Death's Race by G Read online

  Thrilling Detective, July, 1932

  INE chairs stood about the long

  At the head of the table sat a masked

  mahogany table of the room. Yet only

  man. His two gleaming eyes shone through a

  Nfour of them were occupied. A single pair of slits in the blackness of the hood which but powerful electric bulb threw white covered his entire face. For a moment his searching light down from the ceiling, nervous gaze rested on the black countenances accentuating the emptiness of the vacant of three others in the room who were masked chairs.

  like himself, then for a moment it scanned the

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  empty seats. His forefinger drummed a The other two figures looked eagerly at their nervous tattoo on the table.

  leader as the question was propounded.

  An air of apprehension enveloped the

  The man at the head of the table

  chamber, as the three others sat silent, shrugged his shoulders and spread his palms evidently waiting for him at the head of the

  upward.

  table to speak. But their leader said no word.

  Instead he sat there, grim and silent, and WHAT, indeed?” he replied bitterly, “There despite the covering on his face it was seems little we can do against him. That is the apparent that some powerful emotion held him

  reason that I have called this meeting. There

  in its grip.

  are four of us left. Four out of our original

  It was obvious that Number One of the

  membership of nine. We have lost more than

  Murder Club was afraid; and his fear had

  half of our men and almost all of our power. I

  subtly communicated itself to the remaining

  realize that since Mr. Death began his

  three members of this nefarious organization.

  frustrating of our plans none of us are as

  Finally, a tense hoarse voice broke the

  wealthy as we had been. Yet we must keep

  sinister ominous silence of the council room.

  our heads. We must not permit our rage at our

  “For God’s sake, Number One, say

  enemy to sway us. He has beaten us, and there

  something. I can’t stand this any longer. Why

  is but one answer.”

  did you call this meeting? What’s wrong?”

  “And that is?” asked someone.

  Some one sighed with relief at the

  “To get out. To quit. But before we do

  sound of a human voice; and the man at the

  it, we shall pull one last job. One last job that head of the table seemed to cast off the silent will give us back all the wealth Mr. Death has

  spell which had held him in thrall.

  cost us. Then we shall dissolve the Murder

  Slowly he rose to his feet and spoke in

  Club. Take our profits and get out. That is the a slow somber tone, the voice of a man who is

  only way we can save our lives. Are you

  weary of life, who is burdened down with

  gentlemen agreed?”

  terrible responsibilities.

  For a moment the terrible silence

  “Comrades,” he said solemnly. “I am

  which had pervaded the room swept back

  about to make an admission that I never upon it, and the four men sat there grim and thought I would be compelled to make. We

  quiet as their distorted minds considered if

  are defeated. We have been outwitted at every

  dissolution of their organization which for so

  turn. The power of the Murder Club has been

  long had controlled the destinies of Newkirk

  successfully challenged. We are impotent to

  City was the only method by which their lives

  deal with our deadly enemy. He has slain

  could be put out of reach of the long

  more than half our membership; and all our

  murderous arm of Mr. Death.

  plans to deal with him have gone awry.”

  Then,

  suddenly,

  one of the hooded

  men nodded his head decisively.

  HE paused for a moment, and the man who

  “I agree, Number One,” he said. “The

  had spoken first rose from his seat.

  strain of carrying on is too much. Not one of

  “You mean Alias Mr. Death, of us knows when Mr. Death will strike us down; course,” he said. “I admit you’re right. I admit not one of us knows when we shall go to join

  that he’s licked us at every turn. But what are our comrades. I agree with you. Only show us

  we to do? What?”

  how to regain the fortunes that we have lost

  His voice was high and contained a

  through the machinations of Mr. Death, then

  hint of hysteria as he spoke the last words.

  we will dissolve.”

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  3

  the blaze of light which shone from the

  A MURMUR of assent went through the room

  chandeliers in the mayor’s office.

  as the leader rose once again.

  The mayor suddenly jerked open a

  “I already have made the plans,” he

  drawer of the desk and withdrawing a brown

  said. “I have already taken the first steps. We bottle and a tumbler poured himself a stiff

  should split about five million dollars. I shot of excellent French brandy. Yet even the believe it is Number Nine’s turn for duty.”

  warm glow of the alcohol coursing through his

  Number Nine stood up and bowed.

  veins failed to banish the apprehension that

  “Then, gentlemen,” continued Number

  was upon him.

