FEATURING

THE VAULT-KEEPER

THE CRVPT-KEEPER

THE OLD WITCH

 INTHE TOWN OF GAZOOSKY IN THE ...SO THEY CAME AND SMASHED ... ANP HUNG POOR MELVIN THE
HEART OF SOVIET RUSSIA, VOUNG HIS FOUR- COLOR PRESS... NEXT MORNING/
MELVIN BLIZUNKEN - SKOVlTCHSKy
PUBLISHEP A COMIC MAGAZINE..

HERE IN AMERICA, WE CAN STILL PUBLISH COMIC MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, SUCKS, BOOKS AND THE BIBLE. WE
1

PON'T HAVE TO SENP THEM TO A CENSOR FIRST. NOT YET...

BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO WOULP LIKE TO CENSOR... WHO WOULD LIKE TO SUPPRESS
COMICS. IT ISN'T THAT THEY PON'T UKE COMICS FOR THEM! THEY DON'T LIKE THEM FOR YOU!
THESE PEOPLE SAY THAT COMIC BOOKS AREN'T AS GOOD FOR CHILDREN AS NO COMIC BOOKS, OR SOMETHING-
LIKE THAT. SOME OP THESE PEOPLE ARE NO-GOODS. 50ME ARE DO-GOOPERS. SOME ARE WELL-MEANING.
ANP SOME ARE JUST PLAIN MEAN.
BUT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH AN AMAZING REVELATION . AFTER MUCH SEARCHING OF NEWSPAPER FILES, WE'VE
MADE AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY-
THE GROUP MOST ANXIOUS TO DESTROY COMICS
ARE THE COMMUNISTS '
WE'RE SERIOUS/ NO KIPPIN'/ HERE! READ THIS:

THE [COMMUNIST] "DAILY WORKER" OF JULY 13, !9S3 THIS ARTICLE ALSO QUOTED GERSHOM LEGMAN C WHO CLAIMS TO BE A GHOST
BITTERLY ATTACKED THE ROLE OF-. WRITER FOR DR. FREDERICK WERTHAM, THE AUTHOR OF A RECENT SMEAR
AGAINST COMICS PUBLISHED IN THE LADIES HOME JOURNAL") THIS .

SAME G. LE6MAN, IN ISSUE *3 OF 'NEUROTICA? PUBUSHED IN AUTUMN

SO- CALLED 'COMICS' IN BRUTALIZING 1948, WILDLY CONDEMNED COMICS, ALTHOUGH ADMITTING THAT:
AMERICAN YOUTH, THE BETTER TO PREPARE
THEM FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN IMPLEMENTING "THE CHILD'S NATURAL CHARACTER... MUST BE DISTORTED TO
OUR GOVERNMENTS AIMS OF WORLD FIT CIVILIZATION... FANTASY VIOLENCE WILL PARALYZE
HIS
DOMINATION, AND TO ACCEPT THE RESISTANCE, DIVERT HIS AGGRESSION TO UNREAL
ATROCITIES NOW BEING PERPETRATED BY ENEMIES AND FRUSTRATIONS, AND IN THIS WAY PREVENT .
AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN IN HIM FROM REBELLING AGAINST PARENTS AND TEACHERS...]
KOREA UNDER THE FLAG OF THE UNITED OFF HIS RESISTANCE AGAINST A
THIS WILL SIPHON
*
NATIONS." SOCIETY, AND PREVENT REVOLUTION .

f
0^**^* ^*'f'^**0+
SO THE NEXT TIME SOME JOKER GETS UP AT A P.T.A. MEETING, OR STARTS JABBERING ABOUT
THE "NAUGHTY COMIC BOOKS AT YOUR LOCAL CANDY STORE, GIVE HIM THE ONCE -OVER. WE'RE
NOT SAYING HE IS A COMMUNIST/ HE MAY BE INNOCENT OF THE WHOLE THING-' HE MAY BE A
PURE* HE MAY NOT EVEN REAP THE "DAILY WORKER*/ IT'S JUST THAT HE'S SWALLOWED THE RED
BAIT... HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER !
VAULT OF HORROR, Aug.-Sept., 1954. Volume 1, Number 38. Published Bi-Monthly by L. L. Publishing Co., Inc.,
New York 12, N- Y. William M. Gaines, Managing Editor. Johnny Craig, Editor. Entered as second-class matti .
225 Lafayette Street,
the Post Office at New York,
Publishing Co., Inc. Unsolicited
N. Y. Subscription: 8 Issues for $1 In the U. S., elsewhere $1.25. Entire contents copyrighted 1954 by L. characters, names or persons ap-
manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by stamped return envelope. No o.,...
similarity
........ between ..

pearing In this magazine with any of those living or dead Is Intended and simllarlty Is purely coincidental. Printed In U. S. A.

HEH.HEH.' PILE ABOARD THE GOOD SHIP SARCOPHAGUS, ME HORRIBLE HEARTIES'
THE MORGUE THE MERRIER,! ALWAYS SAY' YOU REMEMBER MY DEAR COMPANION, DON'T
YOU? IN CASE SOME OF YOU ARE STRANGERS. THIS IS DRUS/LLA, HOSTESS OF
. .

THE VAULT YOULL BE SEEING A LOT OF HER.' RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, YOUR SALTY
OLD VAULT-KEEPER is ABOUT TO SET TALE ON A TEMPEST-TOSSED FRIGHT-
SEEING CRUISE BY WAY OF A GANGRENOUS- YELLOW GAZETTE I DUG UP HERE
IN THE SLIMY DEPTHS OF THE VAULT I VOW THIS BARNACLED BIT OF BILGE
WILL SHIVER YOUR TIMBERS, MATEYS.SO HITCH UP YOUR MIZZENMASTS WHILE
I UNRAVEL THE CREEPY CHRONICLE I CALI

HORROR

OF

VAULT

547890
Oh, BUT THE SEA WAS ANGRY THAT NIGHT' SHE WAS A High above, the wind howled as though trying to
SEETHING SHREW f CRASHING, FOAMING ANO HISSING, SHE DROWN OUT THE ROARING FURY OF THE SEA.* IT DROVE
BEAT AGAINST THE ROCK- BOUND ISLAND SHORE. THEN BLACK CLOUDS BENEATH THE SKY AS THOUGH TRYING TO
SHE WOULD SLINK BACK AND CURL UP INTO HERSELF, OF MURK, HER STORMY DISPOSITION...
HIDE, WITH A VEIL
ONLY TO COME ROARING AT THE IMMOVABLE, SILENT ROCKS

Then the sea, in her rage, hurleo herself upon the Squatting on a bleak, windswept hummock, rats-
SHORE, THUNDERED AGAINST THE CHALKY CLIFFS, DIG- MOUTH INN STOOD LIKE AN OMINOUS, GREY, WEATHERED
GING AT THEIR BATTERED SIDES' ANO SHE REACHED WITH HULK. BUT THE RUGGED GIANT, LON SHANNON, FIXED HIS
LONG, COLD, CLAWING FINGERS INTO THE CAVES SHE'D MADE- STEELY EYES ON THE INVITING WARMTH OF THE LIGHTS
INTO THE SMUGGLERS' CAVES, WHERE SHE TOYED WITH
THROUGH THE WINDOWS...

GLARED DARKLY AS HE Shannon blasphemed in a boom-

T HE STORM INVADED THE INN FOR A
MOMENT AS SHANNON ENTERED. THEN RECOGNIZED TIMOTHY O'ROURKE'S ing VOICE, GROWLED HIS ORDER TO

HE CLOSED IT OUT, CASTOFF HIS PIPING BROGUE... THE INNKEEPER, AND HIS MEN, AWARE
OF HIS PRESENCE AT LAST .FELL INTO
AYE? THE SEA HAS REACHED UP APPREHENSIVE SILENCE...
WITH HER EIGHT SUMY ARMS
AND PLUCKED HIM, SCREAMIN', GROG, DODSONf AND HULL
rirut nrc'N thf nFPK'WF NFVER SO IT'LL BOIL MY INNARDS, OR
I'LL DROWN YOU IN YOUR
T HERE WAS A SNEER ON THE 816 NO, SIR. ..WE
MANS FACE. WITH THE STRENGTH HEARD IT FROM
OF HIS HARD GREY EYES ALONE HE HIS BEST FRIEND,
BROUGHT THE RED-HEADED LAD TO WHO'S DEAD NOW,
HlS FEET... REST HIS SOUL'

T HEN WITH A BRUTALITY THAT MADE EVEN HIS HARD-

BITTEN SMUGGLER CREW GASP, SHANNON DROVE HIS
HUGE FIST AGAINST TIM O'ROURKE'S MOUTH.
TWILL BE A LONG TIME TILL YOUR ROTTEN
'

TONGUE CAN SPEW OUT SUCH LIES AGA IN' A

GO BACK TO YE HOMES, YE SN/VEUN' E/FTY, Reluctantly, the other men agreed to help shan-
PACK O' WOMEN f I'LL GO IT ALONE, CHIEF? non' LAUNCH A BOAT, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER MUT-
,

THEN.' AND THERE'S A FIFTY POUND AYE, SIR. TERING DARKLY.THEY LEFT THE COMFORT OF THE INN
BONUS FOR ANY MAN WHAT'L L I'LL GO
THERE'LL BE NO CUT FOR YOU \ THE DIRTY LITTLE
STAND UP AN' JOIN ME'.' ig Wl* YE' HEATHEN COWARDS THISTR/P ] SNEAK'D CRAWL

SCOL LAY AND I'LL BE GETT/A / THROUGH 'ADES

YOUR SHARES' ON 'IS BELLY FOR
'ALF A 'UNDRED
POUNDS ,'E WOULD'
 .

