Shock suspenstories 006 (r)

NOTORIOUS 1950S EC COMICS!

265

CANADA

TINSI@NP II

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BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE SHOCKING FINAL TWIST TO THIS GRIPPING TALE OF TENSION...

1

f Cathy sat back and lit a CIGARETTE? THE SMOKE CURLED UP LAZILY, DRIFTING TOWARD

THE CEILING OF THE PICTURESQUE TEAROOM? SOON MADAME VORNA WOULD BE READING CATHY'S TEA LEAVES ONCE MORE? CATHY BELIEVED IN MADAME VORNA...

SHE HAD TOfFOUR TINES SHE'D READ CATHY'S FORTUNE ACCURATELY/ CATHY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FIRST TIME .

WORK~ OR A LIVING. ..AN OFFICE CLERK.' YOU DO NOT TYPE VERY WELL, DO YOU?

/you f \

:

,

Yes? CATHY REMEMBERED THAT FIRST DAY WELL SHE'D GONE BACK TO THE OFFICE AND...

WHY, NR. X DIDN'T .YOU BACK

CLAYTON f\ IS TH/S HOW YOU TAKE EXPECT <4 CARE OF THINGS WHILE TODAj^UA I'M GONE MISS FINCH?

1^ f

,

WHAT?

IT'S

ONE TWENTY -FIVE'

UNDERCLAYTON?

,

THE ELEVATOR NAN TOLD ME YOU WENT OUT TO LUNCH AT TWELVE / YOU KNOW THAT WE ALLOW ONLY ONE m FOR LUNCH?

r HOUR

’

,

SO YOU'RE E/RED, MISS FINCH!

KNOW THAT' SO

DON'T

STAND

'

^

T HE CLOCK /THE CLOCK IN THAT LITTLE GYPSY TEAROOM HAD BEEN HALF AN HOUR SLOW? THAT GYPSY KNEW IT? CATHY STORMED INTHE CLOCK? HALF AN HOUR SLOW? OH? SO IT I DIDN'T NOTICE BUT YOU FORGET, X DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOUR ENPLOYER

tsf

MISS?

WAS OUT OF TOWN/ HOW COULD TELL HE'D CONE BACK, E UNEXPECTEDLY?

X THAT-.

THAT’S

RIGHTf

f

/

'

And that second

,

AND ANNOUNCED— A yOV

f'RE~l

i

She'd been right again'that

time.'cathy'd

IN WHILE JOB HUNTING' THE GYPSY'D EXAMI NED HER CUP

STOPPED

STILL OUT OF A JOB' YOUR SAVINGS ARE RUNNING LOW. BUT WAIT/ DO NOT WORRY / I SEE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY IN YOUR LIFE SOMEDAY.!AND A MAN/ AND. I SEE A JOB. ..TO DAY/ .

L OH

WAS THE DAY CATHT'D LANDED HER JOB IN THE RESTAURANT...

YOU WERE L SEE/ YOU..

RIGHT.UADAUeJ YOU CANNY VORNAf I DID fsOMETHING'ER..

\

f

|

^FOODf ARE am waitress /}

GET A JOB

»

today'’

YOU

a

YOU'RE ASTOUNDING, 7”yes'the MADAM VORNA 'TELL 1 MAN.. YOU ME' DO YOU SEE WILL NANNY ANYTHING MORE HIM' BUT, ( ,

I

ABOUT THAT DOUGH.} WAITf vs.

AND THAT GUY? yS WILL NOT BE N/GH AT THE TIME OF YOUR MANN/AGE/

...

1

FAT CHANCE

I'M

NOT

MARRYIN' ANY JERK [unless HE'S LOADED Already.' er... is it

\

1

nr love?

And that

I

f

HE WILL INHERIT THE HONEY... INHERIT) \ IT FROM SOMEONE

NEAR AND DEAN TO / MU' SOON AFTER S

YOU ARE MARRIED / ) T' WAIT f I SEE SOMEONE } ASKING YOU FOR DATE < TOMORROW/ A LARGE MAN... 2

night, cathy'd gone back to madam

VORNA...

YOU WERE R/6HT, HONEY' I DID GET ASKED FOR A DATE T'DAY WHEN YOU SAID A LARGE YOU WERE C'RECT/ THIS GUY

WAS DISGUSTING.'A FAT SLOB NOW, WHAT ABOUT MY

FUTURE HUSBAND?

Madame vorna had been

right for the third TIME? THE NEXT DAY, CATHY WAS ASKED FOR A DATE! BUT SHE TOOK ONE LOOK AT HIM, AND— NO THANKS BUSTER' THEN HOW ABOUT TWORROW I'm BUSY TONIGHT.' — » NIGHT, CUTE STUFF' ff—A

YOU MEAN I'M GOING NOW I SEE THE LARGE TO BE A WIDOW? J MAN AGAIN 'HE IS SITTING A RICH WIDOW? AT A TABLE./ HE ...HE IS ASKING YOU FOR ANOTHER -m. DATE/

mg^

—

[That'd been that very afternoon 'the obese (INDIVIDUAL HAD COME INTO THE RESTAURANT ^AGAIN CATHY COULDN'T STAND HIM? THE ODOR OF

THE CIGARETTE SMOKE CURLED UPWARD CEILING OF THE GYPSY TEAROOM

'.

EVERY

I'M BUSY NIGHT, AS FAR

YOU'RE

Madam vorna took AH' I SEE THE LARGE MAN DID ASK YOU FOR A DATE, AND YOU

WERE -7

TO

RUDE

HIM...

'

\

IF l

I

Cathy's cup..

BUT

YOU CAME SIX

HE IS

AS

^^fgaPj^INHERIT

THE

L-.

MAN...

HE

That

night, gathy thought it all over... just WHAT MADAME VORNA HAD READ IN THE TEA LEAVES. SHE'S BEEN RIGHT FOUR TIMES ALREADY? AND SHE DOES SEE THE FAT SLOB DYING SOON AFTER HE INHERITS ALL THAT DOUGH' VIOLENTLY, SHE

SAID' MAYBE HE'LL GET KILLED

ACCIDENT? AND

IF I'M

(t

IN

MARRIED TO

AN

AUTO

HIM...

