Shock suspenstories 003 (r) by Insainment

j'OW'Sv

OLTING

CANADA

cT)

T \\Tf7AP)' lw

tales or

THE SHOCKING WIND-UP TO THIS ELECTRIFYING TALE WILL JOLT YOU OUT OF YOUR SEATS'

Bernard turned off the water and dried HIS HANDS' HE CHUCKLED TO HIMSELF.' THE DINfCR-PARTY HAD BEEN SUCH A GOOD IDEAf BRINGING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER AT ONE TIME HAD BEEN A STROKE OF GENIUSfAND EVERYTHING HAD GONE SO WELL/ HE HUNG UP THE

Bernard unlocked the bathroom door and hurried INTO THE DINING ROOM i HIS DINNER GUESTS SAT ABOUT THE TABLE IN SILENCE i NO ONE STIRRED ? BERNARD GRINNED AT THEM .

X WAS GONE X JUST WANTEO CLEAN UP A BIT BEFORE I’M SORRY

SO LONG

Bernard looked at each guest i there were five OF THEM AT THE TABLE, BESIDE HIMSELF ' THERE WAS HIS WIFE, CORA... HIS BEST FRIEND, IRVING...HIS OLD-MAID AUNT, CLORISSA... HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, JULIUS... AND A

NURSE NAMED

THIS DINNER HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A SHOCK TO ALL OF YOU f YOU'RE ALL SO QUIET NOW

WE TALKED THINGS OVER.' TYOU DIDN'T M/NO, DID YOU? J

YOU;

X CAN'T SAY X BLAME SHALL X TELL YOU HOW ALL

THIS CAME ABOUT? WOULD YOU YOU'RE ALL LIKE TO KNOW '-T HERE... LIKE THIS?

WHY

FANNY...

M X SUPPOSE

MOVED AROUND THE TABLE BEHIND HIS GUESTS ( HE STOPPED IN BACK OF FANNY.. .THE NURSE WHO'D ONCE WORKED FOR HIM...

'T THIS IS MY SON, JIMMY, FANNY f YOUR JOB WILL BE j>JO LOOK AFTER HIM.. JF;

'REMEM8ER THE DAY IT HAPPENED, FANNY? YOU WERE REALLY CLEVER WEREN'T YOU ? YOU STRAPPED JIMMY IN HIS STROLLER SO HE WOULDN'T WANDER OFF WHILE YOU FLIRTED WITH YOUR BOY- FRIEND..' ,

ainY NINE.

HANDSOME ’

CARE OF

ter

BOYS

TA.

LITTLE f

WHAT TIME DO YOU GET OFF TONIGHT BABY?

V ABOUT E/6HT/ GONNA TAKE ME H SOMEPLACE?

Really clever, wasn't it? you were so SUSY MAKING EYES AT YOUR LATEST FIND YOU NEVER NOTICED THE STROLLER BEGIN TO ROLL. ,

WHERE'D YOU LIKE) TO GO, BABY?

^Yoltd 'forgotten to pot on the brake? the sidewalk WASN'T LEVELf THE STROLLER ROLLED RIGHT OFF THE

CURB.

SOMEPLACE NICE' A

Jgl

RIGHT INTO THE PATH TRUCK.. r1

H/GHT-CLUB, MAYBE...

j—

Next to fanny sat julius

A SPEEDING,

rilMMY'D BE

ALIVE

TODAY, FANNY'HE'O

THOMPSON .BERNARD'S OLD BUSINESS PARTNER 'BERNARD PATTED HIS SHOULDER...

DEAR JULIUS' WHAT TROUBLES YOU

BE ALIVE TODAY IF

YOU'D HAVE

USED A LITTLE SEHSEf IT WAS A

(

CAUSED WHEN YOU c WIPED ME OUT? >-Jj

L STUPID 9 tf—r TO I

THIH6 DO.'

'OH, YES' I KNEW YOU ENGINEERED THE WHOLE SCHEAC?, YOU WEREN'T AS CLEVER AS YOU THOUGHT? YOU FOR- 1 INTERCOM SYSTEM?../

GOT ABOUT OUR

TWENTY PERCENT

r BUT, YOU'LL

GO BUSTED FAST IF I DO THAT, JULIUS?

STUPID'

‘You NEVER SHOULD HAVE PLANNED YOUR DIRTY DEALS RIGHT IN OUR OFFICES, JULIUS?-' OKAY, JULIE? I'LL DO WHAT

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN, 'JOE! I WANT TO WIPE 'Xbern/e out... i

THAT'S RIGHT? JUST PAD YOUR BILLS TO OUR COMPANY? I'LL OKAY THEM AND GIVE YOU T

jrr

[

YOU WANT ' BUT WE BETTER, MAKE THAT TWENTY-FIVE

. .

PERCENT

Remember what you told me, aunt Claris's a REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID?...

'THAT'S WHEN X CAME TO YOU, ,

aunt CLOWS'*'REMEMBER? TOLO YOU THE WHOLE STORY' TOLD YOU THAT IF I COULDN'T

’

•

GOOD FOR YOU BERN E?^ SERVES YOU NIGHT' X < TOLD YOU YOU'D END UP I

RAISE FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, I'D BE BANKRUPT.

WORTHLESS TRAMP.'

THOUSAND 'THAT'S ALL IT WILL PULL

ME THROUGH TILL

•

BUT AUNT CLORISSA'l CAN BEAT THEM' FIVE

X NEED.'

CAN PROVE THAT JUUUS \ IS BEHIND THIS SCHEME

THIS. ..THIS

LEAVES |

FLAT BROKE,

tu...SORRY,

BERNIE'THANK GOODNESS. I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO TIDE \

JULIUS'

I'M...

RUINED' THAT'S THE STORY, BERNIE? WE'RE

THROUGH...

f j

' f

[

[WASHED UP.'M

ME OVER' m

LITTLE SOMETHING.'

YOU WERE BACK IN BUSINE INSIDE TWO MONTHS' ANO YOU THOUGHT I WAS STUPID' YOU THOUGHT I DIDN'T KNOW ' IT WAS YOU WHO WAS FOOLISH JULIUS' IT WAS YOU WHO DIDN'T USE YOUR HEADfJ .

