A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

THE NINTH LIFE 29 pneumatic cushioning cylinder, and then, grasping the handle, swung it open again. “You see, Inspector,” he said, “that child couldn’t have opened it. It’s a sixty- pound pull, at least.”’ “They’re kept open in the warm wea- ther, sir,” Vincent put in. “Was any door left open yesterday afternoon ?”’ Gees asked him. He shook his head. “No, sir,” he an- swered with finality. “Never, in the win- ter months. Them cylinders have to be taken off, for that.” “And they’re all on.” Gees gave the man a steady, appraising look, and then turned to the inspector again. “Let’s go. Best to get it over with.” But when Parkoot, a middle-aged, heav- ily-built and tall man, faced them in the doorway, Gees saw that he had no uncon- trolled victim of a tragedy to face. The man was grimly impassive. “This is Mr. Green, Parkoot,” Cramp- ton told him. “He thinks he may be able to help in—well, our investigation.” “Tf that’s so, Mr. Green,”” Parkoot said slowly, ‘‘God will bless you. I know you can't give him back to us, but— Pleased to meet you, sir.” Gees shook his hand heartily, and felt respect for the man’s courage. “A few questions, if you don’t mind,” he said. Parkoot came out into the basement corridor, and closed the door softly behind him. “The missus is asleep,” he ex- plained. The cigarette case appeared as Gees leaned against the polished marble wall. Gees lighted up. “As good here as any- where,” he said. “A first question, Mr. Parkoot. That entrance hall is in charge oe attendant. Is he supposed to leave it ! INO} SIRES “Meal times?’’ Gees asked laconically. Relief,’ Parkoot answered. “Then that’s that. What sort of man is Vincent ?” “Oh, quite reliable, sir, if that’s what you mean. He was on yesterday after- noon, when—when it happened, and what I can’t make out is how it happened that Ernie got out, because the missus was ly- ing down, and our own door at the side was locked. And the door at the top of the stairs was on the jar, but Vincent’ll take his dyin’ oath the kid never went that way. So—well!” “Not well,” and Gees shook his head, while Crampton maintained an interested silence. “Not much doing up there in mid- afternoon, as a rule, is there, Parkoot?” he asked casually. “T’d say it’s a dull job, but—” He broke off, gloomily. “Flow many flats are there in the block P”’ “Twenty-two, sir. But if you think—” Again he broke off. “We've got to prove, not think,” Gees told him, and Crampton nodded. “Service here, or do the tenants keep their own servants ?”’ “Either way, sir. There’s accommoda- tions for one servant in each flat—two at a pinch—and our own restaurant and staff.” “T see. Tell me this, then. Why was Vincent absent from that hall for ee least twenty minutes, between three-thirty and four yesterday afternoon ?” “That’s impossible, sir,” Parkoot said MOMY. SAVING SHAVES For Men with Tough Whiskers Now Finest Single or Double Edge BLUE STEEL Blades in handy DISPENSER 10 for 25¢ PRECISION | PRooUcTS " AMERICAN SAFETY RAZOR CORP., BKLYN 1, N.Y. $I NGLE EDGE DOUBLE EDGE (E(0) m - cComicboo