BUT SHORTLY AFTERWARD, HE WILL DIE... â&#x20AC;¢

)

THE ONE YOU WILL HARRYf) < IS THE ONE WHO WILL INHERIT L. THE LARGE SUM OF HONEY SOON AFTER YOU ARE MARRIED'/'

HIM,

WHEWF

ALL THE

j-l

HE...

LARGE

WITHIN

FEET or

YOU'D BE RUDE TOO.'

fEU- ER 1M 60NNA HARRY f THE GUY THAT'S GONNA

CONCERNED,

BUSTER'

TO THE SUDDENLY.

I

MY DEAR LET ME < HORRIBLE FAT CRUMB, HUH ' HAVE YOUR GUPf) TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT

BREATH...

>

f

MADAM VORNA STOOD OVER CATHY...

AM READY NOW,) HERE." AND FOROET THAT

HIS PERSPIRATION HAD SICKENED HER' WHEN HEto (SPOKEN, CATHY'D CAUGHT A WHIFF OF HIS FOUL ,

VIOLENTLY IS WHAT I SEE'

^

DOUGH F

S

Cathy almost threw up when HE TOOK HER HAND

.

HOW 'BOUT GOIN' OUT WITH HE T'NIGHT , CUTIE?

IN HIS

6REASY

ALL RIGHT' ...CHOKE...

],

It WAS HORRIBLE 'THE EVENING WAS LIKE A NIGHTMARE.' CHARLIE MARNO WAS HIS NAME 'HE TOOK CATHY TO A MOVIE' THEY SAT THERE TOGETHER IN THE DARK... iCATHY RETCHING WITH EACH flBREATH SHE TOOK...

5'A

NIGHT-CLUB.

GOOD P/TCHER,,

A EH,

) Y-YES, 'CHARLIE'

CATHY?

Wmrn

:

CHARLES UARNO.' YES' THAT'S RIGHT.'

HOW MUCH HONEY?

CAN YOU SEE HIS INITIALS' I SEE HIS

I SEE... I SEE TWENTY...

NO. ..TWENTY -FI VE THOUSAND DOLLARS'

J

INITIAL SfC..Jt.'

DISGUSTING CHARLIE UARNO.' THEN, SEVERAL WEEKS OF DATING LATER. ..SEVERAL HORRIBLE WEEKS OF BEING NEAR HIM..OHARLIE PROPOSED ...

I AIN’T GOT MUCH NOW, CATHY'

BUT

I

GOT GOOD PROSPECTS'

WILL YUH

HARRY HE?

/

j

|T

"

CHARLIE? DO YOU HAVE ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU. A BROTHER..

OR AN AUNT. .WHO

)

. .

.

IS... ER..’.

RICH?

UNCLE'S GOT A FACTORY' OH, THAT'S ALL ) HE'S WORTH SOMETHIN’' — RIGHT, CHARLIE'YOU BUT I WOULDN'T ASK HIH ) WON'T HAVE TO ASK FOR ANYTHING' -4 HIM K£i?... CHARLIE'

MY

Cathy was sure now' for twenty-five thousand DOLLARS, SHE COULD STAND ANYTH! NG 'EVEN

M

.'

'

.

For a moment.. .for a miserable sickening MOMENT... WHEN CHARLIE TOOK HER INTO HIS ARMS AND PLANTED HIS FLABBY LIPS UPON HERS, CATHY THOUGHT OF CHUCKING THE WHOLE DEAL? BUT -TWENTY-FIVE OH, BABY f BABY/ WE'RE GONNA BE

150 HAPPY.'

±

THOUSAND DOLLARS" SURE, CHARLIE!

1 CHOKE— SURE

So SHE WENT THROUGH

WITH IT? SHE MARRIED ON A CHEAP HONEYMOON. . -TO A TWO-BIT RESORT HOTEL NEAR THE SEA- SHORE? CATHY WAS TOO

HIM? THEY WENT

CHARLIE SUIT.

?

ALMOST ASHAMED TO BE SEEN WITH WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE IN A BATHING

MMMMM? SMELL THAT

FRESH AIR, NICE, EH?

And after the honeymoon, Charlie and cathy MOVED INTO A SHABBY FURNISHED ROOM?THE DAYS AND NIGHTS CRAWLED BY- PA INFULLY ?CATHY WAITEDBY THE WAY, CHARLIE? HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR

A MONTH PASSED ? THEN TWO ?

CATHY WENT BACK TO THE GYPSY TEAROOM SOON.' IT

—

baby? >

—

'

’ ,

.

And then it happened i cathy'd stopped in AT A LARGE CAFETERIA IN TOWN FOR A BITE TO EAT.' AS SHE TOOK HER CHECK ANO MOVED DOWM THE LINE OF COUNTERS..

FS' FUNNY i I GOT THE STRANGEST PEELIN’ THAT EVERYBODY'S WATCHIN

FORWARD. SMILING.

YOUNG LADY.' CONGRATULATIONS' C-CATHY ' YOU ARE NETHERLANE CAFETERIA'S / MRS. CATHY

ONE MILLIONTH CUSTOMER .' yS MARNO 'z

IF YOU WILL GIVE US >~J( DON’T UNDERYOUR NAME. . ft S" STAND.' .

W HOLD H

HAVE A

CUP OF COFFEE...

Suddenly, the cafeteria was flooded with blinding LIGHT/CATHY SPUN AROUND f EVERYONE WAS APPLAUDING ! A MAN IN A BLUE SERGE SUITSTEPPED

NOW

.

I'LL

C LIGHTS V

IT.'

.

,

T

Someone handed the smiling man a rectangular PIECE OF PAPER...

MANAGEMENT MARNOf OF NETHERLANE CAFETERIA TAKES PLEASURE IN PRESENTING YOU ...OUR THE

MRS.

MILLIONTH CUSTOMER.. with CHECK. FOR TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS

a

_JIJ

.

_

.

.

It TOOK CATHY SEVERAL HOURS TO COMPOSE HERSELF f TOWARDS EVENING SHE CAME HOME ... THE CASH IN HER POCKETBOOK.

