Tales from the Crypt set 2 (30-39) by Insainment

FEATURING

HCh. NEHf BACK A6AIN, EH? BACK FOR MORE CHILLS AND SHIVERS' WELL, COME IN ' V>ME INTO THE CFrFT OF TERROR AND I'LL DOLE YOU OUT TOUR SNARE/ YEP f it's HE, THE CRYPT- NEEPER, YOUR HOST IN HORROR f JUST SIT YOURSELF DOWN ON THAT FOUL •SNELL INS, EARTHENWARE URN OVIK THESE. AND III ENTERTAIN VOUf WHATS IN THE URN* OH. THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT OF WH/TEY WHITTIKERf WHO'S NET WELL. YOU JUST SETTLE DOWN AND I’LL LET YOU HEAR WH/TEY'S STORY IN HIS VERY OWN WORDS/ REAOY? WHITEY CALLS THIS CADAVEROUS CREATION. _ .

jMS-TLY

PIOSrEfM Jeff wh/tt/ners my ha mole ' though some OF THE BOYS FROM THE WAGON TRAIN I*D JOINED UP WITH TO COME WEST TO CALIFORNIA HAD NICKNAMED ME 'WHITEY'f THAT'S 'CAUSE WAS NO CHICKEN, ANO MY HAIR'D TURNED GRAY- WHITE LONG YEARS BE FORE f BUT it) BEEN A PROSPECTIN' FOOL ALL M'LIFE, AN'

WHEN THEY FOUNO THE TELLER STUFF OVER AT SUTTER'S SAW MILL IN 1646,1 PACKED MY DUDS AN' HEADED WEST WITH THE REST OF THE FORTY-NINERS...

fr--^

WAU WHITEVf WE'LL BET\me? HEAD W En heaopT^ \ /*£? ft/ ,

FEW THEM CALIFORNIA BY THIS» \ RIGHT FER TIM£ NEXT WEEK' WHAT'S GOLD F/ELOS/GOUHA YOUR FLANS? STAKE ME OUT A CLA/d ANO PAN ME

’

FORTUNE

f YEP? TMEMS WERE MV PLANS ? I HAD LOTS O' HIGH HOPES IN THEM DAYS ? SOON AS WE HIT SACRAMENTO. X LIT OUT UP THE VALLEY KEEP ttOIN', STRANGER i f TRY "N THIS LAND'S

ALL

‘BOUT

TEN NILES

STAKED OUT?

Didn't take me long tTino our THAT MOST O' THE 8010*0 SEEN

FlNAuft

PLAYED OUT 8Y THE TIME THAT GOT THERE? VELLEH-HUNSRT CRITTERS'O TAKER CLIPPER SHIPS ROUND THE CAPE O’ OOOO HOPE AN* BEATEN US OVERLANOERS TO THE FIELDS... r THIS STREAM'S SEEN PAHMED OUT ALREADY?

RICH VEINS BEIN' FOUND? I BOUGHT ME A^OTSUN BO'S Z COULD HUNT NT OWN VITTLEB, A PICK- AXE AH' A SHOVEL T* Dl« WITH. AN

SOME CANNED SEANS? SPENT

evenr last dime x ow ned.

BETTER TAKE MOREYoh?^ WSHELLS, /THAT STRANGER? r

S‘

f I

GOTTA WATCH OUT FOR CLAIM JUMPERS UP IN THE HILLS ?

SO?

Le'ME TELL YOU, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, THEM CALIFORNIA MILLS? TOWERIN' PINES WHISPERIN' OVERHEAO? RUSHIN’ STREAMS CASCADIN' OVER ROCKS ? QUIET LAKES LAVIN' LIKE LOOKIN'- GLASSES I PITCHED ME A TENT NEXT TO ONE OF THEM QUIET LAKES A NO MADE ME A CAMP... this shop is puNty, but it ain't GETTIN' ME PICHf TMONNOM,

START DI6QIH' /

t-flL

Z FOUND ME A STREAM FEEOIF? INTO THE LAKE? SHE WAS A FAST-RUNNIN* STREAM 4-COMIN' DOWN FROM THEM HIUJ ANO A-BU6BUN' OUT INTO THE 1 QUIET LAKE- STt BRIM IT ALL UP >0040 .

WHUrS THAT SHININ'

—-j

WERE COLO ALL RIGHT? AND LOROY.WHAT A RICH DEPOSIT? THAT THERE STREAM MU8TA BEEN ROLLIN' THEM NUGGETS DOWN FROM THE HILLS

3SLS&

SOMETHIN'

THE WATENf

SINCE TIME BEGUN. IT'LL TAKE

AN'

THEY WERE ALL

ME A YEAN TO

CLEAN OUT THIS STRIKE' I'M NICHf NtCHf

LAVIN'

X STARTEO PANNIN* ? I FIGURED ON CLEANIN’ 0 THE MOUTH OF THE STREAM WHERE SHE EMPTIED INTO THE LAKE...TNEN WCRKIN* MV WAY UP-STREAK TILL r'D PLAYED THE STRIKE OUT... LOOK AT THIS NUG6ET?

Then, 'bout a month after i'd started workin' MY CLAIM, IT HAPPENED? THIS BIS BURLY- LOOKIN' oritter shows up? j'd panned me 'bout four THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH O' GOLD BY THAT TIME AN' WAS FEELIN* PRETTY GOOD? THAT WAS WHERE X MADE MY BIG MISTAKEf 1

TWICE TAKIN' OVER YOUR L AIM, RIGHT NOW..

I'M

BUESS HE'D BEEN SPYIN’ ON ME ... AN' I LET _HjM_6ETJTOO CLOSE ... ' HOWDY.STRANGER, ~^T NO PLACE, BUB' IT'S WHERE VUH HEADED? YOU... WHAT'S 60/M'f

The two red-hot lead slugs catch me in THE 80 AN' I KEEL OVER' THE PAIN IS SOMETHIN- AWFUL, an' I'm BOILIN' MAD WHEN HE COMES OVER TO SEE IF I‘M DONE FOR. I KICK OUT AT HIM

HIS

COLT GOES

The gun lands off

WON'T DO YOU NO TO RUN. y

8000

-.STRANGER?

COYOTE

in the brush and the BURLY GUY DIVES AFTCR IT ? I SEES MY CHANCE AND, 8ETTIW T 'MV FEET, HIGH-TAILS IT FOR CAM LORDY. THEM SLUGS'RE BLAST' WHERE* THAT BURNIN' IN MY CURSED IRON? ^ 1

FLYIWL

NOBODY... STEALS WHAT'S MINE... YU H ORNERY

WHUsm-o rijrm

^MJDDL if

AS 1 TUMBLE INTO CAMP' I GRAB MY SHOTGUN ANO THE BOX OF SHELLS. DUCK BEHIND A ROCK. AN' LET GO WITH BOTH BARRELS— 3EX- cJ HERE, YOU MURDERIN' SNAKE.’ NOW, WE RE EVEN-STEVEN...

OKAY, STRANGER ' I CAN '\ WAITS LEI'S SEE HOW KIN HOLD OUT. TWO SLUGS !Ny/

LONG YOU WITH

'n your our rjzZrr*

I STUFF THE *N«

^KE

IS OL' PINE, and me cro. BCHiNO THAT ROCK. BLEED! A LEAKY WATER BAG

One of us has on lordyT GOT TO FALL / IF HE DON'T ASLEEP, an Iget me, AIN'T T/RED'Jf BLEED TO

-r_ •

— ^

OL‘

jkjLB

AH.

TO HECK WITH |T'~THIS ‘S

GOOD ENOUGH'

TIMER

fc--.

GOES AN1 GETS MY PICK-AXE AN* SHOVEL I'M GONNA BURT YUH, YUlTouT GEEZER • I'M GONNA FINISH WORXIN* YER CLAIM ( ONLY NOW, IT'S HT CLAIM ' r.

TTHEN I

GR/NN/N' AT ME. YON OLO COOT'

HE STARTS OIGGIN' ' THE GROUNO IS HARO AND CURSES A LOT' X JUST KEEP GRlNNIN' AT KIM BE TTI*/ MAOOER AND MADDER

TEACH YUH NOT to FALL ASLEEP ' t''

THAT'LL

YOUU. NEVER TAKE TH/S jj YUH SNAKE f X‘LL 6ET I YUH FIRST ' X SAEAPjZi_^M

LIVE

CLAIM,

I'M GRINNIN' AT THE KNIFE IS DRIPPIN' BLOOD 1 X TRY TO GRAB FOR GUN, BUT CAN'T MOVE A MUSCLE i FUNNY. BUT I DON’T FEEL ANY PAIN. EITHER ' SO X KNOWS

THAT TM DEAD

FAME XM

'/Kjt* l»iV

GUESS I MUST* PASSED OUT FROM THE PAIN. ‘CAUSE THE NEXT THING X KNOW, MY EYES POP OPEN AND HE'S STANOlN' OVER ME

THE SHOT.UN SHELLS ROM THE BOX INTO MY POCKETS *ND SIT 8ACK TO WAIT ' X 80IN* TO D/E .. BUT

X AIN'T GONNA LET H/M E/THER...

He GRABS ME ANO DRAGS ME OVER TO THE SHALLOW ORAVE HE'S DUG OUT OF THE ROCKY LOAM ' HE — JOCKS MEJN Jr= T~~ATHENE ' REST /H PEACE.

YUH OLD PRAIRIE-DOG

So I ROLL INTO THE grave and land FACE UR STARIN' AT HIM AND GRINNIN' AT HIM f AND HE'S RED AS A BEET. HE’S SO MAD.* HE YELLS AT ME AND FLINGS A SHOVEL-FULL OR DIRT INTO MY FACE...

>RTy SOON I'M a. COVERED, AN' LAYIN' NICE AN* IN MY GRAVE 1 I HEAR HIS HOB- NAILED BOOTS CRUNCHIN' AROUND OVER ME AS HE STAMPS ThE GROUND DOWNHAR CLSC'S J.I .WON'T LQJDILJ SE&lte*.

COZY

^JB^rr\~T'sTOP

STARIN' AT ME^STOP^l GRINNIN' AT ME f SHUT JTOUR EYES when YER § DEAD / CIOSE YER * v

I LAV THERE _ I FIGURE... _

F'RST,

WEEKOR

SO IN THE GROUND' THE CRAWLIN' THINGS START WORKIN' ON MEf I DON'T FEEL ’EM, BUT I KNOW THEY’RE THERE tJAUSE I KIN HEAR 'EM SCRATCHIN' ROUND ME 1 THEN, AFTER A LONG TIME. 2 HEAR SOMETHIN' UP ABOVE, CLAWIN' AT THE ORQUNOl.. I

HEH, HEHf YOU WERE WRONG. EH, OLD TIMER* I

AFTER

GOT YOU

ALL.'

MOUTH*

CLEARS THE SOD OFF’N MY FACE AND SHOULDERS, GRABS MY COLLAR BETWEEN ITS FANGS, ANO PULLS ME UP TO A SITTIN' IT

POSITION...

Right away they start spittin' and howlin' at EACH OTHER* I SIT THERE, GRINNIN' AT THEM. .

g- -=^= -T= c= .

Then, afore it kin start mppin' ME TO SHREDS, ANOTHER WILO CAT

They sail into one another, but soon the one THET DUG ME UP GOES OFF A-SCREECHIN ANO A-NURSIN' HIS WOUNDS/ THEN THE LATECOMER WHAT WON COMES OVER, SNIFFS AT ME, ANO LOPES OFF HISSELF/ I GUESS I'M TOO FAR GONE TO MAKE GOOD EATIN' ANYMORE ... mm 1

In THC MORNlW, HE COMES OUT OF THE TENT t FOR A MINUTE I think his eyes is bonna fly FtpNT OUTTA

M/S

"lai/AW

SIT THESE OKINHIN' AT HiM' I KIN TELL HfS BETTIN' SOME 'CAUSE HIS EVES IS RED* ME MAULS Off ANO KICKS ME IN THE 1 FLOPS BACKWARDS INTO MT SHALLOW

HA/D SOOD .LOfiO r. .

But I JUST OENINB Of 4 FACE. AND

BRAVE

rj *

SO you WONT STAY B<J*i£0. 1 YOU BLASTED OLDGEEZER

cm. ?

He scrambles off towaro the tent an* comes BACK WITH THE PICK*AXC AN' SHOVEL ' HE ORABS MQLQ OF ME A ND QR AQS Mg OOWN T'THg LA KE

~7g»:

fttMlk *.>£

ties

the shovel an' the pick-ake t'my THIS'LL

SO YOU

WE/6HT YOV DOWN STAY DEEPf

-1

YOU'LL

IF i

STAY

the water.'

f [ThC WATCH START* FILLIN' INTO Mr 6Uf». AN' IajRSLIN' INTO MV LUN4S- SOME NOSfr FISH COME ROvNO... PEERIN' AT ML ONE Of 'EM TAKES A NtP AT MT HANO I SWAY SACK ANO FORTH LAZ ILYI

A WEEK FOR THE ROPES TO saw THROUBH? MEANWHILE THE FISH HAVE BEEN PECKIN’ AWAY... ANO BY THE TIME I’M CUT FREE, I’M IN PRETTY SAO SHAPE 'I’M ALL WATER-LOGOEO AND BLOATEO. ANO THE GASSES THAT HAVE FORMED IN MY INSlOES FORCE ME TO THE SURFACE—

It TAKES ASOUT

—

A CRAZY CURRENT SWIRLS' I'M LATIN' RI3HT SMACK IN THE MIOOLE OF IT' PRETTY SOON. I M TURNIN' ANO TWISTIN’... ANO THE ROFES IS NUBBIN' ON THE SHARR

ME ROUND ANO ‘ROUND, ‘CAUSE I POP UP RIGHT AT THE MOUTH OF THE STREAM WHERE BURLY-BOY IS PANNiN ' HE NEARLY FALLS IN THE WATER wh*M_ HE SPOTS ME. YOU'RE DEAD’ WHY IN 1

TARNATION DON'T rOU STAY DEADf j

—

ft/

STARTS YELLIN' ANO SCREAMIN' AT ME, BUT I JUST STARE AT HIM HIM ANO BRIN REAL SILLY- LIKE' ONLY I DON T LOOK TOO HUMOROUS ANYMORE ( FACT IS t SMELL PRETTY AO 700 AT LEAST THAT S WHAT ME COMPLAINS Of AS HE DRAGS ME

He LUGS ME OVER TO THE CLEARING AND LAYS ME IN THE MOCLE' THEN HE STARTS ORAGGIN' OVER L OGS

HE’S BEEN OOLLECTIN

...

YOU WON'T STAY

/ [

Jk' i

PHEW

BURIED AND YOU WON’ T STAY DROWNED.. MAYBE YOU’LL STAY

\^^URNEDf

LET'S SEE YOU

COME SACK FROM THIS.

YOU BLASTED.

I'M LATIN' THERE ON THE PILE OF LOOS IN THE MIDDLE O' THE CLEARIN’ f ALL AROUND, THE 8RUSM ORT, 'CAUSE ITS BEEN A DRY SUMMER' RIGHT away, the flames are leapin’ ‘round me...

AND I BLOW UP.'JHt SHOT-GUN SHELLS I’O PACKED INTO MY POCKETS GO OFF LIKE A OYNAMITE CHARGE' I RIP INTO A THOUSAND PIECES. AND THE EXPANDING GASES ANO COMPRESSED STEAM INSIDE ME SENDS THE FLAMIN'

T HE HEAT IS TERRIFIC' OF COURSE. I OON T PEEL NOTHIN', BUT I CAN HEAR MY WATER- L0G6E0 BODY A-HISSIN' AND A-POPIN’' I GUESS I BlACKEN UP A 8IT.ANO TmE WATER IN MY ROTTED CLOTHES DRIES OUT f SOON THEY START TO BURN' 1 KIN SENSE SOMETHIN' STRANGE GOIN’ ON INSIDE ME-. LIKE I'M

’There’s A TERRIFIC BOOM.

Some of me lands on

guy. and he s

the burly SO BUSY PEELIN’ ME OFF N HIM AND PATTIN' OUT MIS BURNIN' CLOTHES THAT HE DON’T NOTICE ALSO LANOEO ALL AROUNO THE EDGE OF TME CLEARIN'... IN THE DRY BRUSH IN THE TINDER-LIKE PINES, .

What

a pirei start? in a couple of minutes, the whole CLEARIN’ IS SURROUNDED BY A CIRCLE OF FLAME... A WHITE HOT WALL MOVIN’ IN ON THE BURLY CRITTER' HE DON'T STAND A CHANCE O' GETTIN' TMROU6H IT' TAINT LON G ’TIL HE STARTS SHRI EKIN'

IN PAIN.,

cjwa

- \

MEH.HEH' you

ANO

WAS

OOOZY

W1 i

WHILE IT'S OUIET... ’CEPT FOR THE CRACKLIN' OF SWEEPS ON THROUGH THE DRY WOODED HILLS.' 1 REST EASY now* l PLUMB PINISNED MY WORK ;i N

A. AHEM. ..IT SURE OF A TALE EH, KiO,

riSBfc-

rER A AS IT

PLUHB HAVE. wmiTEy'

SHOR WAR

DIES? YOU KNOW, WHEN I E/BST TOLD THIS YARN TO HY IDIOT EDITORS THEY CONFESSED THAT THEY NEVER KNEW A CORPSE COULD WRITE HIS OWN STORY.' I STRAIGHTENED THEM OUT, THOUGH' WHITEY COULDN'T WRITE HIS OWN NA HE.'HE DICTATED THE WHOLE THING TO ME ' HEH.HEMf A

REAL GHOST WHITER, EH? WELL, NOW ILL TURN YOU OVER TO

TH£ VAULT-KEEPER ' I’LL SEE YOU <-ATER ON*

Greetings .gory grave-ghouls f ifs me the vaultkeeper...* gain? time to guest -spot the CRYPT-KEEPER 'S MAS ONCE MORE ' SO DRAG TOUR BATTERED BODIES INTO THE VAULT AND STRETCH THEM OUT ON THAT CAKE OF ICE OVER THERE f IT’LL KEEP TOU COOL... WHICH IS THEJ>ROPER MOOD FOR THIS CHILUN6 TALE OF /CE, SNOW, AND HOT LOVE I CALL... * .

TfuGH HOWARDS. FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD MOV'E

PROOUCER AND CELEBRATED SPORTSMAN ANO WORLD TRAVELER. GUIDED HIS PRIVATE TRANSPORT PLANE LOW OVER THE GLARING ICE- FIELDS OF THE ~ FROZEN u’li I r < ;

THERE'S AN ESKIMO SETTLEMENT.. .DOWN' MR. HOWARDS'

THERE

A.'_

PI3HT,

E^ANS'TELL*

THE PuBL'C.TV SOTS TO A3T£\ THER SAFETV GL L f ' *f Rt GO/NGIN I

Down below the gleaming airplane, pur-clad

figur

TOUCHIO THE SURFACE OF THE CHOSEN EXPANSE AND CANE TO A STOP? THE

PARTED FROM THEIR I8L00S, WAVING ANO CHATTERING.

HLthey SeFWEtheRES ^ -

ICY

A level spot.

OGLING ESKIMO POPULATION CROWOED

OF THE settlement

«>'

ABOUT THE PLANE.. / WELL ? C'MON YOU GUYSjyYES, MR. LET'S GET SOME P/C "S ,

TURES ANO GET '^•^gfVOF HERE ?

HOWARDS STEPPED FROM THE PLANE ANO ADDRESSED THE GATHERED ARCTIC INHABITANTS•

BMW

III

III III

•

TOKAY, \ SIRJ,

OUTl* OWARDS^/^

HOWARDS TURNED TO THE FUR-CLAD FIGURE THAT STEPPED FORWARD THROUGH THE CROWD ! IT

WAS A

GIRL...

GOOO? MY NAME HUOhA

The

NO,

hugh ? her SHE WAS

girl smilco at

EYES SPARKLED BEAUTIFUL-

HOWARDS HOWARDS? * HOWARDS? I'M • Jl AM AN HOLLYWOOO PRODU ^AMERICAN. , . SAY.1 YOiTRE -K. NOT AN ESKIMO/ ) /

^ I LITE HERE W WWITH THESE

PEOPLE? THAT WOOOEN BUILDING MY IS MY HOME GUARDIAN BROUGHT r ME HERE SIX /

YEARS AGO/ JBA

YOU SAY YOU LIVE IN THAT SHACK

HERE.

IS IT

HEATED?

WHY, YES

? THERE'S AN OIL STOVE IN IT? WHAT

MAKES YOU

ASK?

MY FIGURE?/ WELL, REALLY NOW. MR. ^HOWARDS I... .

LOOK'DON'T get

huh T HOW LONS] SIX YEARS fi

in a

HUKK/VU

A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER f THIS IS STRICTLY M BUSINESS /if YOU'VE

’STAR? WHAT'S^ r

GOT WHAT IT TAKES, I CAN MAKE A 57** OUT Of YOU f

THAT*

010 YOU SAY .YOU'VE BEEN r UP HERE?

DADDY'...

>g THAT'S

NY I GUARDIAN*

WKEMS —-fcjTDOCTOR BROUGHT ME MERE ...

UTTER THE ACCIDENT'

ACCIDENT’

MgL ANO

W WAS

AMNESIA

GUESS SOf ANYWAY. '0A00Y' BROUGHT ME HERE!' HE HAD IP TO TEACH ME- ALL

OVER ASA IN' 1‘0 POROOTTEN EVERYTHING f i'O EVEN FORGOTTEN HOW WALK ANO TALKf IT WAS AWfULf

”TO

JUT b

‘DAOOY' WAS PATIEN T ,Jji O

LEARNED OljlCKLY..jH^^

TERRYf irs SHORT FOR WHAT'S YOUR NAME?-^THERESA'TERR Y ARLENf I

LOOKEdM

THEN YOU REALLY DON'T\/I'M AFRAID NOT. MR. ‘KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT I MOWAROGf BUT LOOK... MOVIES OR MOVIE fWWr wE'0 BITTER TAKE OFF OUR PARKAS NOW THAT STARS* . .wt'RE INDOORS'

’

The GIRL SLIPPED OUT OF HER HOODED PARKA AND PULLEO OFF HER FUR PANTS? HUGH OUICKLY FOLLOWED HER EXAMPLE? FINALLY SHE STOOD BEFORE HIM CLAD ONLY IN A SIMPLE SWEATER AND SLACKSV TERR FlCf TERRIFIC

REMEMBER

EVEN my father

I DON'T

What

r ,

WERE

ACCIDENT 'FATHER DOCTOR WHEEMS'S

I COLLABORATOR? FATHER WAS KILLED fI LOST MY MEMORY

YfrT~-

J'HUHf

^TAUTO

HE... HE'D NEVER LET ME YOU'RE A SWEET KID. TERRY' I'D LIKE TO -<f 80 f HE'S EORBIDDEN ME TO EVER LEAVE Tt* HELP YOUf WHERE/5 YOUR GUAROIAN.. THIS J SETTLEMENT? BUT -IF YOU WISH, YOU MAY ASK HIM? DOCTOR WHEEMS? I ASK HIS WANT TO ^ ) HE'S AT THE TRADIN'! POST.' HELL BE BACK PERMISSION TO TAKE

YOU

HOLLYWOOD.'}**

TWO OATS f

INOEED THEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER... ALMOST EVERY CHANCE THEY COU..O' THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT. TERRY... SOMETHING HUGH 0 NEVER FELT ABOUT A

TWO DAYS LATER, THE SHINING PRIVATE AIR-TRANSPORT STILL SAT ON THE OPEN ICE-FIELD OUTSIDE THE SETTLEMENT' HUGH HOWARDS HAD STAYED.. WAITING FOR DOCTOR WHEEMS TO RETURN BY OOGSLED FROM THE OISTANT TRADING -POST— SORRY. BOYS' MR. )V. LOOK HERE, EVANS' WHEN HOWARDS HAS IN BLAZES ARE WE LEAVING^ > THIS FRIGID HOLE? IT’S , J -BUSINESS \

BEEN TWO DAYS' GOtJ inhere' > A WIFE AND KIDS^J®

"V* ^ ^ I'M ...IN LOVE WITH YOU. %OH, HUGHf DO YOU MEAN IT? I'VE NEVER l NEED YOU.'YOU'VE ] GOT TO COME BACK TO THE JSEEN IN LOVE BEFORE' STATES WITH ME' I WANT 'Sf HOW CAN / BE SURE? TO MARRY YOU/ ^ . \ S

GIRL BEFORE.

TERRY f

yeah'

[UGH CAUGHT TERRY

HIS ARMS.

OH, HUGH'

\HUGHf

BUSINESS' -| WITH THAT < t fn OAMEf\ SEEN zJmK EU TOGETHER?^

NOW ARE YOU SURE, TERRY?

(Suddenly a blast of icy wind 'SWEPT THROUGH THE ROOM AS THE DOOR WAS FLUNG OPEN..

"take

yourW HUH'

HANDS OFE^^mHER'

The FUR-CLAD DOCTOR STAMPED INTO THE ROOM. THAT'S GET OUT f\-tME WAIT, OADDY? YOU HER ALONE' <T* DON'T UNDERSTAND' • RIGHT, SIR ? A GET OUT OF C HUGH WANTS TO MARRY

NEVER' l FORBID

MV HOUSE'S ME .

AND TAKE ME

TO HOLLYWOOD.'

IT?

YOU'RE NOT LEAVING. ^TERRY? YOU'RE STAYING f

HERE WITH

ME'

BUT.DOCTORM HUGH WANTS TO MAKE LOVE TERRY 1 CAN GIVE < A MOVIEHER SO STAR OUT 4 ) MUCH. / OF ME' HE'S

WK .

fffODUCERf

yes' I'VE

HEARD OF

9 THE WAY l)KAY,

HEREON A

SIR.'jThUGH.' .

IF THAT' S^Y WAIT/.

YOU, MR. jfl HOWARDS.' aj YOU'RE UP

Ajg

YOU FEEl/vM ABOUT *.

YOU, DARLING?

TERRY GOINS TO BE ONE OF YOUR PUBLICITY GABS TOO? BET'

OUT

STARTED OUT OF THE DOOR. YOU ..YOU'RE NOT^lVE 60TT0, ’come YET, ARE J.TERRY' IF

M YOU

*MTTO mth.

coyE

f he.

-j

Exhausted from h;-< trip, doctor wheems lay down to rest, and fell asleep.' when he awoke AM HOUR LATER,, .^7 TERRY t I HEARO A TER R 1/

—

I TERRY* WHERE iL ARE YOU?

The roar of an airplane reverberated over THE FROZEN WASTES' HIGH ABOVE THE TINY ESKIMO SETTLEMENT, TERRY SAT BESIDE HUGH IN THE COCKTHE HUGE TRANSPORT... HUGH? I'M SO SOI DON'T WORRY, TERRY HE'LL GET OVER IT' , ' YOU OESERVE A

'’LITTLE HAPPINESS, .AFTER THESE LAST

SHEAR AWAY '

SIX YEARS.'

W ;^i

•

EAClTEO/ IF ONLY fD AD DA DOT'S PERMISSION TO SO INSTEAD OF -gl HAVING HAD TO

As HUGH HOWARD'S PRIVATE AIRLINER DISAPPEARED INTO THE ARCTIC BLUE, OOCTOR WHEEMS HASTILY HITCHED UPHIS DOG-TEAM...

PIT OF .Ton,

) BE THERE, HUGH -T^ V’ZZ BE THEBE

YOU FEEL -*> REALLY me, AND

Y0U

Hugh truooeq off anp terry went back inside. IS HE YES... DADDY' HE'S GOING AWAY 7 £ COINS/ JBgk

A WELI

HOUR.'

PUBLICITY

STUNT/

[...MEET ME AT J [the PLANE IN AN

Terry MRYfiT^riR 'HuSnI HAD SNATCHED MS FUR-COAT,

TKL

CAN GET TU THE TRAUII U POST AND CATCH THE HON) VIY J HAIL PACXET, I MAY BE ABLE M TO GET THERE IN TIME'

MUSH?

H£H. HEH< 30 HUGH SPIRITEO TERRY OUT OF THE COLDCOUNTRY TO THE LANO OF > PALM TREES ANO KLIEG LIGHTS. HOLLYWOOOf THEY WERE MAR RICO AS SOON AS THEY

ARRIVEO. ANO

THE FILM COLONY WENT WILD OVER THE PRODUCER'S NEW SRIOE ANO FUTURE STAR • SCREEN TESTS WERE MADE. A SCRIPT WAS CHOSEN. AND SHOOTING BEGAN.., J

r J

HAF TROUBLE

“K «

HADN'T

LATELY) M*SIEU' SHE IS HAGGARD'

WEEKS' THEN, THE MAKE-UP MAN CAME TO SEE HUGH.. ABOUT YOUR WIFE? M'SIEU HOWARDS 4 SHE EES A LOVELY WOMAN.. .BUT HER SKIN. LATELY

EET

jM J

That night, hugh tolo terry about the makeUP MAN'S COMPLAINT

K WHAT

IS IT, DEAR? AREN'T YOU GETTING/

ENOUGH REST AM I JV0RK1N6 .YOU TOO HARD

HUGH

OON'T KNOW,

(l HAVEN'T BEEN FEEL-

\[/ng well' x

I'M

The neat day, terry didn't show up at the studio' HUGH RETURNED TO THEIR PALATIAL BEVERLY HILL6 HOME TO FETCH HER. TERRY f WHATS WRONG ? WHY ARE YOU WEARING I

However, terry won't get over

fact,

I *7

THOSE GLOVES THAT VEIL

AND 7T

In THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, TERRY LOCKED HERSELF IN HER ROOM REFUSING TO COME OUT' SHE ORDERED HER FOOD SENT UP ANO LEFT OUTSIOE HER DOOR.. -| »C3 .

/ OH,

HUGH' HUGH! NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME TO -S HOLLYWOOD '

NOTICED'

SPEAK SPEAK UP, HER SKIN EES ...Mfj, I'LL X K TO HER ' n markel' CRACKING.' CANNOT DO ANY WHAT IS THINO WEETH f*i Mr IT? '

’terry'

YOU'VE

GOT

TO LET ME

IT'S..

TOO...

LATE.

TERRY.' “HONEYf GO. ..AWAY

^PLEASES I'LL !L. A DOCTORS

GET _>

LEAVE... Ht..

ALONE

REFUSES

ANYONE

HOME-P^P*

SOMETHING

DOCTOR T_ WHERE IS SHE

KJBf 4

GOT 1 TO TAKE HEN BACK. BEFORE ITS TOO LATE f\ . neves shdul: ua,e nfl.

)

THEN ITj IS TOO

TO SEE'S.LATE'TAKE THERE'S \ ME TO A

MAKE-UP MAN COMPLAINED ABOUT HER SX/N... THEN SHEIK STARTED WEARING GLOVES Jill ANO A VEIL/ NOW. SHE'S SECLUDED HERSELF r HER

HER FATHER, PROFESSORS IT, ''v ARLEN. AND MYSELF DOCTOR? )wERE COLLABORATING

WHAT IS

TELL \ ON A SCIENTIFIC

ME'J EXPERIMENT

WRONG i^HERf

WITH HER.' FIRST MY .

WHEENS/C HOWARDS? I'VE

SHE'S UP IN HER ROOM. DOCTOR' SHE

ARRIVED? HE'D TRAVELED BY DO€SLEO, MAIL-PACKET. TRAIN. ANO PLANE TO 6ET TO THE HOWARDS

WHEN JTthe ACCIDENT occurred! WITH HIS OTING BREATH < begged me to TRY OUR NEW PROCESS

a arlen

mmm

L-i

VOICE SOUNDEO SO STRANGE TOOAY SHE EVEN WIFI REFUSED TO ANSWER ME WHEN I CALLED

"fc

'RhSti

THE ACCIOENT HAPPENED ON THE

W THEMREVIVED AFTER

JUST OUTSIDE MY LABORATORY WE'D WORKED WITH

HIGHWAY

NONKEYS. BUT FOUND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE REVIVED THEM A P TER THEY'D BEEN A FEW MINUTES

YOU

YES. NR. HOWARDS! TERRY ARLEN WAS DEAD.' I REVIVED HER.' THAT was THE EXPERIMENT PROFESSOR ARLEN

...

DEATH*

J ^ DEAO.W^Jj^^

6000 1 LORD/-

^M^

HERE,*

OOCTOR' AND I HAD BEEN WORKING ON' I THIS 4 RUSHED HER TO THAT ARCTIC SETTLE*R KEEP HER FROM DECAYING/ I HAD TO TEACH HER EVERYTHING ALL '“'vROOMf i OVER AGAIN! THE REVIVING ACTION REVERTS THE PATIENT to INFANTHOOD.' TERRY

CONTINUED TO DECAY' COLO WAS THE ONLY ANSWER.' COLD-XoM-4fWXMF, PRESERVE THEN.' iwlrli they

MENT TO

HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DEAD FOR

—rOVER

Howards and wheems forced open terry's door? as IT SWUN6 AJAR, THE FETID RANCIO ODOR OF DECAY BURNED THE* NOSTRILS' TERRY LAY UPON HER BED IN A FLIMSY PINK GOWN? HER FLE3H WAS ROTTED UPON HER BONES' HER FACE WAS A GRAY, SKULL-LIKE DEATHMASK... ITS BARED TEETH SET IN AN IDIOTIC GRIN' WAVE OF NAUSEA SWEPT OVER HUGH AS HE STARED AT THE SHAPELESS PUTRID REMAINS OF HIS ONCE LOVELY WIFE. .COME. MY BOY! WE^CAN'T HELP .HER NOW! ‘

CHOKE

SIX YEARS

/FTr^

JSRfl

HEH.HEH'SO THAT'S WHY TERRY DOUSED HERSELF WITH

PERFUME/

AF TER ALL,

HOW MUCH CAN A BODY STAND.. EVEN A

DEAD BODY* POOR HUGH .'WELL, A COLD WIFE IS BETTER THAN NO WIFE

ALL... STONE COLD. THAT is 'MAYBE. IF TERRYT) STAYED UP NORTH, SHE’D HAVE LASTED INDEFINITELY. INSTEAD OF ROTTING ON THE HOOF I’LL BET THOSE HOT KLIEG LIGHTS DIDN'T help THE SITUATION. EITHER? OH, WELL? SHE 0 PAOBABLY HAVt BEEN A P .1

kRJ

ROTTEN

tu /rV\^r WJ / KWHI

KdU/i WmJ[ IKwzIh rfflu V

VS/l

ACTRESS ANYWATf NOW I'LL turn Y0U BACK T0

TN£ CRYPT-KEEPER? arE i.*'

sEE tou next

mag ...the

VAULT OF HORROR?

other

come

And Homer had

forever!

gradually,

Edna liked the state of on his being trapped for

to realize that

things

thrived

exulted over her ability to make him life . cringe and quail before her razor-sharp tongue. And realization that Edna derived enjoyment .

ACID TEST!

c\ys

from these furious tussles, had inspired Homer's plan for freedom. He had begun the tonight with the idea of getting her in another of her turbulent tan-

fight

you think I’m going to divorce you, Homer Wormwood, you're insane.' know how much and the feeling is you've come to hate me

wound up

mutual ... but you're not getting away from

would gulp down her drink without a mo-

"If

me my me

so easily! I've given

best years of

you and you’ll continue to support long as I live!"

life

up the

was praying that she would become blind with pent-up rage! So blind that she trums

Homer watched

his wife disappear into the

and a weary smile flitted across his face. Have it your own way. Edna, he thought ... as long as you live, eh? It may be a good deal less tune than you think! kitchen,

bottle

small

marked:

CAUTION:

SUL-

PHURIC ACID! He glanced furtively toward the kitchen door, then removed the bottle cap and poured the contents of the vial into the drink he had been preparing for Edna. This was the easiest wav out' Pur Edna to the acid test, in

manner

of speaking

and watch

the agony of her fatal failure!

"Haven't you got anything to say in your defense, you miserable fool?" Edna had room and was standing oppohim, her face flushed with the heat of her

own

words.

Not another word, Homer cautioned him-

silence always

infuriates

her.

couple more minutes of ranting with no answer from me, and she'll grab that drink with

unreasoning fury and gulp

down!

Words continued to pour out of Edna like a raging torrent, and Homer stood his ground and looked sheepishly at the carpet. Suddenly, as though exhausted by her own violent clamEdna stopped and picked up the cocktail

oring. glass

His wife’s voice was grating on his ears argument he had pur.moment he had returned He wouldn't have to

from work that night.

reentered the site

Homer had

for her.

filled

She held

poised in front of her bps.

again, continuing the

posely begun the

own

self.

His fingers shook as he took from his pocket

ment's hesitation!

She's going to drink

keep up ment longer

much longer to that despicable voice, sulphi' r *c w as vreat at bring Homer mused

this defeated

If I

now! he thought. cur act just a mo-

submit

there's

was year six of Homer Wormwood .

last

"Pahhh!" Edna snorted

peace to people!

man

tabbed, and just the night before he had dethe termined to make this the last year .

detest,

at it's

mat moment "If a

man who

acts

And

Homer’s bewildered

face.

month, week and day! He had quietly squirm loose by divorce, but it had Edna redoubling her vitupera-

tried to

resulted only in

squalling about his inefficiency as a helpmate, provider and companion. Divorce was tive

had screamed ar him so often that it had become only a vague rumble in his ears. They were stuck with each totally out of the question, she

anything

like ^whipped dog! Maybe this will stir you " with that, Edna hurled her drink

blanket of pain seared into his brain. His

eyes

became orbs of screaming hot agony own tortured flesh choked .

the stench of his his nostrils.

And

the last thing

Homer Worm-

wood heard, before a veil of unconsciousness descended upon him, was the wail of his own voice stretching aloud a single word: ACID .

ACID.../fC7D...'

Stanley

molding REATIVE FUN

asuS.

Coloring

for everyone

grownups too

the whole fomily will join to create reol life fas-

cinating characters with

PROFITABLE ful figures

MODEL-CRAFT.

... Sell

which

Katf

This

EDUCATIONAL

new absorbing

play will bring out and develop artistic talents.

— now

ftdee

sets.

MODEL-CRAFT SETS

recognized by child

psychologists as on essential part of every child's educoa, development and fun.

C—SI.2JI G— S3 *8 K—S3 SO O— (

(

SI SO

(

w — S4 so

(

S—S3 Ml

and the none will be changed A* lar at title* that come apingly dote to E-C.'s are concerned, all I can do it to ask you to open your kiood-shot cyet. try and act clever, and look lor the the covert re plattered with 'em So get E C. tea! wito up) (Aw, ibuddup! You're smart, kiddies over-doing it (-Editors.) So ttop twitting my twitted

throat

then other some dead lolksl listen pound a lew pieces on my pulsating piano "On I'll start my mad medley with that old favorite. wend my weird way through Top ol Old Spooky". "The Last Ground-up," and lor my linal offering thrill you with my rotted rendition ol the tertar-Iune made popular by Cranky Slain. Gboul Train" But while my collection ol folk songs Irom

now

while

loul feeble lingers are tickling the Ivories, let us discuss

more earthy

Dear Crypt-Keeper. I notice that you always ate fh# expression, “kidI don't like because although l am only 14 mysell. I'm sure that many adults read your mag. And I don't think at mysell as a "kiddie" either

things!

first ol all, the votes!

counters

Our

"Guest-ol-the-Istue" vote-

dies! This

THE FRIENDLY GRAVE-DIGGERS AMD

MONUMENT CH1SELERS (WE WRAP EM. THEN TAG 'EM') CLAMMING AND SHOP-UFTING ASSOCIA-

Robert Rettie

have lust dug TION OF CHERRYSTONE, MAINE up the hacked out results! First place goes to Droolina .

lack Davts

(MY BOY II.

HORROR!

Se5»r.d niche

San Antonio. Texas

bloody GROUNDS FOR taken by Oozing Joe Or-

lor his is

Well, old man, when you're as old an I am even cdult is a "kiddie "I But when I call you "kiddie",

.iando. for his shocking ROTTIN' TR1CKI To Ghastly lor his crawly Graham Ingels go third place honors

SUCKER FOR A SPIDER! Kreepy

lack

faurth spot with his breathtaking BOARD The text. WEREWOLF, howls in tilth.

And now a message Irom my hare instructed me to Inform you

Kamen wins TO DEATH!

They suckers who have editors!

idiot

most case* acted upon

pig's nostril

•

Dear Crypt-Keeper. My father is a barber, and now he only has your magazines in the rack in his shop When the customers read them their hairs stand on end and it maxes my

written in that EACH ol your letters has been carefully read, and the cntidsm* as well as compliments swal-

lowed. digested, and

an it’s

no slight on your age a term ol endearment is intended whether you be 6 or 601 But 11 enough ol you kiddies writ* in and complain. HI cut it outi (la really

They

to sincerely thank all ol you who have written! Their only regret is that they find It impossible answer each and every letter personally, as they

old

have asked me

man 's

iob easier!

would

like so

much

to political

do (The above statement* conannouncement! The opinions exI

paid pressed in these statements are not necessarily those your columnist In lact. I don't give a corpse's capillary if you writ* or noil 'Cause I'm sick to life ol hiring those ridiculous social and business organization* to not g#| connt your vicious, vulgar votesl) (Now NASTY, old hoyl These readers consulate your BREAD BLOOD Their wish is our commandl-Ed.) So don't and any ol them wish you two morons should drop dead? (Aw. stop beefing your toothless gams and tell 'em about your imitators!— Ed.) Oh. yeah A* I'm sure you've noticed, there has been a deluge d imitation* on the stands making use ol hey E.C. title woids such stitute

Lazy barber* kindly note

The

where I get your mag keeps so I’m sure ol getting ill

store keeper

bidden

tor

as TERROR. HORROR. FEAR, and WEIRD! While it's true that E.C was the first to use these word* In the along with HAUNT. CRYPT, and VAULT comic mag held, thee* words cannot be registered! Any old slob can com# along and us* these words so long at he doesn't us# them in the same combinations that E.C. has used them in its litlesl That Ihis has caused much contusion among you newer readers who mag by its recognire an E C. learn to have yel to format and arlists is tough! The topper came when was informed lha! some publisher had pul out a book the title ol our annual! Needcalled "Toledo! Terror" .

less to say.

jumped down my idiot editors' jumped down the rival

throats publisher’!

a copy

Robert fester

Greenwood, Pete

Dear Crypt-Keeper

the store might be robbed, you make doubly sure oi getting 75c lor on# year's supevery copy by subscribing

Never can

kiddol

Why

tell

when

don't

ply ... tlx nauseating Issues

And

Three GhouLunatlcs are

the sets ol pictures 25c might a* well not wail any longer to order and this oHer Is the price isn’t going down . only limited! It will expire in 19631 And remember 125 sets to a customer (each at a quarter, ol course/ No wholesale prices!) ol

still

The address lor mall, picture and Insults is: The Crypt-Keeper

orders, subscriptions,

Room 706. Dept 30 225 Lafayette Street N.Y.C

12.

N Y

THIS LITTLE

HORROR

GEM OF BLACK IS CALLED...

Toby shook his seven-year-old heao angrily/ THE VOICE CONTINUED/ IT GRATED IN TOBY'S EAR*/ THIS TIME IT WAS HIGH-PITCHED ANO EXCITED/ IT WAS ALWAYS DIFFERENT/ LAST TIME IT*D BEEN LOW AND SOFT/ THE TIME BEFORE THAT, IT'O BEEN

â&#x20AC;¢HE'LL NEVE* KNOW, TOBY/ HOW ABE YOU A GOING TO BE ABLE TO MARK UP THE

NO* AUNT GO ON, TOBY* YOUR AUNT'S NOT HOME NOW/ IT'* A ROOD CHANCE7 AGNES FORBID YOU NEED A FEW PIECES ANYWAY/] ME/ 1 MUSTN'T/) A UNT AGNES d SO AHEAD.' GO ON DOWN /

just one piece... ONE SMALL PIECE/ JUj

tAW

^ lAIMI SAID

GEE. I DO NEED IT BADLY/ TOOAV'S THE SAME' I GOTTA KEEP SCORE.' OKAYf I'LL

SIDEWALK WITHOUT 9 A HUNK OF COM ? J

DO IT/ IlL GO DOWN JNTO THE COAL- BIN ' '

OvEWHfiO. A BOARD CRtAKTOT" 3 TobY listened- for a moment ?” KITCHEN THAT LED TO TH^C^Ltffe TOBY STOPPED BESIDE THE THERE WAS NO SOUND.' HE SWUNG tlPTOED DOWN THE STEP$'#E OPEN THE COAL-BIN DOOR ANO HESITATED AT THE BOTTOM, PEERING MAYBE. STEPPED IN... ONTO THE BLACK MAYBE N AW f SHE THROUGH THE GLOOM AT THE IT'S AUNT Jkf COULDN'T have5 BOARD-PARTITION NEXT TO THE ACHES' GONE TO THE > FURNACE THAT SECTIONED OF/ f STONE AND BACK THE COAL-BIN FROM THE REST SO FAST f OF THE CELLAR... 'GEE' LAST [‘LAST TIME J TIME AUNT ^ * YOU GOT 1 AGNES GAVE CAUGHT? 1 ME A GOOO NOT THIS < TIME, THOUGH' LICKIN'.'

Toby opened the doon-nl the Alio

FAINT LIGHT FILTERED THROUGH THE BLACKENED Toar went out of the coal-bin... closed the CELLAR WINDOW HIGH UP (N THE WALL OF THE DOOR BEHIND HIM... AND TIPTOED UPSTAIRS' JUST AS HE CAME THROUGH THE CELLAR DOOR INTO COAL BIN f TOBY KNELT AND PICKED UP THREE THE KITCHEN. THE FRONT DOOR SLAMMEO... OF THE LAR6EST LUMPS HE COULD SEE.. BOY THESE ARE OKAY f NOW.C'MON, QOLLY.' AUNT WtoBT* I'm home LET'S GET UPSTAIRS WN/CE ONES? A ONES... r ARE YOU A ROUND* COME <-fe»-^di&8EFORE SHE COMES 1 LHELP ME WITH THESE ?

]

12^;. back

BUNDLES .'

Toby's first urge was to run away... but beforei Toby extended two blackened, coal- dust covHE COULD MAKE A MOVE. HIS AUNT WAS IN THE ered HANDS? HIS AUNT GASPEO' HER FACE GREW KITCHEN GLARING DOWN AT HIM... PURPLE WITH RAGE? Ej

TOBT.' you've been IN THE COAL- BIN AGAIN

HUH f 1

WHO..

ME t

Aunt agnes slammed the bundles down on THE KITCHEN TABLE

LOOK AT YOU YOU'RE GEE. AUNT AGNES FILTHY* X TOLD YOU t X NEEDED A PIECE WHAT WOULO HAPPEN j/ to KEEP SCORE' IF YOU WENT DOWN THERE'S A CANE THIS TT HERE AGAIN ' JBB^ f afternoon 1 THE VOICE REMINDED J fmr ME '

STOP

LIAR' LIAR' BAD. THAT'S ALL '

YOU'RE JUST

GOOD... like

FATHER' X WARNED

YOUR OH,

IT:

STOP TALKING LIKE THAT 1 MY DADOY WAS

WONDERFUL

MY SISTER NOT TO

MARRY

HIM

WERE THE OX'S.' HE

HE WAS

[

FATHER A

A ORUNKARD

THINK ME AND YOUR

HE WASN'T

MOTHER WERE he WAS KILLED

WASN'T FOR HIM. YOUR <

YOU'RE

ALWAYS YELLING AT ME

NO.' X HATE you I HATE

DEAD -DRUNK DROVE

HOME THAT

YOU I

WHEN ME f

THE VOICE SAYS YOU HATE ME

NO ? HOW DO YOU

he WASH'.

DRUNKARD.' ^

WHY

a liar

UAR f

MOTHER'D BE

THAT'S

NOT

z'm

HEAR A voice • HONESTf. IT TALES TO ME IT ^lAKES ME DO THINGS f J

GOOD-FOR-NOTH/NOk

IF IT

TODAY'

HE USED TC HEAR VOICES, TOO.' VOICES. BAH ' They CAUSED NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FOR ALL OF US' LOOK AT

HAH

ING? you're just lik^

your

WORTHLESS

r glive

• t

ARE YOU GOING TO START TELLING ME ABOUT THAT STUPID VOICE YOU KEEP HEAR-

]

NIGHT'

X YELL AT YOU BECAUSE NOW YOU W J.ISTEN TO ME. YOUNG 1 ' THE NEXT TIME I YOU GO DOWN INTO THAT COAL-BIN, X'LL SEND YOU AWAY.. TO THE ORPHAN YOU'RE BAD'

NO. AUNTIE AGNES (SOB PLEASE

MAN

OONT send me away' please'

home *

wL;

’

I'LL BE

GOOD '

TLL BE GOOD '

/ YOU

PROMISE f

PROMISE/) TIME THE VOICE >3r< TELLS ME ANY-

Va 3*

thing,

X WONT

LISTEN' HONEST' 'Nf X PROMISE rmfft c*oss my E9T fir

heart

ALL RIGHT ' NOW, * SO TO YOON ROOM '

r Y .YES,

AUNTIE

YOU'VE 60 T TO BE

PUN/SHED FOR DISOBEYING ME'

^IDiOriTZlULD' VOICES HHMHPH IF HE WEREN'T my SISTERS FLESH ANO

T SO

YES..

AUNTIE AGNES f

Aunt aones thumbed through the phone book. FOUNO WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR, ANO DIALED A NUMBER HELLO? IS THIS AMOS KINSTER, THE locksm/Tht oh, GOOD ' I HAVE A JOB FOR YOU, MR KINSTER f X WANT YOU TO INSTALL A LOCK... ON MY > COAL-BIN.' .

——

AWAY.'

I'M NOT OOING TO LISTEN TO YOU' 5

TOBY' LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE

FLOOR.' YOUR SHOES ARE COVERED WITH S COAL DUST ' TAKE M Wt3Mi THEM OFF.

BLOOD. I'D have him COMMITTED TO AN INSANE ASYLUM.' FOUR TIMES he's GONE TO THAT COAL-BIN WELL, ZM M f OOINO TO PUT A STOP TO THAT.'

EX PLOOED.

AONES ‘

YOU'LL SPEND The

REST OF THE AFTERNOON /NDOORS'

\TsEASY. toby' JUST CLIMB 5 NO.' YOU'RE DOWN THE TRELLIS OUTSIDE ONLY TRYING YOUR WiNOOW

HIRE' I’LL

£ €

SET ME

.00 FIRST.' YOU &JZk^AlNTD TROUBLE. FOLLOW '

The voice was outsioe the WINDOW NOW' IT DRIFTED BACK TO TOBY FROM HALF-WAY OOWN

TOTHE

low slipped one roar over

the WINDOW SILL... THEN THE OTHER' HE STARTED DOWN THE TRELLIBf SUDDENLY A TRUCK PULLED UP BEFORE THE HOUSE

GRODNO...

GOLLY.' A TNUCKf THE DRIVER SEES

-I

ME'

—I,

OKAY, MA'AM.' I GOT YUHf YOU WANT A LOCK ON *ER SO THE KID CAN'T OPEN IT, EH? ONE THAT OPENS WITH A KEY .

ONOVE

ONE V

(

;

I SAIO NOUN TONS. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT/ WE HAVE A S/e COAL BIN/ i ALWAYS 1

NOUN TONS AT A \ OROCRWf.' w

I’

LITTLE LATER. TOBY LOOKED UP FROM HIS TOYSlM

TOBY' TOBY, HELP ME.'. COME DOWNSTAIRS NL EASEj^mmm&

NOW YOU'RE TO STAY ... OON'T WORRY, IN YOUN I'M AT THE STORE.' AUNTIE AGNES' THE COAL SHOULD COME, JUST fM HEYEN SO/t \ TELL THEM TO PUT IT IN THR0U6H TO LIB TEA THE CELLAN WINDOW/ AND DON'T TO THE FORGET WHAT YOU PNOMISED VOICE r^rr last abain

THE HOUSE ' I'LL TAKE CANE OE YOU LATENT

THE LOCKSMITH BUSIED HIMSELF ON TNI DOOR, AUNT AGNES PHONED THE COAL CO MP4

*0tWWHILE

ILE

THAT'S A LOT OF

COAL FOR

’

SAW

HIM AS I

OtUVENY, ma am'

TOBY.' SET

MA'AM.' I

\ HUNT/ r

Toby scrambled into the house and up to his ROOM.' AUNT AGNES TOOK THE LOCKSMITH INTO THE CELLAR...

I’M THE

LOCKSMITH,

K/Df

YOU'LL GET

HEY, .

HUH? WHY

IT'S

AUNT ASNES CALLING MET

Toby tiptoed downstairs 'the VOICE WAS COMING FROM THE CELLAR..

V 'TOBY .'I AM I PROMISED I WOULDN’T LISTEN ) YOUR AUNTIE TO YOU ANYMORE- i 6NES 'PL EASE AND I WON'T.' £ , COME DOWN.'

YES ' THE DOOM LOCKED. SMUT ON ME ' I CAME f KNOW YOU.' I SAKE 'COME DOWn\ IN TO SEE IF THE W/N-\ heMe and let J YOU'RE NOT WAS OPEN SO THEY> G0IN6 TO GET ME OUT' THE I ME INTO KET IS IN THE 1

THE COAL BINT

pESi TOBY' COME DOWN' P LEASE'* LET ME OUT OF 1 |THE coal- b in 'J,

•

\ f

DOW

COULD OELIVER THE i

ANYMOME

coal' mummy dc HERE unc ANY civ MINUTE'^ turret* BE

TROUBLE

OCX 'JUST TURN\ IT' PLEASE 'Jk

T^MdOU/CKLr.'

KASHI DADDY A DRUNKARD. AUNTIE AGNES'

j '

)

TOBY'TOB...

NO, TOBY' YOUR DADO/ WAS A

GOOD

MY AUNTIE AGNES' \

MY AUNTIE AGNES UORD' THE ALWAYS SAID v ."INDOW'S DADDY WAS A ^OPENING'

6000 MAN NOW PLEASE

COME DOWN

YOU JUST SOUND

LIKE AUNTIE

AGNES' YESTERDAY \ YOU TRIED TO SOUND, LIKE MY

MOMMY

OF DELIGHT FR^U THE CHILDREN OANCIN6 AROUND THE COAL TRUCK ANO THE DEAFENING ROAR AS THE BLACK FUEL CASCADED DOWN THE TIN SLIDE DROWNED OUT AUNT AMES'S Shrieks of terror uttle by iIittle, THE HY0RAULIC- LIFTS RAISED THE TRUCK-BODY UNTIL FOUR TONS OF COAL HA0 POURED INTO THE COAL- BIN BEYOND Th£ * CELLAR WINDOW TINY POUR TONS... ENOUGH TO CIJUS.H THE

THE SHRILL SCREAMS

NOW DOESN'T THAT STORY LEAVE YOU WITH A LUMP IN YOUR THROAT ?MEH,HEH' IT DID OLD AGNES ' 1^ FACT THEY FOUND ONE IN HER THROAT, AND TWO MORE IN HER

MOUTH WHEN THEY FINALLY DUG HER OUT.' L UMPS Of COAL THAT is' AS FOR TOBY i

WELL. HE DOESN'T HEAR VOICES ANYMORE'

NOW, IT’S A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA' GREAT FUTURE 'THEY SAY THE KIDS GOT ..WRITING THE MUSIC TO THOSE SINGING COMMERCIALS' HOW CAN A SEVEN-YEAR-

OLD WRITE MUSIC TO SINCIN6 COMMERC!ALT COME. COME, NOW' DONT TELL ME YOU NEVER HEARD ONE' HEM.HEHf BUT IF THEr HAVEN T DRIVEN kyDSffi&Ml YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND. IHv*-*- VV\ My 5 XT ACTUAL PHOTO 1C?* l'X V W/L 'RE AO MY COLUMN, \ v\\\v M E CMYPT PEEPER S A\}1 CORNER. FOR ALL THE .

V®

INFO ?

i 3

i\ 1 \

AnOREW STEPPED ONTO THE PORTICO OF THE IMPRESSIVE MAN SlON AND LIFTED THE HEAVY BRASS KNOCKER THAT AOORNEO OAK THE MASSIVE FRONT-DOOR ? THE HOLLOW BOOM ECHOED ANO

-RE- ECHOED

DIN OF THE DOORKNOCKER DIED AWAY, SLOW FOOTSTEPS APPROACHED' THE HUGE DOOR SWUNB OPEN AND A WIZENEO WRINKLED FACE » PEERED OUT -

AS THE

WITHIN

TARE. ..ARE YOU MY

UGH ? THIS PLACE Gives ME THE CREEPS: HOW ANYONE COULD STAY HERE FOR THREE TEARS WITHOUT LEAVING *T BEATS

UNCLE

ME?

[

OH? I’M

HEAR

ANDREW, mt

wife's) I've beei ANXIOU SISTER'S BOY?

OF COURSE ? YOU COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ? IT HAPPENED THREE YEARS ABO? ONE OF YOUR OtSTANT COUSINS CAME TO STAY WITH US? LOVELY •

SHE. ..SHE DIED., ,

-m

SHE...SHE 5 not' 'Mill... HERE.

THE P/RST

DEATH?

EVER SINCE THE P/RST DEATH

IT ?

WHAT'S

)

WRONG?

HER SLEEP'

The Old man's aoeo race lit UP AND A OftiN SPUE AO ACROSS ? ME STEPPED BACK PERMIT. TINS ANDREW TO ENTER

^THAT ‘s’ M r CO mFVt HA t*S ^ IN 1 YOU MUST BE /aiOMT, SIR'

[AMBROSE

SORRY TO

AUNT ELSA, M'BOY ? SHE SHE /SNK

OOWT.. DON'T BE TOO DISAPPOINTED WITH

WOMAN?

AMBROSE? HAWLEY?

fir

DIDN'T KNOW BUT YOU SAID THAT WAS THE PIRST/ WERE THERE..

n?0 OTHERS? MY ABED*"*' BROTHER CAME TO STAY WITH US ABOUT TWO YEARS J ABO? ilE...HE WAS OLDER 4 AUNT ELSA, X? ,

]

OTHERS?

THAN HE PASSED AWAY UNCLE IS ABOUT A MONTH LATER / THEN THERE SOME- J MY WIPE'S N/ECE CAME ? IT J THINS I SHOULO WAS TRAGIC' SUCH A KNOW? -m -

YOUNG

GIRL..

’

HER NIECE'S DEATH T YOU J m WAS THE LAST STRAW.' \ MEAN SHE TOOK THE FIRST SHE'S ^ TWO HARO, BUT THE )CRAEY? LAST... WELL. ..SOME* . THINO JUST. SNAPPED' JfcT

r sm-h-h

she'll

H£AR

LITTLE

OVER -ORA-

MA TIC... EMOTIONAL... YOU KNOW' SUPER i

•

HEH, HEM' JUST HER.

HUMOR

you' no/ not exactly! SHE ..SHE'S JUST A

ANOREW' SHE DOESN'T MEAN

(

/ h

> AMBROSE'

HARM

ANY

WHO WAS. IT? J

’

SENSITIVE she TENDS TO ERAS' (Oyt

CERATE

/x.X

DON'T

UNDERSTAND.

HERE?

’'this IS

'WHAT OOES SHE j f ANDREW? s_ MEAN? Am MY

ANDREW

HAWLEY. MY OEAR

STAY

with us*

THIS IS A WONDERFUL LIBRARY. UNCLE AMBROSE YOU HAVE SO MANY BOOKS ' a

OUT THERE IN THE

SISTER'S.. BOY ? HAS COME TO

DEAD'

THEM ARE

'STELLA...

X #W/T

TO HIM. INVITING HIM TO ,

TH€ OTHERS

ARE

ALL DEAD / THREE or

UNCLE AMBROSE?) WHO'S HE? WHAT'S HE

DOING

MAUSOLEUM

THAT?

/yes' thou-

sands

THEM ' DO YOU READ. ANOREW?

A LITTLE. Vever read AUNT ELSA' A) 'MACBETH'.

% LITTLE

‘

'fi

/ANDREW T SAYS

W,LL

)

tLSA/ COME, ANDREW

? WHERE > X WIU. SHOW 'MURDER . » YOU YOUR ^

0UT '

-J L ROOM'^J

f Elsa stared at andrew.as he passed her AND FOLLOWED AMBROSE UP THE MARBLE STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR* THEY STOPPED BEFORE A POOR AT THE END OF A LONS HALL. I'M SURE I HE COMFORTABLE WILL BE. UNCLE HERE, ANDREW.' AMBROSE* kg'

Andrew's bedroom was large and lavishly furnished WITH EXPENSIVE ANTIQUES-' A STONE FIREPLACE COVERED ONE WALL OF THE ROOM* ANDREW TOUCHED A MATCH TO THE WOOD PILED ON THE ANDIRONS, AND SOON THE FIRE'S CHEERY GLQW OANCEO^ ACROSS THE FLOOR* SUDDENLY. „

r I HOPE YOU WILL

III

WARN ME,\ GET OUT, ANDREW AUNT GET OUT OF THIS ELSA? V HOUSE AND NEVER

[6h7 come" iil aunt" aSAf SIT DOWN*

THERE?

J+ COMEBACK /HE’S

YOUR

YOU MEAN

ANDREW

AUNT FLSA/

YES LET

UNCLE AMBROSE?

A FIEND A HORRIBLE FIEND /

MUSTN'T HAPPEN i

* I IT

AGAIN f IT'S <5 HORRIBLE A HORRIBLE/ / HE

HE'S A

[Ambrose stood frameo

in the ooorway. his^ 'WRINKLED FACE PURPLE WITH ANGER* HE SNARLED 'AT .THE, OLD

ELSAfQETTO BED... THIS MINUTE [

^^^v-ves. Ambrose*

I'm going*

OLO WOMAN LOOKEO AT ANDREW. HER EYES

REMEMBER. ANDREW* MUROER WILL OUT 1

HUH? OH

/J ELSA*AUNT

oJl

YES.

The next morning Andrew was awakened by POUNDING ON HIS BEDROOM DOOR.. AMDPEW.' WAKE UP' HUfi» WHA-? JUST A QUICKLY.' IT’S... MIMUTE. UNCLE g AMBROSE f JgA ITS AUNT ELSA.' she...

_A FRANTIC

WHAT /S WHAT'S

ELSA.' SHE.

IT.SI*T?

HAPPENED-K

SOB... SHE'S .

DEAD /

—

.SOB.

evening, a few p ays after Elsa's entombment

CAME ANO PRONOUNCED OLD ELSA DEAD OF NATURAL CAUSES/ ANDREW'S UNCLE WAS PRETTY

[

LEUM

-S

THAT...

WHY, IT'S

UNCLE AMBROSE/ AND HE'S CARRYING

’

1 WHAT'S THAT? LOOKS LIKE A F/SURE DOWN THERE.. GOING TOWARD THE MAUSO,

BROKEN UP OVER ELSA'S DEATH/ >THE FUNERAL WAS DIGNIFIED ^ ANO SHORT/ THEY CARRIED THE ) OLD «AL OUT TO THE FAMILY MAUSOLEUM.. .AND THAT WAS 5 "

Evening after evening, Ambrose WOULD LEAVE THE HOUSE AND GO DOWN TO THE FAMILY MAUSOLEUM TO SPENO SOME TIME WITH MS DEAR DEPARTED ELSA ( poor olo guy; HE REALLY HISSES HER

One

HE Ei NEE/ THE PLOT SICKENS, EH, KIOOIES? WELL, THE OOC

fcw

FLOWERS'

•ThEN.ONE EVENING, ANDREW WAS GROW SING AROUND THE LIBRARY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ/A < TITLE CAUGHT HIS EYE/ 'MACBETH'/ HE COULD C ALMOST HE^R AUNT ELSA'S VOICE... -r s-*S^^l\

r X

Andrew reacxo up ano pulled down the book/ HE OPENED

IT.

-a

. .

WHY WHY THIS ISN'T MACBETH' AT .

lOfVYwwp f*

fo** BB

MACBETH, ANDREW? * HERE V. RCif

IT -

SArS

*U L curr v

AU f IT'S \

A DIARY.'

DIARY'

AUNT ELSA S

HEE.HEE' YEP.' THERE IT WAS' HIOOEN BETWEEN THE LEATHERBOUND COVERS OF •MACBETH ' AUNT ELSA'S DIARY' ANDREW READ nf EVERY AEW'ELSA'S WOROS WERE VAGUE- BUT SOME 7 ENTRIES NAOE SENSE .. > i 1

ANO THIS ONE f NOW I KNOW MUST NEVER HAPPEN ITVAND AGAIN." : MUST NOT

THIS ONE. INSPECTOR' J LISTEN^ •! KNOW NOW HOW HE MURDERED THEM' SUEEOCAT/OM f he OOPED them L SO THEY COULDN'T RESIST. THEN SMOTHEREO THEM WITH A PILLOW BUT, WHY? WHY*'/ ...AND

WHrf IT

HMMMf ANO YOU SAY AMBROSE CAME

THAT NIGHT AND

INTERRUPTED

ELSA? JUST AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING?

ANDREW

THE LAST ENTRY '

MAS

COME ‘HE WILL BE NEXT!"l MUST WARN HIM' THE FIEND WILL 00 TO HIM WHAT HE HAS DONE TO THE OTHERS.' * AMBROSE MERE TO E/NO OUT THAT I MEAN TO TELL ANDREW EVERYTHING. *1 WOULO KILL ME."'

THAT'S RIGHT. SIR'

^ ^ M

MURDERED

HER? WHY THE

DOC FELT IT WAS A NATURAL * DEATH "

SUEEOCAT/OM JTHE ONLY WAY LOOKS LIKE /'TO PROVE THIS A NATURAL ONE WAY OR ) DEATH." y" THE OTHER. MR. I

DEMERT.IS TO GET

PERMISSION TO THE BOOT ANO PERFORM AN

EXHUME

__ AUTOPSY f

Promising not to reveal that anorew maotippeo, THEM OFF. TWO OETECTIVES CAME TO SEE AMBROSE \

Ambrose's ageo body shook as iie sobbeo'a _ TEAR TRICKLED D O WN HIS WIZENED CHEEK...

HAWLEY... ’

EXHUME MY LATE WIPE'S TIE YOU REFUSE. V BODY f PERFORM AN AUTOPSY J MR. HAWLEY. WE W 'pLEASEf/OJ .TO DISTURB HER' SHE'S BEEN <CAN GET A COURT ON HER? NEVE* ! LAID TO REST." LEAVE HER ORDER GIVING US M rwcpl cn

KELLY' /CHIEF M

jMj

r,t V

PFRUISSION TO DO

BEG rou'soa su e

L/ EA VE HER BE"-'

The TWO DETECTIVES LEFT THE SOBBING OLO MAN'ANDREW STOPPED THEM AT THE DOO R _ HE"V<KEEP YOUR WHAT

HAPPEN tO'JREFUS£D\ EYE ON

After the old man entereo the ANDREW WENT DOWNSTAIRS ANO ACROSS THE GARDEN,' THE DOOR TO THE MAUSOLEUM WAS PARTLY OPEN' ANDREW .PEEREO IN

Later that evening. anorcw WATCHED FROM HIS WIN "W AS OLO AMBROSE CROSSED THE GARDEN TO THE FAMILY MAUS-

OLEUM-

CRYPT,

tL/

BETTER FOLLOW HIM V THIS TIME? HE M/6HT TRY i'_'

!to

I’D

HIDE THE BODY f

|A WAVE OF NAUSEA ANO REVJLSICN SWEPT ONER ANDREW .'HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE HORRI BLE SIGHT AND RAN TOWARO THE HOUSE' FINALLY. HE COULD t A TREE 1

- " O.NQ.FURTHER'HE DUCKED BEHIND |

DEMERT?

THATCHES

YOU? WHAT f

WPOH6 •

SICK KELLY fj .

WHERE'S YOUR UNCLE.

GO D LORD'

CaT

hurried to the mausoleum and FLUNG THE DOOR OPEN' AMBROSE HAWLEY SPUN

The oetectives

AROUNO FROM The PARTIALLY EATEN COPPSE OF

HIS LATE WIFE

ANO STARED WIDE-EYED. HIS .

PISHT, INSPECTOR' HE HE /s a -

Cr^m\\

iThey oracged THE SHRIEKING. CLAWING OLD MAN FROM HIS VICTIM ANO TOOK HIM AWAY' LltTER THEY RETURNE0 TO THE CRYPT AND EXAMINED- THE OTHER COFFINS r r YOU SEE, DEMERT' WHEN WE FOUND "f THAT'S WHY HE | OUT FROM THE UNDERTAKER IN TOWN l INVITED YOU HERE... THAT HAWLEY REFUSED TO ALLOW TO HAWLEY MANOR' HIM TO EMBALM THE BODIES.WE LIKE THE OTHERS, KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG' A^HE INTENDED YOU TO A BE ONE OF HIS THE OTHER CORPSES HAVE BEEN J STRIPPED OF THEIR FLESH, TOO f J 'MEAL TICKETS '? -

FROTHY MOUTH DROOLING. AT THE INTRUDERS _/ V ASP? YOU WERE :

OEMERT?

spool'

HEE.HEE' LUCKY THEY CAUOHT UP WITH 1 OLO AMBROSE WHEN THEY 010' HE WAS RUN NING OUT OF PEL A T/YESf THANKS i TO OLD EISA WHO WAS FED UP WITH THE 1

WHOLE

AFFAIR, ANOREW WAS SAVED FROM A VERY DISTASTEFUL EXPEDIENCE/ ANO IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE SAVED FROM A DISTASTEFUL EXPEDIENCE. DON'T /

SEND FOR MY PHOTO? N the method for obtainINS IT CAN BE FOUNO IN

Fy pi

DrSlBV l^-J^ (A K

THE CPYPT-KEEPEP S COPPER, for YOU , FIENDS WHO LIKE THAT 1 SORT OF STUFF f WE'LL ALL SEE YOU NEXT IN

r^SICwllV. THE VAULT OF HORROR? TILL Then .6HOUL -BYE.

gCgSKJhd

AND

UNPLEASANT

-4

thy tyaiv -pictures THAT COME TO

LIFE

YOUR

—

HAND. PICTURES THAT LIVE STARTLE. YOU WILL HOLD YOUR BREATH IN AMAZEMENT WHEN YOU SEE THESE INSPIRE

—

PHOTO-MOVE

WITH

PICTURES

THEY TRUE NATURAL ACTION MOVE AS YOU LOOK AT THEM, AS YOU APPROACH THEM. .

The MIRACLE

CROSS ifiliuUuttia!

of the

LORD from France

THE SAVtOR if giving Eyes piously

The open Flaming Heart and Stained Window present on air close

POPE

$2.98

Hands move as a Blessing.

of Holiness. Truly a spiritual exholtotion

His Holiness pronounces the Pcpal Blessma with lips, eyes and ex-

moving

and

PEEK

THROUGH

"CENTRE

WINDOW"

CROSS SEE

a ch.ld pray.no

read

dearly

The

OF THE

Immortal

You

Even the pressive hand sign on the cross changes as you look at it.

Lord's

MOUNTED

EACH PICTURE LUSTROUS CRYSTAL FRAME

WITH

EASEL

STAND

AND

HANGER. ACTUAL SIZE 5*7 INCHES. SI. 50 EACH. ALL 3 POSTPAID FOR $4. OR C O D. PLUS POSTAGE. SEND NOW NU-ART PRODUCTS, 23S2

DUNDAS

ST.

W.,

TORONTO,

ONTARIO.

NU-ART PRODUCTS 2382 DUNDAS ST W. TORONTO - ONTARIO

MADONNA The Blessed Virgin looks at you

lifting

face ond honds

Her moving

her lovely prayer

lips

seem

speak to you This surpassing mirocle .

o oil

wonder

MAIL COUPON*

l-liJQ'Q'OQ'

™E F^ST ISSUE OF THE WELL ASKED FOR YOUR LETTERS AND COMMENTS 9,^ E DID HEOTVE/ HERE ARE EXTRA-LARGE VERSION OF MY MOLDY MAGAZINE, AND SUR YOUR iot A FEW OF THE MANY LETTERS GOT, AND YOU ARE HOLDING THE RESULT IN ^-T THE HAVE SHRUNK BACK DOWN TO NORMAL SIZEI Oh[WELL, HANDS OCCASIONALLY APPEAR IN THEj GREAT; AND MY EDITOR TELLS ME THAT MIGHTGET TO LARGER FORMATI KEEP THOSE CARDS AND LETTERS COMING^.— I

—

Dear Russ, u, am a 22 year old Sociology major at been reading of California at Santa Cruz. have about 7 or 8 and collecting comics since was for years old. am writing to let you know that Tin support of the larger size. I did not even recognize the comic at first because of the Atlantis size change. The comic dealer at Fantasyworld had to point it out to me. i am glad he did because I would have totally missed it. Other than the surprise of the size change, like what you are doing. know this won't be Publishlike the puns ed because it is not full of horrible .

letters that are usually published, but

thought

would write anyway. Thanks again for bringing reasonable back the vintage EC comics at a Dear Mr. Cochran, must be crazy! I just flew three hours to get THE copy of the EXTRA-LARGE TALES CRYPT. Boy, are my arms tired! Hee only had one problem with t a EXTRALARGE COMIC. It was so big damaged on the flight back. How c i

this

monstrous mag?

have just finished looking through the

and issue (TC) of your EXTRA-LARGE COMICS, have to admit you have simply delighted me, and hopefully many others, who will love seeing I

Nashville,

the old

ghastly er

this

Kevin Hartnell

stories

comic was a

larger foi

treat for

al"

e good and my muse ui uo »n» neatly, comics regularly, and bag and box them very difficult on this tremendous size makes it our Fellxlsh organizing attacks.

—

go back

but after

and

years

the earty

1950s when

and

Cat Kenney

were

Congratulations on yet another job well dc

Love and kisses. Gaines Bill

listening.

Olympia,

to handle

TALES

HORROR FROM THE CRYPT, VAULT OF *" HAUNT OF FEAR, thing:

size,

something! (By the way, where's my royalty check?) Many of my favorite memories are from the )

artwork better, but n house Is small. For

ss up a good Thanks for

Reading

tire

When you first brought this thought you were out of your m

your point (but th

first

New

York,

LIFE-JACKET **>

fOH THE REMA/N/NC

iROON f ONE

SURELY BE \SNANPEO.'

1 "teeth MAPKar NO CLAWIN' OR SCRATC

CONE ERONOL' EE'S CASIN'

out myself but its

With

mound

kmda

getting outta

a smile of satisfaction, Harry of hay and look toward the loft apThen the grey-haired employer

prehensively.

Through the hayloft window, Harry the "old man" working on the wagon below. Pressing up against the rafters the wooden structure, the yot :

id loft

fork de

the

A lot stronger'n

haymow.

Only

year-old geezer!

mna

help hint any

the avert

his strength at

TODAY,

’cause

inn,I die sure as shooting!

Looking down from the thought: he his

knows

desk drawer

now, Harry

loft

stole that

money

down from

tically

toward the

the haystack and ran franbam entrance. That’s got

’im! Harry gloated, looking once toward the farm house on the hill to make sure that the rest of the Malcolm clan hadn't unexpectedly come back from town where they had all gon for the day. From now on. Harry thought, it’,

be SOFT!