With difficulty, the smugglers HELPED SHANNON AND SCOLLAY Then the storm broke in all its fury/
PUT TO SEA IN A LAUNCH/ THE ENRAGED SEA SEETHED HER MOUNTAINS OF WAVES TRIED TO SWALLOW THE
DEFIANCE/ SHE HEAVED AND ROLLED, TRIED IN A DOZEN DIFFERENT SMALL CRAFT/ THE WIND TORE, LIGHTNING
WAYS TO ENGULF THEM/ SHE CALLED UPON THE WIND AND LIGHT- MENACED, THUNDER THREATENED, BUT THE
NING, DASHED HERSELF AGAINST THE ROCKS IN RENEWED BURSTS GIANT SHANNON ONLY LAUGHED/
OF TEMPER. BUT SOMEHOW THE LAUNCH OUTWITTED HER
. . . . .

V TRY YOUR THOUSAND

TRICKS, YOU B/L L 10US, '
UGLY OLD HARR!DANf
SHOW ME YOUR SEA HAG
AN' I'LL SPIT IN HER .
feta EYE/

With one powerful hand he lifted the cowering For two hours the launch would vanish in trough
SCOLLAY FROM THE CABIN. HIS LAUGHTER ROARED AFTER TROUGH, AND THE SEA WOULD CLOSE ABOUT
ABOVE THE WIND. SCOLLAY LAUGHED TOO ... BUT ONLY THEM, ONLY TO HAVE THE CRAFT LEAP TANTALIZINGLY
WITH HIS MOUTH, FOR THE REST OF HIM WAS ALL TERROR... OUT OF HER GRASP/ THEN SHE'D FOAM, AND HISS, AND
WELL?! WHERE IS YOUR SEA HAG WITH HER FROTH IN FRUSTRATION.
EIGHT, SLIMEY, BARNACLED ARMS, EH?! TELL
HER LON SHANNON IS WAITING / ?

WE RE LOST SHANNON!
SEA HAG7 SHE'S LED US OFF
IT'S THE T ORMAYBE
I SHE'S THIS
A GREAT SWELL LIFTED THE BOAT HIGH, CARRIED IT
SWIFTLY FORWARD, AND SUDDENLY LOOMING OUT OF THE
COURSE7 SHE TAKES A HUN- WBOAT, YOU BLACKNESS, A HUGE, GREY, MOUNTAINOUS MASS OF
DRED FORMS. SHE'S A DOL-
. . BLASTED BOULDERS CONFRONTED THEM..
PHIN ONE MOMENT, A CRAG ^ LITTLE FOOL. THERE! THERE SHE IS!
JUTT/N OUT OF THE SEA,
'

A TERN. A GULL.
M T TOLD YA, SHANNON *A
. .
 j .

The swell sank swiftly, spending itself on a short, pebbly SO TH/S L /TTLE CHUNK O GREAT
^J
BEACH THAT SLOPED UP TO THE BOULDERS.' THE TWO MEN WERE LAND IS YOUR SEA HAG, EH, GLORY,
THROWN ROUGHLY TO THE BEACH WHERE THEY CLUNG WHILE SCOLLAYTf WELL, FOR THE CH/EFf
THE RECEDING WATER SOUGHT TO DRAG THEM BACK. THE LAUNCH MOMENT AT LEAST, IM GLAD LOOK! A
SETTLED QUIETLY ON THE PEBBLES, SMUGGLY SATISFIED AT TO BE RESTIN ON 'ER BOSOM fj
HAVING DELIVERED THEM TO SAFETY. . .
,

A LIGHTHOUSE? *
)WE BEEN CARRIED YOU RE GOIN UP, CHIEF?) STAY ON In ANSWER TO SHANNON'S BOOMING
I DON'T S A GOOD 'UNDRED YE DON'T KNOW WHO'S \ THE FIST, THE DOOR CREAKED OPEN ON
REMEMBER W MILES OFF-COURSE, UP THERE' MAYBE THE / BEACH, IF ITS SALT-CAKED HINGES. . .

THIS ONE.'JqL THAT'S WHY YE ^ LAW. . . . mm, YE BE ME NAME'S SHANNON, /GLADLX SIR/
DON'T KNOW *ER' ^ AFRAID/ I'M CAP'N/ THIS HERE'S ( COME IN f MY
AYE' A GOOD *UNDRED_ 601 N UP T '

ME FRIEND SCOLLAY.' S NAME IS t

AN NOT ENOUGH
1

dry out.
PETROL CARRY
T*
US MORE'N A DOZEN'
^ ^ Fj sffwkW
1

AN T' GET A
warmin n,p
.
THE SEA TOSSED US
UP HERE.' COULD WE
f DANIELS'!
^
DRY OUT FOR A BIT?
* F THEY
0N E M

Captain Daniels led them up a short, circular iron stairway and

INTO A KITCHEN WHICH WAS REDOLENT OF TANGY CHOWDER. THERE WERE
TWO WOMEN, WHOM HE INTRODUCED AS HIS WIFE, AND HIS DAUGHTER
HEATHER...
'TIS A RISKY BUSINESS PUTTING OUT T* SEA THIS NIGHT, MR..) AYE, CAP'N
SHANNON.' THAT YOU SURVIVED AT ALL IN A LAUNCH F- DANIELS' A
WASAJ
GREAT BIT OF LUCK.' J GREAT luck,
. INDEED'
 T .

The two castaways were taken Captain Daniels eagerly talked They dressed, and as shannon
TO A BEDROOM ON ANOTHER FLOOR AND ASKED QUESTIONS, AS LON WAS ABOUT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.
WHERE THEY REMOVED THEIR SOP- SHANNON, GREEDILY ADMIRING SCOLLAY GRIPPED HIS ARM.LEERlNG-
PING CLOTHES. WRAPPED IN BLAN- HEATHER'S BEAUTY, ANSWERED NOW, LOOKIE, SHANNON' ) YOU'D BEST
KETS, THEY RETURNED DOWNSTAIRS. ABSENTLY. AT LAST THEIR CLOTHES YE AIN'T GOIN'T HOG 7bE STAYIN'
1

HEATHER, BRING OUR GUESTS SOME WERE FULLY DRIECX. THE PRETTY WENCH JL UP HERE,
CHOWDER NOW? AND YE'LL FIND COMFORTABLE/ OH...A WEE ALL T YESE LF, SCOLLAY...
j
HAVE A CARE WITH J BEDS UP THERE, LADS.'l l BIT.CAP'N? *ARE YE? YOU NEED
THEIR CLOTHES. AYE, FATHER. KNOW YE MUST BE TIRED.O A WEE <j
..cswt^^BITr .

When shannon reached the kitchen he was pleased His strong arms supped tightly about her, held
TO FIND HEATHER ALONE. THE CAPTAIN AND HIS WIFE HAD HER CLOSE TO HIM. HIS FACE SNUGGLED CLOSE TO HERS,
RETIRED. FOR A WHILE THEY TALKED, UNTIL- AS SHE LEANED BACK TRYING VAINLY TO PUSH HIM AWAY,
GETTING LATE. I
'TIS STAY, LASS' THERE'S THINGS AND SHE GASPED BREATH LESSLY...
MUST BE OFF 1
BED... I WISH T' SPEAK OF? SURELY, THE STORM OUTSIDE IS BUT A WEE THING
A BONNIE THING LIKE YOU COMPARED T* THE STORM INSIDE ME? AYE?
MUST GET LONELY FOR A
MAN'S COMPANY? A
J
H L
EVER SINCE 1 LAID EYES ON YE, I KNEW
I WANTED YE? YE KNEW IT, TOO?

