Shock suspenstories 002 (r)

ORIGINAL

OLTING IN

EC COMICS FROM THE

tales of

THE

1950s!

A CRIME SuSPEnSTORY

It all began about

a

year after

I

mar-

ried OSCAR HIGGINS ! OSCAR WAS TWICE MY AGE... BUT HIS BANK BOOK SHOWED SIX FIGURE SO I MADE A PLAY FOR HIM f FINALLY I GOT HIM TO PROPOSE TO ME, AND THEN ACCEPTED COYLY { I DIDN'T LOVE HIMT I WAS ONLY

SECURITY THEN IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HE'D BROUGHT ME TO HIS ISOLATED HOUSE! OSCAR HAD A HEART ATTACK ...

INTERESTED AS I SAID,

IN

IT

WILL HE BE ALL RIGHT, .

DOCTOR?

CAN'T SAY FOR SURE, FREDA/ T.'Vi.DONE ALL I CAN 1 WE CAN ONLY WAIT AND SEE/ ACTUALLY HE SHOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL BUT I'M AFRAID ^ THAT MOVING HIM INTO TOWN I OVER THOSE BAD ROADS MIGHT KILL HIM ?

P Qscar'd always had a bad HEART ! ONE OF THE REASONS X MARRIED HIM WAS THAT X FIGURED HE MIGHT POP OFF ANY MINUTE, AND HIS DOUGH WOULD BE MINE.' ALTHOUGH X ACTED ALL UPSET, I SECRETLY HOPED HE

WOULD

WAS DARK WITH CONCERN ' X GOT ' SOMETHIN8 WAS UP-BUT WHA T? TOUGH A YOUR HUSBAND’S HEART ATTACK DON'T HAS LEFT HIM COMPLETELY PARA-

HE DOCTOR'S FACE

LITTLE PANICKY I-.I

HOW

STANDf ^

DAD HEMS. FREDA'

IS

HE TODAY.

IT'S

wn 1/71

GOING TO BE PRETTY

TOUGH OH YOU FROM

DOCTOR?

fagf

NOW ON

AT FIRST I WAS MERELY SHOCKED' BUT AS THE DAYS PASSED, THE FULL REALIZATION OF WHAT OSCAR'S CONDITION REALLY MEANT... AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED... HIT ME-

'.M

BABY/

LIKE

<

LYZED.

freda' he has absoOVER his he will be BEDFOR THE

HO COHTROL f ^ MUSCLES RIDDEN REST )

LUTELY

Btrvr

\

J

OF H/S LIFE/

Jj

Oscar couldn't even TALK. TO TELL ME WHAT HE WANTED OR NEEDED

!

ALL HE COULD DO

WAS OPEN HIS MOUTH AND CHOKE OUT GUTTERAL SOUNDS

A HE'S HELPLESS...

HE... HE'S

)

UHDER-

DIE...

Oscar never had any friends, AND LIVING IN THAT ISOLATED HOUSE DIDtfT HELP? THERE WERE NO NEIGHBORS FOR MILES !

I HAD NO ONE

TO TALK TO

WAS ALONE ...ALOHE WITH

A...

I

f

MY

JUST A

ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS.'

MINUTE,

vOSCAR

!

SORRY.

f IOSCAR ™ DON’T

!

UHDERSTAHD byrYOU

Oscar could hear me when i spoke.' if he WANTED SOMETHING, I HAD TO RUN DOWN A LIST UNTIL

X

HIT THE RIGHT ONE...

THIRSTY. OSCAR ?

I

COULDN’T LEAVE HIM, NOT EVEN FOR AN hour' ONCE a WEEK X RUSHED INTO TOWN TO DO THE SHOPPING' WHEN X?D RETURNED, I'D USUALLY HAVE TO CLEAN OSCAR UP...

I,

HUNGRY ?

LORD' HOW MUCH CAN I STAND?

m

Shave

him.

f KEEP IT IN YOUR MOUTH. YOU BLUBBERING IDIOT/ LIVING WITH Bf

YOU

yr

'r- â&#x20AC;¢ IS JUST LIKE LIVING WITH / WHY DON'T YOU DIE, ALREADY -*fl an inbecilei WHY DO YOU GO ON LIVING...

?

[9 DAY AFTER DAY f D/E...

W DO Y'HEAR ?

Jiff

mat, die ? jaSut

IFinally

IN TO A

x couldn't stand

it

any LONGER

GOING OUT/ X HAVEN'T BEEN

MOVIE

ZM

SINCE YOU GOT SICK? WELL.

G0/N6 TONIGHT*

{

I'D

FED.! YOU CAN LAST TILL get back f GOOD-BYE* jrrr^i

^YOU'VE BEEN

And

then, on one of those FREQUENT ESCAPES INTO TOWN, X MET RICK? HE WAS BIG AND

That

night i drove into town AND WENT TO A MOVIE ? X FELT A

LITTLE BETTER AFTERWARDS? IT ME GOOD TO GET AWAY FROM

[AN MAYBE ONE 1

DID

AWAY AND

'GO

NIGHT I'LL

^

NOT COME BACK?) HANDSOME. ..AND X

THAT ISOLATED HOUSE ? EXCEPT what'd happen to you THEN, FOR THOSE OCCASIONAL SHOPPING HUH? YOU'D STARVE? YOU TRIPS, I'D BEEN COOPED UP THERE EVEN GET YOURSELF „ COULDN'T LIKE A PRISONER...

A DRINK OF WATER ? YOU'D T" WSTARVE TO DEATH? HOW WERE YOU WHILE X WAS GONE? ^

HOUSE

,

1

ALL RIGHT

OF MILES OUT?

|WE COULD DANCE

BAUTTLE

(

T

WAS LONELY-

THERE'S A ROADA COUPLE j

(

?

m

WELL,

GET USED TO IT, \ BUSTER? I'M DOIN' ] OFTEN FROM rji

THIS

(now

on?

then, one night, x told rick all about f HE WAS ANGRY WITH ME FOR NOT TELLTHE BEGINNING...

