MYSTERY MAGAZINE

NEW stories presenteLICENSEDd by thTOe UNZ.ORG AAASTER OF SUSPENSE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Richard E. Decker, Publisher

Gladys Foster Decker, Editorial Director

Ernest M. Hutter Editor Patricia Hitchcock Associate Editor

Nick J. Scrtorio Circulation Director

Marguerite Blair Deacon Art Director LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED VOLUME 14, NO. 1 JANUARY 1969

\ ALFRED HITCBCOCKS mystery magazine

CONTENTS

NOVELETTE

A SINGULAR QUARRY by Ed Lacy ,...... i..,.;. 141

SHORT STORIES

A BORN KILLER by Max Van Derveer ^._^y 2 HOLIDAY by Hal Ellson 19 ^ CHAVISKI'S CHRISTMAS by Edwin P. Hic\s 27 DROPOUT by JacI^ Ritchie 42 THE GUIDE'S STORY by Dion Henderson ...... 50 THE. MAN IN THE CHAIR by Clayton Matthews 59 COMPROMISED CONFESSIONAL by Margaret E. Brown ,. : 70 NIGHT STRIKE by Miel Tanburn 80 MONEY TREE by Jaime Sandaval : 83 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Michael Brett 92 FAVOR by Stephen Wasyly\ 97 A NAME IN THE PHONE BOOK by Erlene Hubly 110 THE SKIM by Richard Deming 121 THE PROBLEM OF CHRISTMAS by Al Nussbaum 138

ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE I„leSVpt?o"is'&Tr^TyeaW?h?6Ml&^s and Possessions; elsewhere S7.00 (In U.S. lunds) for one year. Published monthly by H. 8. D. PubUcations, Inc., 2441 Beach Court, Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404. Publications office. 10 Ferry Street, Concord, N. H. 03302. Second class postage paid at Concord, N. H. Copyright H. S. D. Publications, Inc., 1968. All rights reserved. Protection secured under the International and Pan-American copyright convention. Title registered U. S. Pat. OflSee. Keproductlon or use without express permission ol editorial or pictorial content in any manner Is pro­ hibited. Postage must accompany manuscripts M return is desired but no responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited material. Manuscripts and changes ol addresses should be sent to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Maga­ zine, 2441 Beach Court, Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions appearing In this magazine and those of any living or dead porson or institution Is Intended and any simltarity which may exist Is purely cotooldental. Printed in the U.S.A. LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED With the thought that "all men are created equal," one mttsi hope the filler instinct is an acquired trait. ^ '

IJARRY POLE snapped home the bolt of the rifle and grinned at Peter. "I'm damned," he said, "if you aren't the most opposite guy I've ever known. One minute you kill as if by nature and the next minute you befriend a mongrel pup." Peter chuckled. "I like kids, too, Larry." "Yeah, that'd figure." "Kids and dogs." Peter stroked the head of the mangy pup he had found. He was> content. He had known Larry Pole eleven days. Pole had come in as a replacement, and they had been

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ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MVSTERV MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED teamed by the lieutenant. Pole had child before him, and there was a a wife and a child in Chicago; different man. That Peter Holiday k that's all Peter really knew about —fantastically wealthy by birth and the man, and in the beginning he now the only son of a widowed had treated Pole as he did all new mother—was gentle, understanding acquaintances, with caution. Most and sympathetic. people, when they discovered who "I guess my makeup is a bit dif­ Peter really was, attempted to feed ferent," Peter admitted. "Until now on him, but not Larry Pole. He had Pve never felt whole, but I'm a com­ seemed unimpressed when he first plete man here, Larry; confident, heard the name Peter Holiday, and in balance. It's as if there has been he had remained unimpressed. Pole a void in my life until now." seemed to like him for the chem­ Pole continued to wag his head. istry inside. For that reason, Peter "Man, the way I hear it, there can't Holiday liked Larry Pole. have been too many holes in your Now they sat side by side on a life. Some of the guys say you could Uttle hump of ground deep inside buy the U. N. building if yoti took the tall grass. Out there ahead of the notion." - them, obliterated for the moment "I know wealth and its comforts, ^ by the height of the grass, was the yes," Peter nodded. "But something war: the Viet Cong, the snipers, the has been missing, too." suicide squads. But here inside the "Until you got into this man's grass there was quiet and peace and Army, huh?" friendship and the dog. The.pup . Peter was somber. "Until I killed was infested with lice, and Peter my first man, Larry." picked carefully. "Hey, pal, you don't- wanna fig­ "Kids, dogs and killing." Larry ure that way! That ain't healthy Pole shook his head. "Boy, that's thinking! A guy gets to figuring he some combination." has to kill to be happy and it's like \Peter laughed softly. Pole's ob­ riding the drug needle. Strictly servation pleased him, because here acid." in Vietnam he had discovered him- Peter, amused by Pole's concern, • . self to be a born killer. He had the laughed. He found a new patch -of instinct and desire and never had lice on the pup and picked- "Maybe known exhilaration such as that ex­ I should have been born a hood. perienced when he was able to A professional killer." watch another man die. by his gun, "No. Nobody should be born a knife or hand; but put a pup or a killer!"

A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The lieutenant's voice came over as he stared briefly at the blue vyater tile grass and down to them: "Holi­ of the swimming pool, then he day? Pole?" faced the blonde child who stood They stood, the grass waved beside his chair. against their chests, and the sniper's The child was small and trim, bullet went through the pup's head very delicate; in construction. She and into Peter's body. > belonged to Clarence, the combina­ Peter was discharged and sent tion chauffeur and handyman who home to the California mansion now was beyond the pool, polish­ and the pampering, blue-rinsed ing the sedan in the shadow of the mother, but neither was salve for three-stall garage, and to Helga, the depression that had settled on who was currendy busy in the him. A sniper's bullet had made kitchen of the main house. The him an incomplete man; he was child, was Peter's friend and' now out of balance again. He fretted. she stood inquisitively silent with He knew the medicine he needed, the dachshund pup at her feet. The but there were laws and mores pup sat with his short forelegs here ... spread and stiff, his head cocked He was not sure when the idea slightly, his long ears drooping, his came to him but he was suddenly large eyes bright and questioning, acutely conscious of the relief he too. experienced with it. His first Peter widened his grin and thoughts centered on someone un­ "reached out to scratch the pup's known, a nonentity, perhaps a wino head. "Fritzie," he said, and then in a dark alley. • he looked directly into the child's No good.' A defenseless man deep blue eyes. "What is it, Mary- would not bring total satisfaction. anne?" He turned his attention to people The child fidgeted. "Are we . . . he disliked; \here were many. He going to the beach this~ afternoon? had to plan, lure. He already could You'n me and Fritzie?" smell the danger. His blood ran Peter chuckled and teased, "Do fast. Who was to be his victim? you want to go to the beach ?" Man or woman ? Young or old ? "Yes." "Mr. Peter?" "All right. How 'bout,. . . oh, At the soft sound of' the child's say, around four o'clock ? I want to voice Peter shot forward in the nap and then—" webbed pool chair, suddenly "Oh, goodie . . ; and thank you, stopped. He forced an easy grin Mr. Peter!"

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The child ran off around the end She shuffled. "I keep thinking a of the swimming pool, the pup change of scenery might be what—" scuttling along beside her. "No. I don't want to go any­ "Daddy!" she shrilled. "Mr. Peter where." is going to take us to the beach." "Well ... all right," she said Peter entered the house thro.ugh. softly, and started out of the room, the French doors that opened onto walking toward the carpeted stair­ the pool patio and stretched out on way. a couch. He smiled. The frolicking Peter stared after her. ActuaUy, child and dog pleased him. He she looked absurd in the yellow . found it difficult to turn his mind sunsuit. She was far too old for to darker thoughts. sunsuits. She was fleshy and unco- Then his mother came through , ordinatcd. There were globs of fat the French doors. She wore a bril­ in her legs and her arms. Her years liant yellow sunsuit and a huge, of being attractive, exciting and use­ floppy hat this early afternoon, and ful were far behind-her. _ there was the sheen of perspiration She disappeared up the stairway, on her pink skin. She smiled fondly and the mansion was still in the at Peter "as she swept oil the hat. afternoon heat that poured in the He grimaced inside. open French doors. - Peter got up, "Pm going up to bathe now, went to the door and stood looking Peter," she announced. . across the patio and the blue water "Okay." . - , of the pool. Clarence continued to Her smile faded. She came to polish the sedan. Maryanne and him, placed hot fingers on the cords Fritzie had romped off to another of his neck, squeezed gently. He corner of the grounds. Peter squint­ tightened but managed to lie with­ ed against the brilliant reflection out stirring. ' of sunshine oil the glass-like surface "Is something wrong?" his of the pool and listened hard. Clar­ mother asked gently. ence and the child were out of the "No. Fm fine. Mother." way, but what about Helga ? "You seem so . . . well, dejected," Peter closed the French doors and "Everything is fine. Mother." moved quietly toward the kitchen. "I wish . . .". The fingers left his The smell of fresh-baked bread neck. "Won't you reconsider, darl­ filled his nostrils. He stopped when ing? Let's take a trip to the he heard Helga humming off tune. Riviera." His heartbeat quickened. He sud­ "Fm content here," denly was perspiring profusely.

A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Then it was as if an icy wind had tack. The autopsy will prove us swept him. He shuddered and correct or incorrect conclusively." stood absolutely still. He was "I'm not . . . sure I understand, abruptly relaxed and confident. He Sergeant," Peter said curiously. turned and went back to the stair­ "It will be a matter of water in way and up. the lungs. Our technicians should His mother gasped surprise when be able to determine if she was he burst in on her as she sat in the dead before she pitched forward tub of scented water. He slapped into the bath water or—" a palm against the back of her neck • "She has a history of fainting and shoved her head forward and spells," Peter interrupted. down into the water before she Helga and Clarence nodded in, could scream. She struggled with unison. surprising strength, but he man­ "I see," said Sergeant Oxford. aged to keep her face under the "Then perhaps that is what hap­ surface of the water until she went pened. She may have become faint limp. Then he dried himself on and attempted to leave the tub. her towel and returned downstairs. That would explain the damp He felt very alive, very content. He towel we found on the floor. She stretched out on a couch again and may have reached- for the towel, went to sleep. When Helga shook started to dry, then fainted." him awake, she was ashen and on "Sergeant," Peter asked carefully, the verge of hysteria. "are you harboring an idea about "M-Mr. Peter . . ." she gasped. murder.?" "C-come . . . come . . . your mother "Natural death, accidental death, ... oh, it's terrible!" self-inflicted, or murder—my job, The police were quietly ef­ Mr. Holiday, is to determine which ficient in their investigation. A in cases of this nature." Sergeant Oxford was in charge. He ,"Not murder, Sergeant," Peter questioned patiently and seemed to shook his head vigorously. accept Clarence's explanation of Helga and Clarence stood like polishing the car, Helga's declara­ stone statues. tion of baking bread, and Peter's The-official ruling was accidental story of napping on the couch on death by drowning.. There was which he was now sitting. - autopsy evidence pointing to Mrs. "At the moment," Sergeant Ox­ Holiday having suffered a heart ford nodded, "we are assuming seizure while bathing, attempting Mrs. Holiday suffered a heart at­ to leave tlie tub and then pitching

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED forward into the bath water. It was pressed with both the grounds and speculated that the seizure had pre­ the house. His gaze held genuine' vented her from crying out. awe as Peter escorted him. He said, Six weeks later, when the at­ "You've got it, haven't you, Peter.? torneys had finished their mulling, You've got it all." Helga and Clarence each received Peter shrugged. "How have their $5,000 in cash from Mrs. Holi­ things been going, Larry.?" day's estate and Peter doled out his Pole lit a cigarette. His move­ large inheritance to his mother's ments were jerky. The match flame favored charities. He did not need quivered. the wealth—he had his own from Peter said truthfully, "You look his father's death—and the dona­ beat." tions seemed to satisfy the police, Pole attempted a grin. "Got me seemed to eliminate lingering sus­ a little auto repair shop in Chi picions the police had about a son now. I'm on my own, but the com-" drowning a mother for inheritance. petition is keen. I've been working The telephone call came o.n a like a dog." Tuesday night two months to the "Are you out here alone ? I ex­ day following Mrs. Holiday's death. pected to meet your family. Let's Peter was surprised, then pleased. see, there is a wife and a daugh­ "Larry?" Peter said quizzically, ter—" then, "What are you doing in Cali­ "Beth and I separated," Pole in­ fornia.?" terrupted. "She's remarriedi" He "Hi yah, old buddy. Came out to drew on the cigarette quickly; "Th^ see you." Pole's voice was dull, list­ familiar story. I came home from less. * the war, she had another man, a Peter frowned. Hollywood type, a stunt man for Pole said, "No touches, pal. But some studio. Someone was making I'd like to see you. It's important a movie in Chi and this guy and to me.'' Beth met. But I give her credit for Pole looked as if the months had one thing. She didn't attempt to been hard on him. There were hide anything, told me about this permanent wrinkles across his fore­ dude the day I got home. I took head, dark patches under his eyes Karen, our daughter, and moved and lines at the corners of his out. I have a small apartment.' My mouth. mother lives with us, helps me care Peter, curtailing his curiosity," for Karen.-But my ex is giving me showed Larry around. Pole was im­ trouble now. She's attempting to

A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED take Karen from me. Karen is the "Did she drown, or did the at­ only reason Beth hasn't left Chicago tack kill her?" he wanted to know.- yet." , "She.drowned." "Karen must be about six ?" "I'm not sure the papers ever "Near." said." Pole drank half the highball. "We have a little girl here. Mary- "I've always figured drowning anne also is six." would be a helluva way to die." Pole looked totally surprised. "Death is death," Peter said "You've married, Peter?" flatly. "No." Peter grinned. "Maryanne Pole nodded. "Yes, death never is the child of my chauffeur and did frighten you, I remember. You maid. They live in the house, you are the coldest man I've ever known saw at the back of the grounds." when it comes to death." Pole exhaled loudly. "Boy, you - "What are you shooting, at, being married could've queered—" Larry?" He cut ofl the words abruptly. Pole sat silent, staring at the pool "What is it, Larry?" . for several seconds, then his eyes "Something happened, Peter, To met Peter's and held. "I want a man Karen." Pole attempted a grin; it killed, Peter," he said., was sick. "Can I talk. you.out of a Peter speculated, attempting to tall drink?" mask what he suddenly felt inside. At the bar, Pole requested a "Your former wife's new hus­ straight shot of bourbon. He put band?" the drink down quickly. Peter "No." frowned and poured again. Pole . "Then what happened to your drank and then he surprised. Peter. daughter?" He said, "I was sorry to. hear about In a sudden movement, Pole your mother." made an animal sound low in his Peter built two bourbon, and throat, started up out of the chair, water highballs and they went out-, caught himself, stopped. side to sit on the pool patio. "How. Peter sat motionless. -The out­ did you know about my mother, burst of violence had caught him La rry ?" Peter asked'caref uUy. short. He had never known this Pole shrugged. "The Holiday Larry Pole, not even in the fiercest name makes the papers, Peter. Even Vietnam hand-to-hand combat. the Chicago papers. Heart attack in This Larry Pole was near, disin­ a bathtub, wasn't it?" tegration. .^ , "Yes." ~ "Larry?"

8 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED iPoIe sat back, slumped, staring. • "Yes." Pole sounded dead. "It "Unload," said Peter, keeping his said there \yas the possibility of in­ voice soft, "before you explode." flicted injury. On the other hand "I want you to kill a child mo­ . . '. the injury could have been lester," Pole said, his tone just above self-inflicted or accidental!" a whisper. "A dirty, rotten, snivel­ Peter sat taut as a bow string. ing, sneaking child molester. The A simmering rage bubbled inside worst kind of man. The very worst him. He was aware there were child kind ..." molesters, of course, animals that Peter's heart was suddenly beat­ never should have been given life, ing fast. "Your Karen ?" but never had the awareness been "Yes." Pole's' face twisted under brought so'close "to him"; and the a spasm of eiriotion. He was shak­ thought, the conjured image of a ing. "In an alley, Peter. It happened grown man, as he moved in lech- in an alley in broad daylight. The erously on a tiny, golden, innocent child screamfed. The man ran. But child ... the child's screams were heard, and Peter closed his eyes in an effort the man was overpowered as he to shut out the image. "Lai-ry," he ran out of the alley. He was not said finally, "why haven't you al-. caught in the act. He was caught ready killed this man.'"' as he ran. He was arrested and held "I've been close, Peter. You don't on suspicion after the child was know how close. But if I do, whp found. But Karen could not talk. will the police turn to first.?" She was too frightened, too be­ "So you have come to me." wildered. All she knew was she "I remember you in "Viet, Peter. had been hurt. She cried. She still I remember how you killed, as if cries. In her sleep. Every night. You you were stepping on an insect." should hear her whimpering. You "That was war." should hear—" "War had nothing to do, with "The man," Peter broke in. what was going through your mind "What about the man ?" every tinie a man went down in "Arrested, accused, freed. No front of you." proof. No witnesses. Only a child "I could have changed, Larry." who cringed and could not bring The words seemed to jar Pole. herself to speak every ~time she was He sat like stone for several sec­ taken before him." onds, as if an impossibility had "But there must have been the been thrust upon him and he was report of a medical examination." incapable of comprehending.' Fi-

A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED nally he qmvered. His. head foiuid a steak house. He ate slowly, dropped, hung. "Yes," It was" all he his. mood darkened. The instinct said. of self-preservation stole over him. Peter stood. He drained the last He did not Uke his thoughts but of the drink from his glass, then, he could riot escape them. Could looked at his friend. Larry Pole hold up under periodic Pole took a fold of bills from his and penetrating questioning by the pocket. "I have exactly one thou­ police.'' Or would Pole break, con­ sand and fifty dollars to my name, fess everything, name the killer ? ' plus a return train ticket to Chi­ Peter was unhappy when he left cago," he said. the steak house, but what was Peter shook his head. "I don't ahead had to be done before it was need money, Larry," he said coldly. too late. He rode in a cab and "All I need is the insect." forty-five minutes later he put a thumb against a doorbell. , The accused man surprised Peter. Larry Pole went, to pieces when He lived alone ih a modest. North- he opened the door. He gawked, side Chicago apartment house, and then stepped-^ back into the flat. he was clean-shaven, tall, straight, "Wh-at . . .are you doing here.?" willowy, perhaps forty years of age, "Is your mother here.?" and dressed in a white shirt, plaid "She took ... Karen to a movie." necktie and dark slacks when he Peter swept the blow up from answered Peter's ring. down low. His knuckles lifted Peter attacked without preamble. Larry Pole's jaw. Pole sprawled He chopped a solid blow into the against the back of a faded couch. man's solar plexus, rammed the Peter clamped his hands, against man's shoulders with open palms, Pole's neck and hung on until Pole then followed the staggered victim quit breathing. " . into the front room of the apart­ Peter stood, breathing hard. He ment. The man went down to the stood for a long time, quieting, then floor, his hands clawing his middle. he listened hard. He heard nothing, He was gasping and gagging. Peter_ but he saw a torn teddy bear caught the plaid necktie, whipped" propped in a corner of the room. -it around the man's neck and His eyes^ danced to a framed photo­ tugged until the man was dead. graph of a pretty girl child. He Peter left the apartment building' winced. Karen's grandmother and went to a ban He was satis­ would have to take ciare of her fied. He drank two drinks and then now ... 40 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Peter left the apartment. The cor­ stared at Peter. He turned on a grin ridor was empty. He went down ,and nodded to her, tipped his hat three flights of steps quickly, hesi­ as he passed her. He thought her an tated as he saw the foyer door attractive woman; she had red- open, then coiitinued on down the brown hair. Biit she bothered him, steps. tod. He looked back over his shoul­ A long-legged woman had en­ der as he was leaving the building. tered the building and started up The woman was' still staring at the steps. She~ turned suddenly and him, her face creased in a frown.

A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Peter hustled down steps to the yards down the beach and still sidewalk and- left Chicago immedi­ striding strong, Peter went after ately. them, prepared to turn and dive into the lapping surf if the woman The initial shock came in late slowed. • - October.while a heat wave still was He watched the woman and the clutching the low California coast. child curve across the sand to the Peter sat on the public beach, at back of the beach, climb a slight ease. He was alone today. Clarence slope and walk onto a macadam and Helga had taken the child parking area. They, got into a Maryanne and the dog Eritzie in dusty sedan, the child climbing into to the city. He liked the public a''back seat where a large boxer beach; he Uked to watch the ^chil­ lapped fondly at her..The woman dren and their dogs romp. sat in the front seat beside a man. Then suddenly Peter sat frozen. The sedan was backed, and Peter A woman, her hair the color of saw the Illinois license plate. Then^ aged brick, her skin a pale white the car rolled smoothly out of the against the brilliance of the loose parking area and entered the glut green blouse and tight green hip of highway traiBc. skimmers, marched past him. The second shock came the fol­ Clinging to the woman's hand, but lowing morning when. Clarence unable to match the woman's long- burst onto the pool patio where Pe­ legged strides, was a young girl. ter was breakfasting. Clarence The image of a framed photo­ looked as if he had been struck graph he had viewed only once in with a club. "Mister Peter," he a Chicago flat was suddenly alive gasped, "Fritzie is dea^l Down in Peter's mind and he almost ex­ near the front fence! He's just ploded, "Karen!" stretched out down there . -.." He clamped his teeth and ducked Peter exarnined the dog with' his head between raised knees. fingers that quivered. Then he followed the woman and "Mister Peter..." the child out of' the corner of his . Peter said nothing. He remained eye. He had not seen the woman's on one knee, staring. A child and a~- face as she passed in front of him. woman on a beach one day, Fritzie Now he wanted to see that face as dead the next day. , . he recalled a brief meeting on a The telephone call c^ne that af­ brownstone stairway. When the ternoon: "Mr. Holiday.J"" woman and the child were thirty He grimaced against the soft

12 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE , LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED sound of the woman's voice. have gone to the police. I think the / "Yes?" police would not find it difficult to "My name is Beth Warner. It link you and Larry. They , might used to be Beth Pole. You saw me even be capable of linking you to on the beach yesterday afternoon. another dead man whose body was , You saw my daughter. I think we discovered on the same night as my should converse. We are at the Mo­ former husband's." tor Inn West,-unit 496. Shall we say "Mrs. Warner-" in the next thirty minutes? The "Let's discuss cash, Mr. Holiday! Inn is only a twenty minute drive And soon! One half hour. Motor from your home as I'm sure you Inn West, unit 496. We'll be ex- know." r Jjecting you!" "I am occupied this afternoon, Peter had three quick drinks be­ Mrs. Warner." fore he "took out the .38 he kept in "Not that occupied, Mr. Holiday. the wall safe. He hefted the gun. in I was fond o£ Larry even though Ills palm as he quickly icontem- we were not compatible in mar­ plated his escape following the riage." mass slaying. He could drive south "Larry?" into Baja, abandon the car, disap­ The woman sighed. "Come now, pear, but that would take money, Mr. Holiday. You and Larry were as much cash as he could jam into such good friends in the war. He his pockets. He reached into the wrote often about you. He even safe again, then paused. sent a snapshot of the two of you Running was no good. Anyway, once. I still have that snapshot, Mr. why kill now? Beth Warner only Holiday. Remember when it ,was wanted to tal\ about money today. taken?" The exchange would take place at Peter remembered., another time. Perhaps he could de-. "You startled me on the stairway termine the site of that exchange. in Chicago one night not too long Perhaps he could select a remote . ago, Mr. Holiday. I thought I place and—under those conditions should know you and yet I knew —he might not have to kill the we had never met. I was very con­ child... fused—until I went through a pho­ Beth Warner again wore the tograph album later that night." green blouse and hip skimmers "I haven't been in Chicago in the .when she opened the door of the last two years, Mrs. Warner." motel unit. Peter thought her long "Please, Mr. Holiday. I could and skillfully drawn, a very calm

A BORN KILLER 13 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED woman. Heir eyes were a deep gray -/"Absurd!" he stormed angrily. and bright; she had used only a "Silence can be expensive." touch of makeup. . , "One, Mrs. Warner, I do not have V "Karen is at the swimming a hundred thousand dollars in pool," she said. "Under supervision, cash. Two, what can you prove.? naturally. And my husband is in Three—" : ' : ' the bathroom. He is armed. Then "One, Mr. Hblidky," she inter­ there is . . ." She swung the door rupted, "you can get a hundred wide and allowed Peter to see the thousand dollars in cash. Two, I boxer. ". . . Friend," she said. "Our can put you in Chicago on the dog, who is quite unfriendly when, night of the death of two men., someone shows signs bf attacking Three-" one of us. We got him when I got "But you can't prove anything!" Karen; normally he is with her, he "True. But I can turn the police protects her, but he also has a loy­ loose on you. I can trigger an in­ alty to all of us and I thought it vestigation." best this afternoon ..." She paused "So trigger!" again. "Mr. Hobday, do come in­ "Is that what you really want.? side." You are a millionaire, Mr. Holi­ It was a large unit, and in the day. You live free of most of the far wall a door stood slightly ajar. burdens of • this world. Even the Peter saw the figure of a man thought of" confinement 'in prison through the opening, but he could —or death in prison—should be not see a gun. unpleasant to you. And you could Beth Warner sat on the end of have slipped, Mr. Holiday.^ You the bed, crossed her legs. The dog • could have left a fingerprint, some­ sat near her, his eyes never leaving thing ..." ' Peter. \ - Peter took a step toward her; • Peter drew hirnself together, pre­ The boxer came up. Lips skinned pared for battle. This woman was back from very whitcvteeth. to be a, pertinacious adversary. Beth Warner said, "No. Don't, -_ That much was already evident. Mr. Holiday, or Friend- will have She said, "I'm sure we under­ you." • ' stand each other." Peter stood rooted. - "Dowe?" Suddenly Beth-.Warner sighed "One hundred thousand, Mr. and stood. "Look, I'm" going to Holiday. I want one hundred thou­ give yoii two days to consider my. sand dollars in cash." proposition—and to decide how

14 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY'MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED and where you will get the cash. "I've decided against paying you." Fair enough?" "I see." Beth Warner was silent Peter shook his head. for a moment before she, said, / "Are you refusing me, or is all "Then you can expect the police of this difficult to believe?" on your doorstep in the morning." "A hundred thousand dollars "Now look," Peter shouted, "a you want . . ." hundred thousand dollars is an ab­ It was all Peter said. He turned surd amount! My money is in­ and walked out of the unit. He vested! To get cash I would have continued to wag his head, but he to-" was acting now. Beth Warner was "We'll give you one month." not as fearsome a foe as he had at "Wh-at!" first thought. She was giving him "One month in which to con­ two days grace. It was plenty of vert, do, the things you have to do time in which to kill—but that without raising a lot of suspicion night he discovered the Warners and speculadon among the money had checked out of the motel. people. And duriiig that month we He cursed the woman long and are going to travel. So you will be loud. Then he calmed, sat think­ wasting time if you come here ing. Was it possible the Warners looking for us. Do you under­ were backing off? Was it possible stand?" they had considered the threat of "Mrs. Warner, please ..." having him lurk over them like an "Please?" She sounded surprised. invisible terror for the remainder "Is that the same thing Larry said of their lives? Perhaps they had when you strangled him?" She panicked under the consideration. himg up. Perhaps they had returned to Chi­ Peter put the cache of $100.00 cago, decided against... bills together slowly. He fretted, he The telephone call came on the schemed, he seethed, and he killed third night. The Warners had' re­ the Warners over and over again turned to Chicago, all right, but in his thoughts and his dreams, Beth Warner had not panicked. but gradually the cache took on She had merely been cautious. stature. Then he received a- letter "Somehow," she said over the from Austin, Texas. The money wire, "we feel safer here. And now was to be delivered in Chicago at that you have determined how you 10 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday will raise the cash-r-" in December. "I haven't," Peter said blundy. . It was brittle cold in Chicago

A BORN KILLER 15 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED that night. The city was coated closed his nostrils, stung his lungs. with ice and the taxi driver grum­ He was forced to mouth breathe, bled all the way to the apartment but there was warmth in the feel house address Peter had given him. of the gun with its silencer in his Beth Warner was radiant in a coat pocket. Money wasn't the only lavender, o£E-the-shoulder party thing he had collected during the dress when she opened the apart­ month.-He had purchased a gun ment door to his ring. There vvas a that could not be traced. glass in her hand. Behind her, the He walked back toward the party swirled. The noise swelled apartment building. The party out to surround Peter. could last the night, but he had to Beth Warner smiled. "It's sort of wait it out. He rounded a corner a going-away party," she said, wav­ and slowed. The apartment buildr ing the glass aimlessly, "since we ing was ahead. So was activity: a are leaving tomorrow for a long cluster of people, tvvo police cars stay in Switzerland." She laughed.' with red dome lights swirling, an "Also, I thought it safer to have ambulance with red lights blink­ friends around when you arrived. ing. I didn't want to be strangled in a Peter drew closer, in time to see doorway. I assume the briefcase a covered body piit into the ambu­ you are carrying contains money.?" lance." Peter passed the briefcase to her "Damn fool . . ." muttered 'an and turned down the carpeted cor­ elderly man beside him. ridor. Her laughter followed him. "What happened?" "Thanks ..." she called but. "Some nut. They say he tried to Peter seethed inside a tiny bar walk one of them ledges' up there." two blocks from the apartment The man pointed up the apart­ building, but he" nursed his drinks. ment building.-"They say he was He had to keep his head. If the drunk, tried to walk a ledge from Warners got to Switzerland he one window to another. Jeez, did­ could forget about retrieving the n't he know them ledges are icy? money. It would go into a Swiss Damn fool." bank and the Warners could live . Peter listened in as a woman, . luxuriously until it was time to de­ shivering inside a long fur coat, mand more money. He had to- kill shrilled at a policeman, "He fell, the Warners tonight. that's all I can teUyou! We were He left the bar, hunched deep having a party! Dave was drunk! inside the heavy coat. Cold" air Then somebody suggested—"-

16 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED " ."t)avid Warner?" the policemafl catch her alone another time. Oit. interrupted. the other hand, she might already "Yes, that's his name!" the wom­ be out of the city, might already be an said. "Dave Warner! It was his winging toward Switzerland. party! His and Beth's! Dave was a Crazy! Peter slapped the steer­ stunt man] You know? With the ing wheel and started the car mo­ movies? Anyway, someone dared tor for what seemed the thou­ him to walk the ledge—t don't re­ sandth time. Heat poured from member who—and the crazy fool under the "seat. He pulled himself tried it! Lordy, ean't we go inside? erect. The police would never al­ I'm freezing to death!" low Beth Warner to leave the city - Peter turned away and walked the day after her husband had the icy sidewalk with new respect tumbled from a building ledge. for Beth Warner. There was no .There still would be many ques­ doubt in his mind who had sug­ tions. J - gested the ledge walk; and there Peter suddenly sat like stone. A was no doubt why she had sug­ taxi had braked at the curb in gested it. front of the apartment building. On the other hand, Beth Warner He watched Beth Warner leave the wasn't going to be leaving the cab and dash across the sidewalk. United States the next day. Nor Should he go after her? He started was she going to deposit a hun­ to leave the car, then stopped. dred thousand in a bank." Police There was a child, a dog, to con­ would want to know how she had tend with. He settled back. How come into such a huge sum of was he to get Beth Warner out of money on the night her husband the apartment now that she was had died. inside? Telephoning her would be Thursday afternoon was gray useless. The instant she heard his and miserable. The sky spit tiny voice she-would hang up. He at­ >snowflakes. Peter sat in the rented tempted to plot, but his thoughts car across the street from the apart­ were scrambled, and he finally was ment building. It was four-twenty- forced to face reality. His only safe five now and his patience had approach was when he could, trap worn thiii. It had been a long af- her alone and unaware. Surprise . ternoon of watching, and he was her. about to give up. // Beth Warner He saw the child leave the build­ was inside the building, she was- ing with the boxer trotting at he:r not coming out. He would have to side, yet it was several seconds be-

A BORN KILLER 17 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED fore realization struck him. Beth purchase of some necessity . . . Warner was suddenly alone! He found the suitcase under a Peter scrambled from the car bed. The packages of money and crossed the street quickly. He looked undisturbed. , He returned paused, looked after the child and, to the front room. Inside four days the boxer. They were at an inter­ he would be on the Riviera. section now, waiting for a traffic The grilled face of a wall heat­ light to change. He stared at the ing vent caught his ^ eye. He child and the dog. In his mind stopped. He could rid himself of they suddenly were Maryanne and the gun now. He could remove the Fritzie. He shook his head, cleared grill, pitch the gun down the pipe, his thoughts, forced himself to blot replace the grill, then be gone. out all images except that of the He shook his head. His safest. woman who now was alone in an move was to vacate the apartment. , apartment. . The sound of a key in the door Beth. - Warner , was immediately lock stiffened him. He cringed. •• frightened when she opened the "No..." door to his ring. She attempted to Then the'door swung open and slam the door. The door stopped he had a brief glimpse "of "ayehild' against his foot. He used both and a boker before the child hands and sent her reeling back screamed and the dog leaped. inside the apartment. He saw her He fired a shot. The dog writhed mouth open, knew the scream was in midair and howled, then coming. He took out the gun and crashed into him, sending, him fired it. Then she was on the car­ spilling back and down. He rolled. peting, twitching. He stood and The' dog flopped irom him, was watched her. die. Suddenly he quiet. • ^ moved to the door and put his ear But the child still screamed. She against it, listening hard, The gun stood in the doorway, hunching had made noise in spite of the si­ into herself, her tiny hands cover­ lencer. ing her face, her eyes wide in ter­ When he was satisfied, he moved ror. She screamed. And screamed. swifdy. He searched in frenzy. The And screamed... ^ child and the dog could return at Peter lifted the gun on the child. any moment. It was too cold a day, But he could not squeeze the trig­ too late in a day for the child to be ger. gone long. She probably had been Dogs and children. sent to a store to make a quick Why had he ever liked either ? ,

18 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY.MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A tree is feautiful only so long as. ii screeens the loathsome serpent in its branches.