YE KNEW IT AN' YET YE STAYED HERE^ OH ...PLEASE, DON'T STOP ME, HEATHER? I'LL GIVE YE ALL
LATE 'CAUSE YE KNEW I'D COME DOWN | LON..LEAVE YE WANT IN THE WORLD ? I'LL TAKE YE BACK
AGAIN ? YE CAN'T ANSWER ME 'NAY.'. Y ME BE... WITH ME...T* THE MAINLAND? I'LL MAKE ^
YE WAS WAITIN' FOR ME? YE WANT ME LON. ..STOP., YE ME WIFE? I'LL GET YE PRETTY THINGS...
JUST AS MUCH AS I WANT YOU, HEATHER? k STOP... .
CLOTHES, JEWELS? I WANT TO WED YE- ^
 ? .

TEN? THERE'S So, WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY; THEY PUT

SOMETHIN' ODD TO SEA AGAIN' AND FROM THE SBVRT,
ABOUT SCOLLAY WHINED AND CRINGED LIKE
HOW IS IT WE A FRIGHTENED SCHOOLGIRL. .

NEVER EVEN
TURN BACK r CHIEF './ STOW IT, YE
SEEN THIS
THE SEA'S TOO BILGE-HOUND,
LIGHTHOUSE ROUGH.' WE'LL BE V- OR I'LL
AFORE SWAMPED? I THROTTLE YE,
SO HELP ME
I WILL?

WE'L L NOT MAKE IT, SHANNON SHUT UP, I LEGGO ME

TURN BACK I SAY, OR WE'LL DROWN SAY, YE LOW, ARM? GET
LIKE RATS? MARK ME WORDS. ..THE SNIVEL IN' AWAY FROM
SEA HAG IS OUT T' GET US?AN'/rs COWARD? TH' WHEEL,
^
ALL YOUR. DOIN' ...YOUR FAULT? ISAY?

I SHOULD NEVER HA COME W/'

' A VAST?I'VE
YE, YE BLASTED IDIOT? TURN HAD ENOUGH?
BACK? TURN BACK? BY HEAVEN, YE BLASTED
I'LL DO/TMESELF? I'LL NOT LITTLE PIP-
LET YE RUN ME T ME DEATH? SQUEAK, I'LL
GIVE ME THE HELM, OR BY fjn UDRF
 J ?

The fuming sea swallowed the HEATHER /YE ) I FEARED YE'D LEAVE ME BE' DID I
BUT I'm
LITTLE MAN IN AN INSTANT' AND THEN, LITTLE FOOL? LEAVE WITHOUT YE REALLY THINK I HERE, LON.'
EVEN ABOVE THE SHRIEKING FURY OF WHAT ARE YE < ME, LON ? I DIDN'T T WANTED YE WITH) 'll SAIDYE'D
THE STORM, SHANNON HEARD THE DOIN', HERE? ) GOTO MY ROOM... ME.EVENWHENI TAKE ME TO
1 CAME HERE' I LEFT WITHOUT YE?? J THE MAIN-
- m HID IN THE CABIN LAND/ YE
I'mSSI^^wr sai ye d
'

mk mfiTr MARRY me/

YE BLASTED, TRUSTIN' FOOLfYE I WANT YE, Angrily, he struggled to throw her into the sea/
OUGHT T'KNOW BETTER THAN T' TAKE LON? I'LL SUDDENLY, HER ARMS GRIPPED HIM WITH A STRENGTH HE
TH' WORD OF AN EXCITED MANf MAR- NEVER LET HAD NEVER KNOWN? HE BLINKED THE RAIN FROM HIS
RIAGE, IS IT? PFAHf NO, LASS fNOT , YE GET AWAY FACE TO SEE MORE CLEARLY, FELT OTHER ARMS GRIP
FOR LON SHANNON f YE GO NO FROM ME? HIM., FRIGHTFUL, POWERFUL ARMS, SLITHERING ABOUT
.

fc FURTHER f HIM. .

YE'LL NEVER GET AWAY FROM ME, LON.'

He FELT HIMSELF BEING PULLED TOWARD THE ANGRY, SPUMING SEA, HEH, HEH? WELL, NOT O.NLY WAS SHANNON A
AND HE FOUGHT HELPLESSLY TO FREE HIMSELF? DESPERATELY, HIS GOOD SEAMAN, HE WAS A GOOD LUBBER, TOO...
SCREAM SOUNDED LOUD ABOVE THE STORM. ..AS THE SEA HAG SLID AS HEATHER WILL TESTIFY? AND SCOLLAY...
EASILY INTO THE WATER WITH HER PRIZE? SUCH A SQUARE' BUT, ACTUALLY, EVERY-
ONE IN THE STORY WAS FOOL !SH. .WEREN'T
THEY ALL #T?HEH?AH,ME? I GUESS THATS
ENOUGH? THE CRYPT-KEEPER IS PATIENTLY
TRYING TO BE PATIENT? HE FOLLOWS NEXT, SO
TILL WE MEET LATER ON, lLL BE SEAING YOU?
 f /

HEH, HEH ( GHASTLY GREETINGS, YOU OLD GHOULISH GLUTTONS ? OOPS' NO

INTENDED... REMEMBER, THERE'S NO GHOUL LIKE AN OLD GHOUL' NOW SLITHER RIGHT
INTO MY CREEPY CRYPT OF TERROR AND LET YOUR CORPSE -COLLECTING CRYPT
-

KEEPER HORRIFY YOU WITH A HORRENDOUS HISTORY RIGHT OUT OF MY PRIVATE

SHOCK/ IT'S ABOUT TWO MONEY-MAD MOPES WHO WERE STRICTLY FROM HUNGARY
THEY'D HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR A FAST FORINT (FORINT? THAT'S DOUGH,
SCHMOE') IVE NAMED THIS MAGGOTY MORSEL OF GRAVEDIGGER'S DELIGHT...
 1 A ' f

From the moment they had pried open the coffin-lid, and the Nevertheless, nadyi huna and janos
OEATHIY-SWEET STENCH OF ROTTED FLESH FILLED THEIR NOSTRILS, RAKOCZY CAREFULLY WRAPPED THE FRAGILE
THEY KNEW THEIR LABORS HAD BEEN WASTED. NADYI LIFTED THE REMAINS AND PLACED THEM IN THEIR CART.
PUTRESCENT REMAINS TO A SITTING POSITION, AND JANOS RAKOCZY THEY BEGAN THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE
GRUNTED WITH DISGUST... THERE WOULD BE NO PAY THIS NIGHT... CITY OF BUDAPEST... |r-^Mpp
PFAH.' THREE HOURS OF BACK-BREAKING IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO
Y PERHAPS THE SKELETON PHAH'I WORK
WORK ...AND WHAT WILL DR. KAROLYI PAY ) FIND ENOUGH FRESH WILL BRING US ENOUGH LIKE A SLAVE
US FOR THIS WORM-EATEN SPECIMEN?
NOT ONE FORINT'
J
CADAVERS TO KEEP THE
DOCTOR AND HIS STUDENTS
^ FOR A DRINK' ^ FOR ONE
SWALLOW OF
SUPPLIED, JANOS' . WINE.' >

After they had arrived at DOGS' P/L THY GRAVE ROBBERS/ IMAGINE, JANOS' A HUNDRED
THE UNIVERSITY AND DR. KAROLYI I PAY YOU GLADLY ONE HUNDRED FOR/NTS FOR EACH BODY f WE .

HAD SEEN WHAT THEY HAD FOR/NTS FOR EACH CADAVER YOU HAVE TO FIND MORE. ..WE yA
BROUGHT, HE RAGED TILL THEY
COWERED |
^
BRING IN GOOD CONDITION.' AND IF
YOU TWO CANNOT SUPPLY ME,
^
1
HAVE to
rcr YES,
NADYI. ..BUT
r
... NOT A FORINT,
IF NOTHING THERE ARE OTHERS WHO CAN' WHERE?
DOCTOR, THEN YOU HEAR?
L AT LEAST.. y NOTHING.'

Janos and nadyi drove their creaky CART FROM HMPf WHAT CAN HE BUY r r KNOW.' NADYI .THERE

GRAVEYARD TO CEMETERY, WITH NO SUCCESS. WHAT FROM THEM? THERE ARE ARE TIMES WHEN I'M
RECENT BODIES HAD BEEN BURIED IN THEM THEY HAD TEMPTED TO MAKE MY
DUG UP AND SOLD DURIN6 THE PAST FORTNIGHT...
, JUST NO CADAVERS TO
BE HAD, JANOS
J
jA
OWN DEAD BODIES' A
.'