JULIUS' WHAT A STROKE \ OF LUCK f X* M HAVING A J DINNER-PARTY NEXT

WEEK ' YOU ’RE INVITED..

FOR OLD-TIMES SAKE.'

/ AND YOU CAME. DIDN'T YOU? YOU FOOL... YOU STUP/D POOL/ WHAT DID YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU 90T HERE ? WHAT DIO YOU AIL EXPECT ? DID YOU X INVITED YOU HERE OUT OF UNE FP/END- . SH/P? DON'T YOU KNOW X DESPISE EACH OF j| 7" YOU FOR WHAT YOU DC TO ME ?

THINK

Bernard moved around the table staring at each OF THE FIVE PEOPLE SEATED BEFORE IT ? HE STOPPED [behind HIS WIFE AND LIT ANOTHER CIGARETTE ...

DEAR, SWEET, STUPID CORA ? 'LOVING' WIFE ? YOU NEVER SUS-

PECTED

AND

IRVING SAT NEXT TO CORA? HE MADE NO SOUND... NO OUTCRY OF WELL,

OBJECTION...

X KNEW IT ALL THE

TIME. CORA

APENT YOU. YOU THOUGHT YOU YOU THOUGHT

SUPPP/SED.

YOU DIDN'T FOOL

ME FOP A MINUTE f X KNEW

IRVING?

WERE SAFE

WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEHIND my back.' >

£d NEVEP SUSPECT l

KNEW ABOUT YOU

IPVING. DID

[‘How IGNORANT YOU BOTH WERE? HOW BUND? WHY, I EVEN REMEMBER THE NIGHT YOUR LITTLE AFFAIR BEGAN ? WE'D BEEN OUT TOGETHER. ..JUST THE THREE OF ;

LET'S GO, IRVING

BEST FP/END OF TPY/N6 TO STEAL MY WIFE /

YOU?

BERNARD'S HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH

TO DRINK ? THINK WE'D BETTER GET HIM HOMEPC®!

VYeS, X'D BEEN DRINKING

AND X HAD A BIGHT TO j

ANY MAN IN MY POSITION WOULD HAVE GOTTEN J HIMSELF DEAD DRUNK ? AFTER ALL.. .BEING RUINED FINANCIALLY IS NO EASY THING TO TAKE ?? f

IT f

'You HAD A PRETTY ROUGH TIME GETTING ME TO THE AND ON THE WAY HOME...' CAB, DIDN'T YOU, IRV...CORA?

WAShTW^S

HUH? MATTER? WHA' .TIME ISH IT?

WTIME

LATE, DEAR? TO GO HOME ?

Wx?LL

GET

A CAB.

CORA {jm

BEPNAPDf SPEAK TO ME

WPONG

? WHAT'S WITH HIM?

IRV

—

— 'You REMEMBER THAT NIGHT, CORA?, IRV CARRIED ME INTO THE HOUSE AND LAID ME ON OUR BED? AND YOU TOOK OFF MY SHOES'

LATE." I'D BETTER B E

'not IRV'

TALK

jfr

0OIN0."WI{

IT’S

HE OKAT.

WITH HIM. >

CORA'

TO YOU.'

ABOUT

EVERYTN/NO." HE WAS WIPED

OUT

TODAY ' I... I DON'T WHAT I’M GOING TO DO?

’

KNOW

STICK

HE'LL

NEED

I ONLY HIAPR/ED HIM FOR HIS MONEY... THE MONEY HIS -

YOU MORE THAN EVER NOW' A WOMAN'S PLACE IS WITH THE MAN SHE^^

just yet. WANT T04

'SH-H-H."wE%T ASLEEP."

CORA?

rWHY, YOU’RE GOING TO

BERNARD." JA

[well/ it_ it's

FIRST WIFE LEFT HIM." DO YOU THINK

LOVES." cr

I'D

HAVE MARRIED

WID OWER... WITH A

I^^OTHERWISE

CHILD...

rqi

—

NO ONE KNEW NOT EVEN BERN/E." r

‘

A WOMAN DOESN'T BRAS ABOUT THOSE THINGS? AND THEN YOU HAD TO COME ^ BACK FROM ABROAD... HIS BEST

friend."

TlFi

IT WASN'T SO BAD TILL THEN f I EVEN FELT SORRY FOR HIM WHEN JIMMY DIED.’ BUT THEN YOU CAME HOME... AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH

)

YOU."

‘You're surprised, aren't you, cora? you DIDN'T THINK X HEARD WHAT WAS SAID THAT NIGHT? YOU THOUGHT I WAS OUT COLD ON THE BED I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF, YOU... YOU FEU LOVE WITH HE'. IRVf I TRIED TO HIDE IT I KNEW YOU WERE HIS . L

BEST FRIEND' j-J

i'd never give you a DIVORCE didn't^ ) AND IRV STARTED CARRYING ON A LOVE BEHIND MY BACK BUT YOU DID SUCH STUPID •< USE YOUR HEAD'...' WORKING LATE, TONIGHT, DARLING! Jill be right] 'OVER, CORAfjj COME SEE ME.'

(’And you realized

[YOU, CORA? SO YOU

AFFAIR

•THINSS.'YOU DIDN'T [HE'S

YOU POOL' YOU SILLY FOOL ' WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HZ'! WE'VE WASTED ALL THIS TtHEf WHY, I'VE LOVED YOU SINCE THE J FIRST DAY I WET YOU.'

'EVERY ONE OF YOU WERE STUPID.' YOU >

OH, IRVf IRVf

KISS HE'

lOU BOTH MADE SO MANY MISTAKES f I CAME* HOME EARLY THAT NIGHT' IRVS CAR WAS PARKED. OUTSIDE' I LOOKED IN THE WINDbW' YOU’D EVEN NEGLECTED TO PULL DOWN THE BLINDS..'.

^STUPID.'STUPID.

m DIDN'T THINK

KNEW.'

YOUR HEADS ’NONE OF YOU DID!

DON'T USE THEIR HEADS. DON'T NEED

Ha them...

