m

i
W.
by Findlay Harrigan

he

T
tial,
spider-web whorls
angles of the Ocean City roller
coaster looked very insubstan-
a mere draftsman’s sketch
and ing, snail-wise,
cline
Down
up the
of the structure.
first

on the boardwalk among

the tinny music, barkers’ cries and
long in-

% :

against the blue sky, certainly not hot-dog smells, Mr. Tim Tolliver,
strong enough to sustain the weight feet wide apart and hat on the back
of the train of miniature cars crawl- of his head, eyed the train’s ascent

e on a a 0
?or m8 c B^ ^ adfo ^^n lr;en
rip al 0
s! By ROBERT L. RICHARDS

STK1
m

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:

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 106 SUSPENSE presents
RIDE TO NOWHERE 107

with enthusiasm. Messrs. Tolliver and Duffy calcula-

the clicking turnstile. The swelling down an easy slope into an under-
go next time/' he suggested,
"Let's tingly, taking in their conservatively-
roar of the train sounded closer ground passage, gathering speed.
Mr. Benjamin Duffy's mild blue cut business suits, neckties, and felt
over the babble of carnival sounds. Duffy groaned and shut his eyes.
gaze traveledover the match-stick hats, which sharply .differentiated Don t be silly, Tim soothed They emerged again into daylight.
construction of the scenic railway, them from the sport-clothed gen- him. "People do this all the time. There was a slight jar; and a cable
and a faint shudder traversed his erality of passersby. He unlimbered a I understand .this particular concession took hold of the train for the long
ample frame. set of sinewy vocal cords. .
has a fairly low accident rate." climb to the top of the first incline.
‘Til watch," he rejoined. "You ".Right this way, ladies and gentle- "You don’t say," Duffy groaned. The train* slowed to a crawl, and
go along, Timothy." men, it’s the thrill of a lifetime! The string of cars, packed with, Duffy opened his eyes and stole a
’

The train gained the summit of Yes, sir, it’s just as safe as it is laughing, gasping humanity, came look over the side of the car.
the incline. From a distance it sensational, and the price is a thin sedately up out of the last subterra- Beneath, falling away by the sec-
seemed that the cars poised there an dime, the tenth part of a dollar nean stretch of track and braked to ond, was a pavement of red, gold
instant, hesitating, before surrender- only ten cents, ladies and gentlemen, a halt alongside the platform. and azure roofs. The wind tore at
ing to the imperative pull of gravity, for the finest, fastest, fanciest ride
"No worse than riding to a stick- his hat, and he grasped with both it
Duffy gasped involuntarily as the in the West!" up in a prowl car," added Tolliver. hands, losing his gtip on the back
nose of the train pointed downward Tolliver leered sadistically upon "Yeah?* Well, I never liked that, of the seat, ahead.
and sundry carloads of his fellow his friend. "Listen Ben! to that,
human being dove madly toward the Doesn't it make you want to go?"
either." "Exhilarating, isn’t it?" Tim
|
The passengers detrained, loudly grinned.
colored rooftops and marquees of "It certainly does," moaned Duf-
detailing the perils of their journey. Ben threw him the look of a be-
I
the amusement park. The fresh sea fy, bitterly ironic,
Tim nodded
I
at the last car. "Let's trayed dog, snatched off his hat, sat
breeze wafted back the clattering Tolliver eyed him doubtfully. The
| 8et on ”
* on it, and renewed his grip on the
roar of the wheels and the pas- gentleman with the cerise countenance Duffy planted his feet like a las- ^seat.
sengers' thin, delighted hysteria. flourished a beribboned malacca cane |
!•- soed steer. * The cars were reaching the top,
The cars plunged from sight, rock- between them,
he said, firmly.
"Definitely not," nearly 100 feet above the park.
eted into view again as the train "Why, folks,it ain't .just a roller
"You mean you won’t go? Now, They poised on the dizzy summit for
drove irresistibly up a second steep coaster, the experience of a life-
it's
Ben—." a fractional instant, with the fresh
incline on its own momentum, swung time, the thrill of the century, a sensa- "Definitely not the last seat," am- wind whipping around them.
[
around a tight circle of track atop tion beside which the atomic bomb
|
plified Duffy. "I will not sit in the "Here we go!" yelled Tolliver,
spidery framework, and took another pales into me-ere insignificance, a
|
last seat. Why, this thing cracks throwing an arm around Ben. He
header. *
dipp-mg, roar-i ng, swoop-'mg ride by l around curves like a whip. That last yelled like a banshee, and, as if by
"My treat," pressed Tolliver. land and by sea, out above the seat's a plain death-trap." signal, the train dropped like a stone,
|
"You're so kind," murmured Duf- spariding ocean, down into the bowels "Okay, okay,"
| said Tolliver. diving with terrifying speed toward
fy, his horrified gaze following the of the earth. It's the longest, high- "We’ll sit in the middle, but it's
cars around the lower levels. —
est two, sir? Thank you, there you |
[
dull, that way. Fasten your safety
a tiny, square hole in the earth, far,
far down and ahead.’ A
shrill caco-
"Theguy who designed this are, who's next?"
I belt." , phony of screams and yells eddied
thing," he said, "must have smoked Tolliver held out a dollar bill, "'As if I won't." Ben cinched the in the wake of The plunging train.
three pipefuls of opium first." "Two." wide webbing tightly across his opu- Blackness, as* they roared into* the
A florid-visaged gentleman in a "Now, wait a minute, Tim . .
.*'
lent midriff. tunnel. The thunder of the racing
red-and-yellow blazer and .straw hat, "Two it is, sir, and thank you. "Hang onto your hat, Benny. Here wheels racketed back around them
stationed on a sqiall elevated rostrum Hurry/ hurry, hurry, folks, the next we go!" from nartow confines, Then up, and
near the turnstile leading to the trip will leave in only a moment .
The train stirred, as the starter re- into the light again, as the train
railway's loading platform, eyed the Tolliver maneuvered Duffy through leased the brakes. It rolled gently stormed the summit' of another as-
108 . SUSPENSE presents RIDE TO NOWHERE 109

