FEATURING

THE VAULT-KEEPER

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE OLD WITCH

 50 WHAT? SO YOU, TOO, CAN JOIN THE THE E.C. FAN-ADDICT CLUB
ROOM 7Ofc

E.C. FAN-ADDICT CLUB? 225 LAFAYETTE STREET

NEW YORK 12, N.Y.

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, FILL OUT THE SO, ALL RIGHT/ SO HERE'S MY TWO
BITS. SO MAKE ME A MEMBER, ALREADY,
COUPON AND SEND IT IN, TOGETHER WITH 25 AND SEND ME THE THINGS AND STUFF LIKE
IF FIVE OR MORE OF YOU WISH TO JOIN
AS WHAT THE KID UP THERE GOT... SO/
AN AUTHORIZED CHAPTER, ENCLOSE EACH
MEMBER'S NAME AND ADDRESS, ALONG WITH NAME
2Si FOR EACH NAME, AND INDICATE THE NAME ADDRESS
OF THE ELECTED CHAPTER PRESIDENT. WE ZONE NO.
WILL NOTIFY EACH PRESIDENT OF HIS CHAPTER CITY
NUMBER. EVERY MEMBER, CHAPTER OR STATE
INDIVIDUAL, WILL RECEIVE HIS KIT DIRECTLY...
BY RETURN MAIL.

l
Dusk had settled over the drab
GROUNDS OF DETHMOOR, AND THE
MISTY RAIN FELL WITH DIABOLICAL
PERSEVERANCE, COVERING ALL WITH
A WETNESS THAT WAS MADDENING.'
HARTLEY OUIMB HUNCHED HIS
SHOULDERS AGAINST THE CHILL,
AND CURSED SOFTLY.
 f

FIGURE DARTED TO THE COFFIN AND

PLAYFULLY FINGERED THE FACE OF THE CORPSE! NO ONE
MADE A MOVE TO STOP HIM? HARTLEY OUIMB WAS HORRI-
FIED TO THE POINT OF NAUSEA...

Hartley ouimb turned to look IAnother FIGURE CREPT TO THE

The figure scurried back to the
AT THE STERN -FACED GUARD WHO COFFIN. HE GAZED CURIOUSLY AT THE
CROWD. THE MINISTER SPOKE ON,
HAD ADDRESSED HIM... BODY, HIS EYES SADDENED. THEN,
UNINTERRUPTED, AND HARTLEY
IMPULSIVELY, HE SLAPPED THE
OUIMB LOWERED HIS GAZE TO THE LOPD, YES? AYE? BUT IT'S
[CORPSE ACROSS THE CHEEK?
QUIVERING MUD PUDDLES-
'
THAT WAS IMPORTANT? YE'LL
..BIT OF A SHOCK, HORRIBLE SEE, AFTER YE'VE
EH, GUV'NOR ? BEEN HERE A BIT'

GOOD HEAVENS' \ AYE? WE LET THEM DO Hartley ouimb began to waver? he swore at him-
THAT? FUNERAL A TREAT self FOR EVER HAVING ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF
DID YOU SEE THAT? J A IS

TO THESE POOR SOULS... AND MASTER OF DETHMOOR ASYLUM? IF HE HADN'T NEEDED

IT HELPS US TO CONTROL llll II

j THEM ? WE USE IT AS A MEANS DISCIPLINE? J AYE, GUV'NOR? IF THE INMATES^*

to ENFORCE DISCIPLINE f ,
^ DON’T BEHAVE THEMSELVES, WE
DON'T LET THEM ATTEND THE ^J
RfcU NEXT FuNERAL ' IT S
'
AB0UT THE
ONLY WAY WE CAN CONTROL THEM,
n29T UNDERSTAFFED AS WE ARE ? M.
p
ifsS fttmegs.
 /

The coffin hao at last been covereo,yeta few The thought of food had never entered hartley’!
OF THE INMATES RAN FORWARD TO LIFT THE LID MIND, BUT HE WALKED WITH THE GUARDS TO THE MESS
SLIGHTLY AND PEER INQUISITIVELY INSIDE.' THEN HALL, WHICH SEATED BOTH INMATES AND CUSTODIANS
THE COFFIN WAS LOWERED INTO THE GROUND.. . ALIKE. . I.
». | tm mi
^ | II I

THANK GOD.' ' AYE? I

GUESS YE'RE A BIT YE MUST UNDERSTAND, SIR.' THE^
IT'S OVER.' HUNGRY, NOT HAVING A BITE TO INMATES AREN'T INSANE.' FOR
EAT SINCE YE ARRIVED THIS AFTER- THE MOST PART, THEY'RE MERELY \
NOON f WELL, WE'LL SOON FIX A
'
CHILDISH.' THEY JUST ACT AND
T~* i
THINK LIKE LITTLE KIDS' J

OH, HIM, POOR SOUL? THE m m,
INMATES KILLED HIM WHEN
HE TRIED TO TAKE AWAY ALL
THEIR FUNERAL PRIVILEGES '
Hartley ouimb nervously
LIFTED THE FORK AND SPEARED A
CHOICE PIECE OF STEAK. HE WAS
ABOUT TO PLACE IT IN HIS MOUTH
A HUNDRED GLARING EYES BURNED
INTO HIS.' A HUNDRED HATE- FILLED
EYES WATCHED HIS EVERY MOVE...
I
|

WHEN HIS GAZE DRIFTED OUT OVER

THE TABLE. HIS HAND TREMBLED...

Suddenly HE SAW THE SLOVENLY FOOD THEY WERE Hartley OUIMB HURRIED FROM THE MESS HALL AS
EATING. HE GLANCED AT THE JUICY, TENDER MORSEL FAST AS HIS WOBBLING LEGS WOULD CARRYHIM, AND
OF STEAK ON HIS FORK AND THEN LOOKED AGAIN INTO CLIMBED THE RICKETY STAIRS TO HIS ROOM' ONCE L
THEIR VENOMOUS EYES. THE FORK CLATTERED TO THE IN SIDE, HE BOLTED THE FLIMSY LOCK AND LEANED I
TABLE AS H E ROSE UNSTEADILY TO HIS FEET... HEAVILY AGAINST THE DOOR... I
X... X‘M NOT VERY HUNGRY' if WELL... ALL ’ THEY HATE ME I COULD
.'

YOU'LL EXCUSE ME I ... I THIli RIGHT, GUVNOR.' TELL.' THEY WANT TO KILL
I'LL GO TO MY ROOM
J CS MIND IF I TAKE
YE’RE STEAK?
v HE .TOO.' THEY HATE y
ME.'

HE THREW HIMSELF ONTO THE BED,
GAZED TIREDLY THROUGH THE SKY-
LIGHT AT THE SKY. THE RAIN HAD
STOPPED... ANO HE DOZED...
Suddenly me was awakened by
THE GRASPING OF MANY HANDS' HE
FELT A CLOTH BEING ROUGHLY
SHOVED INTO HIS MOUTH?
His eyes bugged open and beheld
A SIGHT THAT FROZE HIS HEART BEAT'
A DOZEN INMATES SURROUNDED HIS
BED, FIENDISHLY TYING HIM WITH
STOUT ROPES ?

They reached their destination. .the CARPENTRY

In horror, he felt them lift him from the bed
SHOP' AS HE WAS CARRIED INSIDE, HE SENSED A
AND CARRY HIM FROM THE BUILDING. QUIETLY THEY
MOVED ACROSS THE COBBLESTONE COURTYARD, IN THE MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE AND HE CRANED HIS NECK THIS
0 SEEf IN THE DIM
SHADOWS, PAST OTHER BUILDINGS...
LIGHT, AN OPEN COFFIN.'