Bernard pounded the table in anger.' his guests stirred? CORA pitched forward/ fanny SLUMPED TO THE SIDE.' IRVINS SLID OFF HIS CHAIR AND DROPPED TO THE FLOOR' AUNT CLORISSA SAT STIFFLY? JULIUS SPRAWLED ACROSS HER LAP? BERNARD GRINNED AT THE DECAPITATED CORPSES HE RAISED A GLASS OF WINE. IN TOAST. TO PEOPLE. HEN. HEN.. .

WHO DON'T. USE THEIR. r

EH...F

HEH...HEH...

EH...EH..\

•

BRACE YOURSELVES FOR THE SOLID IMPACT OF THIS GRIPPING NARRATIVE!

[This

shameful story might have taken place ANY-

\WHERE IN THE UNITED STATES? IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ||N YOUR TOWN? IT BEGAN WITH THE PITIFUL WAIL OF A SIREN

'screaming through the balmy spring air? the milling CROWD AROUND THE JAIL-HOUSE GREW NOISY AS THE SQUAD-. CAR PULLEtfUP? A DOOR SWUNG OPEN, AND SHERIFF \ HUMPHREY DAWSON STEPPED OUT? HE RAISED HIS HAND TO SILENCE THE ANGRY SHOUTS-

The sheriff moved through the crowd, clearH ING A PATH UP THE JAIL-HOUSE STEPS? WHEN HE I REACHED THE TOP, HE TURNED TO THE SQUAD-CAR PARKED AT THE CURB.... OKAY, ALL RIGHT, JED! 1 SHERIFF? ) BRING THE C'MON, S N R ON

UP? NOW,

)

(

WE'LL TAKE

CARE OF

'IM?

\ '

COLLINS?

’

KEEP BACK, . to FOLKS ?Jggf

TURN '/M THE'' ''HOLD IT, BOYS? HE'LL GET HIS loose! SDIRTY

GET r

MOVIN' .0

WHEN THE TIME

COMES' NOW STAND BACK,

EVERYBODY.. .AN' WE'LL TAKE 'IM

INSIDE

—

DEPUTY STEPPED FROM THE SQUAD CAR, AND THE PRISONER NAMED COLLINS FOLLOWED - THE guN_ LIGHT GLEAMED ON HIS PERSPIRATION-COVERED BROWN SKIN? HIS ARMS HUNG LIMPLY BEFORE HIM.. HANDCUFFS BITING INTO HIS THIN WRISTS.

THERE

HE IS.'

GETA.IF THE LAW )all right? YOURS, BLACK) don't GITv 'ALL RIGHT!

’.YOU'LL \

M BOY/

YUH,

LET

'IM

•«

will' 15 THROUGH.'

A SHOCK \SuspCMSronv

The deputy led collins up the long flight of steps f the crowd/^HANK BARKEP\Tnkj I it does in MOVED IN ON THE FRIGHTENED, DARK-SKINNED PRISONER... SHOUTING ( SEEN '/M NEAR ) DON'T JMY BOOK

PROFANITIES, CURSING, THREATENING...

PROBABLY.') WAIT A MINUTE

IBP mu.

( .

THEY DON'T

THE SCENE OF 4 MAKE /AN' SHERIFI THE CRIME 'BOUT ) '|M \/MWSO¥'S THE TIME IT ^SUtTV.') PRETTY ’ SET ON IT, HAPPENED

SURE' AND >

WHO SAYS > COLLINS DID IT?

Finally, they got the prisoner NSIDE TH E JAILHOU SE ... I

,/T^DON'T

YOU THIN!

( WE BETTER LOCK AND BOLT THE theV^okay, Xthat crowd DOORS. THEY \ R to \ sheriffvout there’s J| CELL^) ^ypHSHTY RILED MAY TRY ’ U ( UP, SHERIFFS.SOMETHIN J .

''take

— K.<MnV%^ DON ,

prettyVyEAH.' /FOR THE OUT-\ WHILE YER X OF- TOWN [(smile

PAPERS, COLLI NS f

W A

STILL

HIS

}

ALIVE' )

The jail-house doors were bolted shut, and OUTSIDE, THE CROWD CONTINUED TO MILL ABOUT! SOON, ANOTHER SIREN WAILED AND A BLACK LIM|

OUSINE PULLED UP... >• IT'S THE DISTRICT ' WtCN'S THE TRIAL f

ATTORNEY'A

IT'D

YOU..).

SAVE theN

LOT OF MONEY, <

STATE A

PHIL? OH, WELL: MAYBE YOU'RE

JED

RIGHT

y ,

Frederick moore reached the top of the jailhouse STEPS AND TURNED TO FACE THE 6ATHERED TOWNSFOLK...

NOW, WHY DON'T YOU ALL YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING HANGING AROUND HERE' THE LAW'LL HANDLE THINGS? 1 GO ON? ALL OF YOU f

GO ON HONE.'

LErtf YEAH: GO?

C><ON,

^ A

60 ON HONF'

SHUCKS? X > DISAPPOINTED? THOUGHT THEYt) SHERIFF? WELL, TRY AN' LYNCH , 'THERE'LL BE NO

A .

THE N

A. 7, LYNCHING WHILE

D.A.?

S...SURE, FRED? AGREE? HELL GET H/S...EA/R

AND SOUAPE/a

)

HUH? WHADDYA ’ CRIMINAL LAWYER LISTEN, MOORE? THAT BUT A In COULD r's as GUILTY AS HAVE _ SIN.' HE AIN'T GONNA . GOT... THE TESTIMONY OF ONE /, rGET AWAY WITH IT.' •% MERELY PLACES COUJNS \( VHQ. .WHOD DEFEND } ANYWAY? THE VICINITY AT THE TIMER EVEN/ l WE COULD PROVE MOTIVE..

