Black Mask (Vol. 22, No. 2 — Mary 1939)

The girl stared at him with vindictive eyes as the announcer continued his broadcast. “I was almost beginning to believe that story of yours!” she whispered. “No wonder they say you’re so dangerous. You could fool anybody. I... I could almost like you if you weren’t ‘Baby Face’ Matt Squeer.” She shuddered, and raised the gun a trifle. “Remember, I can shoot. I want that gun.”

“But I tell you, I didn’t shoot him. Come to think of it, just as I hit Groh, there was a loud noise. I didn’t pay much attention to it, except to think it was backfire from a car outside but I bet it was that gun. I bet someone shot him from down the end of the hall—”

“Never mind that,” she broke in quietly. “You can explain it to Father. Here we are. Stop right in front of that door there. I’m going to keep this gun pointed at you, and if you make the slightest move that I don’t like, I’m going to empty it into you. Don’t think I’m fooling — not since I know you’re Matt Squeer!”

The announcer’s voice was still droning on, and Paul sat still for a moment, listening, in defiance of her gun.

“The murder of Groh may tear the city wide open. It is well known that District Attorney Hastings has been moving heaven and earth to secure an indictment of Lawrence Cleverly, Groh’s former employer. The question is being asked: ‘Does Groh’s murder have any bearing on this war between political boss and fighting District Attorney?’

“It will be recalled that Matt Squeer, before he became a fugitive from justice, was part of Frenchy Peck’s gambling mob, arid that Lawrence Cleverly was accused by District Attorney Hastings of selling protection to Frenchy.

“If it was really Matt Squeer who shot Groh...”

The girl thrust her gun into Paul Tyler’s side. “Never mind the broadcast. Just get out of the car and go in that house!”

They were parked before one of the more modern apartment houses facing the Park. Paul assumed this was the residence of District Attorney Hastings. He might have made an effort to take the gun away from the girl, but he noted that there were two or three men lounging across the street near the park, and that there was a police radio car cruising down near the other end of the block. A tussle now would surely result in his apprehension. And though he could, of course, not be mistaken for ‘Baby Face’ Matt Squeer, he was still wanted for the killing of Michael Groh.

He decided that the frying pan would be better than the fire in this case. District Attorney Hastings could do no more to him than the police; and the very fact that Helen Hastings did not want him to be arrested afforded him a dim ray of hope. So he got out of the car and went under the broad canopy, into the tiled entrance of the apartment house.

Helen Hastings was close beside him, holding the gun underneath her pocket-book in such a way that the doorman could not see it. They were swiftly whisked up to the fourteenth floor. There were only two apartments on each floor, and the girl indicated the door of 14A.

“Ring the bell!” she ordered.

They were admitted, not by a butler or maid, but by a square-jowled man in civilian clothes. This man’s coat was open, and Paul could see the gold shield pinned on his vest, and the edge of the shoulder holster under his left armpit.

The man got the idea of the situation at once apparently, for he drew his gun and gripped Paul by the sleeve.

“What happened, Miss Hastings?” he demanded anxiously. “Fillmore just phoned us that Groh was shot and that he chased the killer up the El stairs and then lost him.”

“This is the killer!” she said breathlessly. “I caught him!”

The detective scowled at Paul. “Tough guy, huh? And caught by a girl! Come on!”

He poked the muzzle of his revolver into Paul’s back, and shoved him down the hall toward an open door. The girl followed.

As they went down the hall Paul could hear someone had a radio going in the room they were approaching. It was not the same station as the one that Helen had tuned in on in the car. The announcer was saying:

“It has now been learned that the killer planned Groh’s murder very carefully. This morning he obtained a job as a canvasser with a vacuum cleaner crew, giving the name of Paul Tyler. He apparently worked on Groh’s street all day, awaiting an opportune moment to commit his crime.”

As they got to the door of the living-room some one inside turned down the radio and called out, “Fowler! Who’s that? Is it Helen?”

“It’s Miss Hastings all right, sir!” the detective answered, tightening his grip on Paul’s sleeve. “And she’s brought something home with her!”

They entered the living-room, and Detective Fowler thrust Paul into a chair. Paul looked across the room to a small desk where District Attorney Thomas Hastings was sitting. It was he who had been manipulating the dial of the radio. He turned it off now and sprang up, as his daughter came into the room after Paul and the detective.