A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE NINTH LIFE and they’re not that color, in any case.’ “Well, thank heaven they’ re both ate for,” Perry observed fervently. “That clears up everything—unless more tame cats go wild.” “That, [ think, is very unlikely,” Gees prophesied. They came to the crest of the rise, and along the road before them saw a little group of men advancing. Foremost among them showed Inspector Tott, and Gees recognized the man with a bandaged hand from the saloon bar. They grouped around Perry, gazing at the carcass he carried, “Who did the shooting?” Tott asked coolly. “It sounded like a field gun back at the inn, and I thought I’d come and investigate.” He glanced at Gees. “Mr. Green, here—” Perry began to explain, but Gees broke in, “T’ll bid you all goodnight, and get along now if you don’t mind.” He left them, and made long strides toward the inn, feeling in no mood for reciting his part in the adventure. And, lest Tott should see fit to ask for his story, he went straight up to his room, and shut and locked the door after switch- ing on the light. Then for a while he stood gazing at his reflection in the ward- robe mirror. “You damned idiot!” he told it. complete fool!” Then he withdrew the card from his pocket, and looked at the fine, small writ- ing of the message on it. Kefra—Sekhmet —one corner of the ecard was slightly crumpled, and he smoothed it out. Then, staring incredulously at the card, he took it across to the dressing table to get more light on it from the electric bulb directly over the table, and, putting it down, went on staring, questioning— From his breast pocket he took the message that had reached him in London, withdrew it from its envelope, and put it down beside the card. Its scent—her scent !—was still faintly perceptible, and the writing, like that on the card, was fine and small— But, past all question, some other hand than hers had written the message on the card. He was meant to be deceived, and had been. “Vou CHAPTER 16 The Empty Room HE cheerful greeting with which the newspaper man welcomed Gees in the inn dining room on Thursday morning proved that, as he had said, get- ting a pressman’s goat is a difficult busi- ness. Drake was disposing of his last mouthful and grinned ironically as Gees joined Inspector Tott. “Well, gentlemen, I expect I shall see you at the inquest.”’ When he had gone out, Tott shook his head solemnly. “I don’t know where he put it,’ he said. “Porridge, and had- dock and eggs and bacon—two eggs! He didn’t feed—he stoked !”’ “These low forms of life take a deal of sustenance,” Gees observed. “I’ve for- gotten how many times its own weight a caterpillar eats in a day. See us at the inquest, eh? He might see you, of course. Tott shook his head. “With the whole thing cleared up—and your shooting the second of those beasts last night clinches it—no dodgers lose.” “Clinches it too much for my liking,” Gees said moodily. Tott’s hand, stretched toward the mar- malade pot, stayed halfway. “You're implying—what ?” “The herring is too red for my taste,” Gees answered. “Blast it, man! What do you mean?” “Simply that four cats, two wild and two tame, have been used to make sure of the verdict that will be passed today.” “But that’s ridiculous.” “Yes, I know—it’s all ridiculous. But that beast springing at me last night—” “At Perry, you mean,” Tott interrupt- ed. “All right, at Perry,” Gees said. only imagined it was headed straight at me when it took that leap off the wall. If I hadn’t had a gun and Perry hadn't been there, you’d have stood a very good chance of another inquest in this village today—or tomorrow. I am not popular.” “Td like to know just what you do mean.” “Ah, but it’s all part of my theory— Li ey Moses and the Hebrews and all that, Moses. You though I never mentioned cbo D0Ks. com (Ko) m