That’s too much,” he said. The but- ler reappeared and served Harrigan’s coffee. As soon as the man was gone, Gaudel said, ‘‘We’ll give you two thou- sand.” 3 They haggled, and for a while Harri- gan thought that the Gaudels might really have the child and that Morton was putting on a poor act. They finally agreed on thirty-five hun- dred. Harrigan was to deliver the boy that night. He left the house with a distinct feel- ing of relief and rode his cab downtown. From a corner drug store he called his landlady and listened carefully to what she had to say. She was very ex- MICLOO COMNMIC S