CATHY? THAT) YES... IT'S ME, YOU? ]~~X YOU O/SGUST/NG 7 p,e ' 3

—

7

—

"CATHY.' 'SHE WAS WRON6, YOUJ WHAT ARE \ FAT SLOB MADAME \ YOU TALKING ABOUT, CATHY? CRUMB/ I DON'T VORNA WAS WRONG V IT WAS ME THAT GOT / WHAT DO YOU j NEED YOU NOWf I’M WALKING OUT! THE TWENTY- FIVE \ w MEAN? .'

)

ZGRAND'HOT YOUf)

J

THANKS FOR THREE MONTHS Or PERPETUAL

NAUSEA.' y

f Charlie moved quickly., THE

.barring

DOOR...

CATHY' YOU CAN'T WALK OUT ON ME'

CATHY'

CATHY'

CHARLIE DON'T

LOOK AT

ME LIKE

LOVE' HAH'

]

/

THAT.'

I CAN'T STAND BEING NEAR YOU.'

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

WE LOVE EACH rrl P lIl \'i*r t

-

St other'

i

IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU...

NOBODY

to CAN '

Charlie brought the gleaming knife blaoedown CHARLIE' PUT KJAGAIN AND AGAIN.' CATHY'S BAG FELL TO THE FLOOR^ DOWN THAT KNIFEfXJTHE TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS SPILLING OUT, BLOTTING OUT THE BLOOD-

IF I. MUCH. ..CANT HAVE UUGH ..NO UGHXAN...

YOU...

m

One

day,

shortly after

CATHY'S MURDER, A STIFF

BREEZE SWEPT ACROSS A DISMAL CEMETERY, CARRYING WITH IT A FLUTTERING SHEET OF NEWSPAPER.

IT HE PAPER CAME TO REST BY A HEADSTONE PAID FOR WITH THE I

MONEY CHARLES MARNO HAD INHERITED-.

INHERITED 'FROM SOMEONE NEAR AND DEAR TO HIMf ...

ONE..., wjl

HERE

AN ELECTRIFYING STORY WITH SOLID IMPACT

IS

IN ITS

STARTLING CONCLUSION 1

UNDER COVER/ ^

KNEES The woman screamed/ one of them pushed her and she fell to her v ' “n ARMS BEHIND HER BACK/ THEY STOOD AROUND HER... SILENTLY. SOMBER BURNED FROM BEHIND THE HOLES IN THEIR BLACK HOODS/ THE WOMAN THE TEARS STREAMED FROM HER EYES, DOWN HER BRUISED CHEEKS / S "»*. ,i FROM J3NE HOO DED FACE TO ANOTHER. _ PLEAOINGLY. f YOU’RE GONNA GET THE YOU NEED A~'^V}^^WE RE GONNA TEACH /^AIN'T GONNA DO YOU WHIPPIN' OF YOUN LIFE, FOOL NOT TO YOU CARSON/ LESSON / SUZY \JSOOD, SUZY CARSON / i^, trf\V, you're gonna r*8 around with fl LL? fllKlBBgA v> Y/ SET IT' TTT/^m wen' .

.

.

The woman fell face downward, her body heaving WITH EACH GURGLED SOB/ A VOICE CALLED OUT. '

MAKE WAY FOR THE

BRAND HASTEN.'

.

.

NO^

.

'•

.

—

I

>

am

The BLACK-HOODED FORMS LOOKED UP FROM THE PROSTRATE WOMAN/ A FIGURE APPEARED, MOVING INTO THE CIRCLE / HE WAS DRESSED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE OTHERS/ HE WAS THEIR LEADER/HIS HOOD GLEAMED BLOOD-REDIN THE FIRELIGHT... r YES, BRAND tR TO THE ’ HITCH RASTER/ . .

TREE/ GIVE ME sTHE WHIP / s

TWO BLACK-HOODED

FIGURES LIFTED THE SQUIRMING WOMAN AND DRAGGED HER TO A TREE' HER ARMS WERE UNTIED AND SWUNG AROUND ITS TRUNK- THEN RETIED

T HE WOMAN CLOSED HER EYES SQUEEZING OUT THE GATHERED TEARS f THE BLOOD-RED-HOODED LEADER RAISED HIS GLOVED HAND LIFTING THE HEAVY

ONCE AGAIN -

LEATHER STRAP...

SUZY CARSON.' FOR CONSORTING WITH... WITH THAT TRASH ELEMENT IN OUR TOWN, THE BLACK VIGI^^ LANTE SOCIETY SENTENCES YOU TO ONE-HUNDRED LASHES'

,

...

THIS WILL TEACH YOU TO

STAY WITH YOUR OWN...KIND..

The strap lashed downward ACROSS THE WOMAN'S BACK' THE COUNT BEGAN...

Samuel masters turned away FROM THE HORRIBLE SIGHT... A WAVE OF NAUSEA SWEEPING OVER H IM

...

THREE^Coh, lord'

^Zs<lord...

Samuel masters shook his head' he slid down WARD UNTIL HE SAT WITH HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS' THE VOICE IN THE CLEARING DRIFTED TO HIS HIDING PLACE. ..ECHOING THE SHARP CRACK OF THE LEATHER

FOUR.

1

FIVE',

FENTON' BLAST > T YOU STOP ME? DID YOU LET ME STICK MY NOSE WHY DID YOU LET ME START? NOW I'LL HAVE TO ... FINISH IT

BLAST YOU, ED YOU' WHY DIDN

WHY IN?

NOW...

STRAP.

THE

) ' OH,

WHY

DIRTY...FILTHY... ROTTEN ...

LORD.' WHY DO THEY DID I

_ I EVER

DOT HIS?

HAVE TO SEE IT?WILL

SLEEP

AGAIN?

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

^

1

-*

>/

J

}

f

f

V

'ALL RIGHT'^/ZY'Took, ed -'AND YOU'RE~\ 'IM GOING -v. falling strap faded/ the THERE FOR A \ RIGHT/ THEY'RE THEY'VE KID- \ GOING TO HELP SOUNDS OF A BUSY NEWSPAPER STORY. S AM OFFICE CAME UP/ SAMUEL MASTERS 4 A MENACE/ ARE NAPPED AND J THE F.B.I .CATCH 'EM? LITTLE YOU GOING TO A I'M GOING TO / WAS THINKING.. .THINKING ABOUT y FLOGGED > FIGHT THEM JJ< INNOCENT ’EXPOSE THIS DETECTIVE / ED FENTON. ..THINKING ABOUT THE SINGLE-HANDED?) PEOPLE...