30 seconds later, as the old man's head ay peated above the top of the ladder, Harr, brought the hammer down with stunning force. His boss tottered for a moment, Harry leaned far forward and dragged up onto the loft floor. Then, with repeated

pen second-5 He’s strong as a bull, Hatty watching the older man sweating thi

fleeted,

leaped

blows of the already bloody hammer, agely crushed the old man's skull.

out'n

he’s just been toying with

allied!

Wants me

to get

match

dot

tossed into the

hay up here" he said

eg for

That

man

out to

show

he's stronger’r,

Still staring

settle

"So lo doc.

the top of the hay-

Harry went over in his mind for the twentieth time that hour the plan he had devised after 2 sleepless nights of tossing and turning. Getting the old man up here oughlla since he don’t be easy, the youth thought trust me much anyway, he'll prob’ly wanna check to make sure I'm not stealing any of his dang hay! And once he comes up that tad.

' - '•

Killing

The young man

ing

here!

It's

a 35

pared to what happened to ing'll

And

hut cor

YOU, my

lan

SOFT! with that, Harry leaped toward

haymow. 35

feet

he plummeted down, and

ti I:

nr fror r,

in the \

stepped up to window and, cupping his hands ai

"I've g.

were thro'

foot drop

’i

with it should be a soft touch! ty

to tell the fire didn't kill you!

A flame leaped up from the match whic Harry scraped across the rough floor: without

loft,

...

me pu

out the bla2e, you'll be so roasted that

with him!

down from

the time anyone's able to help

ONE’ll be able

since I come here to work f trying to prove I’m yeller

show the world that even though everyone but the Law knows he killed my paw, got the guts to

And by

aimed

ingly

wide open and

iTbcdy

his insides spilling out wetly

he had impaled himself on the r edges of the pitchfork which old Ma

WHAT IS !Tf WHATS WRONG WITH WO*

JACK.'

WLJACKf

HEEiHCC f THAT STENCH NERVE.' KILLING THE NOW, NAVE TO MAKE OE FEAR. READY TO su,

STOMACH- TURNER

HOT MT

CAULDRON.' TH SOCM

FRECEO/NC

SARBASET HORROR THE OLD W/TOH. MISTRESS CAIIl npnu mihi,,- -s

rrnttLa

Â»

BLOoosnmf ussusrmf

IEhilc rone

WnSTi

'euiLer

HAVE TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM HIMf

%YOU'LL

-EDITHf YOU

DARLING'

SvspfnStobyPans!

2 'oMIAST.'i

â&#x20AC;¢GLADYS'

Y" *

WALK

AAD/O

VANISHED?

Dear Russ S Ghouls, Gals, et al at EC, At my local comic store today found myself I

looking for

my EC

fix

of the latest horror or

science fiction comic to hit the streets. What found was an over-grown comic TALES FROM THE CRYPT which apparently had eaten Wheatles somewhere along the way from West Plains. This puppy was huge, dwarfing the small comics nearby. hate to "drop a load of tizzies In your toilet bowl" as they say in ANIMAL HOUSE, but I'm not sure like this new format on a permanent basis, especially at $4 a pop. Don't you know there’s a recession going on? How's a little kid going to spring 4 bucks for a comic and still subscribe to Playboy? OK, it was a nice change of pace to see CK, VK and that «d Witch up close and personal, but I'm only 32 and my eyes still work good. This huge printed book looks like It belongs In a convalescent home so the old folks can see It from across the rooml Where am going to put this thing now? How will store it and keep it for future generations of my offspring? How will get cardboard and mylar? It's klnda flimsy, as well. Get the picture? go back to regular size. ig back the scl-fi to le you're 1

Dear Mr. Cochran. would like lo thank you for pifcishing the EC Library. You have made a lot o< nostalgic middleaged Fan Addicts happy. To me these horror comics are one of the highlights of my youth. They are to me what the Rosebud sled was to Charles Foster Kane. I

fine artists better, t

the

price

Increase

Doth

Dear Russ. just today purchased Issue #1 of TALES FROM THE CRYPT at one of the area comic shops. You asked for opinions on your experiment—well, this time Is definitely a case of "ask and you shall receive". I DON'T LIKE IT, and the reasons why have been enumerated for I

you below. (1) Too big, clumsy to handle, retailer to display.

about the Ground

Keeping

who

clumsy for has

plastic,

nice polyproplene. mylar or whatever to fit these things? (3) Price - well, yes, 2 EC comics for $3.95 Isn't a terribly high price. However. 2 ECs for $2.00 was an even better df-' is just h d for _. as much for the s; (2)

plus the clumsy size offered, storage problems and all is a better deal for the consumer/fan. It's don't still an EC. they're still great reading— leel the larger panels and price justify the I

Thanks

for the opportunity to criticize, blast,

nlt-pick, etc., etc.

Efeuken Bow.

NE 68822

Best regards, Jeff Patton Massillon.

PAGES OF VINTAGE (( HORROR!

® tales CPYPT © PRESENTS

THE

HAUNT

33Q3J30P1H

FEATURING

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE VAULT-KEEPER

THE OLD WITCH

FROM THE

HEE.HEE?

ECS SCIENCE-FICTION

MAGS MUST BE PRETTY FIENDISH TO GIVE THESE TWO GHOULOOTS A CHARGE' LOOK AT EM?

'Sitlo’n ta°t he i.

ruuimums

Urn^tottl

TO.

v,.

similarity between A any such similarity is purely coincidental, intended. ~"id

rrinteu Ontology

HEH.HEH? COME IN, FIENDS? COME INTO THE CRYPT OF TERROR/ ONCE AGAIN WE MEET FOR OUR SHIVERY r ES, IT’S TOUR HOST IN HORROR, THE CRYPT- KEEPER, OPENING HIS MAO-MAO WITH A TERR/FY/NQ TALE OUARANTEED TO CURL YOUR HAIR AND CURDLE YOUR BLOODf SEVERAL ISSUES BACK, I TOLD YOU A YARN ABOUT A BUTCHER WHICH PROVED VERY POPULAR/ ONE AVID FAN EVEN SENT ME A CLEAVER, WITH COMPLETE DIRECTIONS FOR WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DOWiTH IT,., BUT ITDiDN‘T SiHK IN/ 30 I DECIDED TO TELL you ANOTHER STORY ABOUT A BUTCHER ONE THAT I'M SURE WILL TICKLE YOUR SPARE-RiBSf I CALL THIS MEATY UTTL E MORBID MEL ODRAMA.

SESSION

AS THE

NAUSEOUS CANNIBAL REMARKED ON A PARTICULARLY HOT

DAY..

TAIN T rm MEAT... IT S THE HUMANITY!" No ONE PAID MUCH ATTENTION TQ.'zACH GRISTLE BEFORE WORLD WARE,' HE WA5 JUST ANOTHER SMALL TOWN BUTCHER BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE WA R i SUDDENLY. WITH THE ADVENT OF MEAT RATION/NG ... RED POINTS AND CE/L /NO PRICES ZAC H GRISTLE BECAME VERY POPUL AR. _ .

IIUWUT,

ZACHl^B

lull

WING,

~T MORNIN'/vMORNING,

MR- GRISTLE?

)

ZACH< ) FOLKS ?

OH, DEARY ONLY HAVE

HEH.HEH? YEP? SUDDENLY, Ol' ZACH GRISTLE FOUND HIMSELF THE MOS1 POPULAR MAN IN

TOWN

HEH,

HE WAS THE I

THEM TO YOU?

ES T

PERSON PRETTY

PER

MONTH/IT

AWFULLY^ 'no sirloin ' SORRY, STEAKS, MR. GRISTLE?

Aha*,

MR.

FUDDY ? I JUST SOLD THE LAST MR.CUSPI-

ONE TO

TORE? I COULD LET YOU HAVE A FEW

( THE MEAT MYSELF ?S COULDN'T. ) 00 THAT ’ a

\PORK CHOPS'

WAS

TOUCH... THE

SITUATION, THAT

I'M

'SORRY, MRS. VINKLE ? 1 NEED

POINTS LEFT, THOSE POINTS IN / ORDER TO BOY

MR. GRISTLE? CAN I ...OWE

THOSE DAYS,

RA TION BOOKS' SO MANY RED POINTS FOR EACH POUND OF MEATY SO MANY RED POINTS ALLOWED EACH Kl 0 D

l~Y

FORTY-ONE

HEH r WHY NOT ?

ONLY BUTCHERY

REMEMBER

IS...,

TriiS SORRY, Mi33 DiCKLEBORG'V POOR M GRISTLE? ]RAT/ONlN& NOTHING BUT SALAMI LEFT? I EXPECT ANOTHER h£ TRIES / certainly SHIPMENT TOMORROW? BUT SO HARD'C IS HARD < ON HIM? ) YOU'D BETTER BE ON LINE , AND HE’S \ SO HONEST EARLY Y FIRST COME. FIRST SERVED, you Ag know ( jg-ffg/mKm

YeP' MEaT RATIONING MAS HARD OH Mfi.SRiSTLE f THAT IS UNTIL HE DISCOVERED AN INTERESTING ~ FACT. IF I COULD GET AT BUT... THAT'S OftHIDE STEAK, MR. GRISTLE, HONEST. MR. vAf / DERCLIFF? THAT': I'D... ER ... PAY: WE'D... SORT or... FORGET ABOUT THE CEIL INC PRICE Y a ,

)

NO TILLING HOW LONG THIS WAR BUT WHAT ABOUT WILL LAST, ZACH? MIGHT AS WELL \ THE... THE POOR MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES' 'PEOPLE, UH THERE ARE A FEW OF US WHOD iVANOERCLIFF?^ BE WILLING TO PAY ENOUCH TO 1

BET WHAT WE WANT Y

SUIT YOURSELF, ZACH ? YC ONE OF THEM, NOW Y YO

COULD BE PRETTY wEuw OFF IF YOU USED YOUR HEAD' THINK OVEN

I WILL. SIR? I'LL ..THINK

I...

IT OVER Y a

)

T SEVEN-

JUNIOR.' J I'M NOT

ONE THOUSAND' TWO THOUSAND f OH. ..PARDON HE.' I WAS JUST COUNTING MY LOOT FROM THE

EAT YOUR

HUNGRY'

rYOU SAY

TEEN

)

MEAT.'Jh^_^

HUM

NO'

OH'

I WAS JUST THINKING OEAR!

SOMETHING,

POINTS!

A-

ZACH?

BLACK MARKET OPERATION I WAS IN DURING THE WAR' HEH, HEH ' THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF CASKETS, y'know' I DUG UP AN IDEA ON HOW TO CASH /N'M-L I HAD TO DO WA S CLEAN OFF THE DIRT POLISH ’EM UP

AGAIN /HEH, GRISTLE.

HEH.'

AS FOR HR.

LOOK ON HIS

.WELL... LET’S IN

HOME LIFE'

YcP‘ MR. GRISTLE THOUGHT IT ALL OVER f A ND HE MADE UP HIS MIND... jgg ' WHY, MR GRISTLE' HAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THERE ISN’T A DECENT MRS. GRUNDY f SHORTAGE, I

PIECE OF MEAT

Y'KNOW'

YOUR

WHOLE SHOWCASE.'

BUT

WAITED ON

THAT'S ALL I've

LINE FOR TWO HOURS' I’M THE FIRST CUSTOMER YOU’VE P*§-

HAD

TODAY.'

MRS. GRurtDY

SOT

I'M

SORRY f

^ |Tr|fffl

JjSgk

AT NIGHT, SHADOW Y FIGURES WOULD MR. GRISTLE'S STORE...

BUT

COME TO

BUT

CAN T GET ANYMORE, YOU COULD FIGURE FF.' X DON’T j SOMETHING OUT.MR.

MR. VANDERCLl

HERE’S YOUR STEAK. y^Hi) HERE'S YOUR THIRTY f BUCKS , MR. GRISTLE' OH' MR. VANOERCLIFF' I’VE GOT AHOTHER CUSTOMER FOR YOU' HE L WANTS STEAKS, TOO '

^TEN POUNDS' A

-A

GET AS

ENOUGH POINTS/

IT IS,

I’M GIVING THE

LEFT-OVERS TO THE FOLKS

M ^

TOWN/

^ T l

-A

GRISTLE.' IN

TOWN

THE FOLKS POINTS

RAY

FOR THEIR

MEAT.' ISNt

THER ANY MEAT THAT YOU CAN GET WITHOUT ^ RED POINTS*

junior' EAT TOUR

ER. ..MR.

GRISTLE

MEAT' J f

I'M

NOT

[HUH?

OH' ho? X WAS JUST THINKING. DEAR'

HORSE-

HUNGRY?

MEAT ?\

gee/yuh

ZACH'

'SPECT ME J

TO EAT LIKE A

HORSE.'

YOU

L ISTENING ?

J )

...AND AT THE THREE-QUARTER MARKER. IT'S FATHEAD. BY A FAT HEAD/ AND NOW, . AT THE STRETCH.. .IT'S... IT'S ...HOLD IT/ FATHEAD JUST STUMBLED/ 1 LOOKS LIKE ME BUSTED HIS LEG/ TOO BAD? NOW THEY’LL HAVE TO SHOOT HIM 'AND HE WAS SUCH A GOOD HORSE, TOO?

fog.

AnO WiTH THE PRECIOUS RED- POINTS, PROBLEMS' HE BEGAN BUYING HORSEMEAT, AND PAlMINB IT OFF TO HIS POOR CUSTOMERS AS THE THEREBY GETTING THOSE PRECIOUS"

REAL THING. RED-POINTS

”

yJl MY.' YOU HAVE SUCH A NICE

SELECTION NOW, HR.

YES/ WHAT WOULD YOU I LIKE, MRS.

SHERD? SOME

-rfj

*0 PURCHASE MEAT WHiCH HE‘0 SELL AN THE BLAGK-MARKET] THESE STEAKS ARE GOINgY' OKAY, OKAY? NOW, LISTEN ? I NEED

GOOD

TO COST YOU MORE MONEY, VANOERCLIFF? MR. TAKING BIG

I’M

CHANCES

NOW ( F/YE DOLLARS A POUND FROM HERE

J TWENTY POUNDS NEXT

TIME.' I'M HA>

A BANQUET/ANON FRIEND NEEDS TEN

STEAK ? CHOPS

GRISTLE.'

SOON; THE HORSEMEAT WASN'T ENOUGH? MR GRISTLE FiNP OTHER AVENUES OF SUPPLY... LOOK; GRISTLE' I’M SUPPOSED AND HO TO SELL THIS MEAT TO EOOS POiHTS

HA&TO

IT'S TOO OLD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION' SEEN LAYING ’S AROUND THE WAREHOUSE ]fi TOO LONG' NOW FOR wm/ « PRICE, w, .jSSL.

rNO POINTS. GRISTLE*

TAKE IT* BUT, NOT A WORD, UNDERSTAND? NOT A WORD TO ANYONE?

I'LL

HU SBA NO TODAY, MRS.

TAINLY WAS SINKING LOWER AND LOWER? BUT HO OHZ SUSPECTED NICE MR. GRISTLE WHEN A FEW PEOPLE THE POORER PEOPLE .

HOW'S YOUR

HEH.HEH 1 FIRST HORSEMEAT. NOW MR. GRISTLE CER-

STALE MEAT?

BETTER, THANKS' NOW, 7 AIN'T

Bur

BEEN PEELIN'

ISN'T /A / HE'S OUT WALKING '.

.TOO

HORTON?

GOOD.'

one night

MR. GRISTLE'^

WELL JUST TELL 'IM HE CAN PICK UP ANOTHER LOAD OF THE

. .

TOWN... FELL SERIOUSLY ILL?

THE

THE. ..THE

WHAT 9

STALE NEAT ' THE JUNK

THE STUFF HE'S BEEN SELLIN' GOOD STUFF.' YOU KNOW ?

OH? Y-YES? I'LL I'LL TELL HIM'

Mrs. GRISTLE CLOSED THE DOOR AND STARED AT IT FOR A MINUTE/ THEN SHE WENT OUT.' SHE ARRIVED AT THE BUTCHER-SHOP A FEW MINUTES LATER"here's YOUR MEAT, VTHANKS ^DON’T TAKE IT, f

AzAChfJ

’

STALE.

meat? r

—

GOT SOME FOR iM,

'BYE?

SIX ^ DOLLARS' STUFF, MRS. GRISTLE? f BLACK I PAY SIX BUCKS A i market? / POUND FOR THIS STUFF? ZACH'S REGULAR CUSTOMERS GET THE JUNK:

OLD

MAT BE HORSE-

‘iM X

HOPSENSAT

SARAH.' JhEH.HEH? NOT THIS

MR. VANDERCLIFF? IT'S

^TELL

TOO ?

MR. VANDERCLIFF

SLOP?

BRIGHT KID .This SARAH* OUICK W*TH PRICE

...

69%

NUMuERSXCEILING ' SIX OOLLARS TO

VANDERCUFFfBLACX MARKET* FIGURES* BUT SHE'S A GOOD KID, MRS. GRISTLE SHE'S

AND YOU'RE PASSING

.After zach's customer leaves. -YOU'RE

SELLING^'' YOU KEEP^

OUT Of THIS, MARKET* k. SARAH'

MEAT ON THE

OFF HOR SEMEAT AND STALE MEAT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS FOR RED-POINTS* \H|

WE'RE •

TO BE

RICH,

SARAH*

PROBAOLf WHO CARES ? ' I DON'T JKiJA'F THAT 'ANYWAY, I WANT THE MONEY' KIND OF MONEY? MR. HORTON WAS TERRIBLE j AFTER THE WAR I‘M GOING TO SICK* WAS IT FROM 1 RETIRE* I’VE SOCKED away GRAND ALREADY

^TOUR MEAT IJg^SiX

STOPWHAH*

YOU VE GOT TO THIS' lT‘S AGAINST THE LAN*

ASK OLD SHORE’

GASOLINE J MAN BUSINESS? Find OUT ABOIJT HIS

.ABOUT

FINCH'S TIRE RACKET * £PER TROOP'S OOin iT* J why shoulon t i 9 | •

So ZACH GRISTLE BOUGHT THE SPOILED MEAT YEP' MRS. GRISTLE WAS AWFUL MAO. AND SOLD IT TO HIS CUSTOMERS.. Igaaraa— COULDN'T TALK ZACH OUT OF IT * H Bj to MAKE HIS PILE... NO M t MY SISTER-IN-LAW IS HERE f HEH * JUST TRY SUFFERED. FROM OUT OF TOWN* SHE'S GOT A DEAL FOR 'Y'i NEED SOME TO DO MY BEST YOU, GRISTLE* GOT SOME TAINTED POINTS Bt.DLT *> A MAEED THAT WE CAN GET MRS. ABACROMBIE* \ MEAT* REAL BAD NO ONE'll GOT a BIO ORDER ALL THE MEAT WE WANT*/ .WHAT'LL IT BE** KNOW IT, THOUGH f GOT A PROCESS j TO FILL * OKAY ' THAT COPERS IT UP * THEY i I'LL TAKE IT' J

MINED

—

HEHiHEH ! DON'T TURN OVER THE PAGE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS' YOU'LL

GET

TO IT'

COMING'

IT'S

THE BEGINNING OF THE END COMMENCES TO START RIGHT NOW.' ER... FLOWERS FOR MRS. A ABAOROMB/EF WHAT FIND ? 1 WHY LILLIES. .OF COURSE.' DEAD, Y'KNOWF l.

HEART A8ACR0MB/E JUST DIED' POISONED.'

-y excuse AUTOPSr \ ME, MSS. GABBER' RIGHT NOW' a

THEY'RE PERFORM-

y POISONED'.

MSS

DID YOU

ING AN

”|F THAT'S

THEY THINK HER SISTER-

IN-LAW

ALL YOU WANT...

OID IT

I'D LIKE

MR. GRISTLE SHOOED MRS. GABBER OUT OF THE STORE AND LOCKED IT UP? MR. GRISTLE WAS MR. GRISTLE WAS GOING TO HIT THE ROAD. TOWN... TAKE IT ON THE LAM...

UP EARLY, AIN'T CHA

SCARED OF THE

MANIAC

h .

,-*" r -=.

MANIAC

HOWDY, ZACH 'CLOSIN'

‘

WHAT

MANIAC?

WHY, THE ONE'S 60IN' AROUND POISONIN' EVERYONE? MRS. ABACROMB/E... AND MRS. SNERD... ANO MR. SNERD... AND OL' man GRUNDY .' GOIN'

Mr. gristle ran all the WAY HOME 'first thing HE DID WHEN HE GOT THERE WAS TAKE HIS BLACK MARKET MONEY FROM ITS HIDING PLAC E? ELEVEN -wqae YOU'RE IN TROUBLE/] PACK YOUR THINGS V THEY FOUND OUT.'l... J SARAh' WE'RE

TOWN'. *

WARNED

YOU NOT TO SELL HORSEMEAT... I...X

Y’YES? WELL?

IT'S

HOME ,ZACH?

WORSE

THAN THAT,

SARAH? FOUR PEOPLE

ARE DEAD ALREADY.' I

SOLD THEM TAINTED

Ife*-.

MEAT '

—

./}

GOODNIGHT, .

PETE?

ALL

DEAD' WATCH YERSELF Jn

F]lfj

THOUSAND DOLLARS... LEA YIN'

CLOSE UP'

YOU...

YOU

WHAT?

S'MSTTFTr SARAH? CAIN'T YOU HEAR HE KILLED ‘M‘

you're

MURDERER'

HE SOLO 'EM RO/SONEO

HEAT

AH f NOW IT'S SINKING INTO THAT FEMALE BRAIN.' AH' THAT'S IT! SET MAD.'BET

I OiO IT FOR saw ah ' FOR TOU AHO

] I

AND...

JUNIOR.'

JUNIOR \

nOftTOn f

V SHE A

HE'S EATING AT HERBIE HORTON'S a

BOUGHT

some of IT-

HOUSE f

GOOD AND MAO' HEH..HEH...

that

KITCHEN

BILLS

Little junior collapsed on the kitchen floor-

moment junior staggered into the

—

HE'S DEAD ZACH DEAD' YOU KILLED

HE LOQJlCEO A..Ur TLE.9REEN ARpUftP TH£ J

'r~

JUNIOR / .

GULP'

sTraH! YRUT DOWN ?

HIM, TOO...

BABY.'

THAT

KNIFE

OUR SON ... EH...£H..'_

When

they unlocked zach gristle's butcher shop the NEXT MORNING, THEY FOUND MRS. GRISTLE STANDING BEHIND THE COUNTER... STARING INTO SPACE' SHE WORE A BLOODSMEARED APRON AROUND HER NECK ( BEFORE HER-. IN THE MEA SHOWCASE ..ZACH GRISTLE HAD BEEN CLUMSILY CARVED AND LAID OUT IN THE VARIOUS TRAYSj ...

GOOD LORD

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU AIN'T HUNGRY f YOU CAN MINDOM SHOP, HAN'T YOU?

NOT INTERESTED, EH? BE INTERESTED

BANQUET Given TAINTED MEAT

MAYBE YOU'D ATTENDING k FORMAL

BY THE

GHOULS

ZOMBIES, MEREMO LYES, AND YAMFIRES BLACK -MARKET- BODIES STHD/GATE IN HONOR OF EACH GRISTLE ? HE Will be SERVED f HMM*' STILL NOT INTERESTED, EH? HOW ABOUT GOING ON TO THE VAULTKEEPER THEN? HE'S NOT INTERESTING, TOO' GOT A BOR/NS STORY FOR YOU.' THEN I'LL DIG YOU LATER WITH ANOTHER

vBrFmuit

WA m /JFfllfm

)Wm

creepy-crtrtCOL LECTOR '$item'>

MEM. MEM

WELCOME to THE VAULT OF HOPE OH, FtENOS? yep. it's' your HOOT. THE VAULT EVER HEAR OF MOUNTAIN GLIMBENS ? SURE vot* HAVE? WELL, I'LL BET MOUNTAIN CRAWLERS, .SOUTH AMERICAN VARIETY /my STORY ONE!" 1 CALL this BRISTLING TALE OF TERROR... *

FEEPER, SHE/EN INOF

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF

CONCERNS

The door

to the washer. ei JS- BUOKLY. AMD

MOR8AN C0N9T06TI0M COMPANY SWIMS* OPEN AND Tug STRAMSER ENTERS f ME LOOMS AROUND JtND THEN STEFS U* to rug reception DESK..

WILL YOU TELL MR. COMAL. TO STEF OUT HERS

MORGAN

FOR A MQMFmt .

CREDENTIALS

The SECRETARY LOOKS DOWN AT THE STRANGER'S GLITTERING BADGE AND GASPS f SHE SWITCHES ON THE OFFICE INTER-COM AND

HE.. HE'S

FROM

THE POLICE

DEPARTMENT, SIR f

OH? ALL

Donald Morgan gomes out

RIGHT f I'LL BE RIGHT

HIS OFFICE... J '

OUT'

WHISPERS... }

MR.

MORGAN YOU ,

WERE

COMPLETE

CHARGE OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE C/TY

HAVE HIM 1 WAIT, MISS I

HOSPITAL, WERE YOU

BALLENTINE'I

NOT

I'M BUST... I

WAS.'

MR. MORGAN?

HANDLED

WHAT?

YOU

ARE UNDER ARREST!

THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION UOB

MYSELF .'WHY?

THERE’S NO MISTAKE, MR. MORGAN! THE UPPER FLOOR OF THE HOS-

BUT...

BUT THERE MUST BE SOME

PITAL

COLLAPSED

THIS MORNING?

MISTAKE ' // AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE CONCRETE USED WAS SUBSTANDARD f AL MOST ALL j

\ SAND.' BETTER COME

BUT THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE ' I ORDERED THAT CONCRETE MYSELFF I SPECIFIED

THE MIXTURE.' it WAS « ROOD MIXTURE? NO * LET

ME 90 .' I

WON'T...

WHAT'S going) WHAT IS THE ON HERE?

!NG ''''>*& llLO F .

TH,S ’

MORGAN f\ WHAT DOES HE k

ALONG QUIETLY

wan-

< f

WHAT?

fop HOMICIDE, [MORGAN! GENTLEMEN fYOUR, IS THIS

WINTV PARTNER, here. TRUE?' is RESPONSIBLE^-^ I

DEATHS OF TWENTY-ONE

FOR THE

HOSPITAL PATIENTS!

GOOD

ELLIS

.LORD'

...

WAGNER...

After mr, Morgan is led FROM THE CONSTRUCTION (COMPANY OFFICE BY THE DETECTIVE, MR. WAGNER, THE SENIOR PARTNER OF THE CONCERN, TURNS TO THE OTHER TWO...

GENTLEMEN.'

Y-

WE SHOULD HAVE A CONIN MY SULTATION.

OFFICE

YES,

WHAT APE YOU COMF1. A'" 'HD ABOI.T.

DID / KNOW IT WOULD] PAP. COLLAPSE? rujr

YEAR..

OH, DEAR OUR THE REPU\SCAN- STATION?

HEH.HEH? LOOKS LIKE MR. ELLIS, MR. BUCKLY, ANC WAGNER ARE SHOCKED OVER THIS LATEST TURN OF EVENTS, EH.KIDDIES* LOOK AT ‘EM... CHATTERING LIKE A BUNCH OF MONKEYS.' THEY

MR.

THE KIND

EH.

THAT ARE APPALLED BY DISHONESTY? .WELL, COME ON IN AND LISTEN / YOU’LL BE SHOCKED..

That's buokly screamin g

HANDLED LAST

M-i

HOW

JOB MORGAN

BETTER

MR. MORGAN? DAL .LET’S 60'S

SEEM NICE AND RESPECTABLE,

OF COURSE,

MR MR. WAGNER' WAGNER'i

IMMEDIATE

MIXTURE STOOD UP IN THAT SCHOOL

BUCKLY /BELIEVE COME ALONG ME.' I DIDN'T J QUIETLY, THIS'l...!

'that

ELLIS? YOU GOT

HE SAVED.'

I'M

HOT

GOMPLAINI

A NICE PAT CHUNK OF THE D0U6H /

ING' ONLY

THEY'RE OR TO US NOW'

SO WHAT' WE'VE ONLY SUBSTITUTED CHEAP MATERIALS ON MORGAN ’S JOBS' HE 'LL TAKE THE RAP.' HE'S TRAPPED... TRAPPED WEM1L ( in A NEB OF C/RCUmK *EEF

STAHTJAL EVIDENCE/

WHOLE DEAL? they'll

NEVER ^SUSPECT k us !

GENTLEMEN OF THE YEP? THAT'S THE PICTURE, KIDDIES.' ELLIS, THE JURY.' HAVE YOU BUCKLY, AND WAGNER HAVE BEEN TAKING / REACHED A HIGH GRADE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL VERDICT? ORDERED BY MORGAN ON EVERY JOB HE S HANDLED AND SUBSTITUTING CHEAP. INFER!OR\

YES.DONALDf YES ? THE WEB IS TIGHT? IT'S BEEN WOVEN WELL. YOU'RE I'M I

DONE FOR... TAKE HIM

INNOCENT

AWAY.'

TELL YOU...

INNOCENT?

\OF MANSLAUGHTER?

At THE OFFICES OF THE WAGNER, ELLIS, AND BUCKLY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. „ IT HAS WHY THE SUDDEN MEETING, WAGNER: NOTHING TO DO

WE FIND THE DEPENDENT, DONALD MORGAN .GUILTY

WE HAVE.TOW HONOR

WITH

DO YOU REMEMBER/ WHAT?J AND WHY /THERE'S THAT BOLIVIAN CONTRACT WE BID ) THAT'S ONLY ON? THE POWER / WORTH AXTNREE ( FORTUNE?j OF US PL ANT AND TO DAM? WELL... V SPLIT IT? GOT WE

JkM

MORGAN GENTLEMEN'

"when do we

WAGNER?

leave

TOMORROW * WE’RE FLYING DOWN IN THE COMPANY'S PRIVATE

...

PLANE f

small

four-seater TAKES OFF FROM THE AIRPORT JUST OUTSIDE THE LAJMX, OAPITQU&ta^ V^fttt AllitAVO I 7 uru ufhFvfqI ypOORMORGAN? HEr ALWAYS’ 'LOVED TO FLY WITH US? TOO L .BAD HE HAD TO MISS

And

so,

the next

day, a

aiTY-. Bourn, FC«

THIS TRIP f

The storm lashes at the air-

The mountaintop looms up BEFORE THE PLANE* WAGNER

The shock throws the three men forward? for Wagner peers out of the window f as the LIGHTA MOMENT, THE TINY PLANE VIBRATES OBAZ'LYNING FLASHES ONCE MORE, HF SCREAMS... WHAT .HAPPENED ? ) WE HIT BUT ...BUT WE WE’RE STILL RETWEEN WHAT? YYOU’RE SOMEDIDN'T CRASH.") THOSE TWO MOUNTAINS ' Jl RIGHT.' WE'RE JUST HANG!N6 THING.' IN MID -AIR / 1

Soon, the storm subsides' elus takes a FLASHLIGHT AND OPENS THE PLANE DOOR...

W LOOK? THE PLANE ITTBF’be CAREFUL ^^LyOU'EV FALL. I ON THESE CAUGHT

Ellis climbs from the tiny craft... onto the gableLIKE STRUCTURE. r

IT'S

NO, ELLI S f WAIT TILL

SOME SORT OF A

NETWORK ?V* V

CABLES?

to CLIMB

DAYLIGHT 'you DONY EVEN KNOW HOW HI6H

GOING

down's

UP VIE ARE?

But ELLIS DOES NOT LISTEN? HE STARTS DOWN THE CABLE NETWORK? SOON, ONLY THE GLOW OF HIS FLASHUGHT CAN BE SEEN...

inside their plane, wagner ANO BUCKLY STARE INTO THE DARKNESS...

From

SUDDENLY THE FLASHLIGHTGLOW BLANKS OUT, AND THE NIGHT IS FILLED WITH A BLOODCURDLING SHRI EK 0* HORROR-

WHAT... WHAT COULD HAVE

ELLIS? COME BACK: YOU CRAZY FOOL '

SCREAM OIOnY FADE AWAK'n

HAPPENED tgood\

TO HIM ? HE ... HE MUST HAVE

LORDA

FALLEN?

was CUT SHORT?

HE SAW SOMETHING

HE... .

network Bucket moves out over the cable WAGNER HANGS RACK. A SENSATION OF TERROR CRAWLING DOWN HIS SPINEKNOW C'MON, WAGNER ? YOU CAN’T STAY THERE

AS DAWN BREAKS 0VER THE ANDES, WAGNER AND BUCKLY BEHOLD A STRANGE AND TERRIFYING SIGHT; the STRANGE THEIR TINY PUNE HANGS ENTWINED CABLE-NETWORK, HALFWAY BETWEEN THE SHEER SIDES OF TWO MO UNTAINS AND HIGH OVER THE VALLEY FLOORv-r /CDKIWF CAN CLIMB WAIT. ( TO SAFETY' \T REACHES /BUCKLY l THE MOUHTA/H \ SIDES.

TILL YOU ,

STARVE'

OH,

MY LORD.

THING DARTS DOWN THE NETWORK FROM ITS EIGHT HUGE SPINY LEGS CARRY

Wagner scampers back

N RIDGE? G

? A HE AS THE GIANT CRAWLING THING

A AA Afi AAfiErc

REACHES BUCKLY...

LORD? IT... IT'S

OH.

DEVOURING

BUCKLY'S HYSTERICAL SHRIEKS OF PAIN FINALLY SUBSIDE? THE HUGE SPIDER TURNS AND MOVES

TOWARD THE

PLANE...

NOW ...HOW,

IT'S

giant spider crouches over the tiny plane

...WAITING FOR ITS TERRIFIED OCCUPANT TO WAITS PATIENTLY... HOUR AFTER HOUR...

COMING

ME?

Back in the uniteo states the WARDEN AND THE DOCTOR STARE DOWN AT DONALD MORGAN f HE THE CORNER ,

SITS IN

The

OF HIS CELL.

BEYOND HOPE '.A COMPLETE MENTAL BREAKDOWN. HE'S

EMERGE?

WUrT7.TuTTRAPPED 'TRAPPED!

,rs

While high in the andes. MORGAN'S EX-BUSINESS ASSOCIATE IS SUFFERING THE SAME FATE? HE, TOO, IS OUT OF HIS MIND,..

MUTTERINGWARDEN

HIM

IT IT...

TO GET

into the

TRAPPED PLANE AND SLAMS THE DOOR FROM WINDOW WATCHES

SPEED? WAGNER SCREAMS...

BUCKLY.' LOOK OUT' ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A GIANT SPIDER

...EM ...EH..

SPIDER... EH.,

WilTINe...EH.

SITTING '"ERL. WAITING FORME

JtJST

HEH, HEH' YEP? SO AFTER WAGNER, ELLIS AND BUCKLY TRAPPED IN A WEB Of EVIDENCE, THEY WERE TRAPPED IN ONE THEMSELVES... A REAL WES

MORGAN

THAT IS? I SUPPOSE YOU'RE WONDERING IF A SPIDER LIKE THAT REALLY EXISTS? WELLNEXT T\Ht. YOU SEE A LOCAL SPIDER, ASK IT IF IT EVER HEARO OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN

MOUNTAIN CRAWLER? IT'LL PROB ABLY CURL UR ANO DIE Iw.

AT THE MERE

Mi NT /ON

iHP

fl,4k

ITS name? 'BYE, NOW?

â&#x201A;Ź.D.

FA NS/ UNDOUBTEDLY THE ZANIEST WORTH Of IDIOTIC NONSENSE YOU COULD EVER 70 BUY I TRY IT ... FOR LAUOHSI

Ramsey squeezed the

trigger

and felt

the pistol buck violently in his hand. The young native guide in front of him spun around and crashed headlong into the heavy foliage. "I don't need him any longer, Ramsey muttered as he slipped his

gun back into its holster and stepped around the body sprawled beside the trail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now that he's revealed the hiding place of his peoples' treasure, I can go the rest of the way myself. As soon as I crack open the tomb

crude

where these buried their

monds and 3 of

superstitious,

loot,

rubies

savages

fortune in diamine!"

hours later ... 3 gruelling hours hacking through the

incessant

Ramsey stagmatted underbrush gered into a grassy clearing. Before him, rising grey and ominous as the auide had predicted, towered the mountain where the treasure of Molokko Island was hidden. A half-million dollars, intended as a sacrifice .

gods,

to primitive

was sealed up

those rocks!

The fatigue of the long trek from the painful lunging over the coast razor-backed ridges and through was forevilly-sucking swamps gotten by Ramsey in that moment of somewhere along ecstasy. Here the base of this craggy mountain was the secret entrance to a sacrificial chamber which housed a king's .

@ON

ANOTHER "NEW TREND"

SURE-FIRE WINNER'^53^

SALE NOW

AT ALL NEWSSTANDS!

ransom!

The sun had begun fading Vfhen Ramsey found the cryptic designs into the stone. A warning, the

carved

guide had whispered, that doom awaited anyone who dared invade the sanctity of the mountain! The only one who's perished because of that

Ramsey sneered, was

fool curse,

the

$i ftU

guide, himself!

a few minutes he had jammed a sticks of dynamite into fissures

dozen

beside the sealed entrance. From a distance, protected by a huge boulder, Ramsey heard the shattering blast and saw tons of rock shower in every direction. When the dust had settled he raced toward the gating hole now revealed in the mountain's side even from this distance he could see the glimmer of precious stones within the tomb. It was all his .

232 BIG PAGES FULL COLOR

Here under one cover, in full color continuity, reedited and arranged in chronological order, are all the stories of the Old Testament heroes from the four issues of the magazine. colors Printed in four bound throughout' and with brightly

A deep

rumble made him stop in The ground began to wildly far above the mountaintop was disintegrating behis

tracks.

tremble

fore his eyes! Flames leaped madly toward the clouds hissing black lava gushed torrentially down upon .

him

Before Ramsey, in his terror, could flee across tho grassy clearing, the searing liquid was upon him Like fiery tar it bubbled around his legs, searing the tortured skin and tearing it loose in raw shreds. Pain stabbed instantly through his body, from head to toe ... he felt” stifling heat filling his

agonized lungs, choking

(Write for special school prices)

his breath

EDUCATIONAL COMICS. INC. ST.. NEW YORK 12. N.

in his throat.

225 LAFAYETTE

The treasure

...

a thought flickered

through his brain as he felt himself dissolving in that blanketing sea of molten lava buried in the side of a .

VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN! Dynamite .

. .

activated it

COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT COMPLETE NEW TESTAMENT PICTURE STORIES PICTURE STORIES

The scorching lava rolled on, and Ramsey's body turned molten hot simmered and spit like meat broiled in a blast-furnace in its midst .

L'r r:

75c

£J

SOc

FROM SCIENCE (No. 2) FROM WORLD HIST. (No. 2)

(15c for each copy) .

£ £

CRYPT

CORNER So.

now you know! So maybe my two

Imagine a "comic" being COMIC.! a

HORROR

But C.K.! There s

"MAD"! -ed

story in

Who »!»

«•

TELL WHO TELLS IT? Harvey Kumman tells it! -ed ) THERE! THAT'S WHAT MEAN! What does that WAR MONGER know abour HORROR? Where tell it?

Does O.W.

tell it?

IT?

WHOOSH Kurtzman come

does rOW, KA-BLAMM, (But this is different, C.K.. off writing horror stories? horror story! Why. we nearly died, This is a who -ed ) NEARLY, eh? Drat the luck! And anyway, story? (But C.K.! ever heard of a YoTboi.hck Darts, 4r,w is! —ed. THERE! THAT'S 'Jack Davis, What does

FUNNY

FUNNY HORROR

WHAT -ed.) (

1 MEAN! sob JACK

There

there. C.K.!

Prospects" you wrote the! the gold •uni the Cape of Good Hope. This hardly f/y

way

Does V.K.

•

Yonkers, N.Y.

BOUGHT

MAD

FUNNY

around India. Most of them didn't go \yway! They went to the Isthmus of d on loot to the other side, and got a wailing for them. James Slayden

idiot editors

my column won't be commandeering large portions of announcement any more to make some ridiculous couple about E.C.'s latest money-grabbing effort! A cover of the first of pages back, you probably saw the the I*C. tr^h heap. issue of the most recent addition to if you "MAD," they call it! You'd be things, this new mag is it' Of all the nauseating .. choke! How disgusting can one actually myself up with get? when 1 reluctantly agreed to tie allowed my Tales from the this miserable outfit, and magazines, Crypt to be published in the form of comic daymarcs dreamed that 1 would 1 never in my goriest associated with funny-type magazines. n any

» ............ Ail rignt, already: ou i idiot editors want? 1 should know geography? Besides, my should know should have caught the mistake! (So WE -Harvey Kurtzgeography? -td.) fl know geography ! wri u MONGER! unKTr.m

man)

WAR

Dear Crypt-Keeper, stone* reamea Probably you didn't think your honor to scare characters their lone tentacles acton the Atlantic take this opportunity like me over here in England May I horror and terror stones I've to say that yours are the best ambassadors of honor ever read. Let’s hope that your little their ghastly {your magazines ) keep managing to trawl

way over

here,

only to keep

MONEY'

offered .

me screaming.

Alan Cresswelt London. England

WHO?

BOY? sob DAVIS? MY how No tears ! -ed.) How

could he do this to me? Simple! —ed.) RUINING HIM

Blimey!

E's orff

bloody rocker, by Jc

him

THATS

RUINING HIM’ WHAT YOU’RE DOING DEAD BODIES AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH’ PICKLED WEREWOLF KNUCKLES AREN T .

GHOULASH GOOD ENOUGH? VAMPIRE GOOD ENOUGH? (HUNGARIAN STYLE)

ISN'T him with MONEY? ( You do we'll do business our way! -ed ) business your way CONTRACT! Remember? I QUIT! (Now, how! The

You have

spoil

friends think so too,

Mary"

Hmmmph!

(That's better!

-ed.) your column! -ed.) Ah, look at some mail

yes!

Now

go on with

The column! Well,

lets

Dear Crypt-Keeper,

discovered the mtstaee I suppose by now you’ve and have you made in Tales from the Crypt No. 30, But in case you received hundreds of corrective fetters. sailed around haven't, you said that the gold seekers Africa, when you the CaPe of Good Hope which is in obviously meant Cape

Horn

South America.

there s available ... and will be. for some time. So Few battered copies of rush! Mail your quarter in anytime! Likewise two bus! bubTales of Terror kicking around too. in six issues, . .six bits scriptions . . full year J5c Sepd complaints, coin of the realm t6 you unhep heaps! picture orders, T. of T. orders, subscription .

Kavanagh N. Bergen, N.J.

...In your first story .. .1 found a big mistake It "...yeller -hungry critters'd taken clipper ship! ..." Ol round the Cape o' Good Hope an beaten us

laid,

course

looking For any of you other grateful ingrates who .are five by seven autographed for a way out, be advised that myself photographic reproductions of V.K., O.W., and Still

the fact that the Cape of Good Hope f •houldn't matter much, except that they would «*

compliments, orders, tnd short orders

( make mine on

rye.

)

to.

The Crypt-Keeper

Room

706, Dept 32 Lafayette St Y.C. 12. N Y.

225

’

READ OF THE STARK HORROR

TWO MEN FOUND

This story

GAME

IN A

MEAN THERE ISN'T ENOUGH V'YOU'BE bluffINS'.\ ROOM IN THIS WHOLE / BUS' OKAY' YOU’RE \ FOR BOTH OPUS, ON.' SHALL WE DRAW? \ LOU? AND I’M WILLIN' J HIGH CARD WINS' THE /

probably the most HORRIBLE,

BLOOD- CURDUNO TALE YOU WILL EVER READ' IT CONCERNS TWO PROFESSIONAL GAMBLERS... BUS FORNEY AND LOU GREBtSf GAMBLERS BIS -TINE

WORLD

...

TO GAMBLE TO SEE _ WHO LEAVES ITf

BUS AND LOU. APE IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES' SAMSUNG IS THEIR L/FE.'tHE WAGER THE BET... IS THEIR BLOOD BUT BUS EORNEY AND LOU CREBIS HATED EACH OTHER. ..HATED EACH OTHER 6 AMBLERS LIKE

LIKE POISON

ISN'T

I’M NOT

LEAVING,

LOSER DIES.' the OF METHOD /

J \ CHOKE IS

ENOUGH ROOM IN THIS TOWN FOR BOTH . LkOF USi LOU? THERE

Gusfso,eooo-BYE... BET ON YOUR HORSE-

H/S.'

)

IT'S A

)

GUS SHUFFLEO THE CARDS

HERE’S THE

BET' J DECK' SHUFFLE l)Pf "EM

AND

SPREAD THEM OUT, FACE DOWN, ON THE TABLE... GO AHEAD' Yf OKAYf l‘LL

( S

PICK.'

PICK

(

LOU FINGERED THE

FAGE DOWN

CAROS, RUNNING THROUGH THEM! THEN...

...ER...

HE SPUN ONE OVER...

TOO

WAIT A MINUTE ' STILL DRAW.'

)

WS.y I

[~Y THERE ARE THREE ' THAT (V ACES LEFT IN DECK f ^

—

AT THE CARDS FANNED OUT HIM.' THE ODDS WERE SIXTEEN TO ONE AGAINST HIS PICKING ONE OF THE THREE REMAINING ACES' HE SPUN _A CARD OVER...

NO.' I GOT A SIMPLER -

GUS STARED DOWN BEFORE

WHY, YOU

LUCKY

HEH.HEH' AGE. LOU' SHALL WE DRAW AGAIN

METHOD ? GET YOUR

REVOLVER fx CHALLENOE YOU TO A

RUSSIAN GAME ROULETTE.'

OKAY, LOU f YOU'RE OH.

Mg?

THE REVOLVER LOU TOOK THE SIX-SHOT REVOLVER GUS TOOK HIS REVOLVER FROM LIFTED The BARREL TO H'S AND TWIRLED THE CHAMBER... THE DRAWER AND REMOVED aLl TEMPLE 'THE ODDS WERE FIVE ' BUT ONE BULLET FROM ITS SIX THERE'SHE’S STOPPED ITRIGHT TO ONE... CHAMBERS... SPINNING.' NOW REMEM- GIVE WE GO IN SEQUENCE.. ) OKAY WITH \ BERT ONE AFTER THE < IT TO ME... ALTERNATING.'I'LL J ME,ous'.I'LL\ OTHER. ..TILL SHE GOES OFF r SPIN THE \ p. GO FIRST.' r-Y '

GUS TOOK

CHAMBER.'

—

LOU LIFTED THE GUN AND STEELED HIMSELF FOR THE DEATH BLOW AS THE BULLET CAME CRASHING INTO HIS BRAIN

HE SQUEEZED

A A DUD .' WHY, YOU DIRTY tt# .‘!X YOU KNEW IT ALL THE T/ME' THAT'S .

WHAT?

IT... IT DIDN'T 60

WHY YOU WANTED TO GO FIRST: YOU THOUGHT I’D CRAWL... yrrrTft

OFF f.

YOU

CAN’T

YOUR WAY OUT OF

TWIRLED THE

THIS ONE.-GUS

TALK

don’t be AN IDIOT, LOU' YOU

A SURE \h—yHADTHIRD '

y”'

.OUT/&IX1 I

NOBODY

GALLS 5 US FORNEY

CHEAT' CREBtS.l CHALLENGE

YOU justI l

IT'

NEVER^

WELSH WHEN

OFAY, YOU CRUMf YOU’RE

«- \\ONf ro * SAME OF GHOP-PQKERj)\

rbu

Y 6 I'D

VM AN

HONEST

K GAMBLER OR fNEVER HAVE FOUND

KNOW IT WOUL D COME

you're

NAME ino

CHAMBER.' NO MATTER WHEN HOW DID I J IT CAME UP, YOU

LOSE

i TO A FINISH? TO A FINISH.f! CALL YOUP doctor: ILL GET mine: r

THEN.FIENOS. BEGAN THE MOST

They sat at the green feltCOVEREO TABLE BENEATH THE LAMPfTHE MEAT CLEAVER SPARKLED BETWEEN

HORRIBLE CARD GAME IN THE HISTORY OF HODERH GAMBLING you've heard of STRIP poker? WELL, CHOP POKER IS ALMOST

I GOT THREE TENS, LOU.'

)

SORRY, GUS.'

pA jar

^GLARING

THREE LADIES/

;them' gus oealt the cards.,

LIKE THAT i ONLY INSTEAD OF LOSING AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING ... YOU LOSE A LIMB CHOP POKER HAD BEEN PLAYED BEFORE. IT WAS TOLD. BUT ONLY ONE HAND .

e77tll

"i'll fa k

TW0 f -

three.'--

AT A TIME.' NEVER. ..TO A trtAIICU,

M-

Lou PICKED UP THE CLEAVER AND STOOD GUS...

OVER

JUS STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND/ HIS PERSON AL JOCTOR MOVED FORWARD WTO THE LIGHT ! LOU RAISED

WHICH

ONE, GUS

HE CLEAVER AND BROUGHT

THE PINKY... CHOKE.

LOU

DOWN,..

**RRR.

WAS tig E A FIENDISH DUEL!' THE DOCTORS WERE ‘HE SECONDS' TIME WAS TAKEN OUT WHILE GUS S (ECONO SERVICED «•»/ THE BANDAGE WAS BLOTCHED Jr

itO

WHEN THEY BEGAN AGAIN. YOUR DEAL, LOI '

[

LOU DEALT THE CAR DS.' HEY PISCAROEQ... HEN. " I GOT TWO PAIR, MY GAME, LOU' GUS. KING ’3 AND THREE FOURS' SIKES' 1

—

PICKED UP THE CLEAVER IN IS GOOD HANO? LOU'S SECOND MOVED INTO THE LAMPLIGHT.

GUS

Lou STRETCHED OUT

HIS LEFT HAND? GUS TOOK

CAREFUL

THE... THE

<UU>JN Ne

/VMT...GUS!

Again time was taken out while lou's second SERVICED HIM f SOON, THE CARDS WERE SHUFFLED ONCE MORE-.

Hem, HEM? YEP, KIDDIES? THAT'S HOW THE GAME WAS PLAYED? IT CONTINUED ON LIKE THAT ...FAR INTO EACH HAND WAS PLAYED AND WON-

THE NIGHT ? AS

LET'S GO, GUS ate. YOU DEAL?

( V

LOU AND GUS NEVER DID PLAY CHOP POKED TO A PLAYED ALL NIGHT AND INTO THE NEXT DAY? BUT THEY HAD TO QUIT TOWARDS EVENING f SEEMS THAT

GUTt

LOU?

Bl!T

pmSH? OH, Yes? THEY

NEITHER OF THEM COULD DEAL THE CARDS?

GO AHEAD? it's YOUR HOVE? 5

0Â°OOoWw

THE

For a moment, the crowd under the big-top SAT DEATHLY SILENT f THEN, FROM THE BANDSTAND, A DRUM BEGAN TO ROLL... ITS OMINOUS STACCATO OF ANTICIPATION GROWING LOUOER AND LOUDER ' THE CENTER OF THE RING, THE HUGE ELEPHANT LIFTED A MASSIVE FORELEG ? THE SCANTILY CLAD WOMAN RECLINED ON THE TANBARK FLOOR? THE' ELEPHANT TRAINER BAR KED ORDE R S? THE RINGMASTER ANNOUNCED. AND NOW, LADi£SAND S GENTLEMEN... FOR THE MOST IN

DEATH- DEFY/N& FEAT EVER PRESENTED UNDER THE D/0 „ TOP .

J \ .

The WOMAN WfilGGLEO UNDER THE MAMMOTH UPRAISED FOOT OF THE ELEPHANT? THE TRAINER SHOUTED ABOVE THE ORUMROLL'S RISING CRESCENDO? THE ELEPHANT TRUMPETED... CURLING .ITS TRUNK.

£?oh 7 Thousand pounds AND GENTLEMEN* ONE SUP. CERTAIN DEATH' WATCH

‘

ROLL THUNDERED...^

M.fcANS

THE ELEPHANT HOOF TOUCHED THE WOMAN'S NOSE'

acts qno

GIRL STARED UP AT THE HUGE HOOF? IT WAS DIRECTLY OVER HER FACE? THE TRAINER BARKED AN OROER''THE GOLIATH LOWERED ITS UPRAISED FORELEGfTHE DRUM-

T HE

CYMBAL CRASHED.

The trainer and the girl BOWED AGAIN and AGAIN? TH' 'CROWD CHEERED...

The elephant act was over ? the CIRCUS BAND STRUCK UP A HAPPY MARCH, AND THE CLOWNS SWEPT OUT ACROSS THE ARENA ? THE TRAINER AND THE GIRL DISAP-

PEARED THROUGH THE r

EXIT- WAY.

EMMA WAS GOOD\x~H AVE^P1HER { THAINED HER FOOT WAS STEADY/) WELL, RENE'

TONIGHT, MILO?

didn't YOU

Jfc

THINK THEY APPLAUDED

MORE USUAL.

J§ ,

I m

j J.

The INSIDE OF THE TRAILER WAS CROWDED AND MESSY ? COLORFUL COSTUMES LAY STREWN ABOUT ? BOOKS ANO MAGAZINES SPRAWLED ON EVERY lA VAIL able s ur/ riinr TriTunur f NOT AT TONIGHT TnNWh / I'M NOT NOT TONIGHT TOO THAT 'S ALL X HEAR f WELL. / STOPPING FROM GOING , I'M NOT STAYING AROUND t INTO TOWN, RENE NIGHT AFTER NIGHT... NOT IN THIS DUMP? ||r, '

NOT TONIGHT, RENE? I'M T/RED...

—

The woman slipped uut or SCANTY COSTUME AND INTO STREET-DRESS. £55?® .

Oh,

HECK OF a MARRIAGE / THEN 4 ISf X MIGHT AS WELlfiDIVORCE BE MARRIED TO YOUR ME, <

\OURS

ELEPHANT/

/[\*ENE

NO/ NOT THAT

OKAY. rene'TTRene SLAMMED THE DOOR OF i easy, big boy 1 ( OKAY/ 'THE TRAILER IN ANGER AS SHE YOU’RE STUCK WE’VE BEEN / 'LEFT' FROM BEYOND, IN THE with i'd 4 ALL THROUGH SHADOWS, A FIGURE WATCHED HER NEVER GIVE l THIS BEFORE' 'ENTER THE CAR... YOU A DIVORCE iWITHOUT a EIGHTY it'd cost you $

fMrrY]|

PLENTY.

[AS SOON ASRENE’D DRIVEN

OFF, THE' FIGURE (MOVED OUT OF THE SHADOWS' IT WAS A WOMAN Y E L£il .£4£ T£0 r QWARO MILO’S TRAILER _ LEETA / DARLING ...

THEN

S~%J£_

'oIo’you TELL

HER?ABOUT US/

DARLING

WHAT. WHAT IF THERE f LEETA / WERE A TERR/BLE 'ACCIDENr<> / WHAT WHAT IF RENE WERE KILLED? J•ARE YOU

SAYING?

EACn 0rhEfi FOR *

NO/

IT'S

DON'T YOU SEE IT COULD BE?

HOW EASY

MOMENTS!

NO USE/SHED NEVER

GIVE ME A DIVORCE/ I KNOW ' WE'LL HAVE TO RUN AWAY. A

NO / EMMA WOULD NOT SUP/ *

SHE'S WELL

TRAINED/ SHE WOULD NOT PUT HER FOOT DOWN

UNTIL L SIGNALED HER...

IT..

TRAiN

YOU COULD I'D HAVE TO EXACTLY. MY DON'T ANOTHER. MY DARLING HAVE HER DARLINCf AND NO J SHOT.' C NEW WIFE... NEW _ 'KNOW.' ONE WOULD EVER JUST ELEPHANT... A KNOW.' YOU COULD DON'T [whole new life

WOULD

MURDER

LEETA

•

ACT SHOCKED BLAME IT ON EMUA.

KNOW...

FOR YOU...

CLAIM THAT SHE

DISOBEYED YOU-

Leeta smiled' she pursed her

LEETA'SfYES BURNED^ HER FACEJIARKENEP

IrfTHAT. OR

MILO'

NOT^^VE

meT^N

HER HA ND through MILO'S

HAIR-..

lips. __

ME, OF COURSE MY DARLINCf TILL THIS... THIS SECRET- /CHANCE TO THINK J-Z. TOMORROW NIGHT'S PERFORMMEETING NONSENSE.' I WANT LIT OVER, LEETA PLEASE / WJESi, ANGEfx* IT DOESN’T HAPPEN i you... ALL THE TIME.. OR fl I'M

The next evening, milo and ENtRMOE.WA* TO TEE BIG-TOP.

vZ&L

stood

RIGHT...

OUR

-*>V.

THEN

BABY...

fanfare silenced the crowd'the ringmaster INTRODUCED THE ACT AS THE SPOT- LIGHT I SWUNG TO THE BOWING PERfORMERS...

The

AWAITiNG THEIB

SEEMED CUE-MU3ICf.EMMA TRUMPETED SOFTLY. SHE WAS WRONj^ TO -LS^rtlAT .SO METHING

ALL THERE. THERE, GIRL?' EMMA C SHE’S THERE SEEMS NERVOUS TONIGH T, ? C'MON CUE milo f

LEETA.

CUT OUT FOR

I I

NOW... M/LO...yut GREATEST ELEPHANT AND HIS WONDERELEPHANT, EMMA... ASSiSTEO BY THAT DEATHDEFYING' BEAUTY... RENE... \m

AND

TRAINER IN THE WORLD

ThE DRUM

BEGAN ITS ANXIOUS ROLL ONCE MORE? t HE THUNDER OF THE ROLLING DRUM GREW LOUDER MilOj BARKED AN ORDER AND EMMA LIFTED HER FOOT?/ AND LOUDER? EMMA'S HOOF HUNG MENACINGLY ABOVE £ RENE GOT DOWN ON THE RING FLOOR AND WRIGGLED J RENT'S WHITE FACE? MILO BARKED ORDER AND - yTHE HUGE FOOT LOWERED SLOWLY.. BELOW IT... I

—

Fora moment, emma's gigantic HOOF TOUCHED RENE'S WHITE FACE', THE DRUM ROLL HEACHED ITS

—

As THE CYMBOL CRASHED, MILO 0 ,Th£ SCREAM CAME TOO LATE ? ^ SHOUTED AT EMMA 'RENE SCREAMED? EMMA WAS WELL-TRAINED AND 'responded '

IMMEDIATELY

CRESCENDO...

MILO

WATCHED IN HORROR AS EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS DESCENOED ON RENT’ S FEAR-TWISTE D FACE... JS ^nfXS ~LOM

OUT?

;

'"*

LOUD.

.Emma trumpeted shrilly' she reared dp.,.snorting? FORWARD? THEY FIRED AT THE A FOR A MOMENT, THE STUNNED AUDIENCE WAS SHOCKED^ Two GUARDS RUSHED RED-EYED PACHYDERM EMPTYING THEIR SUNS INTO < BY THE 60RY SIGHT? THEN SOMEONE 3riRlEKED.„f7 HER TOUGH HIDE? THE CROWD SCREAMED AND SHOUTED,) PANDEMONIUM BROKE LO OSE f Ml LO HOLLERED AS IT BROKE FOR THE EXITS... LHORSElY some:Boot <1

SO Art THitiS*

EMMA’S SONS

MAO f

Emma swayed and toppled over on her sid t DEAD? THE CIRCUS BAND BLARED IN DISCORD, ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE ORDER.'THE RING-MASTER RUSHED TO MILO AS HE STARED DOWN AT RENE’S CRUSHED REMAINS IN UTTggrevulsion. . Y>**>*\ ********* LOOK AT HER.MILO.y SOB...

leo mho to the exit- way' he i SOBBING SOFTLY.' BUT THAT NIGHT ...FAR THE CIRCUS GROUNDS ...HE AND LEETA L<

They

•

IT...

it’s

HORRIBLE' IRENE.'

Milo WAS FREE NOW FREE OF RENE FOREVER f HE AND LEETA .

IT'S

I ,

JAND I'LL / BEGIN MONTHS... JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD... ^TRAINING AND THEN WE'LL BE J ANOTHER

MARRIED'

FROM NOW ON SMOOTH SAILING FOR

M ADE PLANS'^Pll WAIT A FEW

)

ELEPHANT

-j

US, MILO?

/I TOLD you,i SIMPLE' 1 l TOLD YOU _ V WOULD BE' .

>It didn't take long for mi lo to [train a new elephant to take iemma'S place ? within a year [the ACT WAS AGAIN THRILLING ^>* ,> <«J^ AUDIENCES I

::>

DEATH -DEFYING REA UTY. ..LEETA'

by that

WEEK IS OVER AND {THINK LEAVE THIS BFRG'jABOUT it. ren£ is buried HERE AND MMA...J DARLING'

...

CUE^/' l^LL BEGLA D WHEn/dOnT W£

‘jr^AiVZ^wiTH HIS WONDER- ) ' ELEPHANT, BESSIE... ASSISTED)

k PREVIOUSLY? THE NIGHT OF THE OPENING PERFQRMANCE, MILO AND LE ETA STOOD BESIDE BESS IE, AWAITING THEIR

DARLING

The circus returned to the town where the s HORRIBLE ‘ACCIDENT* HAD HAPPENED ONE YEAR C* \

T OGETHER

Ar WAS SO SIMPL E l

The cue fanfare blared?the spot-light swung to the entrance-way to pick them up 'a dista nt 1— SHRILL,TRUMPETI NG SOUNDED...^ ?

STEADY, BESSIE, BABY'

fGASP ? THAT

WASN'T

DfSSIE. mto'

The low rumbling that echoed INTO THE NIGHT DID NOT COME FROM THE BAND-CTAMO* A CLOWN DARTED across t:i- arcta.ascreaming...

'tmof *

WHAT

EMMA... AND

It lumbered toward the horrified trainer and HIS

NEW

WILDLY

...

_THE THING J3N

WIFE...

ITS

It BURST THROUGH THE EXIT-WAY ACROSS THE TANBARK FLOOR* IT TRUMPETED SHRILLY THE STENCH FILLED THE BIG-TOP* ITS ROTTING HIDE FELL AWAY IN SLIMY CLODS AS IT MOVED* HERE AND THERE, WHITENED BONES PROTRUDED THROUGH ITS MAGGOT-COVERED FLESH* PERCHED ON THE REMAINS OF ITS HEAD SAJJ’HE DECAYED FIGURE _ OF A WOMAN, URGING IT ON...,

HEAD POINTING -t-r

RENE!

It WAS TOO LATE FOR MILO TO

MOVE...

TOO LATE

TO RUN* THE THING WAS UPON HIM ...LIFTING HIM IN IT3 FOUL- SMELLING DECOMPOSING TRUNKfLEETA .WAS CAUGHT BENEATH ONE OF ITS HUGE ROTTED * HOOFS. _ - i r--

aaaaa aa aa

Milo was FLUNG TO the TANWITH THE FORGE OF A TWENTY- STORY FALLf LEETA WAS CRUSHED ft*?

BARN

THENrASTHE SCREAMS SUB-

PEANUTS... POPCORN... PUTRES-

CENT SLIME f

SIDED AND DEATH CAME TO MILO AND LEETA, THE HUGE THING AND

THE HUMAN-THING UPON IT SEEMED TO JUST FALL AWAY INTO A PILE OF PUTRESCENT SLIME...

HEY,

LADY' BUY

TER BRAT A BAG OF PUTRESCENT SLIME? HEE.HEtf YEP f THAT'S M'TALEiKIDDiES RENE i AND EMMA GOT THEIR REVENGE, AND MILO AND LEETA GOT THEIRS.

ft VJ

“

--/—

TOO f

BY THE WAT

VSELLING

I'm

COTTON

CANDY

GOT A WHOLE TRUNKFULf HEE.HEEf

B KWt.

WHAT ROTTENTASTING STUFF.' jal):' /^B'BrE.NOW!’ WE'LL all see you N£xr |N THE <

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•

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Russ Cochran— Publisher

Leonard (John) Clark— Editor

Janet Dvorak— Circulation

Bruce Hamilton— Associate Publisher & Managing Editor

Gary Leach— Art Director

Tauby Calrow— Direct Sales

Helen Hamilton— Business Manager

Steve

Susan Daigle-Leach— Production Mgr.

Calrow— Subscription & Finance

Art Staff:

Virginia

Gibbons, Russ

Miller,

Jeanne Davenport

This Issue’s Credits

THAT WRETCH, THE VAULTKEEPER, HAS SABOTAGED THIS ISSUE OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT BECAUSE GOT MY MAG ON THE NEWSSTANDS 8EFORE HIS VAULT OF HORROR HE CREPT INTO THE PRINT SHOP THE NIGHT BEFORE WE WENT TO PRESS AND SWITCHED AROUND PAGES 5 AND 6 OF WILL ELDER’S STORY TWO FOR THE SHOW JUST TO CONFUSE YOU READERS AND MAKE ME MAD\ BUT SINCE WE PRINT THE COVERS LAST, FOUND OUT IN TIME TO WARN YOU! ONCE HE’S FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THIS I’M GONNA TAKE ONE OF HIS RAGS AND— HEH, HEH— GET EVEN'. JUST WAIT! I

From Tales From the Crypt 33 (1952): Front cover by Jack Davis. "Lower Berth," art by Jack Davis. "This Trick'll Kill You," art by George Evans and Jack Kamen. "Grim Fairy Tale," art by Jack Kamen.

"None but the Lonely Heart," art by Graham Ingels. From Crime SuspenStories 17 (1953): "Touch and Go,” art by Johnny Craig, adapted from a story by Ray Bradbury. "One for the Money, "art by Jack Kamen. "Fired," art by Al Williamson and Frank Frazetta. Two for the Show.” art by Bill Elder. .

All

stories colored by Marie Severin.

DREADFUL PLEASURES by Jim Twitched Horror art is not, strictly speaking, a genre; it is rather a collection of motifs in a usually predictable sequence that gives us a specific physiological effect— the shivers. As the Fat Boy said in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers, “I want to make your skin crawl.” We do not have to know what is going on to be affected. An audience, in fact, may search for artificial horror without much intellectual explanation or sophistication. The art demands audience participation or, better yet, conspiracy: like children huddled around the campfire asking for “just one more scary story.” No one has ever tracked the major carriers of horror— the vampire, the werewolf, and the “hulk with no name’—from their lairs in the subconscious, up through folklore, into the printed text of Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein. From them came a veritable jungle of cinematic monsters. Critics have uniformly neglected the word they so readily invoke— horror. It is a difficult word primarily because we think we know what it means: what is horrible is what we are frightened of. Give any journeyman moviemaker a razor and a young lady, or lumbering beast and a shrieking ingenue, and he should be able to scare the wits out of any audience. This is true as far as it goes, but horror really refers to a rather specific effect of that fright. To understand the meaning of

“horror” we are initially taken back to the latin word horrere, which means “to bristle," and it describes the way the hair stands on end during moments of shivering excitement. From this comes creeping flesh or, more simply, the “creeps.” Hence both real and artificial horrorsuch as in Tales From the Crypt— offer a moment of ecstatic dread, a second of full-passioned fixity, of panic and exultation. The experience is commonly known as gooseflesh. What we call gooseflesh is usually caused by abrupt changes in body temperature and is the warm-blooded animal’s attempt to shove up its thermostat. Our teeth chatter, knees knock, and skin shivers. We stand still and shudder, suddenly paralyzed. At the height of horror we must scream or the tension, the pressure inside us, will cause us to go insane! Terror, as differentiated from horror, must start anew in each generation, not because the objects we fear are so changeable, but because the images of them are. We now don't fear space invaders; we fear what we might bring back from space. A generation from now there will be a different “terror in the aisles.” But horror is different. will keep returning to watch the werewolf

transform, or the vampire bite the virgin, or Dr. Frankenstein experiment in the laboratory, or Dr.

meet Mr. Hyde, and we will probably continue this interest until we resolve whatever it is these myths that is unresolved within in (continued on inside back cover) Jekyll

From the Crypt No. 1, July 1990. Published bi-monthly by Gladstone Publishing, Ltd., 212 S. Montezuma, Prescott, Application to mail at second class posiage rates is pending at Prescott, AZ and additional mailing offices. Copyright ©1990, 1953, 1952 by William M. Gaines, Agent. All rights reserved. Nothing herein contained may be reproduced without the written permission of William M. Gaines. New York, New York. Annual subscription rate $12.00 for six issues. $17.00 Canadian and foreign, payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: send address changes to Tales From the Crypt, P.O. Box 2079, Prescott, AZ 86302. Tales

AZ 86303

HEH.HEH 1 GOT A COLLECTORS' ITEM TOR YOU FIENDS i GOT A REAL GREAT CHILLER- D/LL ERf GIVE THE MAN YOUR GR/MY UTTLE DIME IF YOU haven't DONE SO ALREADY. AND COME INTO THE CRYPT OF TERROR f THIS IS THE CRYPT- KEEPE R, READY WITH ANOTHER OF MT TALES OF HORROR f SO SIT DOWN ON TANBARX FLOOR. MO I'LL BEGIN THE BLOOD-CURDLING YARN I CALL

THE

Long before the advent of radio, movies, TELEVISION AND COMIC BOOKS, THE ONLY ENTERTAINMENT FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ENJOYED WERE THE TRAVELING CARNIVALS, WHICH SET UP THEIR GAI LY COLORED TENTS ON VACANT TRACTS OF LAND AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THEIR TOWNS f ABOUT 80 YE ARS AGO, ONE OF THESE CARNIVALS CAME TO A SMALL TOWN IN THE OZARK MOUNTAINS. .. :^ ==== '

RIGHT THIS WAY, FOLKS f SEE THE SIDE-SHOW/ SEE

THE GREATEST COLLECTION

OF ODDITIES EVER TO BE ASSEMBLED UNDER ONE / TENTf RIGHT THIS WAY, rw folks'

SIDE SHOW OF THIS PARTICULAR CARNIVAL WAS OWNED BY A MAN NAMED ERNEST FEELEY' PATIENTLY, OVER THE YEARS, HE HAD ASSEMBLED A FABULOUS COLLECTION OF OODITIES AND FREAKS' H E HAD T HE USUAL ATTRACT IONS...

T HE

SEE FANNY, THE FAT LADY FOLKS ' FOUR TmjN- \ DREO AND FIFTY POUNDS OF FEMALE PULCHRITUDE.' SEE HADNAR, THE SWORD-SWALLOWER... SKULL -FACE, THE LIVING SKELETON. ..FEGO, ,

THE FIRE-EATER.

But ERNEST FEELEY HAD ONE ATTRACTION A HEAD LINE ATTRACTION THAT NEVER FAILED TO DRAW THE .

——

QUARTERS-f t^.

THE STAR ATTRACTION OF FEELEY'S SIDE-SHOW THE MOST UNUSUAL ODDITY EVER TO BE PUT ON DISPLAY ANY WHERE. ANYTIME.' INSIDE. ..M ITS ORIGINAL SARCOPHAGUS... IS MYRNA T H E ONLY FEMA L E EGYPTIAN MUMMY IN EXISTENCE' TWENTYFIVE CENTS FOLKS' RIGHT THIS WAY

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FOLKS

AND NOW, FOLKS .If YOU WILL STEP THIS WAY... DOCTOR CLING, . .

who FOUND MYRNA THE EGYPTIAN MUMMY WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HER AND SHOW HER TO YOU ,

...

MYRNA, THE ONLY FEMALE EGYPTIAN MUMMY IN AMERICA WAS FOUND IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS BY MY EXPEDITION f HER TOMB WAS DEEP IN THE CLIFFS THAT TOWER OVER THE NILE mY RIVER ... T-

THE INSCRIPTIONS DESCRIBING HER INCARCERATION' IT SEEMS THAT MYRNA, OR MYRANAH AS THE EGYPTIANS CALLED HER, WAS A LADY-IN - WAITING TO THE PHARAOH'S WIFE./ %

BRING ME MY PERFUME

MYR ANAH f

—

YES, IISTRESS'

ADVANCES...'

in anger, ordered that she be BURIED ALIVE AS PUNISHMENT* MYRANAH WAS FORCIBLY IN THE CEREMONIAL BURI AL WINDINGS ,.(

‘The pharaoh,

WRAPPED SHE

NO' NO'

‘On THE TOMB WALLS, WE FOUNO

‘MYRANAH WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND SOON CAUGHT THE PHARAOH'S FANCY.' BUT LOYAL MYRANAH FAITHFUL TO HER MISTRESS, REPELLED THE PHARAOH'S DO NOT STRUGGLE my PET ' I AM YOUR KING.' YOU MUST DO AS I NISH.'

Five times a day, zachary cling WOULD NARRATE HOW HE DISCOVERED MYRNA, AND THEN SHOW HER TO THE GAPING CUSTOMERS' HE'D EVEN UNDO PART OF HER WRAPPINGS.. JiS

FEELEY PAID ZACHARY CLING A VERY LARGE SALARY FOR THE P RIVILEGE OF EXHIBITING MYRNA...

MyRNA, THE EGYPTIAN MUMMY, WAS OWNED BY ZACHARY CL/NG A RETIRED ARCHEOLOGIST' ERNEST

FROM THEIR

CROWDS... TO SEPARATE THE CURIOUS

I WILL

NOT' NEVER'

NEVER

HGH)S'^&^

LIKE A CAT, SIRE.'

SHE WILL

EIGHT NO MORE * H URRY U-

EFc t M**M

'HI <1

AND SO, FOR FOUR THOUSAND YEARS THIS POOR GIRL LAY IN TOMB UNTIL I UNCOVERED HER/ AND NOW I GIVE YOU

MYRNAfl

GASP' 'CHOKE

THE MUMMIFIED

BODY OF THE UNFORTUNATE SERVANT GIRL STOOD IN ITS SARCOPHAGUS, ITS ARMS FOLDED ACROSS ITS CHEST f THE CARNIVAL CUSTOMERS NEVER FAILED TO GASP AND SCREAM WHENEVER

HER

...

IF THE SIGHT OF THE MUMMY WAS REVOLT! NG, HER UNWRAPPED FACE WAS EVEN MORE SO 'THE WRINKLED DRIED FLESH CLUNG TO HER SKULL LIKE WET TISSUE PAPER' HER EYES HAD RECEDED DEEP INTO THEIR SOCKETS f LIPS WERE DRAWN TIGHTLY BACK IN A LEERING GRIN' SOME CRIED OUT...SOME TURNED AWAY... Jr

GOOD LORD 1RD/M

But there were always more the next night'more OF THE CURIOUS' WORD TRAVELED FAST IN SMALL TOWNS' THEY FLOCKED TO SEE MYRNA... SHE WELL EARNED HER KEEP f ERNEST FEELEY PAID ZACHARY CLING HIS SALARY HAPPILY' AND THEN, WHEN THE CARNIVAL HIT THAT SMALL OZARK TOWN..Jj " YOU MR. FEELEY?*/ NAME'S JEB I UNNERSTAN' YOU OWN

THIS HERE SIDE-SHOW, MR. FEELEY I

THINK MEBBE YOU MIGHT BE

INTERESTED

I'M THE DOC 'ROUND THESE PARTS MR. FEELEY' AIN'T GOT NO L/CENCE OR NUTHIN' BUT FOLKS LIKE WHAT I DO FOR 'EM SO THEY COME T'ME! 'BOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THIS HERE

LOOK

CRONE COME DOWN FROM THE A MOUNTAINS / It) NEVER LAID g| EYES ON E R B 'FORE' SHE Ml '

BEGGED ME

T 'COME WITH HER... -

BACK

SICKLES' A

MR. I'M

BUSY

MAN' GET TO THE POINT/ WHAT IS IT YOU'VE GOT THAT

I'D BE

INTERESTED

WHAT S THAT

SICKLES/

what

GOT'

MR. SICKLES? 1

I LL GET TO IT, MR. FEELEY: TAKE IT EASY' ANYWAY, THIS OLD CRONE BEGGED ME SO BAD I WENT.' SHE TOLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ME HER SON WAS SICK TERRIBLE SICK' SHE SAID HE WAS A-DYIN'f SHE TOOK ME UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO THIS HERE GAVE. I NEARLY THROW 'D UP AT WHAT I SAW f /

^ ^

WAS

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;IT WAR HER SON, MR. FEEL EY '

He was too

HER SON HAD TWO HEADS/ IT WAS HORRIBLE./. ip CHOKE KIN YUH... J '

far gone for me

T'SAVE? HE OIEO 'BOUT AN HOUR

AFTER WE GOT I'M

THE GAVE..