cent, strained to leap the hairpin- polished black shoe, projected out topped by a from an Irish
face lad, don't do it,” he said warningly.
curved tracks below which the Bay the other side of the train. His vaudeville act,and clothed in sun- “I'm not* joking,” Tolliver persisted
°
waters waited; failed, and dove eyes were closed, tan khaki, pushed its way through patiently. “I happen to know that
recklessly at another black-mouthed ‘Wonder he. didn't get his head the mob. seat was empty.” He indicated Ben.
burrow . . .
’
k n o c k e d off, ridin’ like that/' “Now then, fall back there, you “My friend and I were the last
Duffy was a shuddering aspic of grumbled the starter. You take his —all of you! What's the trouble?” people to get on the train before it
flesh and bone as the cars slid shoulders,” he said to Tim, and I'll
The
barker spoke up. “This guy's started. I wanted to sit in the rear
finally to a halt beside the platform, get his feet.” dead, Casey.” seat; he didn’t. So we sat in the
Slowly encompassing the blessed ab- Tolliver knelt beside the train and “Is he, now? From what?” middle. The seat was empty when
sence of motion, he opened his eyes, touched the man’s head gently. It “From a broken neck,” Tolliver we. started.”
“Want to go again?” Tim grinned, was bent at an odd angle to the said. “You mean this guy rode free?”
Duffy looked at him with horror, shoulders. He held the man's wrist The cop turned and looked Tim yelped the barker.
“And they shot Lincoln,” he mur- in his fingers a moment. Then he over. “Hey!” Jason, the starter, pushed
|
mured. stood up.
L “Who
might you be?” he asked. forward. “That's right! remember
I
“Hey, buddy, snap out of it! Peo-
pie waitin' to get on, here!”
“Better not move him,” he said,
“Call a cop.”
|‘
“I’m the guy who discovered he now — that last seat was empty !” He
•
was dead.” .
goggled at the man with the broken
“Now look,” Duffy told the'starter “But I gotta get him offa the “Did now?
told ye to Who neck. “That dead guy never got on
indignantly, “just because your in- —hey
train The
. .
.” starter's jaw
/
go messin’
ye,
with him?”
around from platform
!”

dropped. “You mean—

t this
me
fernal machine
weak, for a second ...”
leaves slightly
ishe
— is the guy
I “Take it easy, Casey,” said the
barker. “He didn’t do nothin’. Mi-
“I don't
ticket/’ the
remember
barker
selling
admitted.
him a
| ;

He realized the blue-denimed “The guy’s dead,” snapped Tolli-

I gawd,” he sighed, wagging his head, .The bulky policeman looked from
factotum wasn’t looking at him, but ver. “That’s what I mean. His neck's “every season it’s something! Dead one to the other.
at someone behind him. He turned, broken. Call a cop. “It don't make sense!” he ex-
guys on the train, yet! That's all
The starter was shaking a man in “I said it was a death-trap!” Ben
I need.” ploded.
1
the last seat of the last car. Duffy breathed. “And how did he get killed, hey? “Next thing/' suggested Tolliver,
“Come on, bud, let's get goin'!” The florid-faced character from- the
Who broke his neck?” “you'll be saying the poor guy isn't
He straightened up. “Somebody barker's rostrum was beside them “It's that last seat in the last dead.”
gimme a hand with this guy. He's now, his public manner shucked like {

passed out.”
Timothy Tolliver took a long look.
scrambled onto the platform, and
strode back along the train. The
erstwhile passengers crowded around,
laughing and wisecracking.
“I knew it was a thrill,” a voice
commented, “but I didn't know it
was that good.”
.The man in the rear seat was a
plump, balding pink-faced individual,
bareheaded and dressed in a. brown
car,” Ben Duffy pointed out. “Most Casey glowered at him. .“Look,
a glove. “What’s the matter, Jason ?” dangerous spot on the train. Like Mister Dick Tracy! This roller
The starter jerked a thumb. “This cracking a whip. You go 'round one coaster frain starts out from this
guy's dead, he says, Terry.”
"Who says?” yelped the barker,
of those curves, and snap!” — platform, rips around the track at
"Oh,snap, is it? Who are you, ninety miles the hour, an' when it
“I do.” Tolliver was impatient, mister?” gets back here there's a dead man on
“You want argue about it?”
to “Look,” Tolliver
saidquietly, it who wasn't there when it started.
“All right, break it up, break it “there's .a man
dead, here, officer. Now, maybe he dropped from the
a
up. What’s goin' on here?” rich, A It so happens, for your information, slcy?”
beefy voice with a peat-bog accent that this dead man wasn't on the He purred the last sentence, glaring
rolled over the heads of the crowd, train when it started.” at Tim.
“That,” observed Tolliver, “would Several of the onlookers gasped, Tolliver carefully lit a cigarette.
be the law arriving.” •

and Casey's face flushed a thick red Holding the match, he spoke through
business suit. His head lay over the Two hundred and fifty pounds, color. cuppedliands.
edge of the car; one foot, in a more or less, of Hibernian flesh. “If you're after makin' jokes, my “Figure it out yourself, pal. He
 —
110 SUSPENJ IE presents RIDE TO NOWHERE ill

wasn’t on the car when* it started. Ben Duffy, who lingered. friend lessons.” He lanced a lpok at man in a small gray suit came in,
You’ve got witnesses to that. So he ”1 said, you can go. That’s all.”
Tolliver. "Casey says you seemed to carrying a small black bag.
must have gotten on somewhere dur- "Just a couple of questions, chief,” know all about this business out at "Hello, Chief,” he said to Mos-
ing the trip.” He blew a jet^of said Tolliver, "if you don’t mind.” the roller coaster.” crip. He, -set. the bag on the table
smoke. "Maybe I’ve got a dirty mind, Moscrip took his hand off the "If Casey means I knew more and ferreted a paper from it. "Here’s
but a guy who gets on under those knob. than he knew,” Tim said, "he’s right. the report on Breighton’s death.”
‘
circumstances didn’t just die.” "Casey!” he called. He waited, I happened to be the first one to ’No autopsy ?” Moscrip said, .