He heard the shuffling of many FEET, the whisper

A SOUND GURGLED IN HIS THROAT' HE TRIED TOLIFTED
GET
OF CLOTH RUSTLING AGAINST CLOTH, AND THE SOFT
FREE. ..HE SQUIRMED AND TWISTED BUT HE WAS
SOBS OF SORROW, WAS THIS A GAME? WHAT WERE THEY
AND THEN PLACED IN THE COFFIN? HIS BODY GAVE AN
INVOLUNTARY SHUDDER OF REVULSION AND TEARS GOING TO DO TO HIM'? SUDDENLY, FROM ALL SIDES,
ROLLED FREELY FROM HIS EYES-. THE MOURNERS LOOMED INTO VIEW...
 Iw HIS MIND'S EYE, VISIONS OF THE
FUNERAL HE HAD WITNESSED ONLY
A FEW HOURS BEFORE FLASHED BY'
HE TREMBLED AT THE THOUGHT OF
IT ? THE COFFIN LID DESCENDED...
In THE EBONY BLACKNESS, HE He HEARD THE INMATES CONVERSING
CRIED OUT SILENTLY IN TERROR' IN LOW TONES. THEN, SUDDENLY, THE
WOULD THEY LET HIM SUFFOCATE? LID WAS REMOVED? WERE THEY GOING
HE LISTENED. ..AND HEARD WAILS OF
PROTEST.' WHAT WAS WPONG?

The ooohs and aaahhs that followed were all

APPRECIATIVE? AND ....... THE LID NOW HAD
.. NO WONDER?
. .

A WINDOW THROUGH WHICH HE COULD RECEIVE AIR?

OR WAS IT PUT THERE SO THE INMATES COULD SEE HIM
BETTER? HE DIDN'T KNOW?
PUTTING IT BACK ON'

[Faces appeared from all angles? happy faces,
SAD FACES, CURIOUS FACES, WORRIED FACES.'DIFFERENT
FACES, DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS. ..YET EACH ONE THE
|
SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS?
A HAND REACHED THROUGH THE OPENING AND FELT OF
HIS CHEEK? HARTLEY OUIMB CLOSED HIS EYES, BUT
EVEN THEN HE HEARD THE PEOPLE BRUSHING AGAINST
THE OUTSIDE OF THE COFFIN, SENSED THEIR HORRID
HEADS FRAMED IN THE OPENING? A HAND PINCHED HIS
NOSE
He had lost all track os time, he lay there,
MOTIONLESS, WHILE THE MOURNING INMATES SLOWLY
FILED BY, PAYING THEIR 'LAST RESPECTS'. EACH TIME
HE OPENED HIS EYES, A DIFFERENT FACE WAS PEERING
INTO HIS' HE TRIED TO PRAY; BUT HE COULDnY
REMEMBER THE WORDS...

The ceiling was much closer now. obviously, the

Finally he felt the coffin being lifted' would
THEY RETURN HIM TO HIS -ROOM NOW? THEY HADN' T COFFIN WAS BEING CARRIED ON THEIR SHOULDERS' THE
REALLY TRIED TO AW/?/ HIM... THEY WERE MERELY CEILING MOVED BY ABOVE HIM AND SOON HE WAS
< 1 ITTI F r.HH HRFN. THAT WAS ALL ... PASSED THROUGH THE DOORWAY INTO THE NIGHT.. .

Save for a few clouds, the sky was clear, stars
TWINKLED BRI6HTLY, UNCONCERNED WITH THE EERIE
PAGEANT THAT WAS TAKING PLACE BELOW THEM. HE
LISTENED TO THE SHUFFLING STEPS OF THE PROCES-
ThEY WERE JUST LITTLE CHILDREN... JUST PLAYING
A GAME f THEY WERE PROBABLY BRINGING HIM
BACK TO HIS ROOM. HE SAW THE TOP OF A YARD
BUILDING PASS SLOWLY BY ABOVE HIM. WASN'T
THAT HIS BUILDING??? IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW-
 . W
Again there was nothing but the star-filled sky
ABOVE HIM. THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE BUILD-
ING WHERE HIS ROOM WAS.' HE LOOKED AGAIN AT THE
SKY. CLOUDS WERE FORMING.' STARLIGHT, STAR
BRIGHT.. HE COULDN'T REMEMBER THE REST...
They passed beneath a wrought-iron archway..
A GATE' AGAINST THE DARKENING SKY, HE TRIED TO
SPELL THE LETTERS HE SAW. HE HAD TO READ THEM
BACKWARDS. C...E...M.
. . .
HE FELT HIMSELF BEING LOWERED TO THE GROUND.
A MOMENT LATER HE HEARD THE UNMISTAKEABLE
SOUND OF SHOVELS DIGGING INTO THE RAIN-SOAKED
EARTH.'THE REALIZATION UNDERMINED HIS LAST
VESTIGE OF SELF-CONTROL- AND HE FAINTED. . . tOM HIS MOUTH AND HEAVEO A SIGH,
A TREE PASSED BY OVERHEAD, ITS LEAVES WHISPERING
IN THE WIND, ITS 'BRANCHES WAVING GOOD-BYE AS IT
PASSED FROM HIS SIGHT' WHERE 'WERE THEY
TARING H/M? he had lost all sense of direction.
JUST CHILDREN... LITTLE CHILDREN...
WHO HAD RILLED HIS
. Hartley quimb's heart pounded till he thought
IT WOULD BURST THROUGH HIS CHEST' WERE THEY
REALLY SERIOUS ? HAD THEY FORGOTTEN HE WASN'T
A REAL CORPSE? THEY wouldn't BURY H
ALIVE. ..WOULD THEY
Hartley quimb opened his eyes and sat up in
BED? DROPS of RAIN FROM A LEAK IN THE SKYLIGHT
HIT HIS FACE
. HE UNTANGLED HIS LEGS FROM THE MASS
OF TWISTED SHEETS, PULLED THE CHOKING BED CLOTHE5
 .

He
wiped the Perspiration from
HIS HEAD AND GAVE FERVENT
THANKS THAT IT HAD ONLY BEEN A
HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE? HE LAY
BACK ON THE PILLOW. RELAXED..
. .
.

I
Hartley ouimb smiled softly;
EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING TINGLING
WITH RELIEF. HE LOOKED OP
THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT AT THE
WINKING STARS, AND IMAGINED
THEN TO BE RELIEVED FOR HIM,
TOO . .
.
He recited the poem
LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT.
TIME HEKNEW
HE CLOSED
AND MADE
AND THIS
. .

ALL THE WORDS'

star

HIS EYES MOMENTARILY

A WISH...

...And when he opened his eyes again

mmmmm
WAS GRINNING DOWNATHIN .
FOUND HE COULD NOT MOVE ? HE TRIED TO YELL, TO
SCREAM, BUT COULDN'T? THE FACE DISAPPEARED.

And then a shovelful of dirt hit him tch.tch... ain't THAT A DIRTY SHANE? JUST IN
.

FLUSH IN THE FACE. CASE SOME OF YOU CHARACTERS ARE A WEE BIT 1
CONFUSED, HERE'S THE LOW-DOWN? HARTLEY WAS
1

I
IN THE COFFIN ALL THE TINE.' HE ONLY M
DREANED he WOKE UP in his ROON.' actually;
INMATES, WHEN HE FAINTED FOR A FEW MOMENTS,
^
I

HE SUBCONSCIOUSLY/WK44?£0
.
. THAT...ER. ..WAIT A MINUTE? I

WHEN HE WAS IN... NO..