I... I WAS AERAID TO, YOU.. .YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU /RICK ? X WAS AFRAID YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE WERE MARRIED, 1 ME IF YOU KNEW ?

FREDA ?

And

OSCAR

ING HIM IN

OH, RICK?

k

KISS

1

M£

frewr

X RICK f

HIS

CAN'T ?

DIVORCE

IT'LL

MEAN

DOUGH

[to DIE...

it'd

HIM,

GIVING UP

IF HE WERE be MINE...

EVERY CENT?

.

>

YOU, FREDA?

WANT TO

m

you

I

MARRY ?

/

BE PATIENT.

BE PATIENT?

k

RICK?

^

HOW LONG

CAN HE GO ON LIVING LIKE THAT?

r-^

And THEN THE DOCTOR TOLD ME HOW LONG...

WHY, YOUR HUSBAND COULD

\

SO I MADE UP MY MIND...jPW

> ( KILL

HIM, RICK? \not

1

TION HE GETS

THE HOUSE..

MURDER 'j.

\

BE EASY. DARLING f IT WILL LOOK LIKE AN <

ACCIDENT.' X ^HAVE A PLAN...

1

\

a couple of men came to

day,

|

ywE'RE FROM THE

k

•

FROM YOU.

The following

i

^^^^^OhTyES

W

AJAX CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

fmn

r IT'LL

1

LIVE TO A RIPE OLD AGE WITH ' SIT'S THE ONLY THE KIND OF WONDERFUL ATTEN-'

COME fe?

'

IN

-

THAT'S RIGHT* I WANT BARS ON EVERY WINDOW/

OKAY, LADY WE GOT YUH f C'MON I'M.. .SO AFRAID OF PROWLFRITZY t LET'S ERS. ..kW) MY HUSBAND IS 1 GET TO WORK f >

HELPLESS /

'.

r—xZ

w

to*

%

Next, i had them rip off the old cellar DOOR AND PUT ON A BIG THICK ONE... [

... AND I'D LIKE YOU TO INSTALL A SNAP-LOCK SO IT WILL LOCK SHUT ITSELF.'

fer BY

r—

r

I WANT TO KEEP ’ SOME CANNED GOODS DOWN HERE !

SORT OF A

PANTRY. -7

LADY

?

EH,

^

f i stocked the pantry THE CELLAR WITH CANNED MEATS, VEGETABLES, RICK CAME OVER ?

.

Everything was set/ IN

AND FRUIT JUICES f THEN OSCAR JUST STARED WITH

HIS EXPRESSIONLESS

EVES, HIS MOUTH DRIBBLING.

i

you've got to help me 1 EMPTY THE CELLAR OF ANY TOOLS I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE TO ESCAPE WITH, RICK!

|

YEAH ? I GET ,

IT,

FREDA?

BANGED UP THE BIG THICK DOOR TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.' MEANWHILE, OSCAR. ..THE POOR SLOBBERING FOOL. TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON...

THE MAN WHO COMES TO HEAR FROM U READ THE ELECTRIC METER YOU BY IN THE CELLAR WILL BE HERE /THEN, I'LL COME IN THREE WEEKS / HE'LL LET ME OUT 1 Y hr MYSELF? In-T .

\

y

Rick took me in his arms and KISSED ME. ..RIGHT THERE IN Then he was gone? i turned TO MY BEDRIDDEN, DROOLING FRONT OF PARALYZED, HELPLESS H USBAND AND SNEERED. .

OSCAR? I THOUGHT HIS EYES WOULD POP RIGHT OUT OF HIS HEAD.j^ I 'a terrible â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;accident _ r IS GONNA HAPPEN NOW, Xli-U^UH? V OSCAR ? I'M GONNA GET ^a_RIGK' HONEY? LLOCKED IN THE CELLAR / fjm (and YOU. YOU'RE G ON NA p?. X STARVE TO DEATH 1

.

.

wJ

I SETTLED DOWN FOR A LONG STAY ? UPSTAIRS, AS THE DAYS PASSED, OSCAR'S EERIE WAILS AND

AND THE GREAT BIG NEW OOOR WITH THE SNAP-LOCK CLICKED SHUT BEHIND ME? X COULD HEAR OSCAR'S FAINT GUTTERAL CRIES BEYOND T. .. _ __ U-UH-UH-N-N-N f I

F-U-R-N-N-N- 6

'

?

After three weeks of MORE NERVOUS EACH BELL UPSTAIRS... __ ~EL.EC TRIG.'

i

growing HEARD THE DO(

waiting...

DAY... I ,

,ii,|| !,,

X'VE

ANYBODY HOME ?

HELP? HELP?

I

WAS TRAPPED... > WINDOWS BARRED. fcLADY ? jd

Strapped/

/

—<

X

I FORGOT TO ,

LOCK IT/ AND...

SOB. ..IT.. .SOB...

LOCKED

ME

X CLEANED OUT THE CELLAR, HAD THE BROKEN WINDOWS REPLACED, AND LOCKED IT UP FOR GOOD / X NEVER WANTED TO GO DOWN THERE AGAIN? I KNEW IT WOULD BE A LONG TIME BEFORE It) FORGET THAT THREE-WEEK ORDEAL...

LISTENING TO OSCAR'S FADING CRIES AS HE SLOWLY STARVED TO DEATH/ I HIRED A LAWYER TO SETTLE MY HUSBAND'S ESTATE...

I WAS CLEAR/

.

*

TRIED TO ^

ESCAPE / r YELLED and

IT

WASN'T

YOUR FAULT,

)

SCREAMED / TILL

I

WAS

SO. ..SOB...

SO HELPLESS:

SEVERAL

WILL BE

MONTHS UNTIL THE PRO-' CEEDS OF HIS ESTATE CAN BE TURNED OVER TO Y0U fenUr yet -

WAS AN

WAS

HOARSE/ POOR OSCAR SOB... POOR OSCAR/ HE

El rr

...IT

IS

^ DEAD, LADY.' B

—

MY HUSBAND.