He paused. The people around the without looking at them. notice the dead man had a broken glancing at the paper.
car were suddenly very still. *A wo- The bulky cop from the amuse- neck, and said so. Then I made the ‘I don’t think so,” the coroner
man uttered an odd little sound, ment park lumbered in. "Yeah, sensational deduction that, since he said,
*
"unless the family demands
between a gasp and a cry. chief?” hadn’t been on the train when it one.”
"This man was murdered,” Tolli- "These the two fellows you told started, somebody had murdered him "Inquest tomorrow?”
ver finished crisply. me about?” and dumped him on. Seemed a "Right. Here’s the stuff from his
From over the pavilioned roofs, "That they are, sir!” Casey eyed little obvious to me, even it it was pockets.”
above the carnival music, came the Tolliver and Duffy with dislike. Greek to Casey.” The coroner took a handful of
long howl of a siren approaching. "Okay, that’s all.” Moscrip "All right.” Moscrip stood up. miscellany from the bag, and a white
turned his gaze on them. "You’re "You’re a brilliant fellow, Tolliver. square fluttered to the floor.-
quite an inquisitive young fellow, The Ocean City police department Tolliver picked it up.

M oscrip, chief of detectives, came

into the small, dirty room and
sat down on the edge of a table, one
aren’t you?” he said to Tolliver.
"Oh, I don’t k n o w .” Tim
shrugged. "It’s my business to be in-
will do its best, from where
starting
you left off. Goodbye now.”
"And goodbye to you. Let’s go,
"Well, well,”
whistling gently.
he commented,

The girl on the photo postcard

foot swinging. He was a thin, bitter- quisitive.” Ben.” Tolliver turned towards the wore nothing but high-heeled shoes
looking man, with a chewed tooth- "
"And what might your business be, door. "I’m sure these people are and a Spanish shawl draped or um —
pick permanently grafted to his lower mister names ?”
a?id your perfectly capable of solving the mur- draped — strategically about her torso.
lip. He
•
stared at the floor as he "Tolliver —
Timothy Tolliver. This der of Professor Breighton.” "Hand that here, Tolliver.” Mos-
talked. is Ben Duffy, my partner. We’re Just a minute!” Moscrip
shut crip spoke sharply, hand extended.
"You can go home now, folks. private investigators.” the door and stood in front of it. "That’s material evidence.”
Sorry we had to hold you, but you Tolliver slid a business card across "How does it happen you know the Tolliver turned the card over.
were all along on that dipsy-doodle the table. Moscrip glanced at it name’s Breighton and he’s a pro- "Sheila Kennedy, Temple of Ter-
ride with the dead man. have We negligently. fessor?” pisichore, Ocean City,” he read.
the coroner’s report, now. The un- "From Chicago, eh? Little off your Tim blinked at him. "Same way I "Hell, and to think we walked right
official verdict death from a broken
is beat, out here on the Coast, aren’t know he’s a professor of psychiatry past the place a couple of hours ago,
neck.” He "Leave your
sighed. you?” and comes from Chicago.” Ben.”
names and addresses with the desk "We like to travel,” Tim said "So you went through his pockets He handed the card to the gently-
sergeant outside; in case of any com- blandly. before my boys' got there.” simmering Moscrip.
plications, like this man’s heirs taking "We’re on a vacation,” supplied "Did I say that?” "Well, Ben—I think we’ve gotten
action against the concessionaire or Moscrip threw away his toothpick the ,good out of this.” He smiled
‘
Duffy.
the city, you might be needed as Moscrip turnde his pale eyes on and began shredding another one at Moscrip. "Be seeing you, Chief.”
witnesses. That’s all.” Ben. "So you can talk, too.” with his teeth. Moscrip’s face went the color of
The crowd moved out through the "Only when I have something to "Quite a coincidence, you and the rare roast beef.
one door. His hand on the knob, say,” Ben told him, cheerfully. prof both being froq* Chicago ” . . "Listen, Tolliver, you’re a pretty
Moscrip looked at Tim Tolliver and "Um. You ought to give your The door opened and a small gray knowing fellow with regard to this
 ”

112 SUSPENSE presents RIDE TO NOWHERE 113

Breighton murder. Keep on with rection from which drifted snatches daring, the most gorgeous girls, the Tolliver took a five-dollar bill from
your smart cracks and you'll talk of honky-tonk music on the late af- most beautiful bodies of any show of his pocket and began folding it into
yourself right into something. I'm ternoon air. "Yet” he amended, its kind in the world!” He sur- a small square with deliberation.
warning you." "Come on, Benny, we’ve got a date veyed the crowd, and- reached a de- The man put out his hand and
Tolliver grinned. When he let —at the Temple of Terpsichore." cision. "Give a little, girls!” Tim dropped the folded bill into it.
his smile go,it was a pleasant one.
Each of the blondes, without a "I’ll tell her you’re here,” he said.
There was no malice in it, now. change of expression, joined her A minute later he was back.
"Thanks, Chief. Be seeing you." A respectable total of winters hands at the back of her neck, ex- "This way.”
"Don’t get any ideas about leaving and summers had passed over ecuted a chaste bump, and resumed He led them down a narrow hall-
town,” Moscrip warned them. "We the Temple of Terpsichore and left her normal writhing. Stifling a yawn, way back of miniature stage,
the
may want you.”
Outside, in the cool seaside air,
their signatures in the form of peel-
ing paint and weathered boards in
( the barker began again:
"Oh, it’s only a quarter, gents,
and knocked on an unpainted door.
"Come in,” a girl’s voice called.
f;
Ben Duffy let out a long, sigh. the facade, which embodied archi- hurry, hurry, hurry, the next full "Wait outside, will you?” Tolliver
“I can’t go
for that one. He’s a tectural motifs from Arabia, the Taj show
cold, nasty .man, Timothy. Boy, but Mahal and the Parthenon, with will see
is
—
about to begin, in which you said to Duffy.
"So when it’s dames, I wait out-
you were asking for it, in there, a overtones of brewery gothic, He snatched at Tim’s extended side.”
couple of times.’* Before this shrine to the more in- greenback, made change, handed him "This is business,” Tim said.
"That’s all Tolliver said,
right,” terestirig muscles a sort of stage had two tickets. "Beat it, lug.”
easily. "That postcard cutie was a been erected in the open air, facing —and thank you, sir, oh, they roll He opened the door and stepped
windfall.’’ on the board walk. At one end of their eyesand they sway their thighs, into the room, closing the door after
"Listen, Tim, boy —you ain’t a- it squatted a stunted Italian boy in they’ll teach you new tricks and him.
foolin’ old Ben. We’re not just va- a turban and part of an old bathrobe, they’ll show you new charms . . A pretty brunette glanced casually
cationers out here. How about tootling sadly on a flute. In the His voice faded away as Tim and at him. She had one foot on a fold-
breaking down and telling papa? middle of the hustings a pair of Ben entered the Temple of Terpsi- ing chair, and was doing something
Why did we come?” bored-looking blonde hetairae in chore. to a garter. She put her foot on the
Tolliver grinned. "Well, we had soiled pink bandeaux and raffia Inside was a hall somewhat larger floor and looked Tolliver up and
to spend the profits from that Ben- skirts preserved an air of complete than a small bedroom, with a' Punch- down. She was wearing a lavender
son fur hijacking case, didn’t we?” detachment while co-ordinating cer : and-Judy-sized stage. dejected A evening gown split high on one side.
"Did we?’* tain movements of the torso and the little man in a derby hat watched "I don’t know you,” she said.
Tolliver slapped him on the back, sacro-iliac joints. I them enter. "Maybe,” said Tim gallantly,
"Benny, if I’m nuts, and nothing Timothy Tolliver and Ben Duffy |f "We’re looking for Sheila Ken- "we’ve both been missing some-
comes of it, you won’t be able to joined a small crowd of middle-aged | nedy,” Tim told him. thing.”
laugh at me if you don’t know,
If I’m right
— ” He let it trail off
men and weedy lads who were ab-
sorbing the performance. I
| "About what?’
wanted to know.
the little man "How
Chicago?”
did you know I was from