BiLUE LIGHT trembled above the hotel; guests were already sitting in the open dining room beyond the pool when a girl appeared on the upper terrace. Down.the stone stairway she came, sandals clack­ ing, white bathing suit startling in the dusky light. She was another lone female tourist, but. different from the others. At the pool-edge she ad­ justed her cap and plunged in. Twice she swam the length of the pool, then floated on her back, sensuously. Roger watched her • casually; no point in getting ex­ cited when she'd never more than nodded to him. Footsteps made him turn. The Ihotel manager smiled. "Not dining jigain, Mr. Peters?" "No appetite in this heat." The girl in the water swam to the pool-edge, and the manager turned to her. "Enjoying a dip. Miss Boyd.?" "Yes, the heat in the city was dreadful. Isn't it ever cool there.?" "Never. By the way, may I join you at your table this evening.?" ^Mur^ "You could, but I'm not dining." HOLIDAY 19 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "I'm disappointed. Reconsider?" "I don't give a damn about him Miss Boyd climbed from the and his activities." pool, asked for a cigarette. The Miss Boyd smiled. "You're from manager felt his pockets, shrugged, New York?" and Roger offered his pack and a "Who here isn't?" light. The manager introduced "True. I came down to get them. A moinent later he was away from the place, and every­ called to the desk. Annoyed, he body I've run into is from the big started away, stopped. "A dance at town." the Royal Palm tonight. I hope to "Disappointed?" have the pleasure ..." "In that respect, but the island's "Sorry, I'm not going." beautiful." "I'm more than sorry." The "Too hot and too lush. I prefer a manager shrugged and walked cooler climate, but doctor's orders. away. Miss Boyd removed her I needed a rest, I can't say I haven't rubber cap, shook her hair. "He rested." really is sorry,'! she said to Roger. "So I've noticed." "What does that mean?" . "Really_? ._r_didn't think you "All'the men are in this place. knew I existed." They've only one thing in mind." ' "The only male who hasn't "Perhaps because there's nothing made some kind of pass. I thought else to do." you might be queer." Miss Boyd laughed. "I suppose "No- such problem," Roger one can't blame therh. Do you smiled. "As for you, I had my own think it's the climate?" thoughts." "They're probably trying to "You thought / was ?" prove they're men and lovers." "Oh, no, just a bit of a snob, but "Well, making love is one way of at least you're not like the other proving it." loners, all hunting for a man." - "Not necessarily. And certainly not "Anything wrong in that?" when one is married, Hke Mr. "No, but niost of them will go LaFarge." ~ hortie disappointed." "He doesn't miss a trick, but you "And yourself?" sound married, or perhaps you're a "Me? I came for a rest,- re­ prude." member?" "Neither one nor the other." "Oh, yes. Then I don't suppose "But you object to Mr. LaFarge's you're permitted to drink?" activities?" "A glass or two wouldn't bother

20 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED me," he admitted encouragingly. trees raised dark hands toward "Could we have one out here ?" him; the jungle below. Chilled, he "Of course." A drink would be turned away, for down there- was just the thing. A white-jacketed boy the real island with its hidden . brought them, bowed and walked terrors and violence which the away. Water splashed into the pool tourists never saw. Now he won­ from the mouths of three green dered about himself. Why had he nymphs, a murmuring came from accepted Miss Boyd's' proposal? the dining room; otherwise, there Would she be like the others?. He was no sound. resented the thought,sfor. it cheap­ "No music this evening," Roger ened her and, by the same token, observed. "Something big going on made her available. elsewhere?" Three potent rum cocktails in "Nothing unusual. Gambling at him and he felt a little reckless. . the Casino, a dance at the Royal But. where was she ? A half-hour Palm. Do you gamble, Mr. Peters.?" gone since she went to dress. He "Not even for fun, and I don't entered the hotel and. asked at the particularly care for nightclubs." desk for her room number. ,The. "You'll be lonely this evening." clerk obliged and sent him a sly He caught the suggestion and smile. They must smell it, Roger looked directly at her. "You're go­ thought. ing dancing—without an escort?"^ A series of dim passages brought "Would you care to take me?" him to Miss Boyd's . room—^but Miss Boyd smiled, and he realized was it hers? He-struck a match. he'd, walked into a trap, biit what Number seven on the door. He difference ? knocked, heels clicked on tile, the "Glad to take you," he said. door opened and she stood before •him. The night blackened and grew "I'm almost ready. Coming in?" cooler, the pool lay quiet. Roger The invitation unexpected, he emptied his glass, glanced toward hesitated, stepped in. the dining room. Empty and dark; "Sorry I took so long, Roger, but a single small light burning at the those drinks we had ... I had to bar and no one there. The guests lie down." She smiled,'a different had fled, the hotel was deserted. person from the one at the pool, He arose on unsteady legs, went to eyes softer, body relaxed. "It's so the raiUng, looked down. The. hill quiet. I don't hear anyone." below dropped swiftly away, thin "I doubt if any guests are about,"

HOLIDAY . ^ ' 21 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED he said, and eyed the room. "Big," What's wrong.?" she asked him. he commented. "I don't like this road in the "And so isolated." dark." "A hard time finding it." "The drivers know it with their "But you did.". eyes shut." She took his hand. A- "Had to," he said, and she sharp curve and she was thrown stepped close, her arms encircled against him. There Was an odor of his neck, her mouth found his. rimi on her. Stunned, he couldn't move at first "Those drinks were stronger and, when he did, it was too late.' tJian' I thought,", he remarked. She escaped and ran to the bath­ "SmeUtherum.?" room. Out again, she donned a "A bottle in my bathroom—I white shawl, walked toward him, m^ pressed her room key into his hand, saying, "We'll need this later." A single taxi waited under the carport. The driver assisted them in. A rumbling over cobblestones, wide turn on a descending curve and the car leaped forward into the dark. Roger felt he was mov­ ing through a void. Anything can happen, he thought, feeling the key in his hand and recalling the start of the evening, Miss Boyd descend­ ing the steps to the pool, the casual inti-oduction by Mr. La- had a quick drink before we left.'- Farge. Strange. Earlier, she'd com-. Simple and ordinary ... but plained about the cocktails. But was it.? He slipped the key into his what matter.? The car rushed on. pocket. Later, after the necessary Twenty minutes later it stopped rituals of the dancing and drinking, in front of the Royal Palm. The he'd have use for it. Nothing else nightclub was dimly lit, crowded, remained between the formaUties the native band playing a Me­ and the cool sheets of Miss Boyd's ringue. A waiter found them a' bed. Is she hke the others.? He table.. The band paused, took up wondered, and she spoke. with another Meringue and Miss "You're not saying • anything. Boyd arose. "Shall we.?"

22 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Why not?" He escorted her to Conversation died. The dancer the floor. Dance? She pressed too held all eyes till she finished. Ap­ close, used her body a bit too plause followed, a group took the much. ^ floor, waiters moved among , the Back at their table she emptied tables. Ice clinked in glasses. Roger her drink in a'swallow, and he had already lost count of the looked around. An excess of men, drinks he'd had. The waiter some tables occupied solely by brought new glasses. Warn Miss them, natives, each with the look Boyd to be.careful? A bit late; her of a hungry predator. They drank eyes were already glazed. and watched the women who sat The near naked female dancer out the dances. Sometimes they got again in solo, the rhythm of the. up and approached them. None bongos wilder, dancer's move­ came to Roger's table, but they ments more suggestive. A burst of watched, one in particular. applause greeted her as she fin­ Roger noticed him. Miss Boyd ished. The lights went on, the didn't; the drinks reaching her? He. band began another Meringue. saw it in her eyes, felt it in the way Miss Boyd jumped up, ready to she clung to him and used her dance. Roger hesitated. As the tall body while they danced. She was man at the.other table stared, he beginning to draw attention. At the led Miss Boyd to the floor. She announcement of the floor show, he held him tightly, head bobbing felt relieved. At least he didn't loosely, hips everywhere; her dress have to dance the Meringue for a slipped from her shoulders and she while. He mentioned that. refused to adjust it. "It's the craze here," Miss Boyd Three successive dances, back to countered. the table and the tall man appeared, "Yes, hke dope. Let yourself go bowed, smiled at Roger. "Do you with it and you can't stop." mind?" Quickly he turned to Miss She lifted her glass. "Isn't that Boyd and asked for a dance. Smil­ why we came, to let ourselves go?" ing, she rose unsteadily and was ' How far ?' he wanted to say, and taken by the arm. a loud drumming intervened. Out Roger watched them on the went the'lights, silence; a white floor, finally lost them in the crowd. beam knifed across the dance floor, They returned when the music focused on an- all but naked fe­ stopped. The tall man bowed, left, male. A slow rhythmic beat of and Miss Boyd flopped .into her bongos and she began to writhe. chair. "He's a marvelous dancer,"

HOLIDAY 23 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED she said. "Did you at all notice?" longer held the women. Their hips "I did, but take care, he's, had were freer now as they abandoned his eye on you all evening." themselves to the music. "Anything wrong in that?" Some minutes later the tall man "Not if he j ust looks." returned to his table and tossed off, "Jealous, or just being stuffy?" a drink. Where was Miss Boyd? "Neither,\ but I brought you Gone to the powder room? Roger here, I feel responsible." waited, finally got up and went to "Oh, come on.\What can happen the other table. The tall one arose, on a dance floor?',' bowed stifily from the hips. "Miss "Nothing, I suppose, but just be Boyd? Another gentleman asked careful. He'll be back for more." her to dance." "You don't want me to dance Roger turned away, searched for with him?" her, and weiit back to the table "I can't stop you," he said. where the tall man sat with his Later, the tall one appeared at friends. He looked up and.smiled. their table again. A bow, a smile, "Ah, back again. You didn't find and off he swept Miss- Boyd to the your partner? Too bad," far side "of'the floor. His strategy? "What happefied to her ?" Roger lifted his glass. The drink "Who knows? Perhaps she went was as mild as water. Was the wait­ off with the other gentleman." er cheating, thinking he; was There was no point in continuing. drunk? Still, his lips were com­ The tall one lit up, his friends pletely numb, a looseness had in­ grinned. Appeal to them ? Roger vaded his body and he felt ready to turned away, again searched the do something reckless. hug;e room arid found the waiter A bottle crashed and he turned, who'd served him. He knew noth­ saw a stout middle-aged woman ing. Perhaps the manager could being helped from the floor by a help. That one shrugged. "The man half her age. Maudlin drunk, lady must have, decided to leave." she tried to kiss him. He held her "She didn't leave on her own'. off, gave her a familiar pat, filled Something happened to her." her glass. "Here ? Irnpossible.^ Perhaps-^". , " Roger turned away. A sudden "There's no sense discussing it ~i change was taking place, the music with you people. Where do I find louder, wilder,, dancers less re­ the police.?" . - strained. The almost stilted,' formal­ "It'll do you no good to go to ized steps of the Meringue no them. The Captain won't be at.

24 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED headquarters, I can assure you." ally a man may kill another over a "He's the whole force?" woman." "No, but his subordinates would "And the Captain comes around only refer the matter to him in the in the morning to clear up the mat­ morning—if he appears." ter.?" '7/he appears.?" The driver ignored the remark. "Yes. You see, he's not always "As a matter of fact, we have very there." little crime, no gangsters, nothing "Then where can I reach him.?" like you have back in the States." _^ A shrug and Roger went out End of theine; silence reigned till the door. The taxi driver who'd they reached the hotel. "If you're brought them stepped up.- "Ready going into the city in the morning, to go back to the hotel, sir.?" sir . . ." "No. Something happened to the No answer for him. Roger went young lady I brought here. Take up the steps, entered the hotel. A me to police headquarters." . sleepy-eyed clerk lounged behind "I wouldn't advise that, sir."- the desk. Ask him, if Miss Boyd "I'm not asking for advice.'' had returned.? No. He. went to her "As you wish, but the Captain—'* room, opened the door, flicked the "Won't be there till rriorning.? light. A hollow room. Okay,, the hotel." The driver started the car. It was Light slipped through the blinds, late now. No light shone, nothing laughter sounded below the bal­ stirred. Roger sat back. "What hap­ cony, the black night of the island pens when a crime is committed on gone. Roger went to Miss Boyd's the island ?" he asked. room and knocked, then used the "Sir.?" key. An empty room. He went off, "Suppose someone is murdered, found the manager and 'explained kidnapped, raped.? Must you wait the events of the previous evening. • till morning for something to be "You think something happened done about it.?" to Miss Boyd.?" The manager The driver glanced back and looked at his nails. "Most likely grinned. "There are no kidnap­ she went off with someone for the pings here. Rape.?" He shook his evening and slept over. After all, head. "One doesn't have to use force that's been knowii to happen here." where love comes so ,easy. Ah, but "No doubt, but that's not the an­ in your country it's different, I un­ swer." derstand. As for murder, occasion­ "You might wait and see if she

HOLIDAY 25 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED turns up. It'searly yet," he placated. last night, as you very well know." "I've waited long enough." "She left this morning. A little "In that case, you'll want to see trouble with a gentleman she, the police, but please.sit down. Un­ danced with last night. Too much. fortunately, the Captain sleeps late. to drink, so shcj was detained." He may not be up before noon." ^ "Where?" "No one else can do anything.'"' "In our jail, of course." , "I'm afraid not. Coffee, Mr. "For what reason? You haven't Peters?" made that clear enough." An hour later Roger drove away "I've made it as clear as I intend from the hotel. The sun blazed, to, and now if you will 'please the road stayed empty all the way leave . . . When you have the into town. The taxi stopped in front facts? Ah, perhaps you'd like to of police headquarters. He went try our jail? I can hold you on sev­ inside. The Captain? Not in yet. eral charges, and it would be rnost When v/ould he arrive? Later. difficult for you to do anything The sum of later, noon—and the about it. A month or so in a dirty Captain? One and the same as the cell .,. ." - tall man of the previous evening. A bluff? No. He left, cUmbed "Yes, what can-1 do for you?" he into the taxi and it moved off. griiined. "The young lady's safe?" the "It's about—" driver asked. "The young lady you were look­ "She's supposed to have left on ing for last evening. You didn't find the morning plane." her?" "That's right; I drove her to the "You know damned well—" airport this morning." The grin faded, the Captain's "How could you? She wasn't at hand came up. "Enough of that. the hotel, she was in jail." You were drinking last night, and I "Jail? Oh, no. She spent the night made allowances. Now you're so­ at the Captain's house. You see, it's ber, and I have a headache." < always the same. Someone takes Heed the warning? The hell with .. his fancy, she's arrested, held over-, him. "Where's Miss Boyd? .You night and—" don't frighten me." "Put on the plane in the morn­ "Perhaps not. So you want the . ing," Roger ' said. Reaching irito 'ypung lady? Too bad. She left the his pocket then,' he found Miss island." , Boyd's key and flimg it out the "There was no plane out of here window.

26 ALFR;ED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A holiday is ai its best for a certain portly gentleman when he finds he is yet able to spread good cheer—tmth exceptions.

(\KYi$M RBTMAg

JOE CHAVISKI, retired chief of de­ tectives, sniffed the smoke and dis­ infectant that permeated the grim, gray atmosphere of the Fort San­ ders police station and city jail. It was so sweet to him that he filled his mighty lungs a second time. This was his youth again—this' was Jiving as he had known it for thir­ ty years as a member of the force. Detective Chief Marty Sauer, who was once one of his "boys," came into the station smoking a big, black cigar. "Joe, what are you doing down here on Christmas Eve.-* Last place I'd be tonight if I could get away." "You can," Joe said. "That's the reason I came down—so one or more of you boys could take off and be with your wife and kids." Sauer stuck out his hand. "Wish

CHAVISKl's CHRISTMAS • 27 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I could take you up on that, Joe." kids on Christmas-Eve. All I get is "Go on home, Marty. I'll take insults." over," Chaviski offered. "Chief's got a schedule worked / Sauer didn't go. Instead, he went out," Hopp said. "I get off. at over to a bench and picked up the eight-thirty and go home for an ^ afternoon paper. hour. All the boys get off some­ ' Detective Johnnie Hopp came time tonight. Day shift's coming in. "Well I'll 'bt-Joe Chaviski! back to help out." ' Merry Christmas, Joe. I-.thought "Okay, okay," Joe said. "Don't you'd. be home popping corn, or mention it. I come down here to be maybe out of town visiting rela­ good to some guy. Might as well, tives." go on back home and listen to the "Have a cigar, Johnnie," Joe Christmas carols. That's all there said, pulling a long, black one is on television. I'll be glad when • from his pocket. Christmas is over." "Is this a Fidel special?" Hopp Joe didn't go home. It was ,the asked. "Won't explode on me, now, last place he wanted to be tonight.- Joe?" • It was so barren and empty—his "What do you rummies think I wife Lucy had been dead seven am? This ain't April Fool. You years now. Christmas had meant think I'd give you an exploding so much to Lucy. They had never cigar at Christmas?" had children, soVshe'd take a doz­ "Well, no—not . at'Christmas." en or more yoiingsters from the Hopp lighted up. He took a cou- orphanage into their home for a . pie of puffs and then held the cigar real Christmas. Joe had always* at arm's length. It didn't explode. groaned when the bills came iri, "Gee, thanks, Joe," he said. but the happiness that Lucy had "Of all the uncouth, ungratieful, given the children was worth it. Of ignoramuses," Joe stormed, glar­ course it was always his lot to ing with his old fervor, "you're the work on Christrrias Eve, but like worst! Don't you respect a friend's all the boys he had got off duty - gift?" for an hour, and Lucy had hirh ' "Sorry, Joe. I really am. This is a play Santa Claus and distribute the darn good cigar." ' , gifts. He'd change into a Santa "I came down here thinking I Claus suit-in the garage^and with could take over somebody's run for his 250 pounds it needed no pad­ an hour or so, let the boys take ding. . turns going horne to be with their Now Joe's home rang^ with emp-

28 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S--MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED tiness instead of the happy laugh­ Henryetta cracked a pecan and ter of little children. He hadn't put began eating it. Rauser went to the up any Christmas decorations, and telephone and dialed his wife. the packages he had received ear­ "How are the kids? Tell them I'll lier in the week from Charlie Tay­ be home in a little while—oh about lor, his nephew in St. Louis, and half an hour. Fix me some egg- from Emma Howard, his niece in nog." Memphis, still lay unopened on the Night Chief Merle Henson came livingroom table. Joe had mailed in. "Hello, Joe. Glad to see you." out his presents ten days ago and "I came down thinking I might 'had posted his Christmas cards the take over for someone, let one of week before. He had also mailed a the boys go home to his family." sizeable contribution for presents Henson nodded., "Thanks Joe. at the orphan's home. Now, on Appreciate it. But we got a sched­ Christmas Eve, he .had wandered ule all worked out." down to the police station to "Hell of a thing about that three- grouch and cuss and joke with the year-old being kidnapped over at boys—to be with other humans on Tulsa last night," said Marty Sau- the most terrible night of the year er, putting down the paper. "We for a retired and lonely man. watched the bridge all last night. Desk Sergeant Jacks Haley had a Stopped every car coming from fruitcake wrapped in foil on, his Oklahoma. He either had already desk, beside a big electric percola­ got through or headed somewhere tor. "Help yourself, Joe," he said., else out of Sallisaw." Joe cut a piece of cake and filled a "Anything new on it?" Joe paper cup with hot, black coffee. asked. "Cream and sugar over there,"- Ha­ "No, nothing," Chief Henson ley said. said, "except.we got,a picture of "No, thanks, I like it black." the kid, special delivery, about Motor Patrolmen Pete Rauser thirty minutes ago from the Tulsa and Charlie Henryetta came in police department. Posted on the %yith a drunk. They booked him, bulletin board." searched him, turned his billfold, Joe swore. Kidnapping—at ^ watch, and pocketknife over to Christmas! He waddled over to - Haley, who also served as night the bulletin board and looked at . jailer, and then -put him in the the poster hurriedly prepared by run-around. "Go to sleep," said the Tulsa police. A dark-haired Rauser, "and sober up." tot, wearing a cowboy suit and a

CHAVISKIS CHRISTMAS. 29 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED brace -of toy six-shooters almost as and escaped convicts wanted by the big as he was, looked back at Joe FBI and police departments from the' poster. The child's name throughout the Southwest—but al­ was Jimmy Wells. ways his eyes came . back to the His father, the bulletin stated, ^three-year-old boy who was in the was a Tulsa oil man. The parents hands of a'killer-kidnapper. were separated. It had been a spec­ . A couple more drunks - were tacular kidnapping. The father brought in; .pne was wild, cursing had sent his chauffeur for the boy and screaming. There was an acci­ around ten a.m. the day before, dent far out on the ^ old Green­ and he was to spend the rest of-the wood Road. Far out! Joe was liv­ day and night with the father, and ing out there twenty years ago. he returned to his mother the next Old Greenwood Road was now day—Christmas Eve. paved and in a heavily populated Two hours later the body of part of the city. The city limits had Wells' chauffeur had been found in pushed much farther south. a Tulsa city park; . ^Joe found the station filling with Three hours after.that, Sequoyah trim young men in snappy police County officers had come upon the uiiiforms, shining boots and shoes, abandoned Wells car on U.S. 64, gleaming helmets, badges, belt- just west of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. A buckles, and efficient looking guns. ^crudely scrawled note demanding It was eight-thirty. Some of the $100,000 ransom had been pinned boys were leaving for their homes. to the front seat of the cari The The others had come in to relieve note threatened death to the child them. if the police were informed—silly, Marty Sauer winked. "Come on, because it was almost certain that Joe, let's go out and cruise around officers would either find the car . and maybe get, a cup of coffee. or be notified the moment some- . Johnnie Hopp's mother, and, sister one ^ else found it. Sallisaw was got in tonight and they're leaving about twenty miles west of Fort again tomorrow. He won't have Sanders on the Arkansas-Okla­ much time to see them so I sent homa statejine, but the kidnappers him home whether Chief likes it, or could have gone in any direction not. I knew you'd be glad to ride from there. with me." Joe scrutinized the bulletins and "That's what I came for," Joe posters on other criminals-^killers, • said. safecrackers, forgers, extortionists, ' "Got your gun?"

30 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ^ "Sure. I always carry my gun." avoid.' hitting him. But tonight, This was more like it! This was Christmas Eve, Sauer wasn't seeing living again for Joe. They cruised them. Traffic was thinning down. Main Street. Shopping was almost Maybe they . would stay on the over. Some of the stores already sidewalk and safely get to wher­ had closed, but a few were still ever they were going. open and last-minute, wild-eyed They drove across the river shoppers were rushing here and bridge into Oklahoma, turned there. Salvation Army lads and around under. the overpass, and lassies shivered as they kept the came back over the bridge. The Christmas pots boiling beneath Christmas decorations over the their tripods, hoping to pick- up a avenue were beautiful. How many, few belated coins to help pay for many Christmas Eves had he spent tomorrow's Christmas dinners for^ just like this when he was on the the poor and homeless. Icy winds force—cruising ^the streets of the whipped around streetv corners, and-) • city,'looking for prowlers-r-and be­ sent the strings of decorative lights fore that; in his rookie days as a to dancing. Night fog swept in patrolman, walking his beat, try­ from , the river . accompanied, by ,_ ing the . back, doors, .of Jpusiness gusts of sleet, \yeary salesclerks houses for break-ins, checking the looked at the clocks on the walls of restaurants, the honky-tonks, the their stores, wanting to get home railroad and bus stations. to be with their own families— Now Marty and Joe cruised the and the spirit of Christmas took alleys behind the big wholesale over the Holy Night. buildings in the west end of town, They cruised the length of the their eyes and flashlights covering avenue, turned back and went up every window, every back door. a side street. Everything seemed in Joe's big paw settled on Marty's order. One or two drunks were wrist. "Over there. The steps at the, weaving along the sidewalks in the end of the warehouse loading west part of town, but Sauer paid dock. I saw something move." no attention to them. Ordinarily, Sauer shot the car toward the Joe knew, Sauer very likely would dock, turning the headlights on have stopped and picked them up. upper beam. A dark shadow part­ A swaying drunk, crossing a street ed from the side of the steps and at night, was a traffic menace. He scurried into the darkness beneath might be killed or hurt, or cause the dock. Joe leaped out of the someone else to be hurt trying to cruiser on one side and Sauer on

CHAVISKl's CHRISTMAS ,31 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the other, their handguns drawn., better take a look behind those^ . "Don't shootf Don't, shoot! "The- steps." - - 5 crackhng voice of an old man . "Why, Mister Joe Chaviski,'-' came to them from beneath ' the*' Frankie said. "I ain't seen you in dock.' a coon's age. Got me a sack of stuff "Come out from under there the Salvation Army give me under with your haiids up!" Sauer com­ there, that's all." manded. "Uh huh,", said Joe. "We'll see." "Okay, don't shoot," the old man Old Frankie was a petty thief, a whined. A thin, grizzled, and dirty river rat. He made the legitimate man of about seventy crawled but part of his living as a professional of the shadows. fisherman on the river—if you for­ "Well, hello diere!" Sauer said; got the fact that he never bought a "It's Fisherman Frankie.. Firankie, professional license, or- any fishing- what the devil are you up to?" license at all, in his whole life. The ^ "Ain't up to nothin'," said the rest of the time he lived either by old man. "On my yvay, to niy what he could "pick up" or off the'\ houseboat to play-'Santa for my city while sitting out jail sentencesr grandson." Jt had been like this when Joe, , "Yeah? Why. did you duck un­ Chaviski was on his .first beat on-, , der that dock?" the force:—and it would be like "Well, sir. Mister Sauer, I. guess that until Frankie was too old to' it was jest habit. A feller up the get about. street give me a couple of swigs of Marty Sauer came out from un­ good whiskey, it bein' Christmas der the dock with a tow sack .—and me, when I been drinkin' loaded with packages. "Salvation and I. see a cop comin', I jest natch- Army is getting highfalutin' these elly run and hide, and that's the days to giftwrap all its stuff for truth." ^ , ' _ charity," he said. "Don't you think Sauer's flashlight was merciless,' so, Joe?" ; -•.'.• revealing a seamed and wrinkled "Not all of it come from the Sal­ old face, red from the biting wind vation Army," Frankie said. "I got —but the old eyes squinting out a lot of friends giye me things at from beneath' straggly white hair Christmas." and a craggy thrust of forehead Sauer motioned to the car. ^ were keen as a knife blade—and "Okay, get in the back seat, Frank­ calculating". ie. We're going riding." "I'll hold him," Joe said. "You The old: fellow got in, the car 32 ALFRED HITCHCOClf's MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED protesting. "I got a grandson visit- little boy going to do, who was ex­ in'. He's just a little mite of a fel­ pecting that football you got here, ler. I tole him Santa would bring and that popgun, and that toy bull­ him some things tonight. Now dozer .? What's the lady going to do what is he goin' to think?" when she finds that dress missing "He's not alone down there, is —or that little girl when she does- he.?" . n't get her baby doll in the morn­ "Nope. The ole woman's with ing? Frankie, I'm ashamed of him. But he's going to be mighty you." disappointed. He'll think his "I don't know what you're talk­ grandpappy plumb lied to him. He ing about. Mister Joe. That dress won't never trust no Santa no- was give to me fer my wife. I got more." some friends in this here town, I At the station they unloaded have. And them toys was for my Frankie's sack upon the top of Ha­ little grandson. My boy Jed ley's desk. There was a silk dress brought him along from Califor- from one of the leading depart­ nie. Jed don't get home very of­ ment stores, a toy bulldozer, a box ten." of chocolates and a box of hard Sauer handed Joe a paper which candy, a football, a can of mixed Haley had just given him. The list nuts, a water pistol, a popgun, a contained a number of items re­ near child-size doll, and a toy air­ ported stolen from parked cars. plane. There was a necklace of "They've been phoned in during imitation pearls and a matching the last thirty minutes. Late shop­ set of earrings, a set of doll dishes, pers. They left their cars unlocked an electric alarm clock, _ a Boy as per usual." Scout knife, and two boxes of 12- Practically everything reported gauge shotgun shells. Most of the stolen from the cars now lay on items were gift-wrapped, and they the sergeant's desk. came from different stores. "Lock him up," Sauer said. "Frankie, Frankie," Joe said, "Charge grand larceny." "you and I have got along all "Mister Sauer," old Frankie these years. Why did you have to whined, "have a heart. First time go and make us put you in jail on I ever seen my grandson. What'll Christmas Eve.?" he think of me? All I got is two "You think I stole those things.?" 'dollars. Won't some of you go buy "We know darn well you did," him a leetle present of some kind? Joe said. "Now what is that other I hate to let that li'l feller down.

CHAVISKIS CHRISTMAS 33

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Me an' the ole woman don't want "Where is the boy?" Joe inquired, nothin' fer Christmas. I didn't pick "Down in my houseboat.. You up that stuff fer us. I just grabbed know the .place where the old what I could, hopin' to get some- wharf used to be years ago, jest thing for the boy." aibove the ole railroad bridge."

34 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Joe nodded. "Marty and I'll try clothing. Joe grinned with pleasure. to pick up some toys somewhere Chief Henson surveyed the pile for him. Don't ^ know where—ev­ of gifts on Marty Sauer's desk. erything's closed by now..But we'll "Okay," he said, "who's going to find him some toys somewhere." play Santa Claus.? You ought-to do Old Frankie held out his hand— it, Marty—you and Joe. I know Joe a gnarled old hand as hard as a will go along." stick of oak. "Thank you, Joe. I "Wait a minute," Joe said, "look don't give a damn what happens to at the time. It's ten-thirty. That lit­ me, just so that leetle boy gets tle boy has been asleep for hours. somethin' fer Christmas. His dad­ We can't go down there and wake dy had to leave just as soon as he him up this time of night." dropped him off last night. He'll "That's right, Joe," the chief said. be back tomorrow, or the day af­ "But somebody ought to go down ter, but I don't know whether he'll there and tell Frankie's old lady bring the kid anything or not." where he is. She might-be missing Joe and Sauer consulted with him—it being Christmas and him Night Chief Henson, and then not getting back with anything." passed the word over the poHce ra­ Some of the boys chuckled. "I'll dio that a little boy wasn't going go tell her," Sauer said. "You want to have much of a Christmas be­ to come along, Joe?" cause his grandfather was locked They drove down to the end of up in jail—where he was liable to the pavement on Parker Avenue be for some time. The police were and got out of the car. Old Frank­ asked to "kick in" with a small ie's houseboat was- anchored down and suitable gift from the toys at the.foot of the natural wharf, a they had bought for their own hundred feet or so above the old children. Missouri Pacific bridge. The dirt The appeal couldn't. have done road that led down to the wharf better if it had been person-to-per­ was muddy from recent rains, and son to Santa Claus himself. One a car was liable to bog down. Joe by one the boys began appearing at and Sauer made their way slowly the station with a toy—a teddy down to the boat, walking careful­ bear, a box of blocks, a little me­ ly over the sleet-covered slate walk chanical duck, a tiny train, a pop­ which was part of the old wharf. gun, and on and on. For good Frankie's boat was tied up to iron measure, the police wives donated rings hammered into crevices of candy, fruit, cookies, and articles of the rock. There was no light on in

CHAVISKl's CHRISTMAS 35 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the boat, and a single twelve-inch "'Bout eight o'clock, I reckon." plank led from the slate rock to the "Good," said Joe. "We'll be back boat—a crude and slippery gang­ in the morning." plank. "Okay," said the old woman. "Hello there in the boat, Mrs. "I'll have some fresh coffee bilin'." Frankie," Sauer shouted. After the "Fresh coffee, Joe," Sauer said,- third call, there was a spurt of yel­ when they had climbed back up low light inside, and a moment the muddy road to their car. later a gaunt, gray-haired old "Where you reckon they get the woman appeared in the door. She water.? From the river.?" was wearing a long, flannel night­ ^ "Well, it will be 'biled'," Joe said. gown and was holding a lighted "I hope you fellows won't forget to lantern. get those things down to her in "Who is it.?" the inorning like we promised." "Detective Sauer of the police "Where do you get that 'you fel­ department—and Joe Chaviski," lows' stuff? That's your job. The Sauer said. "Frankie ran into a lit­ whole idea was yours." tle trouble. We've got him up there "The heck with you. This is the in jail." police department's party. I'm not "What fer.?" having anything to do with it." "Going through cars." "Oh no.? You be down here at The old woman remained silent. eight o'clock in the morning to go "We thought you might be un­ with me," Sauer said. "And that's easy when he didn't get back to­ an order." \ night." At the station Joe started for his "I shore thank ye for letting me car to go home. know." "And say,"- Sauer said, "you still "You've got your little grandson got that Santa Glaus suit.? Why on the boat, haven't you.?" Joe said. don't you do it up right and wear "I shore have. Cutest little feller it in the morning. Don't want to you ever.seen. He's sound asleep." let that kid down just because his "The police department heard granddad got caught arid had to about it, and we want to bring go to jail." ', . down some presents for him in the Joe got'in his car and gunned it morning." out of the parking area. When he "That shore would be nice." got home, he opened the packages "What time do you think the his folks had sent him. The pack­ boy will be awake.?" age, from his nephe^y contained a

36 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED pair of gloves too small" for his Claus suit—the suit he had used hands. The package from his niece when Lucy entertained the orphans contained a bright red tie. Joe nev­ years ago. Any grandson of Fish­ er wore a red tie in his life. He erman Frankie—and son of Jed carefully did the packages up Frankie—was bound to be under­ again. He'd take them down to old privileged. Maybe Lucy was watch­ Frankie's place in the morning and ing Joe approvingly now. leave them there for the old scoun­ He pulled on the suit, and it was drel whenever he got out of jail. a tight fit. He pulled on the black Maybe they'd reduce the charges to boots, and even dug out the white petty larceny. whiskers, but he placed the whisk­ Then, on an inspiration, Joe ers in the front seat of his car. No went to the clothes closet—it had need of putting them on until the. been Lucy's closet—and fished one last minute—the darn things had of Lucy's good dresses out of a always tickled. It was a quarter of moth-proof bag. The dress had eight when he strode into the po­ been hanging there since the sum­ lice station. mer before Lucy went away. He He was greeted by a chorus of folded the dress and gift-wrapped "Ho, ho, ho's!" delivered in uni­ it, using some of the paper that son by the boys who were there.. had been left over from the pres­ "Where the devil is Sauer.?" he ents he had sent the families of his asked Pete Scoville, day desk .ser­ niece and nephew. Lucy's dress was geant. of good quality. Maybe it wasn't in "Why, Joe, he works at night. the latest style, but poor old Mrs, He might be down later, though." Frankie wouldn't know the differ­ "You wait until I get my hands ence. on him!" Joe roared. "Well, some Joe turned in, but he couldn't of you fellows got to go with me quickly get to sleep. There was to old Frankie's place. I'm not tak­ something troubling him, and he ing this thing on all by myself." wasn't quite sure what it was. The report of a safecracking at a He was up at six in the morn­ supermarket came in, quickly fol­ ing and cooked a Christmas break­ lowed by automobile accidents in fast of ham and eggs, toast, hot widely separated parts of town. coffee, and a side dish of instant The station was cleared of police­ oatmeal. Then Joe rurnmaged at men in a jiffy. the bottom of an old trunk in his Sergeant Scoville looked at Joe bedroom and drew out the Santa and shrugged. "Looks like you're CHAVISKl's CHRISTMAS 37 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED a solitary Santa Claus," he said. Mother Hubbard this morning, "All right. Where's that darn tow and she had combed her hair and sack Fr'ankie had his stuff in last done it up in a bun. "Morning, night?" ' Mister Chaviski," she said. "Cof­ The sergeant found it and- fee's ready. Watch yore step on that helped him load everything into it plank. It's plumb icy." that the boys had donated for the Joe minced across the plank like Frankie kid's Christmas. Joe was a great cat trying to avoid getting shouldering the pack when Scoville its feet wet. A small child was handed him a cigar wrapped in a seated at a table inside the house­ Christmas card. There was a note boat, but until Joe's eyes adjusted in the card: "Merry Christmas, all he could make out was the out- Santa Joe. See you later. I'm sleep­ hne of the tot's head. "I want my ing. P.S. Have this cigar on me. monrniy," said a little voice. Marty." Joe "Ho-ho-ho'd" in his best Swearing to himself, Joe lugged Santa Claus voice and began put­ the sack out to the car. It was Uke ting the toys on the table before old times. He lit Marty's cigar. It the boy, drawing the presents out exploded! Joe shook his fist at of the sack one by one. He handed Scoville, who was watching from the package containing Lucy's the door of the poUce station. dress to Mrs. Frankie. "A present He drove to the end of the pave­ from my wife," he said. ment above the old wharf and "Thankee," said the old lady. parked the car. He put on the "That was' real thoughty of her." ticklish Santa; Claus whiskers, "I want my mommy," wailed the hefted the sack of presents to his little fellow. He had been spoon­ back, carried the package contain­ ing something that looked like oat­ ing Lucy's dress under his arm, meal and milk out of a bowl. Great and started the descent to the tears ran down the child's face. houseboat. Last night's freeze had "My boy Jed brung little Junior put a crust on ,the surface of the here so his wife couldn't get her muddy wharf road, but the last hands on him," Mrs. Frankie said. fifty feet over the slate rock was "They've split up, and he had to slippery vvith ice. hide the boy away from her law­ Joe reached the plank that led yers. Jed'll be here any time now. from the rocks to the boat and hal­ He said he'd be back early Chris: loed until Mrs.,Frankie opened the rrias morning and maybe take the door. She was wearing a faded boy away ag'in."

