Secret Of The Painting
By Robert Moore Williams
Many men would have killed to possess the
painting—for Tom Calhoun knew it held a key to
knowledge that would rock the scientific world!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
April 1957
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Hold it, buddy," this fellow said, coming along the bar toward me. "I want to talk to you."
The way he spoke set my teeth on edge. There was a whining, placating tone in his voice, but under this was a growl which indicated that if he had the chance, he would be glad to order me to stop and talk to him, instead of asking me. His clothes were expensive, but unpressed, and he was wearing them in a way that I didn't like. There was another thing about him that I liked even less—the slight bulge under his left armpit.
All in all there was only one thing that I liked about him—the way his lower jaw stuck out ahead of the rest of his face. It was a perfect target for a left jab.
"You're Luke Shaw, ain't you?" he asked.
"I am. And so what?" He looked me over carefully after I spoke. A faint flicker of grudging respect appeared on his face as his gaze crossed my shoulders. He measured me for a hidden gun, which he didn't find because I wasn't wearing it. He liked this. It made his job safer, if not easier.