^ere. "Would th^t be the Kennedy gal ?’’ "Tell her it’s a couple of old Tim smiled. "It was a good
|
"Tell me one thing, then. Has Ben wondered, in a low voice, I friends from Chicago,” Tim sug- guess.”
this Breighton murder got anything "Uh-uK. The card had her a gested. "Well, you can guess yourself
g
to do with whatever’s on your brunette,”- f The man seemed unimpressed. right out again. Beat it.”
mighty mind?” A barker beside the stage took up "She’s almost ready to go on,” he Tolliver picked up one of a pile
"That one,” Tolliver said, "I can his cry, above the moaning of the said. of photo postcards on the dressing
answer quickly. I don’t know/’ He flute. "Oh, (%y’re lovely, they’re "For who?” Ben asked, looking table.
gazed over the/ housetops in the di- luscious, they're delightful and they’re f around at. the deserted seats. "Look, Sheila,” he said, mildly,
• •
<?

/ .
114 SUSPENSE presents
RIDE TO NOWHERE 115

"I didn't come here to make trouble "Well, you better look someplace
turned to him a last time. "Listen, moment. Hey!"
for you/’
"Don’t worry, you won't." The
else."
"Did theProfessor happen to
Tim — that roller coaster isn't the
N
He lifted his hose and sniffed,
one-way
girl's voice was angry, but with an —
mention anything about used cars,
only .

around here. Watch your step,

ride to nowhere then
soiled
halted before
white apron,
in a
presiding over
a party

edge of uncertainty to it. "Do you Sheila?" !"

Chicago a soiled white booth. On a grill at
leave, or do I call a bouncer?" She drew smoke into her lungs and
She was gone, Tolliver found a •
this personage’s back, rows of frank-
"Sheila, a man was murdered here sighed out a long plume of it be-
back door that let him out into an furters, plump and odorous, sizzled
in the park, this afternoon." fore she answered.
area of weed-grown sand and tin gently within their snug jackets.
"Was he?" "I don't know what you're talking
cans, and found his way around to "Two," Tim said.
" He was from Chicago, too," Tim about."
the boardwalk again. "You're giving that word quite a
said, steadily. Tolliver sighed, too.
Ben Duffy was walking up and work-out among the various con-
cigarette from a pack
She pulled a "Okay." He stood up. "Nice to
down, smoking. cessionaires today,” remarked Ben
on the dressing table and tapped it have met you, Sheila. Sorry if I've
"For a business call, that took a Duffy. "With mustard," he told the
nervously against her thumb nail. bothered you. No hard feelings."
long time," he said severly. man in the® apron.
"So what?" "What did you say your name "You said business, and you mean They stood and munched silently,
"Nothing. Except he had one of was, mister?"
monkey business, and you can go the cries of the barkers, striving
these pictures in his pocket, Sheila." He turned back into the room. Tim They
She exhaled, looking him over. —
"Tolliver Tim, to you."
to hell," him. told
strolled along the boardwalk. The
valiantly to corral the last lingering
fugitive from home and dinnertime,
l
'My picture? There must be at
least fifty thousand old goats in the
—
"Tim you seem like a nice guy."
"Wait’ll you know me better,
sun had gone down behind the low in their ears.
buildings and the bare, ugly filigree ... Everybody wins . . . three
U.S.A. with my picture in their honey."
of the roller coaster was etched in tries for only a dime ..."
pockets. What about it?" She regarded him gravely. "It
was a
"How did you know he was old ?" might have been nice, at that — in
black against the glory of the evening
sky. A train of cars shot around one
"It tip-off, Ben."
" —
I didn't . , . well, I guessed —
Chicago. Listen Tim. Keep out of
of the upper curves and disappeared
"What was?"
“She was afraid to
?
talk."
he was!" this Breighton business."
in a downward rush, and the clatter- f
V. A game of skill and not of
.

