February 1983 |
In Kauai, Hawaii, Prof and Rocky approach an impressive beach estate. This is the spread of Cousin Freddie, Prof's relative who wanted to inherit Uncle Cyrus's millions, but got stiffed in the will.  Prof goes to knock, but Rocky stops him. "You got smarts, Professor, but sometimes I don't think you got much sense." What if Freddie has a gun? And Rocky kicks in the door. |
But it's Prof who gets the surprise. In fact, he looks as if he's seen a ghost.  Prof has. Uncle Cyrus is NOT dead! Cyrus faked his own death to avoid inheritance taxes, which he split with Freddie. But "honest" Prof wouldn't have bought that deal. Then Cyrus found himself cut off because of an impropriety in the newer will. (See the original art here.) Uncle Cyrus becomes so enraged that he attacks Prof with his cane. Crushing a light zaps him flat. Rocky dials 911: Cyrus will pull through. Rocky notes Cyrus is a tough old bird, but he can't imagine him booby-trapping their plane. Nor could Freddie, who "under pressure, melts into a crack in the sidewalk. This is another dead end." Rocky agrees. "I hope Morgan and the kid are doing better in Vegas." |
Looking very dapper, Ace and Red trek in Vegas. Red explains he owes $50K to the mob, and hasn't been making his payments. Ace sympathizes. "My interest charges per month are more than most people earn!" But why keep it a secret? Red responds, "You sound like my mother!" We only met four days ago: why tell personal secrets?  |
They confront Bernie, who wants his money. Red retorts that Bernie tried to bump him off by sabotaging his plane. Bernie is genuinely surprised: how could he collect if Red were dead? Break his legs, maybe...  Red asks if Bernie himself has paid Johnny Green his money. "Don't you worry, Ryan. We pay our debts, one way or another." And Bernie shoos them away. Who's Johnny Green? asks Ace. A buddy of Red's from Texas. In fact, he lives near the airport. He hit it big in Vegas and was supposed to collect $300 grand. In fact, he was supposed to fly up with Red. Red gets distracted by a slot machine, even borrows a quarter from Ace to feed it. And bangs on the machine when it stiffs him. Red has the gambling bug bad. Ace drags him off. Okay, so they've been to Hawaii and to Vegas, and "all we have to show for it is jet lag." Red notes, "Somebody spent a small fortune getting that crazy plastic gizmo made!" "Plastic!" yells Ace. That's the answer! |
And the mystery concludes in Adventure 497! |
Comment This story is fun because it shows us so much about the pre-Challs. Here's another surprise about Rocky. He owns an original Matisse painting!  We wonder, though, if Rocky really appreciates fine books and paintings, or if he's only trying to buy respectability with his titleship money. Though he DID read Prof's oceanography book. And here's the original page 3 in black and white. Sharp! |
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