5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

DEATH ALL AROUND ME always believe in going straight to the Op, so you'll take me to see Ward. I’ve got your gun and if you even try to pull anything—” I stopped talking. Four good-sized men had come out of the house and were approaching the car. Somebody had no- ticed Galey pull up and when he didn’t appear, these men had been sent to-find out what the trouble was. Trouble had my name on it, and I didn’t want to tangle with this quartet of assorted mayhem and murder. I pulled out the gun and jammed it against Galey’s ribs. “Tell those goons,” I said, “that everything is fine. Crawl in front and drive this car exactly according to my orders. If I have to shoot, the first slug is for you, so don’t try any hero stuff. Even Sydney Ward won’t appreciate it.” He rolled the window down. “Go back,” he told the four. “Go back. Everything is fine. Go back—quickly.” They stopped but they didn’t retreat. Galey climbed in front, groaning with every move he made. I watched the four men carefully, but they stayed right where they were, even after Galey start- ed the car and pulled away from the curb. I told him to take it slow. He had to stop for the light at the next corner. Just as it changed to green and he got started, I opened the doer and stepped out. I moved as fast as I could. As soon as Galey returned to that house and report- ed to Ward, evéry man Ward controlled would be turned loose to get me. Chapter VIII INCE I had no idea how long I’d have to stay under cover, I had a cab drive me to the hotel where I lived in a small two-room suite. I wanted to pack a few things and.then check in at some other hotel and sit out the excitement. The elevator boy gave me a silly grin when I stepped into the car, but it didn’t even register. He was chuckling all the way up, and when I stepped out, he said, “Good night, Mr. Craig. If I see you again before morning, you’re whacky!” Even that didn’t click. I was too filled with the idea that I was now an open target for Ward’s boys. I unlocked my door, stepped in, and snapped on the light switch. Somebody had moved my wing back chair so that it faced the win- dows, and I could see only the rear of it. A spiral of cigarette smoke curled up- wards. My hand shot to my pocket, and I pulled out Galey’s gun fast. “Get up slowly,” I said, “an inch at a time.” : “Oh, cut it out, Johnny,” Cora’s fa- miliar voice urged. ‘‘You sound like the last act of a melodrama.” I drooped like a twenty-dollar suit in a rainstorm. I knew now what the eleva- tor boy had meant. The fact that I was safe made me feel worse than the tension and excitement of danger had. I went around in front of the chair and sank onto a footstool facing Cora. “T thought I’d better come to see you,” she said. I didn’t jump up any faster than the speed with which a lush puts down a cadged drink. “When did you leave your place?” I demanded. “Why, about half an hour ago. You were coming at eight, but you didn’t show up.” I grabbed her wrist, pulled her to her feet, dragged her toward the door. I opened it fast, looked out, pulled her to the stairway and down the stairs. When they came after us, let them think we were still in my rooms. Halfway down, Cora began to balk, so I had to take the time to explain. “I made that date to draw Galey into a trap, but he set one for me, too. A pair of his goons were watching your place. They must have followed you here and they must have seen me come in, too. They won’t wait long.” She didn’t balk any more. We went clear to the basement and out the serv- ice door. I felt reasonably sure we weren’t seen, but we ran fast down the side street. There was a movie house in the next block. I bought two tickets, and we went inside and took seats in the last row in the small balcony. Neither of us looked at the screen. We had all the privacy we needed. There were only a few people scattered around the balcony. I lit two cigarettes and handed her one. I put my hat on my MICLOOKS eo (C(O)