Tim
grinned. "Nice guessing. "Why, honey?" ing roar drifted to them over the chance try your luck l
9*

Did Professor Breighton come "For your own good."

rooftops.
. .
f
'

"She was trying to tell me some-

around in the last two or three days "So you do know something about
"One-way ride to nowhere," Tim thing.”
to see you about anything, Sheila?" it!"
"... See the bullet-proof auto-
said, aloud, his eyes on the place
"No, he didn't. Who are you, She shook her head wearily.
where the train had been an~ instant mobile that took three men on a
anyway, a cop?” "Listen, be smart, and get out of
before. one -tvay ride to nowhere! See the
Tolliver pulled the folding chair here. You saw what happened to "What did you say?" most sensa — •

over to him and sat down straddling the old guy,"

"I said one-way ride to nowhere." "Ben! Where did that come
it, "How did he get on that roller "A very remark, too."
sensible from!”
"Not exactly, baby. I'm a private coaster train?"
Ben eyed him with concern. "Listen, "From astound the next corner to
detective. I make a living on things Knuckles beat against the door.
Timmy, I know I’m just a dope, but the right
.”
like this.
I
Aside from the fact that
just don't like murders."
—
"Hey Shelia you're on!"
There was a sound of feet crowd-
if you want me in on some
to let "Come on!"
. .

of thi§ might be a little help,"

stuff, I They turned the corner on a run.
"Yeah? Well, what's your angle ing into the hall, a partition away
"You are in on it, Benjamin, if Once around it, however, Tim slowed
on this?" from them. be anything but a
I turn out to to a walk,
"I'm kind of looking for one,” "Okay, Jimmy!" called the girl.
dreamy visionary, Which is exactly "Easy, now. Listen."
Tim said. With her hand on the door, she
what I’ve turned out to be at the There was but one barker in view
 ” ” —

116 SUSPENSE presents RIDE TO NOWHERE 117

ae the moment, a Latin-appearing dicating despondency concerning the “These goddam hicks!" said the “Three guys in two days!"
man in a sport' shirt and panama quality of his intellect. barker dispassionately. “Offer 'era a 'Three!” Tolliver’s voice was
hat, idling in front of a small, red- "Of course! They never found red-hot attraction an' they walk past startled.
and-white-striped tent,- next to the the dough. Tim, you think ” in droves. What they want is tired
•
“Well :
two serious, you might
entrance of the roller coaster. "A ten percent
reward, old dames in grass skirts an' toy air- say, yourself an' the actual buyer, an'
Ben.

its
"The most
kind in the world,
sensational exhibit of Twenty thousand smackeroos." He planes to ride in." then there was the old .guy a queer —
stated the walked over to the discouraged “Ain't it the truth," concurred old guy, if you ask me. Asked a
panama-crowned Latin, without much barker. The latter eyed his approach Tolliver, ift the voice of one who has hell of a lot of questions. Didn't talk
conviction. A few strollers glanced .with revived hope, known disillusionment. “Say, how'd like a showman. He was more like
his way, as he went on, loudly “In-
side you will see the actual bullet-
"Yes, sir, the original bullet-proof you happen to get hold of this thing, a —a— "
1
#

automobile, last relic of the Jarvis'

anyway?" “Maybe a professor?" hazarded
proof automobile in which the gang — “My brother found it, on a junk- Tolliver offhandedly,
famous Jarvis gang sped from the "How much?" asked Tim. yard in Indiana. Guess the cops “Why, yeah." The barker nodded,
scene of the two-hundred-thousand- "Two musta sold it at auction, or something,
dollar Springfield mail robbery, the
bits,
quarter to see the
—
sir, only one thin
after they was finished with it. should "
—
“Yeah, sort of.
He
That's funny, you
stared at Tolliver.
most daring hold-up of modern "Two,” said Tolliver, Y'know, they never did find the “You know him ?"
times. This is the very limousine in Money changed hands, and the dough in that Springfield caper. Tim laughed. “Not me. Funny
which they were pursued for fifty barker came around to the door of Looked everywhere for it, £00." though, a fellow like him would be
miles you will see the bullet-
. . , the tent and raised the flap. "Step “That so?" Tolliver said. interested in this kind of a show."
holes, you
will see the bloodstains, inside, gents.” “Yeah. The insurance people had “It's kind of funny," observed the
You will see how three of the Jar- Inside the tent -reposed a bat- a heavy reward out, too." barker, eyeing Tolliver, “that so many
vis boys died and the fourth became tered blue Buick sedan, tastefully “Well," said Tim, “you should people want to get hold of this old
a raving maniac, on that aerated in random patterns by dozens
one-way ride to nowhere! Step right
last, fatal,
of round, bullet-size holes. Inside, People there "
—
have exhibited it in the mid- West,
*
jalopy. Just struck me."
He leered suspiciously at Tolliver
m, ladies and gentlemen—” on the torn upholstery, a macabre “Exactly what another guy told and Ben Duffy,
Ben Duffy looked from the barker touch, sprawled four wax dothing- me yesterday," the barker said. “Only “You guys ain't in with McGuire,
and his lurid canvas .to Tim Tolliver, store dummies, on whose hands and he said it with dough." are you?"
and a flash of understanding illu- faces red paint and been applied Ben saw Tolliver swallowed hard. “McGuire . . .
?" echoed Ben/
mined
’S°
his well-fleshed visage.
at s Tim The Spring- —
freely.
“Now, gentlemen,” the Latin be-
—
“You've you’ve sold the car?" blankly,
^}
™.a " 1 °
.
£ he heard his partner ask, after a “Never heard of him," said Tim.
'
gan, in a professional singsong, "here pause. “He the buyer?" ^ >

Tolliver said nothing. we have the genuwine, original auto- “Yeah," The Latin nodded. “Yeah."
Wait a minute, though. The case mobile that was used by — “Found me a
said the concessionaire.
I’m goin' out
sucker. “I don’t knoW any McGuires,"
was wound up—like the guy says, "Business is kind of slow, hey?” •
of business, in this jerk resort. First said Tolliver. “How'd you find
three of the Jarvises were killed, said Tim my two-headed calf, and now this him?" t

and- Duke’s in the Federal pen, "Listen, mister—” the barker be- —no good." “Well," said the concessionaire,
“
.

