5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 know where he is.” Clay sat down again on the arm of the chair. “That’s jolly, Mr. Owen. You’d better tell the cops immediately.” Ted shook his head, his face grave. “No. No, I don’t think so, Clay. I’m not sure how Steve would react to the police charging in there with drawn guns and tear gas. It might wreck all: the good work which’s been done with him. Steve was never dangerous, but when he had one of his fits, he talked wild. Some police officer is apt to go trigger-happy. I want to bring Steve in myself.” “Is anyone holding you?” “No,” replied Ted. “But I think it would be better if someone was with me, who had an official standing. I don’t want to give the police the idea I’m pull- ing Steve out of a hat. You said you worked for fifty dollars a day. All right, you're hired, if you want the job.” “T’ll take it,” Clay said without hesi- tation. “What’s your hunch on Steve ?” “T’ve been looking around the house,” explained Ted. “I seem to be missing the keys to my cabin down at Boulder Creek. They usually hang on a hook in the kitchen china cabinet, and I’m near- 2 certain I saw them there the other ay.” “Why would he run off to Boulder Creek?” asked Clay. Ted made an uncertain gesture with his hands. “I don’t know what hap- pened here last night,” he said. “It’s possible, I think, that Steve was asleep in the basement, heard some unusual sound upstairs, came to investigate, and just missed the killer. But he saw Betty and was frightened. Steve couldn’t help being sensitive about his position. He remembered the cabin, got the keys, and took off.” “How?” Clay wanted to know. “Did he have wheels—a car?” “No. But I suppose he might have hitch-hiked. There’s a bus part way. At least, I think it’s worth the trip.” “I, personally, doubt it,” Clay re- marked. “But as long as you’re paying for this outing, Mr. Owen, let’s go.” T WAS an hour’s drive down the Pen- insula, over Skyline Boulevard, which cuts along the ridge of the Coast Ranges all the way from San Francisco to Santa FIVE DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE Cruz. Boulder Creek is in the Big Basin country, surrounded by a wall of red- wood-bearing foothills. The main street is the highway; there is a branch bank, a post office, a few grocery. stores, gas stations, a fire house, and fifty real- estate agents. Ted Owen’s cabin was about a mile from the main and only stem of the town. The trip down had been long enough for Ted to fill Dick Clay in on how he felt about Steve Milner — the times they’d had it good in the army; and when it smelled, which was mostly. He’d found out that Clay had been with an outfit that had trained in Louisiana and on the New Mexico desert, too. Clay was really a pretty good guy, Ted decided, as they were turning into the side road leading to. Ted’s cabin. Clay said, “It’s been a nice ride, Ted, and I hope we find your cousin—for your sake. I hope you’re right about him, all the way.” Down among the big trees where they were driving, the shadows were cold. The air smelled damp, minty along the creek. “lm right: about Steve,” “T’d stake my life on the guy.” “That’s about what you’re doing,” Clay told him. “Whether you realize it or not, if Steve isn’t here—if he’s really blown his cork or anything’s happened to him—this hassel roosts on your shoulders. And, believe me, it has long toenails.” They rode the rest of the way to the cabin in silence. As Ted set the hand- brake, he said, “Look, I’l] go in alone and see if he’s here. Don’t worry if ’m said Ted. not out right away. I may have to talk. to him.” “If you need help, whistle,” said Clay. “And good luck.” Ted tried the front door of the cabin. It was locked, as he’d expected it to be. He rattled the knob, called, “Steve! It’s Ted.” No response from inside. The cabin wasn’t so big that Steve couldn’t hear if he were there. The walls were stripped redwood, and there were only two rooms and a kitchen. The windows were shut- tered. Ted made a vague, | puzzled gesture for the benefit of Clay out in the car, CoOnniclooo S (C(O) mM