W
W
1 /
WnV^
ER.. HE DREANED HE
.

WAS AWAKE, WHEN ... NO,

I
I
I I
'
IrPyMl THAT’S NOT OH, THE J
 REMINISCE.' I'LL TELL YOU
HEM. HEHf SO VACATION TIME IS OVER...EH, KIDDIES'; WELL, LET'S- ..- A VACATION
. -
v
VANN THAT WILL TICKLE YOUR CRAWLY SP/NE. WELCOME TO THE CRYPT OF TERROR, this IS YOUR HOST
IN HOWLS, YOUR CRYPT-KEEPER, guest-spotting in v.k.'s MORBID MUCK-MAG with the YELP-YARN I
call...
y

John younger ano his partner, frank weston,

HAD BEEN WORKING THEIR LITTLE RACKET SUCCESS-
FULLY FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THEY'D OPENED A SMALL
TRAVEL AGENCY DOWNTOWN, LINED THE WALLS WITH
ATTRACTIVE POSTERS OF ROMANTIC FAR-AWAY SPOTS,
AND PROCEEDED TO FLEECE THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THE
FOLLOWING FASHION. TAKE THE CASE OF MIRANDA
CRUMM, A RICH OLD WIDOW. SHE'D COME TO THE
ya W TRAVEL BUREAU TO ARRANGE HER VACATION...
OH, YES, MISS CRUMM .
’
THANK YOU. MR.
BERMUDA \% LOVELY YOUNGER. THAT WILL
THIS TIME OF YEAR. . BE FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE'LL BE GLAD TO A TARTING THE TWELFTH.
MAKE ALL THE NECES-
SARY RESERVATIONS
. FOR YOU.,. j
 '

AS OPERATORS OF A TRAVEL BUREAU, Naturally, none of their cus- After they’d learneo EVERY-
IT WAS EASY FOR MR. Y0UN6ER AND tomers EVER SUSPECTED THE REAL THING ABOUT THEIR PROSPECTIVE
MR. WESTON TO EXTRACT THE NECES- REASON FOR THE VERY PERSONAL VACATIONER THAT THEY NEEDED,
SARY INFORMATION FROM THEIR QUESTIONS THEY WERE ASKED — THEY WOULD PROCEEO NORMALLY...
CUSTOMERS-! ^ ^ —
'
LET’S SEE... YOUR NAME TALL WE WILL HAVE YOUR l/YOU
AND NOW, IF YOU'LL OF COURSE, IS MIRANDA CRUMM A LONE,
... \
STEAMSHIP TICKETS HAVE

^
|

ANSWER A FEW
j
) MR. WESTON... YOU LIVE AT 250 BEECH MR. and HOTEL RESERVA- BEEN
QUESTIONS for
OUR FILES, MISS i
— ^ j
STREET. ER ...DO YOU ^WESTON.
LIVE ALONE, MRS-^^fc^^^
TIONS FOR YOU BY
TOMORROW, miss
J
J
'
MOST
KINDER.
irjl CRUMM... ci.vm • CRUMM. THANK YOU\ \ YOUNGER.
FOR ALLOWING us
J
TO SERVE10\}\ J -

.AnO THE HAPPY CUSTOMER WOULD SOON BE OFF ON

THE VACATION THAT THE Y 8 W AGENCY HAD HELP-
FULLY PLANNED FOR HER. gUT A NIGHT OR TWO LATER.
T? PARK HALF-
^
1...
j WAY DOWN THE
BLOCK. WE
DON'T WANT TO
ATTRACT ATTENTION. COMIN IN A JIFFY.

-And, UNDISTURBEO, THEY RELIEVED THEIR TRAVELING Of course, poor miss crumm, when she returned
CUSTOMER'S HOUSE OF ITS VALUABLES... FROM HER SOJURN, QUICKLY LOST HER ACQUIRED SUNTAN
/ GET A LOAD OF THIS MINK? V THIS COLLECTION WHEN SHE SAW THAT HER HOUSE HAD BEEN RANSACKED-
WE'LL GET TWO GRAND
TOR THIS, AT LEAST... \
HEH, HEH' NICE LITTLE RACKET, One day, john younger got a I'D LIKE YOU TO
^T DO YOU
EH, FIENDS? WHAT BETTER WAY STRANGE PHONE CALL- ARRANGE A TWO WEEK HAVE ANY
1

COULD THERE BE OF FINDING A THIS THE THAT'S RIGHT.

VACATION FOR ME, PAR-
PROSPECTIVE HOUSE TO ROB
IS
ra W TRAVEL THIS IS MR.
MR. YOUNGER. I'VE d
T/CULAR
,

BEEN WORKING VERY PLACE IN

THAN BY LEARNING THAT THE
RICH OCCUPANTS were GOING
AGENCY? d YOUNGER *
...
)
HARD LATELY, AND / HIND, SIR?
SPEAKING. A
AWAY ON A VACATION ? AND WHAT
BETTER WAY OF LEARNING IT
THAN BY ARRANGING THE WHOLE
TRIP YOURSELF? SO NOW YOU
KNOW FRANKIE AND JOHNNY'S \
LITTLE RACKET. NOW READ ON ^

I'M THINKING OF
FLYING TO EQUADOR.
^ ’
OF COURSE, SIR f
IN WHOSE NAME
'711... WOODS... ROAD.
FINE. AND NOW, IF

DO YOU THINK YOU 00 I MAKE THE YOU'LL ANSWER

COULO GET ME PLANE RESERVATIONS? SOME QUESTIONS,
RESERVATIONS . . . S AY... MR .KINGMAN. ..FOR
for THE TWENTIETH? OUR FILES... fT—.

THERE IS NO Ml LIVING ALL RIGHT, MR, YOUNGER. YOU'D

IN MY PLACE WITH ME, KINGMAN. WE'LL BETTER MAIL THEM TO ME-
MR. YOUNGER, IF THAT'S TAKE CARE OF , JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH
. WHAT YOU MEAN ... EVERYTHING. ER. THEY'LL BE AND I'LL SEND
WILL YOU PICK UP L YOU THE MONEY...
YOUR RESERVATIONS
HERE?
 E B f 1

WHAT LUCK ' SOME OLD GUY ANOTHER SUCKER' GREAT!

After mr. younger had completed the
ARRANGEMENTS WITH MR. KINGMAN, HE HUNG UP JUST CALLED... WANTS US TO LET’S GET BUSY AND GET
AND TURNED TO HIS PARTNER...|g|M^i^w^iB ARRANGE FOR A PLANE TRIP THOSE RESERVATIONS. AFTER
r 711 WOODS ROAD f
~ TO EOUADOR FOR HIM. HE HE’S GONE, WE’LL GO OUT TO
yeah' BIG HIS PLACE AND CLEAN IT
must be LOADED f Mm he
THAT'S OUT THE ESTATES OUT
SfeaT 0LJT- Tr
IN
SAID THERE WAS NO ONE .

THERE? WHY? 1

LIVING WITH HIM, TOO?^

The TICKETS WERE OBTAINEO AND He HUNG UP, GRINNING. NIGHT, YOUNGER
MAILED OUT TO MR. KINGMAN. TH W 1 DROVE OUT THE COUNTRY-
HE'S GONE WE’LL TAKE
ON THE TWENTIETH, MR. YOUNGER THE COAST
’
the STATION WOODS ROAD' SURE IS
CALLED THE AIRLINE... — g IS CLEAN WAGON TONIGHT, THIS IT' LONELY OUT
yJHERE AT
IS

THIS IS THE TOW Y MOMENT.

