Table Of ContentNy
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STRANGER
By Roy GAEN
‘O one seamed to know ex-
actly when Romeo Ron-
son arrived in River City—
and it was certain that no wel-
coming committee greeted
when he first set foot in the
‘Tenderloin District of the th
ing Mid-Western port.
If there had been one, Bi
Pete would have heard about
because it was Big Pete's bu:
ness to know everything about
everybody in the Tenderloin.
Big Pete was district leader
and it meant cold cash for
to swing out votes when elec:
tion time came along. Frequent
other occasions made it worth:
While for him to know his
neighbors. “There's no better
way to get the best out of a
man,” said Pete very often,
“than to remember all about his
past when he works for you!”
‘Then he'd wink his cold-gray
right eye and add: "Especially
‘when he ought to be in jail for
something he once got away
‘Who are you working for?”
some one of his back-slapping
listeners in the clubhouse would
always ast
‘Me? I don’t worl for any-
body!” He'd look around care:
fully, catch the eyes of every-
fone and wink again, more enn
phatically.
By that, people were given to
understand isig Pete had been
{in plenty of questionable busi-
esses that were better left out
of the conversation, Just how
many, nobody knew,
oy
thers had beon whispers Sere
ee a
tacular $100,000, rebbery_on
Pier 84, during which someone
had murdered: the driver and
helper of a truck loaded with
furs. ‘The two victims had been
swiftly driven north into the
ext state and then dumped
‘over a bridge into a bay where
their battered bodies had been
found the next morning. In a
way, it had been more than
just talk, because Pete's regu-
iar cronies in. the Tenderloin
hadn't seen him at all during
the days when the police fine
combed the district to check up
on the movements of possible
Suspects,
Tt seems that a pocket watch
with Big Pete's name engraved
fon it had been found attached
to one of the bodies—and it
Tooked as if plenty of explaining
was in order, But, as usual, Big
Pete had his regular ace in the
hole,
He Imew a little too much
‘about one of the loeal detectives
who grilled him.
So, according to the way he
told it, the relentless question
ing was abruptly stopped and
Big Pete left Police Headquar-
ere with the usual cherubic
Smile, puffing ‘on his long,
biackiabrown expensive Har
vane cigar.
Newspaper men rushed up to
hhim and the cameras clicked.
“Somebody's shady past help-
ed me out of a little present
dimeulty,”
plained it.
that anybody in
pall
tention sooner or later!
‘And Re laughed his booming,
raucous laugh,
But three months went by
J Romeo Ronson still hac
hhim puzzled!
Who was he? How fong had
he been in River City? How
hhad he been overlooked for so
long? Where did he gethis
‘money from? “I don’t now,
Bossi" came the chorus of in
evitable answers from blank
faced people whom he asked,
“He didn't drift in like a
ghost and hee doesn’t fly like an
angel!” bellowed Big Pete with
flashing eyes, “If you dumb-
bells can't find out for me—I'm
going to find out for myself!
In laborious, breathless fury,
he wheezed frequently as his
muscular legs carried his patin-
chy. body up four fights of
Squeaky staire to Romeo Ron-
Son's cheap hall bedroom. With
hamlike fats, he banged on the
thin, wooden door. “Open upt
Ia Big Pete! Let me in!
He heard a light step on the
other side of the door and the
knob turned, “tello, Big Pete,
gala Romeo Ronson hellowiy.
Come int™
For the first time in his lite,
Big Pete shivered ‘unashamed
iy.'Phe voice of Romeo Ronson
was ke the echo. of wind on
the tombstones in a cemetery!
"it eame, tee you, ecate
L hear you're a wrltery? starte
ig ‘Pete, He ‘knew’ no such
thing, but oped that "Ronson
would interrupt and tellin
fomething about hie past, tell
him what he really fad been
doing
film not a writer," announe-
(Continued on Page 26)
16 RENNANTS OF THE MURDEROUS SPADE GANS THAT TERRIFIED AIG CITY, UNTIL THE COLE
DETECTIVE AGENCY TOOK UP THE GAUNTLET AGAINST THEM, ARE IN DESPERATE STRATS..