DAY HE‘D VOLUNTEER ED ) JUNIOR G-MAN/) ROTTEN MESS NOW. DO I GET _ GUILTY OF <* LOOK. SAM' IENOW <HOW CAN\T NOTHING MORE YOUR OKAY... \ r HOW YOU FEEL ABOUTJED? THOSE THAN PRACTICING OR DON'T I? ) THOSE EL OGS/NGS /)HOODED DEMOCRACY/tre N [all I'M SAYING IS. Af GANGS ARE ’EM./. IS INTER-

The

]

I

\

(

.

,

^

)

.

f

'

f

¥ A MENACE/

]/T$ TROUBLE

.

r

ESTED/

OKAY (OKAY/1 Killed/ killed/™*- word exploded BE A HERO/ ) IN SAM'S BRAIN/HE POKED HIS HEAD UP SEE WHERE IT< FROM HIS HIDING PLACE-

GETS

YOU/JUST’

ONE THING SAM / BE CAREFUL, HUH?''

<

DEAD/ WE '

AND A BLACK-HOODED FIGURE STEPPED FORWARD CUT THE ROPES THAT HELD THE WOMAN'S HANOS AROUND THE TREE/ HER LIFELESS BODY SLID TO

Y YOU 'V UNTIE J SURE ?! HER/, alA r^7/Ct

I SAID SHE'S

,

'

SHE LOOKS DEAD/

KIL LED HER.'

OON'T GET YOUR-

..

\

SELF KILLED/

The leader—the red-hooded

one...removed his

mask and knelt to listen to the girl's SHE... SHE'S

DEAD

ALL RIGHT/

JfmQ-

heart...

The

firelight danced on his perspiring face.

BODY OF HERE/C'MON/

LET'S GET HER

OUT

'

In his hiding place, sam masters leaned forward, studying THE UNMASKED GANG LEADER...

The BLACK-HOODED FIGURES MOVED OFF TOWARD THEIR CARS? THE LEADER SLIPPED HIS RED MASK BACK OVER HIS FACE ONCE MORE < TWO OF THE GANG LIFTED THE DEAD WOMAN'S BODY...

STUDYING HIS FACE...

I KNOW YOU NOW, YOU DIRTY IF IT'S THE LAST TH/NO IDO, I'LL SEE THAT YOU BUNN FOR THIS {

r

The CLEARING WAS DESERTED THE FIRE BURNED LOW SAM CAME OUT FROM HIS HIDING

f

PLACE,

WATCHING THE LAST CAR'S TAIL LIGHT DISAPPEAR DOWN THE

LONELY COUNTRY ROAD...

IF it's

the

BREAK UP:

A

TWIG SNAPPED BEHIND SAM i HE SPUN AROUNDf TWO HOODED FIGURES STARED AT HIM-

WHAT THE..

.

T .

-

IT'S ..

THAT

,

fJREPORTER f)

Sam

began to run' behind, the ROBED FIGURES CRASHED THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH AFTER HIM-

OET W.'

LAST

TH/NS I DO...y

Sam GOT TO... GASP... HIDE IF THEY FIND ME....

lay in the underbrush, scarcely breathing: THE TWO HOODED FIGURES PUFFED BY, CLOSE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO REACH OUT ANO TOUCH THEM-

J After a while they came back.

BREATHING HEAVILY... ,

STUPID' \ TOL'\ YUH HE WENT THE] OTHER way r J

I

Sam darted down an alley and across the rear YARDS OF THE BUILDINGS THAT LINED THE MAIN STREET ' FINALLY HE REACHED THE HOTEL'S BACK

It was starting to rain when sam masters SLIPPED BACK INTO TOWN AND MADE HIS WAY (OH, OH'

A CAR’S PARKED

IN

FRONT

'

MOTOR'S

^RUNNING.' I CAN TELL FROM THE EXHAUST: THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME' I'VE GOT TO

SHEAR IH...

THROUGH THE

BACK

^ i

The CLERK HANDED SAM THE PHONE. HELLO 9 HELLO, OPERATOR ? r GOOD LORD ' GIVE ME THE F.B.I.f ^ THE YISIL antes: QUICKLY.'

They crossed the LOBBY.' there were FOUR OF THEM, THEIR EYES RIVETED ON SAM FROM THE HOLES IN THEIR BLACK HOODS ... ’so YOU WERE NOSIN'X'M^LL TEACH

CLEARING

^

TONIGHT (

TO

NOSE

^dLA ROUND r

Sam backed

up.'

FIGURES MOVED

the hooded IN...

WOMAN/

WHAT DID YOU SEE? 4

YOU SURE, NOSEY?

YOU

,

SURE?

y

I

AND YOU WERE ) WHAT ELSE ) DID GONNA TELL J DID YOU J YOU

^_ J

WHAT DID YOU ^ I SAW YOU BIG -SHOT? KILL THAT 1

SEE,

THE F.B. I.

F

SEE,

%RECOQ-*

NOSEY? J N/ZE s

V ANYBODY?

DIDN'T SEE..

.THE GRANDMASTER T NO i NO/ /HAD HIS MASK OF ft 1...1 DIDN'T DID

^

YOU SEE H/S

FACE? miBL

J SEE ANYBODY'S

FACE/

V

I DIDN'T... SOB.. X TELL I.. DIDN'T.. .

OOOOOOOFFf.

YOU.'

.

JUNNNSOSGsS

ON MIND...UHHH. YOUR OWN...

BUSINESS..

UNN...

DON'T UNN...

TALKff

SAM.'

THE BLACK-

f

ff

f

r

T HE

FOG CLEARED' THE ROOM WAS BRIGHT' SAM ON A HOSPITAL BED.' A DOCTOR BENT OVER HIM TWO MEW WHISPERED TOGETHER IN LOW TONES ...