JUST A ,
FRANK. THIS
PROMISES TO
i . TURN IN... NIGHT.
TRAVEL A6ENCY. f
I'LL
WE JUST WANT TO I SEE. YES/ BE A BIG HAUL.
CHECK, did A MR > MR. KINGMAN
T. CHARLES A WAS ABOARD. ..

KINGMAN take \
OFF ON FLIGHT 12 J

TO EOUADOR ? J

Their station wagon bounced and weaved down a Finally the road ended, and the station wagon’s
HEADLIGHTS FELL UPON AN OLD TIME-WORN
DISMAL TR E-LINEO RO TTED ROA D
,
...

- PEELED ROTTED MANSION...

If SOME yf/t/ TAKE IT EASY.' SOME OF THESE THE GUY CONNED LET’S TAKE A
| ESTATE ' jif PLACES ARE A LITTLE RUN DOWN, LOOK... JUST TO
°S. WHO WOULD LIVE
(L BUT THE OLD FAMILY HE/R- MAKE SURE' y
P, LOOMS ARE PRICELESS' KEEP .
rffM IN THAT RAT-TRAP.'
going' ^
 f

They stepped from their STATION- They climbed the rottoj stairs The OLD DOOR SQUEALED OPEN ON
WAGON AND CROSSED THE WILDLY THAT CREAKED UNDER THEIR WEIGHT RUSTED HI NG ES... r»j
|

OVERGROWN LAWN. FRANK'S FLASH- AND STOOD UPON THE COLUMNED / NOT A ST/C/T OF
L IGHT FEL L UPON THE FADED SIGN...

f
WHAT’S It'JF’ 'BEWARE.'
^ DOOR-(P— — ™
PORCH BEFORE THE MASSIVE DECAYED FURNITURE.'
NO THING.' N OT H I NG
L SAY? / TRESPASSERS HEY, FRANK' this HOLD IT' BUT A WILD
n ,

WILL BE PERSECUTED.*
J
PLACE GIVES ME THE /THE DOOR'S - GOOSE CHASE'
gp.
gl||P3/!S«%fe3 LAUGH
HAH' THAT'S A
-r-g^
/ CREEPS' THERE'S m\UNLOCKED...
ONE LIVING HERE.' «"T-7 -
CM
ON.' LET'S AM \ i iWji\
^

T HE TWO MEN WENT FROM ROOM TO ROOM THROUGH

THE ONCE PROUO MANSION, NOW OUST LADEN AND COB-
WEBBED WITH TIME - pi FRANK.' WHAT'S Y a METAL DOOR .'
'
DESERTED' NO ONE'S THIS DOOR LEADS TO THE f THAT? PADLOCKED' AND
LIVED HERE FOR CELLAR. WE' LL TAKE A THERE'S A SIGN *

^ YEARS... LOOK, AND THEN LEAVE... ON IT... VcgH

HE MUST BE ONE OF THOSE ^

HE... HE
RICH OLD ECCENTRICS. I LL
DOES /GONE AWAY ON VACATION.
.

BET HE'S GOT A FORTUNE ^

LIVE / will be Back in two weeks. CHARLES HIDDEN IN THERE-.
hereO KINGMAN'
LOOKf ) WARNING '

SJ. KEEP OUT

 ; '

The dank old cellar reverberated with the IT HE TWO MEN MOVED THROUGH THE
SOUND OF THE PADLOCK SPLITTING OPEN UNDER |CAVERN-LIKE P ASSAGE BEYOND ...| » ”
YOUNGER'S ANGRY ASSAULT. THE HUGE METAL DOOR ITS LIKE AN OLD WHAT'S THAT
SWUNGWI DE^apr-- T CATACOMB... FLAPPING SOUND:
LOOK SOME SORT OF LIBRARY.. HEY.' THERE'RE
WITH OLD BOOKS AND BATS IN THERE'

^ ODDITIES... —^

Tunnels snaked off in all directions. As THE DOOR AT THE END OF ONE Of THE TUNNELS SWUNG OPEN,
THE TWO MEN WANDERED DEEPER AND DEEPER
INTO THE CATAC OM BED MAZE...
Wf~~EACffONE of these
r LOOK' ZOMBIES' YAaAAA AHHHh ,
TUNNELS ENDS A THE DOOR'S
taa DOOR..
IN

ter-rYk OPENING

They ran wildly BACK THROUGH THE NETWORK Every time they came to a dead-end, a door swung wide.
O F TUNNE LS...
CHOKE..
J WHICH WAY? THIS WAY .' NO.'
TH/S WAY.' OH, LORD'
VAMPIRES!
WE'RE LOST'
 Hours passed and younger and weston real- Days passed, the two men cowered in the darkness,
ized that they were hopelessly lost in the TOO frightened to mcve, watching the creatures pass
MAZE OF UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAYS, HOUNDED BY NEARBY, SEARCHIN G FOR THEM ...

THE THINGS THAT SPRUNG FROM EACH TUNNEL- END CHOKE ...

DOOR AS THEY CAME UPON IT- f Ma

HAfr'' l MUMMIES' I'M
HUNGRY'
WEREWOLVES'

'ItWAS ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER... TWO WEEKS OF .Up THE DAMP, STONE CELLAR STEPS.
SHEER HORROR, TRAPPED IN THE NETWORK OF TUNNELS, JUST A LITTLE... EH. ..EH...
STAYING ALIVE BY CATCHING BATS AND EATING THEM LITTLE WA YS MORE... EH... EH.
RAW... THAT JOHN YOUNGER AND FRANK WESTON
CRAWLED INTO THE BOOK-LINED LIBRARY ONCE MORE..
GASP- GASP- FREE, johnny.-
:'RE W 1..1 can V
GASP.. FREE.' THERE'S THE
METAL DOOR...

And out into the cool night
OUT ONTO THE PORC H.
.Out into the moonlight that
GLISTENED ON THEIR FRfGHT- AT ME.' so, THERE THEY GO,
WH/TENED HAIR, and as they AFTER SPENDING TWO WEEKS IN
CRAWLED PAST THE OLD MAN WIT THE CRYPT OF TERROR.' yep '
THE VALISES IN HIS HAND, WHO D
1
THAT WAS me.. THE CRYPT-
JUST RETURNEO FROM HIS VACA - KEEPER... T.C.K., USING AN ALIAS
TION...]\ wjii ^MHM OF COURSE, WHO CALLED THE YQW
TRAVEL BUREAU.' S’MATTER *
I CAN'T GO ON A VACATION. TOO'!
BUT, WHY EQUADOR. YOU ASK? WELL,
I WENT DOWN TO VISIT THE J/VARO

