5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

HE’S iN THE DEATH HOUSE Vi WY nen I nodded, Smith picked up the phone. “Ring Worth’s room, will you?” he said to the switchboard operator. He waited, humming tonelessly under his breath. ‘“Worth?’. .. Smith. Listen, you and Hawkins get down here as fast as you can and bring your records on that Garron property with you.” He hung up, and his traplike meuth was tight. “Listen Foster”’—he glowered at me —“TI wasn’t mixed up in these killings. I don’t want any part of them. It’s hard enough to hold this town together without looking for trouble. But you’ve got me into this now by calling the governor. We’ve got to clean this whole thing up before morning, or ll make you hard to catch.” I didn’t answer. I still had Van Doan’s gun in my pocket and as long as I had that, I was calling his shots for him. There was a noise at the door, and Worth and Hawkins came in.. Worth had a large briefcase under his arm, and both men wore dressing robes over pajamas. Worth stopped when he saw me, and swore under his breath. Hawk- ins paused just inside the door and stood there, his back to the wall, both hands sunk in the pockets of his yobe. I couldn’t tell whether he had a gun or not. “Mike, where in hell did you come from?” Worth demanded. “The cops are. “ searching the state for you.” I showed my surprise. “For me? One of them has been on my tail for most of the evening.” His eyes flicked toward Judy, then. back to me. “The police chief went out to the Garron home early this evening. He didn’t come back. When they went look- iug for him, they found him—dead.” “Then the cops will be up here in a few minutes,” I said. “One of them spotted us as we came in through the lobby. Look, Worth, how did you get control of the Garron farm?” | He stared at me, and his face got a little red. “One of the boys in the band at the $3 Gusher Club got me’the deal from young Garron,” he finally admitted. “And you have to pay a royalty to the Garrons,” I said. He nodded. “1’ll say we do. About the biggest royalty that ever was paid. When those wells come in out there, young Garron will be a millionaire.” I nodded. “But you can’t take it with you, and young Garron will be dead. His heirs get it, then?” Worth nodded. “Sure,” he said, and every eye in the room was turned to Judy Garron. “A well came in this afternoon,” I said suddenly. “A well that the band down at the Gusher had an interest in. Was that well on Garron land?” Worth nodded, and I turned to Smith. “Call the police. They’ll be up here in a few minutes, anyway. Have them pick up the whole band from the Gusher Club and bring them over here. Better have them bring Tom Martin and, yes, the singer—Kate.” He was already reaching for the phone. I looked toward Judy as I fin- ished. 7 “Better get hold of Cliff Reed, too. Miss Garron may need a lawyer before this is over.” = He made the call, and we waited. Some of the cops got there first. I guess Oscar had sent in the alarm. They “were going to get tough until Smith stopped them. It seemed that the chief had had a tip to go out to the Garron house alone, had gone, and had been killed. The cops were plenty sore. It was lucky for me that Smith was there, and it made me realize what a spot I was in. I had to find the murderer, or else. If I didn’t deliver before morning, Smith would turn me over to their wrecking squad. HERE were six: boys in the band, and they were pushed into the room along with Kate and Tom Martin. Kate gave me one of her unreadable smiles, but her eyes had a friendly, inviting look. Martin was sore and noisy about it until he saw Smith, then he was sul- lenly silent. Cliff Reed hurried in, saw the crowd, and stopped for an instant in surprise. cConniclooo S (C(O) mM