X was AFRAID.' I MY HUSBAND WAS HELPLESS/ I was afraid of PROWLERS/ X HAD THE SNAP-LOCK put ON THE DOOR IN CASE

The cops listened to my story,.

THE DOOR LOCKED HOW i COME YOU BEHIND ME/ X HAD THE COULDN'T GET OUT/

II

^

YOUR HUSBAND

LOCKED IN..

HI HUSBAND..

BEEN...

OB. ..SOB

ACCIDENT/ YOU COULDN'T

W

HELP

Meanwhile, mr. oavidson was WORKING ON OSCAR'S ESTATE...

TRYING TO SETTLE ITf MONTHS WENT BY.' FINALLY, RICK AND I WERE MARRIED? WE STAYED AT THE HOUSE...

[

And then i got a call from new york? mr.

DAVIDSON, MY LAWYER, NEEDED ME THERE TO WIND UP THE ESTATE - ^ bo WITH YOU,

WENT WITHOUT HIM?

I

I

WAS GONE ALMOST FOUR

DAYS ? WHEN X GOT BACK...

RICK ? I'M RICK!

HOME' RICK ?

•

sag H Yff9»L.RlCK? S®§|L

NO, RICK? I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD RIGHT ? I'D

FREDA?

LOOK

BETTER GO ALOHEf

IN THE CELLAR? HE WAS WERE BLOODY AND RAW FROM THE DOOR? HE MUST HAVE BEEN SEARCHING CANNED GOODS I'D REMOVEO, AND THE DOOR HAD LOCKED 8EHIND HIM? HE WAS ALMOST DEAD FROM LACK OF FOOD AND WATER

I FOUND RICK HIS FISTS

...

NURSED RICK BACK TO HEALTH? BUT SOMETHING HAD HAPPEHED TO HIM WHILE HE WAS IMPRISONED THE CELLAR? HIS MIHD HAD SHAPPED f HE CAN'T CAN'T MOVE' HE'S PARALYZED' HE

I

IN

TALK f he

JUST LIES THERE... STAR/H6.' HE'S LIKE A HELPI HAVE TO FEED HIM ...WASH HIM...

LESS BABY'

SHAVE

HIM? HE'S

THE WIND-UP TO THIS SCIENCE- FICTION YARN SHOULD GIVE YOU QUITE A JOLT...'

C) STANLEY LINDEN, ASTRO- NAVIGATOR EXPLORATION ROCKET-SHIP Ofl/ON-W, THE OBLONG CONTAINER HALF- FILLED SOIL THAT RESTED BENEATH THE GLOWINFRA-RED TUBE.' NEAR HIM, LIEUTENANT

ARNOLD HARTLY, ROCKET-ENGINEER, BUSIED

/

f

'

r

T

"1V Lieutenant linden shrugged AW. he's ’ GEE, A HEY, FELLERS? ^T YEAH... BUT AND MOVED DOWN THE CREW'S / NUTS/ ) GUY'S ENTITLED \ DOES HE HAVE X GOT AN IDEA/ QUARTERS TO A SMALL GROUP ALWAYS / TO SOME TO YELL THIS OUGHT TO ) OF OFFICERS GATHERED AROUND \ PUTTERING '\ HOBBY/ SO EVERY TIME J GET PANSY-BOY A CARD TABLEFLOWERS'RE YOU GO H/Sf NEAR DEALT sure HEY.' X HEARD > THEM ?

ME IN. THING, HARTLY YAPPING, SEGAL.y STAN ! AT YOU' WHY y1

^1

\

^

[

1

A

1

'

DON'T YOU

LAYOFF ?

V M

Lieutenant hartly turned from watering HIS TINY GARDEN, AS THE VOICES AT THE CARD

TABLE

ROSE... /

BABE

PROBABLY

^

m you

'

.

.

m

OH, YEAH.' X'LL

ABOUT

SHE ST/LL

LOVES he!

SHE

KNOW. STAN?'^ WAS f CRAZY ^ SHE’S

FORGOTTEN

Lieutenant linden got to

BET

^

HOW y AW, DO YOU

y

a/ )

A

his feet angrily.

ZLL BET SHE

DON'T/

r

YEAH' me TOO? GO AHEAD!

PROVE ITT

right!

NINE

is

<

y

'’months IS A

LONG TINE TO BE

GONE/

y

<

|

A

Lieutenant linden darted across the crew's QUARTERS TOWARD LIEUTENANT HARTLY... '

HUH? WHAT

...

WAIT/ DON'T/.

r

STOP IT/ STOP IT/ YOU'RE HURTING IT

Stanley linden danced about the CREW'S QUARTERS PLUCKING THE PETALS FROM THE DAISY AS ARNOLD

Finally lieutenant linden

HELD UP THE PLUCKEO FLOWER.' ONLY ONE PETAL REMAINED... r SHE LOVES ME 6/VE

HARTLY STUMBLED AFTER HIM. SHOUTING AT HIM... ' SHE LOVES ME! STOP /Tf \ SHE LOVES ME YOU CRUEL < .

0* HOT/

,

.

.

THERE.' SEE P SHE

LOVES...

A .

ME

THAT/

I

STAN ? YOU'RE JUST A 'CRUEL

HEARTLESS

BULLY/

Lieutenant hartly snatched the MANGLED FLOWER FROM HIS ANTAGONIST'S HAND AND CARRIED IT TENDERLY TO HIS BUNK WHERE HE PLACED IT IN A GLASS OF WATER...

YOU HURT THE AWi WHAT'D YOU POOR LILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; J DO THAT FOR,

J

BULLY'/

Lieutenant hartly spun around red-faced.' he GLARED AT HIS GRINNING MOCKERS...

GO AHEAD' LAUGH/ MARE fun' Mi.CAN THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL / FLOWERS IT, HARTLY.' AND PLANTS ARE AL/VE/JUST BECAUSE THEY DOH'T CRY OUT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'TFEEL T\ ATTENTION, RA/N/ mrmtff ALL HANDS' -r-T

.