Sta
£r
vin« nul:s '” gan in a truculent tone, but TolEver “Well ..." Tim let his voice “he came afound on his own, just
Tolliver nodded. "Right. Just one held up a placatory hand, trail off. “That settles that. Fact is, like the rest of you, matter of fact.
little loose end to be tied up, Benny "No 1

—two fl
hundred grand.”
.
was about to
offense,” chum,” he
say, it’s too bad. You
said. "I I was sort of planning to make" you
an offer myself."
Cripes !" he exploded. “If I’d known
thete was so much interest in this
Duffy smote himself on the temple got aswell exhibit, here. This “Yeah? Now, Tidw do you like buggy, I’d of jacked the price up
with, a beefy hand and groaned, in- jalopy’s quite an item.” V that?" The barker laughed shortly, some. Hi hadda hunch I should!
 ”

118 SUSPEN >E presents RIDE TO NOWHERE 119

held out for more dough, but how's left the platform on another trip.
a guy to know, in this screwy rac-
with
want
this McGuire.
cash, though.”
If we do, he’ll it

The sound swelled, then was

“Ed," a
“I don’t like
—
girl’s voice outside said,

ket?” The barker nodded. “Probably muffled. “Neither do I,” said the man, his
"You think this—McGuire might — will.” “Goes right under this building, eyes on Tolliver. “Come on in!”
be interested in re-selling?” "You get on back to the. hotel, eh?” Tplliver said. A sudden, whiplash command in
“Could be. Cost you plenty, where we spent so much time this Ferrara nodded. “Yeah. Comes his voice seemed to jerk the girl in-
though. Confidentially, he paid me afternoon, remember, and see Mos- out right over there.” He jerked a to the room on strings,
a thousand bucks, cash.” crip about it, will you?” thumb at the end of the room. Tim It was Sheila Kennedy, dressed
“Know where a guy might find “Moscrip ... ?’’ Ben said. looked and saw a door where he now a modish gray tailored suit.
jin
him?” “Yeah, sure. The guy we talked pointed. Her dark hair fell in cascades over
f
“Well, no, mister, but it happens to at the hotel. He’ll take care of He went and took hold
over to it her shoulders,
that you’re lucky. McGuire’s sup- you. See him, and come back as of the knob. The door did not open. Tolliver sat quietly on the edge •

posed to be, here almost any time, soon as you can.” “It’s naijed up,” Ferrara explained, of the cot, looking at her.
now, to pick up the papers on the “Why, sure.” Ben moved slowly “Has been, for years.” “Hello, Mr. McGuire,” Ferrara
car. If you wanta wait .” . . toward the door. He looked doubt- “Mm.”Tim nodded. He came said. “We was just talking about
“We’d like to, if you don’t mind.” fully back at Tim. back and sat down on the cot. By you.”
“Suit yourself. Come on in back. “Get back inside half an hour,” the way, does this McGuire have — “Yeah?”
)

McGuire said, almost

I was gonna knock off, anyway.” said Tina, looking straight at Duffy. —
uh a business manager with him?”’ tenderly.“Who was?”
With, a burgeoning roar, an in-
visible roller coaster train seemed
“Right,” Ben said.
He disappeared through the tent-
—
“Didn’t Notice yeah, I think he
did have a guy with him. Sort of a
“Why, me and this gentleman
here. He wanted to see you
”
to bear directly down upon the tent door. dark guy. Flashy dresser. He's been McGuire cut in. “Sheila, was this
they stood in.' With dramatic sud- The barker ushered Tolliver out in and Out three or four times, last the guy came to see you?”
denness, the sound was wiped put the back of the tent, across a narrow day or so.” “I — I don’t know,” began the
”
to a blurred rumble somewhere be- yard and into a rickety building. “Several times?” girl. “It’s hard to be sure. I
low. Then it returned, greatly di- It was a weatherbeaten ope-story “Oh, in and out. Say He . . “It was me,” said Tolliver calmly,
minished. They could hear the slow- structure. There was np way of stopped. The sound of footsteps Sheila Kennedy stared at him,
ing click of the car- wheels as the knowing what lay at either end of across the yard outside was plainly dark eyes wide. “I guess it was at
vehicles slowed alongside the plat- it; buildings adjoined it on both audible. that,” she said, at last.
form, next door. sides. “That’s him,” said Ferrara. “Okay,” McGuire said, in the tone
“Wow!” Tim said. “Thought it The room
they entered was sparely The door opened he spoke, and
as of a man dusting off his hands to
was coming right inside with us!” furnished with an iron hospital cot a man walked in. Short but power- go to work. “Now you run along
“Damn thing,” said the barker. and a couple of chairs. There were ful, dressed in a light gray summer to the hotel, baby.”
“Drives you nuts if you let it. Goes a washstand and mirror in one cor- suit, he looked as though he had “Ed,” the girl said, ^please don’t
right underneath that old building, ner, with a wardrobe opposite it. v .. been cast' from iron, in one solid ...”
there.” “My name’s Ferrara,” the barker piece. A thrusting lower jaw, be- “Do like I tell you,” McGuire said;
Hejerked a thumb at the rear of offered. “Sit down anywhere.” hind which the upper lip was lost, “Send in Pancho oh your way out,”
the tent. “I got my bed in there. '"Thanks,” Tim said. “My name’s accented the impression. “All right, Ed.”
Come on, we can go in. McGuire’lI Tolliver.” He stopped and surveyed the two She gave Tim a last look, and
be in, too, when he comes.” “Pleased to meetcha.” men in the room, without pleasure, slipped out. Almost immediately a
“Okay,” Tim
nodded. Then, as on In the silence following the words, The heavy mouth opened. slender young man with a delicate'
jin afterthought, he turned to. Duffy. there Was the low, mounting rumble “What the hell,” he said, in dark face, wearing a beautiful
—
**Ben maybe we can make a deal of the coaster train, next door, as startingly low, gentle tones. cream-colored suit, with brown hand-
 120 SUSPENSE presents RIDE TO NOWHERE 121

kerchief, tie and shoes, came in. “How interested ?” around the junk yard, too, Mc- “You're right, Pancho.” The
Hi, Ed," he said, a faintly Mexi- “Enough to make an offer.” Guire?” ‘