‘OWLY TAREE SPADES, THE 38 AN JOKER, THE LEADER, SURVIVE, TOGETHER WITH THEIR
DREAD KILLER -THE ACE. THE THREE SPADES ARE CONFERRING IV THEIR HIDEOUT...
THis. GANG 18 ABOUT YOUNG KiNG Cole's
WASHED Up, Joker, KEPT US BACK OF
WEVE BEEN kNocKeD / THE EIGHT BALL
EF, ONE BY ONE,
AND ME.IM Gert!
SCARED!
EVER SINCE HE
TOOK OVER THE
AGENCY. AND He's
BLOCKED EVERY
MOVE WE MAKE!
WAY AND. NEW.
NENBERS RE <&
CRUITED, WELL
GET THE SPADE
GANG BACK ON
TOP AGAIN
‘BAH! WERE NOT ) YEAH, HE LOOKS UIKE.A.
THROUGH YET!
WHATS EATIN'
YOU,3? AFRAI
DRIP’ BUT He's TOO TOUSH
FOR US! PROVED IT,
AINTT HE?
HE'S WORSE
MEDICINE THAN
His GLO MAN, MNO]
15 OUT OF THE
I COUNTRY!
YOUNG KING COLE
YOU irs Cole
WHO's OU.
IVE FIGURED OUT AN AIRTIGHT. PLOT!
AND OU, 8, TELL NE TWAT YOU LEARNED TWO OF
| YOU FOUND OUT YOUNG COLE WiLL COLE'S ASSOCIATES, IRIS NORLAND AND _URSUS
RETURN FROM FARR WITH HIS 10 \ \2o GRAHAM, WERE PLANNING A SURPRISE:
COUSIN, DIC CORE, AT 7148: i)
"ARTY FOR THE COLE KIDS AT IRIS" AUNT'S |
HOME, WHEN THE AUNT RETURNS
ce pla
HRROAP
[Se00/ THis NroRyation
Gee ee a Mer,
SPE & GISGLIse, PHONES UiRSUS
f; GRanan | | HOW 00. was
HELLO-Na GRAHAME ean, (ele AND Pu ANNED
This Is IRis! AUNT. Wats THe | | A PARTY..SURPRISE FOR
ABOUT A SURPRI6e PARTY KRING AND 6ick, THEY
AT MY HOUSE?
ARRIVE AT 745. Is IRIS
THERE WITH YOU?"
{
YOUNG KING COLE
‘SECRET.
YES, AND SHE TOLD ME TO
Ask YOU TO. MEET THE
(BOYS AND BRING THEM
RIGHT OUT. BE SURE
AND KEEP ITA
THE CENTRAL,
STATION... 745,
WHY, HELLO, URSUS.
NICE OF YOU To MEET.
Us. YOU REMEMBER /{
DICK COLE, OF pn,
COURSE?
ela j
HELLO, KING. DICK.
GLAD TO See YOU.
My.CAR'S OUTSIDE
THE STATION.
CHON,
‘SAY, URSUS, THERE
DOESNT SEEM TO 81
ANYONE HOME.
[AND AN HOUR LATER. |
HEY! THIS 15 MRS,
MARSTON HOME?
WHAT'S THE IDEA,
Tha 7) (“Bau THE books
{WaNben )( OPEN, Cone oN
5 IN, BOYS.
& noon
AY quo!
1
YOUNG KING COLE
Why, THE, HOUSE TM KINDA PUZZLED..| {WHAT ARE YOU DOING
IBALL DARK. NO4\ BUT SOMETHING NICE OFFICE, IRIS?
‘ONES HERE, Is SUPPOSED TO. TS 7:30.
HAPPEN...CMON,
1 FORGOT.
SOMETHING. THERE'S)
A'NOTE FOR YOU ON,
YOUR DESK. FROM
URSUS, T THINK.