SMART ) TEAR OUR CASE AGAINST — ACOLUNS TO SHREDS' WHAT /

MAN WHO IN

f WHY IN BLAZES DON'T IT'S NO A MAN'S LIFE ) THOSE «#?*// PARTY, SHERIFF/ \HAH.' HE'S S MIND THEIR OWN \ THERE S A WAN’S ONLY A DANB BUSINESS .' yJFE AT STAKE 1 DIRTY THIS IS OUR PARTY.. / AND EVEN IF N Rf NOT THEIRS / WE FEEL HE AND HE'S

^ ^

DIO

IT,

LYNCH CROWD

STORMS THIS JAIL-

eunTY/

CAN PROVE HE ain't /

^ A

(

-r

CUT AND J DRIED AS

HELP ME

I'LL

FOR FAILURE TO

•*>

DO YOUR DUTY f

YOU THINK

THEN SET COLLINS OUT' HERE.' TAKE HIM TO GOT A PRETTY S THE SEAT.' HZ M 'OKAY/ I'LL SNEAK 'ImYtHEY’VE THERE TON/OHT.'LZT jSTRONSJAIL THERE.DAWSON STAY TILL ] . TRIAL- DATE/ 1' THE BOYS OVER THEREJ THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO WORRY ABOUT HIM/ MUCH WORRYIN / IT'S US' ' J 7»r GOT THE WORRIES' WE - -< 7 I GOT A CASE TO PRESENT / _LH I-"'" \ AND IT DOESN'T LOOK TOG

^ OF COUNTY ^ ^CAN THERE

HOUSE, MOORE I WHAT ’ DO YOU WANT ME TO DO,

NOW ‘EH DOWN WITH MACHINE- SUNS ?J

)

WARN

THEN WE OUGHT TO LET DAWSON/ IF YOU LET CROWD GET 'IM . BEFORE HE GOES 'THAT CROWD TO TRIAL/ SET COLLINS, THE

WAY...

YOU' THIS

CASE ISN'T

HE'S

UNTIL PROVED

I CANT DO ANYTHING

HAVE IT YOUR

)

INNOCENT

vjHPfSL

^/OWN ONLY

A/ ) GUILTY... Y UNLESS THEY

JLf

That night, a squad-car pulled up to the rear of THE JAIL-HOUSE, AND THE PRISONER WAS HUSTLED OUT TO IT...

PAT'

YOU'RE MISHTY LUCKY, T THEY'D' VE ^

SHUT Uf-

COLUNS f WE JUS GOT JSTRUNO YOU . AND YOU OUT IN TIME' UP SURE.' > DRIVE.' EH, SHERIFF?. ’

nr^F

/ The next day, the lawyer from OUT-OF-TOWN ARRIVED UPON THE

no' the d.a:s.‘ PART, FOR

r i

THEY COULDA

STRUNG !MUP^\ LAST NI6HT ' ,

SURE’

MONY OF THIS 1 GOT ALL THE man, HANK } DOPE IN HIS

BARKER'

FILES'

-S

HEY,

TO SEE THE ] TO EXAM- ) D.A. BOUT THE TEST/- . 'that' HES

I'D LIKE

INE

HE'S SU/LTY...

>ANDERSON ' XM <VTO THE COUNT YHERE TO REPRESENT SEAT' [ j V UUBREY COLLINS '

SHERIFF ') THEY

THEY SAY THIS \ SAY HE^S GUY ANOERSOH’Sy A SHARP GONNA GET^/COOK/E '

COLLINS

’

YOU GONNA \

LET

IM,

SHERIFF?

AIN'T

DARN R/GHTf BUI WHAT KIN 4

I DO? I < DONE MY

COLLINS'S

GUILTY.

&f.'

HE?

)

job'

CLIENT,

MR. COLLINS...ANO X HAVE EXAMINED THE TESTIMONY X AM CONVINCED OF HIS

INNOCENCE

—

WILL IT AT THE TRIAL'

WE GONNA

STAND FOR

[

CIRCUM- Y~ YOU SHOULDA

JSTANTiAL , 'EVIDENCE.'

’IM

GENTLEMEN SSPOKEN I HAVE TO MY 1

M'S r

PICKED

PROVE

THAT, SHERIFF?

COLLINS IS GUILTY.' HE PRACTI CALLY ADMITTED IT? NO LEGAL SMART-ALEC FROM OUT-OF-TOWN , IS GONNA GET HIM OFF< NOT WHILE SHERIFF/

LYNCHED

'IM

WHILE YOU HAD

/the CHANCE./ \ CAN'T DO -m I

AF I

NOTHIN'

NOW.'W

cay of the trial dawned dark and dismal' WHATCHA GONNA DO,) LET’S HEAR SHERIFF? HUH? IT HAD RAINED ALL THE PREVIOUS NIGHT' THE SHER/f, SHERIFF?^ IFF AND TWO OF HIS DEPUTIES SET OFF FOR THE COUNTY SEAT TO BRING BACK AUBREY COLLINS... THINK THEY'LL/ THAT ANDERSON GUY I MAYBE 7" GOT \ GET THE HAS SOMETHIN' UP / SOMETHIN' UP ®*X+*OFF,\ HIS SLEEVE MY SLEEVE TOOK ^

The

[

SHUT UP

AND DRIVE.'

NO N-—R-LOYIN' < LAWYER'S OONNA MAKE A FOOL OUTTAj

SHERIFF 9

)

me r Bf/ir

They started back

silence

'tJJ

COLLINS SAT, HANDCUFFED,

BETWEEN SHERIFF DAWSON AND ONE DEPUTY' THE OTHER DEPUTY DROVE' FI NALLY.

The souad-car rolleo to a stop' the vw TINU ED TO POUR DOWN...

rain con-

WHAt’sTW^ «j^GiT OUT AND SURE WE M WRONS, FLAT r TAKE A JED ’

SEE THINK

GOT A

look r >

SHERIFF '.SURE.'

Y- YEAH,

V;!

The deputy named jed stepped out into the POURING RAIN AND STARTED TO CIRCLE THE CAR, KICKING AT

THE

TIRES...

B^okay.n— -hi 80 ON

Tun7

YOU'RE

K fRSEf

„

WShuh? you

{

Dawson shoved collins out of the car' the darkskinned BOY SPRAWLED

THE MUD' THE SHERIFF

Collins got to his feet? he stared at the gun FOR A MOMENT, SHAKING HIS HEAD? DAWSON SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER' THE BULLET KICKED UP THE PUDDLE TO THE RIGHT OF THE COLORED BOY'S FEET...

