5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

54 too many outlets for it.” “I guess So.’ Wrinkles appeared about Rick’s eyes as he stared grimly ahead. “I’m just wondering if those robberies, or the work that I’ve done on them, has any- thing to do with this.” “What do you mean?” “l’m not quite sure myself,” Rick answered abstractedly. Scott let him off at the apartment house where Kay lived, and he went up to her flat. When Kay answered his knock, he went in quickly, almost roughly. She stood half-turned, ready to walk away. Her long black hair hung to her shoulders, and a white blouse, which was tucked into a blue gabardine skirt, was full across her breasts and tapered to her small waist. Rick looked beyond her, through the door of the bedroom, and saw:a suitcase lying on the bed. She had been crying. He said, “What’s it all about, Kay?” She started to turn away but he caught her by the arm and pulled her to him. “It’s no good, Rick,” she said dejectedly. “Let me decide that. Why didn’t you come ?” “You’d be the laughing stock of the police department if you married me. I’ve got a record—spent two years in jail in Indiana. But when you’re blinded by love you don’t stop to think of the consequences of marrying someone it might hurt. That is, not until some- thing happens.” H's hands grew tighter on her arms.. “What happened ?” “IT had a visitor this morning—a stranger, never saw him before—but he knew about my jail sentence and threat- ened to tell Scott Remley unless I paid off. That’s right, blackmail. Either my money or my job. Suddenly I was sick of it all. I knew that paying off wouldn’t solve anything and I was afraid to tell you. With these robberies going on, it wouldn’t look good if people knew I had a record. ...I was crazy to think that it would ever work. I wouldn’t want you to marry me now.” “What about this Indiana deal?” “It was seven years ago. Just after FIVE DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE I got out of high school I got mixed up with a boy by the name of Red Keat- on. He was crazy about me, and I was just young enough and dumb enough to be flattered, although I knew he was a petty crook and no good. One night I was out with him in his car when he drove into a filling station. I thought he was going to get some gas, but before I knew what happened he had robbed the place. They caught us, of course. No one believed my story, that I really didn’t know what Red was going to do, so I got two years. I haven’t seen him since.” “Why didn’t you tell me all this be- fore?” Kay dropped her eyes. “I loved you, Rick. I kidded myself into believing that the past was the past and that it wouldn’t affect us. But I was wrong.” Rick pulled her closer, tilted up her head and pressed his mouth against hers. Her arms encircled his neck, and he felt the warmth of her body against his. She tore her lips away, placed them close to his ear and whispered: “Oh, darling, let’s end it like this. Leave now while I still have my senses.” “End it!” Rick straightened up abruptly and gazed into her eyes. “It’s just beginning—really beginning. What did this guy look like who tried to black- mail you?” Doubtfully she began, “He had a glass eye, the left one, I believe. Average height and build, sort of a laghy dresser, greasy complexion. Why ?” Sternly Rick said, “Don’t do anything until you hear from me. Promise me that you’ll stay here—and keep this.” He handed her the envelope contain- ing the ring and license. He kissed her again, hard, then went out and down the hall. He held up his clenched fists, glared at them and thought about a dirty blackmailer. In the identification section of head- quarters, he stood before a long row of steel filing cabinets, glancing from one end to the other and wondering where to begin. He was following a hunch, a strong one. This attempted blackmail of Kay sounded like a typical stunt pulled by a cheap, professional crook. A man. with a glass eye wouldn’t be too hard to locate, providing he could be found in CoOnniclooo S (C0) mM