HEY, HARTLY/ IF YOU TEAR YOURSELF AWAY FROM YOUR ) Lpans/es TO LAND 1

It THIS

HEAP.

..

^ A

SHUT UP, LINDEN ONE MORE >

CRACK AND X'LL...

^

V

THING.'

REPORT TO YOUR STATIONS!

WE ARE APPROACHING OUR DESTINATION.' SYNCHRONIZE

WATCHES' TIME

^

.CAN

.

<

NOW... 2145.'

LANDING TIME. ..0215.'

C'MON, YOU TWO.'

CUT IT/ WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.'

f*

NEXT STOP...

ALIEN PLANETS

0215 EARTH TIME, THE 0RI0N-W CAME TO REST ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET THAT HAD REQUIRED NINE MONTHS OF HURTLING ACROSS THE VOID OF SPACE AT TEN TIMES THE SPEED OF LIGHT TO REACH.

AT

Soon a port in the sioe of The orion- w had landed in an THE GIANT STEEL MONSTER OPEN FIELD SURROUNDED BY A OPENED AND A LADDER UNFURLED? THICK WALL OF STRANGE VEGEONE BY ONE, THE SPACE-EXPLORTATIONâ&#x201E;¢ ERS DESCENDED X THOUGHT X .

r

*

f

.

PERHAPS HE

WANDERED OFF') HARTLY.' YOU LET'S LOOK STAY HERE

FEAR.

FOR

HIM.'

^

]

,

THE REST

ALL RIGHT '

Commander morris, officer- in-charge of the ORION-W, CAME OUT OF HIS PLASTO-TENT AND LOOKE! AROUND AT THE FACES OF HIS MEN, NOW PALED WITH

ANO GUARD

^

COME WITH ME.' -sjg

WHAT ^EGAL WAS ON HAPPENED?) THE DAWN 'Z~^W<£L WATCH, SIR.'

As THE SEARCH PARTY STARTED OFF TOWARD THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING, HARTLY GASPED. .

.

Lieutenant linden followed LIEUTENANT HARTLY'S STARE... ;

'

'GO

ON.'

YOU'RE

N

NUTS' WHAT ARE

S'MATTER,

ARNOLD?

YOU TRYING TO

SEE A

YELL

ME, 'MACBETH'...

FLOWER?

X

IN?

HaRTLY AND LINDEN SPRINTED ACROSS THE OPEN FIELD TOWARD WHERE THE SEARCH PARTY HAD STOPPED^ SEGAL... OR WHAT WAS LEFT OF HIM... LAY BEFORE THEM.. .

I

IT'S

AS

IF

HE WERE

BURNED TO A

J

SOMETHING SEEMS TO HAVE SUCKED EVERY OROP OF .

LIQUID FROM HIS BODY' yyJlS

FURTHER

AWAY

THAT THE TREES W

ARE MOVING

^ I COULD THE FOLIAGE WAS

SWEAR

\

SUDOENLY THE SEARCHING PARTY STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING' THEY WERE STUDYING SOMETHING ON THE GROUND. .

HEY ' LOOKr THEY FOUND

SESALf

\\{ C'MONf'

^

Bf

YESTERDAY')

J

They buried lieutenant segal’s remains and RETURNED TO CAMP.' THAT NIGHT, DOUBLE GUARDS WERE POSTED' THEN. TOWARDS MORNING, LIEUTENANT HARTLY WAS AWAKENED BY A CRACKLING SOUND...

HUH? WHA.. .? HEY? LINDEN f LISTEN HEAR THAT? i SOUNDS LIKE STATIC? I KNOW/ THE AUTOMAT/C TRANSLATOR.' '

Lieutenant linden leaped off his air-cot and opened the FLAP OF HIS PLASTO-TENT.' OUTSIDE IT WAS PITCH BLACK' SUDDENLY, THE DARKNESS WAS KNIFED BY TWO EAR-SPLITTING

JHE NIGHT WAS

FILLED WITH A THRASHING AND RUSTLING' LIEUTENANT LINDEN SHOUTED TO LIEUTENANT HARTLY...

The YELLOW-AMBER BEAM OF THE SODIUM LAMP PUNCHED THROUGH THE INKY BLACKNESS SURROUNDING THE CAMP' NOTH' THE CLEAR-

ING COULD BE SEEN ING WAS BARE...

Linden and hartly and commander morris STARED AT EACH OTHER, THEIR FACES GHOSTLY IN THE SODIUM LAMPfe GOLD LIGHT..

THE CRACKLING LISTEN ' THE THINGS ARE

COM/A/6

BACK

STATIC STARTED

AGAIN,,,

HARTLY BENT OVER THE AUTOMATIC TRANSLATOR. SPINNING DIALS... FLICKING SWITCHES

)

'

SUDDENLY,

THERE WAS A FAINT RUSTLING BEYOND THE CAMR..IN THE DARKNESS' A SNAKE-LIKE FORM REACHED INTO THE CIRCLE OF LIGHT CAST BY THE SODIUM LAMP AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND COMMANDER MORRIS'S LEG-.

Lieutenant linden struggled to his feet and STUMBLED FORWARD f CURLING THROBBING ROOTS OUT FROM THE FOLIAGE BEHIND HIM, ENCIR-

Hartly turned

his

head and covered his eyes

TO hide the sory sioht, but lieutenant LINDEN'S HYSTERICAL BLOOD-CURDLING SHRIEKS

CONTINUED AS THE VINE-ROOTS TORE HIS ARMS AND LEGS FROM HIS BODY, ONE BY ONE' THE

dashed into the bedroom with his "Put your tie on," she said in exasperation, "I'LL finish your packshirt.

ing!"

Charlie Small sneered as he looked at the small vial of fluid in his it

hand

contained enough sensitized

nitro-

glycerine to blast his tiny apartment to kingdom-come! With his wife in it, of course!

This

little

was going to end 6

bottle

Charlie hummed to himself as he adjusted his tie in front of the bathroom mirror. Another day with this insufferable shrew and he'd probably go mad/

years of living death, Charlie thought ... 6 interminable years of nagging and being treated like a kid who was barely able to take care of himself.