38 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Joe selected a cuddly teddy bear have heard her say it in person. from the pile of gifts and pushed it Joe got up to leave, but she in­ toward the youngster. The child sisted he have some coffee. She stopped crying and grabbed the toy poured it into a tin cup and he with a gurgle of delight. drank it down without a qualm "Lor'-a-mercy!" said the old about germs and water pollution. woman. "I wish my poor man was The coffee was so hot and strong here. I never seed so many purtics he knew no germ could survive. in my life. None of my kids ever Joe picked up the child and held had more than one toy, and I him in his arms. "Daddy, Daddy," brung up eight of them. Quite a the tot crooned. "Take me mom­ job, too, when we was livin* on the my." river all the time." "I'll do that, sonny," he said. Joe looked at the youngster, now "I'll do that very thing. Daddy will over his timidity and diving into come see you right away. You be a the other toys on the table. Eight good boy till Daddy comes." little ones brought up in a one- "Mr. Chaviski, my mister always room box on the water like this! said you was a good cop. I wish There were two cots, a bare table, you'd do. what you could to get and two chairs, one with the back him out of jail. It's tough on a ole broken off. Heat was furnished by woman like me trying to get along a wood-burning range at the far without no man. Them Salvation end of the cabin. Wall decorations Army vitdes is all the food we'uns consisted of smelly fish nets and have got." coils of trot-line cord. Stored be­ "I'll do what I can," Joe said. neath the table was a sack of wel­ "Maybe we can get the charge re­ fare commodities and a Christmas duced to petty larceny." He picked box of groceries from the Salvation up the package containing the red Army. tie and the one with the gloves, Mrs. Frankie shrieked with de­ "These are gifts for Frankie. I'll light. She had opened Joe's pack­ take them to him in the jail." age, and held the dress at arm's Joe made his way carefully back' length admiring it, then ran her to the car, drove it about' a block hand lovingly across the front, pal­ and parked behind some shrub­ ing it fondly. "Tell your old lady bery. He had brought the tow sack —tell Mrs. Chaviski it's the only back to the car with him, and now silk dress I ever had in my life," he took the mats from the floor of she said. Joe wished Lucy could his car and stuffed them into the

CHAVISKl's CHRISTMAS 39 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED sack. He lowered the windows an lean like his father, except he was­ inch or two on each side of the car n't bent over like Fisherman to let the fresh air in and started Frankie. Jed stopped at the end of the heater. It might be a long wait, the bridge and appeared to melt and it was still plenty cold at a lit­ into one of the big steel eiid gird­ tle past nine o'clock. ers. Joe could see his head turning He had an idea that Jed would slowly as he peered warily about. be coming, just like his mother Now he was coming on—and had said, and that he would come Joe was out of his car, with his across the old railroad bridge. That bulging sack on his back. They met bridge had been built before Jed at the cut, where the dirt road led Frankie's father had been born, down to the natural wharf. Jed and his brothers and sisters "Santa Claus!" Jed said. "What had played in the shadow of that the devil are you doing down here bridge all their lives—and the only in this part of town. Slumming?" bath water they had ever known "Salvation Army," Joe said. "Got was the muddy Arkansas River some stuff for Mr. and Mrs. water diat swirled about its base. Frankie in the houseboat down Thirty minutes Joe waited. The there. First time I ever called on Santa Claus suit, tight and uncom­ folks in a houseboat." Joe was car­ fortable as it was, helped keep him rying the gift packages for old warm. He did not remove the man Frankie in his hands, 'the whiskers. He even forgot they gaily wrapped , package with the tickled. Darn it—if he just had gloves and the one with the red tie. some vanilla ice cream—just a pint "Them's my folks," Jed said. cartoii of it. But he dared not "Old Santa Claus wouldn't have a drive off to get some. Across the present for a little boy hke me? river at the end of the old railroad Say a bottle of bonded bourbon?" bridge, a car could park in the Cot­ "No, I'm afraid not," Joe said, tonwood saplings and never be de­ "but here's a pair of gloves and a tected from the highway. Jed knew nice red tie." both sides of the river along the Joe shoved the packages toward Arkansas-Oklahoma border like Jed and suddenly pressed them the back of his hand. against his body. The black barrel Another thirty minutes passed, of a 38 revolver, lashed to the and then he saw the dark figure glove package with a pretty red on the bridge halfway across. It ribbon, jammed into Jed's flesh. was Jed all right. He was tall and "It's aU up, Jed," Joe said. He

40 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE- LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED took two guns off the astonished and placed a collect call to the Frankie. ' • ' Tulsa police department. At the police station a harassed "Chaviski, Fort Sanders police. Detective Chief Marty Sauer near- , Hello, Captain, Merry Christmas ly dropped the telephone when he to you. You got a young oilman saw Joe Chaviski, bursting at the over there and a young mother seams in a tight-fitting Santa Claus you think a three-year-old boy suit, herding a handcuffed Jed might possibly bring together Frankie into the jail ahead of him, again? Sure we got him. You did­ followed by Fisherman Frankie's n't pay out the $100,000 ransom, wife lugging a black-haired little' did you? Sure, we got the kidnap­ boy of three in her arms. per too. What am I doing back on "He ain't no son of mine no the force? Oh, when they got more," old Mrs. Frankie was say-- something, tough they can't figure ing, emphasizing her declaration out, they call in the old man. Three with choice oaths. hours ? You make your boys watch "What the devil you doing?" out for slick spots on the highway Marty Sauer said. and bring the mother and father "I wanted you to go along with both. I promised the^kid they'd be me, you hook-ruben," said Joe, here. Okay, Captain. Need any­ "but no, you'd rather play with ex­ thing else, don't fool with the po­ plosive cigars." He nodded to the lice department over here—^just call jailer, then when the barred door Joe Chaviski." opened, pushed Jed Frankie Marty Sauer bent down beside through and slammed the door Chaviski, pulled out one of the shut after him. "You're not going drawers of the desk. There was a anywhere, Frankie, so sit over box of cigars, and there was a card there. We'll book you and take the on it: "To Joe Chaviski from the cuffs off in a minute or two." boys at the Police Department." Chaviski sat down in Sauer's "And not a darn one of them is chair, reached for the telephone, going to explode," Sauer said.

CHAVISKIS CHRISTMAS 41 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Unerring decisions are the muscular training of a philosopher, Epictetus believed, and the following may be substantiation.

prisoner wants to give it to us. There's his rights to consider. First we have to inform him that he doesn't need to say a word unless he really feels Hke it. That's be­ SHERIFF TATE introduced himself cause of the Miranda Decision, you and then apologized. "Sorry to dis­ know. Then if he still insists on turb you so early in the morning, confessing, it's better for us if he Mr. Watkins, but we need a law­ does his talking in the presence of yer." his lawyer. That's so he can't re­ I opened my hotel room door a nege later and claim that nobody bit more. "We.?" told him nothing. The whole thing "The Sheriffs Department," he is explained in the little booklet put said. "We've got this prisoner and out by the Sheriffs' Association." he wants to confess." "Now look. Sheriff," I said, "I I glanced at my watch. It was have to, attend my own business. seven a.m. "So let him confess." One of my cases is scheduled be­ Tate smiled tolerantly. "We try fore the State Supreme Court this to keep up with the times here, afternoon and I've got to be there." Mr. Watkins. We can't accept a con­ "This won't take more than a fession anymore just because a half hour of your time," Tate said.

42 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the store. Heard a noise down­ stairs and came down with his pis­ tol. Chased Dawson up the alley and wounded him. Nothing seri­ ous though; a scratch on the calf of his leg." I gave that thought. "Have you arrested Harrington}" Tate blinked. "Harrington ? What for?" "Surely a town of this size must have an ordinance against the dis­ charge of firearms' within its terri­ torial limits?" "Wellj yes. But Harrington was just defending his property." I smiled thinly. "And just where "The Miranda Decision don't say did you say that the prisoner was how long you got to be his lawyer. wounded?" I mean you just represent him "The calf of the leg." while he does the confessing, and "In . other words, the prisoner he can get another lawyer when was running away from Harring­ his trial comes up." ton when he was shot?" I glanced at my packed suit­ "I guess you could say that." cases. "Doesn't this" town have any "So Harrington wasn't really de­ lawyers of its own?" fending anything, now was he? He nodded. "We got two, but He was merely shooting a fleeing they're ,both in Jefferson City this man in the back of the leg?" week. The County Court's in ses-.-.; Tate regarded me uncertainly for sion, you know." He shifted his a moment, but then decided he still weight to the other foot. "This, wanted me. "Anyway, we found prisoner—Dawson is his name— this bag of safecracking tools in a was caught attempting to open the back yard just off the alley. That's safe in Harrington's Superette." where Dawson threw them when I rubbed my jaw. "You were the he realized that they were slowing one who caught him ?" him down." "No. Harrington did that him­ "You found Dawson's finger­ self. He lives in the apartment over prints on the tools?"

DROPOUT 43 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Well, no. I guess he used the ly. "No deals. I'll swear to that." black gloves we found stuffed in I accompanied Tate to the jail- his back pocket. According to the house and was introduced to Har­ hotel people, Dawson's been here rington. two days and passing himself off He was a heavy man with the as a wholesale shoe salesman." faint smell of liquor about him. "I My eyes went to the window. live over the store," he said, "and The day had possibilities of being along about three this morning I depressing. "Where is the prisoner woke and heard this noise down­ now?" stairs. So I went to the dresser "In a cell at the jailhouse." where I keep my pistol arid pulled "You put a wounded man in a out the drawer. I guess I must have jail cell?" been a little nervous, because I "Well, sure. Like I said, the pulled it out too far and everything wound wasn't nothing serious. Just fell to the floor. That must have let nicked off a little flesh." the safecracker know I was com­ "Is that what the doctor said?" ing. By the time I made it down­ "We couldn't get Doc Peterson. stairs, he was already in the alley." He was out on a country call. Mrs. "Ho\y much did he steal?" I Thomkins is expecting again and asked. she believes in home deUveries. But "Nothing," Harrington said. "He we got this first-aid'box in the of­ didn't have time to get the safe fice." open." I shook my head sadly. Tate's deputy brought the pris­ Tate looked worried. "You think oner, into the room. Dawson was a we should've got the doctor some­ small man and he seemed on the how?, But the Miranda Decision verge of losing his temper. He don't cover slight flesh wounds." stared at me warily. "Why is the prisoner so eager tocj "I'm your lawyer," I said. "The confess?" name is James Watkins. I under­ "Not eager, exacdy. It's just that stand that you want to confess ?" he's been thinking it over for a few He shrugged casually. "Wouldn't hours and I guess he realizes that it go easier forme?" , since he was caught in the act it'll "How does your leg feel?" Tate go easier for him if he makes no asked. "Any pain ? " trouble and confesses." Dawson looked down at the leg. "You made a deal with him?" "No. It was just a scratch." "Absolutely not," Tate said firm­ The sheriff turned to me. "The

44 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED reason I asked him about the Dawson looked at me and wound is because there was this shrugged again. case in Sheboygan where the man I turned to Harrington. "You was arrested for drunken driving. saw the prisoner at the safe?" He confessed to the charge at the "Not exactly. But the Back door station in the presence and with was standing open and I knew I the consent of his lawyer, but the didn't leave it that way when I judge threw the case out of court went upstairs for the night." anyway, claiming that the defen­ "So you rushed to the alley door dant was still too drunk at the time and you saw a dark figure run­ of the confession to be in full pos­ ning? Or thought you saw him session- of his senses and know running?" what he was saying." "He was running all right," Har­ I blinked, not seeing a connec­ rington said positively. "There was tion between the two cases. ^ a quarter moon out. Maybe more." "I mean that if a man should be "And you began spraying bul­ in pain from a bullet wound, for lets all about the place? How many instance," Tate said earnestly, shots did you fire?"- "then he also might not be in the "Five or six.'' full and free possession of his "All of them aimed at the fleeing senses and the court's liable to man?" throw out the whole thing. You "Sure." can't be too careful, you know." "But only one bullet hit him? Dawson rubbed his forehead. And a graze at that?" The sheriff watched him. "Got a "Well, it was dark," Harrington headache ?" said defensively. He quickly cor­ "Sure," Dawson said. rected that. "Not too dark to see Tate turned to his deputy. "Bill, him. But I'm not such a good ^shot. get him two aspirins and a glass of That's what happened." water." "As a matter of fact," Sheriff When Bill returned, Dawson Tate said, "one of Harrington's . swallowed the two aspirins and bullets went through Ray Janecki's seemed about to say something, but kitchen window, just about head Sheriff Tate held up a cautioning high. Would have got Ray except hand. "I realize that the, aspirins that he happened to be in bed at may already be at work in your the time." He turned to Dawson. bloodstream, but let's wait ten "How's the headache ?" minutes to be sure." "Improving," Dawson said.

DROPOUT •45 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "What's for breakfast?" he added. ton had turned her over to me. Tate was faintly startled. "Break­ Claimed a little thing hke that fast? We'd better get you some­ should be settled quietly without thing to eat before you. say another going to the authorities. Even word," he said quickly. ."I don't, threatened to punch Harrington in want the confession to be tainted the nose." by the fact that you might ..be act­ I smiled thinly in Harrington's ing under the stress of hunger." direction. "You're worried that After about fifteen minutes,. Biddle will do just that?" Tate's deputy returned from the He drew himself up. "Biddle diner next door with a tray of don't worry me. I told him to take food. his shoplifting to some other store, While- Dawson ate, I studied and as far as I'm concerned, that Harrington. "Have you got a closes the incident." grudge against this man Janccki? Sheriff Tate closed his manual. The one whose head you nearly "I think that in order to play this shot off?" absolutely safe, we ought to tape Harrington's voice squeaked record the fact that I'm letting the shghtly! "Grudge? Why should I prisoner know his rights, and also have a grudge against Janecki? we ought to tape the confession." He's not even a regular customr He spoke to his deputy; "Do you er. )) ' ... know anybody in town who's got Tate had been paging through a tape recorder?" the Sheriflf's Manual. He looked "There's MilUe Pritchard," Bill up. "Isn't Chuck Biddle's house said and left the room. right next to Janecki's?" I focused upon Harrington again. "-^I guess so," Harrington said. "You admit that the safe wasn't "Why?" even opened in this so-called rob­ Tate turned to me. "Last week bery attempt?" Harrington caught Biddle's wife "Maybe not," he conceded. "But shoplifting in the store." . at least there's breaking and enter-. Harrington nodded. "A jar of mg. maraschino cherries and two cans "You saw Dawson break arid en­ of anchovies. They don't really ter?" need the stuff, but they take it any­ "No, but the back door's been way." jimmied. You can see that for your­ Tate agreed. "Biddle got pretty self if you want to." upset when he found that "Harring- I smiled patiently. "I will grant

.46 . • ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED that the back door was jimmied, "He was taking a shortcut." but we don't really know who did "There's only one hotel in this the. jimmying, now do we? Just town and one movie house," Har­ suppose this is all really a cover-up rington said, "and the alley isn't for an attempt to put a bullet between them. Besides, it was three through Riddle's head?" in the morning and the last movie Harrington brisded. "I didn't lets out somewhere around mid- even hit Biddle's house." nigf^t." "You admit you're a,lousy shot, Dawson looked up from his cup and you'd been drinking—I can of coffee and waited. smell it on your breath." "He got lost and was lost'for a He colored. "I wasn't drinking long time," I said. "He admits when it all happened. I took a cou­ he's a stranger in town." ple of swallows later to steady my "What about the safecracking nerves. Besides, why should I shoot tools ?" Harrington demanded. at a dark window?" "All right, what about'them? "A trick of the moonlight on the Are you positive that they are safe­ pane made you think you saw Bid- cracking tools? Besides, how in the die at the sink getting a glass of world is anyone going to prove water. And you intended to cover that they belong to Dawson? up this murder by pretending an I understand that there are no fin­ accident occurred while you were gerprints." shooting at this alleged- safecrack­ Tate's deputy returned, carrying er." a tape recorder. "We can use only Harrington exploded. "Alleged?, the last half of the tape, Sheriff. If Dawson wasn't the safecracker, Millie recorded some songs on the then why was he running down first half and she doesn't want the alley?" them erased." He put the recorder "Come now, Harrington,". I said. on the table and plugged in the "Suppose you were innocently re­ cord. turning to your hotel after a movie We listened to the closing bars of and suddenly someone who'd been La Estralita as sung by a fair coun­ drinking popped out of a doorway try soprano before the deputy and began shooting at you. Would­ stopped the tape and handed the n't you run, too?" microphone to Tate. "All set. Sher­ Harrison snorted. "Why would iff. Just talk natural and don't get he be walking through the alley?' nervous.',' What's wrong with the streets?" Tate cleared his throat and care-

DROPOUT 47

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED fully recited the formal warning to I shrugged. "I do have a suite in the prisoner as printed in the open Chicago: Watkins, O'Brien, and Sheriff's Manual before him. When Schultz." I smiled. "The verdict he finished, he wiped the palm of will, of course, be not guilty. I one hand on his trousers. "And think that is obvious to all of us now I turn this microphone over here in this room. A man is inno­ to the prisoner, one Samuel Daw­ cent until proved guilty, and here son." we have the word of a man who Dawson dabbed at his lips with has been drinking against that of a napkin and took the-microphone. an honest, but unfortunate, shoe "I was walking home from this salesman. I wouldn't be at all sur­ movie, minding my own business. prised if my client turns on you I got lost and after wandering and sues for grievous mental and around for a couple of hours or so, physical suffering." I happened to try this alley and Harrington looked toward Tate just ..." for help, but Tate was busy run­ Sheriff Tate and Harrington ning a forefinger down the table of . were quite unhappy when Dawson contents of the Sheriff's Manual finished speaking. and evidently not finding what he r smiled. "Let's face it, Harring­ wanted. ton. There isn't much of a case My tone was intended to be against my client. You admit that kind. 'Terhaps I can persuade my you did not even see him on your client to forgive and forget this en­ premises at all; and besides that, tire incident, especially since I feel you're vulnerable, Harrington. You reasonably certain that you merely discharged a firearm within the had a few drinks too many and town limits without regard for the began shooting at phantoms in the lives or limbs of your neighbors— night. You had no intention of as­ at the very least." sassinating Biddle and I am fairly riet a few seconds tick by. "If positive that any competent lawyer Dawson is taken to court, do you could convince a jury of that." I seriously believe; that he stands almost patted him on the shoulder. even the remotest chance of being "Possibly you don't even remember convicted.? Especially if I represent yourself exactly what did happen him?" at three this' morning. Now do Harrington ran his tongue over you?" his lips. "Are you one' of those big Harrington closed his eyes, kept city lawyers.?" them that way for almost a full

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED minute. Then he sighed. "I don't in the store. I had been safely out remember a damn thing. Not a of the alley and around the corner damn thing." when Harrington began shooting. Five minutes after Dawson was Now I took the drink Dawson released, I accompanied Sheriff offered. "I was going to see "to it Tate to the diner for breakfast. • that you got a good lawyer. I did­ He appeared rather tired as he n't expect to fill the bill myself." took a stool near the window. "I Dawson grinned. "On dull after­ guess you're pretty good at this noons in small-town hotel lobbies, lawyer business, aren't you, Mr. we have to talk about something Waticins?" and pretend to be what we aren't, I studied the wall menu and but I never thought passing your­ shrugged.. "I've personally handled self off as a lawyer would pay any ninety-three criminal cases and ev­ happy dividends." He poured some eryone of my chents .was acquit­ brandy for himself.. "Maybe you ted." missed your caUing, Fred. You Tate was impressed. "Really.? seem to have a gift for the law." And were any of them innocent.""' I nodded and looked out of the window, past the capitol dome, to I had a thoughtful drive to the the campus of the state university state capital and checked in at the where I'd attended law school for Madison Hotel. I asked for Daw­ six months over a decade ago. son's room number and found him Sam Dawson and I had been in the process of opening a bottle. partners for almost five years. I At three that morning, when thought we'd done well, but I Harrington pulled the drawer en­ could see now that our operations tirely out of his dresser, Dawson were really chicken feed, and real­ and I had been at the safe down­ ized where the real money must be stairs. I had departed immediately, waiting. but Dawson had unwisely .chosen It was going to be a litde diffi­ to spend time gathering up the cult to tell Sam that I was going tools rather than abandoning them back to school for my degree.

•'i^^' DROPOUT 49

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The effectual narrator adapts to his audience, and thus does humour him.

the back roads turned to mire. Sunday was miserable, with gray scudding clouds and intermittent sleet, but then it got. colder and the wind came up strongly in the north. By Monday morning there was: driving snow and the hunters stayed. Joe Grignon, an expert guide, was sitting at the far end of the bar drinking coffee when the three men came into the Lumber­ jacks' Retreat. "Hey," one of them said, "you . hear about the bank robbery ?" They stomped and. brushed fu- tilely, the snow melting too quick­ ly and leaving-dark wet patches on the red coats. All three wore hunt­ ing clothes. So did the men at the bar, except that most of the hunt­ SHE BANK was robbed on the ing coats were hung on chairs or Monday morning after the deer piled on benches in the back room. season opened. That was what Most of the hunters did not know made it possible, the hunting sea­ one another, but they were very son, and the snow, which had friendly. Everyone-' is always started on Friday. The town be­ friendly on the first weekend of gan to fill up with hunters, but deer season, but perhaps most then on Saturday when the hunt­ friendly when the weather is bad, ing should have been splendid, the- preventing competition. - wind shifted, bringing rain, and The bar was lined with men, a

50 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED few still in red coats but the rest, Joe Grignon sighed. "There is, in wool shirts, talking now about from time to time. If one is pa­ the bank robbery; the tables at the tient." side of the barroom were full, and "But not a bank robbery." the booths behind, and in the back "No. But usually by now there room Lou Adonis had put ply­ are several search parties for city wood across the pool tables and hunters who have become lost." - covered it with oilcloth so that "That's pretty exciting." there was more space to sit. Across "Only for the man who is lost," the street there was a line of men Joe Grignon said. "Additionally, two abreast standing dumbly in by this time there are usually a the snow waiting to get into Jack's number of casualties." Cafe, and up, on East Main, Ma "People getting shot accident- Hurley had declared a moratorium aUy?" and sent all the girls over to the "There is always that question." hotel to help cook and wait on "That sounds pretty exciting." table. "When the deceased was a dear Joe Grignon sat at the far end friend of someone's wife it is occa­ of the bar with his coffee, listening sionally interesting." to the talk. His red cap, with the "Are they always deceased.?" . green button of the guide's license, "When they were a dear friend was pushed back so that his curly of someone's wife," Joe Grignon black hair hung down on his fore­ said; "Under such circumstances, head. His scarlet coat, with the the stray bullet is unfailingly ac­ four black stripes that once meant curate." it was worth four prime beaver in The man had been looking trade goods, hung dry on the back sidewise at Joe Grignon and now rest. had identified the guide!s license. . There was a momentary small "This is a measure of the weath­ space beside him and a than siriell- er.?" ' ing of freshly oiled leather and "One other thing—no one has new duck and aftershave lotion shot himself, either, so far—not edged into it. Lou Adonis brought pulling a loaded rifle from a car, him a beer, looked at Joe Grig- nor climbing a fence. Only when non's coffee cup and moved away. the weather is superlatively bad "Well," the man said cheerfully, does no one shoot himself." "at least there's a little excitement "I see," the man said, smiling today." now. "And what does all this

THE GUIDES STORY 51 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED mean as far as tomorrow's hunting ly through the snow toward the is concerned?" Lumberjacks' Retreat. The snow "Tell me," Joe Grignon said, in the street was nearly knee deep "what is your line of work?" now, very wet, with the bottom "I am a dentist in Chicago." inch or two watery slush so that it "Excellent. It happens that I did not pack under traffic but have a wisdom tooth that is a great sloshed to one side and formed nuisance. What do you recom­ again. mend?" The man in the blue uniform "Well, I could give you an ap­ dropped his parka on a pile of pointment, and you could come to other coats and moved into the my office. I would be glad to look space beside Joe Grignon. at it." "You're a lousy policeman," Joe "Just so," Joe Grignon said, said. "Why aren't you out chasing "and I am a guide. If you would baiik- robbers?" put a hundred dollars on the bar, "I'm not a policeman," John I would be glad to discuss hunting MacKenzie said. "I'm - a game with you for one full day. But it warden. The hell with bank rob­ will have to be next year because bers." ' . I do not have any appointments "Maybe the sheriff will say the open this season." hell with poachers, when the Indi­ "Excuse me," the man said. "I ans start dropping dynamite in did not mean to be rude." the Eau Bois next spring." "Of course not. It was entirely "The sheriff doesn't need help on accidental." . ^ bank robberies; he has the FBI." After the dentist left, Joe Grig­ "So," Grignoii said. "They do not non sat at the bar, with the little think you are a poHceman either." space beside him. He could see "They do not seem convinced down the length of the bar that the sheriff is a policeman. I left through the front window, past when they discussed whether to give the moving silhouette of Lou him permissioii to go to the bath­ Adonis, and the stationary silhou­ room.'-' ette of the palms in the window. "All right. The hell with bank Outside, the sheriff's car lumbered robbers." , heavily up the street, paused briefly "Good," the game warden said. and a man wearing a lynx parka "Let's talk about hunting." .over his blue uniforrh stepped out "What hunting?" and walked awkwardly but expert- . "Your party must be getting a lit-

52 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED tie nervous. They have invested a from the city tried to check a jack­ lot of money in you, and there is ass through Savage's Station yester­ no hunting." day. He said he thought he shot a Joe Grignon shrugged. "It doesn't mule deer." matter. For their investment they "Sometimes it is hard to tell." are guaranteed a deer." "A jackass from a mule deer.?" "Even if there is no hunting?" "No," Grignon said. "Whether a "There is always a little hunting." man lies a little." Joe Grignon smiled disarmingly. MacKenzie still was considering "After all, I am a very dependable the alternatives involved when guide." someone new came in the front MacKenzie scowled. door. He was wearing a topcoat, a "And now," Grignon said gaily, business suit soaked to the knees, "you have visions of a hidden shack and a smart felt hat, and when he where I already have killed and took it off to shake away the snow dressed five fine bucks with im­ he had a trim eastern haircut. He pressive racks, in the event that looked around the steamy haze of there is no hunting." the barroom, and when he saw the "There are only four in your blue uniform at the end of the bar party, I heard," the game warden he came forward purposefully. said, scowling. "A friend of yours, MacKenzie.?" "Five is to provide a choice," "Maybe the sheriff has locked Grignon said. "Then there is one himself in the bathroom." left over for Father Grenville's The young man stood very close poor." behind them and said quietly, "Is "Sure'there is." this the guide?" "One must never forget the "Yes, sir," MacKenzie answered. church and its charitable works," "Je suis Grignon," Grignon said. Grignon said. "One never knows "Does, he speak English?" when there will be need for the "Very little," Grignon said. "Un prayers of little children." petit." ' "Let me catch you with five deer "Good," the young man said seri­ hanging up some place," the war­ ously. "You may speak it now." den said stubbornly. "Certainement." "That is the only way you'll catch The warden looked straight me," Grignon said, still smiling. "If ahead out the window. I let you." The young man said, "Someone "Everybody lies a little. A man left the bank in a great hurry this THE GUIDE'S, STORY 53 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED morning. It is why I am here." what- has transpired," the young Grignon said, "You mean^ the man said stiffly, bank robber?" "Pardonnez mois." "I am not prepared to discuss "English, please."

54 , ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Excuse me. English it is." "Even three miles," Grignon said "Very good. As I was saying, a thoughtfully. "If the money were man left the bank." very Ught." "You said that." MacKenzie said warningly, "An­ "Never mind. The point is, I swer the question." would like to ask you a question." "There is such a place," Grignon "It is nearly noon." said. "Is there not, MacKenzie?" "I am not authorized to buy you "I know of no such place," the any lunch." warden said. "Only to ask the question." The young man waited. "That is correct." "It is just possible," Grignon said, "Excuse me,", Grignon said, "but "that in all the length arid breadth I have forgotten the question." of the Coupe de Foudre, Monsieur, "I haven't asked it yet." from the Coteau des Gros Pins on "Oh." the south, along the vast watershed "Are you sure," the young man of Les Guerrieres and the twinkling said to MacKenzie, "that this is the waters of La Belle Lac des Mille et best guide in the county?" Une Lacs, to the forbidding frontier "Yes," MacKenzie said. of Le Pay d'en Haut, there is one "Merci," Joe Grignon said. secluded place which is known to "Beaucoup. And you are the finest me but not to my good friend the, game warden." warden." "He's the only game warden," the "Yes," MacKenzie said, almost to young man said. "My question is, himself. "Where he hangs the how far could a man go on foot on bloody deer." a day like this?" The young man ignored Mac­ "After leaving the bank , in a Kenzie. hurry?" "Take me there?" "All right, after leaving the bank "If you agree not to tell the war­ in a hurry." den." "Carrying money?" "I cannot make any agreement "Say he was carrying money." like that." "A mile," Joe Grignon said. "Pos­ Grignon shrugged. "Then let the sibly two, if he were strong." warden take you." "Very good," the young man "But you heard him. He does not said. "Is there any place within that know of any such place." distance where he might success­ "Yes, I heard him." fully seclude himself?" "It is your duty," the young man

THE GUIDE'S STORY 55 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED said earnestly, staring at Grignon. blocked for a hundred miles, and "That's different," Grignon said. when the snow stops they will have "I am very public-spirited." the airplanes up. Even if he gets "Then you'll take me?" away, they will have a thread from "0£ course. Since it is my duty." his hunting coat, or a couple of "If I were you," the warden said, numbers 'from a license plate, or "I would not go." perhaps from his hunting license "That is. because you are not tag, and they will spend months public-spirited," Grignon told him. quietly running things through the "In addition, you have an evil analyzers and computers and next mind." year they will rap on someone's "When?" the young man said. door and say politely, 'You're un­ "When can we go?" der arrest.'" Grignon looked at his watch, then "The way you explain it," Grig- turned on his stool and scjuinted - non said, "it is all very complicated." across the room at a calendar. MacKenzie looked sidewise, sus­ "Tomorrow," he said. "If it stops piciously. snowing. If not then, possibly next "It is fortunate that you became a week. Certainly," he said, "in the game warden," Grignon said. "I do spring." not think you have the head for The young man's face went this other work." through minute tightening stages "You are not very much im­ before it turned red. "Thank you pressed." for your time," he said tightly. "Un peu," Grigiion said, "as they When he was gone, Grignon used to say back in the French semi­ laughed until he wept. MacKenzie nar at the mission school." sat staring stonily out the window. . "Sure they did." It was a great effort. "Suppose it were not-so compli­ "You are pretty funny," he said. cated," Grigrion said. "Suppose a "But it will not be so funny for the man were sitting at a bar some­ . man who robbed the bank." where, and it was very dull, and he "You have faith that they will thought it might be interesting to catch him?" rob a bank." "Of course," the warden said. "All right, suppose he were." . "They always do. A man canhot "Suppose he knew that Albert get off the road in this weather, and Tangora arrives at his bank an hour the roads are so bad he cannot get before the first teller, without fail." away fast. They have all the roads "That is no great supposition.

56 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Everyone here knows about it." He would think about some poor "And it is Monday morning, and devil needing to cash a check be­ the night, depository is very full, cause he played poker too long, or from the first weekend of deer hunt­ went to sleep at Ma Hurley's, and ing when there was no hunting, but he would twitch his nose and giggle only the saloons and the hotel and and speculate on all the details Ma Hurley's, and the bags in the while he stood peeking out under night depository are full of dirty, the shade." wrinkled old money that does not "Just so. And then he would open at the moment have any recorded the door," Grignon said. "Would he pedigree, being of all denominations not?" and numbers and quite unrelated." "Yes," MacKenzie said. "The old "You're right," MacKcnzie said. fool." "This is very interesting." "Now," said Joe Grignon, "sup­ "So suppose this man at the pose that when he opened the door, crowded bar announces he must the man outside came in very make a short trip to the washroom, quickly with the wind and the snow and goes back through the arch, and and judiciously poked Albert Tan­ from the great pile of hunting coats gora in his fat belly with one end he selects one, and from another a of the cased rifle, and when Albert stocking cap, and takes a cased rifle bent over with a mighty grunt, the from the stack in the corner, and man then thumped him sufficiently walks out the side door in the driv­ on the head with the other end." ing snow and-up the alley to the MacKenzie said thoughtfully, "It bank." would not take a man long, then, to MacKenzie did not say anything. empty the money from the bags in "And with the stocking cap the night depository, and to walk pulled over his face, permitting out." him to see clearly through the yarn, "Locking the door behind him," he huddles at the front door of the said Joe Grignon. "And then walk­ bank in the snow, and taps on the ing rapidly with his head down glass, and Albert Tangora Hfts the against the snow, hke, a hundred green shade and peeks out at him, other men in the same block on the seeing only a forlorn hunter hud­ same sidewalk, return down the al­ dling against the storm, what does ley, put the rifle in the stack, the 'he think?" coat on the bench and resume his MacKenzie said. "You know place at the bar, all in less dme than what he would think, old Tangora. it would have taken for him to wait

THE GUIDES STORY 57 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED his turn there at the bathroom." that would have stood up in court." The warden looked hard out the "Except the dead bear." window. The snow was beginning "Of course. There was the bear, to let up. Several men at the bar in the one case. In another there began to talk about going hunting, might be something else." and a few straggled after their "Money, for instance." coats. The warden sighed heavily. "You are very quick, for a Scots­ "It is too simple," he said. "Even man." if it were that simple, he eventually MacKenzie said nothing. He would start to spend the money and picked up his coffee cup, sipped, then he would be caught." then made a small disgusted sound "I am not sure," Grignon said. because the coffee was cold. "Suppose it were not the money, Grignon said gendy, "When my after all. Suppose when he returned grandfather was young, a man who with the coat pockets stuffed full of felt himself diflferent than other money, he took a handful and put men did not have to talk about it. it in this coat, and another handful He could fight a bear, and there in that coat, and so on. There must was no need for talk." be fifty coats back there, on the "Unless the bear won." bench, to say nothing of those that "The risk is essential," Grignon are hung carefully on the racks." said. "Each man who would be dar­ "You make a joke of it," Mac- ing must find the viltimate risk, in Kenzie said, "but a bank robbery is his own way." not a joke. Whatever it is, it is no Outside, the snow was definitely joke." stopping, and hunters were begin­ "Even so," Grignon was smiling. ning to leave. One stopped at the "Do you remember my grand­ bar to pay for the last round of father?" drinks, put his hand in the pocket "The one who killed the bear of his red coat and took it out. Star­ with the hatchet.?" tled, he looked at the wad of ten "Now you have it." Grignon still and twenty dollar bills in his hand. was smijing but he was very seri­ Theny quickly, he took a ten from ous. "For this reason, he is very the wad and tossed it on the bar well remembered, even by those and left. who have no idea whether he really "After all," Joe Grignon said killed the bear, even," he said slyly, smiUng. "What does money matter, "though I am not sure myself that so long as one has one's health, there was any evidence at the time n'est ce pas?"