/ LOOK, JANOS' * YES

TOMORROW BUT WHAT
'

FRESH GRAVE '

ABOUT TONIGHT? WE LOSE A
TOMORROW NIGHT FORTUNE IF DR. KAROLYI BUYS
THERE WILL... FROM OTHER GRAVE ROBBERS'
MURDER, JANOS? j LlARf WE DO Their spavined mare wheezed and
HAVE YOU NO / IT FOR MONEY... SILENCE, UNTIL THEY CAME UPON A GASPED, BUT FINALLY BROUGHT HER
SCRUPLES? AT /NOTHING ELSE?BUT GUTTED ROAD THAT LEO UPWARD... LOAD UP THE HILL TO THE GATES OF
LEAST NOW WE \ DON'T WORRY.' 1 WHY T I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE ^ A CASTLE ...

CAN TELL OUR- WON'T RISK GETTING THIS BEEN ON ALL THE OTHERS. ''look, nadyi? SHHHH/l SEE
j
SELVES WE DO 1 MY NECK IN A |

ROAD? J PERHAPS THERE'LL BE A THOSE PEOPLE' ' THEM? WE'LL.

SOMETHING
^ NOOSEf Jl yGRAVEYARD WE HAVE NOT THEY'RE WEARING \ WAIT TILL THEY
VISITED? V meS& BLACKY MOURNING') GO INSIDE?
-W' BLACK

7
AS SOON AS THE SOLEMN SEXTET HAD ENTERED THE WHY, WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO WELL COME
YAWNING MOUTH OF THE CASTLE, JANOS AND NADYI D/G, JANOS? THE COFFINS WILL BE BACK TOMORROW,
LEAPED FROM THEIR CART AND RUSHED TO THE GATES. ABOVE THE GROUND? BUT.. .BUT A BIT EARLIER,

THE GATES ^ SEE, JANOS? OVER THERE 'THAT

BUT HOW WILL WE GET IN? AND FIND
^ SOME WAY ? A
A

ARE LOCKED? MAUSOLEUM/ IF THERE HAS BEEN

A DEATH RECENTLY, THE BODY WOULD
BE /N IT? _ _ aTM

IT WAS JUST AFTER SUNDOWN THE NEXT EVENING WHEN Stealthily, the grave robbers crossed the grassy
THEY RETURNED TO THE GATES OF THE CASTLE SPACE TO THE BROODING MAUSOLEUM. NADYI TRIED THE
DOOR... IT GLIDED BACK NOISELESSLY AT HIS TOUCH?
T
LOOK, NADYI WE RE IN LUCKf G0 CAREFULLY,
r IT'S UNLOCKED /I CAN SEE
THE GATES HAVE BEEN LEFT JANOS?
OPEN ^ CANDLES BURNING? THERES
NOBODY INSIDE? COME ON?
 f f

They tip-toed into the big mausoleum and beheld ...AND IF WE TAKE THE i FOR ALL THAT MONEY, WE
EIGHT SHINY NEW COFFINS, THE LIGHT OF EIGHT GREAT COFFINS WE COULD GET COULD DO ANYTHING BUT
CANDLES SHIMMERING ON THEIR VARNISHED SURFACES.. A THOUSAND FORINTS ILL HAVE TO GET A BIGGER
MORE DO YOU THINK WAGON ?
EIGHT FRESH BODIES, JANOS? A PLAGUE , PERHAPS ?
I WONDER HOW SO MANY OF IWHO CARES? E/GHT WE COULD DO
ONE FAMILY DIED AT ONE HUNDRED FORINTS,
TIME?, THATS WHAT MATTERS?

Cautiously, janos moved to the mausoleum door. Twilight fled in the face of the oncoming night as
NAOYI GRASPED HIS ARM, HIS PINCHED FACE WORRIED- JANOS SNAPPED THE REINS ON THE BONY BACK OF THE
AND WHO IS TO OPEN
AGED MARE. STARTLED OUT OF A PEACEFUL SLUMBER,
YOU'LL GET A BIGGER WAGON? SHE LURCHED FORWARD AND THE CART GROANED AFTER
YOU MEAN I AM TO STAY HERE THE GATE SHOULD
THEY LOCK IT? NO, HER DOWN THE ROAD...
ALONE? WHAT IF THE FAMILY J

SHOULD RETURN? I... YOU MUST REMAIN

Hf HERE?

On THE JOURNEY TO THE CITY, JANOS RAKOCZY HAD Several hours had crept by before janos returned
TIME FOR MANY THOUGHTS... EVIL, GREEOY THOUGHTS.. TO THE CASTLE WITH THE LARGER WAGON. A QUARTER
MOON HAD CLIMBED HIGH IN THE HEAVENS AND THE
SELLING THE COFFINS IS A GOOD IDEA? BUT NADYI
DOES NOT DESERVE TO SHARE IN THE PROFIT? 1 WILL
HAVE TO ARRANGE IT, SO THAT I WILL PAY HIM ONLY .
FOR HELPING ME CARRY THEM?
SOLEUM... ^^1
GRAVE ROBBER MOVED IN STEALTH TOWARD THE MAU-

,
n.
He entered the BURIAL CHAMBER, a draft made the From behind the farthest coffin, nadyi rose so
EIGHT CANDLES DANCE DRUNKENLY, AND JANOS' LONG NOISELESSLY THAT JANOS HEARD HIM ONLY WHEN HE
SHADOWS LEAPED ABOUT THE WALLS IN A MAD FRENZY SPOKE. JANOS WHIRLED, HIS HEART THUMPING ...
AS HE CUPPED HIS HANDS AND WHISPERED... ...EH? OH, IT'S FOOL? YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER
NADYI ' NADYI ? YOU, JANOS.' THAN TO SLEEP' YOU MIGHT HAVE
WHERE ARE YOU? aa BEEN CAUGHTf rii
p

Hurriedly, janos fastened the Together they made their way They worked quickly, silently.
EIGHT COFFIN -LIDS IN PLACE- PAST THE DARKENED CASTLE TO THE STILL, AN HOUR PASSED BEFORE THE
L GOT THE WAGON, NADYI ' LET'S GATES. THERE WAS NO SOUND SAVE LAST COFFIN WAS STACKED...
WASTE NO TIME... TAKE HOLD OF THE HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL OF BATS ACHf TOMORROW OUR \ LET US
THIS COFFIN ' SOARING OVERHEAD WjljjjMMBi

Fj BONES WILL ACHE, MY /GETAWAY
-f FRIEND' FROM THIS
PLACE'

It should have been easier for the mare GOING Janos was surprised... and disturbed... by nadyis
DOWNHILL, BUT BECAOSE OF HER HEAVY LOAD SHE HAD QUIET ACCEPTANCE OF HIS PLAN' HE HAD EXPECTED AN
TO BRACE HERSELF LEST THE WAGON SEND HER SKIT- ARGUMENT... PERHAPS A F/GHT... BUT THIS ACTION SO
TERIN6 OUT OF CONTROL' JANOS SPOKE... FOREIGN TO NADYlS NATURE FRIGHTENED HIM...
AM GOING TO PAY YOU
NADYI... I...I WHATEVER HA? I WAS
ONLY JOKING f YOU'LL GET ANYTHING
ONLY FOR HELPING ME CARRY THE YOU SAY, YOUR FAIR SHARE... FIFTY-FIFTY' HA f YOU SAY,
COFFINS' YOU DO NOT WISH TO a . JANOS f . i JANOS .'

"7 ARGUE, EH?

T HEY RUMBLED OVER THE BUMPY WE'LL LEAVE YOU'RE RIGHT THEY REACHED THEIR DILAPIDATED
ROAD IN SILENCE... UNTIL THEY CAME THE COFFINS AT THEN WE'LL PUT HUT AND UNLOADED THE WAGON..
J
TO A FORK. THEN JANOS SAT UP... OUR PLACE ! J THE BODIES IN IMAGINE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN
YWE CAN'T DRIVE OUR CART AND HE SEES THEM? EIGHT NEW BODIES?
HEY.' YOU'RE
TAKING THE THROUGH GO TO VISIT AND EIGHT HUNDRED FORINTS
WRONG ROAD BUDAPEST with FOR US, EH, NADYI?
THIS IS NOT THE A WAGON LOAD
WAY TO THE OF COFFINS,
UNIVERSITY' JANOS? A POLICE-
MAN MIGHT SEE US?

One by one the coffins were brought into the With a heavy sigh, janos sat down on a rough
HOVEL AND PLACED ON THE FLOOR. JANOS WAS IN HIGH WOODEN CHAIR, TILTED IT BACK AGAINST THE WALL AND,
SPIRITS BECAUSE OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL VENTURE? WITH AN AIR OF LUXURY, LIGHTED HIS OLD FOUL-SMELLING
,

PIPE. NADYI SAT NEARBY, HIS HEAD NODDING..

