5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

bulb set in the parabolic reflector—he’d need lots of light for this shot, but the heavy-duty bulb would furnish it. Everything okay? He checked his equipment once more. There could be no second try if anything went wrong. All was in order. He drew the ghostly costume over his clothes, set the mask in place, tested the flashlight to make sure it would properly light the skull-face with its green, un- earthly glow. Then he swung his cam- era around his neck and focused it on a spot eight feet away, just where the path broke through the clump of hemlock. Now— “Val!” he shouted, and excitement lent something like trembling fear to his voice. “Help, Val! Help me!” ALBORG drew the furred collar of her coat higher around her throat. It had been hard to wear a mask of festive gaiety all evening, to take part in the bantering fun of the party when more than anything she wanted to creep into his arms and beg: “Hold me tight against your heart, - Paul. It won’t be for long.” She’d taken it standing that after- noon, like the thoroughbred she was. When Dr. Mendel gave his final verdict, she had smiled at him, chin up, lips firm. “Haven’t you forgotten something, Doctor?” she had asked. “Forgotten?” His brows drew down in a thoughtful frown. “No, I don’t think so, Miss Pettersen.” “Oh, maybe I’m confused. It was a judge I thought of.” “A judge?” “Yes. You know, when they pro- nounce the death sentence, they add, Sak may God have mercy on your soul.’ ” Now she was alone with her thoughts, and they frightened her. In the faint glow from the dashboard light, her face looked sad. Her cheeks were hollow, and her red lips had a tragic downward droop. If only Paul would tell her, she thought wistfully. She knew he loved her, as much as he was capable of loving anything or anybody but himself. She had read it in his eyes, but she wanted it from his lips. It would be something— [Turn page} 27 Bestselling Mysteries. From POPULAR LIBRARY THE READING HABIT OF A NATION SHAKEDOWN by Ben Kerr Blackmail, a sizzling blonde and murder in a rough, tough novel of suspense. A BULLET FOR MY LOVE by Octavus Roy Cohen Valerie had everything but morals. A fast-paced tale of violence set against the glittering background of Las Vegas and Hollywood. WHAT PRICE MURDER by Cleve F. Adams Kay Mercedes was beautiful but deadly and when Steve McCloud refused to play ball with her about a packet of strange letters she came after him with a loaded gun! YOU CAN’T CATCH ME by Lawrence Lariar A tense, hard-hitting novel of Linda Spain—a giant goddess of primitive passion —who had a wicked past and no future. SWEET AND DEADLY by Verne Chute Angel was her name and she had a figure that promised heaven to a man. But she was the pawn in a deadly game of blackmail - and murder. On Sale At All Newsstands ...... 250 COnmnicloo @) ‘S (C(O)