58 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A spontaneous solution to a momentous problem is, of necessity, implemented by one's environment.

W.ED PARDEE was an artist with a straight razor, and painfully con­ scientious. If he'so much as nicked a customer,'he'd flutter hke a moth­ er hen and apologize profusely. In a way, we were both misfits. I can't count the times he'd said, "Ralph, we're neither of us good for anything but a shave and a hair­ cut, maybe a shampoo now and then." , Ralph Hines, that's me; the Gimp. Hardly anybody ever called me that but it fit. One of my legs was two inches shorter than the other, and I walked with a rocking chair gait. I'd held down the second chair in Jed's Barber Shop, for ten years. Jed was a little guy, maybe five- six, lean and leathery from the

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THE MAN IN THE CHAIR 59 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED desert sun. He'd had the little hole- aside from Irene and maybe one or in-the-wall barber shop in our little two others, most of us liked the southwestern town for twenty friendly litde town of around two years, having come out from the thousand souls, and nobody stepped East with lung trouble. on anybody else's toes. Like I said, He was married and had a four­ nobody called me Gimp—xmtil teen-year-old son, Garth. Jed was Tony Dark came to town. well past fifty, having gotten mar­ No airlines or trains served our ried late in life. He doted on the town; a cross-country bus stopped kid and spoiled him rotten. Still, once a day to drop off newspapers Garth mightn't have been such a and an occasional passenger. The bad kid but for his mother. bus stop was the drugstore direcdy Irene Pardee was around thirty across the street from the barber and not bad-looking, if a litde- on shop. Jed was working on a cus­ the plump side, but she was dis­ tomer, and I was standing at the contented; discontented with her front window looking out when life, our town, most of all with Jed.. the bus stopped on that Thursday Don't ask me why she married afternoon. him; that happened before my time. I suppose I was one of the first I guess it was one of those mis­ to see Tony Dark. He was stand­ matches you often come across, and ing on the curb lighting a cigarette, you wonder, how the devil it ever two suitcases flanking him like happened. That was Jed and Irene. bodyguards, when the bus pulled Jed ignored her carping as best away. To say that I felt a premoni­ he could, but she had Garth's head tion of danger when I first savv him filled with nonsense like, as soon as would probably be adding a melo­ he could, he should get out of our dramatic touch, yet I felt my gut town and go where he could make tighten like a bowstring. something of himself. Exacdy what, Certainly he didn't look dan­ she never made clear. She did make gerous. He was slight, about Jed's clear that only a dumbhead would size, with a city-white complexion barber for a living. and wearing city clothes of an ex­ Maybe our town was, as Irene pensive, if somewhat flashy, cut. said at every opportunity, "Deadly, As I watched, he picked up the dull, stultifying, dying on the vine." bags and crossed the street toward She used words like that, words the shop. The temperature was well she'd probably picked - up from over the hundred mark,, and I saw watching TV soap operas; but. sweat beading his narrow, dark

60 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED face as he came resolutely on. be my guess. Probably be gone to­ He set the bags down and morrow." stepped inside, exhaling in relief "You should have asked him to tinder the impact of, the air-condi­ sit and chat a while." tioning. His glance moved to Jed That was Jed for you. He was and the man in the chair, then friendly, as a puppy and would talk came to rest on me. His eyes were all day, especially to a stranger. I so gray as to be almost white. suppose that came from being mar­ "No shoeshine boy?" His voice ried to Irene. He seldom got a was harsh, flavored by an East chance to open his mouth around Coast accent. her. I said, "Not in the shop here. On My prediction about Dark leav­ weekends you'll find a kid or tvi^o ing the next day couldn't have been on the street hustling for quarters." more wrong. He came into the shop His thin mouth, formed a sneer. the next morning for a shave and "It figures." He looked down at haircut, waited until Jed's chair was his pointed black shoes, then empty, then asked him a whole hat­ rubbed each one free of dust on a ful of questions about the town. pant leg. "Any hotels in this cross­ Jed answered them all, cheerfully roads?" and at length. "No hotels. Two motels." We I noticed that Dark said almost weren't on a coast-to-cpast. high­ nothing about himself. He did say, way, but there was some tourist under Jed's not too subde. prod­ trafEc. ding, that he was in the desert for He asked directions to the motels his health. That, of course, started and I told him, speaking as civilly Jed off anew. as I could. I was already regretting Dark looked healthy enough to. having told him about the motels me. Not that I didn't beheve him, but, whatever his purpose in town, but I knew that my understanding he was stuck until tomorrow's bus. of the "for my health" line was I guess something in my manner completely different from the mean­ or voice grated on him. He gave ing Jed would get from it. me a sharp look, but merely grunt­ Dark stayed on. Every morning ed and left the shop. he came into the shop for a shave, Jed asked, "Who was that, once a week for a haircut and a Ralph?" shampoo. He always waited until "I haven't the foggiest. He just Jed's chair was empty. I grew in­ got off the bus. A salesman, would creasingly uneasy. Certainly he gave

THE MAN IN THE CHAIR 61

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED me no cause for" this feeling. He found somebody had tossed a brick was pleasant enough, if not overly through my window during the communicative, but I had a strong nightl" hunch he spelled trouble. I sighed inwardly. It was like My hunch proved correct. finally hearing the other shoe drop. Two weeks to the day after Dark I had to hand it to Dark for one arrived in town, Dave Rooney thing. He was playing it smart, not burst into the shop early one morn­ too greedy. Five dollars a week ing in a state of agitation. This wasn't an exorbitant sum, yet there wasn't unusual for Dave, a voluble were twenty businesses in town. A Irishman of fifty, who seemed to hundred dollars a week would exist in a constant state of agitation keep him comfortably until what­ over one thing or another. He runs ever his purpose for being in our a small repair shop, and this time town ran its course. it seemed he had ample reason to Jed was incredulous. "But I don't be upset. "You know this new guy understand!" in town who's staying over to "It's simple enough," I said dryly. Belle's Motel?" "Pay this guy Dark five dollars a There were no customers in the week or you'll suffer Httle accidents shop. I was deep in a book, and that will plague you Hke a tooth­ Jed was leafing through the morn­ ache and finally get so bad you ing paper. He said, "Sure. Name's can't operate." Tony Dark. He comes in here every Dark didn't hurry things. During day." the next two weeks he worked on "Well, he came to my shop yes­ one business at a time. He didn't terday. He said he was selling in­ come on strong, just dropped a gen­ surance." tle hint that he'd see nobody was Jed frowned. "Insurance?" bothered if the five dollars a week "Protection insurance. If I'd take was paid. Annoying accidents hap­ out a policy with hini, five .dollars pened to those who balked. John a week, he'll guarantee nothing will Redfield, who owned a small res­ happen to my" shop, such as vandals taurant, came down one morning throwing a.brick-through my win­ and found his trash and garbage dow.. Vandals, I said, in our town ? barrels overturned and the contents I told him to go peddle his in­ strewn all over the sidewalk. It cost surance someplace else. He just him ten dollars to get the mess smiled and left. Then, just now cleaned up. when I came down to open up, I Little things like that happened

62 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED to all the others who balked. After Stuff to them. They'd only say we the first half dozen "accidents", the should handle it ourselves." rest fell into line. The thing of it was, we didn't Police? Sure, we had a deputy seem to be able to handle it. A sheriff, Luke Cosgrove, .an easy­ number of suggestions were iriade, going, affable man of forty-five who but none were acted upon. was at a loss about the whole thing. Jed was the last one Dark con­ "What can I do?" he said to Jed. tacted. Why that should have been "It's not against the law to sell what I never quite figured out. Garth this Dark calls 'protection insur­ was in the shop when Dark came ance', at 'least no law I know of. in. We weren't busy, so Dark got I've talked to him about it and he into Jed's chair right away. says he's doing nothing more than Dark jerked his head at Garth. offering a sort of guard service. If I "Shine boy?" could catch him- breaking a win­ "No," Jed said stifHy. "That's my dow or something, that'd be a dif­ son." ferent story, but so far I haven't been Dark arched an eyebrow, but, he able to." made no comment. As I've men­ As Luke was half-owner of tEe tioned, Jed was short, also he was hardware store, two-fifty a week dark. Garth was tall for his age, al­ went to Dark out of his own pocket. ready taller than his father, and very I 'guess most folks finally decided blond, all of which he got from that since the deputy sheriff was Irene, who was taller than Jed and kicking in without too much blonde. squawk, they might as well go As Jed prepared to shave him, along. Dark said, "I guess you know I'm Of course, there was the state selling protection insurance. It's police. They had more to do with only five a week . . ." • actual law enforcement than Luke, "I've heard," Jed said, and at least when any serious crime was slapped a towel over Dark's face. involved, but our people preferred Jed had a mule's streak of stub­ handling their own problems and bornness, and I knew he wasn't only brought in the state police- happy with the way everyone had when a murder—one in the ten knuckled under to Dark's extortion. years I'd been there—or a crime of Also, there was Garth, listening like nature was committed. and watching, peeking over the top As John Redfield said, "The state of the magazine he was pretending cops'd laugh at us. It's penny-ante to read. Garth avidly read crime

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED stories, both fact and fiction, and tended to romanticize crime fig­ ures. Finally the shave was completed, I held my breath as Jed marched over to the cash register, punched it, then came back and dropped a five dollar bill into Dark's lap. "The first week's premium." Dark picked up the bill, snapped it between his fingers, and smiled. "Good! Fine! Now nothing will happen/to your shop." Jed snorted, said nothing. • Dark got out of the chair, paid for the shave and started to add a quarter tip, as he'd always done before, then changed his mind. In­ stead, he turned toward Garth. "Here, kid, have a malted on me," and he sent the quarter spinning through the air. Garth stretched up a long arm Blue eyes rounding, Irene nod­ and caught it deftly. ded. Dark chuckled. "Good catch, kid. "You've got a fine boy there." First base?" Dark jerked his head. "A great kid, Garth grinned happily. "Third." I can tell." Jed had opened his mouth to pro­ "Why . . . Why,' thank you!" test, had taken a half-step forward, Irene said breathlessly. then stopped without uttering a Dark waved one hand grandly word. He darted a quick glance at and went on out. . me, color staining his face. I looked Irene smiled vaguely after him away, divorcing myself as much as for a moment. "Was that—" possible from the whole thing. "That's Tony Dark," I said. Just before Dark reached the "Why, he seems nice enough." door, Irene breezed in. Dark "Nice!" Jed suddenly exploded. stepped aside politely, said, "Mrs,- "He's a crook, a criminal, an ex­ Pardee?" tortionist!"

64 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Irene looked at him in that nar­ bill at me. "Go up the street to the row-eyed, contemptuous way she coffee shop. Gimp, and bring me had. "A criminal? If he's a crimi­ back a carton of coffee, two sugared nal, why hasn't he been arrested? doughnuts. Keep the change." He's just smarter than the rest of I took the bilLand limped out. you, is all. You're envious, that's it! That, too, became a daily ritual. He's thought of a way to make . . . Our business dropped off. Peo­ What? A hundred or so a week? ple seemed ashamed to come into I think I could admire a man like the shop unless they absolutely had that!" to. Of course, Jed's was the only "Admire! Irene, you don't know barber shop in town, the nearest what you're—" Jed broke off to other shop forty miles away, too look guiltily at Garth. "You far for most of them to drive. Even shouldn't talk like that in front of so, our business fell off by at least a Garth. You'll give him wrong third. ideas." It wouldn't have been so bad if "Wrong? I'm not so sure they're we'd had some indication as to wrong. That man's way seems bet­ how long Dark intended staying. ter to me than cutting hair and He seemed to be settled in for maybe earning fifty dollars a week." good, and I couldn't quite figure She swooped down on Garth, and that. He was a city man, used to gathered him under her wing. prowling the neon jungles and "Come on, darling, let's get out of feeding off the prey he found there. here!" Maybe that was why the people in Dark made the shop his base of town couldn't' cope with him. He operations, in a manner of speak­ was a strange breed to them. ing. Instead of collecting from each With Jed, it soon became per­ business personally, he left word sonal. Irene and Garth came into he'd be in the barber shop at a the shop almost every morning certain hour every morning. He'd vyhile Dark was in the chair. be in the chair, getting a shave, hair­ Oh, it wasn't romantic, nothing cut or sharripoo, and they'd troop like that. Even if such thoughts in, one at a time, and hand over were in Irene's mind, 1 doubt she their five dollars without a word. was Dark's type. No, it was Garth He seemed to delight in humiliating he was wooing. That puzzled me, the town, and Jed, in such a man­ too, undl I thought about it a lit­ ner. tle. Dark had been clever enough One morning he waved a dollar to sense Garth's willingness to

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED make a hero of him. I'm sure it Then a new element was added. was a totally new experience for Although I was sure Dark had a Dark and a most enjoyable one. gun around somewhere, he hadn't He played the role to the hilt, be­ once showii one. One morning ing Big Brother, buying Garth right after we opened the shop, we soft drinks, whispering and laugh­ heard gunshots out back. We' ing with him while Irene approved looked at each other in wonder from the sidelines. and Jed hurried to the back door, Jed daily grew more morose and me limping after him. withdrawn. He tried to discourage There was nothing behind the Garth from associating with Dark. shop but desert stretching away to Garth listened, respectfully as he the range of mountains lying like a always did, then went home to smudge of smoke on the horizon Irene and she, I'm sure, told him to to the north. On this morning ignore any counsel his father there were two people out there, might give him. After all, what Dark and Garth. Dark had a gun, did a shave-and-haircut barber a small revolver. In that country, know? where it still was not unusual to Jed finally gave up and just see a cowhand or a hunter come to watched. The once-a-week drama town with a handgun, usually a enacted by Jed and Dark would .45, strapped around his waist, the have been comic under any other gun Dark had looked no more circumstances. On Jed's payoff dangerous than a popgun. Yet it day Dark would come in,' plop was deadly enough .at short range. down in Jed's chair and inform Dark had several rusty tin cans him what service he wanted that lined up atop upended beer cases. day. Before beginning, Jed would He was a good shot; He didn't march over to the cash register, miss once. When the gun was emp­ take out a five dollar bill and drop ty, he motioned for Garth to set up it into Dark's lap, all without a more cans. Then he gave Garth the word being spoken. Then, when gun, showed him how to hold it, he was ready to go, Dark would how to aim down it. Garth's first pay whatever he owed, no tip. shot stirred up dust ten feet to the And me.'' When Dark \yas in the right of the target, but he was hav­ shop and my chair was empty,' I ing the time of his life. We were kept my nose buried in a book or a too far away to hear \vhat they magazine. Unless, that is, I was out were saying, but Garth's delighted for coffee and doughnuts for Dark. shouts of laughter reached our

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ears. It said more than words. an insolent grin.. "That so.? Why At my side, Jed was muttering not.?" under his breath. I sensed what he "Because I don't believe in was feeHng. He detested guns of guns!" all kinds. I recalled an incident "It's a jungle out there, dad. A about six months back when Garth piece of iron and knowing how to had wanted a .22 rifle to hunt with. use if can come in mighty handy." Jed had put his foot down, had "It might be a jungle where you fought with Irene about it, and had came from but not here." won a rare victory. "Oh no.? Think about that and As Garth prepared to take his you'll see where you're wrong. Be­ second shot, Jed took two steps to­ sides .. ." Dark walked to the chair ward them and I thought he was and sat down. "The kid tells me going to stop it. Then he halted, he's itching to get to the city where turned back and plunged into the there's some action. His mother shop without looking at me. agrees it's a good idea. I'll be go­ The gunfire kept up for a half ing back . . ." he paused, dark eyes hour before Dark came into the glinting, ". . . someday. I told the shop, alone. Jed spoke directly to kid I might do him some good, to him for the first time in weeks. He look me up when he comes to the was pale but determined. "I don't city." He settled back. "Just a shave want my boy handling guns, learn­ today." ing how to shoot." Jed was so angry he was trem­ Dark bared even white teeth in bling. He walked around behind

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the chair to gain control of him­ around. The sight, stunned me. self. Jed had Dark's head tilted back, Dark whipped out a dollar bill, his hand under the man's chin as snapped it between his fingers. though ready to shave his neck— "Here, Gimp." only the razor wasn't moving. The I took the bill and hurried out, edge rested lightly against the skin. only too happy to get away from The least pressure, a practiced flick having to watch Jed's scalding hu­ of Jed's wrist, and the razor would miliation. slice into Dark's neck as easily as The next morning, gunfire going into butter. Dark's hands sounded out back again. Jed and I were gripping the chair arms so went about getting the shop ready tightly the veins in his wrist stood to open, not speaking, avoiding out like blue ropes. each other's gaze. From his chair Garth was star­ • Then the back door slammed ing pop-eyed, the magazine lying open and Garth burst in, face exul­ forgotten in his lap. tant and flushed. "Pop, guess what! "Now don't move. Dark," Jed Ihit three cans in a row this morn- said very softly, "or you know ing!" . _ . what will happen. You can feel the Dark followed him in, his eyes edge .of the razor, can't you.'' Feels bright with malice. "Yeah,' the like a sliver of ice, right.?" His kid's got a k;iack for it. Enough voice changed. "Ralph, take his practice and he'll handle a gun like gun." , a pro."^ He got into Jed's chair. I approached the chair from "Just a shave this morning." Dark's right, reached up under his Garth flung himself into a chair coat arid plucked the revolver from and began leafing through a mag­ the shoulder holster. azine, but his glance kept shuttUng As I stepped back with the gun. to Dark, and I was sure he didn't Dark's body jerked, ever so slight­ see a thing in the magazine. ly, and a jagged red line stained Jed started lathering Dark's face. the lather on his neck, like straw­ Dark snapped a dollar bill be­ berry coloring squirted into an ice tween his fingers. "Gimp.?" cream soda. I was halfway to the door when , "Now, you see.?" Jed said, his Jed's voice stopped me. "Ralph!"' voice very soft again. "You moved. There was something in his voice I jerked my hand back just in I'd , never heard before. A tingle time. Next time I won't. Fll tell went down my spine, and 1 faced you how it's going to be," Jed said,

68' ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED still in that soft and deadly voice. face when he told her what had "When I finally let you out of this happened. chair, you're going to your motel, The instant Dark was out of the pack your bags and catch the after­ shop, Jed loosed a soft sigh. noon bus out of town, and we'll "Ralph, do you think it'll work?" never see you again. You run back he asked in a shaky voice. "Do you to.that jungle you came from. Oh, think he'll really leave?" yes, the gun . . . We'll keep that, "Yes, he'll leave. I'm sure of it," I just to be on the safe side. Now . . . said. I'm going to back the razor off a I didn't tell him why I was so couple of inches, no more. Just sure. But I knew Dark and his enough for you to nod yes. If you kind. Once you stand up to thern don't . . . Well, I'm sure I. don't and spit back, they fold up their have to draw you a picture." tents, unless they're part of a syndi­ Jed moved the razor back. Dark cate operation, which is a different svvallowed convulsively, then nod­ can of peas entirely. ded' quickly, his head moving so I'd been in his shoes once, run­ little I would have missed it if I ning a protection racket with laun­ hadn't been watching. dry and cleaning establishments. Jed stood back. "All right." Everything had worked beautifully Dark slipped side wise out of the until one day I'd been taken for a chair, his hypnotized gaze on Jed. ride by a laundry truck driver, and Jed tossed him a towel, and Dark he'd tossed me out of the truck at swabbed the lather from his face,' high speed. then scuttled out of the shop with- I had been discharged from the - out looking back. hospital with a permanent limp, Garth, who had been watching it had caught the next bus out of all in open-mouthed awe, broke for town and hadn't looked back once the back door. I knew where he since. was going, and I'd have given ten "Yes, he'll go," I said. "You can years of my life to have seen Irene's make book on it."

THE MAN IN THE CHAIR 69

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED In the words of. Thomas-Jefferson, "An error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it."

dimness of Connolly's small shop in the East Village.. "Electrical Supplies and Repairs—Stereo Our Specialty" read the faded hand- lettered sign which stood among a clutter of wires, speakers and spare , audio parts behind a dirty display window. In the back room, O'Doyle mopped his brovy and observed, "One thing about the slam, it gives you a chance to do some think- ing." . "Such as crime doesn't pay?" asked Connolly sardonically. He was a small, wiry man of fifty, with long slender fingers; me­ chanically talented fingers which could almost feel a faulty connec­ tion before his large gray eyes could spot the trouble. With such fingers and hard work, Connolly (onfes^lonol

XHE CITY lay perspiring under an. August heat wave which shim­ mered mercilessly against the un­ shaded sidewalks of the Lower East Side and melted through the

70 ' ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED could have owned a prosperous sentmindedly as he continued to mid-town shop. Instead, he pre­ search for the malfunction. Then, ferred this seedy location where as O'Doyle's words penetrated his the customers didn't pressure him, consciousness, he looked up in dis­ where he could ignore schedules may. "You certainly don't think and tinker at repairs when the you can substitute for a priest in a mood struck him.. confessional, do you?" "But it can pay if w,e go about it He saw the glee in O'Doyle's logically," O'Doyle insisted. "We face and groaned. To him, got iiailed because that Wilson guy O'Doyle's relish "for disguises didn't care who knew he was seemed foolhardy and dangerously keeping his secretary. Right.?" childish, although he had to admit "You got nailed," reminded that O'Doyle was excellent at it. Connolly, who was not above tap­ Once, he himself had been taken ping an occasional phone for some in to such an extent that he had of the area's shadier lawyers, or tried to slip O'Doyle a ten-dollar fencing stolen tape recorders, but bill under the mistaken impression who technically wasn't involved in that he was bribing a building the extortion atteinpt which had inspector. Even undisguised, sent O'Doyle to prison for eigh­ O'Doyle's average height and teen months. "Still," he conceded," plain face were so nondescript that "it did look like a perfect setup. victims of his petty crimes could Who was to know he and his wife only tell the police helplessly, "He had an understanding?" was so ordinary-looking." , "That's what I mean," said Still, to pass as a priest; to walk O'Doyle. "Who was-to know.? And blatantly into a confession I think I've got the answer. Look, booth ... people take their troubles to doc­ "At least listen to my idea," tors, lawyers and psychiatrists, urged O'Doyle. right?" A month later, Connolly was "So?" Bored by the discussion, beginning to wonder if O'Doyle's Connolly picked up a stereo com­ idea was so brilliant after all. The ponent and delicately probed its Church of St. Jerome lay in a dis­ interior with a small screwdriver. creetly wealthy neighborhood east "But when they've done some­ of Fifth Avenue, but the richly- thing they feel guilty about, they carved oak pews were just as hard talk to priests, right?" as those of plain pine found in a "Right," ConnoUy answered ab- poorer parish.

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Shifting uncomfortably in his "Then let's give it up," said pew at the rear of the sanctuary, Connolly. "Admit the idea's Connolly tried to look contempla­ screwy." tive as he watched the two con­ "We'll give it another month." fession booths which stood in a Connolly became more alert as niche in the north wail, fifteen the tweedy gentleman entered the feet away from the nearest pews. end confessional. Five minutes He yawned covertly, examining passed, then ten. At last the man the slowly moving line in front of left the booth, and Connolly noted the nearer confessional. No one with elation the predetermined seemed burdened by a load of signal. Unobtrusively he rose and guilt. followed the man from the church. His eyes shifted to those seated When O'Doyle entered the radio in the side pews awaiting their turns: an attractive young girl im­ patiently drummed her fingers on the back of the pew; an older, gray-haired man at the end ad­ justed his hearing aid before re­ turning to his prayers; in front of him, a middle-aged man dressed in immaculate brown- tweeds gazed at the altar in anguish. Connolly's pulse quickened. Surely so much agitation indicated more than the usual minor trans­ gressions. At St. Jerome's, confes­ sions were heard on Saturday af­ ternoons, after the benediction on Friday nights, and on the evenings preceding holy days. So far, they had had nine opportunities, but had come up with nothing usable. "If these .people are confessing all their sins, they're too good, to be believed," O'Doyle had com­ plained. • -•

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED shop that evening, dressed in an was a Lutheran and felt highly inconspicuous blue suit, he greeted uncomfortable in these surround­ Connolly with a triumphant grin. ings. "I hope we're not interrupt­ "Well?" ing anything important?" he said, "It looks good," admitted Con­ noting the thick folders" and papers nolly cautiously. "His name is covered with columns of figures Marshall J. Wingate and he's vice- which cluttered the desk. president of Thurgood and Crow:- "Any legitimate excuse to inter­ ley Import Company. What'd he rupt a diocesan report is always do?" welcomed," Father Logan assured "Had a fling with his, wife's best Swenson with a wry srnile. Again, friend. He says it's all over, but he looked at Kelly closely. "Are he's wondering if he ought to tell you perhaps related to one of our his wife. He doesn't want to, be­ parishioners, a lawyer named cause it would break up his mar­ Kevin Kelly?" riage and he seems to love his "My brother." wife." "Of course. The same red hair. "We'll wait till tomorrow to. call How may I help you ?" him," said Connolly. "We don't Kelly leaned forward. "We want him making a connection." would like to ask you about one "He never will," gloated of your priests—Father Murphy. O'Doyle. "Who would ever suspect I believe he's been here since Sep­ a confessional?" tember?" Father Logan frowned and Snow fell softly outside the tapped his pen on the edge of the leaded windoNV panes of the study large oak desk. He was a short, and the rectory smelled of Christ­ slight man with thinning gray mas greenery as Father Logan, hair. Until he removed his steel- pastor of St. Jerome's, studied the rimmed spectacles, he looked more identification badges of the two like an accountant than a priest. plainsclothesmen seated before his "That's correct, Why do you desk,. He smiled at the taller, red- ask?" haired man and said, ".You are Lt. "In a moment, please. Father," Kelly, I suppose?" said Kelly. "Did you know Father "You'd make a fine detective, Murphy before he. came to St. Father," Kelly grinned. "And this Jerome's?" is my partner, Peter Swenson." "Why no; he came to us straight Swenson nodded stoically. He from the seminary in Buffalo. But

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED whatever is your interest in him?" "I see you recognize his name, "Last week, a Dr. Geoffrey too. What stuck in my mind was Quentin came in to see us. Do you his mentioning that only a priest know him?" had known of his indiscretion be­ "It's difficult to know everyone fore he told his wife. So we called in a parish this size; but yes, Dr. him and learned that he, too, at­ Quentin is a prominent member." tends St. Jerome's arid that he had "Three weeks ago, one of his confessed to Father Murphy. Dr. patients died during an operation Quentin's confessor was also Fa­ and Dr. Quentin - blamed himself ther Murphy." for the failure." "A coincidence. It has to be," "But surely such self-doubt is protested Father Logan. not uncommon among doctors? "I wish it were," Kelly said Nor a police matter?" bleakly. "I know the church. "No," agreed Kelly, lighting a teaches that a priest is a man with cigarette, "but what is uncommon human temptations, and human is that he is now being black­ weaknesses; but we laymen do ex­ mailed for malpractice." pect them to be more. Neverthe­ , The priest's face showed con­ less, if he has violated a man's cern. "How awful! But who? The spiritual anguish for criminal pur­ anesthetist ? A nurse ?" poses, it's a police matter. The law "Only Dr. Quentin did not be- can't take his priesthood into ac­ Heve death was inevitable for that count. We had to know, so I—" patient. No one was aware of his he paused, avoiding the older doubts. No one," repeated Kelly, rrian's eyes. ^ "except the priest to whom he "You made a sacrilege of con­ confessed" fession in order to test him," the There was a shocked silence in priest said flatly. the room. ' "Yes," Kelly admittted, stubbing Father Logan's voice was out­ out his cigarette. raged. "Surely you are not sug­ His mind went back to the dim gesting—! You must be aware of sanctuary where he had waited for the sanctity of confession!" Father Murphy to enter the con­ Ignoring the interruption, Kelly fession booth. Standing behind continued, "For some reason, that an elderly wizened man, he had rang a bell .with me. Last month, smiled inwardly at the tall, chic we had an extortion complaint matron seated at the end of the from a Marshall Wingate. pew near him as she took out the

74 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED earpiece of her hearing aid and years so acutely as now, watching plugged it into her ear. The vanity Father Murphy's approach. So of women, he mused, that would much seemed co be changing keep her from using the conspicu­ around him, things he had con­ ous device in public except when sidered impervious to change. she absolutely had to hear. Thirty years ago, when he was a_ In the pew behind her, a baby cried sharply, piercing the stillness of the church. His young mother tried. to soothe him and smiled apologetically at the others. A grandmotherly-type standing be­ hind Kelly left her place in line and hurried over to help, murmur­ ing endearments. A bottle was produced and the wailing stopped. At two' o'clock, two black-robed priests entered through a low door behind the main altar and passed briskly beneath the massive gray stone arches of the side aisle to­ ward them. Father Murphy was a well-knit six-footer. Despite a close crcwcut, his black hair still tried to curl, and his light blue eyes gazed out on the world from a deeply tanned face. Remembering the academic re­ ports he had circuitously obtained on Father Murphy, Kelly could readily picture him in white shirt • and shorts, expertly covering a young boy, crewcut, tennis-playing sun-washed tennis court. He priests would have been unthink­ would appear much more at home able in his conservatively tradi­ there than in this dimly-lighted tional, Irish neighborhood. medieval setting, garbed in heavy A priest was a Priest and stood black robes. high in the social hierarchy, aloof Kelly had never felt his forty and unapproachable. On the street,

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED children said, "Good morning, Concern in Father Murphy's voice Father," and hurried by, eyes sounded genuine to Kelly's prac­ averted. Certainly they had never ticed ear; and his sharply probing had the audacity to stop and talk, questions were gentle. Kelly left to tug on his sleeve for attention the booth with his conviction of as had the children he had seen Father Murphy's complicity weak­ clustered around Father. Murphy ened. the previous afternoon. From the church, . he \yalked Father Murphy entered the mid­ straight to his~ brother's apartment, dle section of the end confessional without looking for a possible tail. and closed the door. The lines He left that to Swenson, waiting moved forw^ard. Kelly sighed. As outside; but Swenson had noticed a policeman, he had often per- no one on the busy sidewalks who forrned distasteful duties; but Une seemed interested in Kelly's niove- of duty or not, Kelly was a pain­ ments. fully honest person and he began Inside Kevin's apartment, Kelly to feel as deceitful as once at the had confided the plan; and, al­ age of nine. Then, he had waited though Kevin" had thought the for Father Flannagan to turn to whofe idea ridiculous, he had him, only half-believing that he agreed to help. could deliberately not confess his Kelly paused in his narration theft of his brother's \ treasured and looked steadily-at Father Lo­ automatic pencil. gan. "That was two days ago. The elderly man in front of him Last night, someone phoned Kevin stepped into the now-vacant left and demanded $1000 to keep quiet section of the booth. Then a pretty about our fictitious jury fix." young matron with a relieved look Father Logan sat silently in his on her face left the right section large leather chair, his face ashen. and Kelly took her place, drawing "Could the booth be wired in some the sound-deadening curtain be­ way?" ' , hind him. Presently, the shutter "No, we checked," said Swenson slid back and, in the near-dark­ with positive finality. ness, Kelly began, the formal rit­ The priest stared out at the fall­ ual : "Bless me, Father, for I have ing: snow. a long while before sinned . . ." ., . , , . speaking, almost to himself. "It's His feeling of guilt made his true I don't know" Father Murphy lies convincing as he told of tarn-: well. A paistor often tends to -get. pering with a mythical jury. The bogged down in administratign,

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED fund raising." He gestured to his said grimly. "We'll have someone desk, piled high with paperwork. on every exit of the church and "And Father Murphy is not an rectory to see where he goes on easy person to know. He's so those long walks. And Kelly and I young, so new Co his responsibili­ are'going to be in the sanctuary ties, yet seems very serious and every time your Father Murphy's idealistic. He takes long walks in the confessional, until we spot alone thinking put his problems, his signal and his partners." , his inner struggles, instead of ask­ "I am sure you will find him ing for help. innocent," said Father Logan, but "But to violate the confes­ his voice sounded, uncertain even sional—" His voice strengthened to Swenson. and he struck the desk top with At 1:30 on the following Satur­ conviction. "No! I will riot believe • day, Kelly and Swenson entered Father Murphy capable of such an the sanctuary of the church by sep­ act, no matter what circumstantial arate doors. It was three days be­ . evidence you have!" fore Christmas, poinsettia plants Father Logan rose, an even were massed around the main al­ smaller man than he had ap­ tar, the gray stone columns wore peared when seated behind the festive holly wreaths, and the large desk. "I shall send for him church was more crowded than and let him defend himself." the week before. Swenson flashed a Warning look Kelly had a pessimistic feeling to Kelly, who stood to block the that they would have no more priest's way. luck among today's crowd than on "No," he said. "If he is guilty, Tuesday when, following instruc­ we want his confederates. Obvi­ tions, Kevin had stood on the cor­ ously, someone trailed me to Kev­ ner of Broadway and 42nd Street in's and, just as obviously, it was­ holding a brown paper bag which n't Father Murphy. He must sig­ contained newspaper strips in­ nal someone to follow likely vic­ stead of the specified money. De­ tims; to find out where they live, spite their precautions, an incon­ who they are. In this case, Kevin, spicuous little man darted by since he's the only red-headed Kevin, snatched the bag and melt­ lawyer in that building." ed into the pushing, milling "What do you plan to do.?" throngs of holiday shoppers, all of asked the priest with resignation. whom seemed to be carrying "We'll watch him," Swenson brown paper bags.

