A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

¥ into the door-opening. 30 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY firmly. ‘He wasn’t—and he knows it’d cost him his job, too. No, he wasn’t.” “Very well, he wasn’t. How many of the tenants have their own attendants— living in the flats, I mean?” “Very few, sir. The trouble of getting servants makes most of ‘em rely on our staff for everything. There’s—let me see. Lord Batheum—they say that’s how vou ought to pronounce his name—he’s got a maid; that boxer chap, Potwin, keeps an old army man to look after him, and Miss Kefra in number thirteen’s got a foreigner, sort of chauffeur and houseman and every- thing else—but they’re away. So is Lord Batheum, as far as that goes, though his maid is still here.”’ “And the rest depend on your staff, eh? Do the staff have rooms here, or live out? I’ve a reason for asking.” “The chef and his two kitchen lads live in—not the others,” Parkoot an- swered. ““Though I don’t see how they—”’ “Come into it—no. But now I want to take a long chance—a very long chance— and I wish you two’d come with me while J take it. Up to Lord Batheum’s flat, if you will.” “T get it,’ Crampton said quietly. “Yes —let’s go.” The caretaker led them along the cor- ridor to the foot of the stairway and pressed a button beside a door. A lift descended almost inaudibly, and stopped. - _He opened the door, ushered the two 1n, and followed them. The lift went up, stopped, and they emerged to a carpeted corridor. “That’s his door, sir.”” Parkoot pointed as he spoke, and Gees advanced and pressed a bell beside the door. He pressed again after a long interval, and the door swung open to reveal a tall, pert-looking, rather attractive girl in a black silk uniform. “His lordship is notatome,” sharply, before Gees spoke. “So I understand.” He slipped his foot “You are, I see, just as you were yesterday afternoon. But quite on your own, I take it, today. Are she said, you all alone?” ~ manded shrilly. you! I—” Then he caught sight of In- “Mr. Parkoot, are you going to stand there and see him insult me?” she de- “Let me shut this door, spector Crampton, and stopped, open- mouthed. : “How long was Vincent in here with you yesterday?” Gees drawled. “OQo-h! You liar!” she cried, and, red- dening, gulped. “Was it one hour, or two?” “Tt wasn’t half-an hour—”’ and stopped. “That’s enough, Sir,” Parkoot said, and’ turned toward the lift. Inspector Cramp- ton said, “Here!” and went to follow him, but he slid the door closed and went down alone. Gees and the inspector made for the stairs and raced down; but they knew the lift would beat them. They came to the main floor just in time to see Parkoot swing Vincent about. From a half crouch he landed one tremendous blow with his right on the point of the jaw, with plenty of weight to back it. Lifted off his feet, Vincent crashed to the mathble floor, and Parkoot stood over him. The other two came beside the caretaker, - and all three stood waiting until Vincent opened his eyes. “Get up!” Parkoot’s admonition was an almost animal growl. “Get up! Strip that uniform off, and get out, before I kill you!”’ ‘Again they waited. Presently Vincent managed to get on his feet, and staggered uncertainly toward the basement stairs and down them. “Will he come out this way, Parkoot?” Gees asked. “No, sir. By the side door—it’s spring- latched.” He held up his hand to look at his skinned knuckles, and even smiled. “T’d like you to come along with me, Inspector, if you will,” Gees said. “TI haven’t finished with Vincent, yet? she began— CHAPTER 5 _ Angry Lady CC . OU said you were taking a long chance,” Inspector Crampton remarked as he followed Gees down to the basement. “You did, too, : with that girl. A longer one than I’d care to take.” “And yet it wasn’t so very long,’’ Gees told him. “She squealed before she was hurt, gave herself away hopelessly. hetore: : com choo SCO n -