SORRYMtiM*'

DONE all I COULD .'ENOCH ^JS DEAD'

KIN YUH DO

ANYTHING FOR ENOCH?

T TAKE

'IM

AWAY.' TAKE 'IM...SOB...

OUT OF MY sight.'

IT'S BEEN IN THE STILL FOR TWO YEARS* MR. FEELEY ?THE MOONSHINE SEEMS T'HAVE PRESERVED

YOU...

TAKE ME TO

OU/CKLY

HE MUSTA BEEN TWENtRr} AND J YOU HIS BODY BACK DOWN STILL THE MOUNTAIN AND PUT HAVE IT... IT IN A MOONSHINE ./THE TWOSTILLf I DIDN'T^ HEADED

TWOMR. FEELEY'ITOOK

WAN'

NOBODY

SEE

^f^BODY?

IT?

MR- FEELEY AND THE QUACK DOCTOR PUSHED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CROWD OGLING AT MYRNA.THE MUMMY? OUTSIDE THE CARNIVAL GROUNDS, A HORSE AND WAGON WAI T ED? TH E Y DROVE TO A HIDDEN STILL... THAR SHE MON ' i IS, MR.

FEELEY fy

T HE LIGHT FROM THE LANTERN CAST AN ORANGE 6LOW WOODEN STI LL- VAT ? BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MOONSHINE, THE PULPY WHITE FACES OF THE TWO-HEADED CORPSE STARED UP AT ERNEST INTO THE HUGE

FEELEY...

______

THAT'S H/M...

_ W

GULP

Ernest turned to jeb sickles

HIS EYES WIOE...HIS

FACE FLUSHED

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN SHOW JEB? DO WHAT OLD

DOC CL/NS DOES' EXHIBIT THIS HERE ENOCH / TELL HOW YOU GOT HIM f I'LL PAY YOU A GOOD SALARY' *^4

JO IN UP W/TH YOU FELLERS,

EH? WAL,/ DUNNO.' I GUESS ID LIKE THAT

So, JEB SICKLES TOOK HIS TWO-HEADED PRESERVED BODY OUT OF THE STILL AND JOINED ERNEST FEELEY'S SIDE-SHOW/ ENOCH WAS PLACED IN A SPECIALLY MADE BLASS TANK FILLED WITH FORMALDEHYDE, AND PUT ON EXHIBIT.. _

When

jeb drew back the curtain revealing THE PASTY-SKINNED BLOATED TWO-HEADED CORPSE OF ENOCH, THE SIDE- SHOW CUSTOMERS WOULD CRINGE AND SHUDDER IN REVULSION. .

AND NOW FOLKS, I FOLKS/ I DISCOVERED DOCTOR 1 ENOCH IN THE CAVE OF AN E B SON SICKLES... J OLD MOUNTAIN CRONE BACK AND ENOCH? k-\{\ IN THE OZARKS f HE DIED

GIVE YOU J

It didn't take long for ernest FEELEY TO REALIZE THAT THE THING IN THE HUGE GLASS TANK WAS AREALLY VALUABLE EXHIBIT AND DESERVED STAR BILLING, LIKE MYRNA. Jp .

THAT'S RIGHT, JEB? 'THANKS, HMMPH. I'M MOVIN' YOU UP MR.

^ r /M

AND NOW, I GIVE YOU...

So ENOCH WAS PLACED OPPOSITE MYRNA.

AND FIVE TIMES A DAY, JEB SICKLES AND ZACH CLING EXHIBITED THEIR ODDITIES TO THE CURIOUS WHO'DWUD THEIR QUARTERS TO SEE them.

MYRNA.

ENOCH/ ^

COUGHf

the twoHEADED MAN?

ENOCH,

FlVE TIMES A DAY, MYRNA'S ROTTED BROWN WRAPPINGS WERE REMOVED FROM HER MUMMIFIEO FACE...

j jiii

J Ti

GASP.

CHOKE.

TO STAR A TTRAC- 1 FEEl

TjONf YOU'LL

rsp*;

WITH

DOC CLING, v

HERE

And

five times a day, the curtain WAS WITHDRAWN REVEALING THE TWISTING, TURNING PRESERVED CORPSE

HIDING ENOCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TANK .

. .

And FIVE TIMES A DAY

AS THE CROWD OGLED AND GASPED. PASTY- SKINNED, TWO-HEADED ENOCH, FLOATING IN HIS FORMAL DEHYOE WORLD, STARED WITH GLAZED EYES AT THE PUTRID, MUMMIFIED, UNWRAPPED FACE OF MYRNA THE MUMMY.. ,

The carnival moved on from town to town.'the CROWDS FLOCKED TO SEE ENOCH AND MYRNA.' AND JEALOUSY BETWEEN ZACH CLING AND JEB SICKLES F LAMED.

. ,

you're

SALARY ? IF FOR MYRNA

The bloated body with the staring pairs of eyes SWAYED IN THE FORMALDEHYDE' THE DRIED REMAINS IN THE ROTTED WRAPPINGS STOOD SILENTLY^ FIVE TIMES A DAY ™EY GAZED UPON EACH OTHER. .

MEAN cutting my

WHAT DO YOU

ENOCH PULLS ''/f v

ENOCH

'EM IN

too.zach' i've been

UNDERPAYING JEB.' he AND YOU GET THE SANE FROM NOW ON.' I'M *

wasn't

LOWERIN' YOUR PAY, tfjj AND RAISIN' HIS/ A A

Then ernest feeley. .always .

so, when the rotted WRAPPINGS WERE REMOVED FROM MYRNA’S SUNKEN, MUMMIFIED EYES, SHE LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE CROWD AND SAW NOTHING... I GIVE YOU. MYRNA.

OUT FRONT, CLING.' WE

DRAW FOR

NEED A

THE

ADMISSIONS/ JEB AND

ENOCH are jhzstars _

NOW.

the curtain was PULLED BACK UNCOVERING ENOCH'S TANK, HE LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE CROWD AND SAW NOTHING...

And

THE BUSINESS MAN... ANNOUNCED. "T'M MOVIN' YOU AND MYRNA

y PH

And when

I G V E Y OU I

. .

ENOCH /

Thus, in the black of night, when the carnival FOLK LAY ASLEEP, A DRIED AND BONEY HAND MOVED. SLOWLY.. HESITANTLY.. .PULLING .

BROWN WRAPPINGS...

j=: f

AWAY

ITS

ROTTED

While a bloated, pale hand slid upward and OVER THE TANK-RIM, PULLING ITS CHALKY, PULPY BODY AFTER IT. Fj

[

The MORNING HEARO THE SIDESHOW TENT ECHO WITH ANGRY VOICES...

[Ernest quieted the raging ODDITY O WNERS

YOU

HE STOLE HE STOLE CALM

USE YOUR HEADS, FOOLS /IF BOTH

ARE MISSING, NEITHER OF YOU COULD HAVE

ENOCH.' JMYRNA.' JdOWN, YOU two /

—

DONE

The three men followed the fragments of

MUMMY WRAPPINGS AND THE DROPLETS OF FORMAL DEHYDE OUT OF THE SIDE-SHOW TENT AND INTO THE MORNING SUNLIGHT* THE TRAIL WAS CLEAR,.. VERY CLEAR IT LEADS TO GASP JUSTICE OF LOOK AT \ THAT HOUSE' THE SIGN' the., .'

good U LORD' A

SHUCKS ' ALL I CAN SAT IS THEY MUST BEEN DRINKING / SHELLED WBHTY BAD... LIKE AS //"THEY'D SEEN BUT FIVE BUCKS IS FIVE BUCKS' .1

DION

YOU SEE

Old

doc cling knelt to the tanBARK AND PICKED UP A MUSTYSMELLING FRAGMENT. .

a Piece of MYRNA'S WRAPPINGS.'

o/fopa of yFORMALDEHYDE' )

THEY GO THAT

WAY'

The

justice of the peace was very friendly.' he TOLD THE SIDE- SHO W MEN ALL HE KNEW, . . WASN'T THERE COUPLE CAME LAST NIGHT/ YEP/ WANTED TO GET MARRIED.' ANYTHING. ER I DID IT' I PERFORMED STRANGE ABOUT TH EM ? THE CEREMONY.'

DIDN'T SEE NOTHIN'/ CAN'T ) BLIND.' SEE 1 I’M BLIND, Y'KNOW'

/gOOd] LORD'

f CAREFUL NOW f DON'T THAT MR. FEELEY HEARD ABOUT PEEK HERE COMES THE F/N/SHf THE STRANGE DOIN'S UP IN THE BRACE YOURSELVES FIRST, LET MOUNTAINS... ME SAY THAT MR. FEELEY, JEB, J SAID THEY f WHERE AND ZACH LOST MYRNA AND ( SOMEBODY WHERE SEEN ‘EM. BUT I ENOCH'S TRAIL AFTER THEY

HEH, HEH

...

LEFT THE J. P.f JUST COULDN'T FIND 'EM? IN FACT, IT WASN'T TILL A YEAR LATER, WHEN THE CARNIVAL RETURNED TO THE j VERY OZARK TOWN WHERE ENOCH / HAD FIRST JOINED THE SIDE- /

DON'T

BELIEVE

THEY

SEE I

'EM ?

CORPSE...

' ;

...

GOOD

< PID

They went' jeb and zach...who'd stayed on with THE CARNIVAL AS HANDY MEN... AND MR. FEELEY f THEY WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THE OLD

LOOK.

OLD CRONE'S) JEB'LL 1 TAKE

THE

NOW' BUT THE FOLKS f ME ROUND here are m/ghty THERE SUPERSTITIOUS' FN J HE YOU ASK ME, THEY'RE \ KNOWS where SEE/N' THINGS ' NOW

SHOW...

crone's cave

'EM

WHO EVER HEERD OF A LIVIN' MUMMY AND TWO-HEADED A

CAVE' she's DEAD

And the three carnival men dragged

LORD.

IT'S

THEM f

BUT THE THREE MEN WERE OUT OF EARSHOT WHEN THE WAIL DRIFTED OUT FROM DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE CRONE'S CAVE ? THEY NEVER SAW THE INFANT- THING CRAWL OUT INTO THE SUNLIGHT... ITS EYES STREAMING WITH TEARS...

CRYING FOR ITS PARENTS..

their

LONG-LOST ODDITIES BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, at MYRNA. "uv MYRNA'’) ENOCH'' my

BOY r

HEH! HEH THAT'S

YEP ' THAT'S

MY STORY.'

OF THE

VWlast:

IT,

yep

KIDDIES

ENOCH

DOUBLE DOMES

MY OLD MAN, AND MYRNA THE MUMMY WAS MY OLD WAS

LADY.' YOU M/GHT SAY, THE MUMMY WAS MY MOMMY: BY THE WAY? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A CARNIVAL TODAY...

EIGHTY YEARS LATER...

^ (

vSTH

liB

W 11^4 1

V' •

MUMMY AND A TWO - HEADED

PRESERVED CORPSE IF ANY you S££ rH£At

M H

THAT STILL EXHIBITS

WRITE ME.' WANT

TO SEND A CARD .' T'S TH E R ANNIVER* I

SARY NEXT MONTH

HEH, HEH/ NOW IT'S TIME FOR A JAUNT INTO THE VAULT OF HORROR, CREEPS/ THIS IS YOUR VAULT-KEEPER, READY TO RELATE THIS BLOOD-CURDLING TALE FROM MY COLLECTION <SO COME IN, SIT DOWN ON THAT BLOOD-STA/NED HOTEL ROOM RUG, AND I'LL TELL YOU HOW IT GOT THAT WAY f I CALL THIS S/CKEMH6 r SOJOURN INTO THE SCREAMING SEMI- DARKNESS OF SORD/DNESS. .

Herbert markini moved through the milling CALCUTTA CROWDS, MOPPING HIS PERSPIRATIONBATHED FACE f THE BLAZING INDIAN SUN WAS DIRECTLY OVERHEAD/THE HEAT WAS UNBEARABLE/ HERBERT CURSED. WHY I EVER GAME TO THIS DISEASE- INFESTED HELL- HOLE, I'LL NEVER VMQNti I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE NEW ILLUSION SINCE IVE

BEEN HERE f INDIAN FAKIRS f BAHf LUCKY THING I LEFT INEZ AT THE HOTEL /she'd PASS OUT IN THIS HEATf Qrl

Satisfied that there was nothing new to see, NOTHING HE COULD ADD TO HIS FABULOUS MAGIC ACT, HERBERT WOULD MOVE ON FROM ONE FAKIR TO THE NEXT.' THEN, IN A DARK ALLEY OFF THE TEAMING MARKET PLACE, HE SAW HER.' THE DARK- HAI RED, FLASHING- EYED NDIAN GIRLHELLO f WHAT'S THAT? SHE WEARS A EAK/RS SHAWL/ 1 WONDER what _ SHE HAS IN THE BASKET /

The GREAT MARKINI, FAMOUS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS ASTOUNDING FEATS OF MAGIC, PUSHED HIS WAY THROUGH THE DARK-SKINNED THRONG. ..STOPPING FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WATCH AS EACH SOUATTING INDIAN FAKIR WOULD PERFORM HIS TRICKS AND ILLUSIONS. HMMPHf THE OLD CABBAGE-

IN- THE- GROUND- ILLUSION/ -A OLD AS THE HILLS.' 1

Herbert moved down the litter-filled alley TO WHERE THE INDIAN GIRL SQUATTED BEFORE HER ODDLY-SHAPED BASKET < THE CROWD BEHIND, OUT IN THE MARKET-PLACE, SEEMED TO FADE

The coin tinkleo to the cobble-stones at the girl's bare feet< she picked it up, ex amined it, AND.. LIFTING THE LID OFF THE BASKET.. .TOSSED THE COIN IN f HERBERT PEERED DOWN f INSIDE THE BASKET LAY A COIL OF HEAVY ROPE, OLD AND FRAYED. •

YOU HEAR TELL OF

INDIAN ROPE TRICK?

SURE I'VE HEARD TELL OF IT' BUT THAT'S ALL/ JUST TA L K f I DON ' T BEUEVE THAT THERE IS SUCH A jf THING.' r \

—

]

The

GIRL PULLED A SMALL REED INSTRUMENT FROM THE FOLDS IN HER GOWN AND PUT IT TO HER LIPS.' SHE TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND BEGAN TO BLOW SOFTLY ' THE WEIRD NOTE TREMBLED.'THE COIL OF ROPE IN THE BASKET STIRRED...

WHAT

THE...?

The single note continued' ONE END OF THE COIL OF ROPE STOOD UP. .SWAYING LIKE AN ENTRA NCED COBRA... .

(good LORD.') 1/

as the girl's breath ran OUT AND THE NOTE BEGAN TO FADE ...THE END OF THE ROPE BEGAN TO

And

When the last vibration ended, THE ROPE STOOD UPRIGHT AT ITS FULL UNCOILED LENGTH FIFTEEN... MAYBE TWENTY FEET INTO THE AIR

She pulled herself MOVED TO THE ROPE? AS HERBERT WATCHED, HORRIFIEO.SHE BEGAN TO CLIMB

The dark-haireo, flashing-eyed native girl SLIO TO THE GROUND ONCE AGAIN AND THE ROPE COLLAPSED INTO THE BASKET.. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FOR THE TRICK? NAME YOUR PRICE GIRL?

)

ROPE?' WHAT

NONSENSE

-7

MAKE MY

IT? I'LL

ANYTHING.

ANYTH/N6' __

THERE IS NO SECRET, SAHIB ? IT IS THE ROPE.' YOU CANMtf r

MAKE

OWN...

ONE?

IT IS

1 IMPOSSIBLE.'

MY MOTHER'S

AND HER MOTHERLAND

KIND OF IT'S AN

THAT?

ORDINARY ROPE.' WHAT 'S > A WIRE? WHAT'S UNDER THE BASKET? A TRAP-

INSIDE? .

I'LL

BUY

PAY YOU

LORD'

BAH.' KEEP YOUR ROPEY TELL ME HOW IT IS DONE.' TELL ME THE SECRET f

CANNOT SELL THE ROPE ?IT WAS I

]

I'LL

/ GOOD

easily,

HAND OVER HAND .TILL SHE REACHED THE TOP... 7~T^\1 *

IT...

ASTOUNDING

DOOR? c'mon' i'll pay you FIVE HUNDRED RUPEES ' r

IT IS

THE

ROPE ITSELF SAHIB * SEE?

The girl lifted the basket' there was no trap DOOR BELOW... NO HOLE OUT OF WHICH A POLE COULD BE EXTENDED. NOTHING YOU SEE SAHIB? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.' THE ROPE .' AND THE A THERE MUST BE A ..

NOT FOR

...

)

â&#x20AC;¢

ROPE

SALE.'

TRICK TO IT

THERE

MUST'

T HAT NIGHT, THE GREAT MARKINI PACED HIS HOTEL ROOM NERVOUSLY.' FINALLY THE DOOR OPENED AND A WOMAN ENTERED...

TAKE

INEZ f I

EASY\HEW&V

BE HERE J BE... ANY M/NUTEf 4 HERE?

SHE'LL '

TRICK.' I’VE

DOES

SHE'S

SOT

COMING

KNOW

WOULDN'T SELL THE ROPE /

HERE?

YES' I ACCUSED HER OF PROPS' I DARED HER TO SHOW US THE SAME THING HERE' SHE FELL FOR IT' _

IT?

IN ’

INEZ'

FELL FOR IT? WHAT DO YOU HAVE

[

DOES

IT?

KNOCK 'EM DEAD IN THE STATES WITH ra. THAT ONE... V

g' TR/CK?

WANT THAT

INEZ? DID SHE TELL

YOU HOW SHE

I COULDN'T MAKE ANY HEADWAY EITHER.' SHE GAVE ME THE SAME LINE SHE GAVE YOU.' SHE SAID IT WAS THE ROPE... AND NO GIMMICKS /A N D SHE

COULD YOU BUY THE

SECRET FROM HER,

SAW HER.' AND I SAW THE TRICK.' WE’D

INEZ' IT'S ABOUT TIME ' DID YOU ,. SEE HER? D D jj YOU SEE THE

MURDER ?!

THINK OF IT, HERB' YOU... IN THE CENTER OF THE STAGEBLOWING THAT WEIRD LITTLE PIPE... AND ME... IN A SCANT COSTUME....CL /MB/NS THE ROPE ..THE TRICK THAT .

EVERYONE SAID COULDN'T

BE DONE

M/ND,

INEZ?

DON'T BE NAIVE, HERB' THAT TRICK IS WORTH A FORTUNE ' WE VE GOT TO HAVE IT... V AT all COSTS f V

EVEN ... MURDER.'

YOU'RE R/GHT, INEZ f \ IF SHE DOES IT HERE. THE GIMMICK IS /NS/DE IF SHE WON'T TELL ) THE ROPE OR IN THE \ US... WE'LL K/LL HER FOR THE SECRET' ) BASKET.' AFTER WE KNOCK HER OFF, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT IT IS...

shhhhh.' she's com/ns.'

There was a timid knock on the HOTEL ROOM DOOR' HERBERT SWUNG

THAT'S

NAME

MARK/Nt' IN COME /N' * COME /Nf AH' I SEE YOU ^ HAVE THE |

BASNET'

YOUf YOU ARE THE MAN

PERFORMED f FOR THIS

AFTERNOON'

THE UNITED STATES, I AM A

THIS IS MY WIFE, INEZ f

R/GHT

HONEY' I THINK YOl/VE GOT SOME

WENT

WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE f ROPE RISE HERE'

THAT back

fc.

TriPPE

TOLD YOU

' ^ BOTH THE

WIRE ARRANGE-

SAID I

FAMOUS

MAGICIAN'

LADY THAT INVITED ME HERE' SHE

IT IS

ROPE...

NOTHING

J MORE.'WATCH..

SR?

The girl placed the basket on the floor of THE ROOM ' THEN SHE TOOK OUT THE CURIOUS REED INSTRUMENT AND BEGAN TO BLOW ' THE WEIRD NOTE FILLED THE ROOM f THE ROPE BEGAN TO RISE...

Suddenly... the weird-sounding, trembling note WAS CUT SHORT' THE ROPE COLLAPSED.' HERBERT'S POWERFUL FINGERS HELO THE INOIAN GIRL'S NÂ£OKJN A VICE-LIKE GRIP...

fN THE BASKET HERB THE GIMMICK MUST BE IN THERE... OR IN THE ROPE..

DON'T LET HER

IT'S

SCREAM, HERB

T HE LYING

MURDERERS RUSHED TO THE COLLAPSEO ROPE ON THE HOTEL ROOM RUGf HERB SEARCHED THE IT CLOSELY' INEZ PICKEO IT

AND EXAMINED

Inez and Herbert stared at each OTHER

NO GIMMICK.* \ we SAW IT START NO PROP* i. RISING / IT BUT... BUT... <7 WAS WORKING

Suddenly

Inez's glance fell' THE STRANGE- LOOKING REED INSTRUMENT WAS STILL CLUTCHED IN THE DEAD NATIVE GIRL'S HAND..

THE P/PEt HERB.'

TRY THE PIPE *

BUT. ..BUT

WHAT GOOD WILL THAT

W DO?

The frayed end of the rope began to KEEP BLOWING .HERB * 7 W&&P BLOWING

rise.

Herb wrenched the flutelike INSTRUMENT FROM THE CORPSE AND PUT IT TO HIS LIPS' THE WEIRD NOTE ECHOED THROUGH THE ROOM...

LOOK

HERB!

•

LOOK

W—

Higher and higher the rope rose until it touched THE CEILING OF THE ROOM' HERB'S BREATH RAN OUT AND THE NOTE FAOED' THE ROPE STOOD STIFFLY., WE'VE GOT A SHE... GASP. ..SHE WASN'T LYING' IT IS THE ROPE GOLD M/NE HERB ' >

THERE'S

Inez moved to the rope' she closed her hands AROUND IT AND BEGAN TO PULL HERSELF UP... IT HOLDS ME, HERB WE LL KNOCK THEM DEAD INEZ' JUST WAIT TILL I CAN CLIMB IT.' WE GET BACK TO THE 1

•"7*

STATES*

WE'LL...

SOMETHING

ABOUT

IT...

A GOLD MINE'

Inez hao reached the top of the ropet SUDDENLY... HER FACE WAS CONTORTED IN PAIN' HER EYES BULGED IN HORRORHERB * I

EE EE EEEeEEeE.'

Herbert markini stared at the spot near

a wave of nausea swept over the great MARKINI .'OBJECTS RAINED DOWN FROM NOWHERE ABOUT

Suddenly

INEZ HAD BEEN'SHE'D SIMPLY HYSTERICAL SHRIEK CAME FROM

HIM ...FALLING TO THE CALCUTTA

HOTEL ROOM FLOOR'

HORRIBLE OBJECTS' QUIVERING PIECES OF INEZ'S

The rope curled upwaro. the frayed end still IN THE BASKET WHIPPED OUTWAR 0... WRAPPING AROUND HERBERTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NECK.

And slowly

STEADILY...

THE ROPE CONTINUED TO

U-N-N-NNmNNNhG-GG'

2T"

AaaRGgHh

The complaints of neighbors brought the manager

of the CALCUTTA HOTEL TO HERBERT AND INEZ MARKINGS ROOM.'HE FOUND THE MASTER MAGICIAN HANGING FROM A ROPE SWAYING CRAZILY f THE ROPE ENDED AT THE CEILING,. APPARENTLY UNATTACHED... ...

GOOD LORD /

/'HEH.HEH'THAT ABOUT WRAPS /TUP, Kl ODIES NEATLY KNOTTED? W HEN < THEY TRIED TO CUT POOR HERBIE DOWN, THE ROPE JUST COLLAPSED AND HE FELL TO THE FLOOR AMID 1 INEZ'S DISMEMBERED REMAINS' AS FOR THE INDIAN G/RL... THEY FOUND NO TRACE OF HER? WHAT HAPPENED TO HER BODY? NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN THAT FOR HER IN CALCUTTA, LOOK ALLEYWAY f SHE'LL BE THERE... / WITH HER ROPE? JUST BE CAREFUL ? DON'T LET HER STRING YOU ALONG .

)

]

AND N0W

-r

If/ LW

/ /

TURN YOU BACK

/Z\A

Ail /, t

THE CRYPT\ TOKEEPER' HE'S \\ WAITING WITH

A..

y&ff

WHAT?

FA,RY tale??

//V>-f/ v 7

OH,

NO?

A RARE

E.C.

OFFER

Seventeen years ago a small publishing company called East Coast Comix reprinted a dozen of the original E C 's in color as regular 32-page comic books. Without national distribution the market was not able to sustain their continuaShortly after they ceased production we bought the remaining small inventory, realizing they would become real collector’s items someday. With the return of E.C. through Gladstone, that day has come! None of these 1973 and 74 reprints is scheduled to be duplicated by Gladstone before 1992 and some later than that. The Two Fisted Tales and Shock SuspenStories comics have no place on our schedule at the present time. The following are available individually or as a lot while the very limited supply lasts full

tion.

1. The Crypt of Terror 1 Feb 1955. $12.00 to debut as E C's fourth horror title, instead last issue of Tales From the Crypt, number 46 It contains a Jack Davis werewolf story and George Evans famous razor blade sizzler, "Blind Alleys" Highly recom-

C6 Crime SuspenStories 25, Oct 1954 S5.00 Jack Kamen's Ifead deals with multiple murder: Reed Crandall's story involves a knife and some cutting up" during a prison break, Bernie Krigstein's effort chronicles madness, and George Evans' yarn weaves brutal fiction of a sadistic

mended Very

police lieutenant.

Planned

became the

2. Weird

very limited

Science

15,

Sept

1952.

$ 8.00

Incredible issue, with the first E.C. story by Al Williamson, who quickly became a favorite, and "The Martians." one of Wallace Wood's best. Also, a photo and biography of Joe Orlando, who draws captive earthmen in "Bum Steer"

Shock SuspenStories

Drug abuse

12. Dec $6.00 1953 one of the first times in comJoe Orlando effort. "The Monkey Reed .

dealt with for

ics in the powerful

Crandall s "The Kidnapper" generated mail from many parents. Wally Wood touches on suicide in "The Fall Guy" And a murderous alcoholic is portrayed in "Deadline by

Jack Kamen

The Haunt

of Fear 12,

Mar

$5.00

1952

Two rotting corpse stories highlight an issue of great art by Ghastly "Graham Ingels and Jack Davis Johnny Craig has a story, biography and a photo. His story of a love triangle involves two shootings and a mysterious tattoo that miraculously implicates the killer. $5.00 -t35 Weird Fantasy 13, May, 1952 Special issue with two tales illustrated by Wallace Wood, including "Home to Stay," an unforgettable adaptation of two Ray Bradbury short stories, E.C. s science fiction and horror editor/artist Al Feldstein has a bio with photo.

A complete

set of

all

ten classics, while

ail

are

still

7 The Vault of Horror 26. Aug 1952 $5.00 palpitations of a ghoul and a vampire in love werewolves, walking .corpses and a voodop curse are all rendered in color by Johnny Craig, Jack Davis. Sid Check

Putrid

and Graham Iggels $6.00 1952 8 Shock SuspenStories 6 Dec One story each of crime, suspense, sci-fi and horror, plus a biography and photo of fan favorite Wally Wood. Graham Ingels illustrates a rare appearance of the Old Witch outside the horror titles. Wood's "Under Cover" is a shocker, dealing with overt prejudice that was largely ignored by society in the 1950s. Great issue'

$5.00 Two Fisted Tales 34. July, 1953 Jack Davis writes and draws the lead western, Betsy, and Wally Wood conceives "Trial by Arms a medieval story of treachery and murder. John Severin inks a desert epic and George Evans illustrates his specialty a finale about World

—

War

flying aces.

$5.00 The Haunt of Fear 23. Jan.. 1954 Jack Kamen does one of his famous ‘'Grim " Fairy Tales, this time a horrific version of Hansel and Gretel A dark, brooding, beautifully drawn Jack Davis swamp tale and a werewolf story are also featured

$50.00

available

TERMS: Please add 50e

per comic ordered to help defray postage and handling List each comic ordered by number, or indicate complete set. Each comic will be shipped individually bagged and securely wrapped. Make checks or money orders payable to Bruce Hamilton, Inc., and mail to

Rare E.C. Offer •Bruce

Hamilton»P.O. Box 4235*Prescott,

AZ 86302

THE

(RVPT-KEEPER'S

GRIM FAIRY TALE HEH, HEH f WHY NOT TELL A GR/MM EA/PY TALE ? ... I'M PRETTY GP/Mf SO HERE GOES WITH THE JARRING JUVENILE JABBERWOCKEY I CALL...

THE FUNERAL

Once upon

a time, long, long ago, in a kingdom FAR, FAR AWAY, THERE WAS A CASTLE 1 AND IN THIS CASTLE DWELT A K/NG.. A QUEEN. AND A YOUNG .

DASH/NQ PP/NCE ^PpTnCE JUNIOR /HOW .

MANy'"'L

fsOB...I^FELL"

^ (ON

TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO DASH THROUGH THE HALLS

MY ROYAL.. SOB..

NOW THE KING ANO QUEEN OF THIS FAR, FAR AWAY KINGDOM WERE VIM BUSY. KINGING AND QUEENING.' THEY'D HAD NO T/ME TO TAKE CAPE OF YOUNG PRINCE JUNIOR.' SO... THEY'D HIRED A NUPSE WHEN JUNIOR WAS JUST A BABE. .

HOW

PRINCE

JUNIOR TODAY, TTT7

NURSE?

^ HUSHf HE'S SLEEPING/ YOU CAN HAVE JUST ONE PEEK... THAT'S

ALL/

Naturally, as prince junior grew, he became HIS OLD NURSE...

MORE AND MORE ATTACHED TO

PRINCE JUNIOR' what DONE ? OH, DEAR T

'OU

have

* GIGGLE...

—

GIGGLE/ I TIED

you apwiN STW/NGS TO ME

BEWLT.' WE 7

Would scold him when he W AS NAUGHTY I TOLD YOU NOT TOJ THO.HOW .

GET D/RTY...YOD DID KNOW BAD, BAD BQY.' J 7 THEYPUWLED [UP THE DRAW-

^TXT^r *JXSWIDGE?W i

ATTACHED ' J

Would

..Would read to him when he was good. .. WEAD TO ME ABOWT \ ALL RIGHT THE WICKED WITCH WHAT COOKS THE BAD

WITTLE PEASANT HER

PRINCE JUNIOR/ LET'S SEE/

CHILDWEN OVEN, NURTH, Y-'M ah/ HERE' fanny/ y—' V 'ONCE UPON IN

[

tuck him

at night/

GOOD NIGHT/] J UST ONE WORE PRINCE STOWY, NURTH JUNIOR/ J FANNY.' THE ONE

)r%m ufl about the wicked V IK III WITCH W HAT COOKS rJmllr THE BAD WITTLE PEASANT CHILDREN/)

'-r

A TIME...V

Nurse fanny was more of a mother to prince JUNJOR THAN THE QUEEN... I WOV YOU, NURTH FANNY/ AND I LOVE YOU LITTLE PRINCE / .

And so, when prince junior woke up one morn ING AND FOUND NURSE FANNY LYING VERY STILL .. '~NURT/TfANNY' NURTH

fanny' THPEAK

^\to me'

But nurse fanny did not speak' nurse fanny

But THE QUEEN'S PLEADING COULD NOT MAKE HER

WAS VERY COLD AND VERY WHITE.

LITTLE BOY STOP CRYING.

rSHE \CdeadT MY SON'

THOB. .NURTH FANNY.' THOB. THOB.. THOB... .

DO NOT CRY, MY CHILD.'

THOB.. .1 WANT NURTH THOB... THOB... THOB.,

FANNY /

I WANT

hir

NURTH...

MAKE

SOME-) PRINCE JUNIOF

UP/ PROM/SE

THING

HIM SOME-

AT THE

J YOU SHOULDN'T, j

THING.'

WHAT

WANT CRY/ THINK OF ALL THE THOB. )

CANDY/ J

FUNERAL.

CANDY?

THOR.

MY ^ rW

FUNEWAL? \ WHEN SOMEONE WHAT ...THOB... JD/ES MY SON, THEY MAKE A FUNERAL. / IS THAT?

U WE'LL

Mr/ '

WHAT ABOUT THE CANDY?

AND WE'LL SERVE CANDY

HAVE A FUNERAL FOR

4(9

fanny' we ll I 7 'JSBPHWflf INVITE ALL YOUR I

WIF WHIPPED f CREAM? fcg

â&#x20AC;¢'

COUSINS

Fwith WHIPPED CREAMf AND WE'LL PLAY GAMES AND rtf GIVE PRIZES

AND

I'LL

WIN A

WELL< I DON'T ~r KNOW'

THOB THOB.

PONY'

GOODY, GOODY.') CONE (YOU'RE A PONYf WE RE MY DEAR?j SO J ( GONNA HAVE A HE'S /GL£Y£r) ALL (HEINRICH? GONNA HAVE A r/ R/GHT^-^ Wd NOW' { FUNBWAL '/[

ALL RIGHT.'

YOU'LL WIN A TI

PONY '

FON£WAL..WRE.)

PRINCE JUNIOR SKIPPED HAPPILY THROUGH

wC <rE \.

eOHNt Have a funeral

a nd*‘m

uonna „!na roN r*

THITH MUTHT BE WHERE NURTH ITH LYING IN THTATF.' I'LL JUTHT OPEN THE DOOR AND ^ TAKE A P££K' JUTH TO MAKE THUR£...

FANNY

HE CAME TO A DOOR WITH A BIG BLACK BOW AND RIBBON HANGING FROM IT...

...UNTIL

AND

I'M

GONNA WIN

A ...GULP.' T

r-%p

GATHP!

Nurse fanny was stretched out on a velvet DRAPED BIER f AT HER HEAD, TWO CANDLES BURNED * THE ROOM WAS DARK, SAVE FOR THE GLOW FROM THE TWO FLICKERING FLAMES'BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH

UDDENLY , THE ROOM WAS FILLED WITH AN EERIE

LIGHT FOR PRINCE JUNIOR TO SEE...

GAT HP

SHE

Nurse fanny sat

u p, shaking her

OH, DEAR' 1 must have had an ATTACK'*! HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THOSE IN TEAKS?

SHE...SHETH

oOpOpOp OOOH?$

ALIVE

SHE.

MOVED?

)

hea

NURTH FANNY? NURTH FANNY

-w YOU'RE NOT* %

DEADf

Prince junior ran into nurse fanny's outstretcheo arms ano she hugged him tenderly.

MY DEAR f I'M

NOT 1

NURTH

OH,

DEADf YOU KNOW I WOULDN'T LEAVE YOU?

FANNY?

*J|

1 ]

* Fanny, you see, suffered occasional catalept/o] F/TS WHICH MADE HER APPEAR DEAD /and AFTER HOW $OOD WERE DOCTORS IN THOSE OAYS ALL,

ANYHOW UDDENLY PRINCE CHARMING THOUGHT ABOUT ALL H/S CPUS1NS.. NOT

M/LL/ON

X YEARS...

AND BECAUSE YOU'RE MY BABY., ttâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

THEN HE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL

THE CANDY. ...AND I'D

NEVER

LEAVE MY BABY...

NOT

And then he thought about the CAKE... with whipped

MILLION YEARS.

—

CREAM...

And

BECAUSE I LOVE MY BABY... "Vr;

And

then prince junior thought HIS PRIZE THE PONY.

ABOUT

YOU

BECAUSE LOVE.

AWAY.

gonna ha v‘e fOnewal' a ,

60 ROUNDf X

* £ *E

SOMEONE...

so. prince junior picked up

ONE OF THE HEAVY CANDLESTICKS.. IS WHAT MAKES THE WORLD.A

NEVER GO

AND WHEN YOU LOVE

hAv£ A

HEH, HEHf AND AFTER THAT, HAPPY PWINTH JUNIOR DID HAVE HIS THE COUSINS, FUNERAL, CANDY, AND CARE.. AND HE DID GET HIS PONY/ AND HE LIVED HAPP/LY EVER AFTER POOR NURTH FANNY WAS BURIEO AS PER SCHEDULE, AND NOBODY EVER KNEW THAT THE OLD GAL HAD DIED OF A SPLINTERED SKULL /AFTER ALL, AS I SAID BEFORE, HOW GOOD IN THOSE OAYS ANYWAY RAND NOW,

WERE DOCTORS

THE OLD WITCH AWAITS YOU... SO HOLD YOUR NOSE. AND SHIFT YOUR BLEARY EYES •?*

RIGHT/

WELL ...HEE HEE IT’S ME YOUR HOSTESS IN THE HAUNT OF FEAR. THE OLD WITCH* READY TO RUSTLE UP ANOTHER REVOLTING RECIPE MY CRUDDT CAULDRON SO, CRAWL IN, CREEPS' KNOT YOUR DRIBBLE NAPK/NS AROUND YOUR SCRAWNY NECKS ... FASTEN YOUR DROOL CUPS AND I'LL dish OUT THE TALE OF TERROR I CALL... i

wmm %

It HAD ALWAYS BEEN A SIMPLE MATTER FOR HOWARD 'AFTER ALL, HE WAS RATHER GOOD1 LOOKING IN A MATURE SORT OF WAY.' OLD MAIDS and WIDOWS WERE ATTRACTED TO HIM ? BESIDES THE PHOTOGRAPH HE'D SEND 1 THEM WAS A PAR TICULARLY GOOD ONE W HEH, HEH' LISTEN TO THIS* KING'

...

DEAR HOWARD, I RECEIVED YOUR PICTURE WITH. YOUR DELIGHTFULLY

ALONG

-•.'SsNK*

WRITTEN LETTER TODAY 1 YOU V LOOK VERY NICE ' ENCLOSED IS \ MY PHOTO' I'M SORRY IT ISN'T A RECENT SNAP' IT WAS TAKEN

'ft

]

R TWO YEARS AGO

... '

Howard patted

dog's head

his

AND SM ILED... SENT US

HER

P/CTURE BOY ' WE BRACE OURSELVES AND TAKE A

S H AL L

He lifted the picture from .THE ENVELOPE AND GASPED

Indeed, Howard's latest proposed VICTIM WAS BEAUTIFUL' HOWARD STUDIED HER FOR A MOMENT, THOUGHTFULLY...

...

^^^WELLf SHE'S

WHY... SHE... SHE'S K ING

BEAUTIFUL

YOU KNOW, *\KG f WITH A WOMAN LIKE TH/S, r MIGHT DECIDE TO WIND UP TH/S

RACKET AND SETTLE DOWN FOR GOOD.'

Howard sat back, the picture in his lap, and LIT HIS PIPE ? THE SMOKE CURLED UP LAZILY, THINNING AS IT DRIFTED TOWARD THE CEILING...

'We GOT HER NAME FROM A LONELY- HEARTS CLUB L/ST.' REMEMBER? THAT WAS BACK WHEN X

—

REMEMBER THE

FIRST \ • PICTURE WE EVER GOT, KING? LET'S SEE 'ALMOST r

SEVEN YEARS AGO WAS' WHAT WAS HER

J-

NAME? OH YES' ,

MATILDA.' MAT/LDA

F/LBYf

CAME./.

FURNISHINGS...

'SO WE TOOK THE PLUNGE

LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING.' *<.

EH, BOY? WE WROTE PASSIONATE TOMES OF LOVE, AND FINALLY PRO-

POSED' MO

R/CH THOUGH, KING' SHE'S

pXL

WHEW.' WHAT A FACE ' LOOK AT TH/S, KING f HOW COULD I EVER LOVE AN UGLY WENCH L/KE TH/S...

SHE'S

GOT LOOT' MO SHE LIVES ALONE.' MAYBE... CHOKE...MAYBE

CROSSED, ^

'But SHE HAD MONEY DIDN'T SHE ,KING? REMEMBER? SHE WROTE, DESCRIBING HER HOUSE. ..THE

FIRST DECIDED TO START THIS LITTLE ’LOVE- FORMONEY'GAMEf AFTER A COUPLE OF WARM L ETTER S

SHE

ACCEPTED 'GO WE PAWNED MY

WATCH, BOUGHT A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES TICKET

AND

WENT

H OWARD...

DEAR ONE.'&&

...

AND A

How LONG WAS IT AFTER OUR WEDDING. S/X ]) THE FALL DIDN'T KILL HER DID IT? WE HAD TO GO MONTHS? NOT MUCH MORE 'POOR MATILDA? SHE DOWN AND FINISH THEJOB fESST BUSINESS NEVER EVEN KNEW WE’D LOOSENED THE TOP CELLAR Toward ...gasp... I’m HURT.. STAIR...'^ -r^ - ^ GASP... I... I... matilda?WHAT [T rs> *s£r ft /$ t ? ,

How MUCH DID

we make on that

’HEH.HEH.'SO WE MOVED ON, EH, KING? AND ABOUT THREE MONTHS

DEAL, KING? LET'S SEE' WE SOLD THE HOUSE FOR TEN THOUSAND... AND. ..OH, YES' ALL TOLD, ABOUT

SIXTY GRAND YOU'RE..7" WHY YES M RS. j LEAVING US, ASENTINE' I...I MR. CROWN?/ JUST CAN'T STAY HERE... W ITH ALL (fafcgfrfiijL ..'.

\MtrUt ™ESE MEMORIES...

LATER, WE CONTACTED OUR VICTIM 'SHE'D ADVER-

SECOND TIZED

A PERSONAL COLUMN

HADN'T SHE? YEP.. IT BEGAN AGAI N...'

'Took us six months of ardent LOVE-MAKING VIA THE U.S. MAI L TO CONVINCE THAT ONE, HUH, KING ' WHAT WAS HER NAME? OH-YES-'

HOWARD'

WELL, AT LEAST SHE'S

BETTER than THE LAST ONE, EH, KING? LORD?AREN'T THERE A ANY PRETTY RICH

SWEET.

EPHIE...MY DEAR...

WIDOWS?

*We OIDN'T waste much time with her,e h.king?^ SHE WASN’T AS WEALTHY AS WE THOUGHT? SOMETIMES IT'S HARO TO TELL . ISN'T IT? AND YOU CAN'T kVERY WELL ASK? HOW LONG DIO EPHIE LAST BEFORE Ishe fell from her apartment window?.. k

HOWARD

'The fresh-a/r- f/end heh,heh' it was so easy TO PUSH HER.' SHE HAD JEWELRY, THOUGH' HOW MUCH DID WE GET? FIVE GRAND OR SO, WASN'T IT?' THE APARTMENT-WELL. WE HATE TO SEE YOU IT'S SO BIG AND... GO, MR. PRINCE f m

_ EMPTY, NOW*

'That job was the CLEVEREST THOUGH, I MUST ADMIT'REMEMBER* I MADE SURE TO LEAVE YOU HOME THAT DAY WE WENT DRIV-

'Number three answereo our AD, EH, KING? SHE WAS THE WORST OF THE LOT 'TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, LEAST ( BUT SHE HAD THAT REAL

ESTATE., .OUT OKLAHOMA /SO HOWARD ' DEAREST. 'XuJe L LaT^ & my LOVE' CHOKE ^ IN

...

ING ...^

...

BE CAREFUL,

THIS TURN' /lUELLA'

'That real estate brought us seventy GRAND HUH, KING' yes' BUT THAT WAS A MISTAKE' SELLING IT? LATER, THEY FOUND 0/L THERE' OF ALL THE IT ON NUMBER MY

OREAN.

VERONICA' YOU LOOK EVEN < 'ItW^LOVEL IER THAN YOUR /

PICTURE

GAG.,

Poor VERONICA ' THE POISON MADE HER GO INTO SUCH PA/NFUL CONVULSIONS BEFORE SHE DIED' BUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WASN’T HAY, WAS I

—

T, KIN G

TT-.

^YOU'RE SURE YOU WANT TO SELL, MR. ROYAL? AFTER ALL

—* -w'

-i

X YES,

MR. BIBBS' I’D' I \

RATHER fl.

sH* COULDN'T GO ON Ml

J 6000-

SHARP

DROP ON

LUCK f OH, WELL' WE MADE UP FOR FOUR / REMEMBER HER? HOWARD

HOWARD'

THERE'S A

WITHOUT. ..HER'

BYE,

'I IT

LEAPED FROM THE CAR JUST AS

WENT OVER THE CLIFF'

SHOULD

HAVE

BEEN

OH, YOU

THERE, king'

YOU'D HAVE BEEN PROUD OF ME f AND INHAT A SIGHT THE CAR... GOING OVER AND OVER. ..DOWN.. DOWN...'

'The factory that veronica's first husband had LEFT HER WAS WORTH A SMALL FORTUNE 'CHEN/CALS.' IT SPELLED HER OWN UNDOING, EH, KING? REMEMBER HOW I LEARNED ABOUT THAT NON-TRACEABLE

'^HOWARD' THAT COFFEE.' •>

I .1 ...GASP...

Heh.heh^ how KING?

many were

YES VERON CA ? WHAT ABOUT IT? ,

there all together,

SEVEN YES' SEVEN/ why... WE COULD

HAVE

RETIRED EASILY WITH THE FORTUNE WE'D MADE FROM THEM f BUT THEN WE READ THIS ONE'S JANET'S AO-^HMMM' LISTENT0^/yV/5V KING.' 'LONELY WOMAN DESIRES

...

CORRESPONDENCE WITH REFINED GENTLEMAN'' T ^

'We couldn't resist, could

Howard

put mis pipe down and SMI LED 'HE SHUFFLED THROUGH A

HAD TO WRITE f AND THEN HER ANSWER CAME...

KING? WE

SHEAF OF

INTEREST' YOU SOUND VERY CULTURED AND WELL TRAVELED.' I WOULD ENJOY CORRESPONDING WITH YOUf JANET LANE

r CAN'T YOU

SEE

PAPERS...

^VBP^SOwTsTARTED

'DEAR MR THRONE. 1 YOUR LETTER 1 ARRIVED TODAY, AND I I READ IT WITH MUCH

EH,

LETTER...

VERY HARO YOUR LETTERS ARE A GREAT COMFORT

LIFE CAN BE '

HER, KING. 9 THIS

LISTEN TO THIS LETTER' ‘MARBLE FLOORS SAY ‘FURNISHED IN EXQUISITE TASTE*. HARD WOOOS ..‘ BRONZE TRIMS*..' SATIN DRAPERIES '...‘STAINED GLASS WINDOWS*... *

RAVISHING WOMAN UVING ALONE ON THIS PALATIAL ESTATE IN A HUGE E/ELD STONE HOUSE /why IT SOUNDS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO

WRITING,

KING'LET'S SEE' HER SECOND

^^JP__HERE'S

TRUE...

Howard

pi cked

up the photograph of t he lovely

WOMAN..

X^JF JANET LOOKS LIKE TH/S~ THINK WE'VE FOUND THE RIGHT ONE, THIS TIME' WHY, YOU'LL HAVE THAT B/G ESTATE TO ROMP AROUND IN. WITH THE HAND -WROUGHT -IRON GATES' AND THE GARDENERS .AND TREES.

FLOWERS.. AND A B/G

STONE HOUSE.

I'M GOING TO PROPOSE TO HER, KING' SHE SPEAKS OF HOW

SHE'LL MARRY ME OH, I WOULDN'T LET MYSELF HOPE... BUT NOW I'M SO HAPPY /

...

SHE'LL SAY YES'S

Howard sent

a telegram on ahead announcing HIS EXPECTED ARRIVAL DATE. AND HE AND KING SET OUT BY CAR FOR JANETS HOME... ONLY FIFTY MORE MILES, BOY'WE'LL BE THERE BEFORE MIDNIGHT f

BAYBERRY ROAD WAS A LONG NARROW TREE- LINEO LANE OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY' THERE WERE FEW HOUSES ALONG IT.'

FINALLY...

——

THERE'S THE WROUGHT - IRON GATE K NG f WE' RE HERE' ,

FOR US, BOY ' NO MORE ALIASES... NO MORE FALSE LOVE'MAK/NGf

SNE'S ACCEPTED, KING

LONELY SHE IS... AND SHE HAS MY PICTURE f MAYBE

MAYBE

Howard packed his bags NO MORE WANDERING AROUND J

Three days later, janet's answer came.

Ho_ward picked up a pen.

WE'RE

Howard checked MAN

SETTL INC DOWN

FOR GOOD.

janet’s address with

apouce-

THE TOWN.

BAYBERRY ROAD? WHY IT'S

STRAIGHT ON SOUTH

ABOUT TWO M/LESSYOU CAN'T MISS /Tf WHAT NUMBER WAS THAT? .

THAT'S all RIGHT OFFICER'

I'LL FIND ITS

THANKS'

As HOWARD'S CAR SWUNG IN AT THE GATE, HIS HEADLIGHTS FELL ACROSS-

WHAT

THE.

T he i

letters were rusteo and VERY CLEAR...

OLD, BUT

King began to whine

STEADY .

softly. ..

] (

Suddenly, the car door swung

OPEN ^ KING YELPED.

BOY •STEADY: WE MUST HAVE MADE

A CEMETERY'

A MISTAKE...

GOOD

'LORD

The rotted, decayed thing

grinned. ..reaching outITS FLESH CRAWLED WITH THE SLIME OF DEATH f ITS VOICE RASPED LIKE A WORN OUT GRAMAPHONE yf CYLINDER ... t

ward'

HOWARD

DA - A -ARL/N6

JANET .' G AS P '

King leaped from the car, howling ' the THING CLOSED ITS FLESH-TATTERED BONEY FINGERS AROUND HOWARD'S WRIST IN A VICE-LIKE GRIP AND DRAGGED HIM FROM THE CAR TOWARD THE OPEN MA USOLEUM... y^\

—

I'M

SORRY

DIDN'T HAVE A

> MORE RECENT SNAPSHOT,

DEAR' AREN'T THE GROUNDS JUST AS I DESCRIBED THEM?

into the satin DRAPED MAUSOLEUM WITH THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW... ACROSS THE MARBLE FLOOR AND INTO THE HARD-WOOD, BRONZE-TRIMMED COFFIN ' AND ALL THE WHILE, AS IT CLOSED THE LID DOWN, IT KEPT MURMURING. SPEWING ITS FOUL-SMELLING BREATH UPON HIS TERROR-STRICKEN FACE -^/|T'S BEEN SO LONELY HERE... MY DEAR f BUT NOW. _ THAT’S ALL OVER.'

m ft

The female-thing dragged the screaming man

HEE, HEE 'WHAT A LOVE AFFAIR, IS EH, KIDDIES’ 'ALL OVER. RIGHT... FOR HOWIE, that is'OH, BY THE WAY.' IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO KING,

NOW

REST YOUR FIENDISH MINDS f J S JANET HAD A DOG... NAMEO QUEEN/ E' AND NOW, IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THAT PUTRID CRYPTKEEPER’S MAG' WE'LL ALL SEE

^ — 3^

{

YOU

THE

VAUL T KEEPER’S /y^fVmess. THE VAULT -

/OF horror: L -W Jt N0W AN0 you

'-bye,

rJPWJ

\\li'^££d3 j

fkWw.^W

6ET ANY LOVE LETTERS SIGNED Janet ’or how/e ..

HEE, HEE.. WELL...

GLADSTONE

...for

YOUR SOURCE...

SCIENCE FICTION!

no' rou fool HELP ME/ I'M... DYING / DYING/ YOU (GASP') MISTAKE/

YES' YOU'RE 0Y/N6 l PUT POISON IN THE MILK YOU DRANK NOW YOUR MONEY j WILL BE MINE/

/^ /

HORROR!

...for

MADE

^ A

MISTAKE,.

mistake

...

—

rrm

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will

WILLIAM ACTON ROSE TO HIS FEET. THE CLOCK ON THE MANTEL TICKED MIDNIGHT. HE LOOKED AT HIS FINGERS AND HE LOOKED AT THE LARGE ROOM AROUND HIM AND HE LOOKED AT THE MAN NAMED ARTHUR HUXLEY LYING ON THE FLOOR WHO WAS DEAD AND WOULD SAY NO MORE SAYINGS NOR BRUTALIZE MORE BRUTALITIES. WILLIAM ACTON, WHOSE FINGERS HAD STROKED TYPEWRITER KEYS AND MADE LOVE AND FRIED HAM AND EGGS FOR EARLY ^ BREAKFASTS, HAD NOW ACCOMPLISHED A MURDER WITHJ THOSE SAME TEN WHORLED FINGERS... :

â&#x20AC;¢' .

NOW WHAT?

HIS EVERY IMPULSE EXPLODED HIM IN A HYSTERIA TOWARD THE DOOR. GET OUT, GET AWAY, RUN, NEVER COME BACK, BOARD A TRAIN, GET A TAXI GET, GO, RUN WALK, SAUNTER, BUT GET THE BLAZES OUT OF HERE... ,

His hands hovered before his EYES, FLOATING, TURNING. IT WAS NOT THE HANDS AS HANDS HE WAS INTERESTED IN, NOR THE FINGERS AS FINGERS, HE FOUND INTEREST ONLY IN THE TIPS OF HIS FINGERS. THE CLOCK TICKEO UPON THE

He STOPPED. THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN HE SAW THE ENTIRE HOUSE, THE HALLS, DOORS, FURNITURE; AND AS CLEARLY AS IF IT WERE BEING REPEATED WORO FOR WORD, HE HEARD HUXLEY TALKING AND HIMSELF TALKING JUST AS THEY HAD TALKED ONLY

Now .SQUATTING ON THE FLOOR BESIDE HUXLEY'S COLD BODY WITH THE POLISHING HANDKERCH EF IN HIS FINGERS, HE STARED AT THE HOUSE, THE WALLS, THE FURNITURE, STUNNED BY WHAT HE REALIZED. HE SHUT HIS EYES, WADDING THE HANDKERCHIEF IN HIS HANDS, BITING HIS LIPS WITH HIS TEETH, PULLING IN ON HIM SELF.' THE FINGERPRINTS WERE EVERYWHERE/ I

He knelt

by huxley's body, took A HAN0KERCHIEF FROM HUXLEY'S POCKET AND BEGAN METHODICALLY

TO SWAB HUXLEY'S THROAT WITH IT. HE BRUSHED AND MASSAGED THE FACE AND THE BACK OF THE NECK WITH A

He had TOUCHED the library door, he had TOUCHED THE BOOKS AND THE LIBRARY TABLE AND TOUCHED THE BURGUNDY BOTTLE AND BURGUNDY

A PAIR OF GLOVES. BEFORE HE DID ONE MORE THING, BEFORE HE POLISHED ANOTHER AREA, HE MUST PAIR OF GLOVES. HE PUT HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, WALKED TO THE HALL UMBRELLA STAND, THE HATRACK, HUXLEY'S OVERCOAT. HE PULLEO OUT THE

HAVE A

His hands in his pockets again HE WALKED UPSTAIRS. HE UNTIDIED SEVENTY OR EIGHTY DRAWERS IN SIX UPSTAIRS ROOMS, LEFT THEM WITH TONGUES HANGING OUT. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTY -FIFTH DRAWER HE FOUND GLOVES...

Then he came to

Down onto the hardwood floor HAD DROPPED MR. HUXLEY, WITH WILLIAM ACTON AFTER HIM. THEY HAD ROLLED AND TUSSLED AND CLAWED AT THE FLOOR PRINTING IT WITH THEIR FINGERTIPS'

a table and polished the leg of

ITS SOLID BODY, ANO ON TOP, AND HE CAME TO A BOWL OF WAX FRUIT ANO HE PLUCKED OUT THE WAX

IT,

FRUIT AND POLISHED THEM, LEAVING THE FRUIT AT THE

BOTTOM UNPOLISH EO... I’M

SURE TOUCH

Gloved, william acton returned TO THE ROOM AND LABORIOUSLY BEGAN SWABBING EVERY INFESTED INCH OF THE FLOOR. INCH BY INCH, HE POLISHED TILL HE COULO MOST SEE HIS INTENT SWEATING FACE IN

After rubbing the FRAME OVER

table, he came to a picture

IT.

AND I’M CERTAIN I DIDN'T TOUCH THAT'

DIDN’T

THEM '

He SHINED THE DOORKNOBS, CURRIED THE DOORS FROM HEAD TO FOOT. HE WENT TO ALL THE FURNITURE AND WIPED THE CHAIRS AND RUBBED THE FABRIC. FINGERPRINTS CAN Be FOUND ON FABRIC. HE WENT TO THE BODY, TURNED IT NOW THIS WAY, NOW THAT, AND SHINED

While shining the shoes his face took on a LITTLE TREMOR OF WORRY, ANO AFTER A MOMENT HE GOT UP AND WALKED OVER TO THAT TABLE. HE TOOK OUT ANO POLI8HEO THE WAX FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL... f

He went back

to the body, but AS HE CROUCHED OVER IT, HIS EYELIDS TWICKED AND HIS JAW MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND HE DEBATED..

THEN HE GOT UP AND WALKED ONCE MORE TO THE TABLE. HE POLISHED THE PICTURE FRAME...

He glanceo

While polishing the picture FRAME HE DISCOVERED... THE WALL THAT... IS

Huxley had given him a shove AS THEY STRUGGLED. HE HAD FALLEN AGAINST ONE WALL, GOTTEN UP,

TOUCHINS

SILLY.

the wall...

T^n

at the four walls.

From THE CORNERS OF

his

eyes

HE SAW SOMETHING ON ONE WALL

RIDICULOUS.

A SPOT on the

wall

...

I REFUSE TO PAY ATTENTION. THE NEXT ROOM, NOW. I'LL BE METHODICAL. LET'S SEE, WE WERE IN THE HALL, THE LIBRARY, THIS ROOM, THE DINING ROOM AND THE KITCHEN. i

,M4SATr THERE

He turned, angrily, and he went OVER AND HE COULDN’T FIND ANY SPOT.

OH, A

LITTLE

ONE, YES, RIGHT. IT WASN’T A

THERE. HE DABBED IT. FINGERPRINT ANYHOW

HE LOOKED AT THE WALL AND THE WAY IT WENT OVER TO HIS RIGHT AND OVER TO HIS LEFT AND HOW IT WENT DOWN TO HIS FEET AND UP OVER HIS HEAD AND HE SAID SOFTLY...

But unknown

to his eyes, his

glovedJ

FINGERS MOVED IN A LITTLE RUBBING RHYTHM ON THE WALL.

||4

He peered at his hand and the wallpaper, he LOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER AT THE OTHER ROOM. HIS FACE HARDENED. WITHOUT A WORD HE BEGAN TO SCRUB THE WALL, UP AND DOWN, BACK AND FORTH, UP AND DOWN, AS HIGH AS HE COULD STRETCH AND AS LOW AS HE COULD BEND...

got one wall finished, and then... he came to ANOTHER WALL. HE LOOKED AT THE MANTEL CLOCK. AN HOUR GONE. IT WAS FIVE AFTER ONE. HE TURNED AWAY FROM THIS NEW FRESH WALL... SILLY.

From the corners of his eyes he saw the little WHEN HIS BACK WAS TURNED THE LITTLE SPIDERS CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND SPUN THEIR LITTLE FRAGILE HALF-INVISIBLE WEBS UPON THE THREE WALLS AS YET UNTOUCHED. EACH TIME HE STARED DIRECTLY AT THEM, THE SPIDERS POPPED BACK INTO THE WOOD-WORK ONLY TO SPINDLE OUT AS HE .

to a writing desk at which huxley had BEEN SEATED EARLIER. HE OPENED A DRAWER AND TOOK OUT WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR. A LITTLE MAGGLASS HUXLEY SOMETIMES USED FOR READING. HE TOOK THE MAGNIFIER AND APPROA CHED T HE WALL UNEASILY...

'film' 4%

THEM/

[

BUT THOSE AREN'T M/NEf I ) D/DN'T PUT THEM THERE' ^

SURE I DIDN'T' A SERVANT, A BUTLER, OR A MAID PERHAPS*.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M

NIFYING

WOBBMMSMBL

. f

THOSE WALLS ARE ALL R/GHTf I WON'T TOUCH

Fingerprints f

FLAWLESS.

He went

WEBS.

retreated.

IT'S

WON'T TOUCH /T.

LOOK AT THIS ONE HERE, LONG J

AND TAPERED; i

bet on

A WOMAN'S,

WSBH Et WOULD YOU?

X would/

WALL UP AND DOWN AND BACK AND FORTH WITH HIS GLOVED HANDS, SWEATING, GRUNTING AND SWEARING, BENDING AND RISING AND GETTING REDDER OF FACE... jTfiT I

ARE YOU CERTAIN?

POSITIVE? WELL... YES.

ABSOLUTELY? _

WIPE OH,

YES, YES fj

IT OUT,

ANYWAY*

ALL RIGHT/ 1

He finished the wall at two o'clock, he took OFF HIS COAT AND PUT IT ON A CHAIR. HE WALKED OVER TO THE BOWL AND TOOK OUT THE WAXED FRUIT AND POLISHEO THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM AND POLISHED THE PICTURE FRAME. HE LOOKED UP AT THE

HlS FINGERS TWITCHED AT HIS SIDES. HIS MOUTH SLIPPED OPEN AND THE TONGUE MOVED ALONG HIS LIPS AND HE LOOKEO AT THE CHANDELIER AND LOOKED AWAY AND LOOKED BACK AT THE CHANDELIER AND LOOKED AT HUXLEY'S BODY AND THEN AT THE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER WITH ITS LONG PEARLS OF RAINBOW GLASS ...

HE GOT A CHAIR AND BROUGHT IT OVER UNDER THE THE CHANDELIER AND PUT ONE FOOT UP ON IT AND TOOK IT DOWN AND THREW THE CHAIR, VIOLENTLY, LAUGHING, INTO A CORNER. THEN HE RAN FROM THE ROOM LEAVING ONE WALL AS YET UNWASHED...

NOW

ACTON WIPED THE FORKS AND SPOONS AND TOOK DOWN ALL THE PLATES AND SPECIAL CERAMIC DISHES FROM THE WALL SHELF... REMEMBERING ALL THE TOUCHINGS AND GESTURINGS...

In THE DINING ROOM HE CAME TO a TABLE. HE PAUSED OVER THE TABLE WHERE THE BOXES OF CUTLERY WERE LAID OUT, HEARING ONCE MORE HUXLEY'S VOICE..

HERE'S A LOVELY BIT OF CERAMICS BY GERTRUDE AND OTTO NATZLER, ACTON. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THEIR WORK?

PICK

IT UP.

TURN

OVER. SEE THE

THINNESS OF THE BOWL, THIN AS EGGSHELL. INCREDIBLE. HANDLE GO AHEAD, I DON'T MIND,

FINE IT,

r0i

HA MOL Â£ IT' BO AHEAD' HICK IT UP'

Acton sobbed unevenly, he HURLED THE POTTERY AGAINST

THE WALL. IT SHATTERED AND SPREAD, FLAKING WILDLY, UPON

instant later, he was on his EVERY PIECE, EVERY SHARD

KNEES.

FOOL, IT, MUST BE REGAINED. FOOL, FOOL, HE CRIED TO HIMSELF.

FIND EVERY PIECE, YOU IDIOT... NOT

ONE FRAGMENT OF IT MUST BE LEFT BEHIND. HE GATHERED THEM. .

He TOOK OUT THE

Are they all here? he looked UNDER THE TABLE AGAIN AND UNDER THE CHAIRS AND FOUND ONE MORE PIECE BY MATCH-LIGHT AND STARTED TO POLISH EACH LITTLE FRAGMENT AS IF IT WERE A PRECIOUS STONE..

LINEN AND WIPED IT AND WIPED THE CHAIRS AND TABLES AND DOORKNOBS AND WINDOWPANES AND LEDGES AND DRAPES AND WIPED THE FLOOR AND FOUND THE KITCHEN, PANTING, BREATHING VIOLENTLY, AND TOOK OFF HIS VEST AND ADJUSTED HIS GLOVES AND WIPED THE GLITTERING CHROMIUM...

And HE WIPED all THE

AND

Tiny, tiny little webs, no bigger than, ironicallx

HE FINISHED THE KITCHEN AND CAME THROUGH THE HALL INTO THE ROOM WHERE HUXLEY LAY HE CRIED OUT. HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO WASH THE FOURTH WALL OF THE ROOM. AND WHILE HE WAS GONE, THE LITTLE SPIDERS HAD COME OUT OF THE FOURTH UNWASHED WALL AND SWARMED OVER THE ALREADY CLEAN WALLS, DIRTYING THEM AGAIN i ON THE CEILINGS, THE CHANDELIER, IN THE CORNERS, ON THE FLOOR A MILLION LITTLE WHORLED WEBS HUNG BILLOWING

UTENSILS AND the SILVER FAUCETS AND THE MIXING BOWLS, FOR NOW HE HAD FORGOTTEN WHAT HE HAD TOUCHED AND WHAT HE HAD NOT. HUXLEY AND HE HAD LINGERED HERE IN THE KITCHEN, THEY HAD IDLED, TOUCHED THIS, THAT, SOMETHING ELSE, THERE WAS NO REMEMBERING WHAT OR ,

FINGER i AS HE WATCHED, THE WEBS WERE WOVEN OVER THE PICTURE FRAME, THE FRUIT BOWL

YOUR.

THE

THE FLOOR. PRINTS WIELDED THE PAPER OUT DRAWERS, TOUCHED THE TABLE .TOUCHED, TOUCHED, TOUCHED EVERYTHING

BODY,

KNIFE, PULLED

TOP.

polished the floor wildly, wildly, he rolled the body over and cried on it while he washed it and GOT UP AND WALKED OVER AND POLISHED THE FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL. HE PUT A CHAIR UNDER THE CHANDELIER AND GOT UP AND POLISHED EACH LITTLE HANGING FIRE OF IT, SHAKING IT LIKE A CRYSTAL TAMBOURINE UNTIL IT TILTED BELLWISE IN THE AIR. THEN HE LEAPED OFF THE CHAIR AND GRIPPED THE DOORKNOBS AND GOT UP ON ANOTHER CHAIR AND SWABBED THE WALLS HIGHER AND HIGHER AND RAN TO THE KITCHEN AND GOT A BROOM AND WIPED THE WEBS DOWN FROM THE CEILINGS AND POLISHED THE BOTTOM FRUIT OF THE BOWL AND WASHED THE BODY AND DOORKNOBS AND SILVERWARE AND FOUND THE HALL BANISTER AND FOLLOWED THE BANISTER UPSTAIRS... \ ^

Three o'clock? there were twelve rooms downstairs and eight above, one hundred chairs, six SOFAS, TWENTY-SEVEN TABLES, SIX RADIOS. AND UNDER AND ON TOP AND BEHIND. HE YANKED FURNITURE OUT AWAY FROM WALLS AND, SOBBING, WIPED THEM CLEAN OF YEARS-OLD DUST, HANDLING, ERASING RUBBING POLISHING, AND NOW IT WAS FOUR O'CLOCK ? AND HIS ARMS ACHED AND HIS EYES WERE SWOLLEN AND STARING ANO HE MOVED SLUGGISHLY ABOUT, ON STRANGE LEGS, HIS HEAD DOWN, HIS ARMS MOVING, SWABBING AND RUBBING, BEDROOM BY BEDROOM, CLOSET BY CLOSET... ,

They found him at six-thirty that morning, in the attic, the ENTIRE HOUSE WAS POLISHED TO A BRILLIANCE. THEY FOUND HIM IN THE ATTIC, POLISHING OLD TRUNKS AND OLD FRAMES AND OLD CHAIRS AND TOYS AND VASES AND ROCKING HORSES AND DUSTY CIVIL WAR COINS. HE WAS HALF THROUGH THE ATTIC WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER WALKED UP BEHIND HIM WITH A GUN...

THE WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE, ACTON POLISHED THE FRONT DOORKNOB WITH HIS HANDKERCHIEF, ANO SLAMMED IT IN TRIUMPH?

FOR He

was an oldish man, greying at the temples. POUCHY AND LINED. HIS EYES WERE DIM AND BLOODSHOT. HE NODDED...

Anita stood before the huge penthouse apartment WINDOWS, STARING OUT AT THE SPRAWLING CITY BELOW HER. HER FACE WAS A SCULPTURED MASK... COLD AND EXPRESSIONLESS. AS SHE LISTENED, SHE

HIS FACE WAS

THAT'S ABOUT IT, ANITA SPENT IT ALL ON I PUT YOU UP IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PENTHOUSE ... BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES... JEWELRY...

PUFFED ON HER GOLD CIGARETTE HOLDER, SUCKING THE SMOKE IN AND BLOWING IT OUT THROUGH HEAVILY PAINTED LIPS. THE LIGHT FROM A NEARBY LAMP RIPPLED OVER HER SHEER NEGLIGEE, ACCENTING HER CURVACIOUS FIGURE. BEHIND HER, RONALD'S BROKEN VOICE DRONED ON... f I... I GUESS I BLED THE BUSINESS DRY, ANITA 1 THEY CAME WITH THEIR THEIR LONG LIST OF FIGURES AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT I'D PUSHED THE COMPANY INTO

BOOKS AND

BABY f I

YOUf

THEN THIS IS IT.' THE WIND-UP' THE FINISH' r

OTHER WORDS,

you're

BROKE,

RONALD.' YOUR

DOUGH'S RUN OUT?) IS THAT RIGHT?

BANKRUPTCY/

Ronald stared at anita. his mouth fell open WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HONEY? HAH.' DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MAKE THIS ISN'T THE END AT _- ME LAUGH, RONALD f I CAN GET A JOB. IF YOU THINK I'M THINGS WILL BE T/GHT [_ GOING TO 6/VE UP FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT ALL THIS... AND WE'LL HAVE EACH OTHER.' MOVE BACK DOWN -

ALL'

THERE... TO THE

\T-HOLES.

BUT

CAN’T

AFFORD

THIS

PLACE NOW, f

ANITA?

I ...

THEN I'LL FIND SOMEBODY WHO CAN AFFORD IT? _

ANITA/ WHAT ARE) I NEVER ANITA/ MY SOD/ | IT WAS ALL ( IN THE you SATINS? <LOVED YOU, 7 YOU.. YOU MADE ME we. EACH YOU CHUMPf DIVORCE HELEN/ 044TC ,)

OTHER'

-_-/l LOVED

JJ THE DOUGH f / N0W THAT THE

Jk?

—

V (

OOUQH'S

i'll find

I’LL GET MY 7’*/Atf£..FROM THE..

* DRAWER f

T HE GOLD

SUIT YOURSELF /ONLY MAKE IT

SNAPPY, HUH ? I WANT TO GET DRESSED

RONALD f CHOKE.

YOU PROMISED YOU'D

HARRY

ME...

•*-<

BUSTER? NOW, WHY DON T YOU RUN ALONG?! HUH''

He stumbled across the luxurious living room INTO THE BEDROOM AND SLAMMED THE DOOR. SHE CURSED HIM UNDER HER BREATH. NEXT TIME SHE’D BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL WHOM SHE PICKED. SUDDENLY...

—

CIGARETTE HOLDER DROPPED FROM HER MOUTH. SHE DARTED TO THE BEDROOM DOOR AND FLUNG OPEN. THE ACID SMELL OF GUNPOWDER FILLEO THE ROOM. A TINY WHISP OF SMOKE CURLED UP FROM THE MUZZLE OF THE .45 HE HELD IN HIS HAND. HE SAT ON THE BED, STARING AT HER WITH BLIND EYES, BLOOD TRICKLING FROM THE HOLE IN HIS TEMPLE... IT

r C

J ^

wj&Jano ther sucker/

He STOOD UP. HIS TONGUE CURLED ACROSS DRY LIPS. HE LOOKED AT HER WITH WET EYES. SHE TURNED AWAY, GAZED OUT OF THE WINDOW, AND SUCKED ON HER CIGARETTE.. I’LL...

THIS...

RUN

[

And THEN

HE PITCHED FORWARD, SPRAWLING OFF THE BED ONTO THE FLOOR AT HER FEET. HE WAS DEAD? SHE LOOKED DOWN AT HIM AND SMIRKED... SUCKER.

It was her old stamping grounds,

it had paid off BEFORE. IT COULD PAY OFF AGAIN. ANITA SAT AT THE BAR. NURSING HER DRINK, IGNORING THE BARTENDER'S DIRTY LOOKS. IT WAS HERE THAT SHE'D FIRST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;MET' RONALD. NOW RONALD WAS DEAD. ANITA'S MEAL TICKET HAD BEEN ALL PUNCHED OUT. SHE HAD TO FIND ANOTHER.

Anita was just about ready to give up in disgust WHEN THE OLD WOMAN CAME IN. SHE LOOKED AROUND SELF-CONSCIOUSLY AND SAT DOWN AT A BOOTH. SHE LOOKED ABOUT SIXTY TIMID ANO SHY. NOT THE TYPE ONE WOULD EXPECT TO FIND IN AN ...

ESTABLISHMENT LIKE THAT,

NOT MUCH BUSINESS

I'LL...

EH?

PT l4l

Anita studied her. she was well DRESSED. SHE WORE A LARGE DIAMOND RING ON ONE HAND AND A SPARKLING BRACELET ON HER WRIST. WHEN THE BARTENDER SERVED THE LEMONADE, SHE OPENED HER BAG AND TOOK OUT A WALLET FILLED WITH GREEN BILLS... THAT'LL BE !

HOPE YOU

HELLO 'YOU LOOK) OF COURSE

ALL RIGHT

HARRIET.'

WOMAN YOU DOING IN A

SAY, WHAT'S A

PLACE LIKE THIS... r

anyway 9

LONESOME

MY DEAR'

HARRIET WALKER* BUT YOU CAN CALL ME HARRIET*

NOT,

I'D

IF I LOVE SOMEONE jo/n you? r-r to talk to ' t

MIND

CAN

Anita smiled.

Anita slid onto the booth bench OPPOSITE THE OLD WOMAN. AND MINE'S MRS.

MY NAME'S ANITA SHELBY!

HER...

CHANGE A FIFTY ^ DOLLAR BILL f I

MA'AM

Anita gasped, this old bat was LOADED. WHAT WAS SHE DOING IN A JOINT LIKE THIS?ANITA SLIPPED OFF HER BAR STOOL AND APPROACHED

OH, DEAR*

)

FORTY CENTS,

HAVE A

LEMONADE, PLEASE

THIS TIME OF

[DAY,

I'LL

rrdn

JUST AS YOU SAID, ANITA! I'M LONELY JUST A

LONELY OLD

c|fi tv

to talk to...