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED That evening, when Kevin an- From his seat on the opposite sw.ered the telephone, a voice had side of the church, Kelly scanned snarled, "Very clever. We'll see the queues before the confession­ -who the joke's on when the news­ als, trying to pick out a face fa­ papers get hold of the story." miliar from last week's group. The "Publish and be damned!'' grandmother was not there, but Kevin had roared. (He had- al­ he did see the little wizened man. ways longed to have a legitimate "Who left long before I opened • excuse to deliver that line.) my mouth," Kelly reminded him­ Nor had the stake-outs on self. Father • Murphy provided any The only old lady today was a leads. He took long walks, true; stouter woman seated at the end but always alone along the East of a pew near the booth, wearing River where he stared out across a frivolous red velvet hat perched the water for hours at a time. He atop her soft white hair, her eyes spoke to no one on these outings closed as if in silent prayer.. and made no telephone calls. Kelly began to examine the man As Father Murphy entered the behind her when his attention was sanctuary and made his way to the suddenly riveted. A vague tingle confessional, his face serene and swept over him as he watched the yet vulnerable, Kelly suddenly be­ woman adjust her hearing aid. He came certain that the priest could swore in silent excitement, remem­ not possibly be guilty. Yet who.? bering the chic, niiddle-aged ma­ And how.'' tron who had'sat in that same seat He cast his mind back to the the week before; a seemingly vain, day of his phony confession. That well-to-do lady who had worn an grandmotherly-looking old lady incongruously conspicuous and who had stood behind him and bulky hearing aid when there are liad therefore been in the left sec­ almost unnoticeable transistorized tion of the confessional while he models to be had. was in the right section—could she Wild conjectures filled Kelly's possibly have overheard him ? mind as he caught Swenson'seye "I'm grabbing at straws," Kelly and motioned him over with a gibed to himself, "all because I covert gesture. ^ can't shake off my childhood "Spot anything?" jvhispered trust; because I can't get it thirough Swen§on as he slipped into the my thick Irish head that a priest is pew beside Kelly. human." "Maybe. Duck out and get one

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED of the men. When you get back, seemed in a big rush," he crowed, watch both the doors. I'm going handcuffing Connolly. over to have a talk with that sweet "Take care of them," said Kelly. little old lady. If you see anyone "I'll be along with thislater." With making for the door in a hurry, the purse tucked under his arm, he grab him." ' turned toward the rectory. "Will do." Father Logan eyed with distaste Kelly waited quietly until he the sophisticated gadgetry which saw Swens'on return; then, casu­ could overhear conversations up to ally, he sauntered across the fifty yards away without any con­ church and down the side aisle. He necting wires. stopped beside his quarry and "What possible moral use is tapped her shoulder. there for such equipment?" he "May I speak with you outside, asked sadly. madam.''" he inquired politely. "None that I can think of, "I beg your pardon.?" Their eyes Father," said Kelly. He stuffed it locked; then the 'lady' stared at back' into the purse. "Are you go­ Kelly's red hair in consternation ing to tell Father Murphy.?" and tried to break away from his "No. Not now at least. The or­ tightening grip. A purse fell to dinary venialities of mankind are the stone floor with a clatter, spill­ proving burdensome enough, to ing its contents of fine wire cir­ him at this time. A priest's first cuits and transistor tubes. Still year is often difficult." He sighed. clutching his prisoner, Kelly bent "There will be time enough in the over and swooped them up. next, few years for him to learn "You picked the wrong place to what depths are possible." do your eavesdropping, pal," he As Kelly started to leave. Father snarled to the startled O'Doyle. Logan smiled up at him and said, Outside the church, they joined "Don't forget to make a good con­ a jubilant Swenson. "This guy fession before Christmas, my son."

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The perfect murder may be mechanically executed—but never C humorously. I ^tRsm

power is there, my friend, than to take another's Ufe.?" Meltzer had become a strong in­ fluence on me, in such a. brief period of time. He was a large, ^%'iNTER was quickly drawing dark man, about my age though near and die nights were long. far stronger than I. Meltzer cus­ I do not recall the precise moment tomarily wore a dark blue suit, at which Meltzer convinced me I with a scarlet tie, and a black top should strike. I believe it was when coat which he draped across his he pledged to go with me. That shoulders, much like a cape. I met would make him an accessory. him in the public library, in the I do recall the shaking fist history-biography section. We be­ Meltzer held in front of my face, came'friends almost immediately. clenched and quivering, as if the Since my "retirement, I had been secret of life were trapped inside, spending many evenings in the li­ "Power!" Meltzer said. "If you brary,' studying • the lives of great don't understand power—if you men. It was this "mutual' interest haven't lived with it—you've spent that drew Meltzer and me together. your time in a vacuum, wasted "The one trait great men have in your existence! And what greater common," Meltzer said, "is a will-

80 ALFRED HITCHCOGK.S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ingness to stril{e! Cowards and "Are you watched.?" Meltzer procrastinators never go down in asked me, the next time we met. history." "Are you accountable for your "And you?" I asked him. time.? Does your wife keep track "I have killed," Meltzer said of you.? What does she do at without hesitation. "Not once, but night, when you're at the library?" several times. I know what power "We're old people," I told him. is. It is in my hands, to take a hfe "We're lonely. We don't talk much. or leave it." I don't know what she does. May­ "I find that hard to believe," I be she goes for walks. Or sleeps. told. him. Or sits on the balcony. Or watches Meltzer shrugged and walked television. I don't ask. She doesn't out, into the night. tell me. I don't know." Two days later I received a "Are you ready ?" he asked me. ' strange item in the mail. In a plain "How do you get away with it?" envelope, with no return address, "The secret," he said, "is to leave was a small clipping torn from the no clues. None. Absolutely none. daily newspaper. It told of the If you are never caught, you can mysterious death of a niiddle-aged escape capture indefinitely. That man, Wendall Whipple, in his hotel sounds obvious, doesn't it? But it room. The news story said the po­ isn't. Once you are caught, or even lice had no clues. if you arouse suspicion, however That night I was seated at a faintly, you must quit. But if you table in the library, lost in concen­ are never suspected, you can go tration in a biography, when on forever." Meltzer took a seat opposite me. "I don't understand,'^ I said. Without speaking, he dropped a "Police," he said, "have logical dog-eared piece of paper on the minds. They look for reasons. Con­ table in^ front of me. I turned it nections. If a man is killed, they over and saw it was a driver's li­ first suspect his wife. Then his cense. The name on it was Wendall children. His other relatives. His Whipple. friends. His enemies. His business . "Coward," he said. associates. Someone must have "I am no coward." wanted^ him dead. If they find no "Coward," he repeated. motive, they go into their files and "How do you get away with suspect the known criminals." it.?" I asked. "And you?" I asked. He stood up and left the Bbrary. Meltzer smiled. "I do not kill my NIGHT STRIKE' 81

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED wife. I do not kill my children. We walked silently, circling I do not kill my friends. I do not around behind the bench. Meltzer kill my enerriies. I do not kill my touched the back of my head, at a business associates." point just above the top of my "You kill strangers," I said. neck. His breath was warm in my "I am not a known criminal," ear as he whispered, "Strike!" Meltzer said. "I do not leave clues. I swung the blackjack, right-on I do not leave fingerprints or foot­ the target. I felt in my hand, up prints. I do not leave weapons. I through my arm and into the cen­ make sure there are no witnesses." ter of my brain, the power of my. "You have power," I said. blow and the crunch of the skull "I am power. Are you ready to beneath my weapon. The body, strike?" with a mufHed noise, slumped for­ "Yes," I said. "Tomorrow night." ward'to the ground. "It will be the first day of a new "Feel the pulse," Meltzer whis­ life—a real life for you." pered. The next night I dressed .warrdly There was no pulse. and put on rubber-soled shoes and . "Turn the body over. Take a a pair of gloves. I felt exhilarated look." atthe prospect of what lay ahead. I looked long and carefully into "There is a park," Meltzer said. the face of the victim. "A dark, quiet place. We'll look "Now we leave,". Meltzer whis­ there first. Walk slowly." pered. "Not too fast." He took the We strolled to the park. It was blackjack from me and put it into enclosed by trees and shrubbery, his coat pocket. ' the limbs bare in the winter night. Despite the dark, I could tell A path led. inside. There were that Meltzer was smiling tri­ benches, unoccupied. A mist hung umphantly. "Power!" 'he whis- close to the ground. I could barely ,pered."Now you know!" see my feet. The path took us through the We listened. I didn't hear a trees and back onto the city street. sound, but Meltzer touched my el­ "You're not going to like this, bow and pointed. There, on. one Meltzer," I said. of the benches, was a solitary per­ "What.?" son, sitting in the night. Meltzer "I looked at the face." slipped something heavy into my "Yes?. And.?" hand. I knew without looking that "Meltzer, we just killed my it was a blackjack. wife."'

82 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The man who loo/^s a gift horse in the mouth may discover more than it's age.

Wiii. early morning fog had burned off and bright sunshine tempered the chill breeze. Taps Enderman approached the low-pro­ filed, red brick building that housed the'Carstairs Manufacturing Com­

pany and was within twenty yards of the glass street doors when a girl emerged. Taps nodded in satisfaction. The telephone operator was on her way to lunch on schedule. He pushed his way inside, and was surprised at the brightly lighted lobby. An elaborately decorated Christmas tree stood in one corner, and a ban­ ner on the wall behind the tree pro-

MONEY TREE 83

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED claimed: OUR 50TH CHRIST­ good looks topped by brown hair. MAS IN BUSINESS. MAY "This is Marilyn, Mr. Carson," YOURS BE. A MERRY ONE, the receptionist was saying. "I'm TOO. filling in for Barbara on her lunch A smiling girl with tinsel in her hour. I'm not positive about-those dark hair rushed up to Taps. "Are figures, sir. May I have Barbara you a customer, sir.? Do you buy call you.? Thank you." or sell to Carstairs.'"' She looked up at Taps after flick­ "I'm a customer," Taps agreed.- ing a switch. Her glance traveled . "Then help yourself to our the upper half of his seventy-four money tree, sir." rugged-looking inches, rested for a / For the first time Taps noticed, second on the roughhewn planes the dozens of envelopes dangling of his swarthy features, then lin­ from the greenery. "What can I gered for an instant on his'brown win?" he asked. "A thousand dol­ eyes. "Yes, sir.?" the receptionist lars.?" inquired. The girl's smile was professional She had lost Taps' attention. He as she tried to lead him in the di­ was looking iseyond her into the rection of the tree. "Sorry. There's open office space at a Valkyrie- one hundred-dollar bill on the tree, sized blonde. but most are fives and tens. There'll The receptionist turned as much be another present from Carstairs, as her headset permitted and saw though." the focal point of Taps' interest. Taps detached her hand from his "Yes, sir.?" she repeated sharply as arm. "Maybe I'll catch you on the the blonde half-turned toward way out, sis," he said. He walked them. up two steps and through another "Jack Malsom of Greenway set of glass doors, turning for an- Products to see Mr. Carberry," . other look at the money tree and Taps said casually. , the smiling girl with tinsel in her "A Mr. Malsom of Greenway dark hair. Products to see you, sir," the girl He approached a railing which repeated into her mouthpiece after fenced off the receptionist's switch­ depressing another key on her board from the remainder of the switchboard. She looked up at adndinistrative oiBce behind her. Taps again. "First corridor to the The girl was speaking into a button- left and fourth door on the right." size mouthpiece. Taps examined Both ' tone and expression regis­ appreciatively her olive-skinned tered disapproval, and Taps swept

84 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED her with a coolly appraising scru­ I'm afraid you have the-wrong of­ tiny that brought a touch of color fice, sir." to her cheeks. "It's the right office," Taps re­ He turned into the first corridor plied. He approached the desk, re­ to the left, then halted. There was moved a 38 special from his no one visible ahead of him in the jacket pocket and placed it casual­ narrow aisle with its frosted glass ly on the desk' top, closer to him­ doors stretching away in preci- self than to the portly man. Wil- sioned monotony. Beyond a wall mer Carberry stood goggling at it, at the far end of the corridor, ma­ chinery thumped and banged nois­ ily. By straining. Taps was able to hear, feminine voices from the area he had just left. "Gee, who was that.?" a high- pitched voice inquired. "I'd be. shook up about meeting that one in a dark alley. Did you see his eyes.? -He was—he looked hke— chiggers, here comes Grimes." High heels click-clicked as the conversation lapsed. Taps smiled as he moved farther along the cor­ ridor. He knocked once on the frosted glass of the fourth "door on the right which was letter­ ed: , COMPTROLLER—WII^ MER CARBERRY. Taps entered the elaborately furnished office and closed the door behind him. his expression a strained caricature A chubby man was standing be­ of his welcoming smile. "Sit down, hind his over-sized desk, his right Carberry," Taps continued, pull­ hand extended while his left fixed ing an extra chair to the desk and his rimless glasses more firmly seating himself in it. , upon his nose.. His welcoming The comptroller floated down smile wavered, then died, and his into his own chair in slow motion. extended hand dangled limply, "A joke?" he hajf-whispered, artic- "You're not—I was expecting Jack. ukting with difficulty.

MONEY TREE 85

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "A holdup," Taps said casually. let's hear it in round numbers— Wilmer Carberry looked pained, a hundred fifty thousand ?" then incredulous. "I—I. don't un­ "Oh, rny, no," Carberry gasped. derstand, Mr.—ah—sir. You've "Not—not nearly that much. It's been—ah—frankly, you've • been —^it's difficult to pinpoint. It's a misinformed. We're a manufactur­ constantly fluctuating figure." ing concern, and we keep no cash "So let's check on it." on the premises. Even our payroll The comptroller's tongue circled is handled by check. There's noth­ dry lips. "Did you say—chec\ on ing—" he spread his hands in^ an • it?" empty gesture. "You can see that "They do let you know what's you've come to the wrong place?" going on around here?" There was "I'm in the right place," Taps an additional edge in Taps' voice. said. He leaned forward over the "Of course," Carberry said hast­ desk, and Carberry shrank back ily. "Fll call the bank." He reached in his chair. "Let's understand for his telephone, then squeaked in each other, man. I'm going to tell pain as Taps lunged from his you a few things to do,^ and I'd chair and slashed at the reaching recommend seriously that you do arm with the front sight of the .38. them. Item one, you can answer a Reversing the gun, he jabbed its question. What's your firm's cash muzzle against Carberry's throat, position at the bank right now.?" "Like slower, man," Taps said The comptroller's mouth openr harshly, and the comptroller's chin ed, closed, and reopened. "Cash trembled from shock. "I want to position? Why, you. must realize see it in writing." that such—that such a question— "Cer—certainly." Carberry swal­ that such information is highly— lowed hard. "If I—if I may call my ah—" secretary and have her bring in The voice died out in a whim­ the cash book ?" per as Taps picked up the .38, and "Be a little careful how.you call the portly man's cheeks paled. her." Taps slipped the gun 'inside "Maybe you don't know much his jacket and the comptroller about a gun, Carberry," Taps said couldn't seem to take his eyes from softly. "In three more seconds this the .resulting slight bulge as he one will give you a third eye in gingerly picked up his telephone. front and no back to your head. "Ah—will you bring in the cash With all that noise out in the fac­ book, please, Emily?" Carberry tory no one will ever hear it. Now said. He replaced the phone, re-

85 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED moved a handkerchief from his "To cash?" Carberry's voice pocket,'and dried the palms of his soared. "It—it won't, do you any hands. "Ahhhh, here we are," he good. My signature isn't sufficient. said with an attempt at his usual All our checks must be counter­ crispness as his office door opened signed by—" and an attractive woman with "Your treasurer, a gent you'll youthful features walked in. call into the office here as soon as "D'you hire all the good-looking the check is ready," Taps inter­ women around here, Wilmer?" rupted. Taps asked. The comptroller drew a deep Carberry looked up from the .breath, wet his lips and started to cash book handed to him by his reach for his phone. He withdrew secretary, startled as much by his hand hurriedly until he re­ the use of his given name as by ceived an approving nod from the question. "Why—ah—no. The Taps, then picked it up. "Please personnel manager—I do make an have a check made out to cash for occasional suggestion." $115,000 and brought to me, Emily. Taps held out his hand and Then ask Mr. Newfield to step Carberry meekly handed over the into my office." leather-bound volume. Taps open­ "That's the boy," Taps approved ed the book to the final column when the phone was replaced. of figures and nodded approvingly. Several minutes of silence en­ "You do have the horsepower, sued, during which the gun van­ right enough, Wilmer." He ished again. handed the book to the waiting "How did you get past. Barbara secretary who left the room. at the switchboard.?" Carberry Carberry stared fearfully at the broke the silence. 38 which reappeared upon the "Barbara's on her lunch hour." desk top. "You realize-^you must The office grew quiet again un­ realize that what you're attempt­ til Emily came in, carrying a ing to do is—is futile," he said check which she placed on the shakily. "You can't possibly desk before Carberry. She was fol­ hop^" lowed by a wisp of a man, rum- "Let me do the talking, Wil­ pled-looking and wearing pince- mer," Taps advised. "Right now nez glasses. Carberry signed the you call Emily again and have her check after one false start, then bring you a check made out to turned it around and presented it cash for $115,000." and the pen to the "newcomer.

MONEY TREE 87

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "The cost of materials going berry stared helplessly across the into the Mahoney job is way over desk. "Call the big blonde in here," the estimate, Wilmer," the little Taps continued. man declared, accepting the pen. "C-Carol?" "We're going to have to refigure "The big blonde in the outer ,che job and then—" office. Give her the check with a "Later, Ted," Carberry said iii note on it saying you want the a strained tone. cash in bills no larger than hun­ "Not too much later," the little dreds. Have her take it to your man warned, starting to scribble bank, which I happen to know is his name beneath Carberry's. "If just around the corner. Then she's we don't protect ourselves we'll—" to bring the cash to you here." he paused, his writing hand still as Carberry made the phone call. he squinted at the check. He shot "You obviously know a good deal a glance across, the desk at the about our routine and our person­ comptroller, another at Taps seat­ nel," he said after hanging up. ed in his chair, then completed his "But you still don't think I'll signature. "That Mahoney job get away with it?" Taps said. "Let could make a whale of a difference me read your mind for you, Wil- in our profit pictuf^e, Wilmer," he nier. You're sitting there now, en­ went on, pushing the check back joying yourself for the first time across the desk. since I walked into your office, be­ "I'll get back to you on it, Ted," cause the cashier at the bank will Carberry said, looking at the check . call you to verify that a cash trans­ as though he didn't believe it. -_ action of this size is on the up-an'- The, little man grunted and de­ up." Taps leaned forward over the parted by the door through which desk. "And what are you going to Emily had already left. tell him, Wilmer?" "Never thought you'd see the The comptroller shivered under day, Wilmer?" Taps said when the hard-eyed glare. "That it— the door closed. "That's protocol that it's perfectly all right," he for you. Never ask questions in stammered. He wrote a note in a front of the customer, right.'' New- trembling hand, started to clip it field will be back in twenty min­ to the check, then desisted when utes to ask you what the hell that Taps reached across the desk > and check is all about, in plenty of time took the note from him. After one to stop payment on it if he doesn't look, Taps handed it back. like the answer—he thinks." Car­ "Write it again," he command-

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ed. "That handwriting looks like He sounded breathless, and Taps a third grader's." frowned. "Yes, it is unusual, but Another attempt went into the there's a large discpunt involved, wastebasket before Carberry pro­ and with a materials strike staring duced a note that Taps approved. us in the face, I—we've decided to Carberry sealed note and check in­ build up our inventory. Yes. What's side a long company envelope as that.? Oh, you mean the girl. Give a Carol entered the office. The big thief something to think about be­ blonde looked away from Taps sides the money she might be carry­ when she found his eyes on her. ing, I always say. Heh-heh." He lis­ "Slip on your coat and run this tened for a moment. "Yes, quite a around to the bank, Carol," Car­ —ah—dish, Gordon. Not for the berry directed, handing her the likes of you and me, though. envelope. "They'll give you a Thanks for your—ah—call." He re­ package for me." placed the receiver slowly. Taps watched the exaggerated "When Carol gets back, you and swing of. the blonde's hips as she I will leave the office together," left the office. "Damn if I see how Taps said. He smiled. "Can't leave you stay out of trouble around this you around here to wise up New- place, Wilmer," he observed. "Or field too soon. We'll walk out to the maybe you don't?" parking lot together and drive off Carberry made no reply. -He sat in your car." shriveled in' his chair. The silence "Please!" Carberry begged. He lengthened. After a few minutes was obviously panic-stricken. "I'm there was a tap on the door. New- not—I'm not a brave man. I have field, the treasurer, opened it, saw responsibilities,' a wife, small chil­ Taps, waved to Carberry. "Ill dren—" catch you after lunch, Wilmer," the "You'll see them for dinner at treasurer called, and closed the the usual time," Taps cut him off. door again. "Provided you do as you're told. "Go ahead and groan," Taps in­ And provided you're through an­ vited the comptroller. swering the questions of the stupid Several minutes passed before the police by that time." telephone rang. Taps slipped the They sat in silence again until .38 out into the open again, and the there was another knock on the comptroller's hand shook as he door and Carol reentered the office. reached for the receiver. • She handed Carberry a mediunir "Oh, yes, Gordon," he said. sized package, neatly sealed.. Taps'

MONEY TREE .89

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED eyes lingered on the blonde as she pocket. He wanted no accident. flounced out of the office. Taps entered the car after Car­ The door closed behind her, and berry and adjusted the rear-view Taps held oiit his hand. The comp­ mirror so he could observe fol­ troller gave him the package. Taps lowing traffic" without turning his broke the seal at one end and ran a head. "Roll it," he ordered. thumb along.the crisp contents. He They slid out of the parking lot nodded in satisfaction, then rose to into the traffic. For twenty minutes his feet. "Don't panic now, Wilmer, Taps called "left"'and "right" in and you're home free," he told Car- aimless patterns. ",Okay," Taps said berry. He showed the comptroller finally, when he' was convinced the .38 again, and the portly man they could not have been followed. winced. "This will be lined up on "Pull it into the curb here." you-when we pass through the outer They were approaching a busy office. Don't stop to talk, no matter intersection when he . spoke. The what anyone says to you." car eased into the curb and stopped. They ' left Carberry's, office to­ Taps slid out the door on his side, gether and walked down the corri­ the package , under his arm, then dor. Taps a half-step behind. The leaned back inside. Wilmer Car- package was under his left arm and berry's eyes widened in dismay as his right hand was shoved casually the .38 was again openly displayed, into his jacket pocket. No one ap­ below the level of the dash. Taps proached them, not even the girl at stripped the cartridges from it the money tree. Carberry pushed quickly, wiped it, then dropped the open the heavy glass outer doors gun onto the front seat. and Taps followed closely behind "Tell the police I forgot it, not him. Outside, they turned the cor­ that I left it," he told the ashen- ner of the building and marched in faced Carberry. "Your insurance tandem to the parking lot. company will pay off if you can "You drive," Taps said'when the show coercion." His grin was wolf­ comptroller stopped beside a royal ish. "Keep it in mind when you're blue convertible. "Is it you or your handing . out descriptions, or I wife who's the exponent of conspic­ might drop around to your house uous consumption in your family, some night and visit with your Wilmer?" family." He flipped a hand salute Carberry said nothing. His lips to the quaking man at the wheel, were pale, and his eyes were on stepped up onto the sidewalk, and Taps' right hand in his jacket blended with the crush of foot

90 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED traffic, advancing with the crowd. leisurely dinner. His first night in In half a block he turned into a town he had dated the girl on the hotel entrance, walked through its extreme left in the casino chorus long lobby and emerged on the line. Last night it had been the sec- next street. Across the street was cond girl from the left. Taps was another hotel. Taps strode into that looking forward with anticipation one and exited via a side entrance. to working his way across the At the curb he hailed'a cab. "Air­ width of the monstrous stage. port," he grunted to the cabbie, and He was asleep on his bed when settled down for the ride. the door to his room burst inward, At the airport he removed an ex­ shattered from its hinges, and sev­ pensive piece of luggage from a eral men rushed into the room. locker, the type which could be slid Taps' hand darted instinctively to- beneath a plane seat. lii the men's vi'ard the gun under his pillow, but room Taps selected a cubicle and hard hands gripped his wrist. An­ locked the door. He stripped the other hand wrenched the gun from wrapping paper from the money, him. The gripping hands were re­ packed the money into the bag, placed by handcuffs. shredded the wrapping paper and Taps rolled over slowly and flushed it away. watched cigar-smoking men re-- Zipping the bag, he locked it, moving packets of money from his glanced at his watch. He had bag and stacking them on the writ­ twenty minutes to plane time, time ing desk. "How'd you find me?" enough for a well-deserved drink. he asked numbly. "You're too photogenic, creep," Taps Enderman left the black­ one of the cigar, smokers replied. jack table at 4:30 p.m. on his third He flashed a picture under Taps' day in Las Vegas. He played only eyes. "Next time you case a job like three hours a day, half in the after­ theCarstairs job, make sure they're noon and half in the evening, and not taking color shots of their cus­ always selected a table at which a tomers for Christmas presents." big operator distracted the dealer's Taps stared dully at the picture attention from Taps' conservative of himself in the Carstairs lobby style of play. In four sessions he standing beside the smiling girl was $320 ahead. with the tinsel in her dark hair, her He sauntered upstairs to his lux­ hand on his arm facing him into urious room to shower and shave. the camera, and the money tree in He would take a nap, then have a the background.

MONEY TREE 91

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The merit of commendation is, of course, relative to its source.

THE desk clerk called and said matter of routine. It's the way 1 that there was a man named Harry run iny business. I believe the way Grant who wanted to see me. I to succeed in any business is asked if Harry Grant was alone. through strict routine, meticulous When the clerk confirmed that he planning, and never leaving any­ was I said, "Send him up." thing to chance. Veer oflf course It was exactly seven-thirty in the and there are too many thingSi to morning and I didn't have to look, distract, too many irrelevant de­ at my wristwatch. I always have mands, and too much mind wan­ my coffee at seven-thirty. It's a dering that can prove costly. Keep your mind on your work is my credo. It took me twenty seconds to get my gun with its attached silencer from the hiding place. I don't have a license for a gun, but since a

92 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED gun is the most important tool of by now that I don't carry a gun." my trade it has to be available "I do, but I don't know when when I need it. I unlocked the you're going to start." door, left it slightly ajar, then He smiled and his tiny eyes walked to my bedroom. From my were almost obscured by the fat |X)sition there I could see the door. around them. He eased himself Harry Grant knocked and the into a chair facing me and shook door opened slightly. liis head. "If anybody in the whole I called, "Come in and lock it. world would say that Harry Grant after you, Harry." allowed himself to be frisked by a He stepped inside, pushed the guy like you, I'd tell him that he door shut and locked it. When he was nuts." turned around I had stepped out "Believe it,"" Harry. Believe it," of. the bedroom. I ainicd the 38 I said. at his chest and it produced the .Harry Grant was about iifty- predictable result. five. Balding, he combed the long Grant's face lost color. "What black thin hair on the left side of are you doing, Darbash ? • It's me, his head all the way over to the Harry Grant!" ' : right side, so that each strand stood "Get your hands up, Harry. • out distinctly against his pink Let's see what you're carrying." I scalp. He wore an expensive, irn- frisked him, then lowered my gun. maculately tailored suit. Grant, one "I stopped wearing a gun years • of the top syndicate bosses, had ago. The cops would fix me if bludgeoned and broken heads in they found a gun on me. You his yoiith. Now he had the good think I'm crazy, or something?" life. Now all he wanted was peace Grant protested. of mind. That's why he came to "No. You're all right. Relax, take me. ~ it easy. I didn't single you out. I I said, "Do you want some cof­ make it a practice never to speak fee, Harry.?" to anyone unless _ I know he's He shook his head, "I didn't clean." I grinned. "I don't, trust ~come here for that, Darba.sh." anybody, Harry. That's why I'm , "I know," I said. still in business." He hesitated. "You know Joe "Yeah, I know that, but it shakes Lafayette." me every time I walk in here and It was a statement of fact. "I you pull that gun on me. I've been know him," I said. "Have some here before. You ought to know coffee, Harry. You'll feel better." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 93

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "I'll feel better when I know anybody who could point a finger that you're going to take care of at you as the guy who ordered Lafayette. That's why I came him hit?" here." "No." "Sure, Harry. Why not?" I said, "You and your boys all "What's it going to cost me?" had an alibi. You were all in the he asked. clear. That makes it a bargain, I thought about Joe Lafayette. Harry. You didn't have any trou­ He was about sixty. He was a ble." product of the New Orleans slums. He nodded. "We've got a deal. He'd hammered his way to a top Fifty grand. When are you going position in the narcotics crime hi­ to do it?" erarchy. He'd traveled a long way "Don't worry about it, it'll be from the youth who'd been busted done, Harry. You pay your money for hustling small shopkeepers. and a guy gets knocked off. What When he got out he pushed nar­ more do you want? Description? cotics and finally worked himself Details? Forget it. I don't operate up to retailing and wholesale dis­ that way." tribution, He became a top man He laughed. "A guy shells out in the syndicate. When the federal fifty thousand dollars and ybu!d boys applied heat he'd invested in think he'd be entitled \ to know, legitimate businesses. Today how he.was spending his money." Joe Lafayette had money, power, I winked. "You know how connections, two bodyguards. you're spending it, - but you still Nobody in his right mind would haven't told me why you want me attempt to knock off Joe Lafayette, to make a stiff out of a live one." because ,an attempt, whether suc­ He pointed a'finger at me and cessful or not, would meet with shook his head. "Where do you instant retahation. get off, Darbash? How does it I said, "Fifty thousand, Harry," figure that a guy like you has to He roared, "You're crazy, Dar- know the reasons?" He smiled bash! You asked forty grand for but there was no mirth on his the last job." face. "It confuses me." - "You gpt a bargain." . "It does more than confuse you, "What kind of a bargain is forty Harry. It steams you. You can't thousand dollars?" he growled out understand it. You've hired a pro­ of the side of his mouth. fessional, murderer for big money. "When it-was over was there So you start thinking that the man

94 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED he's going,to murder is all he has tlie federal governmejit doesn't to know. That's it, isn't it, Harry?" give you any rest. They watch "That's the way I see it," Harry your movements. They check your said. background, your business invest­ "That's the way you see it, but ments and the people you associate not me. I've got to'know why it's with. They don't get o(T your worth fifty thousand dollars to back." you." I said, "Sure." "What you don't know can't hurt "You get careless. You get you, Darbash." greedy; and they fall on you Hke "I see it the other way." a ton of bricks. The government's He shook his head wonderingly. rough. They're handing out twenty "I could have this job done for a year sentences for each count. fraction of the money I'm paying The Feds are managing to get two you." and three 'count indictments." I said nothing. Harry grimaced. "The boys on top "All right. Joe Lafayette is a are too old to play that kind of great concern to me and to other game. Like that you can die in top people in the outfit. He's am­ prison. We got out of it." bitious. He's money hungry and "You mean importing it," I said. he keeps taking chances. He does "Let's make it clear." crazy things. He acts on his own He nodded. "Yeah, but the- and when he does he puts us all . chance to make big dough keeps in a very dangerous position with Lafayette in. He takes "one shot" the cops." deals from time to time. Federal "I don't buy it.'Nobody is going agents. United States attorneys and to shell out fifty grand for a reasoii people in the District Attorney's like that. If his boys took a fall office know about him doing it. they'd keep their mouths shut. So They haven't enough evidence to what makes it worth fifty big ones touch him yet, but sooner or later to put Lafayette to sleep ?" he's going to take a fall. It figures. He sighed. "You'know we don't When that happens he's going to have anything to do with nar­ make a deal with them and he's cotics." going to name names. He isn't I shrugged, said, "Sure." going to let them put him away "No, we don't fool with that," for years. He'll talk. He's a threat Harry said. "Not anymore. You torn." play with that kind of stuff and "That's better, Harry. That's HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 95

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED more like it." I grinned. "When I got them frightened, but finally finish with him he won't be a they all agreed after somebody sug­ threat. Now that's worth fifty gested that I give you the job. It grand." was hard to convince them. I had "When are you going to do it?" to keep telling them how Lafayette he asked. could get us all sent up if he took "Leave that to me. A week, two a fall. You can't take chances with weeks, maybe a month. The time somebody like that. He can put has to be right." your life in jeopardy. He was watching me intently. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, "I'll send someone around tomor­ and began walking toward the row with the money." door again. "Wrong. You deliver it person­ The silencer held the noise ally. No bills larger than twenties. down when I shot and killed him. We don't want to give advance I opened the windows and notice to the world that we're go­ switched on the fan to get rid of ing to knock somebody off, do we, the cordite fumes. Then I walked Harry.?" over and stared at Harry Grant. I thought I saw Grant shudder. He'd lost his nerve. He'd grown Harry was getting soft. soft, like a fat cat. That made him "I'll bring it tomorrow," he said. dangerous, a threat to everybody. Twenty years ago he would have I called the syndicate number killed Lafayette himself. He rose and said, "I want to ship a and started to leave. steamer trunk." ' I said, "This fifty thousand dol­ "That's fine." I recognized Joe lars—you paying the money your­ Lafayette's voice immediately. "We self, or is it a group expenditure.?" have a trunk in the area. We'll be "All of us," he said brusquely, there in ten minutes," he said." "although I had to work to con­ I hung up, got the steamer trimk vince them that Lafayette is a from the closet and started pack­ threat." He stared past me. "He's , ing Harry Grant for shipment.

ii^^ 96' ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Though seldom obuious, there are occasions when it may be expedient .to remain a debtor.