smile was still on McGuire’s face,

can accent betraying itself in his “Kind of a queer place to come McGuire nodded genially. but it was gone from his voice.
speech. looking for used cars, isn't it?”
“Looking for antiques, no doubt?” “Tolly,” he said, “you. know what
“Relax, Pancho,” said McGuire. "You found one,” observed Tim. McGuire shook his head. “Nope,” you talked yourself in for?”
just
He kept his eyes on Tolliver. “So I did, His smile
so I did.”
Haven
he said. “Looking for ^ used cars. He held his ham-like hands out
t we met?” he said, in a vanished, and Pancjio, his eyes on
Found it gone, eh?” in front of him and inspected them
sociable tone. McGuire, stirred fractionally “We both found it gone, Mc- critically,
“You've got the advantage,” said against the wall.
;
Guire. That must be why we're “You mean like Professor Brigh-
Tolliver blandly. “How much do you know about both here.” ton?” Tim asked, in a voice that
“Maybe I have, at that,” McGuire this car?” McGuire asked, and the -The cream-suited figure of Pancho tried to be ‘

level.
said, though enjoying a private
as whiplash cracked in his voice,
twitched erect. The roar of the train rose above
joke. “You know Sheila, hey?” Tolliver looked at the chunky,
“Boss,” spoke the Mexican lad, in and around them, and Pancho, with
“Thought she was an old friend rock-faced man, and laughed,
a strained voice, “we wasting time. an inarticulate snarl, flung himself at
by the same name,” said Tolliver. “Enough,” he said.
“I was wrong.”
He knows too much!” Tolliver, on the bed. Tolliver slid
“And what does ’enough' mean?” McGuire lifted a big hand, pink from his sitting position on the cot
The roller coaster train roared un- McGuire's voice was milk-gentle
and powerful-looking, at the end to the floor. His arms went out,
der the building. Pancho's liquid eyes again.
of a blacksmith’s arm. his hands met the legs of the on-
jerked minutely toward the nailed- “Not too much. Afterthe Spring- "Relax, Pancho. Now ain't that rushing Pancho, and pushed. Ice
up door. field caper, the dough was never
one of the damnedest things?” he cream clothes over appetite, the dark
Ferrara held out an envelope, found. Well, I had a bright idea.”
tt
.

asked Tolliver. “Both of us! Know lad dove over Tims head. His own
“Mr. McGuire, here's the papers.” “And what was that?” smiled any more things, Tolly?” sleek head met the wall behind the
c M G
u i r e took the packet. McGuire.
“A little,” Tim said. “For in- bed, with a crash that sounded above
“Thanks. You want to beat it, Tim grinned
Ferrara, and let Mr.. ” — '
bashfully.
they looked everywhere for that let-
“Weil, stance, McGuire, I figure you got yqjir
dope on the money being in the
the roar of the train.
Tolliver was on his feet in the
“Tolliver,” Tim said. tuce, and no soap. I got to figuring,
car from Duke Jarvis, before you same instant Pancho struck, but the
“Yeah. We got some business to and had a funny hunch. I figured
I
got out of the Federal pen. That prognathous McGuire was too swift. t

talk over, eh?” the dough must have been cached in

was before Duke went wacky. Moving with a speed his chunky
“Seems Tim,.
so,” said the car someplace.”
Right?” build belied, he flung his black-
When Ferrara was gone, McGuire “You did?” breathed McGuire, “My!” marveled McGuire. He smith’s arms around the young pri-
sat in one of the chairs, a smile “ Did you, now?” eyed Tim with real admiration. vate detective and held on easily.
on his prognathous face. Pancho Tim nodded. “Yeah. Well, I put
“Right! Tell me something else, “You're younger than Breighton,”
lounged against the wall, his eyes a tail on theand got it traced
car,
now. What makes you so sure I he said, gently, “but you'll be easier
on^Tim. to a junk yard in South Bend.”
“Now, what was it you wanted
been in the pen?” to kill. Smaller neck.” He gathered
McGuire snapped his fingers,
“Good Goa,” said jTim, “and you Tim’s arms behind him.
to see me about?” McGuire asked. “South Bend!” he said. “That's it!
with your mug in every post office On the bed, Pancjio stirred. Mc-
“I understand you bought Fer- You spent a little time around that Guire kicked him,’ and the Mexican
in the country on that counterfeiting
rara's car.” junkie, there. That's where I saw
rap five years ago. What business do opened his eyes. Slowly, he felt the
He
“You
“Right.”
interested
continued to smile,
in—used cars, Mr.
you, Tolly, old boy.”
“Tim, to my friends,” Tim said,.
you think I'm in, McGuire Cloaks — top of his head, and yelped as his
and Suits?” fingers touched the scalp. McGuire
Tolliver?” evenly. “You can call me Mr. Toft-
“I tell you, he know too much
!”
chuckled.
“ Some used cars,” Tim qualified. ver. So,” he went on, "you were
Pancho's voice rose. “Get* up,” he said. “Tie his
 (22 SUSPEN E presents RIDE TO NOWHERE
hands.' at the door-frame behind Tolliver's room. must resent fiercely. His shoulders
Pancho stujnbled to his feet, took body. Nails screamed in wood, and ,
"Break it down!” said Moscrip's were shaking.
the brown scarf from his breast the door came free. A
rush of cool voice,and a heavy object suggesting "Whatta pinch!” he choked.
pocket, and reached for Tolliver’s night air puffed into the room. Be- a uniformed shoulder, struck the light "When I think of the Mex, falling
wrists. Tim kicked viciously at Mc- yond the door black emptiness door. The building shook. into the train, riding all the way
Guire’s shins and wrenched away as yawned. There was a simultaneous rqmble around the circuit, knowing damned
the man grunted with pain. Tim In the silence, the voice of Terry, from the direction of die roller well we were waiting for him at
seized a chair, swung it above his the barker, came from next door oh fpaster platform. Pancho, his eyes
. the end of the trip, and afraid to
head and, as McGuire and Pancho the gently-blowing breeze: ^ld, jerked a small gun from inside get off the cars !” He doubled
. . .