LAY

I

r

YOU'VE BEEN OUT COLD FOR

FOUR HOURS, MR. MASTERS' THEY GAVE YOU QUITE A

/ (

WHY

DID

THEY

^\ I SAW N THEM'

\ 00MR.THIS, J I SAW ]

SEA TINS/I'M FROM THE FJU.fi k

YOU PUT

IN

A CALL TO

US...

THEM

^ f MASTERS?. ) KILL '

A

C

WOMAN

TONIOHTf

}

POSITIVE I LL AVTHEY FLOSSED) 1 D YOlT' "THE BRAND MASTER HE TOOK OFF HIS \S AW HIS FACE WOMAN?) HER TO JsEE WHO K DEATH I \> DID IT? < MASK X CAN CAN IDENTIFY!1 CLEARLY IDENTIFY •

1

I

K

^/

i

\r (SAW IT ALL fj DID YOU SEE U 1

—

^

I^Y^ANY OF THEIR I FACES?

\T

f

HIM'

HE WAS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY

m

m

HIM, MR.

,

MASTERS?! I

DID IT '^^^mx

A

FIGURE STEPPED FROM BEHIND THE SCREEN AND NODDED? THE TWO PHONY FB I MEN ANO THE PHONY DOCTOR PULLED THEIR GUNS AND FIRED...

MAKE TROUBLE FOR US N THEY FIND HIS BODY* BUT IT WON'T LAST LONS' THEY'LL COOL OFFf AND WITHOUT AN IDENTIFYIN6 WITNESS... WE'RE SAFE

THAT'S

ALL

WE WANTED TO KNOW/

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

IT BEGAN WHEN LIEUTENANT AROEN, THE ASTRONAVIG ATOR, CAME TO THE ROCKET-SHIP COMMANDER...

y

YES, SIR.' WHEN WE CROSSED SURE HAVE YOU ' [THE SEVENTH DEGREE AZIMUTH CHECKED YOUR "and I STILL HADN'TS/GHTED FIGURES ? tausarus m.l CHECKED /_ JJE'RE DEFINITELY LOST /Jj

^

IMMANDER BERGMAN CURSED. BUST YOU FOR THIS; /I DON'T KNOW ! I'LL SEE YOU SCRUBWHERE I MADE ' EXHAUSTTUBES WHEN *1 MISTAKE,*â&#x201E;¢!

I'VE GONE BACK , OVER MY COURSER

I'LL

ARDEN BING

I GET THROU6H WITH YOU !/

CALCULATIONS A

DOZEN

A

Science-Fiction

TIMES.

.

J

rfM

Commander bergman snatched

JNEVER HIND? ONE

UP THE SHIP'S INTERCOM MIKE AND BARKED INTO ITf

attention/

/i'll try

.

HANDS' REPORT

MISTAKE IS ENOU6H.' rrou’RE THROUGH,

^

Lto back-

ATTENTION...,*/!

7 TRACK.

.

TO THE CONTROL-

[sir...

ROOM..JMMEDIATELY' Jk

j FI

^

[ARDEN • WASHED ur.'

r

4

AND

CURE

4

OUR EXACT LOCATION.'

THE STERN- FACED SHIP'S COMMANDER STEPPED into the FORWARD AND RIPPED LIEUTENANT HARDEN'S EPAUTROL ROOM f COMMANDER BERGMAN LIT A CIGAR! LETS FROM HIS BLOUSE...

GENTLEMEN.' LIEUTENANT AR DEN, H E R E,T#W4 Tf)HOLY Yl HEREBY RELIEVE LIEUTENANT\/ HAS JUST INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS < rARDEN OF HIS COMMISSION MADE A SLIGHT ERROR IN THE CALCUAND REDUCE HIM TO THE RANK LATIONS FOR OUR COURSE SETTING. OF ROCKET -MAN, THIRD CLASS/ AND WE ARE NOW TRAVELING IN AN UNCHARTED SECTION OF 0 U R 111 GALAXY.' y*-*

The crew of the rocket-ship filed

mr

ITS CREW DEPENDS UPON THE JOBS PERFORMED BY EACH AND EVERY CREW' LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL OF YOU ? I WILL NOT TOLERATE MIS- ' TAKES' I' LL BUST ANYONE AND EVERYONE WH

THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIR AND

MEMBER OF THAT

FALLS DOWN ON HIS JOB.' SERGEANT COOGAN WILL TAKE OVER AS NAVIGATION OFFICER 'THE

’

The men filed silently out of the control ROOM 'THE DE-COMMISSIONED OFFICER HUNG HIS HEAD... BITING HIS LIPS...

JWELL

,

ARDEN? WHAT ARE YOU FOR? KNOW WHERE

WAITING YOU ROCKET-MEN’S QUARTERS ARE' REPORT THERE FOR DUTY.' »

k

r

I

1

I

—

I

>

•

-•

1 1

*

/'

j

J

1

J They crowded around

Robert arden moved down the corridor and OPENED THE DOOR TO THE ROCKET-MEN'S QUARTERS' INSIDE, THE NOISE OF BABBLING VOICES DIED SUDDENLY AS ALL EYESTURNEO TOWARD HIM' THERE WAS A MOMENT OF AWKWARD SILENCE AND THEN...

EMPTY BUNK ^WITH YOUR TH/NDsT) THE SIR' OOWN THERE, SIR^WLSIR?^^*^ STUFF nn^^MaeT BOYS' THAT W j

, '

DOESN'T

HEARD THEV' SURE. BOB f

BUt|

PERHAPS

'

-

THE COMMAND-

...

THAT’S .

TOO

ggJ^^^HARD..

.

IM E AN WHILE IN THE CONTROL ROOM, COMMANDER HORACE BERGMAN AND HIS ASSISTANT OFFICER, ,

A

.

BOB/

J

OLD MAN' ONE J EVEN THE BEST! ER'S A HARD MAN/ •Cf [LOST/?

MISTAKE COULD) GUYS MAKE A *\ BESIDES' WHAT HE > MEAN THE J MISTAKE/OKAY/I DIDN’T TELL YOU IS...)

SAFETY OF Y BUT T0 BUST X BECAUSE OF MY ONE J THE SHIP AND YOU- RIGHT TO J 'MISTAKE WE'RE \THE CREW /A THE BOTTOM /A LOST/ _ I

]

)

SO

lanymore

YOU

offering their

) '

w

.