TRIBE... TO BRUSH UP ON THE LATEST

W
7
METHODS OF SHRINK
. W HEADS
INC HUMAN
fDROP IN
 WS AT'E.C. ARE PROUDEST
OF OUR SCIENCE FICTION
MAQAZINES! LOOK FOR
niA
iozm—
,
LOOK FOR >
f
THESE SERLS '
UIHEn VOUBUV!
THEY AXE YOUR ASSURANCE OF TOP
ENTERTAINMENT ...FOUND ONLY ON
THE FOLLOWING E.C. 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 25C ANNUAL ANTHOLOGIES.
WEIRD SCIENCE-FANTASY
TWO-FISTED ANNUAL TALES OF TERROR
‘
He slipped the gun into his pocket;
the metal felt hot against his thigh.
Then Curt Benbow peered at the
body sprawled at his feet. The cellar
was almost pitch-dark; he could
barely make out the outflung arms
and the gaping chest wound darken-
ing the shirt of the man he had just
killed.
Benbow walked quickly across the
uneven cement floor, to the axe he
had hidden. He picked it up, hefted it
fora moment, then strode back to the
spot where the body lay. Glancing
up, he located the cross-beams
stretching darkly across the ceiling.
An old-fashioned cellar like this was
Benbow's scheme. He'd
perfect for
hack through those ancient beams
until the ceiling started to sag, then
make his getaway. In minutes the
supports would crack the ceiling
. . .
would come crashing down upon the
dead man, making it appear that the
victim had been killed by the sudden
supporting beams.
collapse of the
With a crunching sound, the axe bit
into the dry wood. Again and again
the metal flashed. Benbow could see
the rafters beginning to crack, the
heavy plaster sagging perceptibly.
Perspiring from exertion, Benbow
stopped to catch his breath. A few
more swings of the axe would do it.
Spitting on his palms, to ease the
sting of the blisters on his skin, Ben-
bow started swinging again.
The cross-beam suddenly broke,
with no warning.. And before he could
dodge out of the way, Benbow felt
himself being buried under the cas-
cading weight. He went down, man-
aged somehow to turn over on his
back then the great blackened
. . .

beams came crashing over him.

When he came to, his face was cov-
ered with plaster-dust. He blinked
and tried to move. With a gasp of hor-
ror, Benbow realized he had no feel-
ing in his arms or legs. Several huge
chunks of wood rested across his
body, almost completely covering Containing
him. He moaned the sudden col-
. . .
story of the
and Peter
lapse of the ceiling had pinned him the foundin
Christian Church. Included
here to the murky cellar floor, as in-
are maps showing Palestine
capable of motion as a paralyzed in- at the time of Jesus and
chronological indexes of
sect on a biologist's slide! principal events and Scrip-
ture references to episodes

Benbow caught his breath. In the illustrated.

dark he saw eyes glittering at him.

Ten eyes maybe a dozen. And they
. . .

were coming closer, scuttling across

the floor. With a spasm of terror, Ben-
bow realized the place was full of
rats!

Now they were running over his

immobilized feet, held there so mo-
tionless by the ponderous weight of
the fallen beams. With a scream of
agony that reverberated grotesquely
through the old basement, Benbow
felt a shattering explosion of pain . .

heard the ghoulish gnashing of teeth

tearing at his exposed flesh. He tried fWrff# for apodal school pr!e.*sf
to thrash about, to free himself from
thishideous torture but Benbow . . .
[~lEDUCATIONAL COMICS. INC.
knew he was trapped. The rats were | 22S LAFAYETTE ST.. NEW YORK 12. N. Y 1

already chewing ravenously at his I I enclose 1 - fnr

ankles, chomping at his meat and * COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT 7Sc 0

tearing it loose in great raw strips. I COMPLETE NEW TESTAMENT 60c »

I PICTURE STORIES FROM SCIENCE (No. 2) n

Benbow prayed sudden death, for * PICTURE STORIES PROM WORLD HIST (No. 2) Q I
hoping that his heart would stop beat- J
( I Se for each copy)
~

ing before the savage rats completed Name ’

their grisly task. Before they had com- * Add,,'. •

pletely ripped Benbow's feet from his

body with their hideous razor-sharp I City Zone State I

fangs! N» C.O.D. Da not sand

J^PIaatn print plainly. poitafla stamp!,
j
 9
Hubert tillings, a small middle-aged bespectacled man, slightly balding, had waited uneasily in the
RECEPTION ROOM OF THE B.V.D.80. ADVERTISING AGENCY, CRADLING HIS SHABBY BRIEFCASE ON HIS LAP. FOR
THREE LONG HOURS HE'D LOOKED UP EACH TIME THE RECEPTIONIST'S SWITCHBOARD HAD BUZZED, ONLY TO SEE
HER SMILE AND SHAKE HER HEAD. FINALLY, TOWARD CLOSING TIME, WHEN HUBERT HAD JUST ABOUT GIVEN UP ALL
HOPE OF SEEING ANYONE ABOUT HIS WONDERFUL IDEA, THE RECEPTIONIST NODDED TO HIM. . ,

Hubert tillings WAS THE SHY, RETIRING, SELF- Mr. TILLINGS MOVED SLOWLY DOWN THE HALL TO THE
CONSCIOUS TYPE. HIS SLIGHT BUILD AND RELATIVELY THIRD DOOR ON THE LEFT. GRIPPING HIS BRIEFCASE
UNATTRACTIVE FEATURES, TOGETHER WITH THIS SHYNESS, UNTIL THE KNUCKLES ON HIS HANDS TURNED WHITE, HE
HAD FORCED HIM TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT EVER
KNOWING A WOMAN. >men FRIGHTENED HIM,
MISS JACKSON S THE PERSON
TO SEE. MR. TILLINGS. SHE'S IN
;
\Y
CHARGE OF the LLAMA CIGARETTES
ACCOUNT. 6O RIGHT IN. THIRD A. .

DOOR ON YOUR LEFT. .

 .

L.ORNA JACKSON WAS THE TYPICAL CAREER WOMAN LORNA STUDIED MR. TILLINGS AS HE STAMMERED
TYPE... SMARTLY DRESSED. COLDLY ATTRACTIVE...
. .
THROUGH THE SPEECH HE'D CAREFULLY REHEARSED.
BRISK AND BUSINESSUKE. SHE STOOD BEHIND A LORNA DISPISED MEN. THEY HAD ALL THE OPPOR-
METICULOUSLY NEAT DESK ... MOTIONEO MR. TILLINGS TUNITIES. ALL THE
. . HIGH POSITIONS. MEN STOOD
TO A CHAIR BESIDE IT. ,
N HER WAY.

SIT DOWN, MR. TILLINGS. Fm \ WELL, MISS ^ AND THE RESULT WOULD BE A HUH? WHAT
1

HUGE SIGN OF A MAN... OR WOMAN, IF DID YOU SAY

VERY BUSY, SO MAKE IT BRIEF. y_ JACKSON. IT'S... j
YOU LIKE.. .HOLDING A PACK OF SMOKE RINGS?
WHAT IS THIS IDEA YOU HAVE? J
SOMETHING NEW...
SOMETHING D/FFER- LLAMAS, and CALMLY BLOWING S. HOW? _r^
(
ENT IN THE FORM OF SMOKE RINGS OUT OVERTIMES J
BILLBOARDS. . .
SQUARE.

Mr. TILLINGS OPENED HIS BRIEFCASE Hubert pointed to his crude

DRAWINGS...
SORRY, MR.
'that’s RIGHT? STEAM<
TILLINGS.I
SEE? THIS CHAMBER
TAINING WATER WOULD REALLY DOnY
THINK WE'D
RINGS WOULD NOT BE BE HEATED, AND THE
RESULTANT STEAM COL-
BE INTERESTED
SMOKE AT ALL f THEY'D IN YOUR IDEA.
LECTED HERE. THEN
WHEN ENOUGH PRESSURE
IS BUILT Ul» THIS VENT
WOULD

Miss jackson came around from behind her desk. SLOWLY OVER HIS BALDING HEAD,
SHESMILED WARMLY, BENDING OVER BEFUDDLED MR.
TILLINGS SO THAT HER HEAVY PERFUME BLANKETED
 I ? . .