DREW HIS BUN AND COCKED THE HAMMERi said, getgo/n',

RUN, BLAST

YOU BLACK®*XXff

Collins turned and ran' the SHERIFF SIGHTED CAREFULLY...

pHe WAS LYING FACE DOWN IN A MUD-

PUDDLE WHEN THEY CAME UP-

YOU SAW

HIM

MAKE 7 SSURE?\ WE.

BREAK FOR IT ( SHERI FF'/«r. WHEN WE SLOWED GET r-^>

They picked up collins ano dumped him in the BACK SEAT' THEN THEY DROVE ON TO TOWN ' THERE WAS A CROWD AROUND THE COURT-HOUSE WHEN THEY ARRIVED.'

MOORE, THE

D. A

CAME TO THE CURB AS THEY

'GOOD LORD 'HANK BARKER'S WHETHER AUBREyT JUST CONFESSED.' MOEKSOH /COLLINS WAS INNO-?—, BROKE HIM DOWN ? HE DID IT' 4 CENT OR GUILTY CT /HE KILLED THE WOMAN 'COLLINS tlS NOT IMPORTANT WAS INNOCENT' INNOCENT / BUT FOR AMT AS A BABY' WELL.TOO BAD 'AMERICAN TO HAVE^ ,SO LITTLE REGARD 1 HE ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE .

THE TRIAL'S OFFf

YOU CAN LET

& HIM GO'

’

r;71

WHAT

WHY... HE— HE'S

DEAD /

HE'S IN THE BACK' I SHOT HIM WHILE HE WAS TRYIN'

—y TO ESCAPE!

£ E

FOR THE LIFE ANO

7 WONDER WHAT CAUSED HIM

V—tto TRf?

|0 \

RIGHTS OF

ANY

«r>

OTHER AMERICAN A. IS A DEBASEMENT \

OF THE PRINCIPLES 'OF toe CONSTITUTION J J7UPON WHICH OUR \

Lap COUNTRY vffflL

FOUNDED f /vL

Ben Troy was

Battered though he was,

to glance at the elevator button

enough

alert

which

THAT'S enough

him back past the edge of unconsciousness,

Enemy caught

the captive Public

number "2" under

sight of the

man’s thumb.

the

in agony and tossed frantically on emergency stretcher, but what he had seen kept thrumming through his fevered

groaned

the wheeled

brain.

The

who had captured him when

Police

luck

they were taking him room on the second floor. His was holding Out! The second Hoot gave

him

at least a

his car cracked-up

whisper of a chance to escape

the hot sear awaiting his recovery from the

Two

accident!

two

TWO

with a

he had an even-chancc of

this,

seemed

to the ground!

lower

lip to

With

sill

and drop

teeth grinding into his

keep from crying out

he left by below must be a

in pain,

clambered ponderously into the space the open window.

him

Nothing was

the murkiness outside

narrow inner

for his jump-off!

visible .

he decided! Perfect spot

court,

Enclosed as

would never be heard!

was, his descent

could probably

door and force hit way out before they

his right eye in

He drew a deep breath and relaxed his grip on the window sill, feeling the air rush up meet him as he dropped. Second floor, he to

gloated

Lucky those

was able

was him to

Only

and when he turned

stabbing pain shuddered through

He .

move, agonizing

those fool cops had neglected

They must've thought Ben on the skids, he thought to himself. After Sing and Atlanta, jumping-off from this cheese-box of a to strap

es-

tne

was pitch-black out-

had to do was get out on that

find a

aeons later that Ben Troy

consciousness.

free of bandages,

his body.

though

opened

care It

ever suspected that he was gone!

rec v ered

the bed

keep Ben Troy from

painstaking

side ... he couldn't see a foot beyond the silL Bur what Ben could see made him chuckle inwardly. The window was unbarred! All he

getaway!

was

With

room's only window.

to a hospital

break like

caping!

the cop pressed. Despite the haze of pain forc-

ing

.all I’ll get is a little

close to the

jerks didn't

ground

know I

mussing up! realized

how

was!

his bed!

that car crackup pul old

hospital oughtta be a snap!

The

bald police officer looked at his wrist-

watch.

"Wow!” he exclaimed. "Time lure passed we gassed out here! We better get this

while Slowly, gritting his teeth to keep a gasp of pain from escaping, he slid from the hospital

dow

bed and wobbled toward the single winar the far side of the

darkened room.

turned once and listened to the voices whis-

Two of them, he two cops stationed outside! That

pering outside the door. gloated

dimwit

District

Attorney's

crazy

Troy character back to the receiving room. gotta keep moving him around this hospital is something I'll never understand!”

Why we

think

The bald-headed

officer

turned the

knob of

the door he had been guarding and, folluwed

by the other policeman, stepped into 819...

Room

YOU'LL BE JARRED BY THE STARTLING WIND-UP TO THIS /-i SCIENCE-FICTIONYARNf ^ 1

My NAME IS BART ENGINEER/ YOU ABOUT TO TELL IT/ I KNOW, BECAUSE

HAPPENED

The night's transmission time wasover and everyone HAD GONE HOME / JACK WAS THE LAST TO LEAVE/ I WENT OUT ONTO THE SOUND STAGE AND ROLLED CAMERA ONE OVER TO THE CONTROL ROOM WINDOW/ I POINTED IT AT MY SEAT INSIDE AND FOCUSED CAREFULLY.

Then i went into the control room'i sat OOWN AT THE MONITOR-PANEL AND FLIPPED ON CAMERA ONE'S MONITOR-SCREEN f THEN I CUT IN THE JUICE AND DROPPED THE TRANSMITTER HOOK-UP SO THE IMAGE WOULDN'T GO OUT OVER THE AIR r PRETTY SOON MY OWN SAD PUSS APPEARED ON THE PANEL...

The face on camera one's monitor-tube WAS NOT

I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.' CAMERA ONE WAS 'ON'.' I COULD TELL BY THE GLOWING RED LIGHT ON THE TOPT AND IT WAS POINTED DIRECTLY AT ME 'YET, THE MONITOR IN THE CONTROL ROOM CARRIED THE PICTURE OF THAT LUSCIOUS BABE' I PINCHED MYSELF' I FIGURED X MUST BE DREAMING...