Edna had

ute!"

He had to was running

act

fast

now

Edna whined.

be late as usual! Don't forget your valise! And make sure you have the tickets ."

"You'll

.

.

.

time

ing the clapper. Then, with infinite he set the deadly vial next to and replaced the backplate.

.

Brushing his lips against her cheek, Charlie smiled. This is the last time

ever see you alive Edna ,

,

he

thought.

Once

outside, Charlie

walked up

then crossed and ducked into a nearby hallway. Dropping his valise, he looked back at the light in his apartment. His wristwatch the street

showed .

out! Reaching for the alarm clock ticking away on his night-table, he unscrewed the back and removed the alarm bell, expos-

him

for

into the kitch-

en. "It's 6:30 already!"

I'll

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Charrr-LEEEE! Stop daydreaming over your packing or you'll miss that 7 o'clock bus!'' Edna's screeching startled him and he almost dropped the vial. "I'm ironing your last shirt now, Charlie. It'll be ready in a min-

ready

his valise

when he walked back

.

.

6:50

go

set to

.

..

off in

.

the fatal alarm

was

10 minutes! Just 600

seconds more and the scrupulously careful housewife he hated would be

blown

to bits!

Unconsciously, Charlie counted

off

care,

the last minute, second-by-second!

it

10

His hands trembled as he set the alarm for 7. All at once he was conscious of

a knot

of

anticipation tight-

in his throat. When that alarm went off, Charlie mused, he would have committed the perfect murder!

ening

"Hurry up, Charlie! You're as slow and disorganized as ever!" Edna

.

.

seconds .!

left,

he gloated

...

8

... 5

In delicious anticipation of his

new freedom, he patted the valise beside him in the doorway. The valise into which hated, hen-pecking Edna careful and precise housewife that she was had thoughtfully packed the alarm-clock from Charlie Small's night-table, at the last minute before his departure! .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

HIDING PLACE The

ease with which

Mike Kleatt opened the display case was almost enough to make him laugh aloud. This was the way a job should go off: case a job adequately, Mike used to tell his is

intimates, and the actual lifting itself

a lead-pipe cinch. That held true whether

was a kid you were snatching for ransom from some rich geezer's mansion ... or priceit

gems

less

els

like these ancient Inca

he had

Crown Jew-

jusc slipped into the secret pocket

of his jacket lining!

According attracted

newspaper

to the

Mike

articles

which

in the first place, the jewels

a cool quarter-million! Not a bad day's work, he thought to himself. Now all he had to do was walk casually through the mob of customers being steered around the Museum by the old guides, and he was free

were worth

and

clear.

snug hiding place! Laying low until good chance of

find a

the joint closed, he'd stand a

away

getting just

dump

.

.

.

.

.

joint, free as a bird

.

.

.

The weird siren wailing someplace down the hall made him stop in his tracks. A rasping voice echoed down the corridors: "Someone's cracked the Inca Gem Case ... the

Crown Jewels

are missing! Alert the police

at the front gates

.

.

.

nobody

leaves the build-

ing without being searched!" the sound of heavy footlumbering up the stairs which led to the Museum entrance. That way was cut off! He whirled and started back through the Renaissance Torture Room: footsteps were hurrying toward him from that direction, too! The joint was sealed up tight! His best bet was to

Mike could hear

steps

course he could .

.

.

but

it

was

Mike Kleatt should

abandon the fabulously valuable loot had gotten his hands on it!

after

now along

Footsteps were approaching

he

the

making a roomby-room search! He turned frantically ... at the far side was a metal suit like one of those uniforms he had once seen in a book about some old yegg named King Arthur. It was on the skimpy side, but with a little squeezing corridor; probably the tops

Mike could make

it!

He squirmed

into the suit with just seconds For the voices were coming right up Carefully he drew his gun, hardly able to breathe so cramped was to spare.

to his hiding place.

he for space. The

Not a cop in sight, Mike exulted as he past the moved through the Aztec Room into the chamber which Mayan Hall housed the European Torture Devices. Nothing to stop him from sauntering out of the vast

Of

after dark.

the jewels and scram

totally inconceivable that

would get

first

guy

up to him Mike vowed

to step

a bellyful of lead,

grimly.

A

was speaking: "This was saying, "is a splendid

voice outside

of Mail,"

it

suit

ex-

ample of the Metal Renaissance Torture Chamber. By turning this handle I release dozens of razor-sharp spikes each 6 inches long which line the inside of the suit from head to foot. They slide inward toward the center with deadly effect!" .

.

.

.

.

.

Mike gasped just once as the long slivers moved rapidly toward him from all He tried to scream, but the sound was choked off into a death rattle as a long spike drove through his throat. Others were knifing through his face, his arms, his chest

of metal sides.

.

"A man imprisoned vice," the voice

in

this

.

fiendish de-

droned on, "would be utterly

unrecognizable after just one turn of the

handle!â&#x20AC;?

f

HERE

AN ELECTRIFYING STORY WITH SOLID IMPACT â&#x20AC;&#x201D; STARTLING CONCLUSION*

IS

IN ITS

A SHOCK SuspsnStoky I

Laughing children scampered dov LESS STREET SHOUTING AND YELLING. THEY'RE COMING * TtHE PARADE HOORAY THEY'RE COMING.* A.

LISTEN? HEAR

THAT?

'JB'

THE DRUM

THEY'RE

^COMING/

IS

STARTING*

A.

S

.

?

The general, bedecked with

LOOK HOW THEY

ribbons, marched THE CENTER OF THE STREET.. .WELL IN BACK OF THE BAND ? DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM, A COLUMN OF INFANTRYMEN IN CLASS-A UNIFORMS FOLLOWED THE MAN ON THE CURB'S SCOWL TURNED TO A ~ ' " SMIRK... T. -njo -

X OUGHT

IN

TO...

KEEP IT

y

IN STEP ? DOf LOOK NICE ?