  One, “I suggest you leave us. We shall discuss

  For the fiftieth time in as many

  the plan in detail. If you are needed you shall minutes he glanced down at a slip of paper on

  be informed. If not, you shall be sent your

  his desk and read the typewritten words

  share of the spoils. But no one must know

  thereon.

  more than is absolutely necessary. Hence I ask

  you to leave us alone while I give Number

  MR. MAYOR:

  Nine the details of the scheme I have

  On Monday night you will

  arranged.”

  remain after hours in your

  Two of the masked men rose, and

  office until our representative

  bowed toward their leader and the comrade

  calls upon you. Death shall be

  whose turn it was to devote himself to the

  the penalty if you refuse to

  business of the Murder Club.

  obey or set a trap.

  Soon the two men were left alone.

  (signed)

  Smoke from innumerable cigars thickened the

  THE

  MURDER

  CLUB.

  air of the room as they talked far into the

  night. Plotting, planning, for the final job that He puffed the cigar nervously, then

  was to outwit Mr. Death and restore the suddenly froze to immobility in his chair, his Murder Club’s members to its former eyes glued to the door of the office which was financial prestige. Daylight showed over the

  slowly moving inward. His hands clenched

  hills to the east of Newkirk before the pair of themselves into fists and his eyes stared at the masked men stopped talking.

&
nbsp; moving portal until they ached.

  Following the custom Number Nine

  bowed and left the room, leaving the leader to

  SLOWLY the door swung open. Gradually a

  himself. Number One seated himself when he

  black-garbed figure appeared. Two eyes

  was alone, and hummed a merry little melody.

  gleamed from slits in the ebon hood which fell

  He was more at ease than he had been in

  to the visitor’s shoulders. Then the door

  weeks. After all, he still had his life, and when slammed, and a metallic voice spoke.

  his plan had been put into operation he would

  “Good evening, Mr. Mayor. I see you

  be a cool million dollars Richer.

  received our note.”

  Mayor Richman of Newkirk City sat at

  Richman nodded. His throat was too

  the huge desk in his office and puffed dry for words.

  mechanically at a panatella. City Hall was

  “Good,” continued the other, as he

  deserted. It was long since the other drew up a chair. “Now let’s get down to employees had gone home. The building was

  business.”

  in darkness save for the dim bulbs which lit

  the halls to show the watchman his way, and

  THE mayor fidgeted as his unwelcome visitor

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  sat down, and hoped that this call did not

  a gleam of hope. He nodded his head

  presage anything too serious. It was not the

  affirmatively. The expression in his eyes,

  first time that the mayor had been honored by

  however, was not lost on his masked visitor.

  a visit from the notorious Murder Club. Far

  “I can guess what you’re thinking,” he

  from it, the organization controlled the said. “You imagine that all you have to do is political destinies of the city, and thus far no to find out who the officers of the Devine

  public servant had ever dared to disobey, save

  Corporation are, then you know the identity of

  one, and his only reward was the elegant some of the Murder Club members.

  words engraved on the tombstone which

  “Don’t bank too much on that. First,

  marked his grave.

  the corporation is in the hands of trustworthy

  “I have called,” said the hooded man,

  dummies, and second, any overt act on your

  “to discuss with you the new park which the

  part will be dealt with as all the enemies of the city contemplates erecting. I know that the

  Murder Club are dealt with. You understand

  Board of Alderman have not yet selected the

  your orders. Are there any questions?”

  site. Further, I know that you control the

  The hooded man rose, indicating that

  board.

  the interview was at an end. Mayor Richman

  “I have come to tell you where the

  turned an appealing face toward him.

  park shall be made. On the corner of Vine and

  “Do you realize you’re ruining me?”

  Race Streets there are sixty acres of swampy

  he asked in agonized tones. “Do you realize

  land. Those sixty acres are owned by the that if I do this I am ruined in Newkirk City?

  Devine Corporation. You will purchase that

  My career is over?”

  land for the park. You will assay it at the sum

  “I’m not interested in that,” said the

  of five million dollars which will be paid to

  other. “You’ll obey instructions. That’s all I

  the corporation. Do you understand?”

  have to say. Good evening.”