Scott, the gasping, pitch-changing, •r-iririiinnri sniff-punctuated voice was never known to be wrong. "Tell me who, Snuffles," I said. "Don't know. I owe you a favor. I'm paying. That's it. You take it from here, man." The phone went dead. I leaned back in my chair, nerves • in my stomach knotted into a tight ball. Indian summer had come' to the city, the siin turning the per­ petual haze to a warm golden mist and until Snuffles called, it had been a leisurely, enjoyable day. Now I had to move and move fast, and I felt like a blind man dropped MOISTEN, Mr. Stoneman," the voice suddenly into an unfamiliar room. said, "I hear someone is paying big A pigeon chandelled to my win­ money to take care of a guy named dow sill, cocked its head at me for Scott who works at the airfield. a few seconds, decided a worried You told me once he was a friend looking, stony-faced, middle-aged of yours, right .f"' attorney, wasn't the type for a My doodling fingers started to handout and tumbled from the sill sketch a skull and crossbones on with wings spread. I watched it my note pad. Unlikely as it was wheel gracefully down. that anyone would want to kill Twenty-two years before on a

FAVOR 97 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED similar" hazy sunny afternoon, il wanted to buy me out. Fat chance. had wheeled down as. gracefully I've spent twenty years building and stupidly as that pigeon, and this thing and now that it's clear, I George Scott had blown an ME- can sit back and enjoy it without 109 off the tail of my fighter, a debt working hard." I never had a chance^to repay. If "Who wants to buy?". Snuffles Grogan owed me a favor "DoTi't know. The offer - was for keeping him out of jail, I sure made through a lawyer named^ as hell owed one to Scott for some­ C. J. Matthews, a fat little bald thing far more important. head with shifty eyes." ' I punched the button on tiiy pri­ "I know the one you niean. Any­ vate outside line and dialed Scott thing else unusual ?" Flying at the municipal airfield. "I made a profit last week eyen Scott's voice was amused. "The though the weather was bad." operator says you're John Stone- "Don't go away. I'll be back to man, but I don't believe her. Used you." v, to know a John Stoneman, but "Hey, wait a minute," he yelled. haven't talked to him for at least a "You can't call me once a year, ask year. I think an irate husband shot a lot of fool questions and hang him.'; - up I" "The woman you married does­ "Sure I can," I-told him. "Lis­ n't -want her husband associated ten." • I. broke the connection and with a disreputable bachelor," I re- buzzed for my secretary. • minded him. The skull and cross- "Get an attorney named C. J. bones on my note,pad stared up at Matthews on the phone for me," I me. "How are things there, Scott? told her. Anything new?" I sat back to think. Scott was an "Hell, no. Same routine day in, easy-going, popular man, a war day out. If the weather- is good we hero rewarded by the city a long fly. If it isn't we go home and I time ago with a long term lease for worry about, how much money I'm operating his flying service at the "losing." " city's airfield, a hard working, so­ "Nothing unusual there at all?", ber citizen who made as unlikely a "What do you call unusual?" candidate for a kilhng as anyone I Scott's voice was puzzled. knew. • "Anything, happen in the last My phone buzzed and I intro­ week that never happened before?" ; duced myself to Matthews as "Yeah," he said. "Some idiot- Scott's attorney. He wasn't at liber•?,

98 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ty to reveal the name of the client "Blame him for it. Big man?" interested in Scott Flying and the "Big man." ofler' was no longer open. I men­ "Client would have to be impor­ tally scored one for Stoneman, tant for him personally to approach knowing a legitimate offer would a friend of mine with an offer to never have been withdrawn so buy his business, right.''" quickly. His eyes narrowed, flickering The desk clock crept past three- •with interest. "It would be reason­ thirty. Pushing my chair back, I able to suppose it would be the headed for the office next to mine. firm's most important client, a man Matthews couldn't tell me who his' named Bessinger. He tried to buy client was but there was nothing to your friend's business.?" prevent me from finding out on "That's the assumption." I told my own. him about Snuffles Grogan's phone I knocked gently and opened the call and my conversation with door. The old gentleman had spun Scott. • around to face the window and He straightened and rubbed' his the warm sun, slid down a little in nose, an autoinatic gesture when his chair, folded his hands across he was pleased or excited. "I be­ his stomach and fallen asleep. I lieve your assumption is valid. Get tapped his shoulder. your hat. My man shall drive us. I One eye opened. "You cannot refuse to ride in that wire-whealed, prove beyond a reasonable doubt I uncomfortable, flamboyant foreign was asleep." ' atrocity you call an automobile." "I can make a rather strong "Where are we going.?" 'case." ^ - "To see Scott. I believe he is in His name was Martin Chetkos trouble but, since he's your friend, and he had taken me direct from he probably won't listen to you. He law school and taught me every­ will listen to me, and I refuse to thing he knew about criminal law, tell the same story twice." which was considerable. As a re­ During the half hour ride he sat ward for my learning well, he had with a ghost of a smile on his face, made me his partner and let me do once murmuring something that all the work while he rested his sounded .Hke everything comes to seventy year old bones in his soft him who waits. leather chair and criticized. In Scott's office, Chetkos was al­ "C. J. Mattliews of Matthews, most rude, taking over Scott's Crane, etcetera, etcetera," I said. chair, brushing conversation aside,

FAVOR 99 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED hands clasped on top of his cane, family has a long history of mental "s fingers drumming restlessly. He illness-. His father was committed motioned to me. "" ' to a sanitariurri and his mother" "Tell-Mr. Scott why we're here." killed. herself while he was still a ' . I told him. Scott laughed. young boy. He grew up being \ Chetkos held up a wrinkled fin­ called Crazy Bessinger. One day he ger. "Do not laugh, Mr. Scott. Mr. fought with and killed another boy Stoneman's source is reliable. who called him that. It was listed Someone intends to_^kill you. Have as accidental manslaughter. Twen- \ you ever met Mr; Bessinger.''" ty years ago his wife died under Scott shook his head. circumstances never fully ex­ "Think, Mr. Scott. Bessinger is a plained." - very.short irian with straight"black The Indian summer day was al­ hair, close set black eyes, a high most gone, clouds blotting the sun pitched voice and looks your age and through the office window it- although he is twenty years older. suddenly looked cold. He always wears dark gray cloth- "There have been many stories ing." through the years," the old man Scoitt snapped his fingers. "The went on quiedy. "Unsubstantiated, little guy last -week." He looked at of course. I will tell you one, since me. "Remember I told you the the situation is similar. Bessinger weather was bad? It was closed in and I .once belonged to the same so tight one morning nothing was club. One night in a heated poUti- moving, but he wanted me to fly cal discussion, a man called Bes- him someplace. I tried to explain I I singer 'insane.' Within a few days, couldn't even find the end of the he received an offer to buy his runway, but I might as well have company. It was so attractive he been talking to the wall. He kept couldn't refuse, but he never col­ telling me to name niy own price." lected the full amount agreed "What did you say to him, Mr. upon. It developed Bessinger was Scott?" Chetkos sounded as if he the buyer. He simply refused to • knew the answfer. pay, forcing the man to take him "What could I say? I told^him he to court, which was what Bessin­ was insane." -, ger wanted. He could afford to tie Chetkos let out a long sigh. "I him up in litigation for years and knew it had to be something like he did. Five years later the man that. Let me tell you about Bes- ' finally won the judgment. The next singer, Mr. Scott. The Bessinger night he was killed by a holdup

100 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED man as he walked across a parking you. Who, would connect it wkh a Jot." man you spoke to for only a few "• "Are you telling me that this minutes, a man whose name you man goes around killing people didn't even know ?" who call him insane?" Scott was Scott said nothing.' skqjtical. "You see?" Chetkos asked gen­ "I am telling, you that things tly. "Now you believe me." happen to people who call Bessin- "What do I do? Call him and ger insane." apologize? Call the police?" "How can he get away with it.?" "Neither. An apology would be 'Tlanning and money," said ignored and in any event, the Chetkos. "Mr. Stoneman will tell wheel has been set in motion. The you there is a huge gap between police can't help because no crime suspicion and proof." has been committed." "Oh, come on, Mr. Chetkos. If "The man ought to be put what you say is true, he'd be re­ away," Scott muttered. sponsible for a great many mur­ "For forty years, Mr. Scott, I and ders. I find that hard to believe." a few others have been looking for "I did not say it was necessary someone to provide the reason and for Bessinger to kill these people," to sign the papers." said Chetkos. "Many times I am "So I walk around like a tin sure he was content with merely duck in a shooting gallery waiting ' ruining them. But even if he 'had for someone to knock me off," killed them, it shouldn't amaze "Scott said quietly. you. You' read the newspapers. Chetkos turned to me. "I assume You know there have been in­ your analytical brain has been stances where a person with no ap­ functioning?" parent reason kills six or eight or "To some extent," I said. "First, twelve innocent people. Is Bessin­ if Bessinger has hired someone, the ger so much different?" chances are he has stipulated it Scott shook his head. "I still can't must -look, like an accident. He believe it." wouldn't want an out and out kill­ "Take your case, Mr. Scott*. We ing and investigation. Second, even believe Bessinger intends to have though it would be logical to cause you killed, yet he has voiced no Scott to crash while flying, there overt threat, performed no overt are three big things against it. He'd act to make you even suspect him. need a specialist, the FAA would Suppose an accident happened to become involved, and most cer-

FAVOR 101 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED tkinly the city would take an inter­ by • being indifferent. or stupid." est because Scott operates from city I walked with him to his car. property. I think we can rule out The old man looked tired, the lines anything happening around here drawn tight on his seamed face. - or connected with flying as being "Suppose we use the same plan too dangerous for Bessinger. we developed under similar cir­ Third, the other fixed base from cumstances last year, if we need which Scott operates and where he it," I said. "You'll arrange for my can be found is hishome.-I don't gun to be sent to Scott's house? think the prospective killer will I'm getting too old for this sort of have either the time or the inclina­ thing. I'll need some solid sup­ tion to chase Scott around vvaiting port." for an opportunity. Therefore, I The old eyes probed at me. "Are would say that he will go" after him you certain you can handle it? in his own house. Fourth, a logical While you do have a talent for vio­ projection would be that he will lence, I would not wish to use it try soon since there is no point in to satisfy my own desire to trap waiting. Perhaps even tonight." I Bessinger. We can take Mr. Scott to paused for breath. "Would you my place tonight'and arrange for a consider that • a penetrating analy­ bodyguard tomorrow." sis?" I thought of the old debt I owed "Superficial at best," said Chet- Scott. "I'm doing this for myself. If kos. "I personally. do not think it it were anyone but Scott," the law • will be tonight. Such haste is not firm of Chetkos and Stoneman characteristic of Bessinger." would behave like a law firm, in­ He rose to his ieet. "I see no stead of amateur detectives." reason for my continued presence. He snorted. "Amateurs, indeed. I I suggest Mr. Stoneman stay with would not like to think that any you tonight, Mr. Scott. He • will venture with which I ani asso­ take whatever precautions are nec­ ciated is tinged with amateurism." essary. Tomorrow we will arrange I -watched him go. Overhead, a for more professional protection." sleek, twin engine plane drifted He turned to me. "I hoped the op­ down the approach, hit the short portunity to stop Bessinger would alternate runway smoothly, slowed, coine while I was young enough to taxied toward Scott Flying, swung take advantage of 'it, but you will neatly into', line and- Scott's son have to substitute. Trust no one. stepped out, evidently coming Bessinger has not survived so long home from a charter flight. '

102 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A half-dozen people leaned A shadow passed over the kid's against the wire fence in the gath­ face. "No," he said shortly. "I'll see ering dusk, watching the planes. you in the morning." One of them looked at me, turned I made sure he was gone before I from the fence, walked to a car and said, "You're having trouble with pulled away. Something was him." vaguely familiar in the way he Scott nodded. "Ever since this moved. girl Angie and a couple of her I was still trying to place him friends hired a-plane to go back-to when I walked into Scott's office. college last spring, she's been lead­ "You know, we're lucky," Scott ing him'around by the nose." said. "You sound as if you don't like "That's an ironic statement if I her." ever heard one." "I don't," he said slowly. "I'm "Carol is out of town for a few not exacdy poor but alongside her days. Be back tomorrow evening." father I feel poverty stricken. The "That makes things easier)" '1 ' kid^'is out of his class. lHe was said. "All we need would be your draining me dry trying to keep up wife asking questions*" with her and I had to put my foot A tall twenty-year-old . came dojvn. I tried toitell him if sheNwas through the door. any kind of a woman, she'd spend, Scott waved at him. "You re­ less of his money. But he doesn't member my son Bill." . see it that way, so naturally I'm the I held out my hand. "The last tight-fisted heavy in the case. Now time I saw hifn he was about fif­ what's the next step? A profession­ teen and a lot smaller." al killer is supposedly after mfe and "Mr. Stoneman," the kid said I have a lawyer for a bodyguard. said quietly. His grip was perfunc­ What do you intend to do, throw tory, his eyes cold, his opinion of law books at him ? " me, probably taken from his moth­ "You never know," I grinned. er. "That's what it might come down ^ "I'm taking off," he said to his to. Let's have dinner and go home." father. "Angie and I have a date We carefully locked, up Scott's and I won't be home afterward. house, closing the blinds and the I'll be staying at her house so I drapes, leaving one window in a won't have that long drive home." first floor bedroom unlatched. I "Okay with me," said Scott. wanted anyone trying to get in to "Need any money?" use that window because I'd rigged

FAVOR 103 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ^^^^ it with a homemade burglar alarm; Chetkos' chauffeur had delivered some thumbtacks and a long piece a package, a short barreled .44 of string running to a sheet of pa­ Magnum from my collection. Scott per on the floor in Scott's den. If stared at it. \ , the window went up, the paper "Why do you need that cannon?" would move and Scott and I could "Intimidation." I checked it and get there faster than anyone could carefully lowered the hammer on crawl in. an empty chamber. "A friend on

104 ALFRED HITCHCOCKS MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the force oncelold me there were I snapped awake, bringing the • two weapons aii experienced man name out of, the dream with me, would never challenge at close knowing now why the man I had range: a sawed off shotgun be­ seen leaning against the fence at cause it is almost impossible to Scott Flying that afternoon looked miss with one, and a heavy hand­ famiUar. gun because if you are only nicked, Deeker Jensen, I had seen -him you get knocked off your feet. once, pointed out in a downtown Anytime you fire this, you're play­ bar; a name for hire, an expensive ing for keeps. I hope I don't have professional perfect for someone to.use it." like Bessinger. We filled the hours with talk of There was no sensible reason for the days when we flew together Deeker Jensen to be at that fence and the years since, the talk taper­ except to get a line on Scott. I ing off when the clock passed mid­ dialed Chetkos and told him. night. Too litde sleep the night be­ "I shall keep Mr. Jensen in mind fore dragged my lids shiit arid I if anything happens to you," he hovered just under wakefulness, said. blind but not deaf, hearing familiar "You'd better do more than sounds, friendly sounds, none that," I told him. bringing the gut-wrenching quiver Scott motioned frantically, point­ that would tell me someone was ing at the sheet of paper moving -trying to break in. Scott slumped slowly across the floor. at the desk, staring at- the paper,, "Here we go," I said softly. "Are . his regular hours as a married man you ready?" making him more durable. I . I heard a click as Chetkos turned .slipped a notch deeper into sleep, on his tape recorder. "Go ahead," into a half dream" world where I he said. watched Scott, Chetkos and myself I placed the receiver down with­ acting out our parts, where Scott out hanging : up and motioned refused to believe any of it and I Scott across the heavy rugs to the ^ yelled at him that Chetkos knew bedroom window. If Scott had any what he was doing and twenty doubts left, they were gone now^, years practice of criminal law had belief accented by the hard lines in taught me people like Bessinger his face, dim in the light filtering could exist, that they thought noth­ into the bedroom. We heard the ing of hiring someone like Deeker window sliding upward and the Jensen. soft clicking as the blind followed,

FAVOR • 105 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ' A cat yowled suddenly in the.quiet here, hitting people like .that?" night, a baby-in-pain scream that Scott looked at me questioning- froze my blood and made my heart ly. I shook my head. stutter, and I damned all cats born . "We were just talking about old since the beginning of time. times," I said. "Heard someone The drape bulged as someone sneaking in the window and took pulled himself through. Gauging no chances. How were we to knovv where the head should be, I it was you.? You weren't supposed smashed down with the Magnum to be horne tonight, remember.'' , and tore the drape aside, gun lifted Why are you here?" to smash down again if I had to. "If it's any business of yours. The night air rushed in, cool Angle and I had an argument so I against my clammy face. He was decided not to stay there. Any­ draped across the sill, unmoving. I thing wrong with that?" grabbed his collar and lifted. "You feel all right, son?" Scott Even in the dim' light, it wasn't asked gently. hard to recognize Bill Scott. "Except for a headache," he Scott cut loose with a few choice snapped, "I'm getting myself a words as I helped him carry the drink." He headed for the liquor kid into the den and drop him into cabinet. a soft chair. "A drink will make that head­ "You could have killed him," ache worse," I told him. Scott said angrily. "You shut the hell up. Stone- I shook my head." "Not through man! You have no business being that drape, but if he makes a habit here!" If he had looked at me with of climbing through windows, he disdain this afternoon, he glared at will get killed." . -. me now with hate. I was standing behind tjie chair "Why not?" I asked mildly. when the kid stirred, looked up at "What difference should it make to , his father and cursed. "You old you ?" fool. Just because I forgot my keys, He turned quickly, a long bar­ did you have to brain me ?" reled revolver fitted with a silencer . If he had been my son, I'd have in his hand. "This difference. Now promptly brained him again, I'll have to kill you, too." • "Not him," I.said. "Me." Scott, the blood gone from his The kid spun around, held his face, eyes dark, stared at his son, head and groaned. He jerked a and I'd have given everything I thumb at me. "What's- he doing owned to change v things, to have

106 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED had Decker Jensen crawl in that kid somehow and at this pace we window. ' could go on all night. "Easy, kid," I said softly. "Sons "Forget it. Bill;" I told him. like you don't run around killing "You're not killing anyone." their fathers. Would you mind tell­ The kid grinned tightly. "I still ing him why the thought even en­ have this gun." tered your head? You owe him "Don't move, kid," t said wear­ that much." ily. "Just look down alongside this The kid's eyes shifted, perspira­ chair. You'll see a .44 Magnum tion pouring down his face. Living •pointed at your belt buckle and if with the thought had made him you look real close you'll see I have believe it would be easy; finding the trigger pulled up and the ham­ both of us here had thrown him mer held back. If your finger off stride. twitches, my thumb slips off the "Money? Is that it?" I threw the hammer and you get it. There's no words at him gendy. It wouldn't way to beat me, and this gun will take much to set him off. reniove a healthy part of your "Yeah, money," he said horasely. anatomy no matter where you get "His will leaves the business to me. hit." I sell. it. It's that ^simple." "You could miss," he said shak- "Not easy to sell a business like ily. that." "Not likely, but if I do, that open "I already have a buyer." phone line is going to hang you." "Take it from a lawyer, kid. You The kid's eyes widened when he have nothing unless it's on paper saw the phone off the hook. and signed." "Use your head," I said. "The "I have the man's word." idea was to kill your father, make "You have nothing," I said flat­ it look like a burglary, discover the ly. "Going to take him to court- if body in the morning, and back it he backs out? Say you killed your all up with the fake alibi.that you father because the man promised to were at your girlfriend's house—if buy the business from you and you were capable of doing it, then didn't?" which I doubt. It's all down the - "No reason for him to back out," drain, so drop it." the kid said contemptuously. "He Scott hadn't moved, the shock could buy Scott Flying out of petty' still pinning him to the floor. The cash." muscles played along the kid's jaw I had to pry the name out of the for a moment and I let my thumb- r^ FAVOR 107 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED slip a little, then his shoulders the right man. How do you think slumped and he let the gun fall. I Jensen fits in ?" . took a deep breath and gently lowr "Coincidence, I guess." ered the hammer and released the "Don't be too sure. He just trigger. - might have hired Jensen in the "You really didn't want to kill event the boy couldn't go through him," I said gently. "It takes more with it." than money for someone like you. I looked across the room. Scott \It takes passion or hate or anger had retreated behind the desk and and you don't have enough of any was lighting a cigarette with shak­ of them. The girl is pulling at you ing hands. The kid hadn't moved. from one side and twenty years is i had the feeling he didn't even pulling at you from the other. If know where he was. you really want money that badly, "I'm going to leave these two to you, know damn well he'd sell the work" out their own problems, if it's business and give you every penny. all right with you. Scott's going to You've been enough of a fool for need a doctor for the kid and I'd one night so tell me whose "idea it just be in the way." .was in the first place." "My only concern now is Jen­ There was a long silence. "Bes- sen." singer," he said finally. I sighed. "Okay. If I can stay I walked over and picked up the awake long enough, I'll look phone. "You get it.?" I asked Chet- around outside just to please you." kos. "Excellent. While you are not the "Every vvord, but it isn't much greatest attorney in the world, you -good. Any boy who would consid­ would have made quite an ade­ er killing his father obviously quate poUce officer." needs a psychiatrist, so no jury is I grinned, told him to hang on, going to take his word against a unlocked the back door, let my pillar of the community like Bes- • eyes become . accustomed to the singer; How did you know it was night and started pussyfooting the boy.?" : ' around the house, feeling ridicu­ "I bashed the kid in the head lous. When I- told Chetkos I was while he was climbing in the win­ getting too old for this sort of dow. When we carried him in here, thing, 1 wasn't joking. Fighting I felt the gun." with words was a great deal easier "Fantastic," he said- "Bessinger and much less dangerous. I paused has an uncanny talent for choosing at the corner. Starlight was enough

lOS ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ^to show the curved walk leading to . plane; after seeing the man he'd the street, the symmetry of the come to see. So far as I knew, Scott shrubbery on either side broken by himself had never left the office. ^ an indefinite dark shape some thir­ I brushed by Scott at the door ty feet away. I crouched, braced the and told Chetkos. Magnum against the house, sighted "Both of them,". I said savagely. in as well as T could on the shape "He was going to kill them both. and cautiously called, "Jensen?" We thought Grogan was talking The shape moved, a yellow fin­ about Scott but: he was really talk­ ger poked at me and a slug richo- ing about his son. Do you realize cheted off the stone house above how that madman set this up.? If my head. ^ the kid killed Scott, and Jensen . I hesitated. The last thing in the killed the kid, that would be ideal. world I wanted to do was cut. If the boy didn't go through with loose with that Magnum in that it, Bessinger would still have pun­ residential neighborhood. If I ished Scott by having Jensen kill missed, there was no telling where his son. He.couldn't lose." that slug would end up. "But he did lose," said Chetkos Jensen solved, my problem for gently. "Scott and the boy are still me. Another slug whispered over aUve." my head, a few inches lower this "The hell he did," I snapped. time. I groaned and he moved for­ "They still have .to live with the ward to finish the job. I pressed knowledge the boy just might have closer against the wall, let him get killed his father. You call that los- half the distance and called softly, ing?" "That's far enough." Chetkos sighed. "Perhaps not. He dropped, fired again, rolled, You had better hang up. The po­ came up in a crouch and I fired. lice will be there any moment, and The Magnum went off with a deep • you will need my presence' to back' whoom, the slug straightening him up your story. I shall be there up and driving him off his feet, shortly." and from the way he fell, there I cradled the phone, feeling the was no "point in rushing to look shock and the pain still showing in him over. . Scott's face, wondering if I'd really I came to my feet slowly, feeling done him a favor by saving his life; sick, remembering now: Jensen and knowing I'd never be content had left the airfield after young until I caught up to Bessinger, one Scott had stepped from the air- way or another.

FAVOR . 109 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "With the utterly lost, to whom life and death are equally jests," Poe wrote, "there are matters of tvhich no jest can be made"

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1T HAD all begun because Jona- - He turned some pages. "Fidelity than, never able to remember any- Himmelfarb?" thing associated with numbers, had Her mouth relaxed a little, but ordered too many Christmas cards. she did not smile. "How about—" his eyes went "Mordecai Prune.?" down the page, "—Madonna • She objected. "No one's got Orht.?" Prune, for a last namel Let.me see She did not laugh. the book." "Come now," he said. "You're He had to admit that he had not going to be difficult.?" made it up. She nodded that she was. It had taken them over two hours.

110 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED two hours of searching, of argu­ ber about Miami," he explained. ing—he kept making up fantastic "What if he's never been to Mi­ names—of finding actual names ami?" and-laughing over them till their Jonathan laughed. "Everyone's mouths were stretched into one been to Miami. Even a guy with a continuous and painful smile, to name Uke Ferd Lumpp has been to decide finally on a name: Ferd Miami." Lumpp. "You'ven&vcrhtcn there!" Reaching for the card that was "Yeah, but my name's not Ferd left, Patricia had commented that Lumpp." she was so laughed out she couldn't Patricia wrote the -words.' even tell anymore whether the "Shall I sign it with our.real name was fiinny. Jonathan reas­ names?" - • sured her that it was—that 'Ferd "Sure. Why not?" Lumpp' was the funniest name in Patricia addressed the envelope, the New York phone book. then hesitated before writing the "Do you think he'll Uke us?" Pa­ return address. Wanting to retain tricia asked, looking at the .card. some anonymity, she wrote the ad­ Jonathan was in a rented Santa dress of a cabin her mother owned suit; she in a red dress she had on the Cape, instead of their New fringed with cotton. Eight reindeer York address. Then she threw the formed a halo over their heads. card on the stack with the others. "He'll love us," Jonathan an­ "Am I not a genius—or am I not swered. a genius?" Jonathan asked her. "What shall I write on the inside Getting up from the floor, going of the card?" over to his chair and putting her Jonathan leaned for\yard. This arms around his waist, Patricia had was to be ihe real joke. "Sornething to admit that, indeed, he was a important. Some kind of note, mys­ genius. terious, like . . . 'don't forget the meeting next Wednesday night,' or Ferd Lumpp got the card on . . . I've got it!" he cried. "Remem­ Wednesday. The names meant ber Miami?" nothing to him, but the message "What?" did. Someone else had been there! "Write 'Remember Miami?' I Going over to the window and mean, the guy'll get the card and holding the card up to the Hght, he wrack his brains trying to figure tried to make out their faces. It out/what he's supposed to remem- was almost impossible to distin- A NAME, IN THE PHONE BOOK ^111 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED guish the features of the man. The in the air, arguing that she wanted white beard covered most of his to stay in Miami another day; her face, the cap hid any signs of hair husband, quieter, that they had no on his head, the cap tassel obscured money left. Certainly, she, in spite his left eye and cheek. Only the of her argument, had kept looking right eye was clearly visible; a nar­ at him. Had she known.? He had row dark slit, almost closed by been to the beach by then. Were laughter. Her face was somewhat they the ones.'' easier to see, although her eyes Or was Patricia the girl in the art were covered by wire-frame glasses, shop who had sold him the tube of her hair by a white wig. In spite •zinc white, the tube he had felt of the shadows drawn around her warm in his shirt pocket the whole mouth, he could tell that she was time,he had been with the girls— young, probably in her early twen­ was she Patricia} She had even got ties. That might be enough. him to speak of himself, to. tell her Putting on a record by Beethoven that he was from New York. In —the Sixth was his favorite—he sat retrospect, had this been friendli­ down and tried to remember the ness, or just plain suspicion.? Had people who had been there. There he given himself. away ? Certainly had been the cashier in the drug­ he was nervous. The bag was in his store. Certainly she had watched room by then-, and he had not yet him. Every time he had glanced up thought of a way to dispose of it.' from the book rack, she had been Had she suspected him and told looking at him. She was not flirting some lover or husband.? Were they . with him—of that he could be cer­ Patricia and Jonathan.? tain. There had been no smile on The trumpets were blaring now, her face, nothing suggestive in her and Ferd, getting up to turn off.the manner, only eyes so relentless that player—he had a splitting headache he finally had to leave the drug­ —went over to the window. Look­ store. But that had been long before ing down into the street, watching the beach. Why would she have sus­ the people move below, he began to pected him then.'' ' feel better. It did not matter if he -Beethoven was faster now, more could not remember which ones desperate, - the trumpets having they had been since he had their joined in, and Ferd wondered if picture, as well as a return address. they had been the young couple he It should be easy enough to find had seen outside the library. The them . . , • . girl had been waving a road map Two days before, as they were

112 ALFRBD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED walking along the Hudson River She had to admit that he was near the University, Patricia had right, and he cocked the shutter, said suddenly, -"It must be an ab­ ready to take another picture. breviation," and she posed in front "Ferdinand isn't really such a of Grant's Tomb for Jonathan to' funny name," she said again. "If take her picture. you think about it for a while." He asked her to brush her hair - The following day, the day be­ out of her face, then said, "Abbrevi- . fore Christmas Eve, while they ation?" He did not knovs' what she were shopping in the delicatessen, was talking about. she had begun again. Pushing her^ "Ferd," she said. "It must be cart down the aisle, she suddenly short for Ferdinand." stopped in front.of the papaya juice. He snapped the shutter, pulled "I feel guilty," she said. the white sheet out of the camera. "What.?" He was wondering if "Fifty seconds," he said. she had got the smoked oysters yet. They started walking again. "Being in here with him out "It isn't really such a funny there. He must be poor, terribly name," she went on. "Kings have poor." been named that, haven't they.? I . "Who's poor?" mean, wasn't there some famous "Ferd Lumpp." king named Ferdinand?" "Darling," he sighed, "can't you "Ummmmm," he grunted, stop­ think of anything else?" ping to open the camera. Carefully, "Well," she pouted, "even you he peeled the picture away from its will have to admit that isn't the best edges. neighborhood he Uves in. I mean, "And that bull," she continued. it's almost the worst." "Don't you remember, as a kid, . He could not argue with her. - that little bull that everybody She did not buy the papaya juice, wanted to grow up to be fierce, to' took the oysters back. For dinner fight in the bullring,, and all he that night they had fried eggs. wanted to do was to be gentle, to Then, on Christmas Eve, as -smell the clover, to lope peacefully Jonathan watched, Patricia paced around the pasture . . ." around the apartment, grabbed a "Bulls don't lope," Jonathan cor­ magazine and thurtibed through it, rected. "Horses do, but not bulls." put it down, straightened the angel He had the picture out now. on top of the Christmas' tree. "Look," he said, holding it up. Finally, she paused in front of the "You're beautiful." bookcase where they had hung their

A NAME IN THE PHONE BOOK 113 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED stockings—one for him, one for her ^stocking. "See, darling?" she said. —and she said, her voice excited, Suddenly overcome with affec- "We need a third oiie up here—a . tion for her, -Jonathan smiled.- stocking for Ferd!" "Beautiful," he said, and his eyes Jonathan had found himself mak­ flickered over her blonde hair. He ing a sUght fist with his left hand. would be graduating from law Damn Ferd Lumpp! school in June; perhaps they should Patricia began to hum. Opening take a trip somewhere—maybe even the hall closet door, she took a roll . to Hawaii. Then, when they came of red felt from the top shelf. "Why back, they would have to start didn't I think of it before?" she thinking about having a baby ... said,' and began cutting out the shape of a stocking. . The man in the camera shop had Watching her, hearing her hum, not been helpful. Jonathan slowly relaxed his left "Are you kidding? That picture hand. He had not realized how order could have come from any of lonely she had becorne. Lavishing a hundred photo shops or drug­ 'on her all theattention that the late stores in the city, any of three hun­ night^ hours provoked, he, had for­ dred processors in the country." gotten diat her day, while he was The man who owned the.grocery away at law school, contained store on the outskirts of Falmouth many other hours. She had not had known a little more. learned.'how to use them. "Sure," he had said. "That's the Still humming, she held up the old Lawson place."

114 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Lawson?" he repeated, puzzled. head was thrown back, twilight "Yeah—a widow. Has a daugh­ falling across her throat. Why must ter. Married recently." everything always remind him that "Patricia.?" in a world where everything was "Yeah." made for two, he was only one.? Ferd bit his lower lip. "Where is It had been that way in Miami, a she now—Patricia.?" succession of park benches, loneli­ "Lives in New York, I think." ness, night always coming, couples, "Married name.?" everything -made for two. So he "Uhhh . . ." He couldn't remem­ had done the only things he knew ber, didn't think he'd ever known, how to do: spent hours before the though. The Lawsons hadn't been drugstore bookracks, sat on park out to their cabin in years—since benches, wandered through the art Mr. Lawson died. Daughter been store, trying to decide which tube away at some fancy college. of oil paint to buy, talking to the "Mrs. Lawson—where is she owner—and then he had wandered now.? New York.?" out onto the beach, where he had "Nope. Somewhere out on the found the girls. West Coast." The lights in the park were on "Los Angeles? San Francisco?" now. Getting up, Ferd started "Yeah. One of those cities, out walking down the path. Sometimes there." he had'trouble remembering; some­ Ferd had taken the early morning times his mind refused to work. bus back. Arriving in New York Sometimes he couldn't-even remem­ when there was still some light left, ber if he had done it or not. he had walked over to the park. Corning out of the park, he went Depressed, he sat down on a park into the corner drugstore. Standing bench. in front of the books, he began to Park benches: the story of his turn the squeaking rack, looking at life. the. tides: In Cdld Blood, Three He could hear a couple coming Ways to a Thinner You, The Valley down the path, the girl laughing. of the Dolls, Five Ways to Find He moved uncomfortably against God. He started to reach for In the hard wood of the bench. Why Cold Blood but as his arm went up, must night always come? he' he saw the cashier was looking at thought. The worst time of all.'The him, scowling almost. He'd better couple was passing in'front of him not risk it. Lowering his arm, he now, the girl still laughing. Her turned the rack again. She was still A NAME IN THE PHONE BOOK 115 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED watching him. He would have to perfect. On the way out they could leave the store. stop off and visit her mother, who Walking out of the store, he lived in Los Angeles. started remembering again. There Characteristically, Patricia be­ had been the bookrack and then the came absorbed by the idea. Sitting art store and then the beach where down to the dinner table, she would he had found the girls, camping place an orchid lei aroiind Jona­ out in their sleeping bags. He had than's neck, then begin the meal stopped and tried to talk to them> with a fruit .drink served in a his voice hesitant, stumbling, finally scooped-out pineapple. Another incoherent. Why was it so impor­ evening, she would greet him at tant—such a victqry—for me to • the door, wearing something she tal\ to strangers, as if by talking to called a "mumu." Did he think she them I was proving to myself that could wear it over on the plane? I could mal{e friends, after all? Yi^ Another night, . surrounded by could not remember their faces, maps, she would plan their trip, anything' the girls had said. Had he running her finger from Los An- really found them there, had it all -geles across the Pacific Ocean to happened, the horror that fol­ Honolulu. Why didn't they sail lowed ? Or had his craziness made over, then fly back? And did Jona­ him lonely, causing him to invent than know that Tahiti, Guam, even^ the whole thing? He could not be Japan were close by ? certain. Yet there had been the Jonathan had known. Getting up laundry bag-r-of that he was cer­ from the chair where he had been tain—and Mey had seen him do it. trying to read his law book, he He was on his street now, walk­ stood above her and her maps. ing toward his room. He would "It's going to cost a hell of a lot, find them. If he had to go to all one isn't it?" hundred of those photo- shops,_ all She reached for a piece of a paper. three hundred of those processing "The man at the travel agency said centers, if he had to camp outside two to three thousand, if we go all that cabin till spring came, he would the way to Japan."\ do so—until he had found thern, He sat down on the floor beside Patricia dnd Jonathan. - her. "The trip means a lot to you, doesn't it?" , • ' Early in the new year Jonathan She looked at hini. "Well, you had mentioned the trip.. were the one who suggested it. I "Hawaii?" she beamed. It was thought you wanted to go, too."