both rushed him, crashed it on Mc- "All right, folks, let’s hurry, gps cream-colored jacket, up with merriment.
Guire’s formidable skull. The man hur-ry, hur-ry, the big ride's about it "The first copper sonofabitch "You shoulda seen his face, Tolli-
screamed with pain, kept
coming, to start, buy your seats now for the Incomes through the door gets shot!” ver!” *
and his weight, combined with the greatest thrill of the century . .
.” announced McGuire coolly, loud He sobered slowly, and looked at
|
Mexican’s, bore Tolliver bade "Give it to him, boss!” Pancho enough to be heard outside. Tim’s court-plastered face.
against the end wall of the room, whispered. "The trains she’s coming Tim's eyes brightened to aware- "Sorry you hadda take that beat-
square agairfst the nailed-up door. soon!” ness^ Then, as the rumble of the ing,” he said. "But you had McGuire
McGuire knelt on Tolliver’s chest McGuire nodded. "Yeah,” he said, apj^padiing train came from below talking so nice, in there, I didn’t
and, aiming deliberately, landed casually. He nested the point of and‘|^yond the doorway jumping- want to bust in until we were sure
rights and lefts in succession against Tolliver’s jaw in his right hand, otfKpfiee, Tim’s hand moved; his he wasn’t gonna sing any more.”
the detective’s face with his hogs- cuddled the left one firmly around fingpis gripped Pancho’ s unsuspecting He put on his professional man-
head fists. Under the bruising bar- the back of Tim’s head, and drew, jerked hard. ner, like an overcoat.
rage, Tolliver’s head snapped to and a deep breath. lUe Henchman staggered back, off "Tell me this,” he said. "How
fro like a punching bag. His jaw Fists battered on the door from bfltaep, clawing at the air. Straining did Breighton tumble to the Jarvis
sagged loosely. the yard outside. Ben Duffy's voice, wildjy to save himself, he caught at escape car?”
McGuire stopped, and breathed stained with anxiety, called "Tim! the doorframe and missed. Then he "Just one thing,” Tolliver said.
heavily. Tim —open up !”
was falling free, into blackness full "His wallet had a pass authorizing
"He's softened, boss,” said the The Mexican ripped out a sotto of the roar of wheels. him to enter Federal prisons.”
Mexican's voice. "Let him have the voce oath, and stiffened alongside Pancho screamed bubblingly as he
business
!”
Tim's slumped figure. fell, and the cars roared invisibly "But how
—
"That's right," nodded Moscrip. ,

*'Yeah,” McGuire said, in rough, McGuire let the deep breath out, under the opening and passed on. "Breighton was a psychiatrist,”
strained tones. "Yeah.” slowly. He kept his hands in place. The door gave way at the same Tolliver pointed out. "When I
He took Tim Tolliver's lolling The voice of Jason, the starter, moment, catapulting a khaki-clothed thought of a federal pen, I thought
head gently between his huge hands, came "Got 'em fastened,
faintly. policeman into the room as Mc-
n of Duke Jarvis. After all, I was
and gave it an experimental wrendi folks? Here we go!” Guire, snarling, launched himself out here trying ;to locate the Jarvis
or two on the neck's axis. "All right, open up in there!” against the intruder. escape car. Well, Duke went nuts
The roller coaster roared under The voice was not Ben Duffy's. There was more than one police- in prison. .

prison pass in
;
the building and slid into the plat- It had the brutal confidence of the man. For a few minutes there was Brighton's wallet tied him right in,
form, next door. law in its tones. considerable action in the small room. for me. ^ As a psychiatrist, he'd been
"Open the door!” McGuire's Atthe sound, or perhaps as the called on Duke. Duke must
to treat
voice whipped the Mexican. fresh air blew on his face through aughtbr sat strangely on Mos- have let something about the
slip
f
Pancho produced a hammer from the open door, Tim Tolliver's eyes % //Jui crip's face. It seemed an in-, money being hidden in the car,
the wardrobe in the room, wrenched opened. He looked dully at the f ^delicacy, one the inevitable topdipick probably never knowing he’d said it.
 124 RIDE TO NOWHERE
The poor old Prof was human. He on his own, hoping she’d give him
made his try at the dough. He might the dope on where the car was ” P
have gotten there first, 'too,if he He looked at Moscrip.
hadnt gone to see Sheila Kennedy. "What
are you going to do with
That tipped McGuire, of course.” her?”
lcn0W
,Te the Brei ghton con- Moscrip yawned, elaborately,

a
.
ar K , ,
GRANDMA
tacted girl, Moscrip supplied. •
"Nothing, I guess—unless some- GRANDPA
e cracked up, after she tipped one wants to file charges
, She’s
us about you- ” downstairs, now.”
She tipped you . . Tolliver stood up. I ••••• .

• • :
,. ;

^Moscnps lips grinned again, un- ‘‘Well, you won’t be needing

willingly. s me
any more ..
S^ e k*nda ta ^ es a shine to I’m sure , you’ll be very happy ” fill
you, Tolliver. Anyway, she phoned Moscrip murmured, grinning "She
just after your Mister Duffy got isn’t the I
worst-looking gal in town
here, then waited for us at the roller ° ° '
at that.”
coaster. And then^ she spilled the MOTHER BROTHER SISTER
"Hey!” exclaimed Ben Duffy
story of her life. Well, it seems she "How about me?”
was Duke Jarvis’s girl-friend.” "Ben,” said Tolliver, "this is
Tolliver snapped his fingers. business.”
"Sare—Jarvis must have talked He dug in
'

his pocket handed

about her to McGuire, Duffy a dime,while they
were in He
mentioned her to
stir.
"There’s an advance on your ten
Breighton, too. McGuire had to have thousand bucks reward,” he said
her where he could watch her—and
, "Go take a ride on the roller
Breighton traced her to Ocean City coaster.”
gf NEPHEW

hat one gilt would please them all ?

|j|No matter what their tastes . . . That gift is a United States

their hobbies . . . their likes or dis- Savings Bond. I

|C|ikes . . . there’s one gift that will This Christmas, put at least one
^ilbliease them at Christmas time, each Savings Bond under the tree for
'

Sid every one. somebne you love*

Ip j Contributed by this magazine in co-operation

fyifli the Magazine Publishers of America? as a public service.