Anita thought of mrs. walker's thick wallet crammed with big bills. OON'T YOU HAVE A

HUSBAND. MRS.... I

WOMAN

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE

Mii

HARRIET?

MEAN.

NO, MY DEAR* I'VE BEEN A WIDOW FOR FIFTEEN WASN'T SO BAD UNTIL SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I LOST ERICf

YEARS/ IT

ER/C?

W MY SON.' BUT r

I'D

RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT. TELL ME ABOUT YOU, MY CHILD

YOU'RE VERY KIND, HARRIET' BUT, WELL. I NEVER MET THE

R/6HT MAN,

NOTHING TO TELLA YOU'RE A HARRIET' I'M JUST V^ERY LOVEL Y LONELY G/RL vJ GIRL, ANITA' THERE'S NO MYSELF' REASON FOR

||3J|^ r0U

YOU WOULO

HAVE

UKED ER/C

J|lj

Six

YEARS AGO' HE - 1m rar

GUESS f

T0 BE

LONELY' 'K

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, HARRIET^

WHAT DO YOU DO, I MEAN ...FOR A mf LIVING 9

ANITA 'I

WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT I'M AT THE PRESENT TIME/ MYZ>457:..ER EMPLOYER RECENTLY WENT BROKE AND

UNEMPLOYED I LOST MY.

Anita's plans? why they WERE FORMING. ..RIGHT NOW/ THIS OLD BAG WITH THE THICK BANKROLL/ WHY NOT? WHY TRY TO DIG UP SOME FAT OLD RICH GUY WHO’LL TAKE EVERYTHING HE CAN 6ET.WHEN THE OLD GAL COULD BE SUCH EASY PICKINGS. 1

PLANS

JOB

WHY .GET ANOTHER CAN. MY MONEY’S

RUNNING OUT/

WOULD YOU THINK

PRESUMPTUOUS AN OLD WOMAN

OF I

SUGGESTED SOME-, THING, ANITA?

N-NO'GO RIGHT AHEAD'

BAD' I'M SORRY' WHAT ARE ^ YOUR PLANS? J

POSITION

I LIKE YOU, ANITA' YOU SEEM UKE A NICE GIRL' I'M LONELY AND I HAVE MONEY HOW WOULD YOU LIKE

TO BECOME MY PAID

—

-j

r~f

COMPANION

LIVE WITH ME?...

What

a chance? the penthouse apartment was GONE ? ANITA' D ALREADY DECIDED TD TRY AND MILK THE OLD GAL, AND NOW HERE SHE WAS ... ASKING FOI IT? ASKING ANITA TO COME AND LIVE WITH HER? WHAT A CHANCE...

ALL RIGHT, HARRIET? IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL? I'LL TAKE THE JOB? *

GOOD? WHEN CAN YOU START?

A PAID COMPANION' ) I'D MAKE IT L/VE WITH YOU? BUT < WORTH YOUR ...

WHILE, ANITA? AM)

vk.

BPPF

AROUND WOULD ME 50

happy'

It WAS GOING TO BE SO EASY? LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY? SHE’D GO AND LIVE WITH THE OLO WOMAN, WORK INTO HER GOOD GRACES, AND END UP WITH ALL HER DOUGH... WHY.RIGHT NOW? GOOD ?ILL WAIT HERE? HERE'S I'LL GET MY THINGS ? I LIVE SOME MONEY TO

w v- J

Anita took the fifty?she hurried TO HER HOTEL ROOM? SO EASY? SO VERY EASY

I’LL LET YOU KNOW? SO LONG?

...

GOOD-BYE, MISS SHELBY? GOOD LUCK? .

CHECKING \ THAT'LL BE THIRTY) TWO FIFTY MISS OUT?WHAT A SHELBY? ANY... A DO I OWE... J

I’M

)

< F0RWARD/N6 ADDRESS?;

THE HOTEL \ PAY YOUR BILL? UP THE BLOCK *1

Good luck??

yes, anita

was having good luck?

THIS TIME THERE'D BE NO PAWING CIGAR-SMOKING MALE TO TOLERATE AND PLEASE. YES, THIS WAS LUCK... X

OKAY, HARRIET? LET'S GO? r-

Harriet gave the cab driver the address, it was OVER ON THE SWANK EAST SIDE. ANITA SAT BACK AND SMILED. .. WHY...

COME, MY DEAR' I HAVE T A CAB WAITING? __

YOU'RE SMILING,

ANITA?

I WAS JUST THINKING I AM, HARRIET!

HOW LUCKY

The

trip

took some

time, cross-

US? OH' ^Y£S, ERIC ERIC...

town TRAFFIC WAS SLOW. ANITA

FOUND

A GOOD OPENING AND

BEGAN TO

[

HE MADE A YOUR HUSBAND MUST HAVE LEFT GREAT DEAL YOU VERY WELL OF MONEY ' OFF, THEN? yY WE HAD EVERYTHING T WHEN HE DIED, HE LEFT US ALMOST HALF

A MILLION

EH? OH? YES. MY *

-r

HARRIET?

DEAR ? HOW MUCH

THEN, SIX YEARS

WILL THAT BE. DRIVER?

AGO...

IT.

NOT ANY MORE IT USED TO BE BEAUTIFUL BUT NOT

CAB STOPPED.

APARTMENT HOUSES THAT HAD SPRUNG UP AROUND THEY CLIMBED THE STEPS

BEAUTIFUL

T HE

SPOILED THE BOY? HE GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTEDf EVERYTHING' ANO

It WAS ONE OF THOSE FAST-DISAPPEARING EAST-SIDE MANSIONS SET BACK IN THE SHADOWS OF THE TOWERING

IT'S

ERIC

WAS FIFTEEN WHEN MY HUSBAND'DtEO-? MY, HOW

PRY...

ANY MORE

The old woman fumbled in her purse for her KEY? HER DIAMOND RING SPARKLED? ANITA STARED AT IT? SOMEDAY THAT RING WAS GOING TO BE HERS. SHE FELT HER FACE FLUSH.. AH? HERE WE ARE? J THEN... THEN YOU'RE ALL ALONE IN THE WORLD NOW, T THERE? .

—

—r-7

.th.

HARRIET?

xagyinit The huge door slammed shut behind them, they STOOD IN THE SHADOWED MARBLE FOYER. ANITA HEARD THE LOCK SNAP INTO PLACE.

ALL ALONE? OH, NO.

WHY THERE'S

ME... «w

W AND ERIC.' ,

ER/C.' BUT

THOUGHT YOU SAID HE D/ED SIX

YEARS AGO'

Something moved in the darkness beyond the FOYER. SOMETHING DRAGGED ITSELF TOWARD THEM I SAID I LOST ERIC ANITA? I DIDN'T SAY he DIED.' .

MOTHER?

IS.

THAT ...YOU

He CAME OUT OF THE SHADOWS' HE WAS HUGE AND UGLY? HIS HAIR HUNG OVER HIS PERSPIRED BROW. HIS MASSIVE ARMS HUNG AT HU SIDES. HIS EYES BURNED LIKE WHITE-HOT COALS AND A DROP OF SPITTLE OOZED FROM HIS MOUTH AND DOWN HIS

He moved toward

UNSHAVEN CHIN THIS IS ER/C, MY DEAR SIX YEARS CHOKE YOU. ..YOUl AGO HE WAS A NORMAL TWENTY ? BROUGHT) FOUR YEAR OLD with EVERY- r V HER. 1 MOTHER' TH/NG TO LIVE FOR? AND -< ))

^ BREAKDOWN' WENT M

anita.

HER NAME WAS NORMA? SHE USED HER LOVELY BODY TO LURE HIM... TO

NORMA. '

NORMA

BREAK HIS HEART HE HAD A

MENTAL

COMPL ETEL Y

MAD.

Jfl

THEN HE FELL

LOVE... FELL

WOMAN WHO WANTED ONLY FOR HIS MONEY...

LOVE WITH A HIM

(

AND SO, EVERY YEAR ON THE /NORMA ANNIVERSARY OF ERIC'S 'LOSS', I HAVE TO BRING (A DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HIM A BEAUTIFUL GIRL gTOUO/ LIKE NORMA SO THAT HE M/ME CAN HAVE HIS

REVENGE.

SO THAT HE CAN no' NO ? MUTILATE HER OH, BODY THE WAY NORMA MUTILATED LORD.' -2 HIS M/ND ? c-j

AND TODAY I'VE BROUGHT >

HIM

YOU?

7 NO' NO?.

The CRYPT-KEEPER’S CORNER Welcome, horror and suspenstory

in the Crypt of Terror for the Not on your new rack! Chee...)

my newly

fanatics, to the first of

last thirty-five years,

reinstated columns. After being locked to stretch my legs again. (No, V.K.!

good

feels

Anyways. ..I notice, to my chagrin, that no one has written to me in, well, a L-O-O-ONG time. So you know what I’m going to do? (What’s that? Entertain you with a brand new story, you say? NAW! That’d be too much like WORK.) I’m gonna cop out and dig up some of my old letters and run ’em again. Sorta give you an idea of what the fans thought of me in the bad old days. After all, if you like my stories about mouldy old corpses, you oughta love these mouldy old letters. For this issue's offering, I thought I’d share with you what my original readers thought about the copy From the Crypt you just enjoyed. And after you’ve read their thoughts, why don’t you wrack your fevered li’l brains and come up with some comments of your own ? Let me know what you latter-day unleashed fiends think of my fright rag. Now, on with the letters: of Tales

Dear Crypt-Keeper.

horrible

can you get? Stuart Glass Lynbrook, N.Y.

...I

almost chewed

here’s some original commentary on this issue’s Crime SuspenStories offering:

And now,

Your origin story. “Lower Berth." was tops in nausea. So THAT'S where you came from! WOW! How

claws off reading " Lower

Berth."

Dear Editors, In Crime SuspenStories No. 17, 1 especially enjoyed the way you intermingled the two narratives. .ONE and TWO FOR THE SHOW. As knowing what to expect till the ending of the latter. was completely taken by surprise. I sincere.

FOR THE MONEY, usual, not

hope

that you'll pull a switch like that again.

Nidred, the Were-cat Salisbury.

David

N.C

S. Spiel

Milton, ...In

title, "Lower Berth," didn’t you mean second word "Birth"?

the

spell the

...I've

read many a

different,

cunning, and

teresting story in your mags, but those

No, Astute,

didn’t

mean

Mass.

Astute Observer Bloomington, Ind.

top

them

all.

in-

two just about

Allan Katz

to spell

“Berth”

“Birth”...but wanted “Berth” to mean “Birth”.. .get what mean? mean... (OH, SHUT UP! Get on with the column, if you know what WE mean!—ed.) Oooooh, you’re so mean! (That’s what we mean!—ed.)

Kew

Gardens,

L.l.

...I fear, gentlemen, you have made a mistake. Mother always sends their bodies to Kalamazoo... not Peoria. Oh, goodie! She's brought me another surSo if you’ll excuse me.. .NORMA! NORMA!

prise!

Art "Eric" Walker

Dear Crypt-Keeper,

Binghamton,

I’m getting a big kick out of those Grim Fairy Tales.

"The Funeral" was the greatest! Dick Mandel Boston, Mass.

Dear Crypt-Keeper, I'm thoroughly convinced that E.C. magazines are of the highest quality money can buy. There is not another comic on the stands today that can compare, even in part, with the high standards maintained by your magazine. Being a fifth year art student, I am constantly critical of comic art, and in my estimation, the artwork in your books rates supreme.

for

Falls

delightfully in

eyes!

teil

deranged

Calif.

We suppose you expect US to pay your plane fare east!!! But seriously, John.. .don’t jump off the Empire State Building... \\mp on your newsdealer! He’ll be glad to sell you an E.C. Dear Editors, I just don t know what to say. wonder how you can keep on publishing such good stories. I 'm afraid you 're

when

G. W. Sheridan Gainesville, Ga.

III.

think of my fan(atic)s of yore, get fears

you,

John Reid Hollywood,

going to run out. If you do, I’ll just stop reading comics. Because E.C are THE ONLY comics!

Peoria,

touching.

E.C. magazine.

A. Nippress Bridgeport, Mich.

Fred Barth

How

N.Y.

off the Empire State Building for

WITHOUT a barrel

Roger would go over Niagara an E.C. magazine.

...I

Dear Editors, I would jump

Ah, memories! And I fully expect to collect a whole batch of new ones from you modern, 1990s kinda readers. So find yourselves a cozy, clammy nook, pick up your poison pens, and WRITE already!

For the second part of this month’s putrid rambiings, I’d like to acquaint and reacquaint you beady-eyed perusers with the part of my column that’s always been nearest my tender old heart. (That’s it.. .up there on the shelf in the meat tenderizer! Gettin’ tenderer every day!) I’m referring to the section wherein used to list the titles of popular songs, movies and etcetera of the day... but titles that my readers had, heh heh transmogrified with a scream-theme in mind. Here are some examples, starting with these horrific song titles: I

BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL

AFTER THE MAUL

GROUND EYES

Here are some poems, the of N.Y.C.:

OVER

BELIEVE (THAT FOR EVERY DROP OF BLOOD THAT FALLS. A VAMPIRE GROWS) WITH A TONG IN MY HEART I'M SLITTING BY THE WINDOW (WATCHING THE I

BLOOD-DROPS FALL THE SQUEAL OF TORTURE WINCING WITH SPEARS IN MY THIGHS RATTLE HYMN OF THE REPULSIVE ON THE TAINTED SIDE OF THE MEAT WHO’S GORY NOW? DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEX YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME GROAN TO THE GIRL THAT I BURY I'M

And

this

(The reason that I beat the law Is that I died a year before!)

Leoniece Baer submitted this one:

Down by Where

BACK

THE COFFIN AGAIN (OUT WHERE

A FIEND

A FIEND)

STAKE ME OUT

Springfield,

THE BALL PARK

clawed you

You'll

A chap by

These additions to our LURID LITERATURE LIBRARY were sent along by Jimmy Crow of Dallas, Texas; Jimmy Teel of Pineville, W. Va.; and Drury Moroz of

the old mill stream I first

You were sixteen You let out a scream never be seventeen..

HEART) ’M

L.I.:

/ killed four people old church steeple.

seen them sleeping in their beds, Raised my hammer, and smashed their heads. When their bodies were found in the church. The police started a nine-state search That was back in May of ’43 But they never have located me. I’d

GHOULS RUSH IN WHEN HUMAN BEINGS ARE DEAD LET’S HAVE ANOTHER CUT OF COFFIN, (AND LET'S HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF EYE) RED LIVER VALLEY DON’T LET THE BLOOD GET IN YOUR EYES (DON'T LET THE CRUD CAKE IN YOUR I

by Michael Britekant

one from Michael Graziano of Babylon,

When I was young. And hid them in an

SEND ME ONE DOZEN NOSES JUNE IS GUSHING OUT ALL OVER HAVE TOLD YOU LATELY THAT LOATHE YOU? I

first

Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet. Watching the ghouls at play When along came a vampire and sat down beside her And sucked all her blood away. Little

the

name

“Unsigned” from Chicago

composed: A vampire took me home one night To drink some blood and dine... But it came as quite a shock to learn The blood we drank was mine!

III.:

SQUISH FAMILY ROBINSON WITHERING SIGHTS HOW GREEN WAS MY SALLY THE LASH OF THE MOHICANS THE GIZZARD OF OOZE ROMEO. THE GHOUL HE ET! LORNA'S DOOM

And

finally, a suggestion for a new department... PUTRID PROVERBS... was submitted by Herbert Teisch, along with a few inspiring

thought-provokers: There’s

. .

no ghoul

Vampires

Gould of Grand Lake Stream, Maine and Sue Campbell and Amelia Alexander of Waynesville, N.C. came up with these MORBID MOVIES: Darrel

A STREETCAR MAIMED MY SIRE THE AFRICAN'S SPLEEN HIGH STREWN THE GREATEST CHOKE ON EARTH WRING SOLOMON'S SPINE

who

live in

an old ghoul. glass coffins shouldn't throw

stakes.

Never put off

till

tomorrow who you can drain

today.

Don't count your pickin’s before they're hatcheted.

Late to rise and late to bed, means you re a vampire and ought to be dead. A stitch in time saves blood. One man's person is another man’s meat.

now that you’ve read all this dire doggerel, maybe you’re feeling inclined to come up with some own loathsome titles. If so, the Vault-Keeper, the Old Witch, and I would love to see ’em... so in. ..but keep in mind that us coots are now more than 100 years old and we haven’t been out of our tombs lateiy— so we’re not hep to some of this modern trash you kids call entertainment. let us know what the real titles are, okay?

So,

of your

send ’em on let

Send your song, movie and book didn’t you?) your letters of

titles,

comment

your

poems and

lyrics,

your proverbs and (thought

me:

The Crypt-Keeper P.O.

Box 2079* Prescott, AZ 86302

I’d

forgotten,

The Complete (||) Library

you

E.C.

New

the book you're holding, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love this comprehensive collection of every Trend and New Direction comic book, packaged in 13 deluxe, slipcased sets,

illustrated

above

These oversized, 9 "x12" sets consist of 53 hardbound books, Smythe-sewn for durability, and printed in black and white, so the fine craftsmanship of the E.C. artists can be studied and enjoyed to its fullest. All covers are in brilliant full color! Because

and expense that goes into producing each set, the the two-book sets, to $110 for the five-book sets.

of the care

from $50,

for

These books are not sold and selected comic book

retail

price ranges

chain bookstores, but are available only from the publisher specialty shops. For complete information, write to:

Russ Cochran. Publisher

P.O. Box 469

West

Plains.

MO 65775

IPATRICIA GIBSON, OWNER OF THE CIRCLE- 0 IAMOND, OPENED THE DOOR OF THE RANCH HOUSE IN ANSWER TO THE HEAVY KNOCK. ROY WILLIS, ONE OF THE HIRED HANOS, STOOD OUTSIDE ON THE PORCH, HAT IN HAND... WHY, ROYfWWi AREN'T YOU OUT ON X WANTEO TO SPEAK TO YOU, PTHE RANGE WITH THE BOYS? MA AM t MAY X... COME IN f

He was tall ano broao- shouloereo.ano

his

WINOSWEPT BLACK HAIR FELL IN A CURLED SHOCK HIS PERSPIRING BROW. HE AMBLEO TOWARD

TO YOU FOR SOME Y/ME, MA'AM / THIS MORNIN', WHEN YOU LOOKIN' AT ME,

I NOTICED

Patricia looked away, she stepped aside, allowing ROY TO PASS HER...

He stooo over

her. she turned

WHAT DO YOU )/ THINK

YOU

r ,

SAW, ROY? i

I...

THOUGHT

WAS THE LOOK

A OF A WOMAN WANTED

HlS

HER FACE FLUSHING. ROY MOVED

NOW. HE HELD HER, LOOKING INTO

CLOSER...

HER

1/ TELL ME IT THOU6HT.) ISN'T TRUE, rX ROY' >- v AND I'LL

HANDS WERE ON HER ARMS

TOLD YOUY PAT/ WE'VE TRUE, ROY? \ BEEN SUCH THAT I'VE LOOKED AT i FOOLS? r WE'VE ^ YOU EVERY DAY WASTED SINCE YOU CAME TO THE CIRCLE-DIAMOND...' T SO MUCH AND WANTED YOU.' TIME? WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU? ynrrM IT

IF I

WERE

MA’AM')

BIG

EYES...

WHAT

THAT'S A RATHER

BRAZEN

A MAN

HEAL BAD, MA’AM f TH/S

She stared at the floor

WHO ^

MAN...

And now

his

arms were around her. pulling her

TOWARD HIM ^ROY' DARLING.

Outside the ranch house, roy’s horse whinnied AND PAWED THE GROUND. FAR AWAY, A CALF’S CRY OF PAIN DRIFTED ACROSS THE STILL AIR. IN THE RANCH HOUSE, ROY STOOD UP. PAT LOOKED UP AT HIM FROM THE SOFA... I GOTTA GO, PAT THE BOYS ARE WAITIN' ON ME OUT THERE THEY GOT SOME CALVES TIED AND READY FOR BRANDIN' / :

DON T GO, ROY f THE BOYS CAN WAIT.

Roy shook

Roy nodded

his head.

/CAN'T ,PATf IT AIN'T FA/R? NOW IF I WERE FOREMAN HERE. RUNN/N' THE SHOW... I COULD DO AS COULD ,

“

STAY

PLEASE I I WANTED TOf

DIAMOND?

HERE

FOR

AWHILE...

and sat down, pat put her cheek against

HIS LIPS...

THAT WHAT

YOU WANT, ROY? < TO BE FOREMAN OF THE CIRCLE-

STAY

rIF

* IT'LL MAKE YOU HA PRY, ROY, THE JOB IS YOURS? ALL I ASK IS... YOU KEEP ME HAPPY... IN RETURN?

PLEASURE PAT' A

REAL

PLEASURE... J

The cattle destined for the slaughter houses were SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE HERD AND DRIVEN EASTWARD. THE YOUNG CALVES BORN OUT ON THE RANGE WERE BRANDED...

The SUMMER WANED and ROUND-UP TIME CAME TO THE CIRCLE-DIAMOND. THE STEERS WERE HERDED AND DRIVEN FROM THE GRAZING LANDS TO THE CORRALS.. .

THAT DOGGIE'S STRAYIN',) ( I'LL BRING 'Er' IN LINE, ROY*, f T M .*/ j/h V

MISS

—

PAT

WANTS TO

OKAY, TIM*

HELP THE BOYS, HERE, HUH.* >

HOLD

IM,

NED.*

And THEN WINTER MOVED IN. ..BLEAK AND COLD. AROUND THE POT-BELLIED STOVE IN THE BUNKHOUSE, THE HANDS WOULD GATHER EACH EVENING LOOK i THERE GOES ROY.. CUTTIN' CROSS THE YARD

-.TO

TH’

HOUSE,

A HANDSOME ±FAGE. .

But long winters mean more THAN JUST COLD WEATHER. LONG WINTERS MEAN BOREDOM...

WHERE YOU

GO/N\ ROY?

ANY OBJECTIONS?

INTO

[And all through the long winter COZY." YEAH? NICE HERE BY THE FIRE, HUH, ROY ? I

FOREMAN* BAH?) HOLD YER JTONBUE* if'n GOT BIG BROAD < HE HEARS SHOULDERS ANDJ YUH, YOU'LL / jus' 'cause HE’S

TOWN/

)

BE LOOKIN'

FOR

ANOTHER

N-NO* YOU CAN JUST WANT A A 1 GO INTO TOWN CHANGE OF WHENEVER SCENE. THAT' (

YOU WANT.' ANYTHING

WRONG ? /

ALL f I'M TAKIN

THE

CAR/

'ALL

RIGHT, ROY*

I'LL hr FOR

WA/TUP YOU

DON'T

BOTHER

She was painted and cheap- looking., the type that C OULD RELIEVE BOREDOM r ROY WILLIS. MA'AM ? I MY NAME'S ANY... AMY RYAN I SINS HERE. FOREMAN AT THE CIRCLE -

Roy sped off and

pat watched the yellow cloud OF DUST DISAPPEAR INTO THE GATHERING TWILIGHT. HER EYES FILLING WITH TEARS. THAT NIGHT

TOWN ^

MIND

if I

x— r I

THANKS, COWBOY I LIKE TO BE

APPRECIATED'

CARE TO

DANCE IYAN?

YEP, IT'S

ISN'T IT?

again

THAT'S RIGHT'., NOTHIN' T* KEEP

HERE'

DIAMOND? SI NO'

—

HISS rNOPE ' NO TIE

^ you r

PAT...

TOWN

YOURS. COW-

Roy’s trips to town that winter became more AND MORE FREOUENT. HE SAW LESS AND LESS OF

TONIGHT, ROY?

EITHER HOW ABOUT THAT TIES WHAT ABOUT A-_ DANCE ? RYAN? I GOT

Miss

IT IS...

HISS RYAN, r

GOIN' INTO

WHAT

HUH ? OH ? SURE? SIT DOWN' HAVE A DRINK f rf

HELLO, COWBOY< YOU LOOK

uLONESOMEf v ^r join you?

)

And

HEARD

YOU GOT

VOICE '

YOU

H/CE

—

IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN ROY DROVE BACK TO THE RANCH. PATRICIA WATCHED FROM HER BEDROOM WINDOW AS HE CROSSED THE YAR D TO THE

his friendship with

' '

amy became warmer and

WARMER...

SOON AS I GET ENOUGH DOUGH SAVED UP, I'LL GET ME A RANCH AND WELL GET HARRIED, AMY '

And

then, one night, in a room over the saloon WHERE AMY WORKEO...

It was pat. SHE'D FOLLOWED ROY to town, she STOOD IN THE DOORWAY, HER EYES BLAZING-

ROY, HONEY' WHEN \SOON, BABY f ARE WE GOIN* T'GET l SOON... T\ V ? YOU ' BEEN PROMISIN' f

SO TH/S IS HOW YOUVe' BEEN SPENDING YOUR

MARRIED

NIGHTS

TOWN

y WHO'S

SHE. ROY?

\TELL HER PATRICIA GIBSON’SVGET <%//,( WHAT MY NAME. HONEY. <^PAT f 1\.l(ABOUT i ROY.' TELL HER ABOUT DIDN’T ROY YELL a SEE YOU 4 HER, \ ." YOU ABOUT ME? WHEN I GET ROY? > BACK TO THEN-. -f -

RANCH Y

saidYi thought'

BETA you said you

’

OUT.

K^S

PAT'

[HAD HO l

ROY

T/ES. '

HAH ' THAT'S flTs H E'S YOU’D ^ LAUGH / HE'S ALL )CRAZY, BETTER tKH'iiy LEAVE, M/HE. HONEY.. AND NOBODY'S \ /-""T AND YOU TAKIN' HIM > CAN TAKE ) \

A N

ME...

Amy slammed [

[outside

CTHAT ROY... {

HAD

the door, roy and pat stood the hall shadows...

T-»

DON T BELONG TO ANYBODY. PAT

TIME FOR ME TO V

6/T MOVIN’ ." I'LL GO

BACK TO THE RANCH WITH YOU AND GET MY THINGS...

WITH

YOU f y-'

NEITHER \ALL RIGHT,

A B/G

TIES...

)

H/M

NOR AMY." I TAKE WHAT I GET< IT’S RANGE AND I GRAZE WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENEST" NO* I guess it s

YOU.

WASN'T NICE OF YOU.'V' I DON’T." 1 TELLING AMY YOU 577ZZ don’t

J fm

AWAY FROM

ROY' LET’S

The boys in the bunk house WATCHED ROY AS HE PACKED HIS

Pat called to him from the RANCH HOUSE AS HE WALKED

YEAH WHAT?

YOU FORGOT SOMETHIN', ROY

CLOTHES

ROY ' beforeY

LEAVIN’ .

ROY?

YOU

GO...

*t ain't no USE, 1 PAT' I'M THROUGH..

Roy came

into the ranch house, pat closed the DOOR BEHIND HIM AND SILENTLY LOCKED IT AS ROY LOOKED AROUND... YOU FORGOT OUR DEAL, ROY I MADE WHAT'D I FORGET, RAT? YOU FOREMAN AND YOU GOT WHAT

YOU WANTED .' YOU'RE MINE, ROY f YOU CAN'T BACK OFF NOW... NOT v AFTER ALL I VE GIVEN YOU... *^ aS= -

Pat oarted to the fireplace. ..snatching the BLACK HANDLE FROM THE FLAMES. THE DESIGN GLOWED WHITE-HOT

THIS SAYS YOU'RE M/NE.'WS MY BRAND.' THE CIRCLE ^

DIAMOND

PAT

NO.'

GOD .'PUT

THAT..

The blaze

the fireplace burned briskly..

OH HO PAT YOU GOT NO HOLD ON ME' WE RE HOT MARRIED' REMEMBER? ,

OH, YES THERE /£,

ROYf^|

CAN PULL OUT ANYTIME.'

THERE'S NOTHIN' SAYS

YOURS

I'M

NOTHIN'...

When the bunk house boys

finally broke into THE RANCH HOUSE, THEY FOUND PATRICIA GIBSON SOBBING HYSTERICALLY, THE COOLING IRON IN HER HANDS' AND ON ROY'S FACE WAS THE BLISTERED AND CHARRED

RESULTS OF HER WORK...

6000 L ORDfJcHOKE.'

The STORM BREWED. ITS THUNDER WAS THE HAMMERING ROAR OF A POUNDING HEART. ITS LIGHTNING WAS THE FLASH OF HATE IN GLAZED EYES. THE STORM CARRIED WITH IT, IN SWIRLING CLOUDS OF EMOTION, THE CRASHING FURY OF MURDER. THE STORM CROUCHED IN THE CELLAR, READY TO LEASH FORTH ITS ANGRY FORCE, ITS SCREAMING DOWNPOUR. IT CROUCHED IN THE CELLAR AND BOILED AS THE CELLAR DOOR OPENED. IT ROSE UP, BLACK AND FOREBODING, AS SHE CAME DOWN THE CREAKING WOODEN STAIRS. AND THEN, AS SHE REACHED THE BOTTOM, THE STORM BROKE...

She was

dead, harry stood over her, the dripping HATCHET HANGING LIMPLY. DEEP DOWN INSIDE HIM, THE LAST FAINT ECHO OF THE STORM DIED AWAY AND A CALM DESCENDED. THE THUNDER IN HIS HEART

WAS GONE. ..THE LIGHTNING

IT...

HIS EYES DIMMED.

IT'S

"5„.

DONE, SARAH

DONE.

HARRY.' NY GOD?

There was a peace in harry now ..as if a great BLACK CLOUD HAD BEEN SWEPT AWAY AND THE SUN WAS AT LAST SHINING ON HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. AND THERE WAS COOLNESS THERE... THE COOLNESS OF A DETERMINED MAN. A MAN WHO'D FREED HIMSELF FROM THE FIRES OF HATE. HE TOOK THE SHOVEL ANO BEGAN TO DIG. .

I'LL

BURY

HERE...

YOU, SARAH...

THE CELLAR.

]

I'LL BURY YOU AND THEN I'LL REPORT YOU 0/SS/NO. I'LL TELL THEM YOU WENT

AWAY AND NEVER CANE

^„

BACK...

The hole

the cellar yawned

HUNGRILY. HARRY FED IT SARAH'S BODY, AND THE BLACKNESS GULPED IT DOWN...

W'in

'«

YOU.. GO. ..^B

Then the black mouth shut on SARAH AS HARRY SHOVELED THE DIRT BACK INTO THE HOLE. HE SPREAD THE EXCESS DIRT AROUNO AND TAMPED IT DOWN...

THERE

FINISHED.

Harry carried the shovel and AXE UP THE CELLAR STAIRS INTO THE KITCHEN. HE TURNED ON THE 8 INK* TAP AND THE WATER SPLASHED FROM THE CHROME FAUCET. FIRST,. HE RINSED THE BLOOD FROM THE HATCHET...

ARRY WENT BACK INSIDE AND SAT DOWN IN HIS FAVORITE CHAIR. HE PICKED UP THE EVENING PAPER, LIT HIS PIPE, AND BEGAN TO READ. IT WAS AS IF NO STORM HAD EVER LASHED OUT THAT NIGHT. IT WAS AS IF NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED...

MIDNIGHT.

HARRY MAOE HIS CALL. HE ACTED UPSET,

\ THAT'S RIGHT. SARAH JAMESON, 125 ELM. SHE... SHE HASAT? COME HOME FROM WORK. HOF NO, SHE DIDN'T GO TO A MOVIE SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME' NO, SHE'S NOT ^ VISITING' IT'S AFTER MIDNIGHT' SHE NEVER STAYS OUT THIS LATE f WHAT? YOU'LL PUT OUT AN 1

ALARM?

[GOOD. YOU'LL STOP BY

THE

- DIAUT

MORN/NO ? ALL

In THE MO RNING, THE DETECTIVE CAME. HARRY WAS READY... I...

——^^1^1^——

THOUGHT SOMETHING HAPPENED T<

TO HER, OFFICER. l'M SORRY. BUT AFTER J I SPOKE TO YOU, I WENT TO BED. I FOUND THIS NOTE... ON MY fc SHE'S LEFT me

PILLOW.

SHE^^M

ThE DETECTIVE OPENED THE BEDROOM CLOSET DOOR. HARRY HAD FORSEEN THAT. HE'D BURNED SARAH'S CLOTHES IN THE FURNACE

H ARRY

READ THE

HER UNDERTH/NGS...

EVERYTHING. GONE.

ThMMM

)

YES, NOTE, I LOOKED IN HERE. I 5^/TSHE'D (i SEE. PACKED HER THINGS... >

—,r

SHE MUST HAVE COME HOME FROM WORK AND PACKED AND LEFT

HOME.

The DETECTIVE WENT TO THE RACK ABOVE THE POINTED AT THE TWO TOOTHBRUSHES...

MRS. JAMESON'S ?

LOOKS THAT WAY.

SUDDEN

BEFORE I GOT )

The detective snooped around SOME MORE. HE SEEMED SATISFIED. HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN HE STOPPED AT THE OPEN BATHROOM DOOR. HE STARED IN. HARRY FELT A

OPENED SARAH'S BUREAU

DRAWER.

. .

^AFTER

SINK. HE

HUH ? OH, YES f SHE SHE MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN IT' 1-y-

•

CHILL...

WHAT'S THAT, OFFICER?

THAT'S FUNNY

THE DETECTIVE SHOOK LOOKED AT HIM HARD..

P—i——

HIS HEAD. .

FOR A WOMAN WHO PACKED SO CAREFULLY. TO FORGET HER .

TOOTHBRUSH,** Jameson? I HARDLY THINK SO'

HE LOOKED AT HARRY.I r

I DON'T 1

UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING

SIR'

AT ?

/rrSSu

The oetective

grimaced.

H WHY. WHY 1 / OF COURSE, '^OFFICER. GO THAT SOMETHING'S HERE. IF YOU k RIGHT < DON'T MIND, I THINK \ AHEAD... ) I HAVE A FEELING, MR. JAMESON... A FEELING

WRONG

INVESTIGATE YOUR WIFE'S SUDDEN we'll

DISAPPEARANCE

AFTER

r ALL.

â&#x20AC;&#x17E;

)

and WHEN YOU FIND

HER, TELL HER I'M

SORRY.. TELL HER 1

The detective was gone, harry STOOD AT THE DOOR, SHIVERING HE

COME BACK </>

ME... TELL

HER

KNOWS.

I'VE

SOMETHING, he'll

GOT TO

COME BACK

WITH A WARRANT .'

THEY'LL SEARCH THE HOUSE.. FIND THE t FRESH-DUG GRAVE IN THE mi CELLAR. I'VE GOT TO

DO^^m

SOMETHING...

Mrfanrfkan

attic, he pulled the trunk FROM BENEATH THE PILE OF DUSTY OLO RELICS... YES. YES. IT'S THE ONLY WAY. I VE GOT TO GET HER BODY OUT OF THE HOUSE... g GOT TO GET R/D OF IT. AND I THINK I KNOW HOW...

Harry went up into the

Sarah's battereo and bloody body was stiff with RIGOR MORTIS WHEN HARRY LIFTED IT FROM ITS GRAVE, HE DUMPED IT INTO THE TRUNK...

NOW TO MAKE SURE IT WILL BE AN UNIDENTIFIABLE body

Harry dragged the trunk down into the ceuar, THEN HE WENT TO THE TOOL SHED, AND GOT THE SHOVEL AND THE HATCHET AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE CELLAR. HE BEGAN TO DIG... 'am

UNIDENTIFIABLE BODY: IN A TRUNK.

COULD THEY TRACE

HOW

TO ME... ?

Harry picked up the hatchet and began to hack. THE BLADE ROSE AND FELL... ROSE AND FELL. ..UNTIL THE THING BEFORE HIM MELTED AWAY INTO A MASS OF RED BLOBS AND WHITE BONE... COUNTLESS SEVERED SECTIONS OF A ONCE WHOLE HUMAN BODY,UGH... UGH... UGH

THAT OUGHT

GASP f T! TO DO IT

train pulled out and harry BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF. AFTER A WHILE HE WENT FORWARD TO THE BAGGAGE CAR- m ji m

The

Harry checked

}

OH... HERE IT IS. why they're) hapALMOST EXACTLY AL/KET/ PENS.

JUST CHECKING. YOU^T/JV/* ONE have a brown rr 266-95 .' \ OH... rgu' TO PEOR/A ? A

TRUNK...

THERE

his ticket.

'NO' 266-*/.. TO CHICA 60. ''/that' D0N

JSmK'i wolllft

W» U JTJ1I

Harry went back to the club BLOOD FROZE AS HE ENTERED. THE DETECTIVE WAS SIT-

CAR. HIS

TING THERE, DRINKING A LEMONAOE.

‘

CHOKE

|/l*LL BE L AR EFU L s R f ezL

WiM

Harry ducked

back, fast, his heart began to pound LIKE ATRIP-HAMMER. THAT BLASTED DETECTIVE. HE WAS HOUND/NO HARRY... FOLLOWING HIM TO CHICAGO. AND AT CHICAGO, THERE*D BE NO SARAH TO MEET HARRY... AND HE'D GET SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE TRUNK.

that

OTHER TRUNK.'

TICKETS,

PEOR/A... with

IF I coulo SWITCH ** TRUNK WILL BE TOSSED OFF AT /N IT...

SARAHS REMAINS

the TRUNK OF COURSE.' what a IgjBL BREAK

The BAGGAGE CAR WAS DIMLY LIT AS HARRY ENTERED. THE CLERK DOZED IN A CORNER. HARRY SUPPED PAST him...

nw—

in 1 ii 11

111

mi Haiiiiiiii

Harry untied the tickets and switched them, he PATTED HIS TRUNK... THE ONE WITH THE GRISLY CARGO...

SO LONG, SARAH 4 SOMEBODY IN IS GOING TO BE AWFULLY TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT OF^ .

PEOR/A

SHOCKED

YOU...

Then he locked the trunk and dragged

After purchasing

out to

HIS CAR. AFTER REFILLING THE HOLE IN THE CELLAR AND CLEANING HIS TOOLS ONCE MORE, HE DROVE DOWN

TOWN TO THE RAILROAD STATION,.

THAT WILL BE $42.50, SIR'-#

I’D LIKE TO BUY A TICKET CHICAGO PLEASE, ON

THE NEXT

[ MAN

...

TRAIN.

HERE YOU

PULL-

LOWER BERTH.

ARE. YOU LEAVE IN

ruNTiL...

"mi

MrG07NG MR.

SOMEWHERE/ JAMESON ? ^8

—

IS,

JHUH? OH'

FORGIVEN.?* GOING

it's...

YOU...

He'd followed harry, he SUSPECTED HARRY SMILED, l YES f IT'S MY WIFE. ) ( ... AND )_ THE SHE CALLED... FROM A. TRUNK 7 CHICAGO. all is

(It WAS SO SIMPLE. NO NAME ON THE [TRUNK. NOTHING BUT A NUMBER COR[RESPONDING TO THE TICKET HARRY

THAT

BAGGAGE CAR ...

•

MINUTES... 1

USE.

harry drove the car

[I'D LIKE THIS TRUNK SENT ON 'YES, SIR.' THAT WILL TO CHICAGO' HERE'S MY F=- GO ON THE SAME < TRAIN, SIR' IN THE ^2 TICKET.

J V

TWENTY

NEVER INTENDED TO

his ticket,

AROUND TO THE BAGGAGE RAMP.

THERE.

SARAH TOOK ALL OUR SUITCASES. IT'S THE ONLY THING I COULD

' i

JAMESON. )

SEE? my TICKET.

I'LL SEE t YOU OFF...

HAVE TO GO NOW. THERE 'HAS NO WAY OUT. THE TRAIN WAS LEAVING IN TEN MINUTES. HARRY WENT

/that's l NICE,**

PACK MY CLOTHES INTO. I'M HAPPt YOU SEE, WE'RE STAYING* v FOR YOU... ON A WHILE... SORT OF A , { FOR BOTH SECOND HONEYMOON > OF YOU.

HaRRY'D

THROUGH THE GATE ABSENTLY, TRYING TO THINK. WHAT COULD HE DO WITH THAT TRUNK? HOW COULD HE GET RID OF IT? THE DETECTIVE WAS AT HIS SIDE... 3 WELL, GOOD-BYE, OFFICER. P THERE'RE A FEW MINUTES LEFT, THANK YOU. .for EVERY.

“S-

THING,

—

JAMESON i I'LL WALK YOU TO YOURj

seat

znfl

TIVE FOLLOWED. HE SMILED DOWN AT HARRY.

JwELL.GIVE MY REGARDS TO ^ MRS. JAMESON WHEN YOU SEE

HER.

r~ ^

I WILL, OFFICER.

AND THANKS

again/r;

Chicago's lasalle street station CAME UP AMID WHISTLE SCREAMS AND HISSING STEAM. HARRY PEERED OUT OF THE WINDOW. SOMEONE LEANED OVER HIS SHOULDER. THE DETECTIVE.

SEE

HER,

YOU DON'T SEEM |I'M NOT X VERY SURPRISED SAW YOU IN THE to^T^-me, CLUB CAR c JAMESON! ill LAST NIGHT'

JAMESON? V/V-A'tf/SHE

THINK

OFFICER.'

SHE PR0B ABLY DIDN'T 6ET MY

AND HER BOOT'S THAT TRUNK of V. YOURS.

HER,

IN '

MURDERED A

YOU

^ MESSAGE..}

Harry and the detective made their way to the BAGGAGE OFFICE, AND HARRY PRESENTED HIS TICKET. i GO AHEAD, OFFICER OPEN 'ER UP '

They rode across Chicago

HEADQUARTERS.

PORTER

CARE TO TAKE A

LOOK? rf'

to police headquarters

SILENCE. HARRY CHUCKLED TO HIMSELF. HE'D BEEN PRETTY CLEVER. THE TRUNK WAS BROUGHT INTO A SMALL ROOM. THE DETECTIVE LIFTED THE LIO...

NOT HERE, JAMESON. OH,

jJ YOU

ALL. I HAPPEN TO < OFFICER.

WELL, I'VE GOT

TO BE GOING,

NOT SO FAST, JAMESON t

I HAPPEN TO THINK YOUR/( HAPPEN WIFE ISN'T GOING TO l) TO BE SHOW UP HERE IN CHICAGO] WRONG

GOOD LORD?

WELL? SATISFIED. OFFICER? NOW. CAN

MASS OF RED BLOBS AND WHITE BONE FILLED THE TRUNK. .COUNTLESS SEVERED SECTIONS OF AONCE .

HUMAN BODY. HARRY SCREAMED AS THE HANDCUFFS WERE SNAPPED ON HIS WRIST..

SWITCHED THEM BACK/ A I DON T KNOW WHAT YOU SWITCHED THE TICKETS YOU'RE TALKING a BACK/ you KNEW I KILLED A ABOUT JAMESON, 1 HER and you SWITCHED BUT THANKS FOR THEM BACK. THE CONFESSION. C'MON, LET'S GO/

[YO o

Meanwhile, in one of those fast- disappearing east SIDE MANSIONS, HARRIET WALKER STOOD OVER HER INSANE SON, running her hand through his shaggy hair .

DID YOU... DID YOU GET yes, ERIC .CLEVERLY, TOO RID OF WHAT WAS LEFT FT J I put AN/TA S REMAINS OF HER, MOTHER? IN AN OLD TRUNK, BOUGHT Mi A TICKET to PEOR/A, ILLINOIS, AND HAD IT 'f 1/d SHIPPED ON AHEAD. OF Â» COURSE, I'LL NEVER USE #

THE TICKET...

COMING UP NEXT FROM GLADSTONE The

Vault of Horror #1, featuring:

“Star Light, Star Bright” by Johnny Craig “While the Cat’s Away” by Jack Davis

“Smoke Wrings” by Reed Crandall “Where There’s a Will” by Graham Ingels “The Wall” by Johnny Craig “House of Horror” by Harvey Kurtzman “The Mad Magician” by Harry Harrison and Wally

“The Thing

Wood in

the

Swamp"

Al Feldstein

ON SALE MAY, 1990 GLADSTONE

WEIRD SCIENCE “A

New

Beginning” by

#1, featuring: Al

Williamson

"The Headhunters” by George Evans by Wally Wood “Outcast of the Stars” by Joe Orlando “Am Man or Machine?” by Al Feldstein “Only Time Will Tell” by Harry Harrison and

“My World” I

Wally

"The Men “Trip

into

Wood of

Tomorrow" by Jack Kamen Unknown” by Harvey

the

Kurtzman

ON SALE JUNE,

1990

(continued from inside front cover) ourselves That is why Tales From the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and The Haunt of Fear are as apt today as they were forty years ago. If we see a victim being stalked by an axmurderer with the requisite cleaver in hand, our sensation will be terror; but let that murderer be a zombie, a vampire, a werewolf, or anything akin, and our response is horror. That's what E.C.s are all about. In make-believe horror there is always something hidden, something still and ever-

the same effect by “crossing” Quasimodo with the gargoyle. It would be nice to think that a proper educaone of a hunger for horror, but theologians like John Wesley have always known better. Horror images have always been more than fear-jerkers; they are invariably the most subtle projections of buried and repressed fear. When it comes right down to it, the fascinating question is not why monsters were so suddenly obvious in the late eighteenth century, but how they could have been suppressed with such success

achieved

tion could rid

for

so long!

The invocation of horror has always been prein the English tradition from Beowulf on. In modern versions we forget the victims and even the hero, but we remember the monster! Everyone who read the original E.C.’s remembers a favorite today. and it is usually the monster or the deed that stands out. Thinking back to your own high school or college literature class, do you remember who, for instance, kills Dracula? How is the Frankenstein monster destroyed? Are we sure the werewolf is dead? Monsters have become bogeymen, and as the child in Halloween says, “Ya can’t ever kill the bogeyman." We read for enjoyment, including horror. But we sent

some forbidden knowledge, a kept We don't quite know. But we would like if we could do so safely. That's why Gladstone feels E.C. horror will strike the same responsive chord with readers today as it did in the 1950s. It’s generally acknowledged that horror is not just an aspect of human experience, but concealed, secret.

to find out

a central part of

it!

Had Newton really been right, and had there been laws to govern all change, there could be no horror; only temporary ignorance, only terThe sleep of reason, contended Goya in 1798, produces monsters and monsters have always been the prime Carriers of horror. They are always “out there,” rising from the ooze of the subconscious. like sea-beasts on the horizons of ancient maps and they are never totally nonhuman. really

ror.

The ancient monsters— the

—

centaur, the sphinx,

the minotaur are partly brute and partly human, and the brute part is not in itself frightening. So too the modern monsters— the vampire, the Frankenstein monster, and the werewolf— are images of horror not because they do dreadful things to us (although they may well), but because they block our attempts to classify, categorize,

and hence control them H. G. Wells generated intense horror in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) simply by dispassionately describing the harmless mutants created by the "mad scientist” who infused human forms and attributes into the animal world; Victor Hugo

keep coming back because

memories A

cult

of E.C. collectors began in the '50s and has survived to this day, though most think of themselves as “fans.” Some of the same ones who made

just

contact with each other through the Letters to the GhouLunatics pages in those days still are in touch with each other today.

(We would like to thank Jim Twitchell, who is currently Alumni Professor of English at the University of Florida, for his permission to excerpt portions from his book, Dreadful Pleasures: An Anatomy of Modern Horror, published by Oxford University Press. We apologize for any points that may have been lost by our abbreviations of his words or any changes of meaning that may have resulted from our blending of his thoughts with an occasional brief insertion of our own. —The Publishers)

NOW EC, CLASSICS!

E.C.

ANTHOLOGIES!

COLLECT THE COMPLETE These E.C. Classics reprint 96 famous stories by the great 1950s artists Jack Davis, Wally Wood. Al Feldstein, Al Williamson, "Ghastly" Graham Ingels. Johnny Craig. Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kamen, John Severfn, Joe Orlando and others! 1-6 contain stories from selected issues. Order by number: 1. Tales from the Crypt (limited supply; available only as part of a set). 2. Weird Science 3 TwoFisted Tales (includes Frontline Combat). 4. Shock

GLADSTONE PUBLISHING

•

SET!

SuspenStories. 5. Weird Fantasy. 6. Vault of Horror 7. Weird Science-Fantasy (issues 23 4 24). 8. Crime SuspenStories (issues 17 & 18). 9. Haunt of Fear (issues 14 & 15). 10 Panic (issues 1 & 2). 12. 11 Tales From the Crypt (issues 23 4 24) Weird Science (issues 20 & 22). Oversize 8 'xll quality paper, full color, stiff covers. $6.00 each, includes postage 4 handling. Complete set (all 12] for only $60.00.

Box 2079

• Prescott,

Arizona 86302

Ur LT

TERROR

HEH.HEH? BACK AGAIN I SEE ? BACK FOR MORE CHILLS IN TALES FROM THE CRYPT' WELCOME, THEN? WELCOME TO THE CRYPT OF TERROR /IT'S YOUR HOST IN HORROR .THE CRYPT- KEEPER READY TO CURDLE YOUR BLOOD WITH ANOTHER CREEPS COLLECTORS ITEM.' SO COME IN ? IN THIS YARN, YOU WILL BE THE MAIN CHARACTER? OH, YOU'D LIKE THAT? WELL, WE'LL SEE.' EVERYTH NG THAT HAPPENS WILL BE SEEN THROUGH YOUR... T HE MAIN CHARACTERS. EYES .' READY? THEN START LIVING THE ,

|" r oL

YOU OPEN YOUR EYES, AND THE GLARING LIGHT OVERHEAD BLINDS YOU? SUDDENLY YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNDER A SWIRLING SEA OF DARKNESS AND HAVE ONLY NOW COME TO THE SURFACE? A GREY HAZE HANGS OVER YOU... BUT SOON, EVEN THAT CLEARS AWAY LIKE COBWEBS BEING SWEPT ASIDE BY A FASTIDIOUSLY WIELDED DUSTER? THINGS COME INTO FOCUS fjELLIED OBJECTS SLOWLY FREEZE INTO SOLIDITY? A FIGURE BENDS OVER YOU, SHIELDING THE OVERHEAD GLARE FROM YOUR LIGHT-SENSITIVE EYES.

NOD YOUR HEAD

YOU CAN?

YOU NOD YOUR HEAD, LOOKING UP AT THE FIGURE BENDING OVER YOU? HIS BEADY LITTLE EYES DANCE BEHIND THICK CRYSTAL LIKE GLASSES? HE GRINS1

KNEW

IT' I

KNEW I

COULD DO IT? OH, WE WILL BE FA NOUS YOU AND if THE WORLD WILL FLOCK

YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH 'SOMEIN A SMALL INSTRUMENT-CLUTTERED ROOM ? GLASS CABINETS FILLED WITH TEST-TUBES LINE THE WALLS f STRANGE SHAPED MACHINES SURROUND YOU 'THE FIGURE STANDING OVER YOU PATS YOUR CHEST REASSURINGLY.

TO SEE US?

DON'T TRY TO MOVE.' JUST L/E THERE 'CAN YOU TALK CAN YOU SAY

ANYTHING?

T HE

WHERE BACK UNDER THAT SEA OF BLACKNESS YOU HAVE JUST RISEN FROM IS THE MEMORY OF SPEECH? YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, BUT ONLY A CHOKING GURGLE SPILLS OUT,. THAT'S ALL R/6HT /oo NOT WORRY f YOU WILL TALK AGAINfX WILL .

TEAOH

YOUfNOW... REST...

FIGURE WITH THE THI

Z WILL BE BACK~LATERf I MUST GO OUT FRONT NOW? IT IS TIME TO GIVE ANOTHER SH0WfRE8T 'UNTIL LATER..,

HOW ACROSS YOUR WRISTS HOLD THEM FAST.' YOU CALL OUT, SURPRISED AT THE GARGLED SCREECH INESS OF YOUR OWN VOICE ? YOU LOOK OOWN TOWARDS YOUR FEET ...AT THE HEAVY SCUFFED SHOES AND THE BANDS

ACROSS YOUR LEGS-

;

DIO YOU SET HERE? WHAT HAS HARDENED TO YOU? WHAT IS THIS FIEND TRYING TO 00 TO YOU NOW? A COLO CHILL OF FEAR SHIVERS OVER YOU? YOU TUG AND STRAIN'THE STRAPS ACROSS YOUR CHEST PART LIKE PAPER ANO YOU SIT UP. TEARING YOUR ARMS LOOSE... YOUR LEGS- IT '

^jj

' YOU CRAWL THROUGH THE OPEN

People-many people-move

WINDOW OF THE ROOM OUT INTO THE NIGHT? THE COOL NIGHT,

THE LIGHT.. .GAYLY LAUGHING...

...

A CALLIOPE

TALKING SOMEWHERE, PLAYS... ITS MUSIC DRIFTING INTO THE OARKNESS ? A HARSH VOICE ?

FILLED WITH A THOUSAND VOICES. A MILLION FLICKERING STARS? TO YOUR RIGHT, LIGHTS GLEAM BEHIND SILHOUETTED BUILOINGS

HURRY... HURRY...

Y OU ARE IN THE REAR ALLEYS OF AN AMUSEMENT PARK fTHE LIGHT AND THE LAUGHTER AND THE MUSIC AND THE VOICES SEEM TO DRAW YOU... LIKE A MAGNET? YOU MOVE TOWARD THEM ...DOWN BETWEEN THE BUILOINGS. ..TOWARD THEM...

RIGHT THIS WAYf SEE HARO'S WAX MUSEUM.. SEE THE OHAMBER OF HORRORSâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; -

They're closer now... the laughing people ? THEY MOVE PAST THE ALLEY ...A SEA OF FACES -. A SEA OF SMILES? AND NOW YOU'RE NEARLY THERE- NEARLY OUT OF THE ALLEY.. .NEARLY AMONG THEM...

The WOMAN'S EYES BULGE IN HER BLANCHED FAOE ? SHE STARES AT YOU? HER HYSTERICAL SHRIEK IS LIKE A DOOR SLAMMING OUT THE LAUGHTER ...THE VOIOES... THE MUSIC? SILENCE rU-LS...THIOK ...SAP SILENCE.

WHAT IS IT? AHHA/WHAT...

Suddenly the door

opened once more?only

THIS TIME THERE IS NO LAUGHTER... NO MUSIC?SHOUTS OF DISMAY... SCREAMS OF TERROR POUR IN AT YOU...

POLICE f

TT RUH? OH, LORD:

RUN '

6000 LORO/

Again, that chill of fear knifes through you? YOU TURN-TURN FROM THE SHOUTS AND THE SCREAMS AND THE BULGING EYES AND BLANCHED FACES ...AND YOU RUN ...BACK UP THE ALLEY... BACK INTO THE BLACKNESS- [f Wm'

AFTER

THERE HE SICK

HIM

Behind you. a gentle purring grows louder and LOUDER f A OAR.' YOU TURN .FACING INTO THE ONCOMING HEADLIGHT GLARE... m.,,,, .

The

CAR PULLS UP BESIDE YOU'

You OPEN

THE DOOR

THE DRIVER CALLS TO YOU.

And then IS

his eyes glaze. ..ano roll. ..and he DEAD.' HIS BODY 60ES LIMP AND YOU LET IT

SLIP AWAY FROM YOU LIKE A SOFT SACK ?HE FALLS AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN BEGINS TO BLOW-. A LONG MONOTONOUS MOAN...

FOR A

Why do they scream when they SEE YOU? THAT FR IGHTENEO , TERRIFYING SCREAMING? YOU WANT TO STOP IT? YOU CLAP YOUR HANO OVER HIS MOUTH? BUT HIS EYES STILL SCREAM...

' The car purrs along the CONCRETE RIBBON SMOOTHLY .'THE ROAD SLIPS FROM THE DARKNESS AHEAD INTO YOUR HEADLIGHT 8EAM AND DOWN UNDER THE HUMMING WHEELS f S OON HOUSES ,

And then you see it' the SMALL WHITE COTTAGE r YOUR FOOT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY AS YOU SWING INTO THE DRIVEWAY 'YOU'VE DONE IT A THOUSAND TIMES BEFORE' YOU KNOW IT-

.IP

FROM THE CAR AND

THE FRESHLY CUT LAWN

ME ON THE SIGN STICKING IDLY IN THE SHRUB BED ;

A FAMILIAR

NOTE' THE

'STONE'.' SUDDENLY YOU

WEN' ARTHUR STONE ?

WHO YOU ARE.'AND NANCY.. WAITING FOR

'/EE... SHE'S

You HAMMER ANXIOUSLY ON THE NEAT CLEAN FRONT DOOR' UPSTAIRS A LIGHT GOES ON f FOOT,

she's running up the stairs, sgreamING'ANO YOU'RE RUNNING AFTER HER... CALLING NAME' ONLY IT ISN'T HER NAME THAT ERUPTS FROM YOUR THROAT ' ITS A CH0KIN6, GARBLED , GUTTERAL

And now

hjANCrf EVEN NANCY LOOKS AT YOU

THAT'

f Suddenly she's Â©one... backwards.. .out the winDOW f AND HER SCREAM IS CUT SHORT BY THE OULL THUO AS HER FLAILING BODY HITS THE BACKVARO

Z MADE YOU LIVE/ X ALWAYS BELIEVED IT WAS POSSIBLE ' OUT THERE... IN MY CHAMBER OF HORRORS-THERE'S A TABLEAUS* FRANKENSTEIN ...AND HIS

MONSTER

MKKt; 1 LL

LOOK AT

Ofc

MT MONSTER... MY

YOU'RE

r-AMUU&r

ME... LIKE

THAT.'

LL...UUN

T...

NOfcEeFtr

And then you stumble from THE ROOM -.INTO THE WAX MUSEUM ...LEAVING HIS LIFELESS BODY SPRAWLED AMIO THE EQUIPMENT,.

...AND SUDDENLY YOU SEE IT? THE MOST REVOLTING SCENE OF ALL? A DISGUSTING MONSTER...*. CON6LAM0RATI0N OF STITCHED FLESH...* LEER/NS RERULS/VE

TH/NO... STARING AT YOU...

THE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER, NO DOUBT? YOU CLAP

LOOKING INTO A MIRROR f THEREfTHAT REPULSIVE, STITGHEDIS YOUR

A MIRROR f YOU’RE THAT'S

YOU

FLESHED , HIDEOUS MONSTER BEFORE YOU

OWN REEL EOT! ON...

f?—

MERING SHINING PIECES

horror-

SHEER DISGUST AND

f ,

T HE

CLATTER OF FOOTSTEPS

THERE \ AFTER

You're in a maze., a maze of SMOOTH-WALLED DARK PASSAGEWAYS ... TRAPPED. ..

HE I H/M.' GOES'

Suddenly, the passageways are floooed

MADDENING REVOLTING REFLECTION GLARES AT YQ SHOUTS AT YOU... SHRIEKS AT YOU IN UTTER REVULCI " M '

A HALL OF MIRRORS'

HEH.HEH ? YEP.KIDDIES ?AS THEY ALWAYS SAY.. .IF LOOKS COULD K/U...f WELL IN THIS CASE ...THEY D/D.'l HOPE YOU LIKED TAKING THE PART OF THE IN THIS STORY? I ALSO HOPE ...HEH,HEH_ THAT IT OIDN'T

MONSTER

AFFECT YOU? IF I WERE YOU, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D JUST GO ON TO THE VAULT-KEEPER'S TALE.'l WOULDN'T... ER... LOOK IN THE RIGHT NOW.' YOU MIGHT SEE SOMETHING YOU'LL

MIRROR

WISH YOU HADN'T HEt, WAIT .'OKAY.'

HEH.HEH? NOW THAT THE ORYPT- KEEPER HAS FINISHED DISHING OUT HIS OLD OIL, IT'S MY TURN TO ENTERTAIN YOU FIENDS/ WELCOME ONCE MORE to THE VA ULT OF HORROR/ this is your VAULT- KEEPER, with ANOTHER HORROR YARN from MY COLLECTION/ AND THIS ONE IS ABOUT OIL ...BLACK, OOOEY, m UOHEY OIL/ 1 CALL THIS BLOOD-CURDLING HAIR-RAISER. ..

avsmum mosrnu./

The driver turned to the one WITH THE CIGARETTE BETWEEN HIS LIPS...

LOOK, PHIL' HOW MANY [ HUH? TIMES HAVE I TOLD / OH.' I'M YOU NOT TO TALK WITH \ SONNT, THAT BUTT DANGLING / SAM I .'

FROM YOUR IT

DOESN'T

WELL, DON'T FONSETT OKAY 1 AFTER ALL' YOU'RE I OKAY/ SUPPOSED TO BE AN / DON'T GE1

HONEST BUSINESS-

NAN A >s

EXCITED,

YOU LOOK LIKES SAklf I'Ll I BE CANEDO THAT' EUL t

SHAPPY WHEN YOU

^/V

NOUTH? \f0N80T.

LOOK GOOdJ-—

ALL RIGHT' ON YOUR TOES' HERE WE GO' I'LL START GETTING

THE GRIPS S.

CHECK

RIGHT, SAM.'

OUT.' YOU\A IN'

The ONE NAMED SAM STARTED TO UNLOAD THE LUGGAGE FROM THE FLASHY CONVERTIBLE WHILE THE OTHER ONE. . PHIL...ENTEREO THE HOTEL AND CROSSED THE LOBBY TO THE DESK... .

HOWDY. STRANSER 1 I’D LIKE TWO NOONS. .ONE WHAT CAN I DO , FOR NYSELF ANO ONE FOR FOR YUH? ;MY FIELD NANf .

FIELD MAN? WHAT'S THAT?

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF MY NAME IS PHILIP SANSON OIL'S MY BUSINESS 1 LOCATE OIL DEPOSITS FOR BIS OIL CONPAN/ESf MY FIELD MAN, MN S/NPSON, HANDLES THE GENERAL SUNVEY/NS OF PROSPECTIVE SITES' WE’RE ^JUST PASS/NO THNOUSH/ .

EH? SIGN \ THANK YOU.' HERE ' THINKIN' ER ..NO/ OF LOOKIN' WE’RE ON AROUND THESE OUR WAY PARTS? JYONTH OIL,

^^MR. SIMPSON.' yf "~]jQ

)

The man behind the desk WATCHED AS SAM CARRIED THE LUGGA6E UP THE STAIRS AND PHIL

FOLLOWED-

THE DAPPER

RICH.' TAKE A AT

J THE

LOOKIN' GUY'S an OIL HAH/

UPSTAIRS-OUT OF EARSHOT... SAM WHISPERED ANGRILY TO PHIL.

CAR

ONE HUNDRED

TRYING TO

/ PA/Df MY

•

WU DO-

QUEER THE

±OEAL*

Ythat'S what

\THOUSAND DOLLARS BAYSHORE OIL COMPANY L MR. GAR SON?

CIGARETTE DANGLING FROM YOUR MOUTH ?

WHAT ARE

PARKED OUT-

Later... as night came on._inthe

r... TALKING TO THA'

CLERK WITH THAT

MUST BE v

VhE

''pSST.'HEY, JESS' D'YA HEAR THAT* \

COMMISSION WAS TEN

fcl

M VLPEROENT.

.Mg.

AND THAT'S ALL YOU DO IS V RIGHT/fsHUCKS'SEEHS^T* LOT GETTER OFF ? YOU'RE' f MR.6ARSON? V IT'S HIS t RIGHT/ BUT DR/L L /NG LOCATE OIL DEPOSITS, I HR. GARSON/J FIELD 'TO HE YOU'D > EQU/PHENT COSTS A HAN... MR. AND WHEN THE GIG OIL BE BETTER OFF COMPANIES GUY. .COLLECT GREAT DEAL, MR. PAGIN' \8tHP80Nf DRILLIN' . (w \l MORE THAN I’VEGOT/l'O YOUR COMMISSION FROM j L YOURSELF/ THE OWNER Of THE VHAVE TO BORROW. .. / '

—

MR. GARSON? I'VE

SPEAK

GOT TO

YOU...

PRIVATELY/

THAT'S ALL RIGHT, SIMPSON? OUT WITH IT? YOU'RE ALL EXCITED! WHAT'S UP...? _

—S

LAND?

OIL

MR.

GARSON?

COME UPSTAIRS, MR.

V Sam followed

phil up the stairs? behind THEM THE HOTEL LOBBY BUZZED WITH EXCITE-

Upstairs in the room, the two men smiledi DREW THE SHADE ASIDE AND PEERED OUT... 'there's a crowd gat her-T nobody was AROUND' INC, SAM ? HEH.HEH ? DID ) l TOOK CARE OF IT f YOU TAKE CARE OF IT? SHE'LL OOZE FOR A WEEK? NOW GO AHEAD ANYBODY^ "7" I OOWN AND START THE f SEE WHERE \ PITCH... BUT DOUSE THE THAT S/MPSO!

MENT...

THEY FOUND OIL...

TR/CNT HERE.fWHERE 9 {search

I IN

ME--,

TOWN...

V CIGARETTE

FELLER CON

FIRST

\FROM fj-

MAYOR JORDON?

ID LIKE TO^

SEE THE

MAYOR?

HAVEJ'

THE

BEEN ADVISED BY MV 1 PARK. FIELD MAN THAT THERE\~-_—-» IS OIL ON THE TOWN'S) If I'M THE MAYOR.' PROPERTY... UNDER / / JORDON'S MY r THE CITY PARK? / NAME? J

I...

)

THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU \ CAN DO. MAYOR JORDON? YOU CAN TURN THE LAND OVER TO A PRIVATE OIL COMPANY, OR DRILL FOR IT YOURSELVES^ 1

hey?Ythe Yshall we f LET'S there's)town's\go on OIL rRICH. OYER.

UNDER THE

PARK,'!

)

CO, MR. Igarson:

MAYOR JORDON?

)

Later, in the hotel room. Mayor jordon turned to the crowd. /~N'TtHEY FELL FOR IT, SAM' GOOD' NOW AS SOON WHAT DO YOU SAY, FOLKS?DO ' OUR -\YEAH AS THEY TURN THE THEY'RE GOING TO FORM A SELVES') LETS WE TURN THE LAND OVER TO A -S KEEP MONEY OVER TO US CORPORATION AND ISSUE PRIVATE COMPANY, OR RAISE WE'LL PULL THE THE MONEY AND DRILL FOR LSI IT IN THE STOCKf I‘VE BEEN PUT/ j ROUTINE... j— CM. FAMILY.' IN CHARGE OF THE cl. THE OIL OURSELVES...°/ ’

^ DRILLING

A CORPORATION WAS FORMED ' STOCK WAS ISSUED.' SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM THE TOWNSFOLK POURED IN-

Finally.,

GOOD 'NOW, WELL, MR. GARSON.' THE STOCK ISSUE Y WE CAN HERE'S A THOUSAND THANKS, HAS BEEN SOLD... (start the ) l DRILLING DOLLARS, MAYOR -^MR. FACIN' EVERY LAST JORDON f THAT'S J HERE'S YOUR SHARE.' HERE'S A ALL WE COULD f TEN SHARES' CHECK.. .FOR SIXTY .

...

THOUSAND DOLLARS''J

AND JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU DON TV FOR6ET TO COME AND DI6 ME UP, I'LL HIDE THE DOUGH.' HOW GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE PILLS AND PHONE THE MAYOR.' YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY'j '

Here's the dough\ f NO' WE'LL WANT TO SAM 'I JUST CASHED THE CHECK WHY j WORK THIS DON'T WE SKIP < DEAL AGAIN TOWN MD FORGET YOU'VE GOT THE CEMETERY / TO BE KEPT k ROUTINE... J IN THE CLEAR'

S' LONG ' DON T FORGET.' dig' ME UP WITHIN S/X HOURS AFTER THEY BURY ME? WE'LL PICK UP THE DOUGH ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN' AND FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD, DITCH THAT CIGARETTE...

THE CEMETERY ^ROUTINE STAYS'

/ Mayor jordon rushed to phiup CARSON'S HOTEL ROOM m ANSWER TO HIS FRANTIC PHONE CALL

POURED

INTO THAT

OIL

/ Just outside of town, they FOUND THE FLASHY CONVERTIBLE.

SANDY

SPOT IN THE PARK? there's no oil

WE'VE BEEN MY FIELD MAN.. BONE, AND THE DRILL/NB NONET TOO, I

BONE

HEART Tdid

HE'S

DEAD/ 1 ATTACK

UNDER THERE

’

YOU

jm. probably// find

THE

TAKENfCONNED/J

JtONEWLAR

'no/ WE SEARCHED CAREFUUT/ms] CLOTHES. .THE CAR/ HE PROBABLY HID IT SOMEWHERE PLANNIN8 TO A V COME BACK AND BET IT/ NOW,

Phil parson was questioned carefully. I TRUSTED HIM? HE'O BEEN WITH-IT WASN'T TOUR ME ALMOST A TEAR/ 1 CM’TSELIETE ) FAULT? DO YOU IT? FIRST. LTIN8 ABOUT THE OIL... J HAVE ANT IDEA THEHSTEALIRB THE. MONET... AND J WHATHEMISHT NOW THIS/ DEAD/ in... I'M SO L HAVE DONE WITH SORRY FOR ALL THE FOLKS THAt/JIiTHE MONEY, MR. ARSON ? TRUSTED

I...

XlT'S LOST... FOR 8000/

OF COURSE, MR. G ARSON? I'LL GIVE YBU A |

RELEASE ?

AnO

SO, THAT

AFTERNOON, SAM SIMPSON WAS BURIED?

WAS NOT EMBALMED.

The warm thick li«uio continued TO SEEP INTO THE COFFIN AS THE HOURS DRAGGED BY...

The ooze puddled higher and HIGHER IN THE COFFIN' IT ROSE ABOVE SAM'S EARS...

Phil' for peres saxeA HURRY-.BEFOKE 1 MOWN. WHAT /S THAT ODOR?

PHIL WILL BE HERE SOON f HE'LL DIG ME UP.'PHEWf/JMr

f IT’S PHILf THANK

THE LOHDf HUPPr, PHILf BOT, WILL Z BE GLAD TO SEE YOUR STUPID PACE WITH THAT DAH6LIN6 CIGARETTE—

And as phil lifted the lid of the coffin, sam SCREAMED AT HIH.HIS BLACK SHINING FACE RISING FROM THE SURFACE OF THE OOZE -FILL ED COFFIN,.

'irs

OIL... PHILf

AND...

JM 4.

AND ...HOW

I KNOW

WHAT THAT STUFF

V SHELLS

LIKE'OH.LORDfS

THE CIGARETTE DAN6LIN6 FROM PHIL'S MOUTH DROPPED INTO THE THICK BUCK OIL AS HIS JAW FELL OPEN IN ASTONISHMENT' SUODENLY.

rHEH, HEH'YEP' PHIL FORGOT ^ AGAIN f OKLI THIS TIME, SAW BLEW UP'Of COURSE PHIL WENT TO PIECES OVER HI3 BAD HABIT, TOOf BUT THE LITTLE TOWN GOT ITS OIL BOOM AFTER ALL' THE SIXTY GRAND SAM HAD ^HIDDEN WAS NEVER FOUND f THEY TORE THE FLASHY CONVERT-

^ LOOKING

IBLE TO BITS FOR IT'

\\ XV \ 1

\ WANNA BUY A CAR II .

\ON THE INSTALLMENT /plan... a BIT at a TIME ? ‘BYE, NOW f

Vi 1/1 SEE YOU NEXT IN MAG, THE ‘V^ 0MHYYAULT OF m JVill Jjm a jm\hopror .

I soon learned that Negra was Dr. McGill's seemed obsessed with a morbid curiosity about blood. Whenever I worked in the lab, or classified types in the plasma depository, she would come to talk to me.

best student. She

met Negra in my last year at medical school. She had come to the university that year to

study medicine as an exchange student from

Mecklenburg, Germany. Dr. Justin

McGill

was presenting an

exhibit

hemopathy, pertaining to any of the diseases of the blood, and as 1 was quite interested in this study, I spent much of my free time assisting him in preparing

One day she came into the blood bank, her face more blanched than usual. I told her that she was studying too hard and required more rest. I left her in charge of the bank while I went to the medical building to see a dying friend who was wasting away from no visible disease. Incidentally, this poor fellow was a classmate and an acquaintance of Negro's!

in his field of

slides of blood smears. I had just come from the university hospital with a fresh specimen of blood taken from a patient who was a "bleeder", one in whom

the constituents of fibrin

do not

exist in

proper

proportion or proper quantity, thus preventing a clot to form when bleeding takes place. Many afflicted with this blood deficiency have bled to death from a simple scratch!

McGill was conducting his hemocytology class when I entered his laboratory. I took a microscope from a wall cabinet and set it up on a table at the back of the room. I placed a few drops of the "bleeder's" noncoagulated blood on a slide and proceeded to study it under high-power. Dr.

my head

slowly from the eyepiece when a soft voice said in careful, precise English, â&#x20AC;&#x153;May I look at your slide?â&#x20AC;?. It was a girl with raven-black hair and inquisitive dark eyes. Her face was as pale as her neatly starched laboratory frock. I

raised

She looked into my microscope. In a few seconds she said, "Hemophilia! Delayed clotand consequent difficulty in checking hemorrhage!" ting of the blood

"Right!", I added, surprised at her rapid cell-detection. "It's a congenital condition in-

herited by males through the mother as linked character."

a sex-

"I feel so sorry for the people who are afwith it! They can't live a normal lile they have to be so careful// There are so many strange conditions of the blood which are passed on from generation to generation" she said feebly. I thought she was just another medical student going through the usual stages of text-book hypochondria.

When I came back to was a red healthy glow

her face!

That night, I took Negra to town to see a movie. We were returning about midnight when my car was stalled by a sudden rainstorm wet wires! Negra and I sat in the .

watching the rain pounding on hood and windshield. Soon I began to

front seat,

the

doze

off

but

didn't sleep very long! I was long, deep, gurgling, fren-

jolted upright

zied. inhaling sounds!! I turned towards Negra. Her lips were bloody and her mouth was stretched over the

alabaster-white surface of her writhing right forearm! She was swallowing her own blood as fast as she could draw it into her spastically contracting cheeks. But she could never satiate her lustful thirst for as she grew stronger, she also grew weaker! As she gained blood, she also lost blood!

Now herited

read

all was clear to me! Negra had inVampirism as an old family trait. I had

of the ancient blood-suckers of

When

flicted

burg!

and Negra

relieve Negra, there to

A few days later, my moribund friend exAn autopsy showed a definite pernicious anemia. Half of the blood-content of his body had dried up in the course of a few weeks. Only a month before, he had undergone a complete physical and was found well and robust! As an added shock, I found a shortage of some forty-two pints in the blood bank!! pired.

But

why

Mecklen-

the rain stopped, I set my car ablaze. She would find sweet .

innocent rest at

last!

hadn't she inflicted her blood-

sucking upon me? Could the reluctant vampire,

was

be, that

Negra,

in love with

me??

THE

IR VPT-KEEPER'S

GRIM FAIRYTALE 1

CALL THIS NAUSEATING NURSERY NOVELETTE.

ATTACKS OF HORROR'

Once upon a time., .long, long

ago. .. there was a

TINY SEASIDE KINGDOM GOVERNED BY A FAT KING

WAS MAD ABOUT MONEY.