'

:

I

"^WITH BAYONETS/ BOY, I?D I 1

HATE TO

GET ONE OF THEM S IN MY GUTS? f'x

TT

'HEY? TAKE

\

A LOOK AT THE

CHARACTER aNOM.Y y-jS31y

' LOOK AT

Next came another column of BUNS...

THEM'S THE' ' ALL THEMVTHAT'S BUYS WHAT i GUYS WERE) RIGHT?

GOT THE PURPLE I

HEART?

.WOUNDED

''£#

/ YEAH

?

HIS 'C

HIS NOSE/ k| SHINS KINDA AHE must be a DARK. TOO /, FOREIGNER/ S AN’ HIS HAIR..hT l

SOLDIERS? THESE CARRIED NO I

^

(L

Up THE STREET, HATS WERE COMING OFF? BARE HEADS WERE CARESSED BY THE GENTLE SPRING IBREEZES ? THE COLOR-GUARD APPROACHED. I

.

The flag rippled? its crimson and white STRIPES ROLLED OVER AND OVER? THE BLUE FIELD AND WHITE STARS SPARKLED IN THE SUNLIGHT? ALL HEADS WERE BARE AS IT PASSED?

ALL HEADS

BUT ONE... r |

i

Suddenly a pair of cymbals crashed, and ANOTHER BAND BEHIND THE COLOR GUARD EXPLODED INTO A BRASSY BLARING MARCH TEMPO. I SAID HE MUST WHA’D' YUH BE ONE OF THEM SAY, CHARLIE? .

.TIMING THE PARADERrf

COMMIE? YEAH? THAT'S

IT?

HE'S

_

A COMMIE? -r<

''WE

OUGHT TO

1

The one called herby pushed his way to the SMIRKING MAN ON THE CURB ? HE 6RABBED THE MAN’S SHOULDER AND SPUN HIM AROUND. Z.. I BED YOUR BEAT IT, BUDDY? PARDON?? ..

HERBY?) I'M

"S

HUN ‘/M OUT ,/where OE TOWN? YUH '

GOIN '*/

LOUSY REDS/.

OTHERS CROWDED AROUND. I SAI D BEAT IT? WE don't want guys like you hangin' around?

E )

LOOK? GO AWAY, HUH? THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY? I'LL STAY y\ HERE AS LONG AS )

'

1

The man went down, blood TRICKLING FROM HIS SCOWLING

A PISTON.

FREE COUNTRY, YOU DIRTY

JH...

COMM/Ef

WHAT.. .WHAT'S

RED.'

.

WR0N6 you... v

LEMMEAT him.'

ru

a

black

\GO AHEAD / /

JI

CRAZY...

-

Somebody pulled (

\ TEACH M.'

with you ra

THE FILTHY COMMUNIST IS

ALL YOURS/

The base drum down the street beat out a STEADY TEMPO AS THE BLACK-JACK ROSE AND FELL...

jjr'Sl

| |

.AfBMi [tRaitOr'. [SUBVERSIVE',

|ThE LAST COLUMN OF SOLDIERS MARCHED BY, WATCHOUT OF THE CORNERS OF THEIR EYES...

IlNO

LOOKS LIKE A

BRAWL.

DRUNKEN BUMS.'

As THE TRAMP OF THE INFANTRYMEN FADED DOWN THE STREET AND THE MUSIC DIED AWAY, THE SCREAMS OF THE CROWD QUIETED TOO, AS THEY STOOD ABOUT THE PROSTRATE FORM...

GASP GASP...

HEY' HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MAYBE...

THERE 1 THAT'LL \OUT COLD: MAYBE HE'S TEACH HIM A -T DEAD / LESSON IN AMERI -

^

.

CAN/SM HE'LL NEVER FORGET

V/*

?

The sound

of music was gone now' the bunting HUNG LIMP AND STILL' THE BREEZE HAD DIED'SUDDENLY THE CLATTER OF A WOMAN'S HEELS ECHOED THROUGH THE THICK SILENCEHEY? HIS

IT'S

A SCREAM KNIFED INTO THE GATHERING TWILIGHT? THE YOUNG WOMAN FELL ACROSS THE DEAO MAN'S CHEST, SOBBING HYSTERICALLY. DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T WASTE YOUR TEARS, LADY? HE WASN'T

WORTH

y

IT SERVES HIM RIGHT.' k

AH'

THE DIRTY..

IM.-K FRED...

^

The young woman turned her tear-stained UPWARD, STARING AT THE GRIM HOB GATHERED AROUND

~ AND > HE WAS A DIRTY >, \y ( INSULTING RED, LAOY ? SNEERING

r

COMIN'

T HE

YOUNG WOMAN S BODY SHOOK AS SHE WHIMPERED? THEY COULDN'T TELL IF SHE WAS LAUGHING OR CRYING. OLD OUTFIT HE... HE HE WANTED TO COME DOWN ...TO GREET HIS OLD OUTFIT... \ YOU MEAN HE...

HI. ..FOUGHT SOB? THEY... THEY...THEY DID THE THERE IN t BEST THEY COULD PUTTING HIS KOREA? / FACE BACK TOGETHER AFTER THE ...

SHELL TORE IT OFF.' SOB. ..ONLY WHf HE SHI LED. ..IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS SNEER/NG.'

^

-

\

...

face

HER...

OUR BOYS JUST WHY?'.AT \ BACK FROM OVER WHY DID U-i THERE?

IT?

YOU DO v iT?y

.

T

FREDDY?

JS r

.

%

BROAD.'

[WHY

DIDN'T HE TAKE

OFF HIS

HAT WHEN

THE

FLAG PASSED, HUH? why?

k

/

I

OUR FUG. NOT TAKIN OFF HIS HAT.'

J

FOR SHEER.STARK HORROR. READ THIS TERRIFYING TALEGUARANTEED TO JAR YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT.' .

.

.