OUT TO THE CAMERA AND INCREASED THE VERT1CHECKED THE LINEARITY AND

|But she just kept on talking' AND SHE WAS DEAD SERIOUS... OPERATION ..OF... INTER-

‘

PLANETARY COMMUNICATIONS -.IS

...

NOT...FOOLING..

AROUNDf YOU... ARE... JAM MING. ..MY... WAVELENGTH' IDENTIFY...

WHAT

PLANET EARTH... SALARY $73.50 PER...

GET AHOLD

OF...

YOUR PLANET

LOOK HERE, JACK'

THAT 'S ENOUGH 'JjK LOCATED? c 1

KNOCK A YOUR BOYFRIENDS HEAD OFF WHEN I AND I'LL

Pp-

L- YOURSELF.'

EARTHf\Mt HE'S EARTH* in GONNA BE BUR/ED jTvIHKT SOLAR SIX FEET UNDERf SYSTEM IS

PLANET-

THIS IS T.V. ENGINEER BART THOMPSON... STATION WZYR-TV...

IN THE SOLAR J p THE ONE WITH SYSTEM WITH -J THE RING.' BUT THE NINE THAT IS % PLANETS... IMPOSSIBLE.'}

V THIS

INCLUDING THE

NECK...

BUT, THAT'S

[DO YOU SEE

STATION WZYRTV... SALARY

$73.50 PER 'WE

ARE EIGHTY LIGHT-YEARS L. APART'

-A

IMPOSSIBLEfj VERY% BUT I'M NOT EVEN*? OBVIOUSLY, SAY ' HOW COME I mfCLEARLYfl TRANSMITTING.' IT IS AN < CAN UNDERSTAND

ME?

Y THOMPSON.-

I'M GONNA DO TO

YOUR

JOKE, BART

ONE WITH THE RING... WHICH IS JUST WHAT

I'M

]

ON A CLOSED^" INTERSTELLAR

CIRCUIT'

—-A

YOU?

YOU'RE

DON'T

SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE'

ELECTRONIC 'FROM SOME OTHER IsPEAK MY OWN/ warp.'jr WORLD, HOW COME < YOU HEARD IT

irx

YOU SPEAK ENGLISH ? )

^n9p LTMh&M

J AUTO- *

BEFORE f X

HAVE AN

RATIO TRANSLATOR HOOKED UP'

IT'S

type OF MECHANICAL ELECTRIC BRA/N 'n

MPPp-

TRANSLATES OUR RESPEC-

VOTIVE LANGUAGES FOR US'

Lara was lovely/we chatted TOR HALF THE NIGHT' SHE TOLD

ME ALL ABOUT HER PLANET, AND ABOUT EARTHX TOLD HER ALL

YOU. ..YOU' RE VERY

BEAUTIFUL

"we . we COULD! WE TRAVEL^ COULDN'T COME [but IT WOULD S^fALL OVER < * HERE. COULD J r TAKE A VERY

SPACE

.THING ABOUT

TRAVEL.' VOUR PEOPLE fcn

n?JZOUR SOLAR r-^-^JYSTEM' i

HAVE

fc.

YOU?

LORO TIME*

Y- TEN...

MAYBE

FIFTEEN ROTATIONS OF YOUR

PLANET ABOUT

Towards morning

confessed

1.-1 LOVE YOU, LARA.* I

KNOW

'would you come B-wiwiLL-il 1 SEE, BART*] TO EARTH HONEY? *1 WOULD WA/T~*> NOW, I MUST

\ FOR

T HEN SHE WAS GONE* I CHECKED EVERYTHING CAREFULLY.. NOTING EACH ADJUSTMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT IN THE CONTROL ROOM 'THEN I WENT HOME * THE NEXT NIGHT... STAYIN' LATEj [AGAIN. 8ART?j

YOU'

SIGN

OFF.

THE NEXT SHIFT, IS CO MING*

ITS CRAZY-. AND X/5fZ^5...BUT 1

As SOON AS EVERYONE I

ITS STAR*

X WILL NOTE 1 BUT, LARA' SUPPOSE WE WEVERY INSTRU--4 MEN T SETTING' CANNOT HARE CONTACZJSA/N'f YOU DO THEi SAMEf WE WILl^

TRV MOD-BYE 1

VMS GONE.

SET UP THE EQUIPMENT EXACTLY

AS IT HAD BEEN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT' LARA CAME IN SHARP...

DARLING* I WAS-J

SO WORRIED ...THAT.. THAT IT WOULDN'T -

WORK

AGAIN* 1 THOUGHT ABOUTV YOU ALL DAY* ~W,.

OH BART* ,

1 THOUGHT ABOUT YOU,

.TOO*

^LW

IF. ..IF YOU CAME OULD YOU, TO EARTH, LARA.JT" DEAREST? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D MARRY YOU* RE'LL SEE'

went on like that for a year' every NIGHT to TALK TO LARA ACROSS THE VOID OF SPACE ' WE FELL DESPERATELY AND PASSIONATELY IN LOVE f I LONGED FOR HER ' ONE

COULD 57E4Z 3 THE EXPERIMENTAL -

5 ROCKET-SHIP' IF SOT AWAY THEY'D

"could -< [YOU...?

X'D OSMrif

BUT,

VERY CARE-

MY LIFE'

•

AREA X COULD THINK OF FOR LARA TO COME DOWN IN ' I WANTED TO KEEP THIS WHOLE THING QUIET' AFTER TWO WEEKS OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION... JUST COME DOWN. AS /V£4/P TO THE

YOU'LL

ON THESE SALT-

FLATS/

fully.' hry

TO YOU'

I'D CHOSEN THE MOST BARREN

PLAN

EVERYTHING * CAREFULLY.'

X WERE

Fmean

AND CONTINENT.' NOW HERE'S A MORE DETAILED MAP OF THE land

HERE

''MUST

GAU6HT..XT WOULD

TYPE SPACE-DRIVE.' it would Z ONLY TAKE HALF A ROTATION. TO GET TO YOUR PLANET NOW' 4

AREA.' SEE

(then X WILL DO IT ' BUT WE

NEVER BE ABLE TO STOP ME.. AND

NIGHT...