—

~

.

him.

/ ROCKET- MAtT f JUST FOR ONE THIRD CLASS, MISTAKEf ONE* LOUSY MISTAKE} 'LIEUTENANT/' WHAT A DIRTY AND... CALL ME ^ TRICK /

GEE, LIEUTENANT? WE'RE SORRY... \

1

A

MJPM ~

VICE-COMMANDER PHILIP FORBES. ini

111

hi

limn

COOSan isn't QUA L I F!ED, HORACE?

'but r

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT ARDEN BACK ON

kJHE JOB f

^

TARE YOU v

CRAZY,

FORBES?

^

RECOMMISSION HIM /he_ MIGHT IHINK XVE HEARD SO WHAT MAYBE FIND HIS MISTAKE AND FIGURE 1 RECOMMISSION j YOU OUSHT TO EASE T ENOUSH, FORBES'THE SHIP J OUR LOCATION /FRANKLY, I'M < f ARDEN/ WHY,/ UP /YOU'RE ALWAYS IS UNDER MY COMMAND? I WORRIED /WE ONLY HAVE TWO ) THE CREW WILL DOWN ON THEM.* MUST MAKE SURE THAT MONTHS OXY6EN SUPPLY 4^ THINK I'VE DONE) DRIVINS THEM/ / DISCIPLINE IS MAINTAINED/ .

*

]

LEFT/ SUPPOSE COO GAN CAN'T LOCATE USf THEN, WHAT? WE

J

A

JUST CAN'T WANDER AROUND TILL THE 0XY6EN DIVES OUT/.

hr SOFT/

1

MAYBE YOU SHOULD

SOFTEN UP/

MW

MEANS BEING HARD ON

i MEN, THEN BE HARD J THE ON THEM? ARDEN STAYS )

IF IT

I'LL

,

I

n

BROKEN /THAT'S ALL- A

ff i

WEEK OF GASPING FOR WHEN COOGAN SUDOENLY BROKE

LATER... A

THEN, THE COMMANDER ANNOUNCED -T WE HAVE LESS THAN ONE MONTH'S SUPPLY OF OXYSEN LEFT STARTING

*000 SAN

TODAY, we're cutting down until we a CAN REPLENISH OUR SUPPLY * WE WILL

I

Mr

WERE ALL GOING TO

THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM NEEDED TO SUSTAIN LIFE YOU WILL BE using

LIMIT YOURSELVES

.

ERGEANT COOGAN OPENED THE R TO THE ROCKET-MEN'S QUARAND CROSSED TO HIS BUNK * SAT DOWN, HIS HEAD IN HIS

And

TAKE ir

EASY r

T DIE!

TO ONLY

ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES...

f

)

Vice-commander philip forbes SLAMMED THE DOOR TO THE CONTROL ROOM AFTER HIM AND MUTTERED UNDER HIS BREATH* MnUFn AY BFRfiMiN < SOUFDAY

JUg

The poor man completely lost control ' he raved r

WHAT’S 60 INS <

ON

9

IT'S

‘

COOOAN,

SIR f HE'S

NEED EVERY DROP HAD A BREAKDOWN.' he OF OXYGEN LEFT ON NEEDS AIR.' HE'S OHOK/NO.' I SENT SEELEY \ BOARDS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE FOR AN OXY-BOTTLE IT ON ONE MAN. .A

V

' I

I

They watched coogan writhe in his hysterical CONTORTIONS GASPING FOR AIR? FINALLY..

YOU COULD Fl'M INTERESTED HAVE L.ONLY

SAVED W HIM<

Ex-lieutenant abden’s face flushed crimson.' he|

SCREAMED AT THE COMMANDER... rHOW COULD YOU BE -IS LIKE THAT? HOW COULD YOU' I SUGOESTTHAT YOU. BE SO HAHD - HEARTED ? . WCALM DOWN'

IN SAVIN6' SHIP AND ITS CHEW... ALL OF

" THIS

tea

But rocket- man arden didn't

rouf

YOU... YOU

mm'W

^teHIM.'

-TTfll

Robert arden

I

I

MURDERED jgl

pitched forward..

FACE DOWNWARD... DEAD i THE OTHERS OF THE CREW STARED AT HIM /THE COMMANDER BARKED AN ORDER. JETTISON THESE TWO BODIES .AT ONCE.' ANY MORE OUT--^ BURSTS OF THIS KIND WILL BEJ DEALT WITH THE SAME

r

ARDENf

V

MURDERER.'

ri

tea

Commander bergman stalked out of the ROCKET-MEN'S OUARTERS ' VICE-COMMANDER FORBES STARED AFTER HIM rHARD. SEELEY? X DON'T KNOW f BUT SOMEDAY. r .

SOMEDAY HE'LL-y CHANGE.'

I

I

».=«—sbM

way

The SHIP WAS ON ITS last oxy- bottle when it ENTERED THE STRANGE SOLAR SYSTEM. ..

Zlook, SIR? that huge ^OXYGEN atmospheres LOOK AT THESE PLANET' CLOUDS'

COVERED WITH CLOUDS?) SPECTRO-GRAPH.^^^^ READINGS '*1 [ATTENTION,' THINK...? <^^^^^CAN REPLENISH ALL HANDS? <J. *s&&’OUR supply'! prepare >

foo YOU

for

M

LAWNS' prepare LtfJ

j

^Sm&DANDING/

I

I

ship nosed in toward the HUGE PLANET' FASTER AND FASTER FT FELL.

The

^ SWING

'

'ER

AROUND?BLAST

> OFF? WE'RE

BEING SUCKED

IN TOO FAST?

IT'S NO USE? WE CAN'T GET BACK UP?™* S-PULL is •%

mmrTOO

oronuGf

^

rWE'RE

THE PLANET'S SURFACE HEAVILY.

SO/NS

Y AAAAA A AAfiAG

t

Inside, on his shock couch, commander bergman TRIED TO LIFT HIS HEAD. ..TRIED TO MOVE HIS ARMS f IT WAS AS IF HE WERE BEING HELD DOWN BT THOU-

And then his boot... a body not able to withstand SUCH A GRAVITATIONAL PULL... JUST SEEMED TO WELT— SPREADING OUT IN A RED PULPY

SANDS OF POUNDS OF WEIGHT^.