WHO

BUT KING MONEYMAOf I'VE 60T \JifVE 6OT IT A WAV FOR

WELL .WHAT TAXES, ROYA L.) YOU CHARGE') ANYTHING.' YOU ADVISOR? WHAT I PEOPLE A 00 YOU TAX JUST THINK OF A ARE TAXES? /certain AMOUNT PEOPLE THING AND TAX / OF MONEY PER / -THEM FOR IT f J' l YEAR FOR ROYAL SOMETHING'THATS ADVISOR? CALLED A TAX'.

...THREE THOUSAND-.

FOUR ...WHAT? YOU'VE THOUGHT OF A WAY -<

FOR J

FOR ME TO GET 4tone MONEY, ROYAL ADVISOR ! HOW? v

THAT'S ALL THERE

IS r<?IT,EH,

ROYAL ADVISOR? JUST THINK

TAX DECREE EH, KING

OF SOMETHING AND TAX THEM ’ FOR IT, EH? ALL RIGHT f ISSUE j A DECREE ROYAL ADVISOR...

MONEYMAO?

^ J

SORT OF A

PEOPLE u IN MY KINBDCM. COUNTS, DUKES, LORDS, EARLSXXZf.. USING THEI R TITLES, I TAX THEM 69,000 PIECES OF 60LD A YEAR' | ALL THE TITLED

'SIR

TAX', EH, KING

MO N EY MAD iGOODf I WILL ISSUE THE

FOR

)

]

And so, fat king HIS 'SIR TAX' WAS

moneymad learned about taxes? A COMPLETE SUCCESS? MONEY POURED INTO THE ROYAL TREASURY FROM ANGRY TITLE-HOLOERS ALL OVER THE KINGDOM ...

SEVEN THOUSAND.. EIGHT THOUSAND ...NINE THOUSANO. ten..

KING MONEYMADf\ KING MONEYMAD .

ROYAL ADVISOR f HOW 1 KING MONEYMAO? ALL MANY TIMES HAVE 1 ) T/TLEHOLDERS HA YE TOLD YOU NOT TO PAID THEIR ‘SIR TAX

INTERRUPT ME WHEN THERE WON'T BE ANY COUNTING MY J MORE MONEY COMING WHERE L IN 1 THINK OF SOMETHING. I

I'M

/NOW —MONEY WAS r

..?

TAKE A DECREE, ROYAL \ 'SAILS ADVISOR TO ALL OWNERS TAX,'

And so the

OF BOATS/ A TAX OF THREE PIECES OF GOLD PER SQUARE ) YARD OF CANVAS \

TESTED...

'sails tax' was LEVIED? IRATE FISHERMEN PRO-

HEREBY LEVIED

)

EH,

...And MONEY POURED INTO THE ROYAL TREASURY... TWELVE THOUSAND \ X/NO

BUT TO NO AVAIL-

KING?

BUT I HAVE SIXTY SQUARE YARDS OF SAILS/ FAMILY * WILL STARVE W.

GOOD/ I'LL

ISSUE THE DECREE,

THIRTEEN THOUSAND,

ft FOURTEEN...

/MONEYMAD/ x/ns

MONEYMADf

IMMEDIATELY/}

UnxrreigiiROYAL ADVISOR'HOW MANY \ IT'S THE ‘SAILS TAX, TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU— KING MON EYMAO f ALL J J ' SAILS HAVE BEEN OH-WHAT'S THE USE? J WHAT IS IT NOW? TAXED/ NO MORE

H ^

MONEY

WILL BE COMING IN (NOW WHAT?

TAKE A DECREE, ROYAL ADVISOR? BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY ' FORTUNE TELLERS IN THE KINGDOM .EACH ONE IS \ TAXED 100 PIECES OF GOLD...

'EXCESS PROPHETS TAX', EH, KING: I'LL

GOOD/

ISSUE THE -r

DECREE-

ARE THOSE GYPSIES STILL WANDERING AROUND THE ^ KINGDOM, ROYAL ADVISOR? THE ONES THAT TELL

FORTUNES...

And so the 'excess prophets tax' was levied? ANGRY GYPSY FORTUNETELLERS PROTESTED... BUT BUT I WAS JUST ON MY

WAY OUT OF THE

KINGDOM/

too PIECES OF

w/ GOLD, OF YOU'LL BE \

STAYING HERE A L0N6

LONG TIME

... IN

^ DUNGEON/

A ,

King moneymad's madness for money grew AND GREW AS MORE ANO MORE POUREO INTO HB TREASURY? THE MORE HE GOT, THE MORE HE WANTED. TAKE A DECREE, ROYAL ADVISOR? ANYONE WHO OWNS A FISHING

NOW... KING MONEYMAD'S KINGDOM WAS A FISHIN6 KINGDOM? SINCE IT WAS LOCATEO BY THE SEA, MANY PEOPLE HAD FISHING RODS? SO. WHEN THE 'POLE TAX' WAS LEVIED ...

KING MONEYMAD HAS GONE FAR <

HOD

k—

TAXED

90 PIECES

OF GOLD.

jg&

ENOUGH.'

NINETY PIECES OF i GOLD FOR A FISHING

—7

POLE...

*NOW WHAT* THIRTY -FIVE THOUSAND...

K/N6

BEEN COMPLETELY COLLECTED' SOI Y

—

ANY IDEAS?

TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE

RUGS

THEIR HOMES...

MONEYMAD!

THIRTY-SIX

KING 'MONEYMAD.'

THOUSAND...

THIRTY-SEVEN.

30 PIECES OF GOLD BECAUSE I HAVE TH<

STRAW MAT ON

MY FLOOR...

v~?

Practically EVERYONE had at least a MAT ON THEIR FLOOR? THOSE WHO COULDN'T PAY WERE DRAGGED OFF TO PRISON-

DADDY.' NO.' NO.' DON'T C YOU'LL HAVE TO Idaddy'i PAY THE 'CARPET AWAY.' TAX’ LADY ? WHEN IT'S PAID, IC'LL BE fer RELEASED.' I

—

ALL RIGHT, Iroyal ADVISOR I WHAT'S THE I SAD NEWS? '

THEN TAKE THIS DECREE,

SIXTY- EIGHT

THOUSAND.

ROYAL ADVISOR/ A TAX OF eo PIECES OF GOLD

KINO

l .

MONEYMAD/

THE LAND...

This tax... the 'thumb tax.'., was the last straw! THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN TAXED UNTIL THEY COULD PAY NO MORE. THEY HAVE NO MORE IF THEY CANT PAY THE ’THUMB TAX’.. .THEN THEY MONEY, KING MONEY MAO f THEY CANNOT PAY THE CAN'T HAVE THEIR

Wr 'THUMg

THUMBS f TAKE A

TAX'.' j-Jli

DECREE

)|j

rW/

Those who could not pay were lined up outsioe THE PALACE / THE LINE WAS VERY LONG 1 KING MONEYMAD SAT IN THE PALACE COURTYARD NEXT TO THE AXEMAN...

ALL RIGHT' BRING THEM

IN...

'THUMB 1

TAXr

EACH IS HEREBY LEVIED ON EVERY THUMB IN

SIXTY-NINE.

WHAT DOES .IT SAY? M

SAYS THAT THE 'THUMB TAX' MUST BE PAID, OK THE THUMBS WILL BE REMOVEDf

GASP1

Outside the castle ,the peopl ON LINE STARED AT EACH OTHER IN

THE LINE BEGAN TO MOVE.' THE AXEMAN'S AXE ROSE AND FELL AGAIN ANO AGAIN.

OISSELIEF.

HE'S REALLY GOING THROUGH WITH

^»HE'S

Wt^kMADf

FIRST HE TAXED THE

NOBILITY/

'SIR tax'

HE CALLEO IT^THEN Tl / THE 'SAILS TAX'. THEN THE 'EXCESS 1 PROPHETS TAX'.. THEN THE 'SIN TAX'... THE POLE TAX . .. ‘TH E CARPET .

TAX'.

.ANO

k'thumb

LET'S

GET)

WE'VE BEEN TAXED

nr HIM'

ENOUGH /

If LET'S

TAX

THIS.

J J

STOP THIS/ STOP j ANO YOUR PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED TO THIS f I AM YOUR T TAX YOU...YOUR -<6 X/N6 /

HIM/

in' the axe was raised' the king screamed' THE CROWO CHEERED f THE AXE FELL' SOMEBODY BENT ANO PICKED IT UP FOR ALL TQ SEE... A BAG-LIKE .YELLOWISH. BLOOD-STAINED FORM...

The crowo moved

CORPORATION wn

NOW tax'?

TAXfmA

r MAJESTY...

GRIM

HEHi HER' ANO THAT'S MY

PAIRY TALE FOR THIS

ISSUE,

SUFFERED

PEOPLE KING MONEYMAD’S TAXATION UNTIL THEY COULDN'T STOMACH IT ANY LONGER... AND THEN THEY TOOK KING MONEYMAD 'S. STOMACH, that IS.' GRIM f THAT'S THE KIODIES'THE

IDEAf HEH.HEHf NOW... IF R

YOU'LL

EYE S RIGHT... TO THE \ OLD WITCH.. LL wind up I MY MAG WITH A I SERYI NS FROM I

HER CAULDRON/

GET THE BICARB I READY 'BYE NO*!

YOUR HOSTESS IN THE HAUNT OF FEAR, THE OLD WITCH, STIRRING HER EAOY TO SERVE YOU ANOTHER HORHOH HELPING. THE REEKING RECIPE I'VE COOKED -/AST DISHED OUT BY A VERY DEAR FIEND OF MINE, AMERICA'S FOREMOST FANTASY. so, TUCK YOUR DROOL CUPS UNDER YOUR CHINS, AND ILL FEED YOU MY DIES, IT'S

ADBURYf

THEKE WAS AN

T HE TALL DARK YOUNG MAN STOOD QUIETLY, NOT MOVING. AUNT TILDY SHOOK HER HEAD, FUSSING WITH HER KNITTING... NOT THERE' S NO USE ARGUING. I GOT MY MIND FIXED. YOU RUN ALONG WITH YOUR SILLY WICKER BASKET. LAND, LAND, WHERE'D YOU EVER GET NOTIONS LIKE . OlTHAT? YOU JUST SKIT OUT OF HERE r I

Land don't bother me

The TALL DARK MAN SAT DOWN. HE JUST SAT THERE, STARING. THE BONE-PORCELAIN, FLOWERED CLOCK ON THE MANTEL CHIMED THREE. OUT IN THE HALL, GROUPED AROUND THE WICKER BASKET, FOUR MEN WAITED, QUIETLY, HARDLY MOVING, S IF THEY WERE

The dark young man watched aunttildy. SOMETHING IN HIS FACE SUGGESTED THAT THE BASKET WOULDN'T BE SO LIGHT AFTER A WHILE. THER E'D BE SOMETHING IN IT. .

^ fS}

ABOUT

THAT WICKER BASKET. ItVmStSJ'*" “) • FEET LOWS, AND BY THE LOOK OF IT.IT AIN'T LAUNDRY. AND THOSE FOUR MEN YOU WALKED IN WITH, YOU DON'T NEED THEM TO CARRY THE BASKET. WHY, IT'S LIGHT AS TH/STLE8 /EH? f .

/'now WH^E^VEi^een

; ‘

WICKER UKE THAT BEFORE? SEEMS TO ME ...OH/ NOW I / ^^^REMEMBER? IT WAS WHEN MRS. DWYER PASSED AWAY NEXT >

•

door.

mantel [Aunt tildy set her knitting^ The dark man looked at aunt [There was a noise, the (clock sounded three, strange; TIRE D^[OQWN SJERNLY. l T ILDYA3 If-SHE WERE 1 IT seemed to her that it had ,m \/ ^^OTHArS WHAT YOU'RE \ /noTtvTnot’/ ICHIMED THREE ONOE^ BEFORE^^J 'HERE FOR. I THOUGHT YOU WERE 1 GREAT SONS O’ GOSHEN ON THE 4 ^ WORKIN TO SELL ME SOMETHING. * GILBERRY PIKE. I GOT A HUNDRED' i^--^*^^7^are^dujustgo \ r YOUNG -<* imp) THERE, 5 TO SIT COMFORTERS, TWO HUNDRED WELL YOU JUST SET TILL EMUY JgkA-r-^ ,MAN? SWEATERS, AND SIX HUNCHED COMES HOME .SHE'LL TAKE CARE ‘ POT- HOLDERS IN THESE Z, f OF YOU. SHE'LL SHOO YOU OUT f FINGERS, NO MATTER HOW OF THE PARLOR SO QUICK, IT'LL l - SKINNY THEY ARE. YOU RUN ‘ AND COME BACK WHEN THETRE M i DONE... AND MAYBE I'LL TALK to you, .j pkmam.

ruNOTrw^

MIND

I TAKE'

THEN, WON'T A NAP. JUST A CAT-NAP. NOW YOU DON'T GET UP OFF THAT CHAIR. YOU SET THERE. YOU SET THERE AND DON'T COME CREEPIN' AROUND ME. JUST GOIN' TO CLOSE MY EYES FOR A WEE SPELL..

S...

YOU

SO FEATHERY. SO DROWSY. SO DEEP. UNDER WATER, AUKOST. OH, SO NICE WHO'S THAT MOVIN' AROUND , IN THE DARK WITH MY EYES CLOSED? WHO S THAT t KISSIN' MY CHEEK? YOU, EMILY? NO. GUESS IT WAS MY THOUGHTS. ONLY CREAMIN'. DRIFTIN'. .

(

ftBIFTIM* OFF.

OFF.

ail

The clock chimed three again, aunt tildy sat UP

THE YOU NO MAN

THE PARK SUIT STOOD NEAR FINE

FIX YOU. HAD TO SI YE IIP. DIDN'T YOU ?COULDNT CONVINCE ME.COULO YOU ? WELL .YOUNG MAN, YOU NEEDN'T BOTHER COMIN BACK TO TRY

THIS

WHY YOU COULDN'T GET ME OUT OF THIS’ MOUSE. NOSHtEEf WHY, I'M 60IN0 TO KNIT IN WINDOW THE NEXT THOUSAND YEARS. THEY'LL HAVE TO CHEW THE BOARDS AROUND ME TO... TO... QUIT LOOKIN' LIKE THE CAT THAT

THEDpgR.„ )-Y ou LFAVIN' SO SOON YOUNG MAN* THING? EMILY'S COMIN HOME AND SUED

T GOOD

’

ASA IN <

Ufe*

ATE THE BIRD f SET OUT AND TOTE THAT

'The four men treaoed heavily out the front ooor. TILOY STUDIED THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE WICKER. IT WASN'T HEAVY, YET THEY STAGGERED WITH ITS WEIGHT. SHE .GLANCE D ABOUT CONCERNEDLY... j-— 1A “here, now' did you steal some of my ANTIQUES? MY BOOKS? NO. THE CLOCKS? X NO. WHAT YOUgTTlN THAT WICKER?

FOOL WICKER BOX WtrH Y0U '

The dark man offered the ud of the WICKER TO AUNT TIL0Y. IN PANTOMIME HE WONOERED IF SHE'D LIKE TO OPEN IT ANO^

BETTER DARNED FOOL MEN WITH THEIR. MAGGOTY IDEAS... .

LO^HEAO^OW^^^B^r

)

WAITIN' FOR YOU THERE WAS THE DARNDEST fool MEN JUST HERE WITH A .

M'C

HERE COMES EMILY. HABOUT TIME. BUT, LANO. SHE LOOKS PALE AND FUNNY

W^he

TODAY. WALKIN' SO SLOW...

AH.

CURIOUS? ME? SHAW, NO. GET OUT.'* RET OUTA HERE f GOODBYE.'

Emily shuffled into the par-

The ooor slammed, that was 3 I

B7 WICKER. GLAD YOU'RE HOME.' EMILY...

(EM/LYf STOP

SCREAMING.'

The mortician looked at her...then at the .WICKER. HE MOUTHED HIS WORDS WITH APPARENT RELISH, AND A WINNOWING OF HIS KNIVES TUBES JARS AND INSTRUMENTS... ,

\r YOU LAY SO MUCH AS 4 CUTICLE ON THAT 4 BODY AND I'LL THRASH'j ' A r

Z-s*HrYOU...

The

mortician opened the WICKER LID CASUALLY, THEN, IN A RECURRENT SERIES OF SCRUTINIES,

EH-TH IS LADY, HERE? SHE

NO, YOU FOOL ij

HE/ DO

IS-. A.

RELATIVE *

YOU

HEAR 1 ME.'

The mortician considered the HE SHOOK HIS HEAP... NO ? THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T*" HAPPEN.' GEORGE.' SHOW HER i OUTf GET HELP FROM THE IDEA.

HE REALIZED THAT THE BODY INSIDE '.WAS -IT .SEEMED,..COULD IT BE... . .

OTHERS I CAN'T WORK WITH A CRANK PRESENT?

[The four men assembled and CONVERGED. AUNT TILDY WAS A ‘LACE FORTRESS, ARMS CROSSED DEFIANCE...

'-"'T

^ IN

WANT my A BACK.'f

BOOY

She REPEATED

THIS AS SHE WAS EVICTED IN CONSECUTIVE MOVES, LIKE A PAWN ON A CHESSBOARD, FROM THE LABORATORY. FINALLY. SHE SAT DOWN ON A CHAIR IN THE VESTIBULE OF THE FUNERAL PARLOR. THERE WERE PEWS GOING BACK INTO GREY SILENCE, AND A FLOWER SMELL ...

r you' CAAIT'sit

THERE’, ma'am ') tu SITTIN" that's where the BODY here TILL I RESTS FOR THE SERVICES BET WHAT I

t'morrow

{

WANT .'

Mr. CARRINGTON, MORTUARY PRESIDENT, HEARD THE DISTURBANCE AND CAME TODOLING DOWN THE AISLE .

% 1

HERE.HERE' MORE GO IN THAT BACK ROOM RESPECT.'OH. MADAME. THERE AND TELL THAT A MAY 1 HELP YOU? -T'EAGER INVESTIGATOR TO (jfcXouiT EOOL/H WITH MY BODY/& '

Mr. carri niton hurrico

[BUT HE'S ALREADY \WHAT? s* [PUMPING THE BLOOD FROM THE BODY'

off.

YES. YES. SO, YOU JUST GO AWAY. |1 CUT-

IK M

AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES OF COMPARING NOTES WITH THE MORTICIAN BEHIND CLOSED OOORS.HE

RETURNED. THREE SHADES WHITER..

’

rUH... THAT IS... ^fLOOK HERE,* MOST IRRE6ULAR'\*\STERBlO<XH MOST IRREGULAR/ AND BONES/

ALL FILLED WITH NICE FRESH

HE?

J fl JIB

OU TELL L

[flP

that...

TO DETERMINE

Y- YES.

CAUSE OF DEATH, Y

NOW. THERE'S NOTHING TO BE H TIN' DONE. THE BLOOD'S RUNNING \ ME, AND SOON THE BODY'LL BE T IS A.

FORMALDEHYDE. AND ,

BESIDES... HE'S ALSO PERFORMING A BRIEF AUTOPSYf

KNOW. HE

)

MARCH STRAIGHT

J TELL THAT CUT- EM-

AND TO I

PUMP ALL THAT FINE NEW 1 ENGLAND BLOOD RIGHT k BACK INTO THAT FINESKIN NED BODY/ AND IF HES TAKEN ANYTHING OUT, FOR,

THERE'S NOTHING lyALL RIGHT? I'M SETT/N HERE.. CAN DO. N0THIN6.' \ THE NEXT TWO HUNDRED /—sW' YEARS/ YOU HEARTAND ANY- / ** TIME ANYONE COMES NEAR ‘

\n^\T

''«HL ^ «

aioSiL.

him T° ATTACH IT'LL

BaCK/,V so

FUNCTION PROPER?

THAT'

WOULDN'T DO

YOU.. .YOU'LL

DISLOCATE OUR BUSINESS' YOU WOULDN'T.L.

MrfEL

OH, WOULDN'T

f/f

ME, I'LL SPIT ECTOPLASM RIBHT SQUIRT UP THEIR LEFT t/Tvi Afc? HOSTR/L...

dk I

f m

H^^lK^!n,V0U HEAR?

YOU... YOU

E ^sry—1

ALL RIGHT? ALL RIBHT f YOU CAN

HAVE YOUR BACK?

BODY

< 1

'BLOOD, MY GOD ,YES,

BLOOD IF YOU’LL ONLY TAKE /r AND

go r

[Auntie tildy didn't look at the body much, her ONLY COMMENT WAS- ^ _ _ _ _ L

[

Knatural

‘‘jSS^VfJN

FLOOR WHERE a

CAN STEP

The MORTUARY PEOPLE WATCHED AUNT TILDY'S GLES- TRYING TO ASSIST WITH BOOSTING AND

IT'S

'LL...

TELL THE, J

MORTICIAN

A DEAL.

WRIG-

GRUNTING MOVES OF THEIR ARMS AND HANDS. SEEPING INTO COLD GRANITE. SEEPING INTO A FROZEN STATUE-SQUEEZING ALL THE WAY _ ,.

ENOUGH. UP

FIX fcR

Then she let herself fall back into the wicker, a biting sensation of artic coldness, A GREAT UNLIKELY NAUSEA, AND A GIDDY WHORLING, LIKE TWO DROPS OF MATTER FUSING TOGETHER WATER TRYING TO SEEP INTO CONCRETE—

—

lookin’, easy? easy? put the wicker

J BASKET DOWN T^THE

FAIR *

^nri

The body took

a creakingly unsteady step, the

BODY

‘^£^~h5Z^SPEAK.'

MOVE. ..WALK..

MUCH OBLIGED. NOW ...cry.' 0,-

YOU. I

And NOW, ANY AFTERNOON ABOUT FOUR .IF YOU WANT WALK AROUND ANO KNOCK ON HER DOOR. THERE'S A BIG BLACK FUNERAL WREATH ON IT... BUT DON’T MIND THAT. AUNT TIL0Y LEFT it there, she has a sense of humor. JUST RAP ON THE DOOR ANO SHE'LL SAY...

"TO VISIT AUNT TILDY.YOU JUST

;

]

IS IT IN

MAN yWaMr BLACKI^f EfijSyL THE

NO. It'S ONLY ME, AUNT TILDVf

THANK

She'll unlock the double-barred, triple LOCKED DOOR AND SHE’LL LAUGH AND SAYCOME IN-

QUICKLY?

And SHE’LL WHIP THE DOOR OPEN AND SLAM IT SHUT BEHIND YOU SO NO MAN-IN-BLACK CAN EVER SLIP IN WITH YOU. THEN SHE'LL ESCORT YOU IN, AND MAYBE POUR YOU SOME TEA... AND MAYBE ...IF YOU'RE •SPECIALLY GOOD, SHE’LL GIVE YOU A TREAT. SHE'LL UNFASTEN THE WHITE LACE AT HER NECK ANO CHEST ANO, FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, SHOW WHAT LIES BENEATH. THE LONS BLUE AUTOPSY SCAR

HEE.HEE? YEP, FIENDS. THAT'S

AUNT T/LDY'S STORY. .XWL WAY RAY BRADBURY TOLO IT TME.

|a»

^*-1

g *

HOPE YOU

UKED

MY LITTLE

SERVING OF SHIVERS FOR

NOT BAO SEWIN'. [FOR A MANY

,SSUE 0F C K 'S MAt} WE'LL ALL SEE

iu'® THIS

;

UM ? VC Wft MimMSS l

W:M %, >|

= ,-S

YOU NEXT IN TH E VAULT

KEEPERS...

THE VAULT

OF HORROR. ’BYE, NOW?

BFTOWT

FROM THE

731*1

) 07

) 7

[TH E

VAULT-KEEPER

FpmoN

TEKfOR

HEHi HEH f WELCOME BACK, FIENDS' WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO THE CRYPT OF TERROR.' THIS IS YOUR IN HOWLS, THE CRYPT-KEEPER, READY TO NARRATE ANOTHER NAUSEATING TALE FROM MY in i sit down ON that sack OF SILVER DOLLARS there and i'll BEGIN .' IT'S IN HIS VERY OWN WORDS.' I'LL TELL THIS STORY HAPPENED TO A YOUNG CHAP NAMED PETER IT TO YOU THE WAY //if TOLD IT TO ME.' HE CALLS THIS SPINE-TINGLING. HAIR-STAND ING, BLOOD-

HOST

COLLECTION.' so come

"It TMI OTtlCKT OF

It'd happened about a year after we'd ARRIVED IN AMERICA. EDWARD, MY YOUNGER BROTHER, HAD BEEN OUT IN THE FIELDS. SUDOENLY, HE'D COME DASHING ACROSS THE FARMYARD, = === SCREAMING FOR MY FATHER.

I FOLLOWED MY FATHER AND EDWARD TO THE CORNFIELD. THE MAN WAS THERE, ALL RIGHT/ ALL THAT WAS LEFTOF HIM/ HE'D BEEN HORRIBLY MUTILATED. AS THOUGH.

V'A DEAD WANF^fW WHERE? Vcoming <f FIELD/ COME QUICKLY/] SHOW WE/ A TOO/.

s3—-/

—

THERE'S A DEAD MAN, papa! in the CORN-

THEN... THEN IT IS THE

WORK OF A

GOOD LORD' HE ...HE'S ATTACKED... BY A WILD

BEAST/

r-r-[|rjtl/'

‘BUT, PAPA!

THERE^EDWARD

ARE NO WILD B EAS TS

AROUND

HERE/ v-r.

RARA/l I 4 ^ WEREWOLF/.n

THE HOUSE

WEREWOLF/

I'D THOUGHT THAT ARE YOU \ WE HAD LEFT SUCH SURE, RAPA? HORRORS AS WERE- / ARE YOU , WOLVES BEHIND \ SURE T <, US. in HUHBART/) IS A WEREI SEE THAT I AM A WOLF P J I

AM NOT GOING TO TELL THEM THAT I THINK IT IS

NO, PETER/ I

THE WORK OF A WEREWOLF/ THEY WOULD NOT BELIEFS IT... ANYWAY/

WRONO/j-f'

WEREWOLVES

AWERICA/

I CAN HARDITI BELIEVE IT

WTSELF

So MY FATHER DROVE US INTO

TOWN, MY BROTHER EDWARD AND MYSELIF, AND SOON OUR LITTLE FARM WAS ALIVE WITH THE CURIOUS WHO CAME OUT FROM ALL AROUND TO SEE THE GORY SIGHTTORN TO SHREDS/) .( HORRIBLE' CHOKE.

CAN'T FIGURE WHA"^ Meanwhile. my younger brother! COULD HAVE DONE IT? HAVE ) WAS MINGLING WITH THE LOCAL LOOKS LIKE A WILD 'a|Mg.jhjm a NONET) FARM- BOYS MAYBE ITVaW.WE^S WAS AN WOULD'VE’ SAYS IT gS WAS A ESCAPED \ HEARD 'ROUND HERE? ANY LION... FROM\ ABOUT / 'werewolf?

NoVl

AND YOU HEARD

S CHEAMS,

HEARD

... |j

NIGHT?

J—m

IDEAS

MR.

GEDRA?^p

WHAT'S

WEREWOLF

AN!UAL ATTACKED HIM, YET WE AIN'T GOT NOTHIN LIKE THAT

MR. GEORA?) NOTHING.'/

MD CRIES... /"Die: LAST ACT NO

THAT? I

WEREWOLF

A'i

HUMAN BEING WHO

mi! come

BOOR STUFFf

CHANGES, WHEN THE

gatef

FULL MOON COMES

UP, INTO A VICIOUS

WHO BELIEVES THAT JUNK?

CIRCUS')

THE ]

RADIO f

MY OLD COUNTRYHUNGARY. ..THE a

PEOPLE THERE BELIEVE IN

-r

% )|

WEREWOLVES//

rail. FLESH- CRAVING WOLF f y'n* -

TELL THEM.PETER'TELL "T MY... MY BROTHER THEM THAT THERE REALLY HAS A VIVID A

ARE SUCH THINGS AS IMAGINATION V WEREWOLVES' JSp YOU...YOU SHOULD f EXCUSE

te?

jlSpl

;hdm

HIM?

COME INSIDE, EDWARD

X-

WHY DON'tS BUT WHAT IS THERE

YOU LEARN

TO KEEP YOUR

MOUTH SHUT?

BIG

HARM] rWEREWOLVES'. IN

TALKING ABOUT |

EH? WHO

’

WEREWOLVES ?,

P I

SAID SOME THIN 'BOUT 1

WEREWOLVES

OH, HE O/O.OID HE?

It was sheriff hudson?he'd overheard us' ME STOOO THERE, GLARING DOWN AT US.HIS BUSHY

]

5fST\ MOON

THEY CHANGE INTO A WOLF, EM? AND THEY EAT HUMAN A

FROM,

ORDINARY HUNAN BEINGS, ON THE N/SHT THAT THE

// / HL.( BUT

WEREWOLVES 9\

.FLESH? S’)

WHERE

—

THERE ARE MANY WEREWOLVES? DURING THE DAY, THEY ARE JUST LIKE

HMMM'

WELL... WHAT)

ABOUT

WEREWOLF ,1*? JWE CAME

EYEBROWS ARCHED...

FULL ...THEY CHAN6E...

W-WHY,.SHERIFF^ YES/ I OOF OKAY,"' _ OKAY, BOISt LET'S 60/ YSHERIFF'J YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THEM, I WRAP THAT CRITTER DON'T TOOf / in a sack and 4BSB& LET'S CLEAR OUT ~ OF HERE?

WELL?

WOULDN'T

WORRY TOO MUCH, PETER f THEY fcf

But

father was wrong? sheriff Hudson went

F HAND ME THAT ALMANAC THERE, X

HERB? SOMETHIN' WANT TO LOOK UP.'

WONT BEUEVE IT .ANYWAY/ J

Sheriff Hudson flipped through the pages of THE ALMANAC... FOUND WHAT HE WANTED— ANO STUD ED IT FOR SOME TIME... Tp^W|^= I

KNOW SOMETHIN', HERB? LAST NIGHT WAS THE .NIGHT OF

THE FULL

MOON

FULL... MOON?/

k SO

WHAT?^

WEREWOLVES ?/0H, DEAR/ LET MESEEf W...W? WER...

FAST ASLEEP. PAPA? RAPA?

WEREWOLVES' AH YES, 'HE HAVE

awhile sat THE HOWLS/ MY FATHER REASSURED ME, PATTING MY BACK.

listening to

for

PROBABLY JUST AN OLO DOG HOWLING \PAPA AT THE MOON, MY SON/ Ih BACK

About a month later, i was AWAKENEO FROM A FITFUL SLEEP BY THE SOUND OF A 01 STANT HOWLING. I GOT UP AND RAN TO MY FATHER'S BEDROOM. HE WAS

Sheriff Hudson made a trip to THE TOWN LIBRARY AFTER THAT 1 HE WANTED TO READ UP ON.

TO SLEEP/^I/

HUH? PETER? THAT YOU...

BOOK THAT COVERS THE SUBJECT...

PETER.' SOMEONE’S HAMMERING ON THE

'WHA...? OH*EDWARD'

WHO IS

IT ?

DOOR ' WAKE UP?

WE HEARD ANGRY

VOICES? WE TIP-TOED TO THE KITCHEN? FATHER WAS ARGUING WITH SOME MEN? SHERIFF HUDSON WAS WITH THEM .

TvOU COME FROM~

f^KTHo* YOU ARE WRONG.' AH HO WEREWOLF.f HUNGARY. gB SWEAR y YOU? WOLFSBANE -T

OON'r

)

V GROWS

COWERED

THE DOORWAY.

AND

WE FOUND ANOTHER V/CT/H, GEDRA? HE WAS KILLED TONIGHT.' TORN TO PIECES

AND PARTIALLY EATEN'

THERE'S A FULL NOON OUT TONIGHT. WEREWOLVES ATTACK WHEN THE

MOON

FULL'

WE —YfYHAVE NO

WEREWOLVES

[HUNGARY

DIDN'T

COME FROM

LISTENING.

t )

/ KILLIN'S

THIS BEFORE

YOU COME v

HERE?

HUNGARY?

SO YOU MUST BE THE WERE]

WOLF...

They grabbed my father and dragged ' == FROM THE HOUSE ... '

[

And there... in the moonlight...in the farmyard. THEY SHOT MY FATHER WITH THAT SILVER BULLET—

PAPA' GEDRA.' HANK, HERE,

CARVED A SILVER

BULLETf

HE...

HE'S

Edward's face grew grim' he . fj ^ | CHOKED BACK HIS PAPA WASN'T... 'iNO/HECOULONT\ I'LL SET HIM' I’l SOB... THE I SET THE WEREWO / HAVE BEEN' I WEREWOLF \SAW HIM TONIGHT.. / I KNOW WHO IT WAS HE, PEfER?) SLEEPING...\H I CAN TELL.'

TEAR-FILLED EYES-

DEAD, EDWARD f THSV./r/LLEDJ

HIM'

rjM'i

SOB... SOB...

SHERIFF' DID YOU EVER 'WHAT CAN NOTICE THE WAY HIS EYEBROWS J. YOU DO, OROW TOGETHER 1 THAT'S THE EDWARD? SIGN OF A WEREWOLF' NEXT YOU HAVE NO IT'S THAT

MONTH, WHEN THE MOON I'LL

WAIT FOR HIM

AND...

FULL,

GUN... NO

SILVER

V BULLET.',

HIS

ROOM.'Jk

NO, BUT I HAVE THESE' Pa SL/HS-SHOT.' AND A SLING-SHOT... AND J A SILVER DOLLAR.' A SILVER DOLLAR BUT HOW CAN YOU KILL A WEREWOLF WITH A SILVER DOLLAR...

SILVER

N ISSUE..

SHOT? >

SHOT-

^"^r^Tvyri^

...And WHEN THE NISHT OF THE FULL MOON CAME, MY YOUNGER BROTHER EDWARD AND I WERE REAOY...

[

CONE IT IS

Mftyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

PETER'

YES,

TOGETHER, EDWARD

FATHER'S

DEATH 'HE WAS INNOCENT AND I WILL PROVE IT <

THE SLING-

IAnD SO I TOO SET ABOUT SHARP ENINS THE EDGE OF A SILVER DOLLAR, ANO FASHIONING A P OWEf |FUL SLING

AVENGE OUR

TO^ ^WE WILL DO IT

EXACTLY* I MEAN

It TOOK EDWARD MANY DAYS TO FILE DOWN THE EOGE OF THE SILVER DOLLAR TILL IT WAS RAZORSHARP- r AND YOU WILL YOU SEE, PETER? ONCE I HAVE I FIRE IT WITH

SHARPENED THE EDGE, WILL HAVE A LETHAL

THREE WEEKS

WHEN THE NOON IS FULL, WE WILL CLEAR OUR FATHER'S

NAME TOGETHER*

E CROSSED THE FIELDS TOWARD JWN LISTENING... HOPING... 1 HEARD NOTHING! f

'HUSH* WHAT' .WAS THAT? .

tar

EDWARD.'

H EDWARD i Jt TINE? GO-.-Jgpk^-

kwE MUST

And THEN WE SAW ING

DOWN

IT... A SHADOWY F IGURE STEALA LONELY C OUNTRY ROAO... p WIEir i

LOOK' IS THA tWn?W UP AHEAD?

Jggk.

LET'S

SEPARATE

PETER' YOU GO THAT WAY' I'LL GO

jrm2&THis...*Ar.

INTO THE WOODS 'I STOOO THERE FOR A MOMENT.. HESITATING' THEN I SWUNG OFF INTO THE TREES

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.' WE WERE GOING TO CIRCLE AROUND. ..CUT HIM OFF? SUDDENLY...

I RAN AS FAST I COULD TOWARD THE SCREAMING ...SLIPPING THE RAZOR-SHARP DOLLAR INTO THE SLING-SHOT...

BURST OUT INTO THE CLEARING, I SAW

{

SIL-

V ER

EDWARD.'I'M COMING

MY LORD WHAT HAVE YOU r DONE TO HIM..JS&

™

EDWARD / T... I OH, ...

WEREWOLF'S THROBBING THROAT-

.AND IT PITCHED FORWARD' EVEN AS X WATCHED, THOSE DISGUSTING FANGS SHRANK.. .THE HAIR DISAPPEARED ...THE EVES DARKENED. ..AND THE AGONIZED FACE OF MV YOUNGER BROTHER TOOK SHAPE. -

EDWARD...CHOKE OH. ..SOB.. .EDWARD.

HEH.HEH' YEP, KIDDIES? YOUNG EDWARD WAS THE WEREWOLF All ALONG /ONLY HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT? AND THAT'S THE STORY THE WAY PETER GEDRA TOLD IT TO irtf/YEP? THAT NIGHT, HE AND EDWARD DID CLEAR THEIR FATHER'S NAME f MESSED UP EDWARD'S, THOUGH.'OH, th

mr‘ ##*7 -vjS HWfl

<kral

BBtfi \

vUuAi

L.1

87 THE WflY ' PETER'S GIVEN ME A NICE RECIPE

THINK I'LL TURN T OVER TO THE I

OLD WITCH f

» Vr*

fflll i

fll

RI7W0 V

S F0R

NUNGAR/AN SHOUL -OSH ? SEE YOU LATER V.

AWAITS f

The clock

the steeple of the village hall

The village square was strangely DESERTED ISE

NOBODY ABOUND

AND SCRATOHED

CABS'

NO NOTHIN’.' WELL, HOW Jt BLAZES WILL I FIND MY SISTERS HOUSE? ALL J3 JC KNOW IS THE ADDRESSf^qa

A NERVOUS LOOKING OLD MAN CAME OUT OF ONE OF THE SMALL STORES, LOCKED THE DOOR, AND HURRIED ACROSS THE SQUARE TOWARD HAROLD. HE KEPT LOOKING AROUND AS IF HE WERE BEING FOLLOWEO. HAROLD HEY' HEY, YOU.' WHERE^ EH.' SHORE STREET? SHORE STREET ? ISB3 A y WEST ...TWO BLOCKS'

-IN

SHORE STREET?

THEN

EAST...

THREE 'BUT

YOU’D BETTER fclT’S GETTING

ER— KNOW “ ABOUT WHAT [SO IT'S GETTING YOU'RE A MIABN.'SO WHAT^A STRANGER HERE, AREN'T

Y0U ’ Y0U 00 N ABOUT

URBllmiV them' IBHrL

Then

VAMPIRES'

HURRY/ DARN

THE VAMPIRES ?.Xhurry.'it'll 1 7^ BE SUNDOWN SOON .VAMPIRES] COME OUT AFTERI

SUNDOWN?!

THE RE8TAURANT WAS SMALL, BUT THE MIRRORED WALL AT THE FAR END MADE IT APPEAR MUCH LARGER THAN IT ACTUALLY WAS. EXCEPT FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE FINISHING THEIR MEALS, THE PLACE

T HE

WAITER SHOOK HIS HEAD.

WE CLOSE IN ORDER'Syvampires?' THAT OUR HELP MAY WHAT GET

HOME BEFORE

4f t \

VAMPIRES ',

SUNDOWN SIR ! THE ‘ VAMPIRES, YOU KNOW'

OH.' YOU'RE

A! f^NO.'l

A HERE'THEN STRANGER

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT

DON'T.'

WHAT'S THIS ALL J Csr

ABOUT 1

-Cl

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVENTEEN CASES SO FAR. BODIES FOUND WITH EVENT DROP OF BLOOD. DRAINED OUT OF THEN. THE WHOLE TOWN BAHf

^ )

THE GRIP OF FEAR.) NO THE WORK OF SUCH

IS IN

IT'S

VAMPIRES'

JSLrH/N6.'

HAPPENING

NEVERTHELESS, I SUGGEST THAT YOU GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING

BEFORE

okay' okay'

i'm

WHERE'S J GOING.' SHORE STREET ?

<11

IT BECOMES DARK AND f CAN YOU TELL ME 1 )| THAT ? THE VAMPIRES BEGIN <| TO ROAM THE STREETS LOOKING FOR A VICTIM.'

WEST.. .TWO

wHSSFIF/

J jJl/7

'i 1 i

DONNA ?.' IT'S ME'

HAROLD.'-iOm BROTHER'

—

lliiBgSajg P/RES/ HMMPH.'

Harold's sister threw open the

Harold stalked through the town toward his SISTER'S HOUSE' AS HE WENT, HE COULO HEAR DOORS BEING LOCKED AND BOLTED, BUNDS BEING DRAWN.

'GOOD NIGHT! BLOCKS'^^^^^^^^^™

OF COURSE' THEN EAST...THREE<GOOD-NIGHT</HMMPH' IS EVERY--J BODY IN THIS ~ /illlSgjSL bers NUTS ? VAy

door...

UH, ~/~u.' DONNA /DON'T U...VUU WEREN'T OUT THERE... jW TELL ME YOU BELIEVE IN IN THE DARK.' THIS VAMPIRE BUSINESS,

HAROLD.'

...

rnrtm

mmtrrv-r

700

PERHAPS

THE

T. ^DONNA/THEntnt

BLOOD DRAINED? WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE DONE IT.

A THEY'RE MYTHS

WELL? I WAS ON MY^ fTr's goodI WAY TO THE COAST TO SEE )

AND

THOUGHT

DROP IN ON

I'D

That

night,

PERHAPS

MANIAC LOOSE IN THIS TOWN ? CERTAINLY THERE MUST BE A LOC/CAL EXPLANATION? BUT NOT VAMPIRES. IT’S

r ALL RIGHT, HAROLD? BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE? A

“

.NOW let's POROET > ABOUT IT? COME % INSIDE /TELL ME? WHY THE SURPRISE

RIDICULOUS/

harold madison

COULD NOT SLEEP? HE TOSSED AND YOU, HAROLD' ) TURNED ON THE COT DONNA HAD YOU'RE SET UP FOR HIM. FINALLY HE GOT UP AND DRESSED...

YOU... t>

LOOKING

WELL

THERE'S A HOMICIDAL ]

TERROR.

OF COURSE I BELIEVE

Donna locked and bolteo the door behind HAROLO, AND TURNED TO FACE HIM, HER EYES WIDE

SEVENTEEN V/LNO SUCH THINGS LASERS MURDERED ALREADYV AS VAMPIRES?

VAMPIRES?

GUESS I'LL GO

LFOR

[Every door, every window that harold passed was LOCKED UP TIGHT AND OARK? THE VILLAGE SQUARE WAS EMPTY ANO SILENT...

WALK

VISIT?

Out

INTO THE DESERTED STREETS, HAROLD MOVED. .DOWN SILENT DARK SIDEWALKS — TOW ARO THE VILLAGE SQUARE.../

[HfijOF g

A VAMPIRES T* | HUMPH'

And then he heard it... the laughter and the CHATTER IT CAME FROM A FAMILIAR BUILDING

gay

NOT A SOUL OUT? THEY SURE ROLL THIS TOWN UP TIGHTER'N A DRUM AFTER OARK?

RESTAURANT THIS

WAS

AFTERNOON?

IT'S

OPENf THERE' RE PEOPLE

RESTAURANT WAS ALL LIT UP. PEOPLE SAT TABLES, TALKING ANO EATING. HAROLD WENT IN.

Harold sat down at a table' me looked around AT THE PEOPLE SEATED NEAR HIM. A WAITER APPROACHED ( A DIFFERENT ONE FROM THE ONE HE'D SPOKEN TO EARLIER. WILL YOU HAVE THE

THAT'S WHY COULDN'T WW SLEEP WAS HUNGRY' \ I

HI!

IMgUESS

)

I'LL

HAVE SOMETHING

TAT' *

Harqlo

LICKEO HIS LIPS.

GOOOf SAY? I AN HUNGRY? HEH.. HEH .

DINNER, sir... OR WOULD YOU ..

The WAITER WENT AWAY AND CAME BACK WITH A GLASS OF JUICE.. VERY

OH-HEH... THE YJUIGE ...SOUP.. DINNER WILL BEyROAST WITH FINEf ER... FRENCH-FRIES WHAT'S THE COFFEE.

MENU TONIGHT?

*wBV- s HE R a FT.

||f

Harolo sipped the chilled JUICE IT

IN THE GLASS. TASTED SALTIER THAN USUAL. ..AND THINNER...

UGH? OH, WELL? CAN'T EXPECT MUCH

HAROLO WOULD'VE

LIKED.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR ROAST-

CLOTS WELL-

DONE OR MEDIUM...

^ j

BLOOD.'?TDRAW THÂ£ CURTAIN.' And then harold noticed that f

ROAST...

WHAT?

BLOOD CLOTS' SAY f WHO

YOU?

ARE Jo

OH... MY...

Jdraw THECURTA/N.'< THE 1

CHOKE... IthERE'S AN INTRUDER.

Bsb-

OUR

MIOST...

MIRROR ON THE BACK WALLOP THE 1 RESTAURANT WAS CURTAINED... AND NOW THE OURTAIN WAS BEING OPENED. GOOD LORD. i

SutDENLY THEY WERE AROUND HIM. ..THE OTHER CUSTOMERS- FANGS BARED. ..COMING AT HIM... THE REST ARE.. ONLY... GASP-ONLY

CAST

VAMPIRES'

REFLECTION f-mz rest..

ONE OF THEM>HAROLO? I'M BUT THIS A VAMPIRE TOO WHY DO YOU RESTAURANT. THINK I CAME TO THIS TOWN? I DON'T... X HAD TO' IT WAS THE ONLY i UNDERSTAND...

I'M

toWWnA? WHAT ARE

? I TOLD YOU NOT GO OUT? I TOLD YOU? NOW

HAROLD ,

IT IS

TOO LATE'

YOU

DOING HERE?

L.PLAOE

COULD 00...

IN THE OLD DAYS, HUMANS HUNTED THEIR OWN FOOD. ..PREPARED IT THEM-

SELVES? VAMPIRES

7270, IN

THE LEGENDS. *

HUNTED THEIR OWN VICTIMS/ BUT NOW, WE, JUST LIKE MODERN MAN, LEAVE THE . HUNT/N6 TO THE PROFESSIONALS / A WE LEAVE THE PREPAR/N6 TO THE^^flU PROFESSIONALS TOO ,

I'M

THIS RESTAURANT SERVES BLOOD DISHES... LIKE A VEOETAR/AN RESTAURANT SERVES VE6ETABLE OISHES. BLO 00- JUICE-COCKTAIL... HOT BLOOO-CONSOMME... ROAST <A8L00D -CLOTSâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; FRENCH- FRIED A" SCABS -.BLOOD SHERBET...

CHOKE.

...

SORRY, HAROLD' LIKE THE

OTHER SEVENTEEN THAT WANDERED INTO THIS RESTAURANT, YOU WILL SILENCED? I CANNOT SAVE YOU?

HAVE TO BE

And SO HAROLD WAS STRUNG

UP..

HEAD DOWN?

INSERTED INTO HIS JUGULAR VEIN ? AND EACH OF ONE BY ONE- AND FILLED ITS GL ASS.. 'nothin' LIKE THE

REAL STUFF?

Harold was lifted bodily by the eieeLiNS CROWD OF VAMPIRES WHILE HIS SISTER LOOKED ON UNCONGERNEOLY.ONE VAMPIRE BROUGHT A ROPE? ANOTHER. ..THE TAP'" V/f UP STRING a FEET-' Up/ PARTY'

|!f Pk

HuTW

HEH.HEH? AND THAT'S THE STORY. KIDDIES? THAT'S WHAT 'CIVILIZED'

VAMPIRES DO THESE DAYS? THEY DINE IN BLOODITARIAN RESTAURANTS, OPEN SUNDOWN TO SUNRISE. WHERE IS THERE ONE IN YOUR TOWN,

YOU ASK? WELL, SOME NIGHT IF YOU IT, LOOK FOR IT' YOU

HERE'S A YARN THAT FIGURES TO END UP PRETTY HORRIBLE...

BUT JEFFREY HORN WAS NOT ONE TO Q1VE UP EASILY. he'd heard about the little shop downtown WITH THE STRANGE NATIVE PROPRIETORooodTqoodT I FOLLOWED HER WHEREVER SHE ] PROPOSED— WENT. I PICKED UP THESE HAIR ./ NOW' YOU SAY DOESN'T } CLIPPINGS AND NAIL CLIPPINGS YOU'RE... VERY NICE, JEFFREY...) LOUISE YOU WANT TO MARRY her..?. BUT I DON'T LOVE YOU... '^MATTER. I LOVE You. IN HER BEAUTY PARLOR' YOU SAID YOU'D NEED THEM— BESIDES.. .in ten years V THAT'S whaTs IMRORTARTY X WISH YOU T OLDER than YOU f could find it in your 'I — LaJITT. 'Tmiw heart to love MET Jeffrey horn was a desperate man. he wanted MONEY. HE WANTED THE COMFORTS MONEY COULD BRINS HIM. AND LOUISE BRITTLING WAS RICH... VERY RICH. SO HE SWALLOWED HIS PRIDE... AND

h M

w—

Cand the GROOM]

YES' I WANT LEAVE ME CLIPHER TO CONPINGS FROM YOUR HAIR AND NAILS, SENT TO BE AND COME BACK MY WIPE/ WANT US TO TOMORROW/ X BE MARRIED. [will be READY/

WHY THESE A RE ) NOT QUITE, NOTHING MORE -SMR. HORN.' THAN SUGAR DOLLS.) THESE ARE THE KIND ONE SEES \VOODOO ON

WEDDING CANES.) DOLLS/ the bride

NBk gSP

EXACTLY/ AHO MAY I SUGGEST ( YOU... YOU MEAN THAT YOU HAVE THESE DOLLS ( THAT IF ANYTHING PLACED ON YOUR OWN WEDDING SHOULO HAPPEN y 1 TO THESE DOLLS.. CAKE. SUCH ARTICLES Ant f* HIGHLY TREASURED. IT WILL AN ARM BREAK OFF- OR A LEG... t INSURE THEIR SAFETY... THAT THE SAME

THING WILL HAPPEN TO THE 3

•g

PERSON... -£§

It WASN'T LONG BEFORE LOUISE BRITTLING'S ATTITUDE TOWARO JEFFREY BEGAN TO CHANGE, UNTIL.

CH DA RUNG? »T FIRST I THOUGHT /‘“LOUISE^ YOU WERE MERELY IN LOVE WITH 7 LOUISE. my MONEY BUT now I KNOW JT\ AT LAS) YOU LOVE ME FOR MYSELF* TES... )„>r— YES I'LL MARRY YOUf .

REPRESENTS

miss

^O^BRlTTLlNG... J

)

I... I SEE! REPRESENTS YOU / \ AND SINCE . THEY ARE

TAKE THEM HOME? PUT THEM SOMEPLACE SAFE FROM

GETTING

MARRIEDLOUISE HARM. WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THESE K A NO I DOLLS. HAPPENS TO WILL BE THE PERSON THEY MARRIED

N /

)

REPRESENT

BE CAREFUL I'Ll IT IS THE VOODOO SPELL/ ) 1 THANK YOU' THANK YOU MUST TAKE THE BAD YOU FOR YOUR WITH THE GOOD/ THAT IS ) ^ HELP.' WHY I SUGGESTED USING THEM ON YOUR CAKE. AFTER THE WEDDING, PUT THEM UNDER GLASS. ..AND GUARD THEM NOT WELL! OH, BE CAREFUL TO CUTOFF THE SUPPLY OF AIR, OR YOU AND YOUR FUTURE WIFE may SUFFOCATE/

And so... they were married' and th STOOD UPON THE LAV SH WEDDING CAKE. SMILED. > JEFFREY? I'M SO \ LET'S. ..SAVE HAPPY / LIKE THOSE THOSE FIGURES, FIGURES.. .OH OUR / HONEY... FOR I

WMr CAKE/

91 fBSffjWlF

ALWAYS/THET WILL BE A SYM~JN

BOL OF OUR

HAPPINESS

pO WITH

SLUSH LIKE THAT, JEFFREY MANAGED TO nAVE THE VOODOO FIGURES PL AGED IN A LOCKEO CHINA CLOSET UNDER A GLASS BELL IN LOUISE'S

Then

Jeff slipped a match stick UNDER THE EDGE OF THE BELL.

he locked the china CLOSET AND POCKETED THE KEY. HE WENT UPSTAIRS. LOUISE SAT

SOON AS SHE'D GONE INTO HER ROOM, JEFFREY UNLOCKED THE CHINA CL OSET, GASPING FOR BREATH - j THAT WAS STUP/j) OP ME? I FORGOT ABOUT CUTTING OFF THE AIR SUPPLY 'TOMORROW I'LL HAVE TO GET A BELL WITH

HOLES

IN IT?

ON THE BED SMILING AT r THAT'S BETTER

WHAT WAS

—

And

so, with the aid _. of voodoo JEFF HORN HAD GOTTEN WHAT HE WANTED? HE'D MARRIED LOUISE BRITTUNG... AND HER MILLIONS. THE NEXT DAY HE PURCHASED A NEW GLASS BELL. .. HAD TINY HOLES DRILLED IN IT. ANO SUBSTITUTED IT IN THE CHINA CLOSET. ALL WENT WELL FOR A YEAR?

LOUISE r I WISH YOU WOULDNT drag me to THESE PARTIES? YOU •

KNOW HOW

I..

IT?

HIM... OH...ER...

SOME DARN FOOL HAD

r* TURNED UP THE THERMOSTAT?

MEANTIME...

ilOU/SE/ ) r

WHY. YOU

CAME'

T ,

AND THIS MUST BE YOUR NEW HUSBA NO* WELL,

INTRODUCE

Eve porter was young ano

lovely. she was ATTRACTED TO JEFF? THAT EVENING, AS THEY DANCED ... TOO BAD / DIDN'T MEET YOU BEFORE LOUISE DID, JEFF*I YOU'RE

QUITE A GUT?f

Ano so, eve and jeff began seeing each other... 1 SECRETLY? THEIR ATTRACTION FOR EACH OTHER GREW STRONGER EACH TIME THEY MET. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE FALLING IN LOVE... 1 !

DIVORCE

LOUISE

DARLING?

MARRY ME? WE'LL GET ALONG SOMEHOW? I HAVE SMALL INCOME?

It WAS LOUISE'S WEALTH THAT JEFF WAS THINKING OF. HE HATED TO GIVE THAT UP. AND THERE WAS A WAY... CAT WAT TO HAVE BOTH. ..BOTH LOU/SE'S

wdi

IT A

’

I... I LOVE YOU EVE... BUT THERE'S ANOTHER WAY? A BETTER WAY ?

What jeff vus COINS was taking the OLD CLASS BELL, THE ONE WITHOUT ANT HOLES AND PLACING IT OVER LOUISE'S F/SURE. HE PUT HIS OWN UNDER THE ONE WITH THE VENTILATION? LATER THAT NIGHT—

MONET... AND EVE. ..SO... I'M PUTTING THESE WEDDING /)CAKE FIGURES UNDER SEPARATE

CLASS BELLS LOUISE?! THOUGHT BETTER that way... ,

[THEY'D LOOK

It WAS SO SIMPLE? LOUISE'S BREATHING BECAME MORE ANO MORE LABORED? THE DOCTOR CAME? HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.. 90 SOMETHING, IT'S AS IF SHE WERE SUFFOCATING? ) DOCTOHfDO IT

MUST BE

HER HEART?

SOMETHING?

jeff was free? free TO MARRY EVE? AND LOUISE'S

And now

But JEFF KNEW THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR LOUISE. IN THE CHINA CLOSET, THE LAST TRACE OF AIR INSIOE THE BELL HOUSING LOUISE'S VOODOO FIG-

MONEY WAS ALL

SHE'S DEAD, JEFF? I'M -<

r SORRT... )

YOU... YOU DID ALLl

YOU COULD, DOC? WASN'T YOUR V-l J i FAULT? >.

HIS...

ASHES TO ASHES.. OUST TO DUST...

URINE VANISHED , AND..

Eve had never seen the figurines

After the funeral, jeff wanted TO DESTROY LOUISE'S IMAGE!.. BUT HE RECONSIDERED...

I STILL HAVE TO PRESERVE FIGURINEr I'VE GOT TO MAKE SU

M/RE

THERE'S

WHAT IS >

IT, JEFF?) WHAT'S THE

SURPRISE ?

(LOOK: ^

—

LOUISE’S CHINA CLOSET f SO IT WAS EASY TO FOOL HER... OH, JEFF.. I BOUGHT THEM FOR ' OUR WEDDING CAKE'

KEPT FROM HARM F ONLY ORE WAY...

Everything was perfect, when the proper time Louis e's figure stood in her air-tight glass ““ r HAD ELAPSED AND THE WEDDING DAY WAS SET, JEFF BELL. AFTER THE WEDDING oh. JEFF, DARL/NSr) REMOVED THE T WO FIGURINES FROM THE CHINA WHAT A NICE WE LL KEEP THEM.ALWAYS, CLOSET... AND... j FOR THE ( OH- OUI.M’SIEU THOUGHT' OF AS A SYMBOL OF OUR TOP OF THE WEDDINO / HORN. I WEEL BE COURSE... Tgflnl LOYE... UNDER THESE ' 1= SAKE. PIERRE ' JUST ONE I EXTRA CAREFUL F

•

7 GLASS BELLS...

TH/NOF BE VERY CAREFUL with THEM

But when the

air hit the figure of louise, something STRANGE BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE. AFTER ALL... LOUISE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR A LONO TIME... PHEWF ZOMETINQ XMELLS ) IT EES THEESE IN ZIS BAKERY, PIERRE... J F/SURE...OH ZE

Bnmv

ruillBr-

cake Foot what CAN I DO? M'SIEU HORN INSISTED...

UNDERSTAND.

. .

AT THE WEDDINO RECEPTION. OH, JEFF? LOOK r THE BRIDE'S FIGURE ON THE CAKE ' IT'S . ALL MOULDY AND ROTTING...

CHOKE.

Jeff placed the ventilated

'THROW THEM

LET ME J JEFF ? SAVE THE K, ) THE BRIDE K GROOM'S E/6URE, PUTRID /IT EVE? I'LL HAVE J J ’ / PIERRE MAKE US

AWAY , r

7 GRAVE/

SOON AS Z

EVE...

THROW

BABY...

THIS AWAY/

ANOTHER BRIDE /J

Downstairs, in the garbage THE ROTTING FIGURINE OF LOUISE STIRRED... MOVED? IT CLIMBED FROM THE LITTERRLLEO CAN-

...STUMBLED ACROSS THE KITCHEN AND INTO THE DINING ROOM WHERE JEFF'S FIGURINE STOOD

Upstairs,

Her HYSTERICAL SHRIEKS ECHOEI THROUGH THE HOUSE, DOWN INTO

CAN...

f—

;

Jeff dropped the foul-smeli FIGURINE OF LOUISE INTO THE GARBAGE CAN, AND WENT TO BED.

SMELLS LIKE A

the bedroom, the

LIGHT HAD JUST GONE OUT DENLY, EVE SCREAMED...

SUD-

PUSHED.

UNDER THE GLASS...

THE DINING-ROOM WHERE JEFFS VOODOO FIGURE LAY SMASHED INTO A HUNDRED JAGGED PIECES-

heh, HEH? SO

EVE'S

NEW

BRIDE-

GROOM JUST FELL APART.. AND ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT, TOO. TCH f TCH? WELL, IT JUST GOES TO

SHOW YOU

MODERN MARRIAGE

LAST SOLIDLY/ AND AT LEAST EVE FOUND OUT THAT JEFF WAS JUST A CRUMB, IN TIME? NOW THE OLD CAN'T

IF IT

DOESN'T BEGIN

WITCH *

mJjAfyJlU 1

IS STIRRING

UP HER PEW- POT, READY TO DISH OUT

AN0THER horror HELPING ( SO HOLD YOUR NOSE...

hlL^ZSrKU

EYES

RIGHT?*

WEREWOLF STORY.. A VAUP/RE RECIPE/ C*ION IN/ I'LL COOK UP YOUR SHIVERS- CHEF. THE OLD WITCH, c

HEEiHEE/ SO IT'S SUPERNATURAL YOU WANT, EH? WELL. .YOU’VE HAD A STORY. ..AND A VOODOO STORYf NOW LET'S SEE/ AH/ I'VE GOT THE .

MUMMY STORY IN

CRUDDY CAULDRON/

YEP

/ IT'S

READY TO DISH OUT HER TASTY TALE OF TERROR FOR THIS ISSUE OF C.K.’S MAG/ SO DRAW UP TO THE BUBBL/NQ POT.. .TUCK YOUR SHROUDS UNDER YOUR CHINS. FASTEN YOUR DROOL CUPS. AND FEAST ON THE FOUL FARE X CALL... _ .

fli i

‘t

\ \ I

THE FLAMING EGYPTIAN SUN BLAZED DOWN UPON THE THREE ARCHAEOLOGISTS, SUCKING THE PERSPIRATION FROM THEIR PORES ANO SENDING IT IN TINY STREAMS DOWN THEIR FACES. THEY WORKED FEVERISHLY.. .FIRST ONE, THEN THE OTHER OIGGING INTO THE BURNING SAND AT THE BASE OF THE .

GOT TO BE HERE! IT'S COT TO/ EVERY SHREO OF EVIDENCE

^IT'S

IF IT IS

NOT, ARNOLD/

M WE HAVE BEEN WRONG H BEFORE/ WHY DON'T / YOU REST NOW? REMEMBER... YOUR HEART...

Doctor Arnold munsen sat down and wiped

BAHf

HIS SOAKING WET FACE WITH HIS HANDKERCHIEF.' / HE STUDIED HIS TWO ASSOCIATES... PROFESSOR (

THOMAS STEEL AND DOCTOR JEROME GRABEL AS THEY CONTIN UE D DIG GIN G

I'M AS

HEALTHY

AS A

TWENTY-YEAR-

TOM...^ ]7 'ANOTHER HEART ATTACK COULD BE FATAL, ARNOLD?,/ ARNOLD GET THAT THROUGH YOUR Jf LOOK...

// *-

OLDf JUST BECAUSE STUBBORN THICK T^L, SKULL f HAD A SLIGHT

...

NOT

...

fYOUWERE ADVISED

'HERE WE ARE ...ON THE VERGE OF THE MOST

HEART ATTACK.

EVEN TO DO ALON ON VALUABLE ARCHAE- THIS EXPEDITION, ARNOLD... OLOGICAL FIND OF t NO LESS DIO LIKE THAT j THE CENTURY... AND I I

HAVE TO WATCH MY Jg|

HEART L

Soon, the stone block had been

Doctor jerome grabel pointed AT THE SPOT WHERE THEY’D BEEN LJ THE

FULLY CLEARED OF SAND AS ARNOLD ANXIOUSLY WATCHED, THOMAS . AND .JEROME TUGGED AT .

DjeGING.-^^-w^^y

UNGOVEREl

< i

IT,

/givFmeT Yarnold' Till IT'S COMING] £ ENTRANCE.' SHOVEL' l TAKE {UNCOVERING. 'loose.' THE finish

«3?7

ENTRANCE S LET ME... TO THE TOMB'A-F'^r^A

EASY.' Sthe slab' /

I'LL <

GIVE YOU A

PLEASE..r^r0gtfS

Footsteps echoeo into the cavernous blackness, shattering the silence of centuries, flickering LIGHT FROM THE LANTERN THOMAS CARRIED CARESSED WALLS THAT HAD NOT FELT L IGHT FOR OVER A HUN DRED GENERATIONS. THE THREE MEN DESCENDED INTO J /THE SHAFT )_ I/lVE COUNTED FIFTY- * WE'RE NEARING IKAN-MU-KANMA.. THE BOTTOM. * bIM? F,VE STEPS PLfiEADYY FIFTH PHARAOH-

Finally, the large stone slab was swung away, REVEALING A DARK OPENING WITH DUSTY STEPS DESCENDING INTO THE BLAOKNESS. THE MUSTY ODOR

OF DECAY AND ROT, OF THINGS LONG BURIED AND THREE THOUSAND YEARS OLD, SEARED^ THEIR^ AIR

^STRILS.-y^— we've

FOUND

'the tomb of IT

'OF

EGYPT...

T»c steps ended before a small ooor. ITS surface WAS EXQUISITELY DECORATED WITH TYPICAL examples of ancient ebyptian artistry. over *»E DOOR W AS A TABLET INSCRIBED WITH HIEROGLYPHICS

.. .

(

SAYS. 'BEYOND THIS

DOOR^

LIES EXALTED IKAH-MU-KAHMA FIFTH PHARAOH OF ALL EGYPT. { LET THIS BE A WARNING TO ALL WHO TRESPASS. DEATH WILL COME

f TO THOSE WHO ENTER HIS TOMB. 7 IKAH-MU-KAHMA WILL RISE TO

Jerome's laughter was thin ano tinged with NERVOUSNESS. IT RIPPLED THROUGH THE SILENCE AND ECHOED UP THE STAIRS OF THE SHAFT... rHEH, HEHf TYPICAL OF r THEY WERE SUPPOSED V THE WARNINGS PLACED TO SCARE OFF WANOERING AT THE ENTRANCES TO BANDS OF THIEVES WHO OTHER PHARAOH'S TOMBS. t MIGHT HAVE BROKEN INTO THE TOMBS AND STOLEN THE TREASURES BURIED . WITH THE PHARAOHS... <

L AVENGE THE DISTURBANCE OF'a '

Jtk

TS SANCTITY.'

'Arnold tried to push the door

Flinging their full weight against the sealed tomb-entrance DOOR, DOCTOR GRABEL AND PROFESSOR STEEL FINALLY MANAGED TO BREAK IT DOWN... /''V'—'L

Saw

Y’sASpT Wj^LfoKfON THE FLOOR.'

THEN WHO ARE THEY?

PERHAPS THESE ARE THE REMAINS

OF THIEVES WHO ONCE BROKE IN...

' • ,

IMPOSSIBLE THE DOOR WAS SEAL EDf

fiW

WORKMEN PERHAPS' % 3 SERVANTS. ..'MW

INTERRED ikah-muKAHMA AND THEN WERE MURDERED SO THAT THE SECRET OF THE J TOMB'S LOCATION J\

WOULD

BE KEPT...

jfafA

CZ-SKELETONS' JJ* .•

Thomas parted forward. LORD f A 7FORTUNE .

RECIOUS STONES'

Professor thomas steel scooped up handFULS OF THE SPARKLINGJ3EMS HUNGRILY. 1

rub/esTemeralds

THE

^V-

X AND

the URNS i THAT HOLD THEM ARE SOLID GOLD'

SAPPHIRES' MILLIONS

OP DOLLARS

WORTH?

THIS IS THE GREATEST ‘ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIS1 COVERY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY? i I SAID IT WOULD BE? / j I

TAKE

EASY, There.'

ARNOLD ? DON'T EXCITE YOURSELF

REMEM- i

BER... YOUR

HEART '

here' it's! THE BURIAL

]

CHAMBER fi

SARCOPHAGUS

OF /KAH-MU-KAHMAf

WHAT FIND WE MUST GET A

GASP?

T HOMAS

STARED AT ARNOLD.

?BUT..,BUT

WE FOUND ^THOMAS? I'M ASHAMED IT? WE SWEATED < 'AND BURNED OF YOU? OF 1 OUT IN THAT fc COURSE THE 7 TREASURE / HOT SUN UNTIL 1WE DISCOVERED 7 BELONGS TO j/Tf ISN'T THAT ( THE MUSEUM... FBUT ,

WE REPORT

'THAT WE'VE FOUND THE TOMB. ..WE'LL HAVE TO TURN THE TREASURES fr 7 OVER TO THEM.

' RIGHT JEROME? ,

‘

Jerome took thomas by the arm AND JERKED HIM INTO A CORNER .. 1 7 VE (^HUT~UP, YOlT GOT TO GET FOOL/ CAN'T ) YOU SEE ARNOLD'S A R/D OF HIM? .

^Y^ENWE

TO CLAIM THE TREASURE FOR

HIMSELF.'

Epk

;

Later that night, in the camp of the three ARCHAEOLOGISTS NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE TOM B. r

ASLEEP ?>

YES.'

NOW

DOWN

THIS

INTO THE

MUMMY

WHAT YOU DO' GO

TOMB

UNWRAP THE WRAP

OF IKAH-MU-KAHMA AND

\\ YOURSELF IN ITS WINDINGS...

EXACTLY ' AND WHEN WE BRING

HIS

]

BODY

BACK TO CAIRO, CLAIM HE HAD A

«ag

'THEN SHOUT OR SCREAM.' I'LL AWAKEN 7l GET *, ' 'ARNOLD AND TELL HIM THAT YOU MUST BE/ IT' HIS DOWM THERE WHEN WE REACH THE BUR\M-)H£ART.' CHAMBER, YOU GO INTO A MUMMY ACT, HE'LL l AND I'LL START SHOUTING ABOU T DROP ^ _ dead ° F * m the curse ... .'

FRIGHT. "A

all right' go AHEAD 'AND HURRY'.,

WAIT FOR

[Thomas went

MY SHOUTS

HEART ATTACH

FROM DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE FAILURE OF OUR EXPEDITION.'

(

HUH?

’what's

THAT?'

•

Arnold

sat bolt upright on his cot' jerome LEAPED TO HIS FEET' THOMAS'S BLOOD-CURDLING x SCREA M CAME AGAIN-

\kgf/r \rs THOMAS' HIS BED'S “^TlET'S GO.. R« / EMPTY ' HE MUST BE OOWNJjfefN^

»:LTHER

...IN

THE TOMB.'

steps... jerome FOLLOWING, SMILING HE MUST BE IN '^TtiURRY ARNOLD.' t HURRY f TROUBLE.' s'

Arnold started down the tomb

—

He came from the

(Suddenly, they reached the treasure. chamber* \ THOMAS'S LAMP SAT UPON THE FLOOR ILLUMINAT- S ING THE ENTIRE ROOM. BEYOND WAS THE BURIAL S CHAMBER. ARNOLD STOPPED.,. _

burial chamber... shambling ALONG... TOTTERING WEAKLY... HIS WINDINGS HANGINe LOOSELY. JEROME HAD TO CONTROL HIMSELF TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING/ THOMAS. .. LOOKED SO COMICAL?

VoH,MY LORD.'IOOK/'J* ^tTIts THE MUMMY/

)THEH... JEROME

WENT

INTO

HIS ACT.

^—

, ,

CURSE, ARNOLD? TV^pDEATH WILL COME TO* CURSE ON THE ENTRANCE 7 THOSE WHO ENTER DOOR/ HIS TOMB. IKAH-MU,

''the'

.JTgg*

KAHMA... WILL. ..CHOKE

rise.:

;The wrapped figure stumbled forward. HE

CURSE is TRUE ARNOLD HAS RISEN/

T ‘

. fiMF MUMMY

•

ARNOLD/ COME ON LET'S RUN/

CHOKE... JEROME' SFgl MY... MY...

ZRUNLjaSt

.HEART/

Arnold crumpled to the

floor.

JEROME KNELT TO EXAMINE

HIM...

/ Jerome ’

4Efert.-^HE,..HE'S DEAD:

began to laugh? the

f G OODMKffAVTH OM AS ? WOR I ONE THING...

K /MS

' Jerome

fired at the swaying figure before him.

'WE THING YOU DIDN'T COUNTON, THOMAS.' YOU SEE.' I WANT THAT TREASURE FOR MYSELF THANKS FOR YOUR HELP... ’

'T he bullet TORE through the WRAPPINGS BUT THE FIGURE DIO )

FALL— FOR SOD'S SAKE.' X SHOT

iVQT !

—

r YOU, THOMAS' D/E.'_fg**r<<

ME!

THOMAS'

THOMAS f THEN... THEN..

OHOKE

hee.hee'so IKAH-MU-WHAT'S HIS \ NAME TOOK OARS OF THE DISTURBERS OF HIS SANCTITY A8 THE CURSE HAD PREDICTED. AFTER THAT HE TOSSED THE BODIES ON THE PILE WITH THE OTHER SKELETONS.- YAWNED.-SHOT L . m*t THE FRONT SLAB BB BbBf ONCE MORE ...AND ^ BBMHaBj went back to sleep n WHICH IS MORE THAN SjPBjjPi YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO, NOW THAT YOU'VE FIN'

\ T JS!

TAl£ HORROR bye

l8HED my...

/& \ L

3! ****

xioaj/omH

FEATURING

E.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

IN THIS ISSUE: ADAPTATION OF A STORY BY

RRV

BRn

DBURV

AMERICA'S TOP HORROR WRITER!

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE VAULT-KEEPER

THE ARTIST OF THE

ISSUE" •

GEORGE EVANS permanent addition to the E.C. family, George R. Evans was born 1920, in Harwood, Pa., of English and Pennsylvania Dutch ancesnine, his family moved to Kulpmont, Pa., a coalmining town. George's early art training came at fifteen from a correspondence course, which he paid for by working as a store clerk, coal-trucker, and mill hand. He also attended the Scranton Art School for one year. At 16, he had already started to sell illustrations to airplane pulp magazines, supplementing his income by sign-painting. Came the war, and George spent three years in the AAF, where, by diligence, application, and K.P., he rose to the grade of Pfc. Decorations: one (1) Good Conduct Medal, grudgingly awarded. While in the army, George was stationed for a spell on Long Island. He liked it so much that upon being discharged, he came back there to live with his bride, whom he'd married six months previously. After returning to civilian life, George's first job Latest

Feb. try.

When George was

was as a

staff artist for

another comic publishing house.

also attended

night classes at the Art Students League in N. Y. C. George, his lovely wife Evelyn, and their four-year-old daughter, Carol, are now living in a cute little ranch house in Levittown, Long Island. His hobbies include: aviation

World War I vintage, loafing, sports of all kinds, loafing, which has loafing! George's work you guessed it eating, and appears in E.C.'s three been enthusiastically received by you readers horror mags, two war mags, and two SuspenStory mags! .

especially .

a the Crypt, June-Jnly 1053— Vol. 1, No. 36 (formerly Crypt of Terror). Published Bi-Monthly by I. C. Publishing Jt 225 Lafayette Sr., New York 12. N. Y. William M. Gaines, Managing Editor. Albert B. Feldsteln, Editor. Be-entcred Co., second cIbbs matter June 20. 1050. at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1870. One year subScript Ion In the D. S. title plus 15c for packing and mailing— total 75c—elsewhere *1.00. Entire contents copyrighted 1953 by C Publishing Co.. Inc. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by Btumped return envelope. No similarity between any of the characters, names or persons appearing in this magazine with any of those living or dead is Intended, and any such similarity is purely coincidental. Printed in U. S. A. 1

AND QHOULS... WELCOME TO THE CRYPT OF TERROR. THIS la YOUR HORROR » INVITING YOU IN TO HEAR ANOTHER GHASTLY SELECTION FROM MY DISGUST I START my CHILLING TALE. YOU MIGHT like TO PLATA LITTLE X HAVE A REAL LITE OLD HAIDT NO? OH.. TOO DAD? THEN

perhaps, BEFORE

ME ’ LIKE. ..SAY.. .OLD HA/Dl BEGIN THE BLOOD-CURDLING YARN

1 CALL...

HIRE T0I1IEHT,

FOLLOWED BV mcREflsinc ILOTTVRESS. SLAM 00 WN THE TRUNK-LID OP YOUR TAXI-CAB AND LOOK AROUND. THE NIGHT IS DAMP AND A FAINT TRACE OF FOG DRIFTS IN FROM THE BAY. CHILLI N£ YOU TO THE BONE. YOU STAND THERE FOR A MOMENT, SHIVERING. YOU FUMBLE IN YOUR JACKET POCKET FOR A CIGARETTE PULL OUT A HALF EMPTY PACK AND SHAKE ONE BETWEEN YOUR LIPS. THE FLAME OF THE MATCH, FLARING UP IN THE GLOOM, BURNS YOUR EYES. AND EVEN AFTER YOU’VE BLOWN IT OUT, ITS GLOW STILL ,

You SHUFFLE AROUNO TO THE FRONT OF YOUR CAB, SWING OPEN THE DOOR, AND SETTLE IN8I0E ON THE MOIST COLO LEATHER DRIVER’S SEAT. YOU SIT THERE FOR A MOMENT, SUCKING IN THE DRY SMOKE FROM YOUR BUTT AND SWALLOWING IT WHOLE INTO YOUR LUNGS THEN YOU START THE ENGINE., THINK I’LL CRUISE THE WEST SIDE, TONIGHT f

The FO0 HAS SETTLED its blanket of obey mist upon YOUR WINDSHIELD, SO YOU SNAP ON THE WIPERS, INDUSTRIOUS LITTLE FINGERS WHIP BACK AND FORTH, SHAMING THE WATER AWAY. YOU PEER THROUGH THE CLEAR OPENINO AT THE DIS TORTED ASPHALT AHEAD.THE STREETS ARE DESERTED. NOT A SOUL AROUND.