I HAVE WONDERFUL

NEWS, DARLING ' ONE OF OUR SCIENTISTS HAS JUST PERFECTED A NEW

BLINKING LIGHT AS POSSIBLE.' THAT'LL BE

YES. BABY

‘T

SIX MONTHS'; mo..PLEAS£...

BE CAREFUL'

X...X

LOVE YOU

- BART' SEE

YOU

IN.. SIX

MONTHS YOU CALL IT?

THE NEXT NIGHT, X TRIED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH LARA. ..BUT SHE DIDN'T COME IN' I KNEW SHE WAS ON HER WAY ' THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WERE SHEER AGONY.. THE AGONY OF WAITING ' FINALLY, THE TIME DREW

REMEMBER THAT JEEP WITH THE SEARCHLIGHT ON IT THAT WE USED WHEN THAT MOVIE STAR CAME TO 1

r MOUNTED

'YEP ' WE ’

GOT

FROM THE ARMY ' THEY SAID WE COULD

.HAVE

ANYTIME' <.

I BORROWED IT' I GAVE THE ARMY A TALL STORY ABOUT ANOTHER MOVIE STAR AND DROVE OUT TO THE SALT-FLATS ' AS THE HOUR DREW NEAR, X STARTED FLASHING THE LIGHT INTO THE STAR-STUDDED SKY... HERE. LARA' R/GHT HERE. HONEY'

Suddenly the sky above me was filled with a ROARING, AND THE SEARCHLIGHT CAUGHT A GLEAMING

Lara's rocket-ship dropped tail-first toward THE FLATS TO THE NORTH OF ME... BABY.'BABY' COME ^TO PAPA.' ^

LARA' ITS HER SHIPS

T'S

The

ship came to rest about a mile away 1 r SPED ACROSS THE FLATS TOWARD IT, THE SEARCHLIGHT TRAI WHAT A SHIPS WHAT <

ARAS

IT S ME...

I'M. ..I'm...

A SAL TO FLY IT ALL ALONE/ OH, BABY, £ AM I BONNA KISS s. ijS^YOU'

BARTS

BOOD

LORDS

It WAS LARA’S SHIP i

SEEMED THE GIANT SHIP PARTED WIDER, I SCREAMED.. .

ADAf

Lara looked exactly as she'd APPEARED ON THE T.V. MONITOR SCREEN.' THE ONLY TROUBLE WAS SHE STOOD ABOUT TWO HUNDRED FEETTALL... I

HERE IS A TALE OF TENSION WITH SHEER STARK HORROR IN ITS GRIPPING CLIMAX'

A HORROR] ISuspbnStoh*]

Far up in the northern-most reaches of THE CANADIAN WOODS ARE MEN WHO LIVE BY TRAPPING THE VALUABLE FUR-BEARING ANIMALS WHICH ROAM THAT AREA/ SUCH A MAN IS HENRI PETITE.

MON DIEUf MY BEAN-TRAP' SHE

SPRONB'THE LIMB

FROM THAT TREE FELL UPON

Henri petite has many traps/ during the TRAPPING SEASON, HE SETS THEM OUT IN A ROUTE CALLED A 'TRAP-LINE / IT TAKES MANY 1

WHAT WILL I DO IT TAKES "S TO OPEN THE JAWS OF THE BEAR-TRAP/ ONE BY HIMSELF

TWO MEN

DOES NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH'

7TY?V

Trappers like henri live in small, comfortable CABINS DEEP IN THE WOODS'ALL WINTER LONS THEY SET OUT FROM THEIR CABINS TO TRAVEL THEIR TRAP-LINES' THEY RETURN MANY DAYS ...PERHAPS WEEKS... LATER. AND REST UP' AFTER THEY ARE RESTED. THEY SET OUT AGAIN.. 7

ZAT

TRAP' USUALLY THE ANIMAL STEPS UPON THIS TRIGOER, AND THE TRAP SNAPS SHUT' BUT A BEAR-TRAP, BY NECESSITY,

MUST BE A HUSE ONE... UU-O-U-H.' AAH' IT IS USELESS FOR ME TO TRY TO PRY THE JAWS APART BY MYSEL Ff

Lt VWrai

TOO BAD' UNLESS

X CAN SET SOMEONE TO HELP ME SET THE BEAN

TRAP, THERE WILL BE NO

BEAR SKINS FOR ME

THIS WINTER'

AS A THOUSAND POUNDS ' YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW STRONG A TRAP MUST BE TO CATCH A BEAR

AND HOLD IT11/ I

YZSK?

l_-

ar'-.j

OH, WELL' PERHAPS

If,]

DUVAL WILL HELP

f^Lr"^k

ME'

I WOULD DO THE SAME FOR HIM f

Marcel duval is also a trapPER' HIS CABIN IS LOCATED NOT FAR FROM HENRI'S/ DURING THE LONELY WINTER. WHEN THEY ARE NOT OUT ON THEIR TRAP LINES, THE TWO TRAPPERS SPEND MANY NIGHTS TOGETHER.. .PLAYING CHECKERS.

I MAKE OUT WELL Tl AM

NOT N

THIS TRIP/ BUT I AS FORTUNATE, ST/LL NO BEAR! /marcel/ MV THE TRAP WE SET / BEAR-TRAP...

TOGETHER HAS ^~N.SHE IS NOT BEEN TOUCHED SPRUNG.'

HENRI

YOU

CATCH

I I

CATCH TREE- LIMB' NOW. DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO

DO/ I CANNOT RE-SET TR, rrr

ALONE?

^ Wl LL HELP

YOU,

BEAR-TRAPS WHEN WINTER STARTED, DID

WE NOT?

Tout.

MARCEL/ BUT NOW,

YOU ARE TIRED.' YOU

HENRI/ WE BOTH SET EACH OTHER'S

WILL WANT TO REST _ AFTER YOUR TRAP-

LINE TRIP/

T#IE FOR REST WHEN

BEST FR/END.

SUMMER COMES' HOW MANY DAYS A

LUCKY MANfj

JOURNEY I’VE

IS IT

marcel'

(

A FEW

MILES FROM HENRI PETITE'S CABIN IS THE CABIN OF JAQUES SOUBRET... ANOTHER TRAPPER ' JAOUES HAS ALWAYS HATED HENRI ? HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN JEALOUS OF HENRI'S TRAP- TERRITORY ! HENRI'S TRAP-LINES HAVE ALWAYS PRODUCED MANY MORE PELTS THAN

BAH?