POOL OF

OOZE...

^

YES' COMMANDER HORACE BERGMAN HAD FINALLY SONE a^H£ENDW^^fk f

SOFT

'^

ff

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

SUGAR

’N SPICE ’N...

They were out there again... the kids from dowa THE BLOCK... JOHNNY AND MARGARET.' I GOULD HEAR THEIR CHILDISH HIGH-PITCHED VOICES SQUEELING.'l

PEERED THROUGH THE CURTAINS AT THEM t JOHNNY WAS THE OLDER OF THE TWO... ABOUT TEN OR ELEVEN f MARGIE, HIS YOUNGER SISTER. WAS NO MORE THAN EIGHT' THE BRIGHTLY COLORED BALL THEY’D BEEN PLAYING CATCH WITH BOUNCED OUT OF THE LITTLE GIRL'S HANDS AND LEAPED OVER THE PICKET FENCE INTO MY FRONT YARD...

m

CATCH IT, MARGIE CATCH IT? OH.

IT...

IT

I AM AN OLD WOMAN' CHILDREN ALWAYS SEEM TO

FRIGHTENED OF OLD WOMEN' MARGIE AND JOHNNY WERE ESPECIALLY FRIGHTENED OF MET THEY CALLED ME THE ‘OLD CRAB*' I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS CHASING THEM FROM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE wF^^wFvE GOT TO GET IT.' IT’S DO? CTOUR HE* BALL f MOMMY' LLJ 7 ANGRY WITH US IF WE BE

...

WHAT'LL

LOSE

9

IT

'

WENT

HER GARDEN GOLLY

INTO

,

The boy looked around, staring at the house’’ I stepped back from the curtained window so HE WOULDN'T SEE ME WATCHING HIM ' HE TIPTOED TOWARD THE GATE AND TRIPPED THE LATCH f IT SWUNG OPEN, SQUEEKING ON ITS RUSTY HINGES...

MAYBE... MAYBE NOT HOME. HEAR YOU.

T

t1

Johnny waited a moment, stuckIN8 THE HOUSE FOR A SI6N OF LIFE/ I STEPPED FURTHER BACK INTO THE SHADOWS /HE STARTED TO TIPTOE UP THE WALK you KEEP youT~ r HURRY. JOHNNY/ eye out for HURRY/ f HER, MARGIE / d .

'

They were so cute/i wanted to eat them up/ johnnycrept TOWARD THE BALL / I WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR AND.. .AS HIS TINY, LITTLE,

COLORED

SPHERE... FLUNG

.

IT

WHAT

DOING

I

<

6ULF/AJ0MNY/

s*v 3* i

•

J r un !J

sob... sob.

VJ* r l

.

.

OUR BALL OR WE’LL TELL

/HERE/ COME S—rp OFT

IN

SAROeM

1

J 0 HNNY TOOK A FLEETING LOOK AT HIS PRECIOUS RUBBER BALL AND DARTED OUT OF THE YARD... *

|AND DON'T YOU EVER COME 1 Y'OLO \HYAAAf IN HERE AGAIN/ NEXT CRAB/ Z SOUR

PUSS/

1

HAD TO TURN AWAY FROM THEM SO THEY WOULDN'T. ,SEE ME SMILING/ THEY CERTAINLY HAD SPIRIT, THOSE TWO / I LINE KIDS WITH SPIRIT/ I BENT AND PICKED UP THEIR BALL/ THEY STOPPED RUNNING AND WAT CHED. GIVE US BACK

r

A

,

rl

ThEY/IOU

it’s

\

S

YOuYm^HMyV "RUN, 7 MY g BALL//JOHNNY /'

V&LlrHeR/

I STARTED DOWN THE STEPS SLOWLY ! FOR A MOMENT, JOHNNY STOOD FROZEN IN FEAR/ MAR6IE STARTED TO CRY/ SHE SOBBED OUT ANOTHER WARNING..

'‘\Wmvlmw

a

I STEPPED OUT ONTO THE PORCH, PUTTIN6 ON HI VERY ANORIEST LOOK / I COULD SEE HIS WIDE EYES FILUNG WITH TEARS/ MY GRUFF VO ICE EVEN SU RPRISED Me. I ARE

PUDGY FINGERS

CLOSED AROUND THE BRIGHTLY

AND

IT/

'

I

Johnny's face turned white/ margie HIM/ THEY CONTEMPLATED MY O FFER...

'^y^/YoiT^EAHTr^^r^ALL THROW n TO/V

1

-

JWw

hid behind

RIGHT... IF YOUi ‘

D0N T

*ANT ,T ~ J -

I TURNED TOWARD THE PORCH, CARRYING THE BALL f I WATCHED THEM OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE f THEY WERE WHISPERING TOGETHER »_ SH?S taking; MOMMY TOLD US IT INSIDE / NOT TO PLAY IN J WITH HER * / FRONT OF HER MOUSE rsHE'LL SAY IT SERVED US

^ BPUBKI r

-|s|

JtS^RisM t r

I

YUH/COME AND 4 BET IT, IF WANT

FINGERNAILS... r

t

T~B0Fh 7

r

A

_

-

^7

fc 1MON.\.fN-NO S OF < GULP... *\ I'M- I'M S rour s margie r /scared of' - HER g

GONNA... GIVE US

OUR BALL BACK?) YOU

*.

2

I

Johnny started after her ' he'd completely FOR GOTTEN ABOUT THE BALL f I TOSSED IT AT H IM

MAR6/E.

—U" *

,

STREET, CRYING,

WAIT f j\

Johnny caught the ball and scampered away AFTER HIS 3ISTE R ..._ J

i

STREET HESITANTLY r MARGIE STOOD SILENTLY, BITING HER

GIVING

'ain't.- ain't

Johnny begged margie to come with him, but SHE REFUSED t FINALLY, S.HE FLED DOWN THE

t^M4RBIE77~BOT sot / t r<z— EL

Johnny shuffled across the

CLIMBED THE STEPS SLOWLYTHEM TIME TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS...

il

SOB... SOB...