CR/PESf WHAT A NIGHT TO TRY TO

fe^SCRAPE UP A FARE

YOU CRUISE FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, SEARCHING THE SIDEWALKS FOR A SIGNALING PASSERBY... A HOMEWARD-BOUND CUSTOMER..BUT YOU SEE NO ONE. YOU SHRUG AND PULL UP TO A DESERTED HACK STAND.

WELL,,TM AT FINISHES IT ( I'LL NEVER GET A FARE .

now...

—

no use WASTING GAS. I'LL PARK HERE BY ONE SUBWAY EXiT-_w^

riders hurry off into the wet gloom. THE NEWSIE AT THE CORNER CALLS AFTER THEM,TRYINQ TO UNLOAD HIS NIGHT’S PAPER ORDER...

ALL

ABOUT

sTU

YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND SIT BACK, EXTRACTING ANOTHER BUTT FROM YOUR EMPTYING PACK. A ROAR BELOW TELLS YOU THAT A SUBWAY TRAIN HAS PULLED IN. A FEW SECONDS LATER, FIGURES POUR FROM THE SUBWAY EXIT-

TAX/ f

‘

TAX/, LADY?

TAXI?

The subway

READ ALL ABOUT ITT ANOTHER BODY FOUND f ANOTHER MURDER ( READ

taxi™ tax/7?

The rushing shadows are gone, the night and the RAIN SETTLE DOWN AGAIN. YOU STARE ACROSS THE MIRRORED SIDEWALK TO THE NEWSTAND. ANOTHER MURDER. CURIOSITY GETS THE BETTER OF YOU. YOU SNAP OPEN THE CAB-DOOR AND DART THROUGH THE RAIN TO THE PROTECTION OF THE STAND’S OVERHANG... PAPER. MISTER'

Another murder, thirteen of THEM NOW. EACH BODY DRAINED

YOU SHIVER. THE WORK YOU LOOK AROUND UNCOMFORTABLY, PEERING OUT AT THE OOWNPOUR.THE RAIN POUNDS DOWN ON YOUR CAB- ROOF,

OF ITS BLOOD. YOUR EYES SWEEP OVER THE COLUMNS OF TINY PRINT.. THE SORY DETAILS. SUDDENLY, A PARAGRAPH CATCHES YOUR ATTENTION.. .fpi

SUGGESTION THAT A VAMP/RE MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE MURDERS WAS OFFERED BY OR.

â&#x20AC;¢a

EGBERT MULLER, NOTED

MYTH-

OLOGIST. POLICE HAVE REFUTED r THIS POSSIBILITY.' J

The night swims in a torrent before your eyes. DARKNESS MELTS FROM THE BLACKNESS ABOVE AND SPATTERS DOWN ON THE ENGINE HOOD... THE WINDSHIELD IN SHEETS OF DANCING LIGHTS. HE IS BESIDE YOU, HIS BLACK OVERCOAT COLLAR TURNEO UP, COVERING THE LOWER PART OF HIS FACE.. .HIS BLACK HAT- BRIM TURNEO DOWN, SHIELDING THE UPPER PART. ONLY HIS EYES GLARE LIKE FIRE-LIGHTS FROM THE

His ANSWER is curt; ALMOST insulting, it is a brief ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE CARES NOT TO CONVERSE. YOU SHRUG AND GUIDE YOUR HEAP THROUGH THE REFLECTIONS AND THE TORRENTS TOWARD THE ADDRESS HE'S GIVENYOU.

The STREET IN

THE

CITY.

ONE OF THE WORST NEIGHBORHOODS A NARROW, LITTER -STREWN, COBBLE-

IS IN

STONE ALLEY MESHED BETWEEN SAD- FACED, STARVING TENEMENTS. YOUR FARE STEPS OUT INTO THEDOWN-| ~ ~ POUR..

f maitmere FORME... L

KSri

scurries into a oarkeneo HALLWAY AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE SHADOWS. YOU SHRUG, GLANCE AT THE METER, AND SETTLE BACK TO WAIT. THE RAIN IS LETTING UP NOW. THE STREET IS A BLACK MIRROR REFLECTING THE SQUALOR THAT RIMS IT AT EITHER CURB. SOMETHING IN THE MIRROR CATCHES YOUR EYE...

You TURN AROUND AND STARE AT THE SHINY NEW LEATHER BRIEFCASE YOUR CUSTOMER HAS LEFT ON THE BACK SEAT. THE GOLD INITIALS PULSATE IN THE LIGHT FROM THE STREET LAMP-.f^^wB—ifiiiiai E.M.,PH.D.f EM^PH.D.f

WHAT /S THERE ABOUT

IT HE NEWSPAPER ROLLED UP BESIDE YOU REMINDS YOU. OF COURSE.. MULLEN... THE NOTED MYTH 0L06/ST...tm£ man who is TRYING TO CONVINCE THE POLICE THAT THE MUNDEPEN • IS A VAMPIRE.

l THOSE INITIALS?

YOU PULL OUT YOUR PACK OF BUTTS, FISHING FOR ANOTHER CIGARETTE. THE PACK IS EMPTY. YOU CURSE. FAR DOWN THE BLOCK, AT THE CORNER, A DIM LIGHT FILTERS THROUGH A STORE WINOOW, SILHOUETTING THE LETTERS PA INTEC ON IT... BAR' THEY’D HAVE A CIGARETTE

YOU SWING FROM THE CAB AND START DOWN THE LONG DARK STREET. THE RAIN HAS STOPPED. A MUDDY STREAM OF WATER RUSHING HEAOLONG AT THE CURBSIDE POURS DOWN INTO A FOUL- SMELLING SEWER, PULLING THE LAST TRACES OF RAIN WITH IT. UP ABOVE, THE CLOUDS ARE BREAKING UP-.ANO HERE AND THERE, A STAR BLINKS THROUGH A BLACK HOLE IN THE GREY COVER.

^^MACHINE...

VoU'RE ALMOST TO THE CORNER WHEN THE LIGHTS IN THE BAR-WINDOW DISAPPEAR AND BLACKNESS DESCENDS. THE SIGN IN THE DOOR LAUGHS AT YOU, AND THE LAUGH Echoes over the slick streets and off the grinning FACES OF THE .TENEMENTS

CLOSES

BLAST IT...

G0IN6 TO BE A M/CE NIGHT AFTER ALL...

T HE LAUGH DIES. SILENCE CLOSES IN. THICK, BLACK, FRIGHTENING SILENCE. STRANGE. NO RADIO PLAYING; NO 8ABY CRYING? NO SOUNDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE BEHIND THE MUTE TENEMENT FACADES? JUST "" ' SILENCE... m m imi. f jiy r '

Then why the bar? what business could a bar do IN A CONDEMNED TENEMENT DISTRICT? YOU START BACK TOWARD YOUR CAB. AND THEN YOU HEAR THEM. AT FIRST YOU THINK THEY'RE ECHOES OF YOUR OWN- BUT WHEN YOU STOP, THEY CONTINUE. .fj~ II

You QUICKEN YOUR

STEPS. THE CAB IS A M LLION MILES I

AWAY. BEHINO YOU, THE FOOTSTEPS INCREASE THI^IR TEMPO

TOO. YOU BEGIN TO RUN.

THE CAB' I'LL NEVER REACH IT

FOOTSTEPS. SOMEONE'S .FOLLOWING ME.

The open hallway yawns at YOU duck

YOU.

in,

cringing

THE SHADOWS. A FIGURE HURRIES

LACK OVERCOAT-BLACK

BY_.

HAT.

YOU HEAR

HIS FOOTSTEPS POUNDING UP IN YOUR CHEST, YOUR HEART POUNDING TOO. THEN THE FOOTSTEPS

THE BLOCK. IS

STOP- AND YOUR HEARtlSKIPS A BEATHE'S

CUSTOMER' MULLERL

COMING BACK:

IN TIME,

ppi

YOU BACK OFF INTO THE 6L00M. THE FOOTSTEPS APPROACH. HE STANDS FRAMED IN THE HALLWAY ENTRANCE. HIS EYES BURN ING LIKE TWO WHITET C 0ALS 2L°- ITyoU CAN rT ESCAP MY FRIEND'YOU'RE .

•

TRAPPED/

His eyes seem to pierce the darkness, seem to SEARCH YOU OUT OF THE SHADOWS. CAN HE SEE YOU THERE ? CAN HI S EYES PENETRATE THE NIGHT LIKE-LIKE. ~~ A BAT'S 0 ' LIKE J a >a s

YOU SHRIEK. YOU OPEN YOUR QUIVERING LIPS AND YOU I SHRIEK. AND YOU TURN ANl5 RUN-DOWN THE LONG BLACK CORRIDOR-STUMBLING, GETTING UP. RUNNING AGAIN-

rTr %no~use

your

r WAT no 'NO .'WWA

The cellar door hangs crazily ON BROKEN RUSTED HINGES. STEPS LEAD DOWNWARD INTO BLACKNESS. YOU LUNGE THROUGH

The STEPS, ROTTED AND OECAYEO, GIVE WAY BENEATH YOUR WEIGHT AND YOU PLUNGE INTO THE DARKNi-SS

...

You STRUGGLE TO YOUR

FEET. ABOVE

YOU, YOUR CUSTOMER PEERS DOWN THROUGH THE CELLAR DOORWAY...

AAAA^Aa

|AnD HIS LAUGH ECHOES LOUDLY ITHROUGH THE DAMP DARK CELLAR.

Suddenly there are strange sounds about you... j CREAKING NOISES ...AND DEEP SIGHS .. AND FLUTTERINGS IN THE DARK. THE CELLAR IS FILLEO .WITH LONG EVILGASP...

[They stumble toward

THE LIDS HAVE COME ALIVE NOW, SLIPPING FROM THE COFFINS, SWINGING UPWARD, FALLING BACK.GHAUNTFACED FIGURES, WITH SLANTED EYES AND FANGED MOUTHS OOZING SPITTLE. RISE FROM THEIR DEPTHS-

COFFINS.

you, shrieking...

laughing.

VAMPIRES!

And THEN THEY ARE UPON

YOU, THEIR FANGS RIPPING AND TEARING AT YOUR FLESH.. -THEIR DRY LIPS CLOSIN' LIFE- FLUID THAT POURS RED FROM THEM...

OVER YOUR WOUNDS, DRAWING THE |

And YOU SCREAM, you are HELPLESS under then ONSLAUGHT. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO 00 BUT SCREA

The

The scream echoes and re-echoes in your eai YOU CLAW AT THE COLD LEATHER SEAT... AND YOU

rain chatters on your cab roof, people pour FROM THE SUBWAY EXIT, THE NEWSIE CHANTS AT THEM...

OPEN YOUR EYES...

READ ALL ABOUT JTf ANOTHER BODY FOUND? ANOTHER MURDER .' READ ALL ABOUT IT 1

HUH? WHA 2- WHERE

You're back at the hack-stand, SUBWAY EXIT. THE REAL-

You STARE DOWN AT THE OPEN PAPER ON YOUR LAP HIS NAME SEEMS TO RISE FROM THE BLOCKS OF TYPE... MA6NIFIED. ..BLACK AND SHINING..

BY THE

IZATION

DAWNS UPON YOUI

...I

I'VE

FELL ASLEEP.

And then

I DREAM ABOUT HIM? WHY. .

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INITIALS ON THE BRIEFCASE HE IS CARRYING. YOU KNOW WHO HE IS. HE MUTTERS THE STREET AND NUMBER AND SLIDES INTO THE BACK SEAT. YOU MESH GEARS AND PULL AWAY. [=

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

WHY

DIO I

DREAM ABOUT HIM? AND THE

VAMPIRES... ATTACKING fc-

ALL MEAN j

ME? WHAT

DID IT

beside you, his

buck

NO SIREE: HOP WHERE TO?

WHY DID

OVERCOAT PULLED UP, HIS BLACK HATBRIM TURNED DOWN, AND HIS EYES GLARING LIKE FIRE-LIGHTS...

BEEN DREAMING.'

iUDDENLY, YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF YOUR IT's

A SHORT-CUT,

OOCTOR MULLER...

—

You STOP THE CAB.

IT'S ONE OF THE WORST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU DREAMED ABOUT... ~L— YOU ...YOU YES, DOCTOR!

CITY.

KNOW ME:

GET OUT...

It's clear now. the whole DREAM IS CLEAR. DR. EGBERT MULLER IS A THREAT TO you. THAT'S WHY

YOU DREAMED OF HIM

FOLLOW/N6

„ TRACKING YOU DOWN. H^y.- MY BRIEFCASE? YOU

.YOU

And THE VAMPIRES .. THE ONES THAT ATTACKED YOU IN THE CELLAR. DOCTOR MULLER KNOWS ABOUT VAMPIRES. ALL ABOUT THEM. SOONER OR LATER HE’D CONVINCE THE

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME? THIS HALLWAY...WS so DARK.

\KEEP GOING:

[It would be his vast knowledge of vampires that WOULD FINALLY MEAN YOUR ULTIMATE "DEATH. THE DREAM MADE SENSE. THE DREAM WAS WARNING '

...

WHO

A/ft touy

RO? NO f

HE STRUGGLES, BUT YOU ARE STRONG. YOU BEND AND SINK YOUR FANGS INTO HIS SOFT WHITE GURGLING NECK. ..DRAW* IN6 IN THE THICK RED LIFE-FLUID THAT YOU MUST HAVE...

YES, DOCTOR!

MY GOD

NOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ACCUSE SPINNING HACK YARNS BUT YOU WOULDN'T AGREE, WOULD YOU. KIDDIES? THE THING I'M GUILTY OF IS TAK/-NG YOUR IMAGINATION ONCE IN A WHILE. WELL, GOT TO METER FRIENO, SO I'LL TURN OVER TO THE VAULT-KEEPER FOR HIS OFFERING. WHO'S THE FRIENO. roo ASK? OH, SOME SUCKER I KNOW. THEY SPOTTED HIM AS A ,

HICK WHEN

CAME

TO NEW YORK. SOLD HIM

THE VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING. ISN'T THAT A

BLOODY SHAME f

in HOWL S, fHE VAOU-XEEPM. hW.hch?7'ENTURE INTO THE VAULT, VULTURES. THIS is YOUR / ready to NARRATE ANOTHER NAUSEATING NOVELETTE F"OM ur CRAWLY COLLECTION. 90 COME IN. SIT DOWN ON THAT PILE OF SHOE-BOXES THERE. AND I'LL BEOIN THE BLOOD' C UROL /NO YARN I CALL...

CURIOSITY

KILLED...

First let me say that, ever since i'o known him, WALLACE DURAND HAD ALWAYS BEEN SHY, QUIET, AND COMPLETLY DOMINATED BY HIS WIFE, EMILY. THAT MORNING, HE SEEMED LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON. HE GRINNED AT ME.. EMILY'S GONE, MRS. CLAYTON. SHE'S TA KEN A TRIP. TO THE .

COAST.. .TO

VISIT

...

THERE..

SHOCKED f

COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT...

SHE DIDN'T

MENTION

IT f

RELATIVES.

HE SLAMMED THE DOOR .SLAMMED THE IT, MIND YOUfMR. OURAND MILQUETOAST... THE WEAKLING... SLAMMED THE OOOR IN MY FACE. I STOOD

WALLACE DURAND STOOD STRAIGHT, LOOKING AT ME DEFIANTLY. HE SEEMEO TALLER SOMEHOW. .TALLER THAN HE'D EVER BEEN. ..LIKE HEAVY WEIGHTS HAD BEEN DROPPED FROM HIS TIRED SHOULDERS... Y-YES, MR, DURAND/ IT WAS SUDDEN, MRS. CLAYTON. I'M SORRY I SHE LEFT LAST N/OHT. and NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE U DISTURBED YOU...

EMILY'D GONE AWAY BEFORE. BUT

WALLACE DURAND HAO NEVER BEHAVED THAT WAY WHILE SHE'D BEEN GONE. IT WAS AS IF HE KNEW SHE WASN'T COM INS BACK...

RANG FOR THE ELEVATOR. A COLD SHIVER RAN UP MY SPINE. I GLANCED

IT...

OVER HIM? DIFFERENT MAN ACTED LIKE THAT'

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COME

HE'S LIKE A HE'S

NEVER

SINCE

NINE P.M.

WRONG'.

DID YOU TAKE MRS. DURAND' DOWN LAST NIGHT, GEORGE?

EMILY DURAND? SHE WOULD MIAVE HAD A SUITCASE...^

NO, MA'AM f 1 BROUGHT YOU AND MRS. DURAND UP AT \ TEN P.M. LAST NIGHT, REMEMBER ? THAT'S THE LAST l SAW OF HER. OIDN'T TAKE HER DOWN LAST NIGHT.

ALL F

SHE WALKED DOWN, GEORGE? WHO' 0 SEE HER?

)

? WALKED

down, mrs.

1rASK

HIM

FOURTEEN} FOR ME,WILL YOU, GEORGE? FLOORS? X HARDLY ASK JED IF WALK

CLAYTO N ?

THINK SHE'D

DOWN. BESIDES. ..IF SHE DID, JED WOULD HAVE SEEM HER. HE

/ HE

SAW MRS.

OR MR. DURAND \ LAST NIGHT (S

(

WAS AT THE DESK | I ALL NIGHT... WORKIN' THE SWITCHBOARD./

George nodded, the elevator DOOR SLID CLOSED , AND IT WHIRRED AWAY. I WATCHED THE HAND ABOVE SWING SLOWLY AROUND TOWARDS ONE. I WENT BACK TO MY OWN APARTMENT. MILTON WAS GETTING INTO HIS COAT. MILTON IS MY HUS-

giggle.'

WALLf? KILL EH/LY? Y HE'S ACTING SO STRAN8ELY, SILLY/ HE... SO RUOE. HE SAID EMILY , WENT

DON'T BE

THINK SO?

WT MR. DURAND/ HE'S (

HILLED EMILY/

knowxt.1

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cm/l TON/he's

Milton looked at me and began to

YOU

WHO ?

BAND..

)

HE WOULDN'T HAVE THE NERVE/ WHAT MAKES

'HUH?

ON A TRIP. BUT I

CHECKED. SHE HASN'T

I HEARD THE ELEVATOR DOOR OUTSIDE SLIDE OPEN. I PEERED OUT. GEORGE WAS COMING TOWARD MY APARTMENT

WELL, GEORGE? DID JED

WHAT

// LEFT THIS BUILDING

SINCE WE CAME HONE FROM THE WOMEN'S SOCIAL LAST

KILLED HER?

SAY?

WHE

SAID NOBODY CAME DOWN THOSE STAIRS LAST NIGHT, MA'AM. BUT NOBODY-

NIGHT.

HOW, MILTON? THAT'S JUST IT/ Y well, I'M LATE.

HOW

HE COULDN'T CARRY HER I'VE GOT TO GO BODY DOWN FOURTEEN FLIGHTS? TO THE OFFICE. BESIDES, JED SAID NOBODY CAME LOOK, HENRIETTA. THE STAIRS LAST NIGHT HE IF YOU'RE SO COULDN'T TAKE HER OOWN IN SURE, WHY don't theELEVATOR. and the FIREYOU CALL THE ESCAPE WOULD B E TOO RISKY '~jV POLICE? s' NO/ she's still IN there/j '

DOWN

Milton left and

i heard the elevator come AND TAKE HIM DOWN. I WENT TO THE PHONE. I PICKED UP THE RECEIVER. I HESITATED-

I PUT

DOWN THE PHONE ANO WENT TO THE KITCHEN. I TOOK A MEASURING CUP FROM THE CUPBOARD AND WENT DOWN THE HALL TO THE DURAND APARTMENT. I KNOCKED. I HEARD FOOTSTEPS MOVING AROUND INSIDE, AND WALLACE DURAND OPENED THE DOOR-

I..I CAN'T CALL THE POLICE. I HAVE NO PROOF. I'VE GOT TO HAVE PROOF.

COULD I BORROW A CUP OF SUOAR. MR. DURAND? I’M A LITTLE SHORT.'

I STARTED IN BUT MR. DURAND •LOCKED MY WAY. HE LIFTED THE CUP FROM MY HAND-

HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND LOCKED IT. HE WOULDN'T LET ME IN. HE WAS HIDING SOMETHING, ALL RIGHT.

I’LL GET IT FOR 'YoH... THANKS. YOU, MRS. CLAYTON.i

EMILY

WAS

T PULLED A CHAIR UP TO THE APARTMENT DOOR AND SAT DOWN. I OPENED IT A CRACK SO I COULD WATCH THE DURAND'S DOOR. I WAITED. AFTER AN HOUR, MR DURAND CAME OUT-LOCKED THE DOOR CAREFULLY. .

BELL—

rALL

RIGHT, WALLACE

DURAND? ALL RIOHTfl’LL GET THE PROOF. YOU'LL SEE... >

SORRY to BOTHER YOU, MR. 0URAND.

JiNO PRESSE D THE ELEVATOR

HE SLAMMED THE OOOR.l WAS ALONE IN THE HALL. X WENT BACK TO MY APARTMENT. MY HAND SHOOK...

THERE? POOR EMILY.,

When he

was gone, i darted across the living ROOM AND OUT THE FRENCH DOORS. THE OURANOS ANO WE SHARED A TERRACE. I CROSSED THE LOW DIVIDINGWALL AND PEERED INTO THEIR APARTMENT. THE BLINDS WERE DRAWN. I COULDN’T SEE. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED ... I

WON'T GIVE UP. I WON'T HAVE TO TRY TO

HE’S GOING TO

GET RID OF HER BODY. ^

WHEN HE DOES...

AND ^4

— *.

slammed the door

my WAS OBVIOUS. I WAS DETERMINED TO PROVE HIS HORRENDOUS DEED. 80 IT

NOW, DON’T

BOTHER me/

I WATCHED EVERY DAY, HE WENT OUT in th E morni ng EMPTY HANDED.

SINCE EMILY’S YOU FOR A WHILE, PERHAPS

LEFT

YOU’D UKE ME TO

COME IN MO Dl/ST OR MAKE THE BED...

And every day he cam e back with an<

SHOE-

TWO MONTHS of this.. coins out EMPTY-HANDED AND COMING 8ACK TWO HOURS LATf* WITH THE INEVITABLE SHOE BOX... ACCOSTED HIM ONE DAY... , * NEVER

——

Finally after

——^1—— "L

;

f THOUGHT MY EARS WERE DECEIV1W ME. Z HEARD IT PLAIN AS DAY. A

SCRATCHING SOUND. ..INSIDE THE BOX HE WAS CARRYING.. N- NEVER MR. DURAND: ,

EMILY'S

LEFT HE

FOR GOOD.' NOW IF

YOU DON'T MIND.

WAS A FLAPPING SOUND OUT ON THE TERRACE. X TIPTOED TO THE FRENCH DOORS. WALLACE DURAND WAS OUT THERE™ AND HE HELD SOMETHING IN HIS OUTSTRETCHED HANDS™

i went back to MY APARTMENT. X TRIED TO THINK. WHAT DID HE HAVE IN THAT BOX? WAS EMILY'S BODY STILL IN THAT APARTMENT, OR HAD WALLACE DURAND MANAQED TO GET RID OF IT? AND THEN, THAT NIGHT, AS I »CED THE

WHAT'S

T HERE

He went inside,

DURAND CHECKED THE SMALL CAN STRAPPED TO

WOKE UP SO

iM§

A~~A

PIGEON'

THAT

MILTON.

WHAT?***!

I TOLD HIM WHAT I'D SEeTT

DOffT YOU SEE, MILTON? HE'S BEOT BLAZES HAS [ TO DO < GET TINS RID OF MILTS REMAINS WITH THE OTHER?) THAT WAY. a UTTLE BIT AT A

IN A...

HOMING PIGEON

ONE THING

TIME...

THAT CAN STRAPPED

TO THE PIGEON'S LEG.

GOOD LORD

AND THEN NO.' WAIT.' IW'y CAN'T BE SURE.' I'LL SEE WHAT WHY DON'T YOU / HE DOES WITH FOLLOW HIM \ THE CONTENTS

I'M GOING

WOULD TAKE MONTHS') TO CALL THE POLICE.

fr,

OF THE CAN-

TOMORROW MORN-

ING? FIND OUT

WHERE HE GETS

THOSE BIRDS ?

THATLL BE THE Y PROOF YOU NEEDY/

-ggp

YES... YES.

TOOK MILTON'S ADVICE... AND THE NEXT DAY, J FOLLOWED WALLACE DURANO WHEN HE LEFT THE ROYAL ARMS APARTMENT HOTEL. HE TOOK A SUBWAY OUT OF THE CITY TO THE END OF THE LINE. THEN A BUS. I FOLLOWED THE BUS IN A TAXII

HE‘S

MR. DURAND WENT TO THE REAR OP A RUNDOWN SHACK. I COULD HEAR THE LOUD BARKING OF PQGSm so

THAT'S IT

. ..

It was all

so clear, i watched FROM THE HOMING PIGEON THAT HAD ARRIVED THAT NIGHT AND EMPTY THE CONTENTS INTO THE KENNEL FULL OF SLOB*

HIM UNTIE THE CAN

SETTING OFF ALL RIGHT, GET OUT HERE...

DRIVER. I'LL

he took ANOTHER pigeon from the coup. PLACED IT IN A SHOE -BOX, AND WENT AWAY. I WAITED UNTIL HE WAS GONE BEFORE I CAME OUT OF MY HIDING PLACE. I FELT SICK... NAUSEOUS . POOR EM/LY f WHEN I FI NALLY GOT BACK TO MY APARTMENT..

Then

a wild gleam in HIS USUALLY SAD EYES. EMILY AND I HAD BEEN ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE WERE SO MUCH ALIKEDOMINATING WIVES WHO LORDED OVER SHY, OUIET, MILQUETOAST HUSBANDS...

Milton looked strange, he had

f V.

NIL TONfWHA T. WHAT'S \A SHOE-BOX, THAT YOU HAVE THERE..?)

U/LTON .YOU'RE V^YES. EMILY ' HOME EARLYFA COME/W/I'VE V BEEN WAITING'

EMILY.,

I HEARD THE UNMISTAKABLE COOING OF A PIGEON. I SCREAMED AND RUSHED FOR THE BED-ROOM. I LOCKED MYSELF IN. I

WAS TRAPPED. MILTON GIGGLED...HIS VOICE DRIFTING THROUGH THE DOORWE PLANNED IT THIS WAY, HENRIETTA' FIRST WALLY. THEN NEf WE RENTED THE SHACK, THE DOGS, THE PIGEONS ... BUT YOU FOUND OUT... TOO SOON...

THE DOOR IS OPE NING. I'LL HAVE TO STOP WRITING... Un NOW, EVEN THOUGH WALLY ISN'T THROUGH GETTING RID OF EMILY'S BODY... Z'LL HAVE TO START, HENRIETTA., START BY KILLING YOU... THEN

CUTTING YOU UP INTO TINY LITTLE PIECES BIG ENOUGH

\TO FIT

...

IN CANS...

'AT THIS POINT OUR MANUSCRIPT

ENDS, KIDDIES... ENDS IN A BLOOOY SMEAR.' HENRI ETTA IS NOW... FOR THE BIRDS' HOW DIO I HOLD

OF THIS LITTLE YARN, YOU ASK? 90 DO YOU THINK OWNED THE SHACX ... THE DOGS. ..rut PIGEONS .THAT WAS THE DEAL/ IwALLY AND MILTON Igot the USE OF Ithem for the STORY RIGHTS.HtH.HEH I

WHO

NOW

I’LL TURN YOU

THE

BACK TO

CRYPT-KEEPER.

SEE YOU NEXT IN

MY MAG .THE VAULT

\0F HORRORfr\\.\. TtEBi

then -Cooqo ?j .

WE AT E C. ARE PROUDEST OF OUR SCIENCE - FICTION MAGAZINES! LOOK FOR...

SQUEEZE] Not ten seconds after Kendall had seized the payroll bag and started

toward the factory exit, he knew he was being pursued. He could hear their feet clattering along the concrete walk behind him, then a shot screamed along the corridor and ricocheted off the wall not five feet from and his head. They were armed they meant business. And from the sound their shoes were making, there were at least three guards tracking .

him.

Almost in panic, Kendall clawed at his coat pocket and fumbled his gun free as he ran. It was the three guards their lives against his against him .

own, he thought as he fled. They had him badly outnumbered there wasn't much chance for him escape .

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Then he saw the steel staircase spiraling up far overhead to the catwalk which ran the length of the factory. This might help him squeeze out of the trap, Kendall thought, as he raced frenziedly up the steps. In another moment he was scampering along the catwalk and could hear them pounding up the steps after him. In a second they’d have him cornered; he turned to fight, their bullets if would cut him down in the first exchange of hot lead. And if he surrendered, it meant conviction for the fourth time rest of his life! .

imprisonment

for the

He stopped momentarily, amazement on

his face. There, just

a short

jump below, was a small area surrounded by steel walls. II he could reach that haven, he'd be able to

just

shoot at the guards as they came alter him along the catwalk. And their own shots would be shrugged aside by those gleaming metal plates!

The jump jarred him more than he had expected: it was a half-minute before he recovered his balance and turned back to face the oncoming guards. The first of them reared up above him, leveled his gun. But he

Kendall crouched lower behind the heard the guards' bulploughing into the plates with a shrill whine, then bounce harmlessly aside. He was safe, Kendall grinned to himself. At least for the moment. They couldn't get him with their guns and if the two remaining guards steel walls

232 BIG PAGES FULL COLOR

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never pulled the trigger, because a bullet from below sent him reeling backwards.

full

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edited and arranged in chronological order, are all the stories of the Old Testament heroes from the four issues of die magazine. four colors in Printed

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lets

gave him even he'd shoot to of the

kill!

guards

wanted

. .

the slightest target, Just one shot at each that

whirring sound

in fear.

was

all

Kendall

made him pause

He must be seeing .

—

’

| I I

EDUCATIONAL COMICS. INC* 22S LAFAYETTE ST, NEW YORK 12. N. I

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squeezing the and legs breath out of his tortured lungs .

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COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT COMPLETE NEW TESTAMENT

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mashing him into a bloody shadow on the sides of the huge steel vise he had heedlessly plunged into!

plainly.

C.O.O.

(or

IS#

. .

already they could not be stopped were pressing against him on each side. Already they were crushing his chest

— Europe* Struqqla

Civil,zation.

(Writ* for ipeefof sthoot prleo t)

No. 2

No. 2 Amaiing Disco vei.es lie ebejt Pood & Health.

things,

but no! The steel plates thought they were grindthat sheltered him ing toward one another, moving together ominously! He leaped to his feet and began to scream out his surrender, but it was too late! The walls

THE CRYPT-KEEPER’S CORNER THE WHITE

Heh, heh! Guess all you EVANS fans can stop howling now! Gruesome George's biography and pitcher, as you probably noticed, and if you haven't, why not?, is on the inside front cover of this miserable mag. And now YOU can stop howling TOO, George! Ye Gods, glory all they these egotistical artists! Glory want is fame and fortune! Now take ME! All / want and all I get is FAMOUS! (INis FORTUNE famous would be a BETTER word, C.K., old boy /— any editors I don’t see them handing YOU laurel wreaths, you money-hungry perverts! (Money? What’s "money," Al? Duntto, Bill. Sounds familiar, but there sure ain’t been none of that stuff 'round HERE in some timel—ed.1 Aw, you poor, poor boys! Isn't it a pity! You'll have to drive your LAST YEAR'S Cadillacs for a white yet! (Bur CK.' The ASH-TRAYS are FULL.'—ed.) Reefer-butts, I presume! (Of course and RING-SIZE, too!—ed.) Oh, DIG those CRA-ZY proof-readers! Andnowforthe .

ALL OF ME OF ME ..

MAN!

TWO

mail

DAD

Dick

that

Mummified Myrna

CRA-ZY

SQUAD CAR

The

story by

Woman,"

(T.C.

tory

1 .

LADY OP PAIN (l will gore you!) GONE SQUISHIN’

here

90 mph!

Ray Bradbury, "There Was an Old No. 34) was tops. I read the original,

more than

justice

with his fine

illus-

Warren A. Freiberg III.

love your mag, but I think that stunk! What happened?

Ray Bradbury's

Ed Redling Patterson,

B.'s

Graham

EVERYBODY! Anywho, Mr. be happy to find E.C's adaptation of also illustrated by Ghastly

can't please

will

"The Handler"

... in the wind-up spot of this issue. Before closing, a couple of "it's-gonna-cost-you-moneyif'n-yer-sucker-enough-to-bite' announcements: limited number (seven hundred fifty-two thousand one hundred and sixty-nine) of copies of the 3rd annual TALES OF TERROR, E.C.'s anthology of horror and SuspenStories, are now cluttering up the office. Help us unload! 25c! Also subscriptions to any E,C. mag 75c ... 6 issues! Address for either or both of the above, mail, poetry, kicks, kisses, or 1953 Cadillacs ij: Ingfcls!

Ralph Chapman Anchorage, Alaska

doin'

leave!

Well, ya

Mr.

I’LL DISMEMBER APRIL! CAN’T HELP LOATHING THAT CLAN

Cicero,

FREIBERG

your "horror hit parade":

Dear C.K.,

trations!

u/hen she read your book, and she's been in the regurgitarium (a coined word, so don’t throw it up to me!) for the past week. 1 personally think yop must be crazy, but then aren't we all Edwin Zuretch Sandusky, Ohio

Most Beloved Crypt-Keeper, I'm a steady fan of yours, and enjoy all of the E.C. mags very much! Here are a few additional titles for

NEVER

but Ingels did

(Hey C.K.! Ditch the butt

(O.K., C.K.! They’re gone!—ed.) I thought they'd

o-eds!

iceberg'

in a

MAN!

Dear Pudge-Face,

CRA-ZY

COPS

[ZOOOOOOMMMM! ]

Just Plain Joyse

All of your stories turned everyone in the house a lovely shade of green. Aunt Minerva was eating

M err

Brookline, Mass.

DIG conies

—ed.)

slimy Syd

that

Maura (Mo) Miller Chicago, III. battleship!

How do you like: OLD MACDONALD WAS EMBALMED WHEN YOU AND I WERE HUNG, MAGGIE/ Davg g ore) eti an j

We are three intellectual college ghouls who spend our evenings reading your degenerate literature. The

Of*"'™

REAL GONE!

Dear Crypt-Keeper.

DIG

DIG that CRA-ZY .

protagonists in your most horrible stories remind us of some of our long-lost dates. (Now we know what happened to them!) Due to our advanced education, we are prbperly equipped to fully appreciate your subtlety and sarcasm. Please print this or we boycott! Deyou,,.

That dog

JUMBLEDEYEBALLS

THE BLOODIEST BITE OF THE EAR WANT A GHOUL JUST LIKE tHE GHOUL THAT BURIED DEAR OLD l

those

Dick Duggan Dubuque, Iowa

how about these?:

PROTAGONISTS??? Man! DIG

WHY NOT EAT ALL MY DEAD DOG

ROVER

OP DOVER

STIFFS ..

PUKIN' OVER

I’M

The Crypt-Keeper Room 706, Dept. 36 225 Lafayette St.

N.Y.C.12.N.Y.

HERE'S A TERROR-TALE OF SPORTING LIFE! I CALL IT..

D30C3

SALESMAN HAD ENABLED ROBERT TO KEEP UP THE DECEPTION FOR THREE EXCITING His JOB AS A TRAVELING

YEARS, rr HAD BEEN SO SIMPLE TO CARRY ON HIS DOUBLE LIFE, SPENDING A WEEK WITH AMY, A WEEK WITH JEAN, AND TWO WEEKS ON THE ROAD. YES, ROBERT SMITH WAS A BIGAMIST...

MUST YOU

KNOW HOW

CO.

BOB? YOU l GOT TO EARN A YOU WHEN L/Y/NC, amy; honey. I WELL, COCO-BYE. SEE YOU IN A MONTH.

MISS

L YOU'RE AWAY. T

Robert looked down at slim, darkhaired a my. she SMUGGLED SLEEPILY IN THE BED, REACHIN6 TOWARD KISS

ME 600D m BYE and wish

ME LUCK. THE NATIONAL

SAY? I ALMOST FORGOT. YOUR

WOMAN'S AMATEUR ATHLETIC [ COLE TOURNAMENT, TOURNAMENTS ARE TWO WEEKS I BOUCHT YOU J

-â&#x20AC;&#x201D;7

)

OFF... T

-7

SO METHING.

Robert went out to the

car.

UNLOCKED THE TRUNK. INSIDE WERE

TWO CAREFULLY WRAPPED PACKAGES. HE CHOSE ONE AND BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO THE

Amy

...

pot

down the package ahd

BEDROOM.

HERE, HONEY 1) FOR ME, FOR LUCK.' VI BOB? HOW SWEET.'

slipped her arms around Robert* WA/ T' oojrr opzn itI‘ 'you’re 5^ NECK NOW.' NOT UNTIL YOU GET TO YOUR 6QJ.F PUL, DARUNGM X REALLY HAVE TO ) BEASTf how GET SOINO, HONEY, /can BUSINESS TOURNAMENT, it’s [it’s Z^/F/pleaseI) be a SURPRISE.' IT ore MAY HELP YOU

Bgj;

)

-j

Srf

WIN...

h a* as it?

Robert slipped away ?rom Amy ano picked uphis BAGS. SHE FOLLOWED HIM TO THE OOOR... hi ATHLETIC WOMEN LITTLE DID I KNOW, when YOU'LL COME DOWN AND SEE \ OF COURSE, HONEY/ „ X SU66ESTED TO AMY that she TAKE UP OOLF ME PLAY, BOB? TWO WEEKS YOU KNOW X WOULDN'T WHILE I WAS AWAY ON THE ROAD, THAT SHE'D «*£ FROM TOMORROW.. .AT THE < MISS MYWIFE'S CAP- K ) BECOME SUCH AN EXPERT GOLFER. NOW N.WA.A.A. COURSE in SPR/NOA TURING THE WOMENS SHE'S ENTERED IN THE N.WA.A.A CHAMPION NATIONAL AMATEUR h DALE. I'LL be AT THE SHIPS... y HOTEL ? IVE RESERVED ) {.OOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ' ' DOUBLE I

ROOM?

The car roared north through small towns and over MILES OF HIGHWAYS UNTIL, THE NEXT NIGHT. BOB, MONEY.' I

THOUGHT,

YOU'D BE BACK TONIGHT? I

CAME HOME FROM

PRACTICE EARLY...

Zar—tMTWC

'JEAN, BABY.1

She tossed her book to the floor and he was HER ARMS. JEAN WAS HEAVIER THAN AMY. MORE MUSCULAR. HER HAIR FELL IN SOFT GOLDEN TRESSES ABOUT HER BARE SHOULDERS. AND X MISSED OH.OARUNG? I MISSED YOU, JEAN. I , YOU? MISSED YOU.' \

DON'T LIKE THIS

ONE- WEEK- A-

MONTH DEAL ANY MORE THAN YOU . 20t

DO...

HEH.HEH? WELL, KIDDIES, THAT'S THE LOVER BOT COMMUTED

PICTURE.

BETWEEN WIVES. ONE WEEK WITH SLIM, SWEET AMY.. ONE WEEK WITH,

The WEEK WAS OVER. JEAN AND BOB WERE SAVjN6 GOOD-BYE.

whaT/5^B0B? ) DOfPTOPEN

BUXOM JEAN. FOR THREE YEARS, THIS LITTLE RACKET HAD BEEN GOING ON. AMY TOOK UP GOLF WHILE ROBERT DARLING WAS'ON THE

ROAD’-

KNOW WHAT JEAN TOOK UP? READ

Yes,

JEAN

GESTED

SURPRISE-

J FOR

ME? Sz

)

/Jf JEAN? YOU MENTIONED SOME-

TH,NG

AB0UT A

TOURNAMENT LAST 1 was

MoNTH when ^yi^i HOME-. 1^

had taken up BOWLING. Robert had sug-

OF COURSE, JEAN.

WHERE 'D

IT.

THERE IS. AND TEHH/S COURTS. AND A POOL. THE HOLDS ALL

YOU SAY

A.A.A.

[well I'll. i'll TRY TO MAKE IT, HONEY. AT LEAST I'LL STOP BY 7 YOUR HOTEL TO WISH

TOURNAMENTS

VFOH

OWBLE

YOU

SPRINGDALE'

(nW.A.A.A.'S

the

‘

ALLEYS THERE-

WAS?

LUCKf^^^J

( OH, DARLING. ILL MAXI YOU SO PROUD OF ME. NOW... KISS ME GOOD-BYE-

B OB

SPEO OFF...^ heh.HEH.SO BOTH MY ATHLETIC WOMEN WILL BE IN THE SAME TOWN AT THE SAME TIME. WELL... THIS OUGHT TO BE FUN. I'M LUCKY THAT 'SMITH" IS A COMMON NAME. AMY AND JEAN WILL NEVER SUSPECT ANYTHING,

AND -*7

IF I

WORN

IT RIGHT...

WILL BE THE WISER.

BUT THEN, HAVEN'T THE

NO ONE

J-

I'M MRS. ROBERT

WHY... SORRY.NO ROOMS. l.\ YOU HAVE A RESERl}HUH ALL FILLED UP. VAT!OH FOR ME... (MRS ROBERT SORRY... ms, ROBERT SM/TH.Y I SMITH checked I

Jr-' L RESERVATION... J -

-\mm

TH/S

MORN!NO f

BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE

(

A OH, DEAR. THERE’S BEEN A

SMITH.) '

HERE'S YOUR LETTER

ACKNOWLEGING MY

M/STAKE. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE

TWO

MRS. ROBERT SMITHS.

1 SEE TOORE FROM CENTER ONE THAT REGISJ CITYf THE MORNING IS FROM... TERED THIS LET’S see... LANE VIEW, mat [

fj j

tw il

LAKEVIEW? DID II OH, MRS. SMITH. 1'USOf SEEMS WE HAVE [ HEAR SOMEONE ,> GLAD YOU'RE HERE, r! THE SAME MENTION LAKE-\ THERE'S BEEN A TER- J NAME, HONEY.. ^ RIBLE ERROR. LET / AND the same / VIEW. THAT'S jf MY... ME INTRODUCE YOU TO l ROOM RESERMR8. ROBERT SMITH. VATION. '

LAST

f THREE TEARS

FUN

GOING TO BE

Springdale's one hotel was a bustle of excitement ON THE FIRST DAY OF TOURNAMENT WEEK, THE LOBBY WAS JAMMEO...

hmmm. SPRINBBALE probably HAS ONLY ONE HOTEL, they'll BOTH BE THERE. yes,sir?W/5

LADIES f X HAVE A WELL, MV / SO'S MINE. BUY BRILLIANT IDEA fl HUSBAND is WE COULD DOUBLE COMING DOWN UP UNTIL THEY WHY DON'T YOU TWO SHARE THE (TO SEE ME J STRAIGHTEN THIS ROOM? I SEE THAT [ PLAY... tt MESS OUT.. H I

IT'S

A DOUBLE...

FIX THINGS

THIS IS I

OUR

AMY/ what's

YOURS?

I PLAY

HONEY.'MY name's K

ALL

FAULT.

SEE HIM.

HERE, BOY/ THANKS.

I 0 N LY

MY HUSBAND GAVE ME THIS IT'S

SUR-

PRISE. X WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IT WHEN I j—

WELL, HONEY...

a COIN-

ROBERT SMITH ,

AN AWFULLY

COMMON NAME 7

GUESS

SO.

MY BOB IS a TRAVELING SALESMAN...

IN HERE...

)

DID

YOU SAY

X GUESS

ONE WEEK

A MONTH? THAT'S ’

PACKAGE.

isn't

SAME MARRIED 'X name/

ROOM E04.

ONE WEEK A MONTH/

"—7 SOT HERE

SOLE

CIDENCE... X MEAN TAKE THESE J US HAVING THE EH.. .BOY/

fSP SO’S MINE

HARDLY

—

c'mon,

) I

OUR ARRANGEMENT J TOO/ }

THAT'S FUNNY* HAVE ONE. TOOf

SEE

HERE/

-r—rf

ALL TRAVEUNG

SALESMEN'S WIVES HAVE IT ROUSH. THAT'S WHY I . TOOK UP GOLF, r

SAME HERE... with .

The two girls struggleo with their packages. TEARING THEM OPEN NERVOUSLY. .

WHAT THE-?

MY BOWLING. IT GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DO/\ OH, I POROOT

6000 LORD/.

Amt

stareo at the shoes i THE ONE RUBBER SOLE AND

ONE LEATHER

Jean stared at her WITH METAL CLEATS

ONE..

THESE. ..THESE ARE ’

Then it dawned upon them. THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

gift..

THESE ARE SOLE SHOES.

BUT.

AND...

BUT

*->

PLAY GOLF/

BOWLING SHOES..

In silence they each rummaged THEY WERE LOOKING FOR, THEY HELD THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS UP.

THROUGH THEIR SUITCASES.TOSSING

—

[what THE?) HELLO,

And they found jean at the ALLEYS WHEN THEY CAME TO OPEN THEM up. she was practicing HER BOWLING

The NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE TOURNMENT STARTED, THE JUDGES FIRST GREEN OF

[

coheir)-.

OUR HUSBAND/)

BOai_lT>

( _

HEH.HEH. AND THE MORAL OF THE { i. STORY, KIDOIES, IS OON'TBE A WASHIE AND SPOON WITH a STUPE WIFE OR YOU'LL STRIKE OUT IN THE I LAST FRAME and nobody will < I

YELL FOUL, BECAUSE ONE WIFE IS PAR FOR THE COURSE, so IF YOU FEEL LIKE PINNING YOURSELF DOWN, DON'T SPLIT YOUR AFFEC- i TIONS. ONE BAG IS ENOUGH TGK

ANY DUFFER

HEH.HEHf AND NOW, THE OLD

WITCH

AWAITS TO windup MT

TERROR-MAG. 'BYE, NOW.

WJ&IUfL’ AJm

REM ember. old golfers NEVER DIE. .

A-

AS USING ROBERT'S EYEBALLS. j

J I

| I

V1 M

HEE.HEE' YEP, it's YOUR DIETICIAN OF DlSOUSftNO DRAMA. THE OLD MITCH. READ To S//R OH AWJThER 8TEHCH SHACK IN MY CAUlDROH HERE in THE HAUNT Of TEAR so COMETH. kiddies, AND SIT DOWN BY THE FIRE. THIS TIKE. MY MENU CONSISTS OF ANOTHER ADAPTION OF A TALE BY MT BOY. BRADBURY REVOLTING RAT. AS 1 AFFECTIONATELY CALL HIM. LISTEN TO RAT BRADBURFS SUPER*

M«. BENEDICT WALKED DOWN THE STEPS AND OUT THE SATE. WITHOUT ONCE L00KIN6 AT HIS LITTLE MORTUARY BUILDING. HE SAVED THAT PLEASURE FOR LATER. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THINGS TOOK THE RIGHT PRECEDENCE. IT WOULDN'T PAY TO THINK WITH JOY OF THE BODIES AWAITING HIS TALENTS IN THE MORTUARY BUIL0IN8. NO, IT WAS BETTER TO FOLLOW HIS USUAL ,OAY AFTER DAY ROUTINE. HE WOULD LET THE CONFLICT i

BEGIN...

M«. BENEDICT KNEW JUST WHERE TO GET HIMSELF ENRAGED, HE SPOKE WITH MR. RODGERS, THE DRUGGIST. AND HE SAVED AND PUT AWAY ALL THE SLURS AND INTONATIONS AND INSULTS... COLD ONE

COLD one

And on

Mr. RODGERS ALWAYS HAD SOME TERRIBLE THING TO

0H, HELLO, BENEDICT. HOW'S BUSINESS 0 I'LlVeS, YES' AND HOW'S BET YOU'RE GOING AT IT TOOTH AND YOUR BUSINESS, NAIL. 010 YOU SET T? I SAID MR. STUYVESANT? TOOTH AND.. .

-X

went, person after person.

SAY ABOUT A MAN IN THE FUNERAL PROFESSION. AND OUTSIDE THE DRUG-STORE, MR. BENEDICT MET UP WITH MR. STUYVESANT, THE CONTRACTOR. r

SAY, HOW DO YOUR HANDS GET SO COLD, r GOOD, GOOD' BENEDICT. OLD MAN? THAT'S A COLD â&#x20AC;¢ WELL. ..GO 00 SHAKE YOU GOT THERE. YOU JUST GET t DAY' , DONE EMBALMING A FRIGID WOMAN ? HEH, THAT'S NOT BAD, YOU HEARD

WHAT

Mr. benedict was the lake into WHICH ALL REFUSE WAS THROWN .

PEOPLE BEGAN WITH PEBBLES, AND WHEN MR. BENEOICT DID NOT RIPPLE. THEY HEAVED A STONE... A BRICK... A BOULDER... 'THERE YOU ARE, MEAT CHOPPER' HOW ARE ALL YOUR CORNED-BEEFS AND PICKLED BRAINS?

SAID ?

That was mr. flinger, the delicatessen MAN. THERE WERE MORE, MANY MORE. THINGS WORKED TO A CRESCENDO. FINALLY, MR.BENEDICT

T HE AWFUL PART OF THE DAY WAS OVER ...THE GOOD PART WAS NOW TO BEGIN f HE RAN EAGERLY UP THE STEPS OF HIS MORTUARY.

TURNED WILDLY AND RAN BACK THROUGH TOWN. H E WAS ALL READY NOW.. SOME BODY WAITIN' .

ON YOU, MR.BENEDICT? HEY ' OET /T* 1 SAID SOME F

He STOOD

FOR A LONG MINUTE IN THE VERY CENTER OF HIS THEATER. IN HIS HEAD APPLAUSe, PERHAPS,

THUNDERED. THEN HE CAREFULLY REMOVED HIS AND RUB-

walked along the sleeping rows of sheeted PEOPLE. IT HAD BEEN A PINE WEEKi THERE WERE ANY NUMBER OP FAMILY RELICS LYING THERE. HE NOTED EACH! NAME ON ITS WHITE CARD. .. (

W^MRs" WALTERS.

ANDREWS.

AH,

WAS YOUR TROUBLE. TOO MANY PROS TIES ANO SPONC/E CAKES and CREAM / CANDIES. YOU ALWAYS PRIDED YOUR- ^ SELF ON YOUR BRAIN, MRS. SHELLMUND. ,.J

BUT YOU KEPT THAT WONDERFUL PRICELESS BRAIN OF YOURS AFLOAT IN PAREA ITS AND FIZZES AND LIMEADES and SODAS AND WERE SO VERY SUPERIOR TO ME THAT NOW,

SHELLMUND, HERE SHALL HAPPEN.

MRS.

Then he put the skull back on and sewed it in AND HID THE MARKS WITH WAX AND POWDER AND WALKED ONTO THE NEXT TABLE. .. 4

^^GOOD

AFTERNOON, MR. WREN. AND HOW IS THE MASTER OF RACIAL HATREDS tdoay? PURE, WHITE LAUNDERED MR. wren. CLEAN SNOW, WHITE as LINEN. The man who hated JEWS and NEGROES, do you know what i'm going to DO to YOU, MR. WREN ? FIRST, LET US DRAW YOUR BLOOD FROM YOU, INTOLERANT FRIEND? _ /P?Z3

YOU'RE

MR. SMITH. MISS BROWN. MR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, ONE ANO ALL?

MR- BENEDICT PULLED UP A CHAIR ANO. REGARDED MRS. SHELLMUND THROUGH A M AGNIFYING GLASS. ^ /^MY DEAR MRS. SHELLMUND. DO YOU REALIZE, MY LADY.THAT YOU HAVE A SEBACEOUS CONDITION* F THE PORES? OIL and A CREASE PIMPLES, a rich.rich DIET

HOW ARE YOU TODAY, MRS. SHELLMUND? SPLENDID, DEAR LADY?

LOOKING

WHAT

Mr. benedict did a neat operaTION ON HER. CUTTING THE SCALP IN A CIRCLE, HE LIFTED IT OFF, THEN LIFTED OUT THE BRAIN.THEN HE PREPAREO A CAKE CONFECTIONERS UTTLE SUGAR-BELLOWS AND SQUIRTED HER EMPTY HEAD FULL OF WHIPPED CREAM AND CRYSTAL RIBBONS.STARS AND FROLLIPS.IN PINK.WHITE AND GREEN, AND ON TOP HE PRINTED A FINE PINK SCROLL..

NOW... THE INJECTION OF, YOU MIGHT SAY,

EMBALMING FLUID.

R. BENEDICT MOVED ON. ANO HELLO TO YOU, EDMUND WORTH. WHAT A HANOSOME BODY YOU HAD. POWERFUL, WITH MUSCLES PINNED FROM HUGE BONE TO HUGE BONE, AND A CHEST LIKE A BOULDER WOMEN GREW SPEECHLESS WHEN YOU WALKED BY...MEN ENVY?

MR WREN, SNOW-WHITE, LINEN PURE, LAY WITH THE FLUID GOING IN HIM. MR BENEDICT LAUGHED. MR WREN TURNED BLACK ...BLACK AS DIRT... BLACK AS NI6HT..

IT HE

;

EMBALMING FLUIO WA5-/Atr/ it waS a growing and popular habit in the TOWN FOR PEOPLE TO BE BURIED WITH THE COFFIN LIUS CLOSED OVER THEM DURING THE SERVICE, THIS GAVE MR. BENEDICT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO VENT HIS REPRESSIONS ON HIS HAPLESS GUESTS. HE HAO THE MOST UTTERLY WCNDROUS FUN WITH A GROUP OF OLD MAIDEN LADIES WHO WERE MASHED IN AN AUTO ON THEIR WAY TO AN AFTERNOON TEA. THEY WERE FAMOUS GOSSIPS, ALWAYS WITH HEAOS TOGETHER OVER SOME CHOICE BIT. AS IN LIFE, ALL THREE WERE CROWDED INTO ONE CASKET, HEADS TOGETHER

Since

Mr BFNEDlCT SEVERED WORTH'S HEAD, PUT COFFIN ON A SMALL PI LLOW, FAC ING UP. THEN HE PLACED ONE HUNDRED NINETY POUNDS OF BRICKS If THE COFFIN ANO ARRANGEO THEM TO LOOK LIKE A BODY. IT

WAS A

FINE ILLUSION

...

The OTHER TWO CASKETS WERE

Not

FILLEO WITH PEBBLES AND SHELLS ANO RAVELS OF GINGHAM. IT WAS A ICE SERVICE. EVERYBODY CRIEDâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

JUSTICE, MR ( RICH MAN STAI

THOSE THREE INSEPARABLES, AT LAST SEPARATELY

ETERNAL COLD PETRIFIEO GOSSIP

lacking -

A POOR MAN HE BURIED WOUND IN GOLD CLOTH, WITH FIVE DOLLAR GOLD PIECES FOR BUTTONS ANO TWENTY DOLLAR GOLD COINS ON EACH EYELID-

MR. BENEDICT MOVED FROM BODY TO BODY IN HIS MORTUARY. THE FINAL BODY OF THE DAY WAS THE BODY OF ONE MERRIWELL BLYTHE, AN ANCIENT MAN AFFLICTED WITH SPELLS AND COMAS. MR. BLYTHE

The olo man on the slab wailed, rolling his eyes ABOUT IN HIS HEAD IN WHITE ORBITS... r OH, YOU DARK DARK THING. YOU AWFUL THING, YOU ( NO.. FIEND. YOU MONSTER.GET ME UP FROM HERE/lU'w. TELL THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE, YJ OH, YOU DARK DARK THING" YOU DEFILER ANDâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; /i SADIST you PERVERTED SCOUNDREL TOU^^yf ^ TERRIBLE MAN... J

TO THINK THIS HAS GONE ON IN OUR TOWN \SORRY... ALL THESE YEARS AND WE NEVER KNEW THE 1 THE THINGS YOU DID TO PEOPLE f OH YOU the things you SAID." THE THINGS YOU DO f

hm.

MONSTROUS MONSTER,

(MR. BENEDICT REACHED FOR A HYPODERMIC.

W^k

Mr. BENEDICT STABBED MR. BLYTHE IN THE ARM WITH THE NEEDLE. THE OLO MAN CRIED WILDLY TO ALL THE SHEETED FIGURES roilfHELP me' /j YOU OUf THERE.UNDER

THE STONES, HELP ME? LISTEN.'

T HE OLO MAN HE

FELL BACK. HE KNEW WAS DYING-.

all , Listen' he's done this TO ME, AND rou, AND you, all OF YOU. HE'S OONE TOO MUCH, TOO LON6. DON'T TARE it? OON'T, DON'T LET HIM DO ANY

TO ANYONE.'

|MR- BENEDICT STOOP THERE.

THEY

CAN'T DO r OUT OF YOUR ANYTHING TO ME. - GRAVES. HELP \ AND NEITHER CAN ME? TONMSHT, )

g 'OR TOMORROW. OR SOON. BUT COME AND FIX HIM. ..THIS

^ MANf ^ f HORRIBLE

The OLD MAN RAVED ON AND

ON, GETTING WEAKER. IT WAS NIGHT.

THE ROOM WAS SUDDENLY VERY DARK. IT

.-And

in the end, there was mr. benedict running ABOUT, RUNNING ABOUT, VANISHING, AND A TORTURED SCREAM THAT COULD ONLY BE MR. BENEDICT HIMSELFâ&#x201E;¢

The town people entered the mortuary the next MORNING. THEY SEARCHEO THE MORTUARY SUILOING AND THEN WENT OUT INTO THE GRAVEYARO. ANO THEY FOUND NOTHING BUT 8L000, A VAST OUANTITY OF BLOOD, SPRINKLED AND THROWN AND SPREAD EVERYWHERE YOU COULD POSSIBLY LOOK, AS IF THE HEAVENS HAD BLED PROFUSELY IN THE NIGHT...

Walking through the graveyard, they stood in DEEP TREE SHADOWS WHERE STONES, ROW ON ROW, WERE OLO AND TIME-ERASED ANO LEANING. NO BIRDS SANG. THEY STOPPED BY ONE TOMBSTONE...

FRESHLY SCRATCHED, AS IF BY FEEBLY, A VILLAGER POINTED TO THE OTHER FRANTIC.HASTY FINGERS IN THE GRAVESTONES. UPON EACH AND OReVISM,MOS8- FLECKED STONE WAS EVERY STONE, SCRATCHED BY FINTHE NAME -MR. BENEDICT. GERNAIL SCRATCHIN0S.THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED MR. BENEDICT. GOOO f LOOK. ..OVER LORD? HERE. THIS ONE TOO. . AND THIS ONE. AND THIS ONEâ&#x20AC;&#x17E;

HE TOWN PEOPLE WERE STUNNED. HE.

HE COULDN'T BE BURIED

UNDER ALL THESE GRAVESTONES ?

They stood there for one long moment, instinctively they ALL LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER NERVOUSLY IN THE SILENCE AND THE TREE DARKNESS. THEY ALL WAITED FOR AN ANSWER. WITH FUMBLING SENSELESS LIPS.ONE OF THEM REPLIED, SIMPLY.

HEE.HEEf SO, THAT'S THE O/SH, DRIES. HOPE YOU FOUND IT A TASTY TALE. THIS BOY BRADBURY HAS QUITE AN IMAGINATION. WOULON'T YOU SAY? WELL, THAT ABOUT winds UP THE CRYPT -KEEPER'S MAS. I'LL POUR SOME BLOOD ON THE FIRE UNDER MT CAULDRON, L LAP UP THE LAST JUST

TRACE OF THIS ISSUE'S CULINARY CONCOCTION, AND GET READY FOR MY

NEXT HORROR HELPING, wh ICH WILL BE

THE

VAULT-KEEPER? MAG, THE VAULT

OF HORROR f BYE. NOW?

^AZiMtc jz/im/ed

0/ c/im

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m 7J0737JUl-i

Pi V\ /Uj FEATURING

VtwwA Wj/zil lly

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE OLD WITCH

THE VAULT-KEEPER

w[£®l$(oK? U IS lAi IA5 vvlAJ

HEH, HEH( BACK FOR MORE, FIENDISH FANS? WELCOME AGAIN TO THE CRAWLY CRYPT. THIS IS YOUR CRYPTMASTER OF SCARE- A- MONIES, AND A-/ TERROR -TALE- TELLER... .. .^OW. HOST in HOWLS, READY TO REVEAL ANOTHER REVOLTING RECITATION FROM MY LIBRARY Of LOATHSOME LITERATURE. THIS SPINE-TINGLING SCREAM- STORY WILL BE TOLD BY A DR. CARL WINSTON, IN HIS OWN WHIMPERING WORDS. DR. WINSTON... IF YOU PLEASE... GO AHEAD WITH THE YELP-YARN YOU CALL..

KEEPER

jmm Joseph Fairbanks and i had been life-long FRIENDS. WE’D MET IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND THROUGH OUR INTERNSHIP AND ON INTO OUR PRACTICING YEARS OUR FRIENDSHIP HAD GROWN. JOSEPH HAD BECOME ONE OF THE NATION'S OUTSTANDING SURGEONS, AND l'D ENJOYED NO SMALL SUCCESS AS A HEART SPECIALIST. / NEITHER OF US HAD MARRIED AND CONSQUENTLY, AS / WE'D GROWN OLDER, WE'D SOUGHT EACH OTHER'S COM- / PANY MORE AND MORE TO FILL THE LONELINESS OF BACHELOR LIFE. WHEN OUR VIRILE DAYS HAD PASSED, \ AND A CONTENTMENT FOR JUST SITTING BY AN OPEN FIRE AND SIPPING BRANDY HAD COME UPON US, WE'D MADE ITA POINT TO VISIT EACH OTHER'S HOMES AT / LEAST ONCE A W EEK. USUALLY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. ..

GOOD EVENING, [

JOSEPH.*

COME

IN,

CARL. .'

COME

COURSE, JOSEPH AND I HAD HAD OUR DIFFERENCES, TOO, LIKE THAT SILLY THEORY OF HIS THAT HE WOULD UNFAILINGLY BRING UP EVERY TIME WE WERE TOGETHER-

Since neither Joseph nor i had families or CLOSE RELATIVES, IN DEFERENCE TO OUR CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WE HAD ARRANGED OUR WILLS SO THAT WE WERE

EACH OTHERS' INHERITORS.

'BUT,

ACTUALLY

CARL, HOW DO

KNOW? HOW

A MAN IS

DO WE

BECAUSE,MY DEAR yJOSEPH, HEART

KNOW )

HIS

REALLY DEAD ? JHAS STOPPED / THE BLOOD NO LONGER

WHO'S TO SAY THAT HE

CANNOT HEAR OR SEE ^

OR FEEL WHAT

AROUND

I THINK THAT THE OLDER WE'D GOTTEN, THE MORE CHILDISH WE'D BECOME ABOUT THIS CONTINUOUS DISAGREEMENT OVER JOSEPH'S RIDICULOUS THEORY. WE'D COME TO FIGHT ABOUT IT AS TWO CHILDREN FIGHT OVER WHO'S TO BE ’IT' IN TAG (

BUT ISN'T IT POSS/BLE,CML,Y THAT THE SENSORY

FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY CAN CONTINUE

AH. ..THAT IS THE POINT, CARL' SUPPOSE THE BRAIN CELLS DO NOT DIE MINUTES AFTER THE HEART STOPS. SUPPOSE THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE FOR HOURS... MAYBE DAYS?

GOING HIM? IS

TO HIS BRAIN/ THE CELLS DIE FOR LACK

FLOWS ON

OXYGEN

REDUCED BUT WE \/'lN THEIR NORMAL KNO W \ STATE... YES . BUT SUPPOSeX METAB~ THAT BRAIN THAT AT THE MOMENT OF \ OL/SM?f SHOCK?/ CELLS / HEART CESSATION... HOW CANNOT J WHETHER THROUGH BODY LAST <1 INJURY OR SIMPLE <f RIDICULOUSf FIFTEEN Y FAILURE... SUPPOSE that the BRAIN CELLS \ M/NUTES WITHOUT I GO INTO A STATE OF

0XY6EN/A S HOCK. ..OF REDUCED A

METABOLISM...

AFTER WHAT WE ( l

PRESUMPTUOUSLY 1 CALL 'DEATH'?

RIDICULOUS? no'

POSSIBLE/ VERY

IN A STATE OF SHOCK, WHERE the functions of the brain CELL WERE CURTAILED, THE LITTLE OXYGEN LEFT IN THE PROTOPLASM

POSSIBLE f V

SO A

MAN

/EXACTLY/ THINK CORPSES YOU'VE

DEAD

NOT

REALLY

DEAD

JOSEPH' OF THE NUMBER OF SEEN EYES TtHIS THEORY

WHOSE ARE STILL OPEN... WHOSE EYES WE THOUGHTFULLY PRESS CLOSED WITH PENNIES or WADS OF COTTON UNDER THE LIDS. THINK OF THE HORROR OF HAVING YOUR EYES FORCED SHUT AND

HELD SHUT...

WHEN YOUR EYES CAN STILL

SEE...

OF YOURS IS

SHEER

POPPY COCK/

„

)

WE WERE JUST LIKE CHILDREN. X HAD TO THREATEN TO LEAVE IN ORDER TO GET JOSEPH I SAID,

TO STOP HIS NONSENSE. THE REST OF THE EVENING WOULD BE PLEASANJ AND WE'D REMAIN THE BEST OF FRIENDS. BUT LAST NIGHT WAS DIFFERENT. LAST NIGHT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

^ SI T DOWN, CARL^ T YES, JOSEPH f WILL IT BE THE "S BRANDY WILL

USUAL? BRANDY

Last

night we'd sat before the fire, sipping our BRANDIES, AND JOSEPH DIDN'T ONCE BRING UP HIS RIDICULOUS THEORY. INSTEAD HE TALKED OF INVESTMENTS AND BAD LUCK AND SOME SUCH NONSENSE. I HADN'T PAID MUCH ATTENTION. FACT IS, I'D THOUGHT OF A NEW ARGUMENT AGAINST HIS THEORY AND WAS WAITING, MULLING IT OVER IN MY MIND...

LEND, CARL? DON'T BE SILLY.' I'M TARING IT'

YOUR

WHOLE FORTUNE' YOU SEE

...I'VE

POISONED YOUR BRANDY-.

JOSEPH .

NO'

FINE

THAT'S RIGHT CARL. AND I'M *HY I'LL GLADLY BADLY IN DEBT I NEED LEND YOU WHAT MONEY' A GREAT DEAL ^(you NEED, JOSEPH ;

I WAS HALF-WAY

ACROSS THE ROOM WHEN I SIMPLY COLLAPSEO TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO MOVE. I TRIED TO SPEAK. IT WAS AS THOUGH I WERE COMPLETELY PARALYZED...

HE CAME AND STOOD OVER

ME. I COULD SEE CLEARLY, YET I COULDN'T MOVE MY EYES. THEY WERE GLUED IN THE ONE POSITION. JOSEPH MOVED INTO MY LINE OF VISION AND KNELT BESIDE ME. I FELT HIM LIFT MY

GOOD-BYE, CARL. THANK YOU FOR THE INHERITANCE.

[CX.

NO PULSE. YOU'RE DEAD, CARL' STONE DEAD'

DOCTOR CARL WINSTON NOT OH JUST DIED.' YES AT

Dead? how could i be dead? i COULD SEE...T could FEEL... r could HEAR Joseph dialing the telephone.

)

Y —MY HOUSE/ HEART m m. hin '

PL EASE..

attack...

I HEARD JOSEPH HANG

UP. I HEARD HIM APPROACH AND I SAW HIS FACE WHEN HE LEANED OVER ME... HIS

LEERING

HELLO, NORTON FUNERAL PARLOR ? THAT YOU, BEN? THIS IS DOCTOR JOSEPH

FACE...

r»

POOR CARL' HOW WE USED TO ARGUE... ABOUT SILLY .J&S THEORIES. ..THEORIES THAT

I DIDN'T BELIEVE MYSELF/

FAIRBANKS. YOU'D BETTER GET OVER HERE AND BRING X, YOUR WICKER. /

lord,

COULDN'T

what he was saying to HEAR...

KNOWING

me..

WAS DEAD.

BUT I NEVER COULD GET YOU ANGRY ENOUGH, COULD I, CARL? I NEVER COULD GET YOU SO UPSET YOU'D DROP DEAD f NO/ I HAD TO POISON YOU TO GET YOUR MftS L MONEY... your ESTATE... *$ I

&&&

Then, a pain... a horrible excruciating pain in MY CHEST... AND JOSEPH GRINNING DOWN AT ME AND BRAGGING... 1

'IT WILL BE SIMPLE, CARL. I'M A PHYSICIAN. I'LL SIGN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE. DEATH,. BY NATURAL CAUSES. NO ONE WOULD QUESTION A

SURGEON'S WORD. ..ah. ..THE BELL/ S kTHE UNDERTAKER IS HERE...

Ben NORTON CAME

in looking VERY SAD. JOSEPH'S VOICE CHANGED. NOW, AS HE SPOKE, HE SOUNDED GENUINELY BEREAVED... f ~ | it was AWFUL ben/Xhow'd it AWFUL f ONE MINUTE, L. HAPPEN, SITTING AND DRINKING/) DOC? THE NEXT MINUTE, I

UajM

DEAD.'’ r-n

/TflHE^i

WE WERE ARGU/NG ABOUT SOMETHING OR OTHER. ICAL

TOO BAD. SUCH

NICE GUY'

A MEDTHEORY OF

WELL...I LL GET HIS BODY ON L DOWNTOWN... 1

CARL WAS A SHOUT/NG. HE MUST HAVE BECOME TOO EMOTIONALLY UPSET. HIS HEART... MINE.

I'LL GO W/TH YOU, BEN' OH... SINCE I’M THE

ONLY ONE

\f \(

SURE.' WHY

WASTE TIME/

K> I GOT A THE \ WICKER

^ \

WORLD CARL HAD...] THE TRUCK. NO FAMILY, TOO J C'MON AND KNOW... THERE'S

\HELP

ME...

NO USE ORAGGING njflm THIS OUT ARRANGE FOR A SMALL JjksjgmBSSk | D/GN/F/ED FUNERAL...

mrr

TOMORROW ...AWK^-

WHO ARE READING THIS STORY' HOW CAN I FELT? HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE HORROR THAT CREPT UP MY RIGID SPINE? I WAS DEAD... DEAD BY ALL STANDARDS. AND YET I COULD FEEL... COULD HEAR... COULD SEE THINGS MOVE AS THEY LIFTED ME AND PLACED ME INTO THE WICKER...fj You... YOU

YOU UNDERSTAND HOW

r HEAVY

THOUGH. HEAVY PEOPLE ARE

I COULD SEE THEM LOOKING DOWN AT ME. BUT COULDN'T BLINK... COULDN'T MOVE AN EYELID...

COULDN'T LIVE...

TlOOK,

bln. his EYES...

EVER AGAIN... 'W\( yeah. I KNOW.

Wg/

THEY'RE

OPEN. ALMOST LIKE HE WAS SEEIN US, E H? WELL...

MflflH

MORE APT TO SUFFER kheart trouble...

Ben reached down and x

felt his fingertips touch

MY EYELIDS, PUSHING THEM CLOSED. AND NOW I WAS SHROUDED IN THE DARKNESS OF DEATH. BUT X COULD STILL HEAR. X COULD STILL FEEL THEM LIFT THE WICKER AND CARRY ME. I COULD IMAGINE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY WERE PUTTING ME INTO THE BACK OF THE BLACK PANEL TRUCK WITH THE BLACK CURTAINED WINDOWS -i

B'y

C AN'

FEEL THE BUMPS—

IN THE FRONT... HEAR THE ENGINE START... FEEL THE MOTION OF RIDING. ..RIDING INTO TOWN TO THE FUNERAL PARLOR ...

WELL. ..HERE WE ARE. a

HELP ME GET HIM OUT...

WHY...?

I COULD HEAR THEM GET

X COULD HEAR THE BACK DOORS OPEN AGAIN. I COULD FEEL THE WICKER BEING LIFTED AND CARRIED INTO THE COLD WHITE ROOM WITH THE NEEDLES AND TUBES. I COULD SMELL THE PERFUME THAT TRIED TO HIDE THE FORMALDEHYDE ODOR... PUT .

GET THINGS READY CARE TO WATCH?

I'LL

DOWN A

HERE...

X FELT WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN A NEEDLE ENTERING MY ARM. BUT THERE WAS NO PAIN. JOSEPH HAD BEEN WRONG. THERE WAS NO PAIN, EVEN AS THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD DRIPPED OUT OF MY BODY AND I HEARD IT GURGLING DOWN A DRAIN SOMEWHERE M

I COULD HEAR THE RUSTLING WHISPER OF HOSES, THE SHARP CLINKING OF BOTTLES, THE HUM OF

PUMP-MOTORS STARTING..

DRAIN THE BL OOD.

FIRST...** .

I COULD FEEL MYSELF BEING LIFTED... BEING PLACED ON A COLD SURFACE.. A MARBLE TABLE ... =EtMjailB

SEE.

Another pump, another needle PRESSING AGAINST MY DEAD FLESH.

MORE GURGLING- [ I'LL SEE ABOUT ii

COFFIN.f

,Â»

* NOW THE EMBALMING M. FLUID?

JOSEPH DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HIS MONEY WASTED. NOT TOO EXPENSIVE. I WANTED TO SCREAM. BUT HOW COULD I? DEAD MEN DON'T SCREAM. THEY ONLY LIE STIFFLY... LISTENING... FEELING... AND CRYING

REASONABLE. TOO' L.

HELP ME GET HIM INTO IT? J

I WAS BEING LIFTED AGAIN. NOW I COULD FEEL THE SMOOTH SATIN AGAINST MY DEAD HANDS. THE CAMPHOR SMELL OF NEWNESS. 1 WAS BEING PUT INTO MY COFFIN. THERE.

now...