SEVEN PELTS / that IS ALL j HARDLY ENOUGH J

FIND THIS trip?

TO PAY FOR MY

)

' BUT

mm ,

THEM

GO.

IF HENRI PETITE WERE DEAD. COULD SET MY TRAPS IN H/S TERRI? ttMO/ev. how PRAY FOR THAT DAY ?

TORY '

|T«E NEXT MORNING, HENRI AND MARCEL START OUT FOR HENRIS BEAR -TRAP.. .TO RE-SET IT? JAOUES WATCHES I

I AM

FORGOTTEN

Towards noon, the two men reach the sprung BEAR-TRAP? JAOUES, KEEPING WELL HIDDEN, HAS FOLLOWED THEM TO THE SPOT... |p^ HERE

IT IS,

MARCEL? SEt

HOW THE TREE-LIMB HAS FALLEN UPON THE RELEASE

DISC

’W'

YES ? WELL? COME ? LET US RE-SET IT?

T.J Jj

f ^ WHEW' THINK OF WHAT WOULD IF A HAN WERE CAUGHT IN THIS THING / HE WOULD

HAPPEN r JUST A little:. GASP...

NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT 8Y H/MSELF'm^^^^A

MORE...

.MARCEL.'

YOU ARE RIGHT, DO NOT WORRY, ^ HENRI r JUST BE MARCEL.' 1 KNOW CAREFUL YOU I EXACTLY YOURSELF DO J WHERE IT /S ' / COME ' LET US A NOT STEP I

IT'

SO' YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE TRAP IS, EH, HENRI? WELL< F I SURELY CAN FIX THAT'

his cabin, jaoues takes a hack-saw, two STRONG LOCKS, AND TWO LEN6THS OF HEAVY CHAIN!

From

I MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SPRING THE TRAP WHILE I

IT '

. 1

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

-g

IF X WERE TO MOVE THE TRAP JUST A LITTLE WAY UP THE TRAIL ... AND HENRI WERE STEP IN IT... HE WOULD FREEZE TO DEATH BEFORE ANYONE MISSED HIM' .

Slowly... cautiously. .jaoues cuts the chain that ANCHORS THE BEAR -TRAP WITH THE HACK-SAW... .

AAH'

IT is

CUT THROWN

NOW TO MOVE

UP-TRAIL

SHAKING ,

WHEW/ X AM BUT...

HAVE

A LEAK.

DONE

FEW HANDFULS OF DEAD LEAVES AND DRIED TWIGS IS CAMOUFLAGED? JAOUES GRINS AT

AND THE TRAP 7

HIS WORK...

HEH,

Repeating this maneuver on the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRAIL, J AGUES SECURES THE TRAP TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE TWO TREES...

Curling one of the lengths of CHAIN ABOUT ONE OF THE TWO TREES AND LOOPING IT THROUGH THE TRAP, JAQUES LOCKS IT CLOSED WITH ONE OF THE TWO LOCKS HE'S BROUGHT. â&#x20AC;&#x17E;

IT IS READY FOR READY FOR YOU

HEH< NOW HENRI

YOU,

is almost a week later that henri petite COMPLETES ANOTHER TRAP-LINE TOUR AND MOVES UP THE TRAIL TOWARD HIS BEAR-TRAP...

0 NOT HEAR ANY THRASHING OR NO LUCK/ well' i CHECK TO SEE IF THE TRAP 'LING.' AHH' -v

STILL...

)

THE TRAP SPRING SHUT ON HIMSELF

THE PAIN

STEEL TEETH DIG

EXCRUCIATING

DEEP ?

FINALLY,

EXHAUSTED...

^^TflrflSNO

USE.. .GASP

THE HUGE HE LAYS BACK

IT IS...GASP. ..NO

USE!

OPEN THE TRAP BY MYSELF.' X. U A I CANNOTMUST RESCUE ME.' GAS WAIT

GASP. -X

FOR... GASP.. .SOMEOfC TO...

? Henri looks around' his pack and his gun LAV WHERE THEY HAVE FALLEN 1 HE REACHES OUT FOR THEN...

|r»»l

JAQUES MOVES FROM

JAQUES? WHAT are' DOING? HELP ME'

you

HELP ME'

BECAUSE X WANT YOUR TRAP-LINES. HENRI ! THIS WILL LOOK LIKE J

HON AM' WHO DO YOU THINK YOUR IN THE

MOVED TRAP

FIRST PLACE?

AN *

out WHY

UNFORTUNATE

RELOCATING YOUR AND IT SPRUNG.'

TRAP...

I...X. WILL STARVE WITHOUT MY PACE/ X CANNOT PROTECT MYSELF..

*»

WITHOUT MY GUN.' X WILL DIE HERE' A-

ACCIDENT f THEY'LL 1 THINK YOU WERE J L

HIS HIDING PLACE

EQUIPMENT BEYOND HIS REACH... F

=^gr

AND ORAGS HENRI'S

? MEANWHILE. OUT IN THE WOOOS, A RAGGED, HALF- STARVED FIGURE DRAGS ITSELF ALONG... LEAVING A TRAIL OF BLOOO BEHIND IT...

IT IS ABOUT HENRI T' GIVE HIM HE HAS NOT A FEW RETURNED FROM HIS /MORE DAYS! X VlF HE DOES AM WORRIED NOT COME... ABOUT HIM WE WILL LOOK FOR HIM'

PETITE

TRAP-LINE TOUR'

HENRI? YOU FREED YOURSELF YOU..YOU..

YOU...YOU..

MON DTEUf

When marcel

duvml comes to soubreTs cabin THE NEXT MORNING, HE FINDS JAQUES DEAD HENR GASPS OUT HIS STORY... NO.GASP? THE ...THE D/RTY SWINE? BUT BUT HOW DÂ© YOU FREE YOUR- T MY.. .KNIFE...

SELF,

HENRI? YOU HAD A- GULP... A KNIFE?

WAS...IN...

PACK..