116 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "I do," he said slowly. "Maybe He nodded his head—never could your Mother could . . ." His voice keep those colleges straight. trailed off. Ferd sighed. The mother—was he Somewhat angered, wondering sure she lived in either San Fran­ why Jonathan was always so im­ cisco or Los Angeles? practical, always so ready to sug­ 'Tretty sure." ', gest things he knew he could not Ferd thought a minute. It might carry out, she folded the map. She be easy enough to find her by call­ did not mention the trip for several ing all the Lawsons in both cities. days. The grocer smiled. If he weren't, Then, the following Sunday af­ in such an all-fired hurry, he might ternoon, as they were walking be able to see them that summer. along the river, she spoke of the They might be coming out—June, trip again. "I don't think we should July. They had called the local car­ go. penter and asked him about some­ He looked at her. thing—the roof of their cabin, he "I've been selfish. We can't afford believed. it. I mean," she went on, "Hawaii is Ferd bit his lower lip. "Local cas- what we will become—after you've penter?" been practicing law for a while. "Yeah, Benji Burns. He might be Then maybe we'll be Hawaii. But able to help you." now, it's more like we were . . ." Ferd smiled. The carpenter, in­ She was searching for a compari­ deed, might be able to help him. son. "The Staten Island ferry?" he At the last minute Patricia had offered. balked. "What if it rains?" Smiling, she nodded yes, and they Jonathan, laughed. He hoped it walked along in silence. would. They could catch the water "StiU,'^ she finaUy sighed, "Ha­ in buckets and pans, put tarps over waii would have been nice." the furniture. It would always be Moving closer, he put his arm those funny little hardships that around her waist. He would tell her they would remember. of his plan. She wasn't sure it would be,so funny. He knew what a light sleep­ "Vassar? Mt. Holyoke?" er she was, and with all that water The grocer could not be sure. dripping into all those pans . . . Ferd tried again. "Did she go to "I thought that's what you^want- Radcliffe? Sarah Lawrence.?" ed—something simple, inexpensive,

A NAME IN THE PHONE BOOK 117 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED maybe even a little inconvenient." up from the fire. At times the ocean "But not all that dripping," she' was too loud;.at times the noise in pouted. his own brain drove out aU other "You will have fun," he prom­ sounds; at times he could catch ised. "I'll entertain you day and phrases or- words, but never any night—walk through the sand on •names. Then, as he was about to go my thumbs, dance across the roof on down to them anyway, he saw the my toes, take a bath in one of those girl jump up. drip-pans—^make you laugh.". "Look;" she saidj pointing to the She did not smile... - - .". .. •moon that was justj beginning to . "You'll see," he said, kissing her rise over the horizon, "it's orange!" still-pouting lips. "It'll be the best She started running toward the vacation we'll ever have." water, .calUng, "Jonathan, Jonathan, She hoped he was right. let's go greet the moon!" The boy stood up. He had .,c^m.e.~iipoii .,the.x:QupIe ;._at.v; .,.;. "MooBj ji^oopj/^yy.eleit^ 1" dusk, xMt boy roasting marshmalr she cried. ~ . " lows over a d^jiig; fir^i the'.girK' ^vF^rdt'toolc^ a •defep^Breath. They stuffing |he remains of a picnic into were both running toward thci wa­ ' a large -pt'^f •''bag'. If''wa's '^tflf eSdy iter "noW; 'laugKiiig.'"As"'b'gf6re, if too dark to make out their faces, would be a perfect place: the ocean, but they seemed to.be young. They ' loud ^enough; the... water, wet were almost a mile .up-.'the ;h€ach ' •enough;" •• '•. "' '•'-' from the cabin, though,- sbl, they He started toward them. He might not be the ones he wanted. would use the gun on the boy, save He would have to wait for some the knife for the girl—as he had names. done before—and he would be safe. He waited for over an- hour, There would be no oiie left to link crouched behind a dune, nervous, him to what had happened in Mi- listening to their soft words coming arm.

^^^^

118 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 1* mmmi

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SIDDIE ADAMSKI was not happy ding day, and in public she dis­ either in his work or in his mar­ played a gay, charming, life-of-the- riage. The former wasn't particu­ party personality. larly demanding and it paid fairly In private she was sometimes well, but his boss happened to be quite pleasant too, but she could his brother-in-law, and he frequent­ also be an unmitigated harridan. A ly reminded Eddie that he had his good deal of their conversation in job only because of that relation­ the privacy of their apartment was ship, and treated him as though he conducted at scream-level, but Ed­ were a mere messenger boy. die's biggest marital complaint was Eddie's marriage seemed quite that Nancy was as fast with a buck happy; he was even envied by some as her brother was tight. of his male friends who saw only Long Jake Attila never let loose the surface manifestations. Nancy of a nickle he didn't have to, a Adamski was still as strikingly characteristic which had been a beautiful after four years of mar­ shock to Eddie, Adamski when he riage as she had been on their wed- discovered it shordy after his and

THE SKIM 121 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Nancy's honeymoon. Eddie had by the club, but he sensed almost at naively assumed that becoming the once that she found him attractive, brother-in-law of the king of New which inflated his ego. Eddie hiad York City's numbers racket would always regarded himself as rather automatically put him in clover for an average guy, and during his life. He knew in advance the salary thirty years of life Nancy had been ,of the job Long Jake rather con­ the only .girl prior to Hazel who descendingly offered him would be exhibited acute interest in him. only $250 a week, of course, but it He responded like a love-starved never occurred to him that a mul­ teen-ager. On his third visit to the ti-millionaire such as Jake wouldn't club after Hazel started to work throw in periodic bonuses so that there, he got up nerve enough to his sister could live in proper style. ask if she would like him t6 stop Jake never added a penny to the back and run her home after she $250, even at Christmastime. When got off work. She accepted. Within Eddie complained to him that a week they were lovers. Nancy was driving him more Mostly Eddie had to see Hazel in deeply into debt by the day, Jake the daytime, because she -worked merely shrugged and suggested he from five p.m. until one a.m., and put her on a budget. he couldn't get away from Nancy Eddie's discontent deepened af­ that late very often. As Hazel had ter he met blonde Hazel Zimmer. her own flat and Eddie didn't have Hazel was neither as good-looking to account to Jake Attila for his nor as vivacious as Nancy, but she time, so long as he got his work had an even disposition and never done, this wasn't really inconve-. got angry. She was also seven nient. Not for Eddie anyway; Ha­ years younger than Nancy's twen­ zel wasn't too pleased with the set­ ty-eight, and she wasn't exactly un- up. ^ attractive. You had to be fairly - "I never get taken anywhere," presentable to get the job of hat- she complained with increasing check girl at Madden's Supper frequency. "What I need is a boy­ Club. ^ friend who can at least take me That's where Eddie met her. As somewhere for a drink after work. Ziggy Madden was one of Long The bars are still open for two Jake's wholesalers, the club was a hours after I get off, and I get lots regular weekly collection stop for of offers." Eddie. It started .with just casual The implied threat upset Eddie conversation each time he dropped terribly, because he was gro\ying

122 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED fonder and fonder of the blonde After glaring at her speechlessly Hazel. In order to appease her he for some time, he managed to get made a rather wild promise which, out in a barely controlled voice, at the time, he had no intention of "Like about a thousand dollars." keeping: He told her that, as soon "Only nine hundred and ninety- as he accumulated a decent stake, nine, ninety-five," she told him. he would leave Nancy and he and "And payments are only fifty a Hazel would run away somewhere month for a little over two years." together. Eddie dismissed the idea of eco­ - While this device was effective nomic discussion. It was a subject in preventing Hazel froni looking his wife didn't understand. His around for another lover, eventual­ stake was going to have to come ly it began to wear thin.- When from somewhere, other than sav­ some months had passed with no ings, so he decided to be frank indication from Eddie that the with Hazel. The next afternoon at promised flight was anywhere in her apartment he dumped the the foreseeable future, Hazel start­ whole problem in her lap. ed to demand a definite date. "All I want is to be with you," The afternoon she told him he he told her, "but I want to be able had one more week to come- up to support you in style. We'd starve with a specific plan for their elope­ on what I could earn after I walk ment or they were through, Eddie out of this job. Before Long Jake Adamski suddenly decided he real-. gave me a" job I was a clerk in a ly meant the promise, but how do store, and I'm not about to go back you save up an elopement stake to that. We need a stake so that I when your wife spends mpre than can set myself up in business some­ you earn ? where." Eddie went home that evening Hazel wasn't averse to being • determined" to discuss economy supported in style. She was prag­ with Nancy, but he found a brand- matic enough to know that \vhen a new combination color TV-record couple tries to live on love 'alone, player-radio in the front room. In­ the love soon evaporates; Eddie ' stead of kissing his wife hello, he having a substantial stake salted screamed at her, "What in the hell away when they eloped had been is this!"- part of her dream. She went right "Don't you dare shout at me!" to the heart of the matter with a she screamed back. "What in the practical suggestion. hell's it look like?" "You'll have to steal it," she said. '

THE SKIM • 123 ^ LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED He stared at her. "From whom?" advance preparation. Like getting "From Long Jake,- With all that a passport under another nam^, for money you handle, can't you knock instance. With that much time I some down?" could take a .train or bus to some Eddie emitted a bitter laugh. other city, switch to the identity on "You don't know Jake's bookke.ep- the passport and fly to somewhere ing system. All that would get me like Spain." is dead. I might walk off with a Hazel thought-for some minutes. single day's take, but I doubt that Presently she said, "Maybe we can I'd get very far even with that." work out sonie plan together. Just "How much is a single day's how big is this numbers oper­ take?"' ation?" "It runs anywhere from ten to "I handle about eighty thousand twenty thousand, depending on a week on the average," Eddie said. which wholesalers I'm scheduled to "Roughly, about a hundred thou­ collect frorfi that day and how sand dollars worth of numbers heavy the play was the previous tickets move in all the boroughs week. Almost never more than each week. The wholesalers' com­ twenty grand." missions amount to ten percent, "So isn't twenty thousand a their runners get another ten per­ stake?" Hazel asked, wide-eyed. cent. Mainly the runners are legit "You don't understand. If I was people outside of peddling num­ ever as much as an hour late bring­ bers—shoeshine boys, elevator op­ ing" in the collection money, Jake erators, owners of small delicates­ would have his goons covering the sens. The balance of approximately airports, rail and bus stations im­ eighty grand I pick up and deliver mediately. Even if I managed to to Long Jake. Of course, prize get out of town before they got to money and overhead have to come me, it wouldn't be enough of a out of that; my salary, for instance, start. Somewhere, before very long, and all the goons he hires to keep Jake's boys would catch up with wholesalers from deciding to buy me, and that would be the end of from somebody else or go in busi­ Eddie." - . ness for themselves. I figure Jake Hazer looked disappointed, still nets about two million a year." "How much of a start would you Hazel emitted a small, envious need to be safe?" sigh. "All that money! There must After considering, Eddie said, be some way'to skim off some of it. "At least a weekend, with a lot of Just exactly what do you do each

124 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE / LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED place you go to collect for Jake?" Hazel said indignantly, "He's cer­ "I deliver a supply of tickets for tainly not very trusting." the next week and collect all the Eddie smiled at her. "Obviously old unsold tickets, the stubs of all with good reason," he said dryly. the. sold tickets, plus the money When she caught the point of, taken in, less commissions. I give that remark, she had to smile too. each wholesaler a receipt, which I "I suppose in his business he's-sur­ make out in dupUcate, for so many rounded by a lot of people who unsold tickets, so many ticket stubs would cheat him if they could." and so much cash. At the end of "Uh-huh. He wouldn't trust hisi each day I turn in the take, the un­ own mother, let alone a mere sold tickets, the stubs, and the du­ brother-in-law. Just to safeguard plicate copies of the receipts." himself even further against any "Who checks your records?" knocking down I might try, he has "Art" Quigley, Jake's accountant. Art Quigley make quarterly audits. Soon as I report in. I have to wait Every three months Quig hits all until everything checks out. Quig the wholesalers and checks their has a record of the number of records against the ones I've turned tickets each wholesaler had out, and in." every unsold one has to be turned Hazel pursed her lips and back in. Any that are missing, there thought for some time. "There has better be money in its place. There's to be some kind of loophole," she no way to beat the system." said finally. "I once read somewhere "I can see a flaw in it a mile that there was no sure-lire defense .wide," Hazel said. "What's to pre- against embezzlement in any ac- yent you from collecting from a . counting system. If we both think whole flock of wholesalers in ad­ hard enough over the next few vance of their normal collection days, maybe one of us can come up dates and taking off before Jake with an idea." findsout about it?" Her tone relieved- Eddie. It Eddie chuckled without humor. seemed to indicate that, now that "You think that possibility never they were making at least tenuotis occurred to Jake ? He makes out my plans, her ultimatum of only a collection schedule and tells the week to set an elopement date no wholesalers when to expect me. longer stood. They're instructed not to turn over It was Eddie who finally came up their takes on any other day with- with the idea. When it hit him it ' out a personal okay from him." seemed so simple, he was surprised

THE SKIM 125 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED that he had worked at his job for withdraw every cent she had in the four years without thinking of it bank in order to meet the bill. before. He hurried over to Hazel's Eddie "stored the supply of dupli­ pkice to see what she thought of it. cate tickets at Hazel's apartment. Hazel was enthusiastic. After he had gone to a strange "It's foolproof, darling," she told bank to rent a safe deposit box un­ him, dirowing her arms about ^his der an assumed name, he was neck and giving him a big kiss. ready to start operations. "You're so smart." . The day following the quarterly "Of course the plan won't pass audit, Eddie started to skim. He the quarterly audit," Eddie said, began cautiously, knocking down "but the next one is only two weeks only a hundred dollars the first day off. Then I'll have a full three and gradually increasing his take months to skim off as much as is until he was skimming off an even safe before we blow the country to­ five thousand a week. The drop in gether. Can you wait that long.'"' take brought comment from both "As long as you keep piling up .Art Quigley and Jake Attila, but no , the stake," she told him, giving him apparent suspicion from either. another kiss. Since Eddie's records continued to While waiting for the two weeks be in perfect order, they merely as­ topass, Eddie made some necessary' sumed there had, been a temporary advance preparations. His first was drop-off in sales, which happened to make a surreptitious check of the occasionally ' for no discernible . supply warehouse. and note down reason. After all, a five-thousand- the serial number-sequences of the dollar-a-week decrease in take was tickets scheduled to be distributed only slightly more than a six per­ iu the three-month period immedi­ cent drop,"which could be a normal ately following the coming "audit. fluctuation. Then he took a sample ticket to a Each day after making his last job printer he knew could keep his collection, Eddie would hurry to mouth shut and had him print over Hazel's apartment. There he and a million tickets bearing duplicate Hazel would open the envelopes of numbers. each wholesaler, one at a time, and The printing cost came to several spread out the ticket stubs repre­ hundred , dollars, which Eddie senting the tickets sold during the didii't have. On the promise that he past week. They would remove a would return the money out of ,the sequence of stubs representing first week's skim, he got Hazel to about six percent of tlie wholesal-

126 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED er's total sales, Teplace it with a se­ first week, when he had used a quence of duplicate tickets bearing portion of it to repay Hazel for the same numbers and skim off an what she .had laid out for printing equivalent amount of cash. Then costs, it all went in. Eddie would carefully make out While money accumulated in the another duplicate receipt to match safe deposit, box, Eddie and Hazel the adjusted returns. - made flight preparations so they Of course some of the stubs Ed­ would be all set when the time die collected had been sold only came. Eddie had to get away from that day and were possible winners home more than usual in order to for the following day. They never complete these preparations, and for substituted whole duplicate tickets several weeks he worried about how for those, because if would have he was going to manage this with­ been disastrous for some player tc out exciting his wife's suspicion. produce a winning ticket bearing Then Nancy's and Jake's mother the same number as an unsold solved the problem by getting sick. ticket turned in by Eddie. Any win- The widowed Mrs. Attila^ lived in 'ners prior to the current day would Buffalo, over four hundred miles have been paid off, so all of those away, and Nancy went to stay with turned-in stubs had to be losers. As her for two weeks. soon as the master winning num­ This left Eddie free to do what ber, based on the Treasury figure had to be done. He started by tak­ appearing in the paper daily, was, ing Hazel over to Brooklyn and published, winners were paid off. renting a .furnished apartment in Jake Attila had another man in the Prospect Park area under the charge of payoffs who delivered the names of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred prize money to, wholesalers for dis­ Hunter. They opened a small bank tribution each day, and Eddie had account at a Brooklyn bank and a nothing to do with this phase of couple of charge accounts in order the operation. to establish references, then applied Until Art Quigley's next audit for passports under their new compared the wholesalers' records names. Fingerprinting was no com­ • to those Eddie turned in daily, Ed­ plication, because neither had ever die could see no way that he could been fingerprinted before. be caught. Eddie completed arrangements by Once a week- Eddie made a trip flying to Cleveland over the second to the safe deposit box and stored .weekend that Nancy was gone and away the week's skim. After the buying two one-way tickets to Rio

THE SKIM 127 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 128 ALFRED HITCHCOCK.'s MYSTERY MAGAZINE / LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED de Janeiro. He figured that while Nancy returned from Buffalo at Long Jake was certain to have his the end of her two-week stay in an agents show his photograph to unusually cheerful mood. Her good reservation clerks and stewardesses spirits were only partly due to her at all nearby airports, he wouldn't mother's complete recovery from. have airports as far away as Cleve­ her illness, she told Eddie. Just the land covered. change in routine had been good Eddie made reservations for a for her. Saturday flight six weeks later, since "I ought to get up to Buffalo to that would take them to within a see Mom more often," she said. "It's week of the next scheduled audit, good for both of us, and I won't and he didn't want to chance wait­ have the chance to see her for many ing any longer than that. He would more years. She's getting on." have a cool fifty thousand dollars "Go see her whenever you want," tucked away in the safe deposit box Eddie said generously. "I can take by then, and there was no point in care of myself." risking last-minute apprehension by Nancy took advantage of his becoming greedy. agreeableness to return to Buffalo His plan, when he and Hazel the very next weekend. This time finally took off, was to make some she stayed only a week, but two excuse to Nancy to get away for the weekends later she flew back for weekend. He and Hazel would another week. She began spending take a train to Cleveland on Friday as much time in Buffalo as she did night and catch their flight on Sat­ in Manhattan. urday. By the time Nancy realized Eddie had hopes that she would he was gone for good, they would be visiting her mother at the time already be in Rio under their new he and Hazel took off, but the week names, with no trail behind them before their scheduled elopement that Long Jake Attila could follow. Nancy flew back" from Buffalo and He hid the plane tickets beneath announced she planned to stick the handkerchiefs in his top dresser around and pay some attention to drawer, about the safest place in her husband for at least a couple the house. Nancy, who sent their of weeks. laundry out, never bothered to put Eddie began concentrating on an his away for hini when it came acceptable excuse for going out of back. She merely piled it on his bed town over the next weekend. Then for him to handle himself, so she Nancy's brother unknowingly never opened his dresser drawers. handed him one.

THE SKIM 129 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED . On Tuesday, when Eddie turned in the day's collections, Art Quigley told him Jake wanted to see him in his office. Eddie found his brother-in-law behind his desk, studying .a travel folder. "Oh, hi, Eddie," Long Jake said, glancing up. "I got a chore' for you. I want you should run over to the Duke Travel Agency on Broadway and pick up some flight tickets in my name. They're open until six." One of the things Eddie resented about his brother-in-law was that he constantly, used him as an errand boy. Long Jake had a secretary,who could perform such menial chores -im^' as this, but Attila seemed to get some kind of kick from making Eddie hop to his bidding. . have meant a fight a few months Eddie didn't let his resentment back, but Nancy didn't seem in the show. He merely asked with simu­ least put out. lated interest, "You going some­ "i turned down the oven," she where.?" said after kissing him. "There's still "Me and Polly both. Miami for a time for a cocktail if you want one. couple of weeks. We leave tomor­ What held you up.?" row morning. Quig'U be in charge "Had to run an errand for Jake," while I'm gone." he told her. This was convenient, Eddie de­ "He works you too hard," his cided. Jake and his wife would be wife sympathized. vacationing in Florida when he Since her frequent trips to Buf­ took off, which considerably sim­ falo began, Nancy's personality had plified matters. mellowed so much that Eddie be­ He ran over to the travel agency, gan to have some regrets about picked up the tickets and delivered leaving her. He had no choice now, them back to the office. This got though. In a couple of more weeks him home a half-rhour later than Art Quigley's next audit would usual, which would automatically disclose the whole fraud, and there

130 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED was no way Eddie could change that, because it's not exactly legal." back the records he had turned in, "All right," she said agreeably. even if he were wilUng to restore "How long will you be gone?" the money. Too, Long Jake Attila He might as well get as much ad­ wasn't likely to regard restitution vantage as possible, he decided. He and a confession as extenuating also decided on a slight change in circumstances. plans, since it was.going to be so Then, for the first time, it oc­ easy. He and Hazel might as well curred to Eddie that Jake's leaving drive to Albany, or even farther, town in the triorning gave him the sell the car and then catch a train excuse to be out of town over next for Cleveland. It would make the weekend. He paused in the act trail just that much harder to of mixing a pair of cocktails to ask follow. casually, "You know Jake and Polly "I'll drive up Friday evening and are flying to Miami tomorrow ?" be back Monday morning," he told Nancy nodded. "Yes, he told me. his wife. He phoned just before you came Shortly after five p.m. Wednes­ in." day, when Eddie checked into the Eddie was momentarily side­ office with the day's collections at. tracked by this news. "Then how the usual time, he found dour Art come he didn't tell you he'd sent Quigley alone. The accountant told me on an errand that would make him that Jake and his wife had ar­ me late .""'he asked. rived in Miami safely and Jake had Nancy, shrugged. "You know phoned him from his hotel. Jake. He couldn't care less about "He said to tell yqji to stick anyone else's inconvenience." around home tonight in case he "Yeah, I guess." He poured from wants to reach you," Quigley said. the shaker into twin gla^sses and "He may want you to arrange a handed her one. "He mention the horse bet for him. He has to check weekend errand he's sending me it out a little more first." on?" That could mean only one thing: "No. What's that.?" Long Jake had wind of a fixed "He wants me to run up to race somewhere. Jake Attila bet Albany." only on sure things. In the four "Oh? What for.?" years that Eddie had worked for "Some payoffs that have to be him, Jake had only three times bet made," Eddie said vaguely. "It's on horses, fifty thousand dollars best you don't know anything about each time, carefully spread among

THE SKIM 131 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED bookies all over the various bor­ wanted to make absolutely certain. oughs. All three races had been "Sounds like the fix is in," he fixed, Eddie learned later—always said, managing to keep the eager­ later—until this time. Jake hadn't ness out of his voice. bothered to pass tips to his brother- "It's in real good," Jake assured in-law that the races were fixed. him. "Not a chance of a miss." Eddie hadn't placed a cent on any "How come you had to go all the o£ them. way to Florida to get a tip on a Eddie hoped Jake would phone New York track?" Eddie asked from Miami. It would be fitting re­ curiously. venge for all the menial errands he "It was set up down here. Most had run to cash in just, once on a of them are. This is where all the tip frohi Jake with Jake's own big gamblers hang out when they're money. not in Las Vegas. You got the.bet Eddie was home alone when the now?" phone call came, Nancy having "Sure, Jake. White Lightning in gone to a show with a girlfriend. the seventh at Batavia tomorrow When he picked up the phone, a night, fifty grand on the nose. I'll feminine voice said in his ear, phone Max right now, but how do "Long distance for Mr. Edward I get the_ money to him ?" Adamski, please." "You don't. Tell him to get it "Speakiiig," Eddie said. from Quig in the morning. I "Your party is on the line, sir. phoned Quig at the office earlier Go ahead." and told him I might be making a Long Jake' Attila's voice said, bet, so if Max came around to pick "Eddie.?" • up fifty grand, it was okay." "Yeah, Jake. What's up?" "AU right," Eddie said. "I'll take "I want to get a bet down for the care of it. You having fun down seventh tomorrow night at the there?" Batavia harness races, Eddie. You "I always do," Jake told him. call Max Turpin for me, huh?" When Jake hung up, Eddie "Sure, Jake. On who and how phoned Max Turpin and caught much?" him in. After explaining what "White Lightning, fifty grand on Long Jake wanted, he said, "What the nose. Tell Max I want it spread time you plan to pick up the money. thin." from Quig?" Eddie felt his heartbeat, increase. "Oh, ten, maybe," Turpin said. It had to be a fixed race. But he "That'll give me plenty of time to

132 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED spread the bets. The books will take content with the small amount of them right up to eight p.m." work he threw them. Through his "Think I'll have you lay a bet for runners Max could spread the bet me too," Eddie said. "I'll drop by in small amounts over as many as your place before you go to see a hundred different bookies. He Quig. Stick around uiitil I get took a ten percent cut of the win­ there." nings for his service, which in­ "Sure," Turpin said. "Fll wait for cluded a guarantee that neither he you." nor any of his runners would either Eddie decided to risk only ten pass on the tip or bet the horse. thousand of the money salted away Eddie found the pool hall pro-" in the safe deposit box. He wasn't prietor in his private office beyond enough of a gambler to risk every­ the poolroom. He tossed a stack of thing, even on a supposedly sure a hundred hundred-dollar bills on bet. Just in case something went the fat rnan's desk. wrong, it wouldn't be a tragedy if "Spread that on White Light­ he and Hazel had to squeeze by on ning's nose too," Eddie said. "And forty thousand, but it would be if don't mention it to Quig when you they were completely wiped out. pick up Jake's dough from him." Eddie was at the bank when it After riffling through the bills in opened. Fifteen minutes later he a rapid count, Turpin' shrugged. entered Turpin's Pool Parlor. "Sure," he said, with no curiosity While the pool, parlor brought its in his voice as to where Eddie had fat, balding proprietor a. fairly good gotten the money. legitimate income, it was really only ' The race results from Batavia a front for Max Turpin's various didn't come over the radio until semi-legal and totally illegal activi­ midnight. Nancy was in bed by ties. The man was one of Long then, but Eddie sat up to catch Jake's wholesalers, he was a fence them. He was pleased to learn that for stolen goods and he acted as a White Lightning had won by three go-between for big bettors who lengths. wanted to place a lot of money on He was rather disappointed at the a particular horse race without let­ price, however. The horse must ting the bookies know that some­ have gone in as odds-on favorite, thing was up. He had on call a because he paid only $2.80 to win. small army of runners, most of He got out a pencil and paper and whom, like Max, had a dozeii other figured out his profit at only $3,600 irons in the fire and therefore were after Max Turpin took out his

THE SKIM 133 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED commission, plus the breakage. "When do I collect?" Eddie He had been thinking in terms asked. o£ a thirty or forty-thousand-dollar "Oh, any time after eight p.m." profit. Still, it was better than "So late?" Eddie protested. He losing. had planned to be on the road with Friday morning after breakfast, Hazel long before then. Eddie salvaged his plane tickets "My runners have to collect from from beneath his handkerchiefs and half, the bookies in greater New packed his largest suitcase. He York," Turpin said. "It takes time," couldn't think of any plausible ex­ "All right," Eddie conceded. "I'll cuse to give Nancy for taking more see you at eight sharp." than one suitcase, and since he was He drove to the office, picked up iiever coming back, he wanted to a supply of new numbers tickets take along as much of,his clothing and started making his rounds. By and personal possessions as he humping, he made it halfway could carry. through his schedule by noon. After Nancy was washing the break­ a half-hour break for lunch he fast dishes in the kitchen when he drove to the bank and cleared out carried the suitcase into the front his safe deposit box. He put the room. She came to the door and money in a briefcase he had regarded it with surprise. brought along and locked :it in the "Aren't you coming home for. trunk of his car. dinner before you take off for Al­ Then he resumed his rounds and bany.?" she asked. finished by three-thirty. He drove "•I want to get on the road early," over to Hazel's, where they he said. "I'll catch a sandwich en skimmed off a final thousand dol­ route." lars from his last day's collection. ' He went over to give her a good­ Hazel had quit her job at Mad- bye kiss. den's Supper Club several days be­ "Drive careful, honey," she told fore, had closed out her bank ac­ him. count and was all set to take off "Sure," he said. "See you Mon­ except for a little final packing. day." Their original plan had been to He phoned Max Turpin from the leave town as soon as Eddie made nearest drugstore. his final check-in, and catch dinner "You hit," the pool hall proprie­ somewhere on the road. When Ed­ tor told him. "You've got thirteen die broke the news that they thousand, six hundred coming." wouldn't be able to leave until after

134 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTCRY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED eight p.m., she was more pleased to front of Turpin's Pool Parlor. learn they would be richer by an­ There was no one in the poolroom other $3,600 than she was upset by but two oversized men playing the delay. pool. At first Eddie was surprised, "We can have dinner somewhere because usually the place was in town and collect the money just crovvded. Then he recognized the before we leave," she said. "I can men as Bat ManeUi and Tony wait in the car." Spatz, two of Long Jake Attila's "I'd better pick you up here after­ goons, and guessed that the other ward," he told her. "Too many clientele had departed by request so people around that neighborhood there would be no witnesses. Eddie know me. Why make it any easier turned to leave too, but he was too for Jake to get on our trail by let­ late. ting somebody get a glimpse of the "Huh-uh," a raspy voice said be­ woman I took off with?" hind him. "All right," she agreed rather re­ Eddie paused and glanced over luctantly. his shoulder. Bat ManeUi wasn't "We'll have plenty of time for even looking , his way—he was dinner first, if we go to- some drawing back his cue for a final restaurant near here," he said. "I'll shot—^but Tony Spatz was pointing be back after I check in my col­ a large automatic at Eddie. lections." Discouragedly Eddie reversed "All right," she said again. course and walked over to the men. The check-in went as smoothly Spatz gestured toward the office as usual. Eddie drove back to col­ door with his gun. Eddie went over lect Hazel and they had dinner in a and opened the door, with Spatz laearby restaurant. He dropped her trailing him. Bat Manelli laid down back at her apartment at twenty his cue and followed. minutes to eight and told her to be Max Turpin was not in his office. ready to be picked up about twenty Instead, Long Jake Attila sat be­ after. hind his desk. Nancy was seated "Here," he said in afterthought, in a chair alongside the desk. The handing her the plane tickets. "You two gunmen closed the door be­ better hang onto these, so we're sure hind them and leaned against it. they don't, get lost." Eddie looked from Jake to Nancy She took the tickets, gave him a and got a sweet smile from his wife. quick kiss and slid from the car. He looked back at his brother-in- At exactly eight Eddie parked in law and met total lack of expres-

THE SKIM 135 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED sion. He said rather inanely, "I was, but it seemed simpler to make thought you were in Florida." you bring it to me voluntarily. "I never went," Jake said coldly. That's why the fake fixed race. I "When I phoned Nancy to tell her figured you couldn't resist that. goodbye, she'd just found your You crossed me up by only risking plane tickets from Cleveland to part of it, though; not that it really Rio." mattered. You had to come pick Eddie looked at his wife and got up your winnings, and I rigged it an even sweeter smile. "I was feel-' so the payoff would be after the ing guilty about neglecting you so time I figured you planned to blow much," she said. "So I decided to town. That way you'd probably put your fresh laundry away." have everything in your car you Even in his numbed state of planned to take to Rio, including shock Eddie couldn't help admir­ the rest of the money." ing her acting ability. When he Eddie said huskily, "What if thought he was making up a plaus-. White Lightning hadn't won.?" ible excuse to leave town over the Jake shrugged. "He was all of the weekend, he had merely been let­ experts' best-pick-of-the-day. But if ting her know just when he he hadn't, Max would have phoned planned to take off for good. you that he hadn't been able to get He looked back at Jake, who your bet down,, so you could come said, "Those tickets smelled like a pick up your ten grand." He knockdown to me, particularly glanced over at the two gunmen since receipts had been off over five leaning against the door. "Shake percent for nearly three months. I him down." canceled my Florida trip and had They did a thorough job, piling Quig do some fast checking with the contents of Eddie's pockets on wholesalers." the desk before Long Jake. The lat­ Eddie licked his lips. "You—you ter examined the bill clip, which called me from Florida." • contained only about a hundred Attila slowly shook his head. dollars, tossed it aside and picked "From my olKce. That long­ up the ear keys.' distance operator was my. secre­ Letting them dangle, he asked, tary." "Anybody waiting outside in your While Eddie was absorbing this, car?" Attila went on, "I could have Eddie shook his head. pulled you in and had you worked "There were two plane tickets," over to tell me where the money Nancy said, no longer smiling.

136 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "The second one must have been touch of panic. "You know what for a woman." Jake'll do to me unless you ask him "There's nobody out in the car," not to. I know I was doing you Eddie said. a dirty trick, but I swear I'll make His wife glanced at her brother. it up to you if you talk him into "Maybe he planned to meet her in going easy." Cleveland. Too bad. I would have Her smile widened. "You don't liked a look at her." understand, dear. The guilt feeling "It's less complicated this way," that made me put away your laun­ Jake said. "If he'd brought her dry didn't come just from my hav­ along, I would have had to have ing neglected you, but because I've her shut up." He tossed the keys to had a lover in Buffalo for some Bat Manelli. "Bring everything he's time. It's going to be quite con­ got in the car in here." venient for me to be a widow." The oversized gunman nodded She swept out of the room just as and went out. Bat Manelli carried the suitcase and Nancy got- to her feet. "I don't the briefcase in. think I'll stay for the finale," she Eddie had the despairing thought said. She went over to the door, that at least Hazel would have some turned and gave Eddie a final small consolation for all their trou­ smile. "Goodbye, dear." - ble; she had two airplane tickets "Wait, honey," he said with a she could convert to cash.