OFFICE WAS A SKIMPILY FURIN ONE WING OF THE RUN-DOWN BUILDING THAT SERVED AS THE ORPHAN HOME.' X SAT DOWN GINGERLY ON THE THREADBARE WELL-WORN CHAIR HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D OFFERED ME AND LOOKED AROUND.' DUST COVERED EVERYTHING/ THE WINDOWS AND FLOORS WERE FILTHY AND NEEDED A THOROUGH NISHED ROOM

,

Eban critchit was fat and POMPOUS? HIS FLABBY JOWLS SAGGED OVER HIS WRINKLED SHIRT COLLAR, AND BEADS OF PERSPIRATION COVERED HIS OVAL COUNTENANCE

THIRTY-FOUR? THEY RANGE ^ IN AGE FROM FOUR TO FOURASIDE FROM SEEING r TEEN? THAT THEY ARE WELL-BEHAVED...

AND SEVERELY DISCIPLINED WHEN BAD... YOUR PRIME CON.

Although the salary was VERY LOW, I WAS FORCED TO ACCEPT THE POSITION? SINCE I'D BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR SOME TIME, MY SAVINGS HAD DISAPPEARED? BESIDES... X

I

WENT OUT OF MY MADE MY WAY DOWN THE DARK MUSTY

PICKED UP THE CANDLE AND

ROOM'

X

'

\J.../T'S

A KEY HUNG ON A HOOK IN THE DOOR JAMB I REMOVED IT AND INSERTED IT IN THE LOCK ' THI DOOR SWUNG OPEN { THE CANDLELIGHT KNIFED .'

CORRIDOR UNTIL X CAME TO A DOOR MARKED 'DORMITORY THE MUFFLED SOBS CAME FROM WITHIN f X TURNED THE KNOB ' THE DOOR WOULD

INTO THE BLACKNESS.

LOCKEDft

It WAS HORRIBLE THIRTY-FOUR filthy beds lined the room, •ATTRESS TO MATTRESS? GAUNT FACES PEERED AT ME WITH •IDE FRIGHTENED EYES.' THE CHILD THAT WAS CRYING WRITHED :N A BED AT THE FAR END OF THE room' X MOVED DOWN THE LITTERED AISLE TOWARD IT..

'6ouy’fJTfy^vAYBr ^^^-/NEW ClHIS ON ^AMATROn' ) WON'T

BEA T us'

.

I

SHE LOOKS NICE.'

THAT yWH...WHAfs *JY0UR NAME ?

DON'T

>

MEAN NOTHIN'

'

/

(

1

1 IGNORED THEIR REMARKS IN MY CONCERN OVER THE S0B8ING CHILD t IT WAS A YOUNG 6IRL...SIX OR SEVEN' WHEN X PLACED MY HAND ON HER SHOULDER TO COMFORT •y-'' HER^ SHE SCREAM ED...

'

f

X.. I

WON'T

HURT

YOU,

DEAR'

3 OZ GO AWAY.' IL- LEAVE ME

ALONE

A

/A

n|

f

f

,

I LOOKED AROUNO AT THE PALE SUNKEN FACES BEFORE ME.' THEY WERE THE SALLOW FACES OF UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN.. .THIN AND WHITE FROM WANT OF GOOD FOOD.'THEIR BELLIES WERE BLOATED.. THEIR ARMS AND LEGS LIKE STICKS.' COMFORTED THE SICK CHILD...

OTHERS...

t NAME IS MISS DENNIS.' I'M Igoingto SEE THAT you’ll BE WEL L TAKEN CANE OF FROM

^

NOW

.

.

A

'

Ny

The next morning, i went to see mr. critchit in ~ HIS OFFICE rWHY, MISS" DENNIS' 'BREAKFAST, YOU CALL IT.' I * WHAT ARE YOU /J RETCHED WHEN I TASTED IT! DOING HERE? IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN WHY AREN’T YOU *-jFEED THEM, MR. CRITCHIT? * HAVING BREAKFAST WITH THE CHILDREN? .

X

/AW, THAT’S WHAT THE LAST LADY SAID WHEN SHE

' ’

FIRST CAME

ON.'

.'

SHE

TURNED OUT TO BE JUST LIKE

A

HINT

And

W

“

*\[ I DO THE BEST X CAN,]!... I'M WHEN A CHILD II MISS DENNIS' I’M SORRY, MR. MISS DENNIS.' RUN- I CRIES HALF Y ALLOWED ONLY SO ] J MUCH PER CHILD.' CRITCHIT.' NING BRIARWOOD / THE NIGHT FOOD PRICES HAVE IS MY BUSINESS.' *S FWM HUNGER, j J X DIDN’T THE THE CHILDREN J/ THEN FEED/N6 (RISEN KNOW/ ARE YOURS < THEM BECOMES J ALLOTMENTS HAVEN’T 1 MY BUSINESS, d X TOLD YOU,

J

‘

so, besides the other DUTIES I HAD, I VOLUNTEERED TO BUY AND SUPERVISE THE PREPARATION OF THE FOOD TOR THE CHILDREN FROM THE MEAGER AMOUNT MR. CRITCHIT GAVE ME EACH WEEK

Rs\

/ >1

I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY FROM MY OWN POCKET' THE GAUNT FACES OF THE I COULDN’T HELP IT CHILDREN PLAGUED MY MIND' I DIDN’T TELL MR. CRITCHIT ABOUT IT' AS SUMMER PASSED AND AUTUMN DREW NEAR, THEIR LITTL E BODIES BEGAN

If

^ m

T^^BAD NEWS, MISS DENNIS'THE ALLOT^^^X^MENTS HAVE BEEN /J

BUT...

/A.

CUT f

-rtfl

TOO

I ONLY HAVE TWELVE.' wait.'

-WHERE' HERE'S V7 FOUR MORE f

BUT THAT’S

.'

TO FILL OUT.' THEN... ONE DAY...

'YOU WANTED TO SEE ME, SIR? J

THAT'S

y MUCH/

gf

MR. CRITCHIT.'

MISS DENNIS' AND YOUR 1 WISE SHOPPING AND CAREFUL J SUPERVISION HAVE DONE J

IMPOSSIBLE, MR. THE

CRITCHIT.'