WEREN'T KING AND DICK
‘QUE TO GET IN THIS
EVENING, IRIs?
wy, Yes, eur
THERE'S BEEN
No WORD FROM
THEM, THEY NUST
HAVE MISSED
THE S45.
HEAVENS, WHIP/ My
AUNTS STILL IN
He WONT? HMMM.»
TWONDER Ie THE IS
ONE OF URSUS'
PRACTICAL JOKES...
OR.. COULD It BE
THE JOKER?
YOUNG KING COLE
WELL, SOAK My SOCKS! WHAT KINDA
# WHERE'S:
PARTY 18 THIS 2 WHE:
YHOW P
INT THE_ONING, THE RADE USHERS THAN INTO.THE NING
Wien Wie seAnes See? SE ENINE.A. ) [I f
MHBOW A PARTY. ERE: cOe UR SURES 1
i “ PART ea
7 st
veal z
WELD, KNS/QUITE A Siano pack, You Iwo!
SORE THAT ooo! Now eRe Ss
Neken! PRESENT ER YOu.
YOUNG KING COLE
AS_8 s7urrs| WHEW! waar PHEE-OO?
Fite WAND™ | KIND OF PERFUNE ) 1 DONT
KERCHER 15 ON THAT |< KNOW, BUT,
WNTO kintc's | HANOKERCHIEF?) I SURE
KET A's STRONG!
SNIFF
YENices
NO, COMMENTS, You TWO! NOW
StaND GVER IN That CORNER! /
RoR You) ene, S80 ee
STAND IN FRONT!
comin. | a-\ lea
WHATS THIS:
‘ALL ABOUT
T DONT KNOW,
URSUS.IT'S A
BUILD UP FOR
SOMETHING !
y
YEAH? AND
WHY THIS
REEKING
| ABN Tu opening 7
Bale) DOOR! HERE
/E GO!
"AND FROM UP THE HALL, A SHRILL VOICE
THE DINING ROOM DOOR IS FLUNG WIDE TO
ANSWERS.
ALL READY,
BL OPEN THE
DOOR!
ae
oHRNTEET J
ae Bi
at |
A ( : PghAbe~
YOUNG KING COLE
Sg
GOTO IT, ACE, MY PRETTY! YOU
ARE HOST OF THE PARTY. evielateeer eran
FURY, KING COLES LOGICAL
MIND, WITH LIGHTNING
RAPIDITY DEDUCES THAT
THE VIOLENT SCENT ON. ‘|
THE HANDKERCHIEF 1g A
TO FOL.
ATTACK THE BEARER.
WIS BRAIN SPEEDS
TO A PLAN OF ACTIONS
HURRY, FINGERS |
THis ISNT THE
ANSWER. «ATLL
BE CURTAINS!
KING HURLS THE GLASSES CASE AT THE 8
OF SPADES, STANDING NEAR THE DOOR,
TAKE BACK YOUR GIFT,
8 CONFIDENTIALLY.
17 SMELLS!
HIS FACE, HE
INSTINCTIVELY. |
‘AGE BOUNDS INTO THE ROOM AND PICKS:
OP THE SCENT ON THE HANDKERCHIEF IN
‘SPADES HANDS
YOUNG KING COLE
[Bick BASHES INTO THE HALL. i
8 MAY BBA KILLER
DEATH BY. THAT
BLACK DEVIL!
[eter a cnoreo ci
| Bente nto PAE”
| SALE aN Up THe
7 7. 7
Jowee! pie
OFF!
HE TURVED LEFT AT THE HEAD OF BANTC-STRICKENT_@ CLINGS UPON THE
THE STAIRS, THAT MEANS TH BALCONY. Fo
BALCONY OVER THE Bic 7g A LONG
BUT.
LIVING ROOM!
La
ba
DICK DASHES INTO THE BiG ROOM AS a's
LEAP FALLS! SHORT...AND, THE ACE SPRINGS
‘FROM THE BALCONY?