LORNA AND HUBERT HAD DINNER A ROMANTIC LITTLE

IN
RESTAURANT JUST DOWN THE BLOCK FROM THE BY D 8 0'S
OFFICES. ALL DURING THE MEAL, SHE CHATTED WITH HIM
PERHAPS.. .PERHAPS IF I TELL WOULD YOU,
GAYLY, SUGGESTIVELY, ASKIN6 HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS LIFE, SEEMINGLY INTERESTED II
THE BIG WHEELS AT twe AGENCY ( LORNA? THAT
THAT THE 'SMOKE- RING SIGN' is l WOULD BE
.. .AND THAT’S IT, LORNA. IN THE ] T HUBERT; YOU'RE' MY IDEA, THEY JUST MIGHT. . I SAY; AWFULLY A
LAST FEW YEARS, I'VE DESIGNED A / SWEETf I MIGHT... CONSIDER NICE of
MB
IT. v

FEW THINGS THAT I'VE SOLO, AND \ LIKE YOU. \ you/

WAS ABLE TO JUST ABOUT MEET l X'M GOING TO
EXPENSES. I thought SURE l' o' Y TRY TO HELP
HIT SOMETHING BIG WITH THIS
'

—\SMOKE- RING S/ON.'

YOU. \

OF COURSE, ANY
MONEY I GOT FOR
I'D WANT
YOU TO HAVE
NONSENSE, DEAR. I X I'D . BE Between the restaurant check
) LIKE you. that's l DEL/GHTEi AND THE TAXI FARE, HUBERT HAD
it.i'dTURN OYER) SOME of it, THE ONLY REASON LORNA/ ABOUT CLEANED HIMSELF OUT. NOW,
TO YOU, HUBERT/ < LORNA. THAT I'M DOING IT. FRANKLYp^a HE STOOD BESIDE LORNA, GRIPPING
.
x
-,|i. WOULD BE I DON'T THINK THEY'LL JBBj BS HIS BRIEFCASE, AS SHE OPENED HER
\\ % vj i tlo n ly fairy k GO FOR THE IDEA...
STILL... WELL, WE'LL SEE/
APARTMENT DOOR..
WELL, LORNA.
NOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO TAKE ME HOME?
f U'M: GOOD- NIGHT. NIGHT?
J don't
~
{ 4Wi
f be SILLY/
COME IN FOR A
^
WHILE. HAVE A «

DRINK WITH ME. M

Hubert hesitateo. he felt his heart beat faster... LORNA KNELT ON THE HUGE SECTIONAL BESIDE HUBERT..
HIS BLOOD RUSH TO HIS CHEEKS. WAS HE DREAMING PUR_SING HER LIPS... WHISPERING...
was all this REAL? HE? HUBERT T/LL/NGS? he '

SLIPPED PAST LAURA INTO HER LUXURIOUSLY FUR-
NISHED APARTMENT. ..
SIT DOWN, TILLY/ I'm going to
CALL you T/LLY from now on. i
I LIKE YOU, TILLY. I LIKE YOU A
LOT. WELL, DON'T JUST SIT THERE.
CAN'T YOU SEE I WANT YOU TO KISS
' DON'T mind ~
ANYTHING YOU ^ -JSI

HOPE YOU DON'T M/ND. I THINK DO, LORNA / y»

IT'S CUTE/
In the weeks that During
LORNA SAW A GREAT DEAL
SHE THE
THE FACE OF THAT
BUILDING, REACHING
FOUR STORIES HIGH.
THE STEAM MECHANISM
WILL BE HOUSED IN TWO
FLOORS OF FIREPROOFED
OFFICES BEHIND THE

AND AT NIGHT, THE DESTRUCTION

Hastily he phoned lorna... That night, at nine sharp, Hubert

Then. one HUBERT WOKE UP TO
WAITED BELOW THE DRAPED SIGN
X MEANT TO TELL YOU LAST/ fl

THAT LOOMED FOUR STORIES HIGH

NIGHT, DEAR, BUT IT SUP-y RIGHT,
OVER TIMES SQUARE...
RED MY MIND. MEET ( LORNA.
ME TONIGHT AT NINE
BENEATH THE SIGN.
X have GOOD NEWS...)
 f

LORNA CAME AT ALMOST NINE-

THIRTY. SHE TOOK HIS HAND ANO
LED HIM INTO THE DESERTED OFFICE
BUILDING. ..

L.ORIVA MOVED TOWARD HUBERT, HER EYES BLAZING.

THE MONEY, TILLY? WHY YOU'RE NOT J WHAT.' 1
:
GETT/NG ANY THE WHEELS AT THE BUT YOU WHY DO YOU THINK I DATED YOU EVERY 7
AGENCY THINK THIS IS MY IDEA... AND S-SAID- SUCKER? TO KEEP YOU FROM >
NI6HT, YOU
I‘VE BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE NOSING AROUND DOWN AT THE AGENCY..
— v OFALREADY/
,

£ SHOOTING OFF YOUR MOUTH... j—

THIS IS MY SHOW, LITTLE MAN, AND i NO, LORNAT LORNA PUSHED. HUBERT TILLING FLAILED, THEN
TM NOT GOING TO SHARE IT WITH
ANYONE. TONIGHT, AFTER THE ’ NOf y PLUNGED DOWNWARD, INTO THE OPEN STEAM CHAMBER
FILLED WITH BUBBLING, SCALDING WATER...
UNVEILING, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND
10W WELL-COOKED BODY
‘p-v DOWN THERE. ^/ .
GURGLING, STEAMING, LIQOID- .LID SWUNG SHUT. AND DOWN THE BACK STAIRS INTO
THE JAM-PACKED SQUARE-
FILLED TANK.. THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME,
AND THEY'LL WONDER HOW YOU TILLY? THIS IS MY SHOW' AND HERE SHE COMES,
GOT INTO THE TANK. THEY'LL FOLKS. THE GAL RESPONSIBLE
\ FOR THIS WONDERFUL DISPLAY..
THINK YOU WERE A PUBLICITY
MAD MANIAC. ..WHO COMMITTED•" LORNA JACKSON...
SUICIDE... —

LoRNA PRESSED THE REMOTE CONTROL SWITCH THAT

LORNA STOOD ALONE UPON THE SPEAKER'S PLATFORM, ACTIVATED THE STEAM MECHANISM. THE PRESSURE
ACKNOWLEDGING THE CROWD’S WILO CHEERING. THE
BUILT UP. THE VENT OPENED... AND— -
DRAPES COVERING THE SIGN FELL AWAY, REVEALING A
MAN'S HEAD... LIPS PURSED ...IN ONE HAND, A PACK OF LOOK ' WOW.' A SMOKE -RING!
OF LLAMAS... IN THE OTHER, A LIT CIGARETTE JUST

OKAY, LORNA. IT'S

ALL YOURS... n

popped from HEH.HEH? THAT'S A HOT ONE EH,

AFTER ANOTHER, LIVE-STEAM SMOKE-RINGS
,

One KIDDIES? JUST SHOWS TO GO YOU...