AH? THIS IS THE LAST ONE?
DR. KAROLYI WON'T HIRE I'M VERY TIRED... THERE IS NO HURRY. WE'VE
J EARNED A REST?
OTHER GRAVE ROBBERS a

AFTER THIS, EH?

It WAS NOT A NOISE, BUT RATHER SOME INSTINCT THAT S UDDENLY, FEAR OVERCAME SHOCK? HE JUMPED UP,
DREW JANOS' EYES TO THE COFFINS. WHAT HE SAW GRABBED NADYI BY THE ARM AND POINTED A TREMBLING
,

THERE ROBBED HIM OF HIS VOICE? HIS PIPE DROPPED FINGER

NADYI T THE COFFINS' LOOK AT THE COFFINS'
Eight pairs of cold, clammy hands lifted eight coffin-lids ? eight
BODIES, SWATHED IN BLACK, ROSE FROM EIGHT COFFINS. EIGHT DEATHLY
PALE VAMPIRES, THIRSTING FOR WARM, HUMAN BLOOD, TURNED BEADY, GLIT-

THE SPELL.
!1
Imm|^
TERING EYES ON JANOS WHO STOOD TRANSFIXED f IT WAS NADYI WHO BROKE
" ~

JANOS' QUICKf THIS WAY'

VAMPIRES.' DO YOU KNOW ABOUT

VAMPIRES, NADYI? THEY DRAIN YOUR
BLOOD... AND THEIR BITE TURNS A
MAN INTO A VAMPIRE, TOO.'

WHA.X NADYI ' YES, JANOS' I'M A VAMPIRE NOW f AND HEH.HEH? THERE YOU HAVE IT, LITTLE
YOU MEAN YOU... SOON YOU WILL BE TOO.' KIDDIES' NO WONDER NADYI BOY LOST
INTEREST IN MONEY-ALL HE HAD TO
a AaAG0H? DO WAS PUT THE B/TE ON JANOS 'HEHf
AND WITH THAT THOUGHT I GIVE YOU
INTO THE CLAMMY HANDS OF V.K.
FOR SAFEKEEPING (?) UNTIL NEXT WE
 . .

From the stern of the little lobster boat, in dollars and cents, would he get for those
Borley watched Captain Pritchard through razor-clawed devils down in the hold? He be-
narrowed eyes. While the boat churned in gan to twitch and sweat in a panic of anxiety;
the rough water, like a chip of wood caught for long minutes he held out but, finally, he
in a whirlpool, Borley went over his plan for
could stand the suspense no longer. Lashing
the last time. That fool Pritchard had left him
the wheel dead-ahead, he pulled back the
no choice: by catching Borley in the act of
hatch cover and peered down into the dark-
rifling his wallet, then swearing hed bring
ness of the hold. Must be a thousand of them
him back so that harbor police could pinch
Borley for robbery, Pritchard had sealed his
dirty green monsters down there, he gloated,

own death warrant. For how could the pot- swarming over one another like a bunch of
bellied skipper know that his one-man crew ants! Borley bent lower to see better in the

was a three-time loser? That one more arrest eerie half light, and his foot slid on the slick

meant the rest of his life behind granite walls, wood. With a roar, he plunged forward. And
for Borley? downward.

Even as he stepped forward cat-quick, the Landing amidst the wet, writhing mass, he
spike gripped in his hamlike hand, Borley felt it yield as he sank into the hideous muck
thought elatedly of the holdful of lobsters of smashed lobsters. His brain screamed for
down below. Even as he slashed out the heavy him to squirm free, but there was nothing to
steel rod, Borley was estimating how much grip ,
. . nothing he could use to pull himself
the lobster catch would bring when he docked.
out of this stinking inferno.

The spike fell with shattering force. It was

They were on him now, scuttling across
the work of a minute to lug the blood-spat-
his body in seething slithery hordes. Their
tered corpse to the rail and hurl it over the
beady little eyes swiveled and glared at him,
side.
their wand-like antennae twitched like radar

bombsights zeroing in for the kill. Borley

"So long, Cap Pritchard, Borley howled.
shrieked and thrashed frantically, But it was
"Now the boats mine and the lobsters down-
stairs belong to ME! And you . . you fat little
too late. A hundred slimy green claws were
.

probing his body crunching his flesh be-

pig . .
.
youre nothing but food for the fish!
\ tween pincers strong and deadly as steel.

Borley swigged from the half-empty bottle Borley was aware of his skin being ripped by
beside the wheel, his face creased in a joyous those relentless claws, of blood gushing from
grimace. 77/ dock the boat, sell the lobsters severed arteries in his wrists, legs and throat.
and skedaddle, he thought. And if anyone's And his last thought, before unconsciousness

nosey about the Cap, Ill tell em I left oV engulfed him in a spasm of redhot agony, was
Pritchard on Coreas Island, the far side bf the something hed heard someone say some- . . .

lobster grounds. Belly-ache, I'll, tell em .

time . somewhere . .

Pritchard wanted me to bring in the catch,

then come back for ini later!
Vaguely, as the life was crushed out of his

tortured body, the echo of distant words

Intriguing sums of money began to swirl clicked through Borleys brain:.../*/ little
through Borley's brain . exactly how much.
. pig . . . nothing . . . but . .
.
food for the fish . .
NOW. ..IF YOU JOIN. ..you PET the builetin ...free?
ER...YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WAS
^
LISTED IN THE E.C. FAN- ADDICT CLUB
BULLETIN. yOU .yOU GOT BACK ISSUES ?/

yes, FANS... YOU, TOO, CAN BE LUCKY UKE MELVIN, HERE/ YOU. TOO. CAN
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION OF E.C'.S/ YOU, TOO, CAN JOIN THE

E.C.FAN4VMCT ttUB
AND RECEIVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP KIT ( WHICH INCLUDES A FULL-COLOR 754X1014 ILLUMINATED
CERTIFICATE, A STURDY WALLET IDENTIFICATION CARD. A SNAZZY EMBROIDERED SMOULDER
PATCH, AND A STUNNIN& ANTIQUE BRONZE-FINISH BAS-RELIEF PIN) PLUS A FREE ..

SUBSCRIPTION TO THE E.C. FAN -ADDICT CLUB BULLETIN /

* * ******* a THE E.C. FAN -ADDICT CLUB a
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES a ROOM 706 I
225 LAFAYETTE STREET a
KIT AND FREE SUBSCRIPTION, FILL OUT THE COUPON NEW YORK, 12, N.Y.

AND SEND IT IN, TOGETHER WITH SOI* IF FIVE 5o here's my 50t! So I could've joined
|
OR MORE OF YOU WANT TO JOIN AS AN AUTHOR- for half the price a couple of months back*
J

IZED CHAPTER, ENCLOSE EACH MEMBER'S

i
So now I get a bulletin subscription. So who
NAME AND ADDRESS ALONG WITH 50t FOR EACH says I want it. So I'm a sucker. So put me
g
g
NAME AND INDICATE THE NAME OF THE ELECTED down and send me the stuff what the kid's i
CHAPTER PRESIDENT. WE WILL NOTIFY EACH J
wearing and the bulletin I don't want but I'm i
a
PRESIDENT OF HIS CHAPTER NUMBER. EACH a paying -for...
MEMBER, CHAPTER OR INDIVIDUAL, WILL RECEIVE NAME

J
HIS KIT DIRECTLY... PLUS EACH ISSUE OF THE ADDRESS
BULLETIN AS IT COMES OFF THE PRESS. CITY
STATE ZONE NO
J
!
J
# /SO WHO'SGONNA FOOT THE BKL TOR THE BULLETINS. UtfT ^
^SURE WE HAP TO RAISI THK PRKl! SO SUB US! J *CNO 25* MEMBERSHIP Will. BE ACCEPTEP AFTER JUNE 1, 1*34}
Heh, heh! Lot's get right into this one . . . lots of mail ... I am an E.C. Fan-Addict Club member who has
and stuff . . pen-pals in various parts of the world. Whenever I get
the chance, I send them issues of "The Vault of Horror."
Dear Vault-Keeper, They are simply crazy about them and keep asking for
I think your so-called "comics" are terrible! They new issues. I think this is a wonderful way of spread-
put the wrong things in the minds of children. If you ing Horror (E.C. style, that is) throughout the world.
ask me, they ought to be banned! Especially E.C.'s!
Joseph Wagner, Jr.
Michael Vecchio Trenton, N. J.
Southwick, Mass.