YOU'LL

ARRANGE

EVERYTHING....THE FUNERAL. THE PLOT? .

— HOW

LONG I LAY THERE I DO NOT KNOW. PERHAP: TIME, TO ONE DEAD, IS IMMEASURABLE. THE LID WAS SLAMMING OOWN...|rf j «>-' » va

WAS BEING MOVED AGAIN. A VOICE. EULOGIZING ME... MY FUNERAL ORATIC I WAS HEARING IT ALL...|^—^jj

AND SO, IN PARTING, MAY I ADD... CARL WINSTON LIVED... HE DIED. BUT HIS MEMORY.. HIS WORK. ..LIVES AFTER

And

THE CHAPEL

FILLED. THEY'RE WAITING... Y

THE HOLLOW BOOM

AIR. I

ING

MOTOR. THE COOLNESS OF OPEN WAS BEING LOWERED INTO THE GRAVE. THE VOICE ASHES TO 1

now, the shoveling has stopped, there LAUGHTER AND VOICES... THAT'S ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT. OPEN IT UP.

OF DIRT CRASH-

DOWN UPON THE COFFIN

LID.

HORROR... THE SCREAMING SILENT

HORROR OF

IT...

ASHES... DUST

DUST...

The

lid is creaking open, a rush of fresh CARESSES MY FACE... T" MIl^M I

—

CARL' ARE YOU ^ CONVINCED? ARE —sr YOU?

air

THE

FINGER TOUCHES MY EYES. THE NIGHT STARS TWINKLE DOWN AT ME. JOSEPH'S FACE CUTS ACROSS THEM,

IT WAS A GAG, CARL. I WANTED TO 'W' DOC. IT'S SHOW YOU THAT MY THEORY COULD / FIVE- THIRTY' BE RIGHT' YOU ALMOST BELIEVED} SHOULDN'T HE IT, DIDN'T YOU CARL? DIDN'T YOU? I BE COMING OUT

tr-lm

THE STARS HAVE GONE AND I FEEL THE SUN ON MY FACE. JOSEPH IS PLEADING WITH ME ...TEARS IN HIS EYES. BEN

It'S MORNING NOW.

-jftnii

IT?

HEH.HEHf SO NEXT TIME YOU MEET A

CORPSE, KIDDIES BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY, EH? YOU MI6HT hurt \TS NONFEELINGS. and NOW THAT YOU'VE FIN,

ISHED TELLING US YOUR LITTLE TALE, CARL, YOU CAN GO CRAWL BACK INTO YOUR COFFIN AGAIN AND I'LL TUCK YOU IN WITH A BLANKET OF GRAVEGRAVEL. WHILE I'M SHOVELING, FIENDS, WHY DON'T YOU SHOVEL ALONG TO THE VAULT-KEEPER WHO, BREATHLESSLY AND DRIPPING DROOL, AWAITS WITH HIS GUEST-SPOT GORE-TALE, COMPLETE WITH GUARANTEED ACCOMPANYING NIGHT-

Poof Joseph mm TO

his

much for me HAVE ACCEPTED IT f ONLY HE WON'T HE GOES THROUGH WHAT I'VE

theory, he wanted so

ACCEPT IT. AND NOW HE'S RIGHT NOT

KNOW

UNTIL

AM DEAD. I DIED OF A HEART ATTACK JUST BEFORE THE UNDERTAKER GAMEf GONE THROUGH. FOR

MARE. I'LL

DIG

WELCOME to the VAULT OF HORROR, HIDIOTS. this is YOUR SCREAM-STORY-SPINNER, THE VAULTKEEPER, WAITING TO NARRATE another NAUSEATING TALE from MY ORE EPS -COLLECTION. SO COME IN.) AND I'LL BEGIN. THIS WILL BE A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR YOU. .. SO RELAX, AND BECOME THE\ MAIN CHARACTER in A STORY that ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO YOU I CALL THIS YELP-YARN HEH.HEH.f

mmsmm

SIT DOWN,

IS AS IF YOU WERE SUDDENLY MOLDED OUT OF SILENCE AND INFINITE BLACKNESS AND YOU ARE NOW STANDING IN A STORMSWEPT FOREST, FEELING THE WIND ON YOUR FACE AND HEARING THE SIGHING TREES BENDING UNDER ITS ONSLAUGHT. YOU CANNOT REMEMBER ANYTHING BEFORE THIS MOMENT. THE PAST IS A VOID WITHOUT MEMORIES OR RECOLLECTIONS, AND YOU KNOW ONLY THAT YOUR

There

is a crawling fear in you, feux purdy. you STAND BELOW THE TOWERING WINDSWEPT TREES AND THE CLOUDS ABOVE LOOM LIKE MYSTERIOUS GHOSTSHAPES THAT HURRY BY BELOW A COLD MOON. YOUR HANDS TREMBLE AND YOUR BLOOD RUNS COLD AND YOUR HEART THROBS WILDLY IN YOUR CHEST. AND THEN YOU HEAR THE INHUMAN HOWL...

Sheer terror roots you to the SPOT AND YOU SWAY LIKE THE TREES THAT SURROUND YOU... WAITINGAS THE HOWLING THING COMES CLOSER. AND THEN IT BURSTS FROM THE BLACK 0VER6R0WTH, AND THE GHOST-CLOUDS PART SO THAT THE COLD MOON ILLUMINATES IT... LISTENING...

And now

youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re running, felix, and SCREAMING, AND THE INHUMAN WOLFTHING IS LOPING AFTER YOU, FANGS BARED AND SPITTLE DROOLING

YOU RUN TILL YOUR HEART IS A HAMMER SLAMMING INSIDE YOUR CHEST. NOW YOU CAN FEEL THE HOT FOUL BREATH OF THE WEREWOLF

FROM

CLOSE BEHIND

ITS

FLAME-RED MOUTH...

SUDDENLY YOUR LEGS ARE RUBBER COLLAPSING BENEATH YOU AND YOU SPRAWL ON THE GROUND. THE WEREWOLF IS OVER YOU, ITS BLAZING EYES STARING DOWN, A LOW TRIUMPHANT GROWL ERUPTING FROM ITS HEAVING CHEST. IT HESITATES, WAITING WHILE YOU SCREAM AND COWER

YOU...

AND THEN IT SPRINGS UPON YOU, AND ITS RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS ARE TEARING AT YOUR FLESH AND ITS KNIFE-LIKE FANGS ARE SINKING INTO YOUR BODY AND PULLING AND RIPPING AND SLASHING...

BEHIND UPRAISED PROTECTING ARMS...

Suddenly there

is blackness around you, ending the ENDING THE HORROR. AND THEN THE BLACKNESS FADES AND YOU ARE STANDING IN AN ALLEYWAY BETWEEN

PAIN,

TALL BUILDINGS WITH BOARDED WINDOWS AND LOCKED DOORS AND YOU ARE AFRAID AGAIN...

YOU KNOW YOU ARE FELIX PURDY AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE A HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHER. BUT YOU CANNOT REMEMBER ANYTHING OF YOUR PAST... YOUR CHILDHOOD... LAST YEAR... LAST MONTH. YOU'VE SUDDENLY FOUND YOURSELF... AND YOU ARE YOU... AND THERE IS NO YESTERDAY... AND NOW YOU ARE IN AN ALLEY... AND

A SHADOW LEAPS ACROSS THE GAPING ENTRANCE TO THE ALLEY. YOU COWER BACK INTO THE GLOOM. IT PEERS IN, ITS SLANTED EYES GLOWING, ITS NEEDLELIKE FANGS GLITTERING...

BREEZE STIRS, RUSTLING PAPERS ON A TRASH PILE BEHIND YOU, SPINNING UP THE ALLEYWAY, CARRYING YOUR SCENT TO THE VAMPIRE'S SENSITIVE NOSTRILS. IT LIFTS ITS ARMS AND THE BLACK CAPE DRAPES FROM THEM LIKE BAT-WINGS AND THERE IS A DULL BEATING SOUND AS IT SEEMS TO GLIDE TOWARD YOU. .

For A MOMENT YOU STAND CRINGING, FLATTENED AGAINST THE BUILDING WALL LIKE A YELLOWED POSTER, WATCHING IN MORBID FASCINATION AS THE BLOOD- HUNGRY BEAST MOVES TOWARD YOU..

And then horror strikes

at you,

SENDING YOU FLAILING DOWN THE ALLEY...

DOWN

INTO

THE SHADOWS..

And now the vampire is bending over you and you CAN FEEL ITS NEEDLE- FANGS SINKING DEEP INTO YOUR THROAT AND ITS DRY LIPS SUCKING AROUND THE WOUNDS, DRAWING IN THE RED LIFE-FLUID IT CRAVES.. .

NOW EVERYTHING

The board fence

is high and flat AND EXPRESSIONLESS. YOU FALL AGAINST IT SOBBING. IT'S A BLIND ALLEY, AND YOU ARE TRAPPED... AND THE BEATING SOUND IS BEHIND YOU.. CLOSING IN ON YOU. YOU SINK TO YOUR KNEES...

IS FADING AND THERE IS DARKNESS AGAI N AND YOU ARE STANDING IN A 6RAVEYARD AND YOUR EYES ARE FILLED WITH TEARS. YOU ARE FELIX PURDY, SCHOOL TEACHER, WITH NO YESTERDAY AND NO TOMOR-

And then you hear the dragging sound... the sound of FEET LONG DEAD AND DECOMPOSED AND CRAWLING WITH DECAY AND THE SLIME OF THE GRAVE. YOU HEAR THE DRAGGING FOOTSTEPS IN THE CHILL OF THE NIGHT, MOVING SLOWLY, PAINFULLY, UPON THE MOUNDS AND AROUND THE GRAVE MARKERS AND OVER THE DRY GRASS. AND YOU WAIT. .

with the silence of DEATH AND THE TOMBSTONES ARE BLANK FACES THAT DO NOT SMILE OR CRY OR SHOW PITY FOR THE MOUNDS ARE HEAPED HIGH OVER THE YOU. LATE AND DEPARTED AND THEIR GRASS IS YELLOWED FROM WINTER'S CHILL. YOU STAND AND WAIT, HALF- EXPECTING, HALF- KN OWING...

The graveyard echoes

THIS IS WHAT I am LIVING THIS is WHY I AM HERE/ I been CREATED... so that DIE.

-DIE

FOR f

i can

HUNDRED HORRIBLE

Your eyes bore

into

the darkness and

YOU SEE THE ROTTING FOUL- SMELLING CORPSE STUMBLING TOWARD YOU. YOU GRIT YOUR TEETH, FIGHTING OFF THE REVULSION THAT

But your LIFE DOES NOT fade. ONLY THE SCENE FADES ONCE MORE, AND YOU STILL EXIST. THE BLACKNESS DESCENDS LIKE A CURTAIN AND LIFTS. AND THE GUILLOTINE RISES INTO THE MOONLIGHT...

And NOW THE THING IS UPON YOU AND ITS ODOR SEARS YOUR NOSTRILS AND YOUR STOMACH HEAVES AND YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH SO AS NOT TO SUCK THE FETID STENCH INTO YOUR LUNGS. YOU FEEL THE PUTRID ARMS AROUND YOU AND THE MOLDY FLESH FALLING AWAY AND THE BONE FINGERS CRUSHING THE LIFE FROM

YOU ARE FELIX PURDY, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. YOU ARE RESIGNED TO IN THIS GORY MATINEE. YOU WALK TO THE GUILLOTINESTEPS AS IF YOU HAVE REHEARSED

YOUR ROLE

THIS ACTION WELL...

YOU LOOK UP AT THE GLEAMING BLADE HANGING BETWEEN THE TRACKS THAT CLIMB TOWARD THE STARLESS SKY.

YOU KN E

RESIGNED...

WHAT FIEND HAS DEVISED THIS.. .THIS

EXISTENCE FOR

YOU PLACE YOUR HEAD IN THE HOLLOWED KNIFE-BED AND YOU STARE DOWN AT THE WOVEN BASKET WAITING PATIENTLY TO RECEIVE ITS DUE. YOU HEAR THE BLADE SQUEELING

And now you are behind the BLACK CURTAIN AGAIN, WAITING FOR THE NEXT TORTUROUS SCENE TO BE UNVEILED. YOU FLOAT IN A SEA OF DARKNESS... CRYING, WAITING,

DOWNWARD AND AN INVOLUNTARY CRY ESCAPES YOUR QUIVERING

LIPS.

AaAa

AND YET, YOU SEEM TO RECALL A ROOM... LONG AGO... FAR AWAY... A ROOM WITH WHITE LEERING FACES... LITTLE MONSTERS... AND A LITTLE EVIL THING THAT SAT AND STARED AT YOU AND... AND... BUT IT IS ONLY A FAINT RECOLLECTION... AS THOUGH IT NEVER REALLY EXISTED,,.

rrr...gh...

And now the curtain is lifting and the sea of DARKESS IS RECEDING AND YOU ARE STANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD WITH FOG CLINGING TO THE HOLLOW

Little clawing hands seize you,push you,and you STIFFEN. BUT THERE ARE MANY HANDS AND YOU SKID TOWARD THE GAPING HOLE... SO LONG... SO NARROW...

And then

you see the yawning pit behind them AND YOU SEE THE SHOVELS IN THEIR HANDS AND THEY CLOSE IN ON YOU... GIGGLING...

Now your DIRT

feet are at the pit-edge, sliding the CHATTERS AS IT DROPS IN, AND THE MANY HANDS

PUSH, AND YOU ARE FALLING... FALLING...

You LIE IN THE MOIST COLD EARTH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE AND YOU LOOK UP AT THEIR GRINNING FACES. THEN, YOU HEAR THE CRUNCHING SOUND AS A SPADE DIGS INTO THE MOUNDED SOIL BESIDE THE

The dirt crashes down on you, and the giggling GROWS LOUDER. SPADES FLY... EARTH FALLS. YOU SCREAM... AND THE LAUGHTER SCREAMS BACK AT YOU...

YOU ARE FELIX

PURDY, HIGH SCHOOL TEACH ER, FLOATING IN DAR KNESS, LISTENING TO LAUGHTER... ENTHUSIASTIC, EFFERVESCENT LAUGHTER. YOUNG LAUGHTER. THE

YOU ARE FELIX PURDY... Wl TH NO PAST AND NO FUTURE ...A CREATURE BORN OF NOW... BORN TO SUFFER...TO DIE A MILLION TIMES IN ONE BRIEF SPAN OF EXISTENCE

YOU HAVE DIED MANY TIMES

SOMEWHERE,

INTHIS,

YOUR BRIEF LI FE- SPAN, FELIX PURDY. YOU HAVE DIED IN MANY

YES, FELIX PURDY.

REALITY IS LAUGHING AT YOU. THE REALITY THAT SURROUNDS YOUR

AND THE LAUGHTER YOU, FELIX.

IS DESTROYING EVEN NOW YOU CAN

FEEL YOURSELF

FADING...

For this, then, is your real DEATH, felix. this THEN IS THE HORROR OF ALL THE HORRORS... MORE HORRIBLE THAN your dreamer has conceived in

ANY OF

HIS WILD WISH-

SLEEP

Wi LL VANISH, and

IN A MOMENT, SO W/L L YOU. NO' WAIT' SLEEP SOME f DON’T LISTEN to

DREAMS.

But

it is too late, felix purdy. the laughter is the dreamer stirs, there is a blinding LIGHT THAT IS LIKE WHITE-HOT LIQUID METAL .CASCADING AT YOU AND DISSOLVING YOU IN ITS BRILLIANCE..

loud,

EEEEAA A(?7%

MORE ^

Now

THEM r WAIT...

YOU ARE GONE, FELIX PURDY.

BOY.

A BOY LIFTS HIS

YOU EXIST NO LONGER. NOW YOU ARE REALLY DEAD. YOU HEAR

FROM RUBS

NO MORE LAUGHTER. DAYLIGHT HAS BLANCHED YOU AWAY. BUT THE

CLASSMATES SURROUND

DREAMER

HEAD

HIS HIGH-SCHOOL DESK AND HIS EYES, SLEEPILY. HIS

The boy looks around, his teacher STANDS OVER HIM, FUMI NG. .

HIM...

HEARS THE LAUGHTER...

The boy grins sleepily, the teacher deftly applies a red PENCIL TO THE BARE EXAMINATION PAPER, SWINGING IT IN A LARGE CIRCLE...

HEH, HEH.' SO NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT FEE L S to be the MAIN CHARACTER in a DREAM, eh, fi ENDS? a CHARACTER THAT YOUR DREAMER PART/CULARL Y DISLIKES. .. HEH, HEH ... LIKE HIS MATH TEACHER... ORIS IT LATIN, OR MAYBE ENGLISH, IN YOUR CASE? WELL, THAT'S MY TALE FORTHIS ISSUE OF C.K/S MAS. I’ll

DREAM UP ANOTHER NIGHTMARE when

NEXT C.K. i'll

WE MEET. NOW,

AWAITS, SO turn you BACK G'NIGHT

HIM.

PLEASANT... HEH... I..

DREAMS?

President and

CEO— Stephen A. Geppi

Publisher— Russ Cochran

My brother hates you. He says he's sick and tired of watching your show and hearing my laugh (oh know how

Dear Crypt-Keeper,

watch your show on HBO. And buy your comics. have also seen both your movies (DEMON, BORDELLO). love the story in CRYPT 20 “How Green Was My Alley” Please print my address and could you send me some CRYPT stuff? Your #1 fan, I

Petro (Coffin-Keeper) Boucouvalos

movies

both

your

you

likes

We’ve

too.

DEMON NIGHT

BORDELLO OF BLOOD. They were

and

great! Please print

address. Frightfully yours,

2144 S 15th ST

“Crypty”

35 School ST ME 04072

Mom

to laugh your laugh!).

watched

Shaunna Van

Philadelphia,

Elsis

PA 19145

Saco,

What use are I

was wondering if you could send me some drawings wax exhibits in the story “The Works...ln Wax!”). If

brothers,

anyway (not counting target

-CK

practice)?

(Like the

you can

would appreciate

it.

When

was a child in the fifties— after the comic book code had banished CRYPT and other EC publications-a few of us had issues of the magazine handed down to us by our older siblings. These were cherished archival

Thank you,

Darren Toland

Claysville,

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the public, and nobody ever Freebies, freebies, freebies!

possessions.

-CK

got rich giving freebies!

Imagine

Payson,

Joey Kellogg

How come

vividly

delight to find issue #19!

was

stories

and hoped that I'd Thanks for the

day.

Richard H. Bush

And burning

you don’t have a fan club? There are a lot of missed in stores, is there any way you could come out with a catalog?

a wonderful

early childhood. After forty years

remembered those

be able to read them again some mummeries!

sick-twisted

still

comics, movies; everything. was wondering if you could me where could get your comics, movies, and toys, in Phoenix or Payson, AZ. Your big fan,

toys and collectibles that

nostalgic trip back to

I’m a big fan of everything of yours, your action figures,

tell

Meriden,

lips

and burning ships and burning toast

-CK

and prunes.

Are you and Elvira ever going to make a movie? everything you do or make! Please print address.

love

The Zombie Master. would just like to ask on VAULT 32, your #21, is the guy on the front going to

It’s

again,

have the meat cleaver hanging

in his

head. Also,

think

name and address really bits some big Also my fiend and me draw our own Horror Comics. My fiend draws just as good as the drawers for EC. (Print my address.)

that the rule for sending in your real

Alex Harrow

14455

SW Sexton MTN DR #7E Beaverton,

OR 97008

market econus about Arizona

ready to take part in a

Now, here are boys omy! We’ll rely on our readers to tell comics shops, but we offer many EC items (mostly 2D) by

The Zombie Master

I’ve

got to a fan club

the

Bill

FEAR; issue 9 is still available for Leach, 203 Bemauer DR, Pittsburg, CA

-CK

94565. He has other goodies, too!

After reading the I

am one

of your ghoulish fans!

terror-best

EC horror

can’t stop reading your

comics and videos! They

rule!!!!!

bad

Keep up your

after

providing

Hi!

My name

Elm is

Shaunna. Most people

call

ST,

USA

that

first 19

issues of

CRYPT and

the other

began to wonder

maybe

all

if they hadn't been so the criticism they received in

unwarranted. Thus,

had been

children with inexpensive 64-page reprints

(after careful screening, of course).

and read Ghastly’s

horrifying

Then

got

“The Handler”.

CRYPT 20

WOW!

“Crypt”

all do is talk about you! I’ve seen every single show you’ve made. also have seen and still see your new show “Secrets of the Crypt-Keeper’s Haunted House." jove horror. I

because

titles, all;

the prudish 50s was

witchy work! Your Ghoulish Murder,

Freddy Kruger

MD 21012

that vapid Vault-Keeper doesn’t chicken out, you’ll

that cover

EC fanzine HORROR

FROM THE CRYPT OF $10 from

Howard AV

see uncovered next month. But did you know MY next issue will receive its first uncensored showing just 3 short months from now? -CK If

Closest

114

Arnold,

mail order ourselves. Writer for details.

had found material so objectionable that there’s let my kids see it until they’re 18! None no way in HELL of us want to think about what a mortician might do to us when our time comes to be prepared for our crypt, but At last

I’ll

this story

the

sure fuels our worst fears! The scene that was the coffin

nail in

what was done to the old maid

("Hands and things”. .EWWWWW!) Naturally, loved the Keep up the good work on the reprints, and thanks

Fort

PS) To all of you underage readers out there: Close this comic IMMEDIATELY and take it to the nearest adult for review and potential censorship. (They're not paying scares the living CRAP attention, are they? Well, hope

be a

big fan of yours. is

would

about me. feel so get on your nerves with my long tell

lies

Bad Endbach,

GERMANY

Although the anonymous editor fixed a few words in your letter, he left most of it intact to share the charm of your nascent English. I’m continually amazed by my foreign readers’ English skills! (I know a little Spanish: “Dos

EC Comic artist. Your comics and am going to subscribe. also

cafes, to vamoose!”)

the best

keep me entertained want to say your story in VAULT 18 (“Let’s Play Poison”) was the best. would like to list my 5 favorite stories from your bone chilling collection: I

And

first off like

feel like a

is no normal human on the do? The people in my village

think there

what can

every day.

Stefanie Muller

-CK

keep you on your toes!

like to

happen

say Johnny Craig

unhappy. Oh, eh, think letter, don’t I? OK, say Good Bye!

talk

parents suck, too. Sometimes

earth, too. Oh,

Wayne, IN

tease

Just

can

And sometimes

Deaton

you a while? Eh, you're the only about my problems. My school

talk with

loser.

chills.

Donald

Can

whom

with

sucks, and

story.

for the

Hey, CK!

one

my fans. will consider buying a How do you spell “CK?”

really love all

can do autographs.

pencil,

-CK

CRYPT

20, "The Handler” (last story),

page

there’s a gravestone with the inscription "In

“The Maestro’s Hand!”, 4) "Ghost Ship!” 3) “Let’s Play Poison!”, 2) “The Hungry Grave”, 1) ”A Mute Witness To

Murder!”

panel

Memory

Gaines 97 to What is the first name, it looks it starts with the letter “p?” The date of birth must be 1897 and the only number in the date of death that can clearly read is the last number which appears to be a 3. know that Bill’s father Max died in the late 1940s in a boating accident and his mother was alive when the artwork .”

summer I’m to work up at camp. EC comic book in my hand.

This

make sure to have

I’ll

John Aiken

Centreville,

Who

was done.

can shed

light

this? Puzzled,

-CK

Especially during latrine breaks!

Kensington,

David Dellario

Your stories are the best. love your TV shows and movies. was wondering if you could send me one of your best horror stories, maybe the ones about vampires or zombies. Your bloodsucking fan, I

Uohn

Farren

My name

Austin,

David Harte and

comics, and collecting them.

enjoy reading your

really

CRYPT

was

a real

brilliant,

horror issue.

“Midnight Mess!” was

One

my fave

Page

thing, though.

seated

story,

the artwork was class.

panel

when Harold was

the restaurant why didn’t the vampire waiter

notice that Harold has a reflection, or Harold notice that

the waiter has no reflextion, sitting at

the mirror?

Was

the

man

the table a vampire, ’cos he had a reflection?

Send some

free comics. Please print

to hear from other

EC fans. ECing

address.

Perhaps this photomicrograph will shed some light, and cause you to rethink your conclusions. A hint: see 21, available now! -CK likely

WEIRD SCIENCE

want

you,

love your mag! It’s so cool. always go on the net and web site. But the bad news is that issue 19 have the mags 16 and 15? first mag. Can promise if get them I’ll get all the mags you make. I’ll buy back issues, too. Put my address down because want a pen pal. I

look for your

South Circular Road

David Harte

5 Shannon Tie In

Limerick,

IRELAND

night, vice-versa!

was

all

nonvampire; at

The landlord collected double-rent (the TANSTAAFC! (There ain’t no such

lousy bloodsucker)!

-CK

thing as a free comic!)

You’re genial. You’re perfect.

course

love your

love you, too. I’m sorry that

I’m a 15 years

was my

the daytime, the restaurant

young

girl

comics and

428 Sunset RD NJ 08558

Matt Laney

Skill man,

ATTENTION: CHARLES DRAGOO!

english sucks but

am writing concerning Charles Dragoo who wrote in #19. am a comic book artist who would like to illustrate CELLAR DWELLER. am 13 years old. I’ve made 10 comic I

from Germany.

I’m

one

of your greatest fan (atiker).

think you looks very

nice. I’ve got three questions to you.

Love? Can

Do you

feel real

have an autograph from you or something like Do you like all your fans? (I think the first

that? (Please.)

question sounds

And

silly,

but this

serious.)

think your friends (Sorry: fiends.) looks not very

clever, too.

But

all

your friends are

friends (fiends).

books, 3 of them horror books. have collaborated with a on one of them: PSYCHO BILLY. Please print my I

writer

address!

would

to get in contact with Charles

Dragoo

very much. Brian Dishon

19102 Matthew CIR

Huntington Beach,

CA 92646

stories [in CRYPT 19] offered a thought provoking progression family tree of undead: brother werewolf; sismummy (no

The

relation to the

Now to address some other matters. Firstly, would like to say to Grave Digger that there are no hard feelings. I’ve never been one to hold a grudge, especially against a person who is big enough to apologize. As of the time of this printing, Grave Digger, you have probably already received a letter from me stating this, but would just like everyone else to now that there is peace between us. I

ter vampire; voodoofied wife; and, of curse, a

scheming archeologists)!

This issue was originally available Apr/May 1953. When did MAD first use its “Humor in a Jugular Vein" motto? Is it fair to say that this was inspired by the scene where the hero of “Midnight Mess!” got tapped out in the vampire restau-

for the stories, “Fare Tonight.

.”

was

excellent.

see

mag was plugged on pages two and seven. “How Green Was My Alley’’ was brilliant, the best story in the

your

rant? In “This Wraps It Up!” Professor Thomas Steel’s patronym should have been Steal!

Issue 20: After perusing the verbose

initial

title,

Tonight, Followed by Increasing Clottyness..”

entire mag. Not to be outdone, Bradbury’s “The Handler” was ingenious, as are all of his works. Ingels did a nice job on the artwork.

“Fare

debated

closing,

weather or not to proceed. Fog goodness sake,

I'm glad

ARCHIVES."

say this: Buy “CRYPT: THE OFFICIAL worth its weight in plasma. Gravely yours,

It's

did. In

“Curiosity

the

Killed...”

smidgen per pigeon. In “How Green Was My Alley", good to see a left-hander in action: Amy putting.

was

the protagonist Mr. Benedict in “The Handler" a reference to Benedict Arnold? As an honored and trusted Revolutionary War colonel, his betrayal

became thereby more was once the

heinous. Similarly with Satan,

was released

October, 1952; but

is fair?

My new CRYPT just Firstly,

Robert Borruso.

he’ll

write again.

the

more -CK

uptightness

perceived

NEXT ISSUE

who says life -CK

personally don't think that either the Dark

Demon

and hope to

say nay!

who

CA 93012

arrived and must say, you didn't would like to address some of the very kind people who mentioned me: The Crazy Corpse, Grizley Reaper, and most of all, Jessica Meador, to whom dedicate this letter. Thank you for your support.

disappoint.

response

13153 Sunny LN Camarillo,

Ah!

Philip Smith,

uptightness?

highest-ranking angel. Please print address.

Bob Gorby

MAD

miss

correct

Was naming

Rockville, IN

evidence was destroyed a

Borruso. Borruso had

some

Philip Smith,

Demon or Blue maybe, but not

interesting things to say, while

Smith was just rather uptight about everything, going on

who CRYPT’s No. 1 fan is, as the fate depended upon Robert Borruso’s not like

incessantly about of the world

it.

month are WEIRD SCIENCE and PANIC! Watch for WEIRD FANTASY and TWO-FISTED next month. Don’t forget HAUNT, FRONTLINE COMBAT and CRIME! Get them at your local comic book shop or SUBSCRIBE (see our ad In this comic)! Also available this

VAULT,

BACK ISSUES: CRYPT

#1,

SOLD OUT; FRONT

#1-4, $2 each;

all

others

SCI & SHOCK #4-16, and up thru Issue #3, $1.50 each; CRYPT, VAULT, FAN, 2 FI ST, HAUNT and CRIME #4-15, $2 each. All others, SCI are up to 21; VAULT, $2.50 each (Latest Issues: CRYPT and

FAN, 2FIST,

that.

HAUNT & CRIME

are up to 20;

FRONT

to 9 and

PANIC

3).

Grave Digger, don’t bother with the Demons. They’re not worth the time or effort. By the way, agree; "Horror We? How’s Bayou?” was a wonderfully-drawn tale. I

Don't

forget

the

entire

run

-Issue

WEIRD

SCIENCE-

FANTASY/INCREDIBLE SCIENCE FICTION (#1-3, $1.50 each; #4-11, $2 each) and the 18 Issues of SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES (#1-3, $1.50 each; #4-15, $2.00 each; #16-18, $2.50 each)!

And

so,

to the contents of [# 19]:

Add $5 per order ($10 outside US)

“By The Fright Of The Silvery Moon!” Excellent, one of the ultimate classics. The cover depiction was absolutely stunning. “Midnight Mess!”: at least

The best story

thought so. Perhaps, being a hardcore vampire “Busted Marriage!”: Sorry, not into the

expected.

WEST PLAINS MO 65775

utes ago,

THIS COMIC REPRINTS

TALES

COVER

shocked, astounded, and aghast and not in a good received not five minIn CRYPT 20, which see that you have printed my address as "Rockville, IL.” do not now live, nor have lever lived, in Illinois (though it’s a nice place to visit). My address is still I’m

way, either)!

S&H.

to:

CRYPT

GEMSTONE POB 469

addict, I’m biased.

voodoo thing. Too many voodoo stories in the early issues. They do become rather tiresome. “This Wraps It Up!”: This story was at least better than its title. It was better than

for

Write

the book, or

“Dead

FROM THE CRYPT “#37”

(#21,

AUG/SEP 1953)

by Jack Davis

Right!"

“Pleasant Screams!”

Jack Davis

Joe Orlando

“Strop! You’re Killing Me!"

Bill

Elder

[The Rover Boys!”

Graham

Ingels

RR4

Box

141, Rockville IN

47872 and

shall

for several

years to come. Please rectify this error and hopefully, can put this all behind us.

welcome letters ot comment We cannot promise to acknowledge, publish or answer letters. We edit for clarity, accuracy and length. We automatically wtthhold street address and zip code unless you dearty state you wish them published Pseudonyms may be used It you provide us wth your authentic name and address. We attempt to acknowledge publication ot letters; to do so we need your address on the Individual letter.

HERE'S A TERROR TIDBIT TO WHET YOUR DULLED FIENDISH APPETITES.

\7®DD g [3Q

ioihgi®

Old

dan harper was sitting in HISUSUAL wicker arm-chair reading his usual daily PAPER AND SMOKING HIS USUAL CORN-COB PIPE WHEN THEY CAME INTO THE LYNDALE FIRE-HOUSE. HE LOOKED UP FROM HIS PAPER TO SEE GRIM-FACED MAYOR WITTER AND THE STRANGER IN THE BLUE UNIFORM WITH THE GOLD BUTTONS AND THE DAZZELING WHITE CAP. Tgaa.^ p r .

——

t>.

AFTERNOON, MAYOR WITTER.

THAT CLEM DUNLOP'S REPLACEMENT?

NOT EXACTLY. DAN. THIS

LYNDALE'S

NEW FIRE CHIEF.

NOW THAT CLEM'S RETIRED, THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECIDED IQ MODERNIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HIRED MR. M/LLER HERE... FRANK

jSOWE

kjhl l er

•

GLAD TO

MEET DAN

YOU, i

<£V</o^-

OLD

DAN COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS EARS. FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS, HE AND CLEM DUNLOP HAD COMPRISED LYNDALE'S TWO-MAN FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOW THAT CLEM HAD RETIRED, OLD DAN HAD EXPECTED THE TOWN FATHERS TO HIRE A REPLACEMENT FOR HIM, BUT HE'D NEVER EXPECTED THEM TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO'D BE OLD DAN'S SUPERIOR .

NEW FIRE

BUT... I

CHIEF./)i times have CHANGED, DAN. rj methods of FIGHTING FIRES HAVE CHANGED TOOT CHIEF MILLER

DON'T

UNDERSTAND/ I'M SENIOR MEMBER

NOW/

WILL BE IN

NOW

ON.

FULL CHARGE FROM WHAT HE SAYS

I'M. ..SORRY..

GOES f

Mayor witter turned to chief miller, smiling.. WEL L, SIR, THIS IS IT. LET ME SAY THAT ANY IMPROVEMENTS YOU WISH TO MAKE, THE COUNCIL will GLADLY CONSIDER. I HAVE TO GET BACK TO

Mayor witter left and lyndales new fire chief LOOKED AROUND...

HMMMM WELL, DAN. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, SO LET’S GET MOVING... r

WORK f t

WHAT KIND

OF WORK ?

Jftrrrrt

Chief miller waved his hand at the old fire-engine FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GOING TO FAINT AND POLISH that OLD ENGINE TILL

SHE SPARKLES.

IT'S IN

CONDITION f LOOK

NOT 'OKAY'! 'YES, chief'!) y-yes.. NOW, GO DOWN TO TH E \CH/EF HARDWARE STORE AND GET TWO CANS OF BRASS POLISH TWO CANS OF CHROME POLISH, TWO GALLONS OF RED PAINT, TWO BRUSHES, AND SOME

M FA/NT ]

POLISH

'ER?

TERRIBLE ) WHY? is SHE ? r-< GONNA FIGHT

AT 'ER

Old DAN HOBBLED

OFF DOWN THE STREET TOWARD THE HARDWARE STORE... Jhumuph AFTFR SEVENTEEN YEARS, THEY HIRE SOME YOUNG WHIPPER-SNAPPER WITH NEW-FANGLED IDEAS

ROSS ME AROUND.

HMMPH_.

RAGS

Twenty minutes later he returned to the

fire

HOUSE, HIS ARMS FILLED WITH PACKAGES...

HERE S WHAT YOU

WANTED, young FELLER f

WHEW

pAN LOOKED AROUND. JUS’ le'me

'CH/EF M/LLER] IF you DON'T M/ND, MR. HARPER. WELL, LET'SJ ^ GET TO WORK...

CATCH MY BREATH. LE'MEJ

PUT

UP-

SET FOR A SPELL IN MY... MY.. .SAYTf STAIRS, MR. harper. they'll WHERE IN BLAZES IS MY BE NO LOLLING WICKER CHAIR f AROUND DOWN HERE FROM NOW

LOLLIN' AROUND.' LOOK HERE, YOU YOUNG SQU/RT. I WAS F/GHTfN' FtRES BEFORE YOU WERE OLD ENOUGH TO PUSH A TOY

E >?

y DESCENT-POLE,**. WELL-

) HARPER. A

POL/SHED POLE,

UPON WHICH WE WILL

SL IDE DOWN from UPSTAIRS IN A SPLIT- \ SECOND. BUT ENOUGH

F/RE TRUCK. AN I BEEN LOLLIN',AS YOU CALL IT, /N

THAT WICKER ALL THAT TINE.

[I INTEND TO INSTALL A ]

AND.. :

TALK. THERE'S f\ TO DO...

WORK

J J

And so, old dan and eager new CHIEF MILLER SET TO WORK PAINTING AND POLISHING THE OLD FIRETRUCK UNTIL IT GLEAMED LIKE NEW.. THERE 'THAT \ HMMPH. LOOKS BETTER.'

SO OLD DAN HARPER WAS FORCED TO WORK HIS HEART OUT FOR THE NEW CHIEF. HE POLISHED AND PAINTED TILL HIS OLD BONES ACHED. FOR THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT HAD MEANT EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO DAN: HIS JOB IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE SMALL HOUSE JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN TO WHICH HE NOW RETURNED, EXHAUSTED,

Old DAN'S LITTLE HOUSE WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY. AND HIS JOB WITH LYNDALE'S FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN HIS WHOLE LIFE. BUT NOW, CHIEF MILLER HAD COME UPON THE SCENE, AND OLD DAN'S JOB HAD BECOME A NIGHTMARE FOR HIM ...

ER MADE IT ROUGH ON OLD DAN. OUS THAT HE CONSIDERED DAN TOO E JOB AND WAS TRYING TO DIS<t...TO

MAKE

HIM QUIT.

BUT OLD

YOU'RE THREE M/NUTES LATE, MR. HARPER. I INSIST UPON PUNCTUALITY WHEN REPORTING FOR

There were times when old dan had the urge to CHUCK THE WHOLE DEAL. THE CONSTANT PRESSURES EXERTED ON HIM BY THE NEW FIRE CHIEF CERTAINLY MADE HIM MISERABLE. BUT HE'D GRITTED HIS TEETH AND STUCK DOGGEDLY TO THE JOB...

Although lyndale's fire department was rarely CALLED UPON BECAUSE OF ITS SMALL POPULATION (452, LAST CENSUS), CHIEF MILLER HAD INSTITUTED A TWOSHIFT, TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR-A- DAY POLICY...

BUT, HE'S A

HINDRANCE MORE THAN HELP.

‘

D/SCOURAOE HIM...

BUT THAT’S I KNOW THAT, IF HE WONT QUIT,) THEN YOUR JUST / NOT FOR ANOTHER ) CHIEF MILLER. HAVE TO KEEP HIM ) E/VE YEARS fjl MAYBE YOU can FI6URE out ON TILL HE REACHES \

I’VE

TRIED TO

RETIREMENT AGE.J

AHtlp

A WAY

CONVINCE him

When

the firetruck finally arrived on the scene, old dan's house had burned to the ground with old dan inside

it...

I COULDN T GET THE OLD ENGINE STARTED / IT was teas AWFUL,.. .JE77ZE*

HE. ..HE COULD'VE BEEN if you'd GOTTEN

SAVED

Of COURSE, NO ONE SUSPECTED

CHIEF MILLER OF DELIBERATELY STALLING IN GETTING TO THE FIRE THAT HAD KILLED OLD DAN. THEY BELIEVED HIS STORY... AND A MONTH LATER, THE NEW FIRE-TRUCK ARRIVED...

HERE RIGHT AFTER I

CALLED...

But one

night, chief miller RECEIVED ANOTHER ALARM. THE VOICE ON THE LINE WAS STRANGE... ALMOST LAUGHING...

BEECHTREE DRIVE.. T// BEECH'yes.. .WHAT A BLAZE' /TREE DRIVE/

'71

HURRY.

WHY,

THAT'S

MY HOUSE/

AROUND THIS AN

time.

EMERGENCY.

FROM

HIS C OT, AND

A OEM ON.

RUSHED TO THE DESCENT-POLE, HIS ARMS AND LEGS IT, AND PLUMMETED DOWN-

WRAPPED

THIS WAS

HE LEAPED DRESSED LIKE

that yo/CE QN

THE PHONE... IT SOUNDED FAMILIAR! WELL, I CAN'T WASTE TIME THINKING ABOUT THAT now..

The next morning, they found what was left of chief miller LYING BESIDE THE NEW FIRE-ENGINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DESCENTPOLE IN A POOL OF DRYING BLOOD. HIS ARMS AND LEGS HAD BEEN SEVERED FROM HIS BODY AND HIS TORSO NEARLY SPLIT IN TWO. SOMEONE. ..OR SOMETHING.. HAD REPLACED THE DESCENT- POLE with A STEEL STRIP. SHARPENED TO A KEEN RAZOR-EDGE... .

Chief miller didn't stall

AROUND WARD

l OH, LORD. ..I KNOW' I KNOW WHOSE VOICE THAT was/ it WAS HIS/ OLD DAN HARPER'S/ ’

NOT

NO,

COULDN'T...

WHICH BRINGS MY TALE TO A CUTTING CUMAX, EH, FIENDS? CAN YOU PICTURE SLIDING DOWN A FIFTEEN- FOOT KNIFE BLADE ? QUITE A STRETCH OF the IMAGINATION, EH? WASN'T THAT A GEM OFAYARN? I’LL RAZOR 'NOTHER ^ ONE NEXT TIME WE MEET.. .IN V. K. 'S

SHARP MAG, THE VAUL T OF HORROR. AND now, THE OLD

WITCH

AWAITS WITH

HER HONE- COOKED i

YARN. 'BYE.NOWfOH, BY THE WAY, GIL-

LETTE

the OUT TONIGHT "'"BYE*

CAT ?

THE.

CONCOCT/ON Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M COOKIN' IN MY CRUDDY CAULDRON? IT'S A REEKING RECIPE OF REVOLTING REVELRY THAT I'M SURE you'll ENJOY, this IS YOUR HOSTESS IN THE HAUNT OF FEAR, WAITING TO DISH OUTANOTHER OF HER LUR/D LUNCHEONS. READY? THEN I'LL START FEEDING YOU THE FOUL FARE I CALL...

HEE.HEE. SMELL THE

PROLOGUE: THE DAWN sky

is like a grey blanket HANGING LOW OVER THE STILL-SLEEPING CITY. HERE AND THERE A FEW STARS, RELUCTANT TO RETREAT FROM THE DAYLIGHT NOW BLOOMING IN THE EAST, TWINKLE FAINTLY AND THEN FADE. BELOW, THE STREET- LIGHTS STILL CAST DARK SHADOWS IN THE CANYONS BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS. A MILK WAGON CAREENS OVER THE COBBLESTONES, ITS FRANTIC DRIVER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTING TO HALT THE OLD HORSE WHO WHINNIES AND SNORTS, GALLOPING MADLY. FLASHING METAL-SHOD HOOVES SPARK AGAINST THE PAVEMENT. A PACK OF STRAY DOGS, SLOBBERING AND YELPING, LEAP AND SCRAMBLE... Nl PPING AND CLAWING AT THE DASHING HORSE. ITS FLANKS ARE

SCARRED AND

BLEEDING... ITS EYES FILLED WITH TERROR...

WHOA

THERE, BOY./ WHOA..

STORY: DOCTOR SHELDON REMSEN STOOD BEFORE MEMBERS

THE GRIM-FACED OF THE STATE CAL BOARD LISTENING TO THE CHAIRMAN'S COLD AND EXPRESSIONLESS VOICE MOUTHING THE WORDS THAT MEANT THE END OF EVERYTHING FOR HIM... r AND SO, DOCTOR REMSEN, IT IS THE DECISION T NO f OF THIS BOARD, IN VIEW OF THE EVIDENCES /NO/ PRESENTED HEREOF CONDUCT UNBECOMING MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, THAT YOUR LICENSE BE REVOKED AND THAT YOU BE BARRED FROM EVER PRACT/S-j ING MEDICINE AGAIN. FIVE

MEDI-

The chairman looked around. the MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ROSE SILENTLY AND FILED FROM THE ROOM. DR. SHELDON REMSEN LIFTED HIS HANDS IN A FINAL PLEADING n rrCTi lor

DR. REMSEN DARTED FORWARD. HE CLUTCHED AT THE SLEEVE OF THE LAST DEPARTING BOARD MEMBER...

Doctor remsen stood alone in THE BOARD ROOM. FAINT LAUGHTER DRAFTED THROUGH THE DOOR

WON'T YOU RECONSIDER? ) the I BEG YOU FOR LENIENCY') DECI-

BEYOND WHICH HIS JUDGERS AND CONDEMNERS HAD DISAPPEARED. HE CURSED. ..

^ S/ON

MADE A MISTAKE'

I'M

SORRY

PLEASE.

) OF

THE

BOARD

FINAL,

DR.

REMSEN. IF

Stripped of his privilege to practise medicine, AND SPURNED BY HIS PROFESSION, DR. REMSEN WALKED SLOWLY FROM THE BOARD ROOM, ACROSS THE ECHOING FOYER OF THE MEDICAL BUILDING, AND OUT INTO THE WARM SUNLIGHT. HE FELT NAKED AND EXPOSED, AND HATE FILLED HIS HEART.. 'I'll Have my revenge.' you'll - BE SORRY... ALL OF YOUf

SHADOW FELL ACROSS HIM, BLOCKING THE SUN. DR. REMSEN LOOKED AROUND. HE WAS UNDER A MARQUEE. A THEATER MARQUEE. THE COLORFUL BILLBOARD BLINKED AT HIM... / Jgjq

HMMM. 'CAPTAIN JOHN SMY THE

He moved

"<3C‘TaNEAD;

you

RIGHTEOUS

’

OLD *#&/?'fS' LAUGH/ LAUGH at ME/ we'll SEE who has THE LAST LAUGH.

up the crowded streets, he was CARRIED ALONG BY THE PUSHED

AND JOSTLED AND JABBERING THRONG. BUT HE FELT AND HEARD NOTHING. DR REMSEN'S MIND WAS FAR AWAY, PLANNING, DISCLAI JAIN G,ANDPLANNINGAGAIhL^. '

HATE THEM f

ONE BY ONE/

GET EACH OF THEM BUT HOW? HOW? „

I'LL

The doctor

slid the

money under THE BOX-OFFICE GLASS AND HELD UP HIS INDEX-FINGER...

Laughter ERUPTED FROM

A HUNDRED MOUTHS AS HE MOVED SOFTLY DOWN THE CARPETED AISLE. ON-

STAGE, A

CLOWN WAS

SEAT, SIR? ONE IN THERE...

CAVORTING...

The clown somersaulted off INTO THE WINGS AMID CHEERS AND APP LAUSE

DR.

REMSEN SAT DOWN...

NOW THE PALACE THEATER PROUDLY PRESENTS CAPTAIN JOHN SMYTHE AND HIS WORLD FAMOUS TRAINED SEALS.. A

..AND

KtHANK YOU! Aft EXCUSE

THE CURTAIN WENT

UP. THE GLIMMERING BLACK SEALS BARKED AND SWAYED. THEIR UNIFORMED TRAINER BEGAN THE ACT. DR. REMSEN'S GRIM MOUTH SLOWLY

The pet shop smelled of flea-powder and animal SWEAT AND BIRD-SEED AND ECHOED WITH THE SQUEALS OF MONKEYS AND PARROTS AND THE HOWLING OFDOGS... I LIKE TO BUY FIVE

DOGS

The act was over. HIS EVIL

dr. remsen left the theater. PLAN WAS FORMING IN HIS HATE- FILLED MIND.

WILL BE THE GREATEST ANIMAL-ACT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN '

KNOCK RESOUNDED THROUGH THE LABORATORY. THE DOGS BEGAN TO YELP. DOCTOR REMSEN WENT TO THE O PENED IT^. ^y^ou7^r7msen7 Y YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE PAYING A HOUSE-CALL ON is WHERE ^ A s/C K MAN, EH, DOCTOR HALE? ft YOU LIVE NOW? 'that's WHAT I WANTED YOU ft BUT I THOUGHT...

Doctor remsen's laboratory was silent EXCEPT FOR THE OCCASIONAL WHINES OF THE DOGS TH AT COWERED BEHIND THE WIRE MESH OF THE FIVE CAGES THAT LINED THE ROOM. THE DOCTOR WAS

DOOR ^AND

BUSY PLACING SHINY INSTRUMENTS INTO A STEAMING

f SO THIS

STERLIZER...

SOON, MY LITTLE PETS. SOON, ir r if

ij*sr\ TO THINK

MEANS, MY DEAR CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAL BOARD, THAT I AM GOING TO TAKE MY REVENUE A UPON YOU AND YOUR

Doctor remsen waved the small

PISTOL AT THE SURPRISED BOARDCHAIRMAN... / - yr '

FELLOW BOARD-

MEMBERS having

FOR

EXCLUDED

YOU'RE MAD, REMSEN.

PERHAPS, DOCTOR JOPE RATION?/ ^ HALE i AND NOW, IF J WHAT.. WHAT WU WILL REMOVE / ARE YOU GOING TO OOP YOUR COAT, WE WILL A GET 0/VWITH THE _ OPERATION.

ME FROM YOUR

PROFESSION

DO ?

WHY, I

AM GOING TO

REMOVE

REMSEN

YOUR BRAIN, D octor, and SUB- ( FOR QOD 'S v ST/TUTE IT FOR THE INADEQUATE / SAXE/ I PUT DOWN THAT BRAIN THAT NOW RESTS IN THE CRANIAL CAVITY OF ONE OF HYPODERMIC/

Outside the old house into which doctor remsen HAD MOVED HIS LABOR ATORY, THE WIND SIG HED, CARRYING THE ECHO OF DOCTOR HALE'S SCREAM ACROSS THE DESERTED COUNTRYSIDE. g 1

the nights that followed, ONE BY ONE, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE STATE MEDICAL BOARD CAME TO THE LONELY HOUSE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY...

ONE BY ONE, THEY CAME... BUT NONE WENT AWAY. ON THE FIFTH MORNING, FIVE FRESH- DUG GRAVES LAY SILENTLY IN THE DAWN -LIGHT BEHIND THE HOUSE...

Inside, in the laboratory, five DOGS WITH HUMAN BRAINS COWERED BEHIND THE MESH-WIRED DOORS OF THEIR KENNELS...

^ YOU '?

Finally, the time came, under an assumed name, DR. REMSEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A THEATRICAL AGENT AND PROUDLY AUD ITION ED HIS ANIMAL ACT...

And so, in the very same theater where SHELDON REMSEN HAD SEEN THE TRAINED SEALS THAT HAD GIVEN HIM HIS FANTASTIC AND DIABOLICAL SCHEME, SHELDON'S DOGS MADE THEIR THEATRICAL DEBUT... i

WHAT YEAR

YOUR QUESTION,

DID

Dr. remsen's animal act gained IMMEDIATE SUCCESS. HIS AMAZING DOGS ASTOUNDED PEOPLE. DOGS COULD BE TRAINED TO APPEAR INTELLIGENT. BUT HIS

COLUMBUS

—

DISCOVER AMERICA? a

«|

The dogs actually picked out cards containing THE CORRECT ANSWERS TO MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS, HISTORICAL DATES... 7 ^ -Wk

AMAZING' J INCREDIBLE'

'1492' QU/TE CORRECT, ROVER:

BRAVO

T HE DOGS MANIPULATED ALPHABET! Finally, due to the gruelling BLOCKS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SCHEDULE OF TRAVELLING THE GIVEN THEM...

VAUDEVILLE CIRCUITS, DR. REMSEN I BOWSER SAYS THE jtT ’LL UVOW.' RETURNED TO HIS LONELY HOUSE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN FOR NAME OF THE SAY.' /*\ fltf* > A BRIEF VAC ATION PRESIDENT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR WAS EH HEHr WELL, to Y LITTLE PETS' THANKS W-/-L~S~0~N, SIR f DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR \ TO YOU, I AM GETTING QUESTION? A R/CHER EACH DAY'

^-^P^

SOON, I WILL BE READY TO

RETIRE

WILL BE SUCH

SHOCK TO THE THEATRICAL WORLD WHEN YOU ARE ALL

DESTROYED IN UNFORTUNATE

AN FIRE.'

The night that doctor

remsen. made his startling PRONOUNCEMENT AS TO THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN BRAINED CANINES, HE CARELESSLY LEFT ONE OF THE WIRE-MESH KENNEL DOORS UNLOCKED AFTER HE'D RETIRED, A SLEEK FORM MOVED FROM KENNEL TO KENNEL, UNLOCKING THE OTHER DOORS... .

Doctor remsen had been right, the desire to SURVIVE WAS INDEED STRONG... EVEN FOR IMPRISONED HUMAN BRAINS. A LOW GROWL AWAKENED THE DOCTOR FIVE PAIRS OF

Toward morning, an old horse on

a nearby farm k WAS ATTACKED BY A PACK OF YELPING WILD DOGS AND I DRIVEN TOWARD THE OLD HOUSE...

|ThE FARMER WHO OWNED THE HORSE FOUND IT WANDERING MILES FROM THE FARM THE NEXT DAY. I

And

And dawn found

five dogs were seen often LATER WEEKS, YELPING AND RACING THROUGH THE STREETS OF

a sixth grave adoed to the silent

FIVE...

The milk company received NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NEW H ORSE FROM ITS DRIVER CRAZY, THAT'S WHAT HE IS. ALWAYS SNORTIN' AND WHINNYINâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; AND STAMPIN' HIS HOOFS.. LIKE HE WERE TRYIN' TO

FLATURING

HE CRV^T-KEEPES

"HE OLD WITCH

THE VAULT-KEF-ER

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ‘MAO' ON YOUR LOCAL NEWSSTAND.. IF

look harder/ It

may be at the bottom of the

pile.,

or...® Ask gour dealer to send threatening letters to his wholesaler, or...

or...

demanding MAD...

©Give up

the whole business and spend your dime on something worth while/

ENTERTAINING COMICS GROUP 225 LAFAYETTE STREET, ROOM 706

NEW YORK

12,

NEW YORK

Please send me the next six issues ( mailed m strong mamla envelopes) fbr which I enclose 75fl.

MAO

He H, HEM. WELL, ALL. I CAM SAT IS. .TOl/RE EITHER FANS OR FIENDS FOR PLUNKIN' DOWN 8000 U.S. CUN' in ant case GREETINGS GHOULS.' welcome once more to THE to the PUTRID PAGES OF THIS THE CRYPT- KEEPERS NAG. i'm REACT TO START OFF THE EVIL FESTIVITIES WITH an ODD TALE TOLO To, ME BT AN ODD TELLER of ANY TALC ... A TRUNK. LISTEN now. to the STEAMER'S own SCREAM- STORY., which it calls-

ftENCY FOR THIS NEFF!NO NAB.

CRYPT OF TERROR,

Wilma

is like a CHILD again as SHE FLITS ABOUT HER BEDROOM SINGING HAPPILY. THE CHILD I KHCW WHO USED TO STEAL UP TO THE ATTIC WHEN WE WERE BOTH .

Yts, I

AND

I HEARD MANY THIN6S WHILE Z LAY THERE GATHERING DUST IN MY ATTIC GRAVE. I HEARD THE LUSTY CRY OF THE NEW-BORN INFANT NAMEO WILMA I HEARO HER CHI LOISM VOICE AS SHE SCAMPERED ABOUT DOWNSTAIRS AND I SAW HER WHEN SHE CAME TO ME ANO PLAYED WITH ME ANO LAUGHED

WAS

PARENTS OU THEIR

I was NEW, THEN. CARRIED THEIR BELONGINGS

WHEN THEY MOVED HERE.. TO

SO rOVHB AND PEER IHSIOE ME ANO FINGER THE OLD LACE AND CLOTH THAT HAO BEEN STORED IN ME AND FORGOTTEN-

CARL? OH... HE'S EARLY/ I'M NOT

AM AN OLD TRUNK

WITH WILMA'S

HONEYMOON.

THIS HOUSE. ANO then i was put AWAY, UP THERE, where ALL I COULD DO WAS WAIT AND LISTEN and BROW OLD WILMA, MY .

PET

ALMOST

PACKED

WILMA, DEAR?

ALMOST, .CARL...

EVE H READY/ SHOW HIM IN, JEEVES..

EVEN AFTER SHE D GROWN, and ..« ..." NO LONGER CAME TO ME AND SEARCHEDj MY CONTENTS ANO TRIEO ON MY SHAWLS AND DRESSES AND SCARFS. EVEN WHEN ALL X COULD DO NN&L/E THERE AND LISTEN TD HER. -BELOW. .. LISTEN TO HER FOOTSTEPS GROW HEAVY WITH THE YEARS, AND HER

I LOVED HER.

M/truro'a AND iiin FATHER'S nruco'e FOOTSTEPS r/vmrmc MOTHER'S

APPEAR

WITH THEIR

THE

MW§ NERVOUS/ Oil,

CARL. I'M SO

HER YOUTH

PASS

SHE FELT

AS .

PASS.

ANYTHING

Just ONE THING, though-, one thing that BOTHERS ME.. ONE THING THAT SPOILS THE JOY I FEEL. THIS MAN. THIS CARL ROSWELL ..this man who even NOW anxiously stuffs the last few articles of WILMA'S NEWLY- PURCHASED TROUSSEAU INTO ME. " X am AFRJUD of This man rj mready; carl' .

I FELT

X can

^^SCARCELY PACK.

And

AND E PRAYED AS SHE PRAYEO. THAT SHE WAS NOT DESTINEO TO A... LIFE Of LONELINESS... THAT SHE TO WOULD MEET SOMEONE AND HE WOULD ASK

HER BE HIS WIFE. AND NOW OUR PRAYERS, WILMA* ANDMINE, ~ ^had COME TRUE. mj wipw p HERE. ..LET ME^ YOU GO f te*. Oh.dear I HOPE set READY. I'LL finish J I haven't FORGOTTEN .

DEATHS.,

I'VE CALLED THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE and he's

WAITING for

r,n> D/S-

I FEEL HIS ROUGH HANDS UPON Mr LID, SLAMMING IT DOWN. AND I WINCE. -NOT WITH PAIN, NOT FROM THE NOISE... I WINCE WITH FEAR. THERE IS SOMEthing ABOUT this man, something TERRIFYING...

CARRY MY

TRUNK OUT THE CAR,

JEEVES '

V* ||

Now JEEVES

IS COMING TOWARO ME AND I FEEL MYSELF BEING Lir AND CARRIED... |i ^

r HEAVY, JEEVES

NOT

VERY.

And sudoenly

i feel the warm SUN UPON ME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIRTY-NINE YEARS... JUST TOSS IT T ON THE BACK SEAT THERE, JEEVES. J

And

*s car doors slam and the MOTOR ROARS, I SIGH HAPPILY- MY FEARS FORGOTTEN „ GOOD-BYE, MISS |

nilma.

GOOD LUCK' HAPPY

HAVE A

HONEYMOON...

And then we stop and wilma and carl leap from THE CAR AND HURRY, GIGGLING, UP A FLOWERED WALK, AND I SEE THE SIGN AND HEAR THE WELCOMING VOICE OF THE JUSTICE VERY.

1 WAIT, DREAMING, AND AFTER AWHILE WILMA AND CARL COME OUT, AND THERE IS A BAND OF GOLO ON WILMA'S THIRO FIN6ER OF HER LEFT HAND AND I KNOW THAT SHE AND THIS MAN ARE HU SBAND AN D WIFE... f

600 BLESS YOU, ANO THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH ..

WWgW—

it is evening, and the sky grows dark. WE PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A ROAD LEADING TO A VINE-COVEREO H OTEL WILMA ANO CARL'S

And now

...

HONEYMOON HOTELA DARLING SPOT, CARL'

it's

I'M

GLAD

YOU

WILMA ?

" MB UKE/T.

(

Strange hands pull me fkTim the car, carry me ACROSS THE HOTEL LOBBY, ANO DROP ME TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE ELEVATOR, AND I LISTEN TO THE SCRATCHIN6 OF THE PEN AS CARL REGISTERS.. .!

M R AND.. mrsT CARL ROSWELL. LOOKS ROOD,

NOW WE ARE ALONE.. WILMA ANO I AND CARL ALONE IN THIS MOTEL SUITE. ANO SUDDENLY THAT FEAR is BACK AGAIN.. THAT FEAR OF THIS MAN WHO HAS TAKEN MY WILMA AS HIS BBIDE...fBB .

^^^^M

LOOKS WONDERFUL,

flf'V

VVlLMA'S NERVOUS FINGERS LIFT MY LID ANO SHE RUMAGES THROUGH ME.UFTING OUT HER PRETTIEST GOWN. FOR THIS IS THE NIGHT

WEVEBOTM DREAMED OF WILMA WEDDING WIGHT ... m ^

r/RED.

DARLING...

Carl stands before GLEAMING AXE THAT f TAKE N FROM HIS BA6 f

YOU'RE A

YFOU'RE \J0KIN6.'

^CARL 7 THAT

GASP

WASN'T YOU, WILMA* IT

TWENTY-SEVEN

I PLANNED ALL THIS, WILMA. PLANNEO IT CAREGOING TO GET SICK. BE CONFINED FULLY. YOU'RE ... TO YOUR ROOM, and ALL THE WHILE, I'LL BE SETTING RID OF YOUR BODY PIECE BY PIECE. AND WHEN IT'S ALL BEEN DISPOSED OF, I'M GOING TO SAY YOU RAN AWAY. THAT WHEN I WOKE UP, YOU WERE 60NE. AND THE POLICE WILL LOOK FOR YOU.. AND THEY WON'T FIND YOU. AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE NINE.

FOOL,

WILMA t DIO YOU

REAUY THINK

COULD LOVE YOU 7 DID YOU YOU'RE ALMOST FORTY. I'M

I'N

YES, CARL? WMAT_

WAS YOUR

HONEY

IThE AXE BLADE CUTS WILMA'S SCREAM FOR HELP (SHORT AS CARL BRINGS IT OOWN UPON HER BLANC HEO face

NO, CARL f

NOf

YAA...^

I RECOIL

THE DISMEMBERED

SECTION OF WILMA'S ONCE PROUD BODY DROPS INSIOE ME AND I FEEL ITS SOFTNESS ANO THE FLUID THAT FLOWS FROM IT 3 SLAM MY LID DOWN IN FRIGHTAND LOATHI NG ANO

And

suodenly.amio my sadness, WITHIN ME ANO AGAIN I SLAM MY LIO SHUT UPON HIS CURSED BLOODY

paw- ggi^-T i

THUNK/ BLASTED . STAY OPEN. BLAST YOU

-"vim

' Carl

CLEVER— VERY

clever.

HE HAS TAKEN PILLOWS ANO LAIO THEM NEATLY UPON THE BED AND COVERED THEM WITH BLANKETS SO THAT IT APPEARS AS IE WILMA

And every

so often, he comes to

ME AND UNLOCKS ME AND REMOVES A DISMEMBERED SECTION OF WILMA'S BODY AND WRAPS IT CAREFULLY IN THE PAPER HE'S BROUGHT TOR THE PURPOSE ANO 60ES OUT FOR A

'walk'...

ROSWELL IS ASLEEP IN THERE.

LOVELY DAY. MR ROSWELL.

MRS.

And MO OME suspects the TRUTH ONLY / KNOW THE 6RISLY TRUTH. THE DAYS PASS. THE PARTS INSIDE ME ARE' SLOWLY DISAPPEARING. ANO 1 GROW DESPERATE. I MUST THWART THIS FIEND EXPOSE HOI .

OH, THANK YOU. SHHH,

HOW'S IMS.

TIME FOR

MUCH BETTER. REMEMBER, SHE'S .

NOT

WALK. I

LL...

ANOTHER

WHAT THE

TO BE D/S-

ROSWELL?^ V. TURBED .

But my lock holds fast, and now CARL is \DESPERATE. this will call for a CHANGE of Yplans. i l isten AS HE PHONES. jF IlllAl-r ER ...DESK? OH, WILL YOU SEND UP A * * ,FE IS FEELIN6 BETTER NOW ANO II If i B0Y H|| i WE LL BE CHECKING OUT IN THE MORNING. * E HAVE A TMNK UP HERE WE '° L,KE lllV j" SEND ON AHEAD II II l i'-I

OPEN, BLAST

—

The bellboy arrives with his dolly, and i feel MYSELF LIFTED AND FEEL WI LMA'S DRIED AMO RIGID REMAINS SHIFT WITHIN ME J ~

' TAKE IT DOWN TO THE EXPRESS OFFICE, SON. HERE'S THE ADDRESS IT GOES TO ... . Uji

WHAT\ GOOD THE...) LORD! -fyl

' .

CHOKE-

™

The lossy

of this placio honeymoon motel REVERBERATES WITH SCREAMS AS 1 SPILL FORTH Ml Blood-stained gory contents upon the plush lt CARPETEO FLOOR.

THAT the TRUTH

IS out.,

that his horrendous oeeo

HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. AND HE MAKES

HIS EXIT...

I LIE IN A WAREHOUSE WHERE THeI POLICE HAVE STORED ME UNTIL I THET CAN CATCH CARL AND BRING HIM TO TRIAL AND PUT ME UP AS | 'EXHIBIT

I LIE THROU6H THE TEARS ANO X WAIT. BUT NO ONE COMES FOR ME. NO ONE COMES TO TAKE ME OUT INTO THE SUNLIGHT. ANO I GROW ANGRY ANO HUNGER FOR REVENGE... MINE ANO WILMA'S REVENGE,. f

p^^pT

SHUT UP, YOU FOOL. THIS WAY

Voices, voices in the darkness, and one voice IS FAMILIAR. TWO SMAOOWS WITH GLEAMING FLASHLIGHTS MOVE TOWARD ME WHERE ! LIE AMONG WARDROBES OF MINK COATS AND BOXES OF STOLEN ARTICLES THAT THE POLICE HAVE RECOVERED ANO ARE HOLOINO FOR THEIR CLAIMANTS.,.

voice, for four years x have WAITEO, STILL FEELING WILMA'S GORY REMAINS WITHIN ME STILL MATING ... STILL PRAYINO FOR REVENUE, AND NOW. CARL ROSWELL IS HERE BESIDE ME. I

That name, that

SHUOOER

Râ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mr*

what

the.

LOOK OUT.

M T H£

BOXES PI LEO UPON ME TUMBLE WITH A CLATTER TO THE FLOOR. SOMEWHERE A VOICE CALLS

OUT.fiiiMW—

WHO 'S

THERE'?

HIDE

...

HANDS UPON MY ROUGH HANOS. CARL'S HANOS. SWINGS ME OPEN, STEPS INTO ME, ANO I SWALLOW HIM 6RES0ILY...|^^^^J

BRINGS THE LIO DOWN CRING SILENTLY. INSIDE ME LISTENING

L FEEL ROUGH LIO ...FAMILIAR

( HMMPHf MUSTA

QUICK'

|UT WILLY DOESN'T ANSWER. WILLY HAS RUN OFF, EAVIN6 CARL TO HIS FATE. CARL GASPS. THE AIR

ROWS CHOKE... I'M SUEE0C4TM6 IN HERE, WILLY. GET ME ,

OUT

QUICK.

IIS

THIN. FINALLY... IN

BUM- FIRING

DESPERATION HE PULLS

THROUG H MY SIOC3-

^luSP^NEED

And now i take my revenge, i breathe deep and then exhale, i EXHALE ALL OF THE HATE AND LOATHING AND DESIRE FOR REVENGE WITHIN ME. AND l SHRINK, my SIDES CLOSE DOWN ano my TOP SHRINKS DOWN and I grow SMALL and carl screams until he cannot SCREAM ANY MORE AND HIS FLESH OOZES FROM THE BULLET MOLES LIKE ICINB FROM A BAKER'S DECORATING BAG. ANO WHEN THEY COME.TMEY FIND ME... A TINY BOX WITH A MOLD OF COMPRESSED BONE INSIDE ME AND A THOUSAND YARDS OF FLESH-RIBBON AROUND ME... r^rI

AIR...

GASP ..BETTER

f.MASCE bl ||-

chum.

[

THAN

M-,

-gg|

HEH.MEH. YEP, KIDDIES WILMA'S OLO TRUNK SHUT CARL UP, ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY CARE FOR A FOOT SOUARE BONE CUBE » IF YOU COULD FIND A MATE FOR IT, YOU COULD MARK 'EM WITH SPOTS ANO HAVE A HECK OF A CRAP GAME. NO? AW? OKAY.. - I'LL USE IT A* A PAPER-WEIGHT TO HOLD DOWN MY NEXT YARN TILL WE MEET AGAIN LATER ON IN MY MUCK MAG. RIGHT NOW, THE VAULT- KEEPER

AWAITS WITH HIS

K mkLM

OFFERING. BE SHOVELING OFF.. TILL WE r eek again.

HEH.WCM VEP.CAEEH.4rs TOUR SCREAM-STORY- TELLER IN THE VAULT OF HORROR. THE VAULTKEEPER. READY TO ENTERTAIN TOO WITH ONE OF MV CREEPY COLLECTORS' ITEMS. FOR MY SPOT IN C.K/S RAO .ER MAO. 1 HAVE CHOSEN A OAY TALE OF MARC! ORAS MORBIDITY. ENTITLED. .. .'

GRAS WEEK AN 0 SIT IN THIS CROWDEO CAFE .-WHERE HE'D FIRST MET SUZANNE .AND WAIT FOR HER. THIS WOULD BE THE LAST LONELY TEAR HE'D SPEND, DREAMING THROUGH THE SPRING AND SUMMER AND FALL UNTIL FEBRUARY ROLLED AROUND AGAIN AND HE'D RUSH SOUTH FOR ONE HEAVENLY WEEK. YES, FhE YEARS WAS LORO EHOUGH, this time he would ask SUZANNE TO MARRY HIM. HE SAT SILENTLY, NURSING

And now they were

in each other's arms, and he WAS HOLDING HER CLOSE AND FEELING HER WOMANLY WARMTH AND HIS YEAR-LONG 0REAM WAS A REALITY

SUZANNE. SUZANNE. I THOUGHT OH, HERBERT. A YEAI ABOUT YOU EVERY CAY... EVERY J\S SUCH A LONS TIMf MINUTE. I MISSED YOU SO.^J HOWVE YOU BEEN.

This wasn't the way he'd planned it at all: not HERE ON THIS JAMMED DANCE FLOOR IN THIS NOISY 3M0KEY CAFE. HERBERT HAO DREAMED Of A OUIET SPOT ALONG THE LAKE BENEATH MOSS-LADEN CYPRESS TREES.. A ROMANTIC PLACE. ..TO PROPOSE. BUT NOW

WANT TO ASK YOU TO

.MARRY

ME, SUE...

IT WAS OUT.. ANO PONE... YOU... YOU REALLY WANT TO I KNOW THAT I [ MARRY Me. HERBERT. WITH- LOYE you,**... OUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT I J AND THAT YOU LOVE LIKE...? JTj/Vl ME. THAT'S WHAT'S T. IMPORTANT. .

^~TT~V LOOK

ARE YOU SURE, HERBIE, DEAR?' you'll MEYER SUPPOSE. BENEATH THIS MASK, Ibe anything WAS NOT AS YOU PICTURE ME. BUT BEAUTIFUL I WAS.. r-T—-d TO ME.SUE.NO MATTER WHAT [

\j UPROSE

YOU LOOK UKE. IT

DOESN'T EVEN

\MATTER

OH, HERBIE, XVE WAITED PI YE YEARS L£0 R YOU TO SAY

^LTMAT.

WE 'VE MASTED 90 MUCH my sweet. I've

) I TIME,

WANTED

TO SAY IT f OR

n^^hT/YE YEARS

HARRY ‘

NOW THAT WE'RE AWAY FROM THE CR0W05 AND THE DIN... ^

ASK HE AGA/N

HARRY

FIRST, HERBIE.

HIS HAND...

UNMASK... WHEN

HO, HERBIE'

SAW

DION'T

HATTER...

DOESH'T,

\hONEY. I JUST

DOM'Tf YOU

WANT TO KISS YOU...

GLADLY.

LOVE

reached for her mask... to LIFT IT AWAY ...SO HE COULD TOUCH HER LIRS WITH HIS. SHE CAU6HT

YOU.

HARRY HE.

SUE.

.YOU-

r now?*

we could REHT A CAR DRIVE UPSTATE, we COULD FIND A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE... s

TONI6HT'?\

THEM WE CAN

LET'S

“X

WE MAKE OUR LOVE OOHPLETE.

. 1

They RAN HAND IN HAND... LIKE CHILDREN. AND SOON, NEW ORLEANS WAS JUST A SKY BLOW TO THE SOUTH. ANO THEY WERE HUMMINB UPSTATE IN A RENTED CAR.. .

P PERFORMED THE CEREMONY WITH RAISED THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE’O EVER COUPLE WHOSE FACES HE DID NOT SEE. BUT

NOW PRONOUNCE YOU

OF THE PEACE. MARRIAGES PERFORMED.NO .waiting.*

W/$ IS ITEm il

I ft

ijfeM

Later... the small motel... the «rinnin6 BOY CARRYING THEIR HASTILY PAJKEO BAGS. LEADING THE NEWLYWEDS TO THEIR ROOM... i

WELL. DEAR. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO GET A LOOK AT YOUR NEW HUSBAND... AND I- I—

And

then she was coming toward HIM AND ME COULD HEAR HER BREATHNO ...THE SHORT GASPS ...EXCITED... I

CLICKING

Off.

Later... LYING

THE DARKNESS BESIDE HER, SMOKING

A CIGARETTE- HERBIE SMILEO...

V TO

you Kf/Qtf DARLING* \ I idlow r NEVER n/n GET YAWN I

SEE YOUR

FACE

H ER BREATHING became heavier., regular, she was ASLEEP. HERBIE LAY THERE AWHILE... SMOKING. THE CIGARETTE BURNED DOWN AND HE PUT IT OUT. HIS THOUGHTS DRIFTED BACK ACROSS FIVE YEARS.. TO THE FIRST MAROI GRAS WEEK. .

I REMEMBER SEEING HER FOR THE FIRST TIME WEARING THAT REVOLTING HAG- MASK. AND KNOWING THAT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL .. ...

Yes, THE MASK HAD HIDOCN

HERBIE REMEMBERED HOW MEb TRIEO TO UNMASK SUE THAT FIRST TIME... 'buT'Tll 60^ AWAY WITHOUT IT'S BETTER that 'I EVER KNOWIN6 WHAT YOU y WAY, HERBIE. YOl/LL rREALLY look like., REMEMBER me as you

IMAGINE IS

.AW^lk.

me.

SOMETIMES

FANTASY

NONE

DESIRABLE than

HE REMEMBEREO MOW THEY'D VOWED TO MEET AGAIN THE FOLLOWING YEAR ...IN THE SAME CAFE. ANO HE P OREAMED ABOUT HER TILL THEN ..

ryf

Tfck REAL / TY /^rl/

Amo

ITsUZA NNE...tO\) I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D '\JF H\REMEMBEfiED.'jM COME. ID ROBED... but IjEÂ£ r-^CYiiTX. was AFRAID...

DOESN'T REALLY NATTER SUE^ REALLY / ITS JUST. ..THAT... THAT...

NEVER EVEN SEEN HER

ANO, BY GOO, I'VE r

FACE.../^'

GOOD LORD

MASKED...

Herbie reached over gently... UNTIEING THE SILKEN CORD THAT HELO SUE'S MASK IN PLACE ...

SHE'S STILL

lifted the mask

'GOING TO BED WITH A MASK ON. IT’S -H RIDICULOUS... J

TH -THANK GOD f I WAS ONLY DREAMING f

NOT YOU

SHOULOtfTl

V-W£...

HE REACHED FOR THE LIGHT- NERVOUSLY-DREADINa.

