A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, December 1949 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

: } begAsiny fire ¢ 70 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY per. And here close at hand is a reservoir of them. And so—the paupers vanish.” McCann said: “It listens. But what about them dogs that ain’t dogs that sent "Lias loco?” I thought: Riding on her stallion black, at her feet her shadow pack— I answered. “Your guess about that is as good as mine, McCann. What are you going to do with these men of yours, if Ricori puts them under your command? What plan have you in mind?” He settled himself in his chair. “Well, it’s this way. If the boss turns ‘em over to me, it means he’s going to come back. An’ when the boss makes up his mind, he moves quick. Now these lads I named are hand picked an’ none afraid of hell or its angels. Handy with the Tommy-guns an’ what not, but they ain’t a bad-looking or a bad-behaved lot. Now what I’m figuring is that if this de Kera- del’s up to the tricks we’ve been talking of, something’s likely to happen that’ll give us the breaks on him. I got a hunch the floating off of them two paupers was a mistake. He don’t want nothing that’ll ‘point a finger at him. All right, maybe he’ll make another mistake. An’ we'll be there.”’ Dr. Lowell said: “McCann, all of this will cost money. I cannot consent to it unless you permit me to defray expenses.” McCann grinned: “Don’t worry about that, Doc. The house won’t cost us noth- ing, Eph an’ his friends’ll see to that. As for the lads—well, I look after some things for the boss an’ he’s left me plenty funds. The boss’ll pay for the party.” I had no doubt that in the main his story was true; that he had found a village filled with fear and rumor. But this might be nothing more than the gossip of a small community whose curiosity and resent- ment had been aroused by being barred from a place to which they had enjoyed free ingress: for generations. In many parts of rural New England it is a neigh- borhood affront to pull down the window shades at night. Families have been ostracized and preached against in the churches for doing it. Unless you are doing something wrong, why cover the windows so the neighbors can’t look in? The same argument might be at the bot- tom of the Beverly unrest. Their imagina- tions painted what might be going on be- hind the de Keradel wall. And tale after tale would grow stronger in the telling. How easy for a quick-witted crook to © take advantage of such a situation; bring in a gang and set up headquarters in this — house between the village and the isolated | de Keradel place. Then, on some mant- — factured evidence or without it, under — pretense of ridding the villagers of their — terror, with their rear protected by these — superstitious allies, to storm the wall, raid — the house and loot it. Its guards once ’ overcome, there would be none to inter- — fere. Perhaps McCann had already ap- — prised Ricori of the opportunity, and the | cable he had induced Lowell to send was only a blind. These thoughts ran through my mind in a fraction of the time it takes to tell them. I said: “It sounds first rate. But what you need is somebody inside the place who will keep in touch with you.” McCann said, emphatically: ‘That's one thing can’t be done.” I said: “Wrong. I know somebody who will do it.” He grinned: “Yeah. Who?” Se cies Ba Lowell leaned forward, staring at me incredulously. McCann’s grin faded. He asked: “How you going to get in?” I said: “By the front door, McCann. I have, in fact, an invitation from the. Demoiselle de Keradel. I’ve accepted it. I’m afraid I forgot to tell you that, Bill.” Bill said, grimly: “I’m afraid you did. So that was why you wanted de Keradel’s address ? And that was what you did while I was asleep .. . and that was why...” { said, airily: “I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about, Bill. The Demoiselle, no matter what else she may be, is a damned interesting lady. I’ve been thinking over what you suggested a few days ago—about sitting in and so on. It just happened that the invitation came while you were asleep, and I immediately accepted. And that’s all.” He said, slowly: “And immediately — the—”’ | | I said, hastily: “Nothing to that, Bifl. Forget it. Now, as I see the situation—” — McCann quickly interrupted, his eyes SGT Pe ae ee Te comichbooks-com