  Richman gasped. Then suddenly found

  The door opened, then slammed,

  his voice.

  leaving the mayor of Newkirk City alone with

  “But good God, man! That swamp his none too pleasant thoughts.

  land isn’t worth a nickel. The only place up

  that way that’s worth anything are the two

  NOT for a moment, did the mayor entertain

  blocks which run on that hill through the

  the slightest idea of disobeying the Murder

  center of the swamp. The rest is valueless.”

  Club. No, the organization was too powerful

  “I am not here to argue,” said the for that; and he did not have the least masked man with a sinister ring in his voice.

  conception of how their power had been

  “In fact I quite agree with you. The land isn’t curtailed of late by the depredations of Alias

  worth a damn, save for the three blocks of

  Mr. Death.

  which you speak and which the Devine

  Corporation does not own. However, you will

  TRUE, he had heard of the phantom marauder

  go through with the condemnation who left his card at the scenes of his killings, proceedings.

  but Richman had no way of knowing that Mr.

  “You will give the owner of the three

  Death’s victims were members of the club, or

  good blocks as little as possible. Certainly not that the phantom avenger was anything more

  more than ten thousand. The Devine people

  than an ordinary, though unusually colorful

  must be awarded the rest of the money. Is that

  crook.

  thoroughly understood?”

  Richman realized that if he pulled the

  For a moment, Richman’s eyes lit with

  raw deal that he had been ordered to do, he

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  was ruined. Yet after all, it was better to have thousand for it.”

  a career aborted and remain alive, than to be

  “What!” Jimmy almost leaped from his

  slaughtered in one’s bed as had those others

  chair.

  who had dared defy the organization which

  Sally nodded. “Ten thousand,” she said

  had just given him its orders.

  again. “That’s all.”

  With a heavy heart the mayor of

  “Ten thousand! That’s an outrage.

  Newkirk extinguished the lights in his office

  That property’s worth ten times as much.”

  and walked slowly from the building to his

  “I know it is. But they sent me a letter

  home.

  today telling me it had been condemned and

  James Quincy Gilmore, Junior, pressed

  that they would pay ten thousand for it.”

  the doorbell once more. As he heard the bolts

  Jimmy Gilmore’s face became

  shot he smiled, already anticipating the fresh

  suddenly grim. “Let me see their letter.”

  young feminine face that would appear. The

  Sally Fortune crossed the room and

  door opened and his smile vanished. Replaced

  took a letter from the desk in the corner. She

  by an expression of grave concern.

  handed it to him.

  “Why Sally,” he said as he entered the

  A frown crossed his brow as he read it.

  room and put his arm around the girl with the

  Then abruptly he rose to his feet.

  tear-stained face. “Why, what’s the matter?

  “Listen,” he said. “Let me handle this

  What’s wrong?”

  for you. And promise me not to worry. Of

  Sally Fortune wiped her eyes on an

  course, legally, we can’t do anything, but I

  absurdly small piece of Irish lace and fought

  h
ave a hunch and if it works out, things might

  for control of her voice, while Jimmy eyed her

  be all right. Now promise me to stop crying,

  apprehensively.

  and let me attend to it.”

  She looked into his eyes. “Jimmy,” she

  IN all the years of their acquaintance he had

  said earnestly. “I’ll promise. If you’ll handle it never seen this girl give way to tears. At last for me, I’ll promise not to worry.”

  she spoke. “I’m sorry, Jimmy,” she said. “I’m

  “Good. Don’t mention it to anyone and

  sorry I called you. I suppose I’m silly to go on don’t do a thing about it until you hear from

  like this. But as you know my sole income,

  me. I’ll call you later.”

  since daddy died, has come from those three

  He strode from the room, a grim and

  blocks of buildings up at Race and Vine.”

  bitter expression on his young bitter face.

  “Sure,” said Jimmy. “What of it?”

  “I’m going to lose it.”

  FOR more than two hours Jimmy Gilmore

  “Lose it? How?”

  walked round and round the City Hall

  “It’s been condemned by the city for

  building. Through its long corridors he

  the new park.”

  marched, his keen eyes searching through the

  “Well,” reassured Jimmy. “That won’t

  crowds. He paid particular attention to the

  do any harm. That land’s worth real money.

  private office of the mayor.