CHILDREN BARELY HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT NOW/ Wg|

WONDERS/ BUT I

THAT’S

THE SITUATION' I’M

Lf-

SORRY.'

1

Toward the eno of October my month's salary ran OUT AGAIN.' THE CHILDREN BEGAN TO DROP GENTLE HINTS' HALLOWEEN WAS COMING.. 'oTyOU

THINKM^i

fCRITCHIT

WOULD

>L£T US CELEBRATE

HALLOWEEN, 1

DENNIS

miss

A\ V

DON'T KNOW.') A

ybfPAfes

|But when x approached mr. critchit about the P UM PK IN, H E SHOOK HIS HEAD f BUT IT WOULD MAKE THE CHIL-

I

SO HAPPY, MR. CRITCHIT?

DREN

/

?

But MR. CRITCHIT WAS FIRM HE ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO SPEND A DIME? THE CHILDREN RECEIVED THE NEWS WITH BIT[ThE-HE'S

"41

YOU MUSTN'T

'ROTTEN? /HATE (TALK 7^,^,

ASk HIM

?

A

CHILDREN

?

When October thirty- first arrived, the children were

The orphan children crowded AROUND THE WINDOWS... PRESS-

SILENT AND SULLEN ? OUTSIDE THE ASYLUM OATES, AS DUSK BEOAN TO FALL. BOYS AND OF THE TOWN...LUCKY WHO HAD PARENTS...

HOOTED AND HOWLED IN THEIR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES..

F LOOK

NOSES UP AGAINST THE

THEIR CHILLY GLASS... WATCHING-WATCHING

ING iriTii

S GIRLS ONES

LIKE THAT,

rrrr

!

THERE'S A PUMPKIN?

Finally,' x couldn't stand it any longer

?

x

WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CHILDREN WOULD CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN NO MATTER WHAT ? X WENT TO MR. CRITCHIT'S OFFICE TO ASK FOR AN ADVANCE ON. MY NEXT MONTH'S SALARY..

X

f

GOLLY?

X WISH 'WE HAD ONE ^ f

’HALL OWEENY^/HOOQOOOH?^

SAT DOWN TO WAIT

?

.

OUTSIDE BRIARWOOD,

DISTANT SHRIEKS OF LAUGHTER AND CRIES OF JOY DRIFTED INTO THE HALLOWEEN AIR? SOMETHING ON MR. CRITCHIT'S DESK CAUGHT MY EYE IX GOT UP AND LOOKED AT IT...

1

IT...

IT'S

A CHECK...

FROM THE

STATE? NOVEMBER ALLOTMENT. FOR THIRTY-FOUR ORPHANS?

X ALMOST SCREAMED OUT LOUD WHEN I SAW THE FIGURE? IT WAS THREE T/MES AS MUCH AS MR. CRITCHIT HAD BEEN SPENDING ON THE ORPHANS? SUDDENLY, THE PICTURE WAS VERY C LEAR...

,3

HE.” HE'S

The door behind me slammed? mr. critchit LOOMED IN THE CANDLELIGHT...

PURPL E WITH RAGE... r

FAT ROUND

|

I KNOW WHAT

YOU'VE

-BEEN UP

C

ON THE EXPENSES C* AND POCKETING THE DIFFERENCE?

CHILDREN... SKIMPING

HIS

'F ACE.

—

BEEN STEAL/N6 FROM THE

HERE

£

TO, MR. CRITCHIT? you're nothing but a

.DIRTY CRIMINAL ...LEECH/NG

kON THOSE POOR ORPHANS.

1

•

j

HIM...

''now

ACCUSED. HIM... that you [I'M GOING

^

TO REPORT DENNIS, WHAT 7 YOU TO THE ARE YOU GOING 7 AUTHORITIES

KNOW, MISS

f

,

1

1 DON'T THINK SO AT ALL.' jy

CAME TO WITH SHRIEKS OF DELIGHT ECHOING IN MY POUNDING BRAIN' I SAT UP.' I WAS ON THE FLOOR

ff

[OF MR. CRITCHlVS OFFICE' A SEARING PAIN ENCIRCLED MY THROAT WHERE HIS FAT FINGERS. HAD DUG IN ... »

i

Mi

i

hi

KEEP AWAY

I... I DON'T THINK 'so, MISS DENNIS' ‘

’

His hanos closed about my THROAT? THINGS BEGAN TO SPW? THE SHRILL CRIES OF CHILDREN 5 FILLED THE ROOM AS I PASSED y»J

ME_HIS PUDGY HANDS

All OF MY ANGER AND RESENTMENT SPILLED OVER AS I SCREAMED AT,

in

FROM HE,

.

YOU. ..YOU...

\

HA L LO*cW

STUMBLED TO THE DOOR AND FLUNG IT OPEN 'THE I CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER AND SQUEELS OF JOY WAFTED ) ( DOWN THE CORRIDOR TOWARD ME ? ONE OF THEM DASHED BY, GIGGLING, HER TINY, HAPPY FACE SMUDGEDj WITH BURNT CORK.

[i I

I

|

l

DON'T... WORRY...

i

i

MARY'YOU’Ll]

An EERIE LIGHT CREPT AROUND THE CORNER OF THE CORRIDOR? ’ They turned the corner... tramping GRINNING PUMPKIN'S I COULD HEAR THE STAMPING OF TINY FEET COMING TOWARD ME?, TOWARD ME? THE THE CANDLE LIT ;MARY LOOKED UP AT ME WITH BRIGHT SHINING EYE^ e EYES FLICKERED FROM INSIDE? BUT AS THEY NEARED, A COLD OH , THAT'S LL R IGHT KNIFE OF HORROR SLICED DEEP INTO MY MISS DENNIS? WE'VE CHEST? YES, THE CHILDREN HAD THEIR PUMPKIN? MR. CRITCHIT'S HOLLOWED

^

'

,

|

HEAD LEERED UP AT ME... IT'S EYES AND NOSE CUT AWAY TO PERMIT THE VL/GHT TO SHINE THROUGH...

I

I

LORD