Murder '97 by Gruber Frank
Author:Gruber, Frank [Gruber, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Pulp
Publisher: Ulverscroft
Published: 1948-08-26T11:28:51+00:00
14.
Simon Lash landed at the Chicago airport shortly before five oâclock Central time. A half hour later a chartered plane, with Lash as the sole passenger, took off from the same airport and at precisely six-thirty Lash stepped to the ground of a reconverted cow pasture.
Carrying his topcoat and suitcase he walked toward a man who was tinkering on a Jalopy.
âHow do I get to Mt. Miller from this town?â he asked the mechanic.
âBus,â replied the mechanic. âOnly itâs left by now.â
âHow far is it to Mt. Miller?â
ââBout six miles.â
Lash took a ten-dollar bill from his pocket. âDoes this crate run?â
The man took the ten-dollar bill and slammed down the hood of the car. âLetâs try it out, huh?â
The car had a hopped-up motor. The mechanic never let it out entirely but in five minutes after stepping into the car, Lash was in Mt. Miller. The driver of the car slowed down to fifty. âAny special place in town you want to go?â
âThe hotel.â
A moment later the car squealed to a stop in front of a dingy two-story building. âHotel,â the driver said.
Lash got out and waved to the driver of the hopped-up car. Then he entered the hotel.
The lobby was about twenty feet square and contained, besides a desk, three shabby leather-covered chairs, a leather-covered couch and about six big brass spittoons.
At one side of the desk was a wide door that led into a small dining room. There were six or eight diners in the room, but the lobby contained only two people, a middle-aged mustached man seated in one of the leather chairs reading a Chicago newspaper and the man behind the desk, a roly-poly, fat-jowled man with snaggled, stained teeth.
âRoom and bath,â Lash said.
âRoom,â replied the clerk, âbut you take your own bath!â He howled at his own joke.
âFunny,â Lash said.
The clerk continued to chortle, but after awhile recovered enough to turn the hotel register about so Lash could sign it. âRoom âll cost you four dollarsâAmerican plan, or two dollars European.â He read Lashâs signature. âSimon Lash, Hollywood, California. Well, wellâ¦!â
Behind Lash the middle-aged man lowered his newspaper and got to his feet. âYouâre Mr. Lash?â he called. âI talked to you on the telephone this morning.â
âSheriff Walters?â
The man nodded. âMusta flown here, huh?â
âThatâs right.â
âSorry about your friend, Carter,â the sheriff said. âI talked to his wife on the phone this morning and she said to have the body shipped to Chicago. Got it out this afternoon.â
âYouâve already shipped it.â
âYes.â
âWithout an autopsy?â
The sheriff grimaced. âWasnât any need for an autopsy. Like I told you, he was killed by a bullâ¦â
âThe bull confessed?â
âThe sheriff scowled. âNow, look here, Mr. Lash, that ainât no way to talk. I been sheriff of this county for twelve-thirteen years.â
âHow many murders have you had in that time?â
âPeople around here donât commit murders. Had a manslaughter case four-five years ago, but murderâ¦â The sheriff shuddered.
Lash turned to the hotel clerk. âCan you tell me where George Halpin lives?â
Before the clerk could reply, the sheriff said: âIt was George Halpinâs bull killed your friend.
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