HUM f BEE.

W

AND CALLED...

-

HEReF\HERE'S YOUR OLD BALL f ^BULP r* JB now, STAY OUT OF MY YARD FwSmA IN FACT... STAY AWAY FROM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE 1-

LITTLE DEVILS. I'LL

GET 'EM YET

*

f f

f That’s the way it had been ever since i'd moved INTO THAT OLD HOUSE ? I'D BEEN AFTER THOSE TWO IMPS EVER SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY? AS I WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE AND SLAMMED THE DOOR, SOMETHING CAUGHT MY EYE? ON THE WALL. ..THE

;

Little margie and johnny probably thought of

[IT

THE EXACT SAME MOMENT THAT I

HALL OWEEHffV

YEAHf IT'S

DID..

T‘MORROW

HH3HT?

1

OUR CHANCE TO GET EVER'A

WITH THAT

OLD CRAB

CALENDAR.

OCTOBER THIRTIETH H MM M ?

TOMORROW'S THE THIRTY-FIRST? 4 THAT MEANS... TOMORROW H/BHT

/

U

V

H

I SPENT THE NEXT DAY GETTING READY FOR HALLOWEEN? EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE, I PEERED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND WATCHED THE KIDS ON THE BLOCK SWINGING TH OSE OLD SILK STOCKINGS FILLED WITH FLOUR. ~M HALLOWEEN?

By

evening, everything was READY? I was set for DIDN'T DISAPPOINT ME? WHEN DARK-

THEM? AND THEY

NESS FELL, I SPIED LITTLE JOHNNY AND MARGIE STEALING UP TO THE FRONT GATE... _

^

QOT THE HiLKBOTTLE SUH-HUH? BUT &?*fnrFILLED WITH WATER SL YOU'RE GONNA X ih do

^

Mujfc'f

THE RUSTY GATE SQUEAK OPEN AS JOHNNY CREPT UP THE WALK. .. ^

I LISTENED TO

.

And PLACED THE FILLED MILK, 4 BOTTLE ON THE DOOR STEP, ..

LEANING AGAINST THE DOOR...

SO THAT WHEN I’D OPEN IT, IT WOULD TIP IN AND SPILL ALL OVER THE FOYER . .

.

J 3 -1

it?

'wjgxES

SCARED

/ X

Naturally, i didn't answer r x just peeked OUT... WATCHING THEM WHISPER TOGETHER... .

HALLOWEEN TRICK ( JOHNNY AND MARGIE CALLED IT 'TICK-TACK-TOE ' JOHNNY SLIPPED BACK UP TO THE FRONT DOOR AND PUSHED A THUMB-TACK INTO IT'FROM THE TACK. HE HUNG A LENGTH OF THREAD W ITH A NUT TIED AT THE END...

1

'she probably

KNOWS

what about

IT'S

TICK- TA CK-\ TOE 7

JUST KIDS RINGING THE BELL f WE'VE GOT TO GET HER TO OPEN THE DOOR.'

*

jm

f

TiiTlir

rf lilfeT 1

II

"I I

S H- H-H4I-H t

1C JOHNNY PULLED ON THE LONG JC THREAD FROM THE NUT THEN THREAD TILL IT STRETCHED If HE LET IT GO FORWARD' THE BACK DOWN TO B EYOND THE GATEff g NUT, HANGI NO FROM THE TACK YEAH.' DUCK

ThEN^tJeDTO’tHE NUT, THE BOY UNROLLED A SPOOL OF BLACK

r

,

DOWN.'

Finally, johnny gave up'

.'

jg.

MAYBE...

MAYB

NOT HOME

i

dj

TEE- H EE' I...TEE-

H EE. ..CAN'T

HELP

Again and again he pulled the NUT BACK AND LET IT RAM AGAINST THE DOOR' ANYONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS HALLOWEEN PRANK WOULD GO CRAZY LISTENING TO THAT INCESSANT TAPPING' BUT I JUST WAITED...

WATCHED THEM START AWAY... DOWN THE BLOCK...

DISAPPOINTED' NOW IT WAS NY CHANCE...^^«dE

could see them

I

WHISPERING TOGETHER. ,

STOP

W*' G1G8UN6 r

X

GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT'

S-*

f

50lltowe

M€U»MV

IT'S

JOHNNY/ Cu SCA NED/

THE

OLD CNABf

'

Little johnny started back TOWARD MY HOUSE/ I CALLED OUT ONCE MORE... help me. 7 Johnny/7ichon.'

I SOMEONE/ S WHERE ,

.

f

THE DOOR SLAMMED SHUT

GASP/

HUH?

IT...

IT?

X LOCKED

5

JOHNNY/

PULL, MARGIE! fe.

PULL'

?

.

T

.

O

The heat from johnny’s hand J Johnny stared down at the HAD ITS EFFEC T...

NOW WE'LL <

NEVER GET }

.BROKEN, KNOB...

C irsT. Ivf&ncKr/fwHAZ. ?

h

Vs CANDY'

<

CARAMEL! (CANDY

OUT OF HERE/

T

>The two chiloren looked around horrified/ THEN THEY SAW... IN T HE FIRE-GLOW... ’ 'look/ candy-cane CHOCOLATE

I

I OPENED THE DOOR A LITTLE FURTHER ILLUMINATED MORE OF

/

!??

<

J

THE GLOW

I

L CHAIRS / r

—--o

TABLES/

v ,

J/.l

-^ lamps!

!

.

/

greteu

Wi t

ORETELf

\^n

MAReA *ETfffl/f/l

HANSEL!

hen!.

YOU SEE_y£WA'..lN BERMAN... IS A44WJOR HANSEL/ MAROARE IS 6RETA. OR (

.

4

malls!

KLjj

And then, i flung the OVEN DOOR open all the way/ THEY SAW ME. ..AS X REAL LY M^JtJHTCH'^*-.

WELCO UPJOHN.

7 E EeEeEfEEE

^w

m Pz

.

r

^r>

^'aTr. r

DID HANSEL AND SRETEL \ GET AIVAV FROM ME AS THEY t DID IN THE ORICINAL STORY, A V0U ASK COME, now/

REMEMBER f

THIS

MAGAZINE /

IS

AN

)