P.S. I really think E.C.'s are real gone, but to say you .The other day, a friend gave me a magazine of
. .

don't like 'em is the best way to get your letter printed! yours which I enjoyed very much. I can truthfully say

it the best horror magazine I have ever read. I

was
Worked, didn't it, ya little monster! V.K. would very much like a boy and a girl Pen Pal, age
about 15 to 17 years. I am 15 years, 10 months myself.
Margaret Anne Conner
... As a high-school kid in Honolulu, we used to sing
this song about our English teacher named Miss Ger-
- 28 PouSleyRoad West
"My Glasgow, S.W.I.
man (to the tune of Bonnie"):

Miss German has tuberculosis . . Slowly the jury files into the room
Miss German has only one lung Very soon I shall know my doom
Miss German spits blood by the buckets Before the foreman the verdict doth bray
And dries it and chews it like gum (yum, yum) I

He asks me what I have to say.

Rhoda Phillips "Have mercy," I cry on bended knees
Honolulu, Hawaii Though the mag I read was not E.C.'s
Its art was sloppy and the plots made me sicki
Kids are much the same Stateside, Rhoda . . . only
I was just testing being a non-Fan-Addict!
worse! V.K. Now my head is pierced with an iron hook
Every time I read one of your mags I get sick. I
And to the beaten path I'm took
And made to read imitations that smell
. . .

think about one of the sickest boys in California!

I'ih
Until I rot and go to the dogs! . . .

Ron Montana
Mt. View, Calif. S. Schwartzberg
E.C. Fan- Addict No. 4183
. . Little Willie was no bore
nailed his sister to the door
He I think your
I like your magazines very much.
. .

His mother cried out kind of faint

magazine writers put more effort and thinking into
"Willie don't you scratch the paint!"
each story. I think you are one of the world's most
. . .

Ronald Merlo handsome men, although I have to admit you look a

W. New York, N. J.
little like women.
Judy Ford
This kid doesn't even know what state he lives ini
Bowers Beach, Del.
-V.K.

.
brain has come up with a sizzling idea.
. . My little
No comment . . . if I said what's in my mind, we'd be
Take snapshots of the artists and editors at E.C., have banned! V.K.
them sign the pictures like you and the other Ghou-
Lunatics once did, and then you can sell them. Just
imagine, autographed snapshots of all the gang at . Billy, in one of his nice new sashes,
perhaps a group picture suitable for framing. Fell into the grate and was burnt to ashes.
E.C. or
What do you think? Now, although the room grows chilly,

Jim Hannah 1 haven't the heart to poke up Billy.

Bradley, 111. John Stanley

Napa, Calif.
What do 1 think? I think it stinks ... but as soon as
my idiot editors read your letter, they started figuring
how much money they could make, so 1 gotta ask you Before winding up, the commercials. Note (preceding
that the price of the E.C. FAN -ADDICT CLUB
readers what YOU think! Write in and let me know it page) has
you'd be interested! (Say "No."!) V.K. gone up! Used to be a quarter now half-a-buck! . . .

Business recession, so my idiot editors raise the price

ran into a ghoul one day but you do get the Bulletin free now! (Still not
.

worth it!) But if you have 50c you're not using, why
I
. . .
not
His flesh was white as snow,
And everywhere a dead man was send it in. I'm sure THEY can use it! And subscriptions
eight issues for a buck only 20c more than news-
This ghoul was sure to go.
. . .

stand price! Well, the address for subs, fan-mail,

etc. is:
For he is forced to hunt and prowl
Else he cannot survive
The Vault : Keeper
He always brings hi* meat back dead
And never back alive! Room 706, Dept. 38
225 Lafayette Street
Fan-Addict Donna Bowet*
N. Y. 12, N. Y.
Pensacola, Fla.
/HEH.HEHt YOU MORBID MEATBALLS WANT MORE, EH?
\OKAY, THEN.. .HERE'S A SUBTERRANEAN SAGA I CALL...

Pietro miuta_. ...GRABBED THE SACK ...AND, WITH GINO ALCARI ...BROKE FOR THE FRONT DOOR?
WITH ITS LOAD OF FOLLOWING.

fc.

AS THE FRIGHTENED PAIR

FLED DOWN THE STREET, THE
STARTLED CRIES OF THE
ROBBED OLD MAN SHAT -
TERED THE STILLNESS, THEN
DRIFTED OFF INTO THE SILENT
DARKNESS..
GlNO AND PIETRO VANISHED INTO THE G LEEFU LLY, GlNO REACHED INTO A They drank greedily of the cheap
NIGHT; DOWN NARROW STREETS AND CABINET FOR A BOTTLE OF WINE.. RED WINE THEN, SUDDENLY, PIETRO
LITTERED ALLEYS TILL THEY IT IS MORE THAN
SPAT OUT A MOUTHFUL OF THE LIQUID.
"BUT "HAH? BY
REACHED A BLEAK LITTLE FLAT IN SILVER' IT IS ANTIQUE? HEAVEN, NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE POLICE,
THE SLUMS... SOME RICH AMERICAN THIS CALLS YOU? NEXT TIME I'LL GINO? THE
WE'VE MADE A y SOLID SILVER MAY PAY AS HIGH AS FOR A STEAL CHAMPAGNE POLICE m
RICH HAUL THIS / WORTH THREE SIX THOUSAND? DRINK?" FOR YOUR MAJESTY
TIME, GINO? A MAYBE FOUR
THOUSAND
*^*AAn,JT C l ire/ a

Instantly, gino whirled toward the door, knocking Gino paled, his hands clenched and unclenched
HIS CHAIR TO THE FLOOR IN HIS HASTE' HIS FACE WAS NERVOUSLY AS HE RIGHTED HIS CHAIR...
CONTORTED WITH A MIXTURE OF BOTH FEAR AND ,e
WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO? WE JUST
... "l DONT KNOW.
CAN'T THROW IT AWAY... NOT AFTER WE'LL HAVE TO
THE CHANCES WE TOOK GETTING H/DE IT, I GUESS'
IT, PIETRO BUT WHERE?? 99

9
Together, their brows knitted in concentration, 'THE CATACOMBS 1 ... I
... H AVE TO STAY..T
THEY SAT MULLING OVER THIS NEW PROBLEM. DON'T LIKE TO GO THERE.' JUST HIDE THE SILVER TILL
IT'S SCARY. ..AND COLD.. IT'S FORGOTTEN ABOUT.'
"i AM THINKING f AH?
WE'LL TAKE A LANTERN,
I HAVE IT, GINO.' THE
MY FRIEND, AND WINE TO
CATACOMBS /
The sun had not yet risen when the two thieves They looked apprehensively into the black
REACHED THE CATACOMBS ENTRANCE. PIETRO CARRIED OPENING...
THE SACK OF SILVER AND THE LANTERN, WHILE GINO, "IVE HEARD A MAN COULD *X'M NOT SURE. IF THERE
TREMBLING IN THE DAMP MORNING AIR, CLUTCHED GET LOST IN THERE. WOULD WAS SOMETHING WITH
SEVERAL BOTTLES OF RED WINE IN HIS ARMS . . .
YOU KNOW THE WAY WHICH TO MARK A TRAIL**
I DON'T UKE THIS,
" OUT AGAIN?
** FOOL f WOULD YOU
PIETRO.' I DON'T LIKE RATHER SPEND TEN YEARS
ITAT ALL.' BEHIND BARS?.* 99

Pietro suddenly grinned, Gingerly, they stepped into the They moved slowly, aimlessly,
SNATCHED A BOTTLE FROM GINO'S dark, musty passage . . . through the dark gloom of myriad
ARM AND BROKE OFF ITS NECK ... passages ...NOW TO the right, then
left, right,and down to another
LEVEL...

They continued on, deeper and deeper into the At PIETRO'S URGING, THEY WENT ON UNTIL THEY CAME
MAZE OF TUNNELS, AS GINO DRIBBLED THE WINE ONTO TO A CHAMBER LARGER THAN THE REST. GINO FOLLOWED
THE GRAY DUST UNTIL THERE WAS LITTLE LEFT THE LANTERN BEAM, THEN GRABBED HIS FRIENDS ARM,
HIS STARTLED CRY ECHOING THROUGH THE VAST LABY-
. . . STO P NOW, PIETRO'^ NO... A LITTLE FURTHER M
I WANT TO DRINK THE RINTH ...
JUST THINK... WE'LL
REST... I'M CHILLED SELL THE SILVER IN A A " LOOK f THERE IN THE WALL
kTO THE MARROW^ MONTH OR SO, AND
 As gino looked about and shud-
dered, PIETRO DELIBERATELY DUMPED
THE SACK OF SILVER ON THE STONE
FLOOR...