HUGE SIGN. AND THEN,
THE PURSED LIPS OF THE MAN PAINTED ON THE A COLD POTATO USUALLY ENDS
STRANGELY, THE SMOKE-RINGS SHOOTING OUT
OVERTHE CROWD SPIRALED
BLISTER UP BAKED. BY THE TIME THEY
DOWNWARD, RINGING LORNA with their SEARING HEAT... SHUT OFF THE CRAZY BILLBOARD
ING BURNING... STEWING HER ALIVE..,
.
ANDGOT TO LORNA, FOURTEEN
GOOD TCHOKE: LIVE-STEAM SMOKE-RINGS
LORD' " HAD DROPPED DOWN OVER HER, LIKE
a CHILD'S RING-TOSS, COOKING
HER TO A LOBSTER RED BLOB
OF BLISTERED FLESH, mmmm.
WHICH REMINDS ME. I'M HUNGRY.'
t HOW
ABOUT YOU?
WELL, THE OLD
WITCH IS WAITING
TO FEED YOU
A TASTY TALE
OF TERROR not*
her CRUDDY
[CAULDRON...
BYE, NOW
 .

HEE.HEEf AND NOW THAT THE CREEP FROM THE CRYPT AND THE VACUUM FROM THE VAULT HAVE ENTER-
TAINED YOU, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO WIND UP V.K.'S PEW-PERIODICAL with ANOTHER DELICIOUS
DISH OF
DELIRIUM COOKED UP in MY CRUDDY CAULDRON, BASEO ON A FAVORITE REEKING RECIPE Of mine. YES,
HORROR-HUNGRY H/D/OTS, it's YOUR HOSTESS OF THE HAUNT OF FEAR, THE OLD WITCH, READY TO
FEED YOU THE FOUL FARE I CALL..

Doctor james crotty and lawyer millard walker’

STOOD IN THE MARBLE FOYER OF THE FARBER MANSION
AND SURVEYED THE CROWDED LIVING ROOM. . .

LOOK AT 'EM, DOC.' LIKE VULTURES.. TAND THEY

.

WAITING AROUND FOR OLD MAN FARBER J DON'T have

TO DIE. .WAITING TO SWOOP DOWN
. 'LONG TO WAIT,
AND PICK CLEAN THE OLD BOY'S EITHER, WALKER,
FORTUNE AS SOON AS HE GASPS r HE'S ABOUT DONE.
HIS LAST BREATH. — his HEART IS a
READY TO GIVE |
OUTANY MINUTE. A

^^IN FACT, WALKER. J

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE
ONE GOOD SHOCK wili THE CHANCE, DOC.
DO it. one GOOD EMO- I'LL DO THE TALK-
TIONAL UPHEAVAL will KING. I'LL TRY TO
MEAN THE OLD MAN'S DEA) JTELL HIM AS <

w GENTLY AS
rT- POSSIBLE... A
 ? } J

The doctor and the lawyer H AROLO PARSER, ONE OF THE RICH- Doctor crotty and lawyer walker
PAUSED BEFORE THE AILING Ml EST MEN IN THE COUNTRY, SAT OOZ- CROSSED THE LUSHLY CARPETED
LIONAIRE'S BEDROOM DOOR- ING IN HIS LUXURIOUS BED. HE 8EDROOM TO THE OLD MAN'S SIDE...
r STI RREO, PAINFULLY, AS THE OOOR
I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT JO,' SEEMS LIKE EVERY- YES HAROLD?
,

WE OUGHT TO GO TO THE BEDROOM OPENED QUIETLY.. BODY'S COME TO SEE JYOUR WHOLE
DOC. IT'S THE
THROUGH with ONLY THING WE HAROLD?) HUH? * THE OLD WAR HORSE-/ FAMILY'S L
IT, WALKER f I'M j CAN 00 f OTHER- YOU S WHO'S THAT? PASS OUTOF THE V DOWN THERE,
AFRAID HIS WISE THEY'LL A AWAKE?) OH, IT'S YOU, L I
PICTURE, EH, tT WAITING f
HEART won't GET IT ALL 1 ...
MILLARD, t
STAHD the / HIS WHOLE JAMfS. COME
NEWS.NO
LESS THE_^® ^
FORTUNE/ A fNf f*

SURE IS NICE OF 'EM. SURE IS T HAROLD, YOU CAN'T J r

,

NICE T'KNOW SOMEBODY CARES. )G0 ON BELIEVING WHAT ISN'T TRUE, ^ THOSE PEOPLE DOWN
THERE. THEY'RE NOT HERE
DOES A BODY GOOD T KNOW J 'that.' it ISN'T RIGHT? WALKER? WHAT ARE
'

teg. HE'S loved, A

IT ISN'T TRUE.' gr YOU SAYING? f BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT <
YOU., BECAUSE THEY LOVE YOU..

Doctor crotty put

'PLEASE, MILLARD. IT'S TOO TWHAT THINGS?

LATE TO TELL HAROLD THESE I WHAT ARE YOU *
THINGS' HE HASN'T GOT VERY
“ TELLING me, t
LONG' LET HIM DIE IN * . WALKER? SPEAK
UPf WHAT'S THIS
w ALL ABOUT
 1 ,

Millard walker's voice was gentle... soothing.

THE VOICE OF A MAN CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DYING
THEY'VE COME... BECAUSE THE MOMENT
THEY'VE DREAMED OF IS CLOSE AT '
fBELIEVE
WON'T I
IT.

FRIEND AND CLIE N T... ^ %. HAND. THEY'VE COME BECAUSE THEY * I

THEY'RE
you’ve WORKED HARD ALL YOUR LIFE, HAROLD, THAT \ SMELL THOSE MINTY DOLLAR SIGNS. CONCERNED
THEY'VE WAITED FOR THIS MOMENT i ABOUT ME...
AMASSING YOUR FORTUNE. I can't SEE you \ ISN’T .

TURNING IT OVER TO THAT HOARD OF DESP/S' JTRUE. FOR YEARS PRAYED FOR IT...
.. .

J
/
i

/NG RELATIVES, they're just WAITING theyVe

AROUND FOR TO DIE SO THEY COME .

GET THEIR HANDS ON IT. BECAUSE...

r IF...
'they're CONCERNED about T
SUPPOSE, now.x’m BETTER TO TURN IT OVER TO A J IF I COULD
your MONEY.' THAFSALL / NOT saying I BEL/EV WORTHWHILE CHARITY, HAROLD... ONLY BE SURE.'
J
LOOK, HAROLD. J DON'T CARE. / YOU... BUT JUST SUP- TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MONEY, IF I COULD ONLY
IT'S YOUR MONEY. IF YOU fPOSE WHAT YOU SAY AND WILL APPRECIATE IT... THAN. r KNOW FOR
WANT TO LEAVE IT TO THOSE... /|S TRUE. WHAT WOULD TO TURN IT OVER TO THOSE CERTAIN THAT
THOSE VULTURES, DO it. ( YOU have me DO with _ WORTHLESS GHOULS. WM WHAT YOU'RE
I'VE SAID MY PIECE... THEMONEY?^^ TELLING ME IS
jr THE TRUTH?

'if... if I COULD PROVE} yes ' yesT HAROLD, HOW WOULD 7 YES HAROLD. HOW T BY GOD,
IT TO YOU, HAROLD, /l WOULD/ YOU LIKE TO HEAR 4, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALKER'
j
IF I COULD SHOW ) BUT HOW THEM, ALL OF THEM, LISTEN IN ON YOUR WHAT AN ')
,

YOU, WOULD YOU CUT] COULD YOU? LAUGHING OVER YOUR OWN FUNERAL ? JIDEA / you
THEM OFF..SKSN a DEAD BODY... spewing '
WOULD THAT < MEAN STAGE
NEW WILL LEAVING
IT THE MONEY TO
TV//
//
JH FORTH THEIR TRUE
AjB [CONVINCE YOU? ) A PHONY
W CHARITY?
[
±//
7/^0^ FEELINGS. ..OVER
f YOUR CORPSE...
JT» Jf FUNERAL ff
 ' ' . '

CORRECT. LET ME GO DOWN WE'LL ARRANGE WE'LL HAVE THE FUNERAL

AND TELL THEM YOU'RE A a CLOSED 4 CHAPEL WIRED HAVE A ‘ AGREE'
.