WHY DID X DREAM THAT AWFUL DREAMT what did IT MEAN f I'LL

LOVE

HER... NO MATTER

LOOKS

LIKE..

WHAT SHE

—

him with terror HER EYES. HE CLAWED AT THE

She looked op at

THE MASK... SHE'S STILL

W£A SING He* MASK .MST , LIKE IN NY DREAM

BLAST IT.

“f

DON'T. HERBIE'

DON'T TRY TO TAKE IT OFFf

7IT'S

T/M£ I SAM, SUEf

IT'S

JIMEf

WILD NAN NOW... MS FINGERS 0I6GIN6 in TUGGING. .PULLING... FRIGHTENED BY THE DREAN. HE

He WAS A

BEG ' OF YOU! YOU SAID IT DOESN'T NATTER. YOU SAID...

NO, HERBIE! I

DOES

Then... SUE'S screan of protest. blooo-curoling. Ihysterical. I

NO! NO!

)

HER BLOOD FLOODED OUT OVER THE PILLOW. HER RAW FLESH OUIVERED LIVERLY. HER EYES GLAZED. HER SICKLY GRINNING MOUTH... NOW STRIPPED OF ITS FLESH LIPS... CHOCKED OUT THE WORDS AS HIS

THAT* SUE'S SKIN M YOUR HAND.' DON'T FUNS IT FRON YOU LIKE THATf SHE MAY LOSE FACE/ WCLL,KIODKS .THAT*S iv THE in» CRY FT- _ CONTRIBUTION TO • ' MYI bUnimnnun IP KEEFER’S MAS FOR thb time. xU see YOU NEXT in MY MAS. THE VAULT OF HORROR but before I TURN YOU BACK TO C. K., SOME SOUND YOU HAVE

GURGLE...

NEVER- MORE - A MASK. .

CHOKE..

httrWL

/fjL

/ TO MS

ADVICE. DON'T TRY 10 R£ MOVE A DAME'S MASK AT DINNER TILL YOU'RE SURE SHI * WEAR/NO ONE. OR

MAY In " im HA" Y0U

STUCK THECHEEKt

WF >17 F.C. /IRE PROUDEST OF OUR SCIENCE - FICTION MAGAZINES! LOOK FOR... 5

“WEIRD SCIENCE

As he poised on the edge of the lake, Stan Albert chuckled aloud. This Mr. Karin was a real smart joe. He realized that a small expenditure can often bring fabulous returns if you're not wishy-washy about using methods that are slightly illegal. His offer Stan was a good example of a shrewd operator skirting with ethics in order to win a potful of money. Stan tonsed and his bronzed body arched in a neat dive; hardly a ripple signaled his entry into the water. With to

powerful strokes he slid quickly under the surface, to the spot where Karin

and

dope Foster were

this

fishing

from their rowboats. All he had to do for the $500, Stanley reflected as he surged forward underwater, was detach the bait from Foster's fishing line, so that Karin could land a bigger

LOOK FOR THESE SEALS UJHEI1

VOUBUV!

THEY ARE YOUR ASSURANCE OF TOP ENTERTAINMENT. FOUND ONLY ON THE FOLLOWING EC. MAGAZINES: TALES FROM THE CRYPT HAUNT OF FEAR VAULT OF HORROR SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES CRIME SUSPENSTORIES TWO-FISTED TALES • FRONTLINE COMBAT •

MAD WEIRD SCIENCE • WEIRD FANTASY AND THE 2SC ANNUAL ANTHOLOGIES: WEIRD SCIENCE-FANTASY TWO-FISTED ANNUAL • TALES OF TERR'IR

catch. There was $5,000 riding on the contest the man to bring in the larger fish would pocket as much as Stan ordinarily made in a year! Smart of Karin to offer half-a-grand just to make the bet less of a gamble for himself! The easiest dough Stan Albert had ever made! .

In the greenish water Stan saw Foster's hook; with a powerful surge Stan slipped through the depths toward the object of his pact with Karin. 500 bucks, Stanley thought as he reached out and steadied Foster's bobbing line just to help a man win a contest A small fortune to make certain that the right man brought in a bigger fish than his opponent! .

Carefully, his fingers

moving with

great delicacy, Stan began to slide the bait free. This guy Foster was a chiseler, too, Stan grinned. His hook

was bigger than had been agreed on; this was a battle between two un-

scruplous operators. And he stood to from the contest! profit

Now the bait was almost off the hook, and Stan felt his chest tightening as his lungs clamored for fresh air. The bait was caught on the bent part of the hook and Stan gave a tug to wrench it free. Another 30 seconds was all he could endure without comhe'd have to ing to the surface throw discretion to the winds and pull the hook good and hard! .

line became taut unand Stan felt the hook he was moving upward. Then a ripping sensation at his throat sent a spasm of pain stab-

Suddenly the

232 BIG PAGES IN FULL COLOR

144 BIG PAGES IN FULL Containing

COLOR the

Here under one cover,

complete

itory of the Lite of Christ and Peter and Paul and the founding of the Early Christian Church. Included â&#x20AC;˘ re maps showing Palestine

color continuity, relull edited and arranged in chronological order, are all I he iloriei of the Old Tetlament heron from the

time of Jesus and chronological indexes of

four issues of the magarine. color* in four Printed

principal events and Scriptute references to episodes

bound and throughout raraubed with hrithlli heart board corns.

the

illustrated.

der his fingers

slithering free. With surprise of the glittering metal

aware

bing through

had become

his

body. The big hook

cruelly

imbedded

Stan's throat and was tearing the tender skin open with each passing second. Already the water was becoming discolored with the reddish fluid pouring from his gaping wound!

Stan felt himself growing faint as he struggled futilely to escape the life drained swiftly from his writhing body he was dimly aware that he was being lifted laboriously toward the surface. All around him the water had become a his fingers swirling mass of blood

the taste were losing all feeling mouth was hot, acid, gagging .

his

In his last moment, before darkness closed in and blotted out Stan Albert's shuddering agony, he knew that Fosworking frantically to pull in ter .. had caught himself a really his line

Struggle for

(Writ* tor specie I school prlco*)

torturous hook, and as the

EDUCATIONAL COMICS. INC. ST.. NEW YORK 12. N.

22S LAFAYETTE I

enclose

copies

Cor

COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT COMPLETE NEW TESTAMENT PICTURE STORIES PICTURE STORIES

7$<

iOc

FROM SCIENCE No. FROM WORLD HIST. I

[

(No. I)

[

(ISc for each copy)

big

fish!

wed

petite*

ttnepi.

)

THE CRYPT-KEEPER’S CORNER Heh. hehl Seems that our Horror Hll Parade has created quite a stir among you hep-bidiots! Here are the hadditions to our collection, courtesy ol Nelson Bridwell ol Oklahoma City. Okla.: Milton Hughes ol Maysv'.lle. Ky.. Dick Baumann ol Glenbeulah. Wis

latest

Patrick

luto

McKemam

ol Germantown. Pa.. Emanuel PcN. Y.; Richard Renner ol Staten Otis Barron ol Monsey. N. Y-: Roger Falls. Minn-: Ira Bankofl ol Brooklyn. ol Woodcliil Lake. N. |

Brooklyn.

Island.

Todahl

N. ol

Y.;

Fergus

N Y and Lynn Weber .

OKLAHOMICIDE BIER-BARREL POLKA A ROUND THE CORONER

Anyone

idiot

interested can wnte to US. Lynn! Yep., editors have -Manned me that, due to th

ol requests (two!) (he E C organization is contemplating starting some sort ol fan club. The best minds (?) are now busily at work contemplating. Further announcements will be forthcoming when the contemplations have been completed. But don't worry

huge quantity

money! See THE VAULT

cost

it'll

OF HORROR

No.j

money-S

33 for the next exciting episode in this latest

grabbing short!

ANNIE GORY Dear Crypt-Keeper,

SLAUGHTER BOY LOATHE YOU CRUELLY SUME-HOUSE BLUES

doesn't hare enough sense probably too stupid to understand

someone

then

he's

THE TENNESSEE VAULTS SOMEBODY ROLLED MY PAL

HOWRE YOU GONNA

KEEP EM DOWN ON THE FARM (AFTER THEY'VE READ E.C.I)

can't help thinking how much Shakespeare I missed by not reading or writing stories like yours. I

BETTY NO-HEAD

WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME AGAIN. (HORROR. HORROR GOT HER SON IN THE MORNING.

How in the heck could a human lire in the same apartment with a corpse lor about two months? I'm

(TOOK BICARB THAT NIGHT!)

(CHOKE. CHOKE!) (THE ONE WITH THE PUTRIF1ED

you cals

lack Laws San Antonio. Texas

BOP

You have literature

Chlorophyll!

while In a musical rein, here ate some

some

VEIL!!

WISH YOU WERE WOLF OLD CROAKS AT HOME CHOKE ME. DRILL ME, SQUISH ME And

letters Irora

referring fo "Curiosity Killed in T.C No 36. Wouldn't it well kind ol smell? Certainly, when Mrs. Clayton called upon Mr. Durand, and he opened the door wide open, wouldn't she have smelled the smell Irom the smell ? II not. please explain .

SEVERED HEADS AMONG THE GHOULS WHO MUNCHED ON THAT BODY IN THE COFFIN.

forgotten an important character in horror the GHOUL. Won't you try to get a

GHOULIsh

story in your books?

Dear Cryplsy, Dig

Nils,

man!

think your

comic books are real gone. Formisano Newark. N. I.

We may

In .

I'd

walk a mile lor your mag

it's

real coo It

/udy Albarado Chicago. III.

The

closing, the usual commercial ann ounc thJrd annual TALES OF TERROR. EC.'s he 126 pages ol chills (?). sixteen con

fhology,

scream stories not counting 4 texts Irom 19S2 .is now available lor 2Sc. you r name, and yout address' Subscriptions to any E.C. mag will cost you the unheard ol price ol 7 Sc ... ’A el a dollar lor half-a-dozen .issues. (E.C. fan club? They're six still contemplating!! Address where you send lot all .

Man! That cra-a-a-a-iy cool slaty. The Handler. by flay Bradbury, in the last cool issue ol "Tales From The Crypt.” was real cooil Hepster Jim Moian Richmond, N.

this drivel ... or

where

YOU

send US drivel

The Crypt-Keeper

Room . I want to congratulate you and you r "cranelederates'' lor turning out such super-George mags .

Dig that cra-a-a a-azy undertaker!

P.S.

oblige you sooner than

706, Dept. 3B

225 Lafayette

St.

NYC

12.

is:

ERNIE VISITED THE DOCTOR BUT NEVER EXPECTED THE

IMf&HW)

E"Mll SHIFTED UNCOMFORTABLY ON THE LEATHER CHAIR IN THE DOCTOR'S WAITING ROOM. FROM TIME TO TIME, THE EXPRESSION ON HIS LOOSE FLABBY- FEATUREO FACE WOULD CHANGE FROM ONE OF ANXIETY TO THAT OF A CHEERFUL GRIN, AND HE WOULD CHUCKLE SILENTLY OR LAUGH OUT LOUO.WHEN THAT HAPPENED, HE WOULD CLUTCH MIS STOMACH AND THE GRIN WOULD FADE AND THE ANXIETY WOULD RETURN ONCE MORE. HE SHOOK HIS HEAD SADLY AFTER HIS MOST RECENT OUTBURST OF HILARITY ANO LOOKED UP WITH RELIEF AS DOCTOR FALOER ENTERED.. ' * IT'S HI STOMACH, DOC 1 I GOT PAINS f IT I'M SORRY I KEPT YOU WAITING, SIR, BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AT HOME. YOUR HURTS ME ...HERE .. EVERY time I LAUGH.' CALL SEEMED URGENT. WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE

ROUBLE?

'*â&#x20AC;¢9 Hi

Doctor faloer supped out of his overcoat ALL RIGHT' WE'LL TAKE A CEELY. OOCf ERNIE

LOOK AT

YOU. IF YOU'LL WAY, MR. MR.

STEP THIS

TM AFRAID I DIDN'T X CATCH THE NAME.

CEELY' I'M NEW 'ROUND THESE PARTS BEEN IN TOWN ABOUT ,

TWO WEEKS.

ROOM AND ROLLED UP >

saoj .o.n.i

HIS SLEEVES -

MIGHT AS WELL GIVE YOU A 1 THOROUGH GOING-OVER, MR. m CEELY. WHILE I'M EXAMINING

YOU, YOU CAN TELL rm t ME ABOUT THIS PAIN YOU'VE BEEN HAVING.

T HE DOCTOR BENT OVER THE SINK AND BE6AN TO WASH HIS H«NOS STRAINED YOURSELF, MR. CEELY? MOW? .

OH IF YOU'LL PLEASE REMOVE YOUR SHIRT.

WHAT

I FIGURE

HAPPENED. YUH SEE. DOC / GO FOR L. YAKS..J&

don't

UNDER-

STAND '

LAUGHS' LARGE )

CHARGES'

Ernie stood before the doctor. stripped to the WAIST... THE EXAMINING ROOM LIGHTS REFLECTING ON MIS OBESE BODY. DOC FALDER PLACED HIS STETH0SCOPE TO HIS EARS..

WHAT

SORT

5IV.

OKE S ?

MR CEELY?

LAST WEEK

J J

YOUR \

OF PRACTICAL

[THEY HEH. ..THEY PALL FOR IT EVERY r/HE.OOC HEH HEH THEY OOOOH

BE SURE TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, HUH, HONEY? ’BYE..

/WELL, ’

I PULLEO THIS GAG, SEE AND I FI6URE STRAINED MYSELF LAUGHIN’ OVER IT

PlTHisiSTHE ELECTRIC COMPANY, MADAM .1 WE'RE CHECKING ON THE STREET LAMPS \ IN YOUR AREA. WOULD YOU KINDLY LOOK AND SEE IF THE STREET LAMP OUTSIDER HOUSE IS UT? /

SO YOU'RE A PRACTICAL ) EH,

BANG OUT L PRACTICAL

JOKES

JOKES...

JOKER.

•

GET A

AN'

NEARLY DIED LAUGHIN'.

YAKS, DOC!

GO FOR YAKS, MR. CEELY? I

DOCTOR SUPPED INTO MIS

WHITE LAB COAT-

QUIZZICALLY AS HE DRIED HIS

SCRUBBED HANDS...

SURE, DOC! •fEAH.THAT'S

^ J

T ME

DOC FALDER LOOK ED AT ERNE

BREATHE DEEPLY AND HOLD IT_

T ME

OOCTOR MOVCO THE STETHOSCOPE ABOUT ERNIE'S

CHEST, LISTENING GRIMLY...

;

STUFF LIKE THAT. HEH.HEM' WHAT A rnorr MEH.HEH' I.

I OET THIS IDEA, SEE 7 I NOTICE THAT THE RIDS J THIS BERG ALL PLAY DOWN BY THE RAILROAD AH' I NOTICE THAT THE LIMITED SHOOTS THROUGH, DOIN’ ABOUT SEVENTY, EVERY DAY AT NOON..

COLO.

—

TRACES

I ANO WHAT WAS THE GREATEST, the SOREST THAT, MR CEELY: THE BEST YAK I EVER PULLEO.' I TELL YOU.. I NEARLY DIED '

HUH? HIS

\DINNER'S GETTIN'

NORRIS

m. CART OH ?

t^OOOoOOH..^^^

yOUT,

CANDY STORE?!YES, YOU GOT PHILIP SIR'

.ROSIE’S

LAUGHIN'...

[‘So LAST WEEK, I BUY ME SOME HUNKS OF HORSE-MEAT. REAL CHEAP STUFF B/G AN’ RAW AN' BLOODY. AN' I I k BUY ME SOME KID'S CLOTHES. AN' I STUFF THE MEAT \ IN THE KID'S CLOTHES ANO I GO DOWN TO THE TRACKS ABOUT NOON AND I LAY THE MESS ON THE TRACKS NEAR

.'Doc, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE FACES ON THOSE FIDS' THEY TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE OONY MESS AND SOME- ]£ THEY STARTED RUN N IN' IN ALL DIRECTIONS-’ _ ^ BODY ftHEH,HEHTHEH?rtj / GOLLY \ {SCREAMED*!

)

TOOK ‘EM MAYBE

THREE HOURS HONEST, DOC. I NEARLY DIED LAU6HIN'. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEIR FACES. SOON, THE

WHOLE TOWN COME OUT...

ill

\ L.

BEFORE THEY FOUNO OUT IT WEREN'T NO FID 60TKILLEO -SIRENS. ano AMBULANCES RUNNIN' AROUND LIKE rn

CRAZY

WAIT HERE, MR. CEELY. I'LL BE A MOMENT

^ M

r «*y

YOU'LL BE FINE, MR. CEELY. AND NOW,

W HERE. MR CEELY. SWALLOW THESE f

YUH KNOW WHAT'S WRONC, DOC ? WILLI BE

ALL RIGHT *

I WANT YOU TO 60 OUT INTO THE WA/TINO ROOM ano SIT DOWN. I'LL 1 CALL YOU WHEN I'M READY. I want TO PERFORM SOME TESTS ON YOU.

GET

COMPLETELY

UNDRESSED,

V DOC/ HAP-

just RELAX, mr. CEELV. I'LL BE .

tons- V-

THIN'S

READY TOR YOU ] \ SHORTLY...^A

THERE WAS A TAMIL Y IN THIS TOWN. MR. C EEL Y’ A MOTHER A

CAN'T

FATHER. ANO TWO CHILDREN.. ,

j^v

BLOOOY MESS

HfNE^..'

JbLM

. cim,

stevey,' just

L0C ' 1T

,ckj

SAY.

JpSEET>IArST^ ETOO ES NT

‘But the eight-year-olo wandereo away... left the THREE -YEAR-OLO DISREGARDED HIS MOTHER'S WISHES. ALL MUODY PLAYING

n'-

MR.

itut TOR YOUR

HAVE TO

BET HIMSELF DIRTY, JEFFREY -Jpg’! MAMA f

'AND THE THREE -YEAR-OLO GOT

[WHERE HE SHOULDN'T

LISTEN TO WHAT I

'One day the mother sent her two boys out to [play, sic told the eigkt-year-olo to watch the rTHRCE -YEAR-OLO AMO KEEP HIM _OUT_gf MISCHIEF...'

STAND

BOY, you \ RIOS? SHOULD HAVE

...J

Jr SEEN THEM A Pmmrm FACES WHEN 1 THEY SAW that J

BOYS... ONE E/SHT... THE YOUNG one. three...

HURTS... EVEN •THEN I DON'T < LAUGH, NOW. .)

CtELY.

SNORTS/ aho while YOU'RE COINS THAT,

PENJM'f HERE)

’The eight-year-old went to play with his .FRIENDS. HE'D COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIS \ LITTLE THREE YEAR OLO BROTHER UNTIL HE HEARD i * •

BLOOD-CURDLING

S CREAM ...

L j

WHAT ) WAS THAT?)

f THE

I'lN HER FRIGHTENEO ANXIETY,

Jeffrey thought that the BLOODY REMAINS LYING UPON THE RAILROAD TRACKS DIMS HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, STEVEY* FEAR CLUTCHED AT HIS LITTLE EIGHT- YEAR -OLD HEART. HE STARTED RUNNING HOMEWILDLY. HE NEVER SAW THE TRUCK.’.

MOTHER'D THOUGHTLESSLY LEFT HER r THREE -YEAR-OLD SON IN THE TUB .WHERE SHFO BEEN BATHING HIM...’ [

IErnie stooo, oisrobeo, before the doctor, staring AT HIS WIDE FLAMING EYES-

JEFFREY! MY BABY:

Doctor faloer's

grip was like a vise of steel as

YES, MR. CEELY. THAT WAS NY FAMILY'S STORY. THE EI6HTYEAR- OLO DIED FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE TRUCK. THE BABY DROWNED, my w/FE dropped dead OF a HEART ATTACK

( *

you SAY YOU ALMOST DIED LAUGHING OVER YOUR PRACTICAL JOKE, MR. CEELY? WELL .NOW

]

THOSE CAPSULES GAVE YOU CONTAINED FISH HOOKS... BARBED LITTLE FISH HOOKS- tar?'"'

YOU WILL DIE LAUGHING I

Doctor faloer rolleo out the equipment he'o prepared ano set IT ABOUT THE STRIPPEO RECLINING FIGURE OF SCREAMING ERNIE CEELY. THEN THE OOC TURNED ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT ON. ANO THE FEATHERS TICKLED THE SOLES OF ERNIE'S FEET ANO NUDGED HIS RIBS ANO UNDER HIS ARMS ANO BEHIND HIS EARS DIE LAUGHING. ERNIE'

DIE LAUGHING

ANO SO WE LEAVE ERNIE C WITH THE LITTLE his

FISHHOOKS

QUIVERING STOMACH.

“

YAAAAA44

kn<

FULL WELL THAT THE DOC WILL M SURE ERNIE GETS THE POINT OF THIS GAG. BARBED POINTS fL in FACT. ERNIE... THS LAST YAK WILL KILL YOU* AND NOW, THE I ‘ J WITCH AWA/TB.WITH I

KRAWLY. FREERKOOKERY.

LAUGH' a Th UEA BUSTED GUT.

DID*

MEE.MEE' AND NOW THAT TOON APPETITES TON HORROR HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY PIQUED BY MY FELLOW SLIME-SLIHOERS ...C.K. and Y.K., IT*S time fob ME TO FEED YOU FOUL FARE. SO HON INTO THE HAUNT OF FEAR. FIENDS . AND YOUR HOSTESS IN HEAVES, THE OLD WITCH, WILL OISH OUT THE DELICIOUS DELVtNC INTO THE DELIRIOUS, CALLED..

The cemetery lay silent beneath a cold moon that SKIPPED IN AND OUT FROM BEHIND DARK CLOUDS THAT RACED ALOW ON A BRISK NOVEMBER WIND. BELOW, THE MUFFLEO SOUND OF DIG6IN6 ECHOED INTO THE NIGHT. A MAN STOOD KNEE-OEEPIN AN EXCAVATION AMONG THE FLAT PLAINLY-MARKED GRAVES, ANXIOUSLY SINKING HIS SPADE INTO THE SOFT EARTH AND TOSSING IT ONTO A GROWING PILE BESIDE HIM. EVERY SO OFTEN THE MAN WOULD STOP HIS WORK, LISTEN, AND THEN .HEARING N0THIN6-- .CONTINUE DI66IN6 ...

THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING SCREWY WHOLE SET-UP. Right from the BE6INNIN0,

this

l FELT

IT.

NOW

I'M GOING TO

FIND OUT.

FOR SURE. The man furiously spaded the black loam out OF THE EVER-DEEPENING HOLE ALL THE WHILE MUMBLING TO HIMSELF... ...

r 'THE 8 RATEFUL HOBOES' SOCIETY'.' HNMPH f IT SMELLED FUNNY from the

M W

START/ AN EXPERIENCED REPORTER LEARNS TO SENSE THESE things, and / SENSED IT. THAT FIRST DAY... AT THE PRESS CON^

FERENCE

the MAYOR'S OFFICE.

ROS/NO

PRESENT FEUX J. COREHARD. REPRESENTATIVE Of 'THE ORATEFUL HOBOES0SOCIETY'. WHO WILL TELL YOU OF THE

...MAY I

UNFORTUNATES have been LAID IN ROTMAINTAINED BY TOUR TAXES. NOW. THIS sad RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT Of YOUR CITY'S HANDS. / OCNTIEMEN...

TO REST St OUR O/TT FIELDS

OF ITS

HERETOFORE, THESE wretched TER'S

SENTLEMEN OUR FAIR CITY HAS LONS HAD THE PROBLEM OF D/S-

DERELICTS AND

HOMELESS ONES who PASS AWAY with NO FRIENDS OR

WONDERFUL OFFER

)

his

OHQANIZATION HAS MADE THE OFFER I HAVE GRACIOUSLY ACCENTEDf MR. COPEHARD-.

RELATIVES to PROPERLY BURY THEM...

fTMm

'I REMEMBER SHIFTY-EYED MR. COPEHARD...

—

SlIILiNO.

(

—*». SO F T-SPOKEN...' _ (benTLEME h^THE 6RATEFUL HOBOES, OUTCASTS. I AND UNWANTEDS' LAYAWAY SOCIETY: 'THi. GRATEFUL HOBOES' SOCIETY’ FOR SHORT, was .

F0RME0 BY f ,

{

ELICTS. OR

CROUP OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

AMD PROFESSIONAL MEN who felt that they OWED A DEBT OF BRAT/TUDE TO THIS FAIR CITY.

ALL THE MEMBERS Of THIS ORGANIZATION CAME TO DOWN-AND- OUTERS. DR/FTERS. DERJUST PLAIN BUMS, but HERE, THEr

THIS CITY AS

[

FOUND OPPORTUNITY. HERE. THEY FOUND FINANCIAL SUCCESS, and SO INGRATITUDE... THEY HAVE BANDED TOOETHER TO AID and ENDOW others LESS FORTUNATE than themselves < OTHER ORIFTERS AND UNWANTEDS THEY HAVE PURCHASED A SMALL PARCEL OF LAND in ONE OF OUR CITY'S SUBURBS, LANDSCAPED IT_. AND HAVE TURNEO IT INTO A CEMETERY...

A BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY, where the POOR THE GRATEFUL HOBOES’.. WHO PREFER TO remain OUTCASTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN AS FORTUNATE J ANONYMOUS .have created an ENDOWMENT FUNOi AS THEY MAY BE LAID TO FINAL REST IN A THROUGH MUTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS, with which ALL DIGNITY WHEN THEY PASS FROM OUR FUNERAL and CEME TERY UPKEEP EXPENSES wh. L MORTAL WORLD.. v*~'N BE MET. NO LONGER WILL YOUR TAXES BE NEEDED FOR

...

THIS PURPOSE.

LONGER

will

SHODDY POTTER 'S

FIELDS MAR THE BEAUTY Of OUR ROUNOINO COUNTRYSIDE.

FAIR CITY’S

LONGER

WILL.

SUR-

[

' ( THE PRESENT RIGHT. Jyes yes.. THEY WERE X'THE 'ALL ONCE BUNS ) CRATE- J /CONDITION OF THE THEMSELVES, you/ EUL \ [DERELICT IN OUR CITY 1 j EXPLAINED THAT. \ HOBOES' ( /DOES NOT CONCERN I \ BUT WHY WAIT UNTIL ] ARE ALL ' (THESE MEN. LET THE M THESE DERELICTS / SELF- MADE DERELICT RISE UP T AS THEY HAVE DONE. iTr-co^J'-T-N DIE BEFORE HELP-\MEN, SIR THEM' couldn't THEY ) BUT WHEN THE DERELICT J HARO IS: WHY SHOULD A EXPLAINER INC J

'Yes.it

smelled FUNNY ALL

II REMEMBER LISTENING TO MR. '

[

COREMARD RAVE ON, EXPOUNDING UPON THE WONDERFUL GROUP OF PHILANTHROPISTS HE REPRESENTED

'ANO

REMEMBER FINALLY ASKING.’

(

j /GROUP OF RICH HEN SIR ALL SUOOENLY BECOME aIOF THESE J CONCERNED ABOUT MEN. / I

SOME OERELICTS'r^TKs^

\FUNERALS?J

can NO LONGER RISE UL WHEN HE HAS PASSED ON( THEN LET HIM BE RAJGEi WERE OOWN.J IN FINAL REST

THE MONEY BE PUT TO 7 RECEIVED \ HELP BETTER BY J

/NO \ WHEN THEY

REHABILITATING

THEM WHILE THEY L- ARE ALIVE?

'And z remember in the years that followeo, RETURNING FROM TIME TO TIME ANO SEEING THE ROLLING

^YEAH, BEAUTIFUL f IT ALMOST PAYS TO

DIE PENNILESS .A

m W

LAWNS

WITH THE SIMPLE GRAV E MARKER S

#^^2^7^ho^omeno

^h-7/'—-

|flU| )%

THE WORK OF 'THE GRATEFUL \WOBO£S‘ SOCIETY BECAME STALE NEWS ANO I TURNED TO OTHER THINSS. THEN, THIS MORNING, i EDITOR CALLED ME IN. jtfiuT AFTER A WHILE

SWEENEY. YOU COVERED^THE OPENINGJYCAH, CH IEF ' of ’the grateful hoboes'societyVJwhat’s up?

CEMETERY FOR OUTCASTS ANO .

UNWANTEOS.DIfitLT YOU?

y—

DEPARTMENT

SOCIETY IS

THE a

{

CEMETERY SHOULD

laJFm, LOOK S. JDOIML TNErSAV

they’re burying

the THOUSANDTH /TODAY. TAKE A RUN

HERE, mister.

the

J/ MODERN WAY

'well accoroing to the OBIT

DERELICT OUT AND

COVER IT FOR US, HUH? OUGHT TO BE WORTH A Jf f PARAGRAPH OR TWO. Jt V

SAYS THIS

..*% \\

WORX^

only"

GRAVE MOUNDS *

U ay, l/

< J

SURE. CHIEF/ 1 YOU M. SAY THE

HEY, DID

THOUSANDTH DERELICT? .

\YEAH,

J BUT

WHY COULDN'T

THAT'S

.WHY*J IMPOSSIBLE.' IT COULDN'T BE.

' 1

IT?

IT'S BEEN ALMOST UNDENSTAND, ) / SEVEN YEANS- A .CHIEF. I'LL

Xl'M SWEENEY.

a BIG CITY. SEE YOU LATER-' WE GOT A LOT OF J

THIS is I

BUNS.

FROM THE GLOBE, a COME OUT TO COVER THE

FUNENAL

^.TOPAY..

OH? I SEE WELL.THE * GRAVEDIGGERS ARE OVER iTHERE HOW, PREPARING THE GRAVE, ‘

I'LL JUST MOSEY OVER AND WATCH. IF YOU OON'tJ minu . tfv

WATCHED THE WHOLE CEREMONY.

A FEW

DERELICT FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTED ONE HAD COME ALON6 TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO .THEIR

FELLOW

LOWED THE COFFIN..

f>J

^ SCHNIFF.

I WATCHED THEM DIO T HE SIX FOOT HOL E r'OKAYf THAT'S ) /just'in TIME '

!Tf

c^*^£TOO. HERE THEY r COME' y*

JXW

'After the gravediggers left, i stoco a while LOOKING OUT OVER THE ROLLING LA WHS WITH THE MARKERS AND THE NEW FRESH G RAVE-MOUND JUTTING OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.

STARTED PACING.

PACED ALONG THE GATE ON THE

NEST SIDE OF THE CEMETERY. THEN I PACED ALONG THE GATE ON WJEJ<ORTHjSipE.^/_ ^»"' “'“i^.^—<^'»^^ ,,

SIMPLE

'sB^fgrfv^r^'frr~ri^w

m mbht/j.

THAT'S STRANBEf

VERT

STRANGE.

There WAS something FISHY ABOUT THIS SET-UP. I KNEW IT. I took a last look at the SINGLE MOUND AMID THE GREENg

WENT BACK Tone CAR. I STARTED SCRATCHING AWAY ON MY MEMOjPAD- FIGURING / _

•

W WT

IjsfwHAfTrHOu.sht/ THERE ISN’T ENOUGH AREA * THAT CEMETERY FOR A

THOUSAND BRAVES /

THEY MUST BE STACKIN' C THEM. ONE

A ?

I DROVE BACK TO THE CEMETERY AND

HIO

—

jyffP^KOT

rlwv ,

Our WHAI

his

I'LL

ABOVE THE

OTHER UNLESS

CAR. I

SCALED THE FENCE, PICKED A HIDING PLACE, AND WAITED... WATCHING Lys->ys

mj^^^WA^TLLyjND OUT.

'And orove to the nearest shopping SECTION, r STOPPED AT A HARDWARE STORE../ ukeTto buy A SPADE J

*>-

FIND

ALL ABOUT r

‘And then, SOMETH/NB NAPRENED. somethino WEIRD and FRI6HTENINB. the MOUND ..THE SI AISLE BRAVE-MOUND.. .SUNK DOWN INTO THE EARTH SUNK DOWN until IT was LEVEL WITH .

THE

SURROUNDINO BRASS

’

BOOD LORD

T»C CEMETERY LAY SILENT BENEATH A COLO MOON. THE MUFFLED SOUND OF DIG6IN6 ECHOED INTO THE MIGHT. THE MAN MUMBLED TO HBISELF AS HE DUG FURIOUSLY. / -SO I'LL find out WHAT \

The souno of metal striking metal reverberated IN THE DEEP HOLE THE MAN HAD OUG. HE LOOKED

IS AU ABOUT/ J'u FIND OUT. WHY should 6HAVE HOUND JUST

f NETAL

, v^. vT* THAT'S funny? the COFFIN was I'M a 6000 SIX FEET DOWN.

WOOD/ ANO. H£Y/

.THIS »

—

AROUND, CONFUSED.

SINK DOWN, just VANISH* WHY. ..f f~f.

The man cleared the soil away from the metal FLOOR OF THE GRAVE...

fi,‘

1^KF7h£C0FFIN is IS

DOOR

60 N£/

THIS

The man stood up in the grave, he stared at THE OLO HOUSE NEARBY, BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATES. THERE WERE LIGHTS ON INSIOE IT, SHINING THROUGH SHADED WINDOWS..

this

DOOR that opens

"'Hbdl^^JOWNWAHD'

Suddenly the metal floor BENEATH THE MAN'S FEET COLLAPSED AND HE PLUMMETED DOWN-

THE GRATEFUL HOBOES:

GOOD EYENIN6. SWEENEY

.MR

THOU6HT I HEARD YOU KN0CK/N6

COPEHARD.'

TOO BAD'\/ THIS

THAT YOU DIS-

•«

COVEREO OUR LITTLE SECRET, MR. SWEENEY.

1 a

HOW

YOU CAN BURY

THOUSAND

< BODIES IN A CEMETERY THAT

COULDN'T HOLD

SIX HUNDRED.

AS A

GOT THE

Y THAT S WHY ) THE MOUND l SUNK DOWN? \ER... YOU SAY

IDEA

FROM A COMIC YOU GOT THE MAGAZINE / EF..\lDEA from A NOTICE THAT THERE COMIC IS A STEEL TRAP MA6AZINE J I

WAS ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION OF

VAMPIRES WHO ESTABLISHED A RESTAURANT WHERE THEY COULD

HE GRATEFUL HOBESf

IN IT

WHAT WAS

ABOUT?

...

WE MERELY

GOOD LORD .

/WJ

MESS'? I

WAS A STORY CALLED 'MIDNIGHT MESS/ UP THOSE STAIRS, 4

- PLEASE

APPLIED THE STORY TO OUR ALL WE DID WAS

^ -{‘GHOUL IVVU^C

/ 'midnight j

‘

CRYPT,

BELIEVE.

BUY THIS HOUSE, AND.. THERE, PLEASE

UNWANTEDS' LAYAWAY SOCIETY! MR. lr—-' WE ARE WHAT OUR ^

SWEENEY.

INITIALS STAND FOR.

FROM THE I

OWN NEEDS.

There were twenty or thirty of them... sitting about the huge BANQUE T TABLE. PATTING THEIR MOUTHS WITH THEIR NAPKINS. " MEET THE 'GRATEFUL HOBOESOUTCASTSj ""cHOKE. .TS

A HORROR MAGAZINE. 'TALES

YES.

<0>\NO, UR. SWEEN EY

VAMPIRES?.' 1

GET JHt BLOOD THEY NEEDED.' THROUGH THAT DOOR PLEASE ...

wy and

f f 1

MATTER

OF FACT, MR. SWEENEY, WE

BEEN SIS, BOOM,^\ STICK ‘IM IN THE ] HIS BONES ARE PICKED /

'RAH,HEE,

ASH

BEAN / CAN.'

CLEAN!''HEE, HEE' THAT'S THE \ ORGANIZATIONS CHEER, CREEPS^ 'NO CHOKING AND NOW.IT'S TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE UNDER MY

CRUDDY CAULDRON and close j THE DOOR TO MY REEKING / RESTAURANT FOR TASTY \ TERROR TIB- \

HpPRRSl

jalWTO'J

W liWT Li'

WlJL

IJlMk/

jfwfWjBk

KlA

BITS. WE'LL ALL SEE YOU

\ NEXT IN

if / /

THE

VAULT 0F \ HORROR. TILL 1 THEN ,6ET vow D,ME S WORTH' READ THIS WHOLE RA0 OVER AGAIN' 1 OARE YOU f '

0 Scarce Stamps-All Different- Sent Free ro StCUftf NAMES ron OUR MAILING

LIST

AO: cl upon at once, Well send you this fascinating let' of 10 Hitler stamps Different sites, colors, value*. YOU.

NO COST TO

These valuable Mumps were issued, by the short-lived nation of Bobemia-Moravia They e much sought after. Now they are becoming And since the nation is no longer in existence— no new issues can be tainted. Our supply is limited So, don't ask for mote than one set

SCARCE

nut

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In addition to the Hitler Stamps, we'll also include other interesting offers for your incopy ol our helpful, informative book. "How To Collect Postage Stamps." ft contains fascinating and true stories such as ‘the one about the If stamp (which a schoolboy gladly sold lor $1.50) and which was spection—PLUS a

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FEATURING

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE VAULT-KEEPER

PANEL TRUCK HAD PULLED BEFORE HIS MORTUARY, AND SOMEHOW HE'D THE SILENT WICKER WITH ITS GRISLY WHILE OUT IN THE LITTER-STREWN THE BACK

SISSY f

WHAT'S HE HE'S TAKIN' SH-H-HH.' J OFF THE i IE'll HEAR DOIN',

SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL FOR CHUBBY AND PETE AND BILLY AND PERCIVAL TO WANT TO SEE MORE OF THIS UNFATHOMABLE PROBLEM.. TO WANT TO LEARN WHAT WENT ON BEHIND MR. ESPROCK'S CLOSED MORTUARY DOORS...|| H ar' IF IT MAKES Y UGH' HE'S SLICING^ YOU SICK... ) OLD MR. GROVES' DON'T SKIN AT THE BASE i OF His NECK. LOOK.

chubby ? ) CLOTHES '

PERCY i

There

is a morbid curiosity in CHILDREN, A STRANBE FASCINATION WITH DEATH. IT HURRIES THEM TO THE SCENES OF ACCIDENTS, SUCKS THEM INTO MOVIE THEATERS TO WATCH IT UNFOLO ON SILVER SCREENS, PROMPTS THEM TO MAKE-BELIEVE ABOUT IT... AND DRAWS THEM TO WMDOWS IN UNDERTAKINO PARLORS...h

—

you

And

PUMPIN'

THIS

TO WATCH I—

*‘

T CHAAAA..

OUT THE BLOOD, k. THAT'S WHAT kHE'S DOIN'

ADMISSIONS

nra

AS HE WORKED, AVERILL HUMMED SOFTLY, FILLING

^ HE'S

The pump began to chug, gurgling the scarlet LIQUID OUT OF THE DEAD BODY THROUGH THE PULSATINO TUBE AND SENDING IT INTO THE PORCELAIN SINK.. GOLLY' WE COULD CHARGE THE REST OF THE GANG

•'

A WHILE THE GURGLING STOPPED AND THE PUMP

'THE BLOOD'S

ALL

RUMBEOfA

V 0UTf

NOW 7 WHAT? 1

HE'S TAKIN' DOWN THAT BIG JUG Of LIQUID .

? Mr. esprock rinsed the hose that ran off

into

THE RED-STAINED PORCELAIN SINK AND PUSHED INTO THE NECK OF THE JUG WITH THE COLORLESS

LIQUID

...

I'LL BET A NICKEL THAT'S

EMBALMIN' FLUID?

i'll bet

YOU'RE

Y I

STICK j HOME. MY 4 ABOUND, I'M GOIN'

EIGHT? JPAW'S BEEN \

Averill pressed a switch, the pump reversed ITSELF. THE GURGLING BEGAN AGAIN. THE COLORLESS LIQUID IN THE JUG BEGAN TO SLOWLY DISAPPEAR, FORCED INTO M R. GROVES' EMPTY ARTERIES STICK OKAY, 8MART 1 BEALL Y, SEE? WHAT'D ABOUND, FELLERS. I TELL YOU? J OUYf SO YOU

PERCY?

SICK AND..,

in the mortuary, a BELL TINKLED. MR. ESPROCK STIFFENED. A FIGURE SWEPT ASIDE THE CURTAINS AND CAME INTO THE

LAST DROP OF THE EMBALMING FLUID GARGLED OUT OF THE JUG AS THE LAST DROP OF A SODA IS SUCKED FROM A FOUNTAIN GLASS THROUGH A FRAYED STRAW. MR. ESPROCK SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. ..fnn—y**"-*^i

' MB

BACKROOM...

PERCY?

PEEP-HOLE WHISPERED EXCITEDLY.,

LISTEN THE DRU66/ST f HE WANT?

MAYBE WE'LL

FIND OUTf

WHAT'S

HOWDY, AVERI LL? jANYBODY SEE J YOU COME IN, I COME FOR

iMYtftfT/

FIFTY BUCKS EACH? NOPE... NOBODY SAW ME. HOW MUCH DO 1 THAT'S THE BEST I COULD WE MAKE THIS TIME? / DO? THE SPOKES 'FAMILY DON'T HAKE MUCH MONEY. I FINALLY TALKED EM INTO

N TWO HUNDBED DOLLAR CLEAR A HUNDRED ON THAT ONE t font-.

FUNERAL.

^..

POP'S

BEEN IN BED, an

Somewhere

T HE

THE

—^sr KNOW EVERYTHING')

S U^T

MOOT?

FIFTY BUCKS' FOR CBY/N OUT LOUD, IT

YOU

CHANCES FOR THAT LITTLE OOUGH.

NEXT TIME POISON A

WELL,

DON'T PAY TO TAKE SUCH

PBESCB/PTION, MAKE SURE IT'S FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAN

AFFORD A B/6 ^FUNERAL...

W HAT’D X IT

THINK?

.KNOW'

NOBODY

GET A CHANCE TO DO EVERY DAY IN THE I GOT TO

THE

WEEK?

WAIT TILL SOMEBOOY GETS S/CK FIRST... 4 AND NEEDS A PRESCRIPTION FILLED?

BUT^^r

K/CHEST

HEH, HEH

6000' \ GOOD' WE OUGHT TO

MAN W TOWN... AND I DELIVERED

HIS PRESCRIPTION

KNOW by TON/6HT...

THIS MORNING.'i

Outside, the kips looked at each other, horrifieoTHE RICHEST SOY IN HEY, WHERE HE'S NOT TOWN'? WHY THAT’S IS PERCY? A HERE.' PERCY'S OLD MAN...

AND CHUBBY AND PETE TORE OUT OF THE ALLEYBEHIND MR. ESPROCK'S MORTUARY AND RAN ALL WAY TO PERCY'S HOUSE. WHEN THEY GOT THERE,

60LLY,

I DON’T THINK

SO? SOLLY, WHAT’LL

DO?

LATE. THEY STOOD AROUND AWKWARDLY; WHAT TO SAY TO POOR GRIEVING PERCY, AND

X AW,

THEY

YEAH. WE^ GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS

NEXT DAY, PETE AND BILLY AND CHUBBY WERE AT THEIR PEEPHOLE, WATCHING MR. ESPROCK EMBALM PERCY'S FATHER'

THAT'S

LIKE WHAT'S

MORE>J r HE? i 1 FEEL all 1

IT. ER...

WRONO,

AVERILL? YOU

RIGHT,

MORT!

WHY?

DON'T LOOK /

THE FUNERAL'S

TOHORROW HORN-

DOWN. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU NEED A

MEET ME AT THE USUAL PLACE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU

T YOUR SHARE.

THE / \EXCf7ENENT GUESS /

ILL SEND i

OVER...

IT'S

CHUBBY, YOU GET (

INS, MORT. I'LL PROBABLY GET PAID

TOMORROW N/SHTf

7 DON'T ^' / BOTHER

DON'T KNOW? YOU LOOK PALE- RUN

'EM

6000?

CLEAR

ONE

THOUSAND. five

â&#x20AC;¢"X HUNDREO

APIECE'

Outside, pete grinned... I JUST GOT TELL us LATER, AN IDEA, PETE. LISTEN... l

FELLERS?

DOWN

TO SRUDNYS DRU6 STORE AND YOU HANS AROUND IN FRONT.. STAY THERE ALL DAY YOU HAVE TO? ^A

V IF

HEH, HEH ? WELL/\ THREE BRAND AVERILL. BIO YOU \ WORTH? WE

STICK

HERE COMES 'W' SH-H-H-H HR. SRUONY.'ML LISTEN.

TONIC ONE

)

T HE

RIGHT?

After chubby left, pete told HIS

YOU LOOK S'

PLAN TO BILLY. THEN THEY

PALE, MR.

WENT AROUND TO THE FRONT OF MR. ESPROCK'S MORTUARY AND

E9PROCK. YOU LOOK

WAITED. THEY WAITED UNTIL MR. k

ESPROCK CAME OUTMR. ESPROCK. SAY, WHAT’S y

] J

YOU

\7I

DON'T

COMIN’ DOWN

VKNOW.'l... with EXCUSE

WRONG ? iem »— [trF GOOD, MR. ijAjf

Mr. esprock went back into the MORTUARY. THE KIDS DARTED AROUNO TO THE BACK WINOOW IN TIME TO

SOMETH IN', \ME, BOYS.

SICK.'/ MR.ESPROCKr>in,ll

^HUH tTYOU DON'T rRONSVi LOOK SO

HI,

HELLO, MORT? AYER/LL.' SAY. ER ...MAYBE YOU'D BETTER SEND THAT TONIC OVER AFTER ALL.' I DO FEEL KINDA _.KINDA ^ tar FUN DOWN.'

ESPROCK f/j

Outside mr. gruony's store, chubby waited PATIENTLY. FINALLY, MR. OBUDNY CAME OUT... HOW'D YOU LIKE TO MAKE A N/CKEL, CHUBBY? DELIVER THIS PACKABE OVER T MR. ESPROCK AT THE UNDERTAKING PARLOR...

SURE

TH/N6,

MR. GRUDNY f

iHUBBY TOOK THE PACKAGE AND RUSHED STRAIGHT TO THE CLUB HOUSE WITH IT. PETE AND BILLY WERE WAITING HERE'S THE 'okay, FOUR IT OUT... Jr* RAT-POISON..

Mr. ESPROCK OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS MORTUARY TO SEE CHUBBY STANDING BEFORE HIM, HOLDING A STRAY CAT IN ONE HAND AND THE

BOTTLE OF ‘TONIC

MR. GRUDNY ASKED ME TO DELIVER THIS, MR. ESPROCK '

THE OTHER-

IN r ,

OH,

THANK

YOU, CHUBBY!

Chubby held out the bottle of LETTING IT SLIP FROM

I'TONIC',

HIS FINGERS...' Ir—

HERE

Y’ARE-

OOOPSf

LOOKOUT,

YOU. ..CLUMSY..

The BOTTLE SMASHED INTO A THOUSAND GLITTERING FRAGMENTS AND THE 'TONIC' POOLED OUT OVER THE MORTUARY FLOOR CHUBBY RELEASED .

THE STRAY CAT ...rpap

GOLLY '

I’M

SORRY,

MR. ESPROCK. I_1

HERE. KITTY'

The cat wavered, filled with the RAT- POISON. IT SQUEALED AND ROLLEO OVER... what HAPPENED GOOD T0 HT LORD... , DEAD./

ESPROCK STUCK HIS FINGER INTO THE POOL OF 'TONIC' AND SNIFFED IT.. WHY THAT DIRTY " DOUBLE-CROSSING.. THIS

POISON/

IT'S

day; Percy's father's funeral ms HELD IN A STEADY DOWNPOUR. THE BOYS WATCHED FROM AFAR.. . zzbez: jBr-jmsrm

The next

THINK ESPROCK FELL FOR IT?

"W WE'LL SEE T0NI6HT... )

Late that night the kids waited for mr. esprock to emerge FROM HIS MORTUARY. TOWARD MIDNIGHT; HE CAME OUT. THEY FOLLOWS) HIM ATA SAFE DISTANCE AS HE MADE HIS WAY SLOWLY OUT OF TOWN... Ip

WHEN HE MEETS 6RUDNY/

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, AVER ILL?

ri'M TALKING ABOUT THAT â&#x20AC;&#x2122; POISONED TONIC you sent ME.MORT. LUCKILY, THE

SURPRISED^ GRUDNY ? YOU THOUGHT I'D BE A BY NOW, OIDN'T YOU?

DROPPED

it/

KID

The knife GLINTED

in mr.

esprock's hand

THE MOONLIGHT. ..

AVEMLLf

Mr. esprock brought the

knife INTO MR. GRUONY'S CHEST. MR. GRUDNY'S SCREAM ECHOED THROUGH THE SILENT CEMETERY...

DOWN

Suddenly the night was very still, SAVE FOR AVER ILL ESPROCK'S HEAVY BREATHING AS HE STOOD OVER MORT GRUDNY'S GROTESOUELY SPRAWLED BODY. AND THEN...[jHHift^MM—M|

AAAAcHOOOf

WHO'S) 60LLYf

—

THERE ?

IThEY RAN WILDLY OVER THE GRAVE-

WHO'S

IMOUNDS.. .THE THREE TERRORIZED BOYS WITH MURDEROUS MR. ESPROCK CLOSE BEHIND THEM, BRANDISHING I THE BLOODY KNIFE.

O’NONf LET'S

THERE'?} RUN FOR IT

WHEN THE BOYS CAUTIOUSLY

it’s f LOOK'/look | AT THE NAME \PERCr'S |

ON THE HEAD- FATHER'Sl STONEf AGRAVE... I

HEH, HEH ( THERE'S A STRIKING WIND-UP TO A TERROR- TALE, EH, CREEPS? NOW, THE VAULT-

KEEPER AWAITS

WITH H/S TALE OF so

COFFINS and CADAVERS,

t'i fYVPB TO HIM. UIU I T LL i'll TURN vnil YOU OVER I

YOU LATER. TALKING 'BOUT DIGGING, AS THE

DIG

Wmr

UlT^ST

ku&fml

FRENCH BEEBUFFER SAID WHEN HE SAW THE GUILLOTINE. 'NAN, DIG

THAT

CRAZY BARBER CHAIRA'

HEH.HEH. AND NOW, VULTURES, IP YOU WILL VENTURE INTO THE VAULT OF HOEHOE, YOUR HOST, THE VAULT-KEEPER WILL ENTERTAIN YOU. FOR THIS, MY 0FFERIN6 IN C.K.'S MAO, I HAVE CHOSEN A 8RAVE TALE. YEP IT'S TOLD BY A BRAVE f SO, CUDDLE UP TO THAT CORPSE OVER THERE AND Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL BEGIN THE DRAMA OF DREAD AND DEATH

rib

CRAVING

GRAVE! T HE WIND BLOWS SADLY ACROSS THE GNARLED ANO BENT TREES AROUND ME. IT WHISPERS PAST THE COLD STONE MONUMENTS THAT THE OTHERS PROUDLY HOLD UPWARD TOWARO THE NIGHT SKY. BUT UPON MY BREAST THERE IS NO COLO STONE FOR THE WIND TO SING OVER. I LIE SILENT WITH AN EMPTINESS WITHIN ME ... A YEARNING. THE OTHERS SIGH CONTENTEDLY, SHIFTING AND CRACKING EMBRACING THEIR CHAR6E8 ...THEIR RIOIO BENEATH MY MOUNDED OUTER SKIN-CRUST, NO RIGID CHARGE UES, ,

FOR MY LONELINESS TO END

M I HAVE WAITED LIKE THIS THROUGH THE CENTURIES, WATCHING THE OTHERS AROUND ME, EACH IN THEIR TURN, OPEN WIDE THEIR YAWNING MOUTHS AND TAKE WARDS, THEM WITHIN THEIR CRADLING THEIR EARTH-WOMBS... IN

HAPPILY

I HAVE LAIN FALLOW THROUGH THE FREEZES AND THE THAWS, HEARING THEM NURSING THEIR FOSTER-CHILDREN, AND LONGING FOR MY OWN. ON SUNDAYS, I HAVE LISTENED TO THE MOURNERS AND REMEMBERERS COME AND CRY UPON THE OTHERS AND PLACE FLOWERS UPON THEIR BOSOMS

LOWER THE .COFFIN

HE WAS A GOODMAN.

...

nights like THIS one. .when the sky is OVERCAST WITH LOW HANGING RAIN-CLOUDS, WHEN I CAN SEE NO STARS... I CAN ONLY LIE AND LISTEN TO THE HAPPY CHATTERING OF THE GRAVES AROUND ME GUARDING, PROTECTING, CARING FOR THEIR BROOD. I CAN ONLY LIE AND LISTEN AND YEARN. X YEARN FOR THE DAY WHEN I, TOO, WILL REACH FORTH AND DRAW IN MY DEATH-FETUS AND HOLD IT FAST, SUCKLING IT WITH MY .

UGH? AS A

DAMPNESS...

LET'8 GET TO not Much

HARD \7 HERE, use THE P/OK. ROOK'

IT,

al.

TIME LEFT TILL f MORHtH'f J*

But, WAIT f what

HEAR?' VOICES

that i THE WIND

...

IN THE NIGHT ... VOICES OVER ME' AND WHAT IS THAT X FEEL?' COLD STEEL RENTING

VOICES

MY CRUST ...CRACKING OPEN MY EARTH-SKIN.

There is a trembling down

All these years

DEEP WITHIN MEâ&#x201E;¢ A SURGE OF EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION. THE WIND OIES...AND THE LAUGH-

THESE YEARS OF LONGING AND

SIXTY-THREE.

of waiting, all

YEARNING AND CRYING. THEY'RE ALMOST OVER. THOSE MEN UPON

And now it is morning, i lie with my insides TORN FROM ME AND HEAPED UP AT MY SIDE. I LIE OPEN, FEELING THE SUNUGHT ...THE COLD AIR. I HEAR THE CRUNCHING STEPS THAT I HAVE HEARD SO OFTEN... HEAR THE GRUNTS OF THE PALLBEARERS THAT HAVE NEVER UNTIL THIS DAY DELIVERED UNTO ME. AND X SMILE... I

I LISTEN WITH A DRUNKEN JOY TO THE CEREMONY, FEELING THE MOURNERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; FEET UPON MY BREAST. THERE ARE NOT MANY MOURNERS... A NEPHEW, HIS WIFE, AND A LAWYERFRIEND. BUT I DO NOT CARE. IT IS NOT THE ORIEVINS* ONES X AM INTERESTED IN. IT IS THE ONE FOR WHOM

The

coffin is lowered, i reach upward for IT, ACCEPTING IT, FEELING OF ITS SMOOTHNESS, AND SENSING OF ITS CONTENTS... MY DEATH-WARD.. MY CORPSE-CHARGE... MY OWN..

COME ROLAND

IT IS

T HE GRAVE DIGGERS TRUDGE OFF. I AM FULFILLED. THE EMPTINESS WITHIN ME IS GONE...THE YEARNING VANISHED. THE BODY LIES GUARDED ME. I WHISPER TO IT... INSIDE

ALL RIGHT, AMBITIOUS. THAT'S ENOUOH. C'MON.

DONE.

T HE DAYS

AND WEEKS PASS. BUT THE BODY WITHIN MY FOLD DOES NOT LIE AT REST. THE BODY WITHIN ME IS NOT AT PEACE. THERE IS A STIRRING INSIDE THE COFFIN NESTLING

T HE

BODY TELLS ME HER STORY. HER NAME IS CYNTHIA MEADOWS. SHE

T HE BODY STIRRING WITHIN ME TELLS ME OF THE LONELY YEARS ... THE LONGING SHE'D FELT FOR A

She'D FELT THE LAUGHTER ...THE SCORN AROUND HER... AS I'D FELT SCORN. SHE'D WATCHED THE OTHER WOMEN AND SHE'D CRIED... .

And the empty yeans had chawled by...as they'd CRAWLED FOR ME. SHE MADE WISE INVESTMENTS Of THE INHERITANCE SHE'D SHARED WITH HER SISTER, AND SHE'D

MyRA'D FALLEN

ILL

SUDDENLY.

SHE'D OIED WITHIN THE WEEKâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

AnO

SO, THE LONELY YEARS HAD ENDED FOR CYNTHIA AS MY LONELY

ROLAND'S ARRIVAL IN CYNTHIA'S HOUSE HAD MEANT THE END OF THE

Cynthia, too, had been fulfilled, she-d GUARDED ROLAND ...COMFORTED HIM. AND HE'D GROWN INTO MANHOOD. BUT THERE WAS A STIR-

T HE

SCRATCHING, CLAWING BODY WITHIN ME TELLS HOW ROLAND HAD LEFT HER...DESPITE HER PLEADING... LEFT HER TO THE LAUGHTER AND THE SCORN AROUND HER

RING WITHIN HIM. ..JUST AS NOW, CYNTHIA STIRS. I'M GOING AWAY, AUNT CYNTHIA. I CAN'T STAY HERE ANY LONGER. i-*-

And then she'd discovered why ROLAND HAD LEFT SO SUDDENLY... THE MONEY I HAD THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN THIS DRAWER. IT'S GOHEf r?

Poor cynthia. how sorry x FEEL FOR HER. ..TO YEARN FOR SOMETH NO... TO YEARN FOR IT FOR SO LONG... TO FINALLY GET IT.. AND THEN TO LOSE IT ONCE MORE. SHE TELLS ME OF HOW BROKEN HEARTED SHE WAS,.. I

SHE

TELLS ME HOW SHE'D TRIED TO FORGET HIM. SHE TELLS ME HOW HER INVESTMENTS HAD CONTINUED TO MAKE HER WEALTHIER AND WEALTHIER. AND THEN. ..SIX YEARS LATER...

YES,

WHO

WHO...

CYNTHIA'D BEEN SO GLAD TO SEE ROLAND SHEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THE CRIME HE'D COMMITTED

WHEN HE'D THIS

I ,

T /

AUNT CYNTHIA?

WAS YOUNG AND FOOLISH,

AUNT CYNTHIA. IT WAS WRONG OF ME TO TAKE THE MONEY t y

ROLAND'S TOLD ME

SO MUCH ABOUT

YOU,

COME

BACK f r

ThEY'D COME TO LIVE WITH HER. ROLAND'D BEGGED CYNTHIA'S FORGIVENESS-

LEFT...

MY WIFE ENID AUNT

CYNTHIA. ENID, THIS IS AUNT CYNTHIA...

IS IT?

ROLAND

YOU'VE

I'M |

SORRY

THERE, THERE,

ROLAND. IT HAPPENED A

LONG TIME m

AGO'

B UT THEN CYNTHIA

ONCE MORE THE LAUGHTER AND SCORN AROUND ROLAND HAD COME BACK. AND

AnO NOW

KNOW WHY THE BODY I EMBRACE

The BODY WITHIN ME TURNS AND PUSHES ANO I TRY TO STOP IT. .. TRY TO MAKE MY ncTciuiupn tucii

TELLS ME WHAT ROLAND AND

ENID HAD PLANNED...

CYNTHIA'D DIED AWAY.

HER

NIECE AND

NEPHEW HAD PUSHED HER DOWN A LONG

Despite my pleading, it totters off. ..across the OTHER GRAVES... INTO THE COLD WIND-THE WIND THAT CARRIES BACK TO ME ONCE AGAIN THE LAUGHTER AND

The

WIND BLOWS SADLY ACROSS THE GNARLED AND BENT

Something is coming toward me, dragging the screaming BEHIND IT...

IT IS CYNTHIA. SHE HOLDS THEM IN HER VICE-LIKE 6RIP AND STAGGERS ACROSS THE OTHER GRAVES ... THE OTHER GRAVES THAT HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED LAUGHING. SHE HOLOS THEM ...ROLAND AND ENID... HOLDS THEN OUT TO HE...

...And I REACH FOR THEM. CYNTHIA HELPS ME REACH. SHE SHOVES ASIDE MY SKIN-CRUST, SCOOPS OUT MY INSIDES, PUSHES THEM, SHRIEKING, INTO MY EMBRACE...

GONE AWAY, NOW . THE SCREAMING HAS STOPPEO . YES, WE WERE X. EACH WAITED...EACH GOT WHAT SHE WAITED FOR ... TO LOSE IT AGAIN. BUT WHAT WE LOST WAS EVENTUALLY RETURNED ROLANO'S AND ENID'S TWISTED SUFFOCATED BODIES LIE DEEP EARTH -BOSOM. AND NOW IT IS / WHO

ITHIA IS

HEH.HEH. AND SO, KIDDIES... OUR LITTLE YELP -YARN ENDS ON THIS GRAVE NOTE. ROLAND AND ENID WERE PUNISHED FOR THEIR CRIME... BURIED ALIVE... BY CYNTHIA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;S

CORPSE, AND OUR LITTLE CRAVE ROTTED THEM HAPPILY EVER AFTER. SO HQ*. ..HUH? WHERE'S

CYNTHIA THESE DAYS, YOU ASK? WHY SHE JUST WANDERED AROUND TILL SHE

FOUND SOME OTHER LONESOME GRAVE AND DROPPED IN

HER FOR AN EXTENDED ...For

now

i know my real fulfillment, i wasn't l/RE the others THEY'RE all S/NBLE BRAVES. I AM A DOUBLE ONE.'

AFTER ALL.

VISIT. YE, NOW

* tf

THE

IR VPT-KEEPER'S

BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED SUCH A FLOOD OF REQUESTS (ONE. ..THE EDITOR'S MOTHER-IN-LAW: .) I HAVE DECIDED TO TELL YOU ANOTHER INFANTILE INSANITY, AFTER CAREFUL AND INTENSE RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THE TRUE FACTS BEHIND THE GRIM FAIRY TALE ABOUT THE PROCESS WHO SLEPT ALL THOSE YEARS. YOU KNOW... THE ONE

A HIGH IMPENET

IMPEhc

n*Â»

THICK GROWTH OF BRAMBLES, ALL THORNY AND WHAT-NOT. AND TO THIS CASTLE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE IMPENET... IMPENET.. .THE STUFF. A

' SO, IT IS /... THE HERO OF THIS

MISERABLE

LIKE I SAID, MELVIN.. \ BEYOND THAT IMRENETRA.. MELVIN?.'.. WHO IN YON THAT IMRENET... OASTLE COMPLETELY j THAT.. BRAMBLE SURROUNDED BY ^JUNGLE SLEEPS THAT THORNY THE SLEEPING )

)

RESIDES

FICTION..

CHARMING FRINGE t CHARMING.'

AH' THE SLEEPING A ) OANIT,

BEAUTY.. FAIR DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. .AWAITING.

HER RESCUE.**** I Ti WILL FOREWITH <\Di CARRYOUT.'

IMI

FEAR MOT, MY GOOD HMOEOUNDS.'} '...WHICH I.

CHARMING FRINGE fGAZOOKS.

CHARMING, WILL HEW \ JIMINI AND MY WAY THROUGH >— THAT GROWTH, 'HR* ) THIS..

CRHMETS.

A SOLID GOLD-

PLATED ROY fU A. SCOUT KNIFE'j*.

TELL ME, MY GOOD MAN ( DIG THE WHAT I® THE LEGEND { SQUARE f or THE SLEEPING V HE DON'T KNOW THE BEAUTY 9 . } .

(

LEGEND.'

X I

I OBTAINED ( THE DIRTY BY TEARING OFF THE [CROONS... TOR FROM A LARGE f THEY NEVER SUE GIANT AND ( SENT me SENDING IT ALONG ( MINE .'

isn't

AND THE KINS AND QUEEN WANTED A ^ CHILD; ..VERY ]

TRUE, my GOO

MAN, THAT MANY YEARS ( A0O, A KINS AND QUEEN' LIVED IN THAT CASTLE? ,

HERE ,

’

r BADLY,

MUST BE JELLY,

]

'CAUSE JAN DON'T) SHAKE LIKE THAT. \

HONOR OF NY NEW DAUGHTER..

AND NOW, LADIES AND \ C 'NO. SERMS... YOU WILL ALL ) ETHE THE MAKE A PREDICTION PARTY CONCERNING THE

HARRY FUTURE OF f SETTH NEW OAUBHTERYJ DULL

‘This bio wheel was fit to be tired.. SET ITp TIRE? TIRED? WHEEL? TIRE ON THE WHEEL? OH, 1

Everyone at the feast was AT THE PREDICTION OF THE BIS -SHOT WHO WASlfr INVITEOu

U SHOCKED

(HE^HEH...

NEVER WNDf ANYWAY, THIS BIO 4 WHEEL ROLLED IN AT THE HEIGHT | OF THE FESTIVITIES. 5 YOU WANT A PREDICTION, KINO .

YOU

A LIST OF

EVERYBODY WHO IS ANYBODY. INVITE THEM TO A FEAST...

IRVING?

And finally, the queen preSENTED THE KINO WITH A BOUNCING BABY8IRL...'

ALL R/SHTf i'll GIVE PRINCESS WILL

ONE.. .THE

DIE ON HER EISHTEENTH -i BIRTHDAY. .

, I

ON HER EIGHTEENTH A AW, C 'NON BIRTHDAY, THE PROCESS / ETHEL. THISJ WILL NOT DIE, BUT party is / WILL

•

60 TO SL EEP: jPj

y 1

OETTIN’

m~ru dull!)

UNTIL A CHARMING PRINCE will AROUSE. WITH HIS H s KISS //.«.« HER with I I

he'll

HUG

HER

AND KISS HER... and HUG HER. AN* . .

KISS HER...

\ LISTEN, WOMAN/ TOMORROW

your EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY, now I WANT you TO STAY IN YOUR

is f |

•

and...

And so it came to pass that ,THE BABY PRINCESS GREW UP TO BECOME A LUSCIOUS CHICK THAT ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO HUG

OF LOVE f

LOOK

J at me V LOOK! )

ROOM/ NOBODY SLEEP3gK^&-<

TOMORROWS ^LISTEN.DADf A \‘ROUHD HERE/

YOU EIGHTEENTH )l' M NO CHILD/) B/RTHQAY,zh\\-X)</x'u a GROWN l

TOMAN, look

JAT

day;

the KING AND

O'MON, you LAZY...

IRVING/ SHE'S

~ IRVING

)

MET

LOOK//

NO/ WAIT/

HAS COME

TRUE/

CLOOK,

IRVING/) BRAMBLES HAVE OUTSIDE THE ) GROWN UP OVER- {

f CASTLEf

NIGHT, creating an 1) ) -XlMPEHET.. IMPENETRA- l

( A THICK

HlW^r

HOW WILL WE GET OUT? WHAT ) HOW WILL THE c-_ABOUTMY

DELIVERY MAM

\ BUSINESS?

The prince stood before melvin, CLASPING AND UNCLASPING HIS SOLID sold- PLATED BOV SCOUT KNIFE...

WALL OF l

THORNS...

The prince stood

up,

square and

Hour after

The prince turned to the BRAMBLES...

STRONG...

THAIS BECAUSE HONE OF THEM HAD A SOLID SOLD -ELATED BOY SOOUTKNIFE

IT IS

LAIE'SOON

WILL BE DARK.' I

MUST HURRY'

r bye r wmsgR

T HE

BRAVE PRINCE STRUCK OFF INTO THE THICK GROWTH OF THORNY BRAMBLESSEE HOW THE LETHAL LY

ARMED BRANCHES FALL BEFORE THE KEEN BLADE TRUSTY SOLID GOLDPLATED B0LSCOUT KNIFE... OF MY

was just beginning to SET WHEN GHARMING PRINCE CH ARM ING REACHED THE CASTLE DOOR...The sun

hour, he hackeo..

WELL.WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ' IT's A HACK STORY

ONE MORE HACK AND l'LL THROUGH... cttmM

[BE

EDITOR'S NOTE'- ONE MORE YARN LIKE THIS AND

BE THROUGH-

Finally, the prince

THE CASTLE DOOR-

swung open

Breathlessly, he rushed from ROOM TO ROOM...

HACK)

weU ALL

(

VN.

CHARMING PRINCE CHARM ING STOOD BEFORE THE SLEEPING

jStOWLY HE BENT AMD KIB8EO HSR-

OuTSlDE.THE SUN HAD SET. THE SLEEPIN# BEAUTY FLUTTERED HER EYELIDS... OPENED HER EYES...

WHAT A BEAUTY/

HUH ?

)

> ONLY

THE DAY-

DO I SLEEP, CHUM/ v.

ALL THESE YEA PS, 'WiSSUCKEPf HAVE SLEPT, UNTIL

HEH,HEH/ well, that's my GHfUtm

and r DPINK FOR YOU BEE.

THEIP BLOODf .

I'M A VANPIPE:. r SUCKER.. r

—

6000

LOPDT

CHILLEP FOR THIS ISSUE, CREEPS. HOPE YOU LIKED my NDUSEATtNO NUPSEPY NOVELETTE/ AND NO* I SMELL THE OLD WITCH'S POT

HHHRk Dttf

BREWING. THE OLD GAL IS WAITING TO FEED YOU

F0UL F4H£

WINDUP

AND

m my

peek-

*AS

80 I>LL

SHOVELm

AL0N6 f HEADY?

NOSET VM HOLD hyes. .

PtoHT.

ADVANCING LIGHT Of

AWAKENING TO THE BUT LONG BEFORE CITY'S OFFICE WORKERS AND BUSY HOUSEWIVES RI9EN FROM THEIR WARM BEDS, EZRA MORTON HAS ON THE_ JOB. THERE HE IS NOW, UNLOCKING HIS LITTLE NEWSSTAND AND S ING WIDE ITS DOORS. NOTICE HOW EZRA WINCING \NPAIN YE8.DEAR READER, EZF INVALID. A CRIPPLED NEWSDEALER I

NOW, EZRA IS REAOY FOR THEM ... FOR THE PARADE OF HUMANITY TO RUSH BY HIS STAND ANO TOSS ITS COPPER PENNIES UPON HIS PAPERWEIGHTS AND EAT AWAY AT THE ONLY A FEW LAST BATTERED COPIES REMAIN.

Yes, DEAR READER. EZRA SMILES. HE SMILES BECAUSE HE IS CONTENT. FOR THIS IS HI8 UFE.. ALL THAT MATTERS TO HIM. THIS LITTLE NEWSTANO, WITH ITS FEW HUNDRED OAILV PAPER SALES, IS EZRA'S CASTLE. ITS MEASER PROFIT IS THE UNE DRAWN BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND STARVATION FOR HIM. SO EZRA SMILES. BUT EZRA OOES NOT SMILE F0RZOMK SUDDENLY EZRA CATCHES SISHT OF A FIGURE STANDING NEAR THE SUBWAY KIOSK. A

W HEY, YOUf THIS IS *MY SPOT. wo* ABOUT IT?' =r

FIND YOUR

OWN SPOT. j-V

THIS

FREE

COUNTRY, BUSTER f I'LL STAND WHERE

/ UKEf

Yes, EZRA DOES NOT SMILE. FEAR GRIPS EZRA'S HELPLESS BODY. THAT MAN ...THAT MAN WITH THE PAPERS AND THE HEALTHY LESS IS STEALING PAPER SALES THAT ORDINARILY WOULD BE EZRA'S... /

fa PERL A DY/

PAPERjM/S TER?.

what'd'ya ready

T^PAPER, LADY f

> f

PAPER.'

PAPER, MISTER' â&#x20AC;&#x153;n YOUR HERE'S YOUR CHANGE VlA.

SET^~\

PAPER

HE HAS tttVt* BONE OUT, TRYING TO ATTRACT 4TTtft~ SALES, /UHDfUNO, RgWNDtNO WITH HEALTHY LEGS THAT IT

MAN MOVES THE UN80LB

Finally, darkness begins to pall, sadly, ezra TIES HIS UNSOLD PAPERS INTO BUN0LE8 AND DEPOSITS THEM ON THE CURB POR THE TRUCKS TO PICK UP WHBN THEY DELIVER THE NEXT DAY'8 EDITIONS...

Bur THE 8LESPY-EVG0 PEOPLE API turn. IN THE IP RUSH TO CATCH THEIR TRAINS, THEV 00 NOT NOTICE THAT THEV ARE BUYING THEIR MORNING PAPERS PROM

OPP. EZRA

STARR

The days pass, every morning the man is there, STE ALINS SALES FROM EZRA. AND EVERY NIGHT, EZRA COUNTS HIS UNSOLD PAPERS AND TIES THEM INTO BUNDLES...

TMKKBrENOUGH I'LL

I'LL NEVER MAKE TO LIVE ON THIS WAY*

...

But what CAN ezra do? what can A CRIPPLE DO TO A MAN WITH A HEALTHY STRONG BODY? THE TRUCKMAN LEAVES. EZRA HIS HEAD IN H IS

/PARALYZED...

IF I

WEREN'T

^CRIPPLED and HELPLESS.

IF I

WERE STRONG,

I'O

SHOW HIHf ID...SOB..J

A WEEK GOES BY. TWO. ONE MORNING, A TRUCKMAN WHO D ELIVERS EZRA'S PAPERS WARN S HI M...

CAN'T 'sell HORE^il L^TLL^ PAPERS THAN THIS, EZRA, X TRY. I’LL DO 1 CUT YOU OUT OF A SOMETHING.

C'Tf vou

WE'LL

Suddenly, Ezra's shadow lifts its HEAD FROM ITS HANDS...

SITS WITH

HANDS-«^^h|

-/7f...ifiweren't

RISES from its wheel chair, wavering.

It slides across brick walls.

..Hesitates before a hardware crnwF yjii. ’

KfW

“

..Lifting away the shadow of the shovel standing AMONB THE BARDEN TOOLS-

>=» ^L

!’

JTTTO

LZRA'S SHAOOW PEERS AT IT. THE CRUMPLED 9HAD0W STIRS. EZRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHADOW LIFTS THE AXE SHAOOW ONCE MORE.

With the shadow-shovel, Ezra's shadow digs a SHALLOW SHADOW-6RAVE BESIDE THE BILLBOARD...

.And pushes the lifeless shadow

in.

Ezra rolls his wheelchair to the crumpled form of the bis man with THE HEALTHY LESS LYIN8 AMONG HIS

.And Ezra's shadow assumes EZRA'S POSITION AS EZRA HEARS.

eurs DEAD

SOB ...SOB ...THAT'S ... SO* THAT'S WHAT

WHAT

HAPPENED ?

( HEART ATTACH..

LOOKS LIKEf

\ m REVOLTING RECIPE J

is the NEATEST THICK of THE WEEK, WOULDN'T YOU SAYFWELL,

Later, the morgue-wagon attendants lift the body of the man who ALMOST STOLE EZRA'S BUSINESS FROM HIM. AS THEY CARRY IT TO THE WAITING TRUCK, EZRA GASPS... !

)

WHICH

—WJ

\THATS

FOR THIS ISSUE, CREEPS. NOW. IT'S TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE UNDER MY

POT AND CLOSE THE OOORS TO THE HAUNT OF FEAR. SO TODDLE ALONG. WE

MSagU

GHOULUNATICS

WILL

ALL BE BACK NEXT I IN V.K.'S MAG ,7HE

Iff

KzP

.For, ALTHOUGH THE MORNING SUN

BODY CASTS NO SHADOW...

SHINING BRIGHTLY,

THE DEAD MAN-S A

VAULT OF HOPPOP 'BYE, NOW. ER_. / 1 SAID ‘BYEf \

GO ON' n SCRAM, already.'

fJ \