The loud metallic clatter shattered the silence' Nervously, gino bent to gather up the silver, and
G INO JUMPED AND TU RNED, HIS FACE. ASHEN IN FRIGHT ... AS HE DID, PIETRO SLIPPED A SWITCHKNIFE FROM HIS
POCKET. HE FLICKED OPEN A LONG, SCALPEL-SHARP BLADE-
^ AtADRE.' CANT YOU*. PlM SORRY, GINO* IT WAS AN^
"l AAt THINKING OF
j3E MORE CAREFUL? fj ACCIDENT.' COME... HELP ME "FIVE OR SIX THOUSAND LIRE
I
,

PIETRO.* JUST THINK OF IT f IT.GINO*

PICK IT UP*
1

The 'click' of the blade being opened made gino Desperately, gino tried to brush past pietro ...
TURN IN TIME TO SEE THE CRUEL, GREEDY LOOK ON TRIED VAINLY TO DODGE THE VICIOUS BLADE WHICH FLASHED
PIETRO'S FACE... IN TIME TO SEE THE BLADE FLASH UP... DOWN. PLUNGED TO THE HILT IN HIS BACK-.

PIETRO' DON'T' I TOLD YOU, GINO* A MAN,

AtADREf WHY?' j WILL DO ANYTHING
jj
FOR MONEY f .jjk
 - .

Screaming in bitter agony, gino thrashed to his As GINO'S STUMBLING FOOTSTEPS AND STRANGLING
FEET AND BLINDLY STUMBLED OFF INTO THE PASSAGE SOBS FADED INTO THE BLACK DISTANCE, THE TREACH-
EROUS PIETRO SET ABOUT GATHERING THE SCATTERED
"60 AHEAD! RUN? SILVER.
YOU WON'T LIVE
ONE MINUTE? ^ HEH.HEH' THE
HAUL I'VE EVER MADE,
AND THAT STUPID FOOL
REALLY THOUGHT X LED
HIM TO THIS CREEPY
HOLE JUST TO HIDE

HA Hm

Chuckling, he slung the sack He WALKED ON, SHARPLY SCANNING He STOPPED, THEN RETURNED TO
OVER HIS SHOULDER AND LEFT THE THE FLOOR BY THE LANTERN GLOW.. THE CHAMBER, AND WITH HIS FACE
CHAMBER. . .
"HEY.' I'VE GONE MORE THAN REVEALING DEEP ANXIETY, HE TRIED
**BY THE TIME THEY FIND HIS BODY... FIFTY FEET.' I SHOULD HAVE
IF THEY EVER DO.. .THERE'LL BE FOUND THE TRAIL OF WINE
NO TELLING IT FROM THE OTHER BY NOW '

Again he was unable to pick up the trail, and he Skittishly, pietro hurried through the endless
RETURNED TO THE CHAMBER ONCE MORE TO TRY STILL MAZE OF VAULTS AND GALLERIES, HIS BREATHING HEAVY
ANOTHER PASSAGE' IN THE WANING LANTERN LIGHT, NOW, HIS FOOTFALLS ECHOING ALL ABOUT HIM. . .

HE BECAME ALMOST FRENZIED. ..AND THEN. . .

He followed the thin trail to its end... but it did SLOWLY, UNBELIEVINGLY, PIETRO MOVED TO THE BLOOD-
NOT END AS IT SHOULD HAVE ? PIETRO STOPPED DEAD IN LESS BODY LYING IN THE CHAMBER'S DUST, AND WHILE
HIS TRACKS AT THE YAWNING MOUTH OF THE PASSAGE, ALL AROUND THE EMPTY- SOCKETED EYES GAPED DOWN
GAPED INTO A BURIAL CHAMBER AND CHOKED BACK A ON HIM, HE RAISED THE LIFELESS FORM AND PLEADED...
"GINO... LISTEN TO ME, GINO ? I'M SORRY.. .GINO, lM
SORRY? WE CAN FIND OUR WAY OUT.. .TOGETHER. COME,
I'LL HELP YOU UP. ..PLEASE, GINO... THE LANTERN'S
GETTING DIM...

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WINE "WHEN WE GET OUT, WE'LL BE FRIENDS

"HURRY, GINO...WE MUST FIND THE HEH...
TRAIL... IT WAS YOUR BLOOD?GINO-. AGAIN, EH? GINO, HURRY EH... EH...
RIGHT TRAIL BEFORE THE LANTERN
GOES OUT ? HEH...HEH... I. ..THOUGHT THE LIGHT IS FADING? FIND THE HURRY' EH. ..THE LIGHT, GINO. ..YOU
RIGHT TRAIL FOR US... HURRY, CAN FIND THE TRAIL, CAN'T YOU,
YOUR BLOOD WAS THE TRAIL...
GINO HURRY GINO? EH...EH...GINO?<?/A'0?

...THE LIGHT WENT OUT? HEH.HEH? CRAZY, MIXED-UP KILLER?

...AND THEN...
THAT'S WHAT HE DESERVES FOR STAB-
BING HIS BEST FRIEND IN THE BACK,
DOWN THERE? SUCH A NASTY THING
TO DO? HEH... SHOULD'VE WAITED TILL
THEY WERE OUTSIDE HEH, HEH,
HEH? WELL, THE CREEPY OLD
Muttering ominously, the thunderstorm moved on, leaving the tent Then the great brain introduced
HUMID, HEAVY WITH THE STINKING SWEAT OF THE CROWD AND THE NAU- HIS ASSI STANT WITH A WELL-WORN
SEATING AROMA OF KEROSENE LAMPS. FQR THE THOUSANDTH TIME CLYDE
EVANS LISTENED TO THE BARKER'S CRUDE, GRAVELLY VOICE INTRODUCE HIS ^FRIENDS, THISIS MY HELPER ...BIRD
AND HE SWUNG HIS ANCIENT TOP HAT IN A SWOOPING ARC AND BOWED TO
ACT, BRAIN BENNYf he's strong as
THE LOUTISH AUDIENCE. ,f , AN OX... AND ALMOST AS SMART?
r.AND NOW, FOR YOUR BENNY WILL PASS AMONG YOU. SHOW |

PLEASURE, WE PRESENT HIM AN OBJECT... ^/OBJECT, AND

that MYSTERIOUS I'LL TRY TO IDENTIFY W.+BLIND-
MENTAL MARVEL. FOLDED! y
THE ONE, THE ONLY...
THE GREA T BRA/Nf

Benny's tip-off words were a No MURMUR OF APPROVAL FROM THE

fTT YOKELS DIDN'T EVEN SMILE.
AUDIENCE... NOT A SINGLE CLAPPING
CLYDE WHIPPED OUT A KERCHIEF TIME-WORN GIMMICK WHICH THE
AND TIED IT OVER HI S EYES. . . GREAT BRAIN HID WITH A QUICK OF HANDS. BENNY SHUFFLED O N TO
RESPONSE.. ANOTHER MAN.
DON'T BE BASHFUL,
.

FOLKS SHOW BENNY

.'

ANYTHING.. .A GOOD-
LUCK CHARM.. .A /somethin'
PHOTOGRAPH.. X
HERE TO OPEN
IT'S ALL FREE, 2LjHE SHOW,

i SOUND OF DERISIVE SNICKERS REACHED THE EARS But there was an answer for everything, and the
OF THE GREAT BRAIN.' FROM PREVIOUS EX PERIENCES GREAT BRAIN QUICKLY COMPOSED HIMSELF, SPOKE IN A
HE KNEW THAT THEIR SIGNALS HAD GONE ASKEW.' FUR- VOICE THAT DRIPP ED HEAVI LY WITH STINGIN G SARCASM...
IOUS, HE WHIPP ED OFF HIS BLINDFOLD.. LfADIES AND GENTlTmEN.SURELY^OUCAN UNDER-
THAT AIN'T RIGHT, BOSS.' UH., STAND THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FORME TO READ MY
IT'S UH...UH. . . A WALLET. HELPERS MIND... HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE A MIND.'
BUT NOW. .. IF ANYONE HAS A PERSONAL PROBLEM,
SHALL 8E HAPPY TO HELP. .. FOR A SMALL FEE. .
I HE USUAL AUTHORITY WAS LACKING FROM CLYDE'S Desperately, the great brain dodged aside as
VOICE. HE RAISED HIS CANE IN DEFENSE ONLY TO HAVE BENNY LUNGED FOR HIM f THE SIMPLE BRUTE GRABBED
IT SNATCHED FROM HIS GRASP.' THE BULL- LIKE BENNY CLUMSILY AT EMPTY AIR AND FELL FORWARD ONTO THE
SNAPPED THE THICK SHAFT AS IF IT WERE A TOY AND TABLE'
HURLED IT ASIDE . .
COME ON, BENNY. I-DUH... I DIDN'T THE THOUGHT HAD SOMEHOW FOUND ITS WAY INTO BENNY'S DULL MIND.. .THE
REMEMBERANCE OF HUNGER, OF HOPELESSNESS. AND THE GREAT BRAIN WAS
j
YOU'RE STRONG / MEAN THAT, MR.
*
. |

YOU CAN 00 IT' EVANS' HONEST, AGAIN MASTER. i

)
J MR. EVANS... I. ^GETOUT OF HERE, BENNY.' GO WITHOUT SUPPER TONIGHT'
, KILL ME'/fILL
UH...I WOULDN'T DO , MAYBE AN EMPTY BELLY WILL KEEP YOU FROM FORGETTING
'

NOTHIN TO HURT. THINGS!