DEAD. THEN, DOCTOR 7 » CASKET A SMALL SPEAKER IN YOUR

CROTTY AND I WILL
ARRANGE FOR A HASTY
^* CEREMONY... CASKET WITH YOU. YOU'll‘
HEAR EVERY WORD T —
FUNERAL. ONLY YOU'LL THAT'S SAID . .

BE ALIVE IN THE CASKET,

LISTENING TO EVERY a

AND I'LL DRAW UP A NEW WILL, SO THEN EVERYTHING IS [I'LL LEAVE Harold farber
THAT IF AND WHEN YOU ARE CON- < GOODf. SET. OH, ER... WHAT /that TO YOU, RUBBED HIS BONEY
VINCED, YOU CAN LEAP FROM YOUR CHARITY SHALL I \ MILLARD. PICK FINGERS TOGETHER
CASKET, SURPRISE THEM ALL, AND . MAKE THE WILL OUT '
out ANY AS HIS DOCTOR AND
1
SIGN IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF f FOR, HAROLD ? * WORTHWHILE LAWYER LEFT-
THEMf BY
CHARITY.'
— -'l l /
GOD, I CAN'T > "i CAN’T WAIT TO j
HEAR WHAT THEY
WAIT... 15=
r r SAY f IMAGINE...

Tmagine HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN
IN ON YOUR OWN FUNERAL ...TO HEAR WHAT
PEOPLE WHISPER ABOUT YOU... TO KNOW THETRUTh
THE TRUTH THEY'VE HIDDEN FROM YOU EVERY MIN-
UTE you were alive i
—
I While down below, the lawyer stood before the
CROWD OF HUSHED RELATIVES AND ANNOUNCED.
”LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ...OUR BELOVED HAROLD
FARBER PASSED AWAY A FEW MOMENTS AGOfgM
 / a , M / / - 1 .

In his mind's eye, he could see OnE AFTER THE OTHER THEY 'INSTEAD OF THAT )
f THAT'S A'-
THE FACES OF HIS ’MOURNING
RELATIVES' filing by his casket
CAME,AND HE COULD ALMOST
SEE THEM AS THEY
ORGAN MUSIC,
THEY OUGHT TO BE
\)( GOOD
(
ONE.
JOHN, AND *
( SAID . PLAYING, 'WE'RE SO TRUE '
AS he heard. .
'crJpesF 'tomorrow L >

GLAD THAT YOU'RE 1 HEH/ HEH >

ShMUPhFIT'S
l ABOUT TIME THE J
r I'LL SAY/,
I'VE GOT
THOUGHT HE'D
NEVER DIE.
ATWALKER'S
I OFFICE. I'LL <
.

DEAD. YOU RASCAL, i

.

> OLD CROW / ENOUGH WHEN DO THEY ) BE THERE WITH V

KICKED OFF. ? TO COVER READ THE W!LL?)BELLS ON. IT'S

“YWHOLE INHER- FLORIDA

ME'
for j

Harold gritted his teeth, the tears welling up in CHON, HONEY. LOOK H ho* CAN I? I’m
^
HIS EYES A S HE HEARD,. SAD.' he 1
s DEAD / J DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY/
/'ALL My'lIFE THADTO ( MMMMMM/ n A BOY, CAN WE USE THAT
DOUGHY
/ PRETEND I LIKED THE HONEY/ MONEY/ 1

( OLD CRUMB/ NOW I’LL GET ) LOVE THAT

7 WHAT I REALLY LIKED f A~ n WORD
[
A SHARE OF HIS FORTUNE
B

One after the other.they came HAROLD COULD harold could stand
[Finally, it no longer . he leaped
SEE TH E M. EACH O NE FROM HIS CASKET-SCREAMING ...

roOOCBYEF^M^ . THANKS V THANK GOOD I'VE HEARD ENOUGH, YOU LIARS. 'GOOD
HELLO, EASY ' FOR THE a Y NESS I don't YOU600D -FOR-NOTH/NG FORE- LORD/
LIVIN' my ,
TOUCH, you HAVE TO SMILE ,
I
FLUSHERS. ..you VULTURES jj ... • HE'S
r PRAYERS are OLD SKIN- *4, y at HIS UGLY i
r YOU LEECHES... ALIVE/j
> ANS WERED/ t FLINT/ PUSS anymore .

MAKING LIKE I
f
7 LIKE HIM. . . k
 I'M LEAVING MV WHOLE FORTUNE Mr. farber scanned the will with 1
TO A WORTHWHILE CHARITY... j BLA ZING- EYES... ^ '\J
T 7 TO THE. ..THE... >4 W^. TO 'THEHAPPY HOME FOR
ORPHAN CHILDREN'... ps/l

Mr. farber signeo the wili Mr. farber dropped dead. In another ANTEROOM, DOCTOR JAMES
WITH A FLOURISH... CROTTY WAS QUIETLY PAYING OFF THE
THERE...YOU MERCENARY GROUP OF ACTORS HE AND LAWYER
RATS f VOU.. .you... GASP...
MILLARD WALKER HAD HIRED TO SPEAK
INTO THE MICROPHONE CONNECTED TO
W CHOKE...
THE SPEAKER IN MR. FARBERS COFFIN-.
F THANKS, FOLKS'
JUST WHAT WE d
-rWANTED.'Jk

And AFTER THE STUNNED RELATIVES HAD LEFT, THE DOCTOR AND THE HEE.HEE. WELL, THAT'S MY SLIME-'
,

LAWYER STOOD OVER MR. FARBER'S COFFIN WITH MR. FARBER S 'REALLY- SERVING. KIDDIES. BY the WAY. I i
DEAD-THIS-TIME' CORPSE INSIDE, AND CONGRATULATED EACH OTHER... TOOK A TR/P OUT TO 'THE HAPPY
JUST FINE. MILLARD WALKER,' HOME FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN J
Y ‘
WELL, JAMES CROTTY, PRESIDENT AND \

TREASURER OF 'THE HAPPY HOME FOR /VICE PRESIDENT MO SEC- J/t'other NIGHT. LOVELY PLACE' AND
,

ORPHAN CHILDREN'.' HOW DOES T FEEL RETARY OF 'THE HAPPY ]j EMPTY LOT. FINE EDIFICE. TOOT
I

HOME FOR ORPHAN CHIL - /I A TENT. DARLING GROUP of

])
TO HAVE JUST RECEIVED A CONTRIBUTION J
S
'

OF TWO AND A HALF MILLION DREN' F JUST FINE.' ORPHANS F TWO... GIRLS... ages
. DOLLARS ?
) E9 AND 30, RESPECTIVELY' THEY'RE
, HELPING THE DOC AND THE LAW-
YER SPEND THE DOUGH WILLED TO
f ^ THEIR 'DESERVING
g5BKf!S^f CHARITY', bye,
NOW. REMEMBER.. .

1*5# IF rou RE A FAN

'

Hmj V-sflf AND AN ADDICT

ft'lM 'V/ Jj OF EC. MAGS.
Il\lw W] JOIN THE C.E _
%) IM FAN-ADDICT }
Ml'/ m*. CLUB >

THE END