Mr YOU'

Bruised, dazed, ...SHE SHAKES, SHE SHIMMIES' AND THATS NOT ALL, Painfully, he moved past the main
HIS GREAT FOLKS' HULDA PUTS ON A COMPLETE HALF-HOUR SHOWHOW I TENT TO A SMALLER DRESSING-ROOM
MUSCLES THROB- STARTING IN JUST TEN MINUTES, FOLKS, SO STEP RIGHT
IGHT |
TENT JUST BEHIND IT. HE STEPPED
UP AND BUY YOUR TICKETS' TWENTY-FIVE CENTS INSIDE, PLOPPED HIS HUGE BULK DOWN
BING, BENNY
STUMBLED OUT ON A DILAPIDATED CHAIR.LISTENING
INTO THE STIFLING TO THE CAT-CALLS AND WHISTLES
NIGHT, ALONG
THAT WERE GREETING HULOA. HE
THE CROWDED
MIDWAY. GUIDED
BY THE GARISH
TRUMPING OF A
TOM-TOM AND AN
OFF-KEY GUITAR,
HIS DRAGGING,
SHUFFLING FEET
CARRIED HIM TO
THE ONLY ONE
WHO UNDER-
STOOO...THE
ONLY ONE WHO
REALLY CARED...

YES, HULDA LARSON CARED. SHE COULD MAKE BENNY BUT CLYDE HAD EXPECTED THIS. HE KNEW ABOUT HULDA
REALIZE HE'D BEEN ABUSED... COULD MAKE HIM WEEP WITH AND BENNY... ABOUT THE THOUGHTS SHE PUTIN HIS HEAD...
r
SELF-PITY. SHE RETURNED WHEN HER ACT WAS OVER... HE'S NOT DOIN' YA ANY FAVOR, BENNY'
AW... X GET MAD, HULDA... HED BE PAYING TWENTY DOLLARS A
WEEK FOR A REGULAR ASSISTANT'
 f

OUGHT TO BE PAID FOR

MR. EVANS'
YA GOT
^THAT'S WHAT W YOU RE LYING,
'

YOU ARE... A ^vMR. EVANS'THERE*S

l DUH...DON T SHE'S NO GOOD FOR |
f YOU HURT YOU, BENNY 'NOW GET
WHAT HE DOES' ALL NO RIGHT LITTLE TRAMPf\ NEVER BEEN HULDA.MR. BACK TO MY QUARTERS
RIGHT, LET HIM FIND k
^
CALLING ANYBODY THAT'D ANYTHING EVANS' j
. AT ONCE, OR DONT EVER
WORK SOMEWHERE
ELSE, YOU ROTTEN A
ME NAMES' LET A THICK-
SKULLED APE
\
WRONG BETWEEN
# BENNY AND ME' A
COME BACK AT ALL' .

LITTLE TROUBLE- 1
r MAKING TRAMP.' M,

BENNY DON'T HAVE [

MAYBE YOU WON'T Benny went back to security, back to the man who
TO GO back: I'LL (BEHERE LONG YOUR- ILL STAY FED HIM IN THE STIFLING .SMELLY LITTLE TENT THEY
TAKE CARE OF HIM SELF.' MAYBE I'LL WITH YOU, SHARED, AND CLYDE GRINNED MOCKINGLY AT HIM-
TILL HE GETS 1
HAVE A TALK WITH
MR. TRUMBULL'/'
MR. EVANS' fr'OURE IN LOVE WITH THAT CHEAP LITTLE DAME.' )->
ANOTHER JOB ' 1
SHES RUN AROUND WITH EVERY FREAK, EVERY ROUST-
ABOUT ON THE MIDWAY... AND YOU'RE IN LOVE

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME BENNY HAD HEARD THE WORD Things again were the same, things again settled
LOVE' IN CONNECTION WITH HIMSELF. IT WAS THE FIRST INTO THE USUAL ROUTINE. THE GREAT BRAIN THRASHED
TIME BENNY REALIZED WHAT HIS FEELINGS FOR HULOA HIS DULL-WITTED HELPER, CURSED HIM AND THREATENED
MEANT. THE WORD FELT GOOD ON HIS TONGUE, AND HE HIM TIME AND AGAIN, JUST AS BEFORE...
AND OVER... f
STUP/DT STUPID why DO
GET THIS THROUGH YOUR THICK I GOON TRYING TO RUN MY
I'M IN LOVE... ACT WITH A MORON' I OUGHT
TO THROW
And AS BEFORE, BENNY FORGOT MR. EVANS TELLS HE SAYS 1
CLYDE'S WARNING. HE WOULD GO TO YOU THAT SO YOU'LL YOU LOVE
HULDA FOR SYMPATHY AND LET HER BE AFRAID TO t
THE FREAKS,
BATHE HIS SWOLLEN FACE. . . LEAVE HIM' HE'S HULDA' >
A LIAR, BENNY' HE'S
HE'S GOT YA BUFFALOED, JDUH...I S
A ROTTEN L/AR
BENNY.' STAND UP TO HIM/)cANT DO L
QU/TH\ W! yv /jrTTHAT. HULDA?
K r n
V nobody /
I else'd give
\ ME A JOB [ J]

There was suddenly a warm, intimate silence in the Some hours later, benny returned to the great
SHABBY TENT. FO R A LONG MOMENT THEY GAZED AT ONE brain's TENT, as USUAL, CLYDE WAS FURIOUS...
ANOTHER, HULDA'S EYES SWIMMING IN MISTY TEARS
THAT FINALLY OVERFLOWED AND TRICKLED DOWN HER

I DON'T CARE WHAT SHE SA/Df The QUIETLY SPOKEN WORDS HAD THE IMPACT OF A BOM8'

I WANT YOU TO KEEP AWAY THE GREAT BRAIN STOOD STOCK STILL. TREMBLING WITH
FROM HER! SHE'S NO GOOD FURY.. .THEN, ABRUPTLY, HE TURNED AND STRODE FROM THE

FOR YOU, UNDERSTAND'

STAY AWAY FROM HER.'
 IHE GREAT BRAIN OIDN T ANSWER. I WON'T LET THAT STUPIO OAF A PEW MINUTES LATER BENNY CAME
IN A SILENT RAGE, HE WENT DIRECTLY HAVE YOU' IT ISN'T RIGHT.' IS ISN'T LOOKING FOR HULDA? HE BRUSHED
TO SEE HULDA LARSON. . . FAIR/ WANT YOU. HULDA ?
^ THE TENT FLAP ASIDE AND...
lgarTf ~~7/7 mn'T mr7
MR. EVANS KW jmM, EVANS /PLEASE

Shock gave way to cold, stark anger /slowly, benny T HE SHOW WENT ON THAT EVENING JUST AS IT DID ANY
MOVED TOWARD CLYDE EVANS, HIS GREAT SHOULDERS OTHER EVENING? BENNY WAS THERE ...AND IN A DULL,
HUNCHED, HIS POWERFUL HANDS TENSE AND TREMBLING.. MORONIC MONOTONE, HE MADE THE INTRODUCTION...
f HE MADE ME V
... DUH... LADIES V GENTS ...
J f J
HOW SHE WAS' I TOLD YOU SHES DO IT, BENNY'
A TRAMP.' . vv h r I SWEAR... HE
T MADE ME'

n Am
#>jl
mjm yj&i
Benny faltered, then, at a loss for words, he drew his hand from
HEE.HEE? HAD ENOUGH ? POOR BENNY/
BEHIND HIS BACK, AND HELD ITS GRIZZLY C ONTENTS UP FOR ALL TO SEE..
X WONDER WHOS FEEDING HIM NOW.
'
..HERE IT IS... THE ONE, THE OF COURSE, HE CAN EAT HIS HEART
ONLY...UH ..THE GREAT GRAIN f .
OUT OVER HULDA.' THE GRAVESIDE /
GOSSIP HAS rr THAT SHE RAN OFF
WITH THAT GAY OLD DOS, THE SIDE- I

.show BARKER but anyway.. y .

VV
I've got to ?-
CLOSE THIS ISSUE?
/ I'LL SEE YOU NEXT
in my mag, THE
HAUNT OF FEAR*
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