Dear Fans: It is always a pleasure to welcome new members into the ALFRED HITCHCOCK FAN CLUB, and it is very rewarding to hear from our enthusiastic and loyal present members. Membership dues are one dollar. (Please do not send stamps.) Fan Club members will receive an autographed photo of Mr. Hitchcock., his biography, and a bulletin of current news, issued four times a year. All mail should be addressed to: ALFRED HITCHCOCK FAN CLUB. P.O. Box 5425, Sherman Oaks, California 91401 I want to thank "^^ °f V" f°*' your interest. Most sincerely, Pat Hitchcock

THE SKIM 137 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Good counsel may sometimes be heeded, but is rarely so greatly exceeded. _ i

ftpEORGE DELL removed a plastic- covered weadier map from his briefcase and, placing die case across his knees as a desk, added the infor­ mation he'd just received from the airport v/eather station. He paid no attention to the bustle around him in the waiting room, nor to the blar­ ing loudspeaker which announced arriving and departing flights. The i^PH^. weather map claimed his full atten­ tion. He carefully wiped away old markings with a small piece of cloth and filled in new data with a black grease pencil. Then he pursed his mwiiw lips thoughtfully and studied the re­ wanted to go. He rechecked the sult of his efforts. map and made some hasty com­ From here in Kansas City he had putations on the border- of- it. a wide choice of nonstop flights to Then, satisfied he'd made no er­ other cities. For instance, he could ror, he hurried to the ticket go to Dallas, San Francisco, Chi­ counter and bought, a seat on the cago, or New York; but Chicago, next plane to Chicago. With any which was threatened with a record luck he'd be there before the storm. snow storm, was the place he ' George Dell was a traveling sales-

138 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED man—an excellent one. He traveled When his flight was called, the entire United States for a rnan- George joined a number of young ufacturer of diesel generators and servicemen homeward bound for emergency power equipment. He Christmas. They milled around in held a college degree, and he could small boisterous groups, waiting to talk horsepower and kilowatts to present their tickets and board the technicians and finances to comp­ plane. The way they called out to trollers. He was also a very profi­ passing stewardesses and followed cient amateur meteorologist. When every attractive female with their a man travels thousands of miles eyes reminded him of how he had each month, the weather plays an been when he was in the Navy. important part in his life. Realizing . Now, stout and fortyish with thin­ this, George had made it his busi­ ning hair and the slighdy harried ness to know as much about the appearance of the long-married, he weather as he did about the prod­ doubted that anyone would guess ucts he sold. he'd once been quite a ladies' man. He was able to draw up forecasts During his first years on the road, that were often more accurate than he had been the perfect prototype of any available to him, and which the fictional traveling salesman. He were more suited to his needs. The was loud and brash with a seem­ result was that he had plenty of ingly endless stream of stories. He time to juggle and rearrange busi­ courted women in a dozen cities ness appointments when adverse simultaneously^ aiid was always weather threatened a commitment, ready to date an attractive secretary and equally important to a family or receptionist: His fondness for man like George, he was usually women increased until the physical able to be home for holidays by strain and economic drain became being prepared for poor weather. too much for him. Birthdays, anniversaries, and most Even for a man who could work other special occasions seldom pre­ where and when he chose, the finan­ sented a problem to George, but cial demands of such a life made it Christmas always did. That's why impractical. It was while he was he wanted to reach Chicago before trying to increase his income that the airport became snowed in. If he he received the advice that changed could get to Chicago ahead of the everything for him. "Be sincere," bad weather, the problem of Christ­ the top salesman of another com­ mas would be solved for another pany had told him. "Sure, custom­ year. ers laugh at your jokes and think

THE PROBLEM OF CHRISTMAS 139 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED you're a helluva guy, but they don't the plane's landing was smooth. buy your product. No one can bring Inside the terminal building, himself to trust completely a man George Dell got change from a girl who's too glib." at the magazine stand. As he had It was as simple as that: be sin­ 'anticipated, the storm was already cere. He tried it and it worked. His causing flights to be canceled. He sales increased two-hundred per­ was certain news of the blizzard cent the first month. would be on TV across the country. But sincerity wasn't-something He found a pay phone, dropped he was able to turn on and off Hke a coin in the slot, and dialed a local the generators he sold. For him to number near the Loop. "I just got be sincere in one thing meant he in," he said. "I'm at the airport." had to be sincere in all things. He "That's wonderful!" his wife an­ was married within a month. swered. "I was afraid you might Marriage made a big difference not be able to get home for Christ­ to him. It toned him down and mas when I saw the snow. I began quenched the fires. It sated his ap­ to picture you in Denver or Boston petites. It made him realize that the or wherever you-were stranded last Ufe he had been leading was ridicu­ year." lous at best. "San Francisco. It was San Fran­ During the flight, George had a cisco," he offered. seat by the window where he could "Well, I'm glad you could be look out at the cloud formations, here this year."' always good indicators of weather. "A man likes to spend Christmas Conditions became progressively with his family," he said with his worse until just outside of Chicago habitual sincerity. He stacked coins the air became turbulent and the on the shelf in the phone booth as sky full of snow."The storm had he spoke, and hoped he had enough reached Chicago before him, but by change to cover calls to his families only a few unimportant minutes. in San Francisco, Dallas, and New The runways were still clear, and York.

^H^^

140 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED There is «o one to refute that the most astounding cases are JL, found only in the evanescent mctyiories of the transitory sur- T vtvors. K.^ ,(r^ .-O'-

the slim side, with brownish hair cropped in an old-fashioned bob to -^/_^~v^2>j^-^>^ frame a plain but interesting face, minus makeup. Her modest short AFTEK a timid knock, the woman dress and fancy sandals, all a half-opened my office door and golden tan, were hard to judge as asked, "Mr. William Ash, the pri­ to their cost, but the wedding ring, vate detective?" a jade.ring and pin could all have About forty, she was tall and on been trading stamp stuff. No money k wmmrw-

A SINGULAR QUARRY 141 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED here, I decided with resignation. see you because I ireinembered read­ I stood up. "That's my name. ing about a case you worked on Come in." Up close, the hazel eyes several years ago, where a gambler were nervous, with tense lines was arrested for murder and even around the thin, red rhouth. Maybe after he was convicted, even though she was fifty. I pegged it for a you were off salary, you kept work­ husband-shadowing job. ing on the case and found the real She sat on the one chair along­ killer. I like that sort of work at­ side my desk, crossing very nice titude." legs. She could be thirty-five. "I'm I shrugged, keeping an eye on Mrs. Daisy Davis." Opening her the grand green sight. "Once you clutch bag, she dropped a flOOO bill get started, you want to see the on my battered desk. finish. What's your trouble, Mrs. "Mrs. Davis, you have an en­ Davis?" chanting way of opening a con- "Nick, my husband, was killed versationj-" I said, staring at the big a month ago. He died a horrible bill, "but you seem to have mis­ death; he was tortured. I want you read my door. It reads private in­ to find the killer or killers. My vestigator, not thug. I don't go in husband was murdered either by a for strong-arm stuff, even for a man named Carlos, who represents grand." a South African diamond syndicate, "I want- a detective, not a goon," or by somebody—keep your eyes on she said calmly. "When I tell people the money—from, outer space." about it, they react as if I belong in I tried not to blink. The last a ha-ha institution. So whenever thing she looked like was a loon. you think I'm talking wildly, Mr. "Outer space.? Don't tell me flying Ash, look at the money. It will saucers are involved.?" bring you back to reality." "They definitely are," she said.^ "Okay, I can hardly take my I managed to take my eyes from greedy eyes off it. What people have the money to stare at her. She stared you been talking to, Mrs. Davis.? back, soft eyes very steady. I said, Talking about what.?" "Take it from the top, Mrs.' Davis." "I've been talking to the police, "Nick and I had been married but when they started staring at ine for twenty years, but never had with that she's-a-nut look, I couldn't children. I worked as a telephone tell them about it. Mr. Ash, I'm operator, while Nick was a morgue hardly a crime buff, but I've trav­ keeper at a U.S. airbase. I think we eled over three hundred miles to were a very average couple.. Our

142 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED joint income was about $9,000. We this happened over the last four had a comfortable little house, an months. In short, Nick came into a old car, and about a thousand dol- bundle." lars in the bank. Today I have a My palms were sweating slightly; Caddy and over $46,000 in cash. All I rubbed them on my pants. "Why

A SINGULAR QUARRY ' 143 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED does a stateside airbase need a official reason was 'inefficiency'. morgue keeper?" Nick was only six years away from /'If a pilot is killed in a crash, the his pension but he didn't seem up­ body is kept in the morgue pend­ set at losing his job. He showed ing an investigation. Actually, it me a heavy hunk of what looked was a minor civil service job; Nick like cloudy glass, which must have was a sort of glorified porter. Now, weighed ten, pounds. He warned Mr. Ash, I've never seen a UFO, me not to talk about it, said it was but in our area several sightings a huge, rough diamond. I never have been reported in the last year. saw the stone again, and Nick flady People claim they have seen lights refused to tell me what had hap­ —flying saucers—hovering over the pened at the airbase. My theory, and power lines. Whether it's true or it's only a theory, is that Nick was merely their imagination, I frankly given the diamond by somebody don't know. I do know the airbase from a UFO in return for smug­ sends out fighter planes trying to gling out one or all of the bodies find these saucers after each sight­ in the morgue. The Air Force ing. - won't discuss the case." "Well, about seven months ago "Hold it. This ten-pound stone, Nick came home quite excited one was it really a diamond?" night, told me it was top secret and "I assume so. Nick was very all that, but four small bodies, about mysterious, about it, claimed I the size of boys, had been brought would be safer. not knowing too to the morgue, each sewed up in much. All I know is that Nick a canvas bag. Nick told me rumors went to see a jeweler in Spring­ had it that the bodies were hu- field, which is the nearest city to manoids, a form of human life, Eastville, where we live. The jewel­ from a saucer. Nick never opened er, a Mr. Frank Simpson,. has now the canvas bags, of course, but vanished, but prior to his disap­ merely kept them in the refriger­ pearance he told me Nick had ated vaults. brought him several rough dia­ "About a month later a UFO was monds to sell, weighing a total of reported over an abandoned quarry 109 carats. A week later Nick sud­ one night and again the following denly had thousands of dollars, night. On both nights Nick was told me to quit my job. A week out of the house, and he was fired or so after that, Nick had more the day after the second UFO sight­ money, and bought the Caddy.- ing. He never told me why. The Now, this is only my theory, but

144 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Nick.would go out to the quarry this Mr. Carlos, I overheard Nick' and then ride to Springfield the shouting that he wasn't interested next day. Later, he would go to in any deal, and flatly refused to Springfield again and return with say where the rough gems came thousands of dollars. I'm sure he from. I don't know what was-said was cutting up the big diamond on the phone, but Nick was very and selling bits of it to Mr. Simp­ angry and the second time, before son, who cut and polished them he hung up, he said, 'You can't and, in turn, sold them to diamond threaten me!' When I asked, Nick merchants in New York." told me not to worry. He went to "Did Nick know anything about the quarry that night and never re­ diamonds?" turned. The next morning they "No." found Nick's corpse. He had been "Cutting a diamond calls for burned across various parts of his great skill." body, died from shock and a heart She nodded. "I think Nick was attack." merely chipping off bits of the Keeping my eyes glued on the stone somehow, and taking the thousand buck bill and my sanity, chips to Mr. Simpson. Nick was r asked, "What did the police do very happy, told me he would soon about all this?" . be a millionaire and then we'd take "Nothing. They claim Nick was a trip around the world. Mr. Simp­ killed by a person or persons un­ son told me—" known. You see, the second I "When did he tell you all this?" started telling them about the flying "The day after Nick's body was saucer, well, they reacted like I was found. I went to see Simpson and crazy. When. I mentioned the dia­ he was packing, ready to take off, mond syndicate, they were sure I'd badly frightened. He told me the flipped; diamonds have.iiever been diamonds were flawless, the finest found around this part of the coun­ stones he'd ever seen, and that a try. I assume that when the police Mr. Carlos of a large South African checked ,with the airbase they ran diamond syndicate had questioned into 'No comment.' I want Nick's him as to where the diamonds had killer or killers found, if possible." been found. He wanted Simpson to My eyes traced the 1000 on each agree to sell only to the syndicate. corner of the bill as I asked, "Mrs. I know that on the day before— Davis, where were you on the night before Nick was found murdered, Nick was killed?" he received two phone calls from Her gasp made me look, at her.

A SINGULAR QUARRY 145 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Face flushed, she" asked, "Are you something, from the quarry. It hinting I had—" hasn't been used for, oh, over "All I'm trying to do is get a few twenty years. There's an abandoned facts. You said Nick didn't return shack and parts of rusty machinery all that night. Weren't you around. Kids used to swim there, worried?" but there was a drowning a few "I was playing whist at a neigh­ years back and nobody goes to the bor's. The police checked on that. quarry now. Mr. Ash, will you take I came home at about eleven p.m. thecase?". and went to sleep., I'm a sound As it happened, the only thing sleeper; it was only in the morning I was working on was locating wit­ I realized Nick hadn't come home. nesses to a car accident and that If I had killed my husband, would had reached the waiting stage, for I hire you to find the killers?" answers to some letters I'd mailed "Could be you're hiring me to the day before. "Sure, I'll take the find the rest of that big diamond?" case. I charge a hundred a day Daisy shook her head. "I don't plus expenses, and I don't guaran­ care about that unlucky stone! Of tee results. That understood, Mrs. course if you should find it, all Davis?" right, but I told you I have enough . She didn't flincK at the fee, merely money, plus there's about $15,000 said, "All I ask is that you do due on Nick's insurance and pen­ your best." sion fund money. I want my hus­ I took out a pad and wrote down band's killers found. Frankly, there the exact dates of the UFO sight­ is one other reason: I'm frightened. ings, when Nick was bounced, I have this feeling of being watched . Simpson's address, some data on all the time." herself and Nick, which wasn't "This Carlos character been call­ much as they were both orphans. ing you since Nick died ?" About Carlos, I asked, "Do you "No. i never see anybody, but I know his full name? The diamond feel I'm being followed, watched." syndicate he worked for ?" • "Have you been out to the quarry "All I know is, his name was since ? What's out there ?" Carlos. Whether that's .his first or "The only time I was there was last name, I can't say, nor did Nick when the police sent for me to ever mention the name of the syndi­ -"identify Nick's b-body. It's a big cate he worked for." rocky hole, full of water. I think, at "How do you know it's a South one time, they' used to get slate, or African one?"

146 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Mr. Simpson didn't mention the for a number of years when he was name, but he did say it was South my son-in-law, and we^ are still African." friendly. I asked him to see if the I typed up a statement, which papers had anything on the UFO she signed, stating Mrs. Davis was sightings in Eastville on the dates retaining me. When she said, "Keep Daisy had given me. My ex-son-in- the $1000 as a retainer," I told her law said, "Flying saucers? Bill, to put it back in her bag. Then I have you flipped?" walked her to my bank, where I "I'm not sure myself. But let me had her change it: you have to sign know what you ftad, Sonny." a form when changing a $1000 Then I called a guy I knew on bill. Daisy Davis really impressed the force who is now a captain and me; while in the bank she also part of our local police brass. After cashed a $500 bill. She-was return­ the usual where-have-you-been ing to Eastville, but I suggested she small talk, he gave me the name of stay in the city for a few days as a a sergeant on the Eastville police safety measure. She registered at a force (10 inen, all told) but when L good hotel. Leo Klein, the house asked who he knew on the New dick, had once been my patrol car York City force, or if he was partner, and I told him to keep an friendly with anybody on the New eye on her. York Jewelers Association security Back in my office, I'sat at my force, he said that would take a desk, carefully counting and re­ little thinking, he'd call me back. counting the twenty $50 bills, sort When I long-distanced Eastville, of mentally pinching myself. In a sergeant said, "So she's hiring twenty years as a city cop and dick private tin? Well, there isn't much and eight years as a private badge, I can tell you about the Nick Davis I thought I'd worked on every kind killing. He had no police record, of a case, but this was my first didn't run around, and Mrs. Davis' flying saucer caper. alibi checked out; she was playing In investigative work there are cards that night. So, no motive for things you can do without leaving the killing. We figure it was the your desk. I checked Mrs. Daisy work of a nut. There were lines Davis with a guy working for a burnt into his soles and legs, like a credit bureau who gave me off-the- tic-tac-toe design. Nick Davis had cuflE info in return for a few bottles $167 in his wallet; it wasn't touched. around Christmas. Then I phoned The work of a nut, for sure." a reporter whom I had supported "This tic-tac-toe design, could it

A SINGULAR QUARRY 147 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED mean anything, do you think?" you've really hooked a live one." "Sure, it means a nut with some My police captain called to give kind of small branding iron came me the name of the head of security upon Nick, that's all. Of course, the for the Manhattan Jewelers Associ­ case is in our open files, but we ation, and added, "Bill, I only met haven't any working leads." this guy once. He used to be an I tried not to laugh. The case was FBI man. If you want info from in their "open" files^'d give odds him, you'd best go see him in New this was the only murder case East- York. Phoning him will only be a ville had in the last fifty years. waste of money. What are you "Didn't Mrs. Davis have some working on, Bill? We haven't had leads?" any stolen jewelry case heire in "Look, I've known Daisy Davis months." for a lot of years, mister, and gen­ "This is an out-of-town thing. erally she's a level-headed woman. Thanks for the dope. I'll drop in But the grief, the shock of losing and see how much beer you can Nick, sent Daisy out of her mind. drink one of these days." Really off. She talked about men Minutes later my ex-son-in-law from some other planet. South Af­ phoned. "Adjiist your space helmet, rican gunmen, diamonds. Daisy Pops. There were alleged UFO was in a bad way." sightings on. the dates you men­ "Tell me, have there been any tioned. Several people claim to have •UFO sightings around Eastville?" seen them, sober folks, too. The "Man, don't you start that. We fact is, unidentified flying objects get calls almost every month, some have been seen fairly often around folks so positive they seen one, Eastville, but the airbase there they're ready to fight if you don't keeps hush-htish on the whole deal, believe them. Ask me, all crackpot Okay?" stuff. We refer such calls to the "Thanks." airbase, where they forget them. A "What do you hear from Ruthie, person sees a star twinkle, or a plane Bill?" light, and right away they're shout­ "She and her husband are mak­ ing they seen a UFO." ing out fine in Los Angeles. They I thanked him and after I hung have a baby girl." up, my bottle pal in the credit out- ' "Good. Ruthie always wanted fit called to tell me Mrs. Daisy kids. Bill, how about you and Alice Davis had a solid rating. He ended coming over some night, meet my with, "Bill, if she's your client,. new wife?"

148 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Sure. We'll make a date, one of out of the hotel, I'm positive." these days." "Keep an eye on Mrs. Davis. I'll , I long-distanced the U.S. airbase take care of you." at Eastville and finally got the in­ "I bet. Listen, the doc took me off formation officer on the other end of booze and cigarettes." the wire. When I asked, "Is if true "Great, Leo, I'll send you a fat you have, or had, bodies taken from box of candy." a UFO in your morgue?" I could At 3:30 p.m. I quit being a tele­ hear him suck in his breath, then phone jockey with a call to my sputter, "Who the hell are you.?" wife. "AUce, I have to go to New "Merely a curious taxpayer. Is it York tonight on a case. How about true.?" coming along?" . "No comment." "Tonight? For how long. Bill?" "Why.? Why should it be hush- "We should be back tomorrow hush? Or are we at war with night." Mars.?" "Too much traveling and pack­ "It is an Air Force policy that all ing for so short a time," Alice said, UFO information must come from as I knew she would, but she liked Washington." to be asked. "Want.me to meet you "Then I take it you have, or had, at the airport with a light bag?" the bodies at the Eastville Air "A great idea, honey. Just a shirt, Base?" • tie and toilet articles." "I never confirmed that, or de­ Locking the office, I crossed the nied it. Perhaps you didn't hear me, street to make a reservation on a I said I have no comment." 10:20 p.m, jet. The wife and I had "Oh I heard you. In fact, this is a. good supper at the airport and all on tape," I said to make him by midnight I was pounding my nervous. As I hung up I felt a little ear in a Manhattan hotel. better; if Daisy was a nut, she The Manhattan Jewelers Associa­ wasn't alone in this. tion's security force had a swank I phoned Mrs. Davis at her hotel suite of offices and at 11 a.m. I was and was told she was out. I left talking to the head security officer, a message that I'd call her late to­ also on the swank side, a well set­ morrow, then got Leo on the up guy looking like the movie ver­ phone. sion of an executive, with brushed He said, "How would I know gray hair, good clothes, even a where she went? Maybe shopping, manicure. to a movie. Bill, she didn't check He was good, too. I merely told

A SINGULAR QUARRY .149 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED him I was on a murder case which Simpson refused to reveal' the might be connected with diamonds source of the rough stones, but and he let it go at that. When I these gems brought top price be­ asked if his association knew of a cause of their remarkable purity— Frank Simpson of Springfield, he no flaws or foreign matter. They called the name into the intercom are very rare, and have a faint on his desk and a few minutes later black tinge." a pretty secretary brought in a file. "Could they be man-made gems? He said, "Mr. Ash, it's odd you I think I once read that diamonds should mention Mr, Simpson. can be made in a lab." There's much interest in him in the He smiled. "Indeed they can, Mr. market lately. Mr. Simpson started Ash. But to make a, say, three-carat out in the Diamond Exchange as a diamond would cost three times cutter and polisher, then became a , what a natural gem would sell for. dealer. When his wife died eight Mr. Simpson has been rather mys­ years ago, he gave up the hustle terious as to his source and there here, and opened a general jewelry are rumors that he's in contact with shop in Springfield." a new mine." "Why the special interest in Simp­ "Have diamonds been found in son now? And what did you mean the States?" by husde ? Was he legit ? " "Oh yes. Single, alluvial dia­ "Oh yes, he was legit. You see, monds have been found, of poor Mr. Ash, in the diamond trade a ^quality, and there was a mine in fellow can have two feet of window Murfreesboro, Arkansas." space and part of a counter, yet he "Is a diamond mine a big affair, can be doing a yearly gross busi­ like a coal mine? Could it be a one ness in the hundreds of thousands, or two man operation, for ex­ carry a half-million dollar stock, ample?" often on him. I used the word He shook his carefully brushed 'hustle' because diamonds are one gray head. "Diamonds can be found of the most competitive businesses on the surface, even in river beds, you'll find and a successful dealer as gold nuggets are sometimes really has to go out and hustle. found. But the great diamond As for the sudden interest in Simp­ mines are as deep and large as any son, he has sold a number of stones coal mine. A true diamond mine recently, which he cut and polished would hardly be a one man op­ himself, all absolutely flawless, the eration." finest diamonds ever seen; Mr. "About South Africa—Suppose 150 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Simpson had somehow found a di­ have some representatives here?" amond mine here in the States, "Yes. There are three major syn­ would the diamond syndicate eon- dicates but on a price and supply tact him?" level, they operate as a single or­ "Certainly, if he began selling ganization in the States." gems in any quantity. The price of "Do they have a representative diamonds is kept high by carefully here called Carlos? I don't know if limiting the supply." that's his first or last name." I asked, "If Simpson refused to "I never heard the name and I sell to them, would they resort to personally know all their agents. strong-arm stuff?" Mr. Ash, let me paint a clear picture He shook his handsome head for you. If Mr. Simpson really has again. "Mr. Ash, the diamond syn­ found a mine with these superior dicates are big business, with mil­ diamonds, what would he gain by lions in reserve. If they felt it nec­ not working with the syndicate ? If essary to get control of a new mine, he flooded the market, the price of they would make so large an offer the gems would drop. Operating a no man in his right mind would mine calls for a large overhead. It refuse. Naturally, there can be other would be much easier for him to reasons for not selling. The Rus­ accept an offer of, say, two or three sians are mining diamonds and million for his mine, skip the head­ there's a possibility they may some­ aches." day flood the market, a political He had Simpson's picture in his move to deal an economic kayo to file, a fat-faced guy, middle-aged. the Union of South Africa. But as Handsome had a copy of the snap for a single mine owner, the syndi­ made for me and by two a.m. I was cate could top any offer the mine flying home, smugly pleased at the owner made. It's strictly business, way the case was breaking. not a muscle deal, at least here in After phoning Alice from the air­ the States. Certainly the history of port, I went directly to Daisy Davis' diamonds is one of violence. If a hotel. Leo met • me in- the lobby. native African should stumble upon "Bill, I've been calling you. Your a mine and refuse to deal with the bird checked out an hour ago." syndicate, violence might be used. "Damn." But, as I said, not here in the "No way I could stop her. But- States, if that is what you're driv­ our switchboard operator says Mrs. ing at." Davis phoned the bus terminal a "Okay. Now, do these syndicates half hour before she checked out."

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I took a cab to the terminal, was "Oh. Really, what, will the neigh­ told the only bus to Springfield, bors think?" which was the closest stop to East- "Daisy, what will the neighbors ville, had pulled out before Daisy think if you're found murdered? left, so she'd had to drive. I got my Skip the gossip, say I'm your older car from the garage, stopped at the brother, or some such nonsense. I'm oiEce to pick up my gun, phoned hungry and have some questions to Alice, then started for Eastville, ask. Let's go out for supper." clocking ninety once I hit the "That would really start gossip. through way. We can eat here." Eastville has a two-block-long Daisy wasn't a bad cook, and as main drag, a supermarket the larg­ we ate I asked, "How long has it est store. The Davis house was a been since Simpson closed his store modest deal which had recently and took off?" been reshingled, new storm win­ "The day after Nick was killed, dows added. When Daisy opened about a month ago." the door I asked, "Why didn't you "Did you tell the police about stay at the hotel?" Simpson ?" "I didn't have a change of cloth­ "No. Soon as I mentioned dia­ ing and I thought it silly to buy monds, they reacted as if I were some when I could come here, pack crazy. What has Mr. Simpson to do a bag, and return to the hotel by with this?" evening." "I'll tell you tomorrow. Have you "You might have ended up as the heard from Simpson since then?" best dressed woman in the ceme­ "No." tery. If you were returning, why "Have you any idea where he is?" did you check out of the hotel?" "None." "Force of habit, saving a day's "Did this Carlos guy ever call room rent. Did you learn anything, you ?" Mr. Ash?" "I never spoke to him." If she had returned to the hotel "This morgue job Nick had, did by night she wouldn't have saved a he work alone?" penny. I said, "We're dealing with "Yes. As I explained, it was part a killer, possibly a nut, «o . . ." of his porter work at the airbase." "A spaceman?" "Except for yourself and Simp­ "Come on, forget that flying son, did Nick ever tell anybody else saucer stuff, our killer is an Earth about the diamond?" man. I'm spending the night here." "I'm sure he didn't. Can't you tell

152 • . • ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED me what you've found out, Bill?" until morning, that her husband "In the morning we'll drive into Hadn't returned, the night he was Springfield. I've a few things to killed. Now, one phone ring had check out, then I'll tell you who got her up. The case had seemed so the killer is. Let me help you with simple—but if Daisy was in this the dishes." with Simpson, why had she hired We sat around and watched TV me? over a few beers, like an old mar­ I fell off into an uneasy sleep ried couple, but unlike an old cou­ and in the morning, after a decent ple I slept on the livingroom couch. breakfast, we drove to Springfield, We went to sleep at ten-thirty and which was only twenty miles away. at eleven the phone rang. I This is a fairly large city with a big answered it on the first ring since shopping complex and several the phone was on a table next to street's of shops. The Simpson the couch. I said, "Hello?" and jewelry store was a small affair, didn't get any answer, although I with a locked steel gate across the could hear somebody breathing at one window and the entrance. I the other end of the wire. When I noticed a trade magazine and a sin­ hung up I turned to see Daisy gle letter inside the gate. I waited standing in the doorway of the bed­ for the mailman and when he tossed room, the light behind her silhou­ two more letters through the gate, etting her good figure. I asked, "Have you any idea when "Who was that. Bill?" Mr. Simpson will be back ? He was "I don't know. Were you expect­ repairing my watch." ing a call? I mean, if a man an­ "There was a sign pasted on the swers . . ." window, saying he was ill, but She shook her head. would reopen shordy. Wind and "Ever get any calls before, where rain took the sign off last week." nobody answered?" "Did he leave any forwarding She shook her head again, said, address?" "Good night, Bill," and shut her "Nope. Why do you ask?" ^ door, turning off the light. I moved "He's been gone a month and the chair widi my clothes and there isn't much mail piled up in­ shoulder holster nearer the couch side the gate." . and stretched out again, thinking The mailman stared at the few hard about Daisy. I was thinking pieces of mail. "Say, that's a fact. she'd told me she was such a heavy There was a whole pile of mail sleeper that she hadn't been aware, there the other day. Guess he must

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED have come by and picked it up." "You'know where he is, then?" - "You know his home address?" "No, but he'll find me." "Sure, here. He lives over the I sat by the picture window, store." watching the street. The phone call Returning to the car, I glanced came at the end of the afternoon. at the apartment above the shop, When' Daisy said, "Mr. Simpson, the t\yo windows shut, shades where—" I grabbed the phone from pulled down. I drove around the her hand, said, "Simpson, this is block. The rear windows sported Carlos. Be at your store in the an air conditioner. By going morning. I'll have some rough through an alley and over a fence, stones ready for cutting. My syndi­ I could get to Simpson's apartment, cate has worked out a deal with but -it wasn't worth the risk. In­ Mrs. Davis." I hung up quickly and stead, I stopped at a stationery returned to the window. store, bought paper and an en­ Daisy asked, "What was that velope. I wrote: about?" Simpson: I've found ^ the "You ever go bluefishing?" mine. Important I see you at She shook her head. once, re: polishing and cutting "A blue is a vicious and greedy some stones. fish. So you toss out a lot of bait, Carlos including one with a hook in it, I put this in the envelope and and hope the blue will be so busy tossed it inside the store gate. Then eating he'll take the hook. That's we drove to the Davis house, by called chumming." way of the quarry, which was a "I still don't understand. Bill." desolate looking spot even in the I smiled at her. "Why should I sunshine. Over lunch Daisy asked, tell you the secrets of the private "Obviously you suspect Frank eye racket? You're too pretty to be Sinipson. What about Carlos?" a good investigator." "Carlos doesn't exist, like the fly­ "All right, I'll shut up, and you ing saucers. I don't know where stop putting-me on," Daisy said, so Nick got the diamond, but I think pleased that she blushed. I turned Simpson was sure your husband to stare at the street again, waiting had stumbled upon a diamond to see if Simpson would try watch­ mine and tortured him in an effort ing the house. All I saw were > to get the location of the mine. I neighbors returning from work. I expect to have a showdown with really hoped Simpson showed to­ Simpson tonight." night; it would be a problem

154 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZJNE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED spending another night in the I could spilt-around, my head went Davis house—on the couch. That into orbit. kind of problem I had avoided, until now. I came to on die broken floor We had a light snack for supper inside the shack, my head soaring. and at seven, p.m. I went to the When my eyes started working I bathroom, checked my gun, then told Daisy to visit her next-door neighbors, to stay there until I re­ turned, and I turned, on the house lights." She gave me a key and I got in my car, drove around the block, returned to watch Daisy go to the next house. When I was convinced she was staying there, I drove to the quarry. The moon was out and the place was spooky as hell. A rough hill of stone rose about a hundred jagged feet above a dark pond some thirty feet across.. There was a shack ready to fall apart, the re­ mains of some kind of winch, rusted and busted, a few trees and didn't have to' wonder what I'd large boulders. That was it. I cased been slugged with. Simpson was the shack thoroughly, studied the standing in front of me, a jagged, trees and rocks, then sat in front dirty rock in his left hand. It was of the shack until ten pjn. listening so heavy he finally put it down at to the intense silence, watching the his weird feet, put it down gently; stars, the trees. Even though I was but the .45 in a plastic bag, which sitting in a shadow, I felt exposed. his right hand held, wasn't heavy: I went down to the edge of the he kept it pointed at me. Some­ pond and sat behind a large boul­ thing was tickling my neck. Keep­ der, worrying a little about snakes. ing an eye on the .45, I slowly My back was to the pond as I raised a hand to the back of my watched the shack. It seemed a se­ neck and felt blood. cure stakeout. Maybe it was a half For a moment I wondered if I hour later when I heard a faint were still out, maybe dreaming, for ripple of water behind me. Before Simpson looked really out of this

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED world in a black rubber scuba suit, about a flying saucer. But I'll find fins, air tanks on his back, face his mine yet. He had this great mask raised onto his dark hair. His stone hidden under the. pond wa­ potbelly in that suit looked comi­ ter, and someplace, in this quarry cal,' if I were in a laughing mood. I'll find his mine. It'll be the great­ He said, "Well now, Mr. Ash, est strike in diamond history. I'll you're a dumb private eye, sitting have plenty of time to hunt for it, with your back to the water and to after I take care of you." me. As you see, I found the "Knock me off and you're diamond." bagged. I left a report with my sec­ Either his voice was shrill or retary about looking for vou, so something was wrong with my don't " hearing. I was having trouble keep­ "Don't hand me that garbage. ing my throbbing head on my thick Ash, I'm not buying it. I'll merely neck, getting the dim scene in tie rocks around your big feet and focus. My wallet and gun were ly­ toss you in. The pond is fifty feet ing on the other end of the busted deep and there are fish in there, so floor, so Simpson knew all about you'll be a skeleton—should you me. ever come to the surface.- And I "Daisy hired you, of course, but have an alibi worked out for to­ why?" night, which hardly concerns you. "To find Nick's killer—you," I Things are working for me. I'll—" said, but not a sound came out. "You're running in bad luck, Simpson waved the .45. "Perhaps Simpson. They haven't abolished a crack across your stupid head the death penalty in this state yet!" will loosen your,big tongue!" he "Enough of this chatter. Ash. shrilled. I'm going to tie your feet now. I "To find Nick's killer—you!" assume you know about a .45; at Now the words came bursting out this range you'll be in shreds. I of my mouth. "Talk about dummies don't care if I toss,you in the pond I knew it had to be you from the in one piece or a hundred. If you go. Inventing Carlos was childish." want to die the hard way, try Glancing at the .45, I wondered something, make me shoot you." why I was talking so big. He stepped forward, walking The jeweler shrugged. "I didn't awkwardly with the fins on his expect the loon to die. He brought feet, and pulled a length of heavy me the finest diamonds I've ever rope from around his waist with seen, with a cock and bull story his left hand. KneeHng in front of

156 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY-MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED my feet, he pointed the gun down face glass on his forehead reflect­ my thighs as he said, "Raise your ing the faint light, plus that crazy feet, detective, slowly and gendy." laugh, Simpson actually looked In the dim light the .45 seemed like some sort of devil in person. bigger than a battleship gun as I When the giggle died he shrilled, stared into the' barrel, certain I "I do believe you are about to try could see the grooves. I raised my something, detective. Strangely feet a few inches, head fighting to enough, I've always considered leave my neck with the motion, myself a meek man, yet when I Simpson got his rope around my was trying to make Nick talk, via ankles, tied them tighdy in a clum­ a small soldering iron in my cellar, sy knot with his left hand. Then I found I enjoy torturing. Fantas­ he stood up, the heavy rubber suit tic, but there it is. So don't try to making his face shine with sweat. con me, detective. There's only one Staring down at me, he said, "I possible deal; if you know the lo­ wonder if you know anything cation of the mine, tell me, while about the mine, Ash? From the you can still talk." secretive way Nick acted, I'm cer­ "Stop it, Simpson. Once I tell tain Daisy, doesn't know its loca­ you, I'm dead." I fell back again. tion. Still, you are a detective and I'd have a better chance kicking no telling what you may have him with my tied feet as he came stumbled upon in your snooping. in. "Let's both talk sense. Untie me A few jabs in your more tender and I'll take you to the diamond spots will make you downright mind." loud-mouthed." "Where is it, on the moon?" he "Listen, Simpson, we can work cut in sarcastically. "Nick with his out a deal. Forget Daisy. You and flying saucer garbage, and you I ..." I began talking wildly, sit­ with this—" ting up for punching room. My "Untie me and I'll show you the head seemed to be working again. mine, for a forty percent cut, Simp­ There was a long chance I might son. Without me, you'll never find clip him if he somehow missed me it." with the gun, the first shot. I might "Garbage, detective, pure, low- make it if I could pull myself to­ grade slop!" he shrilled. "If you gether, get my reflexes going, knew where the mine was, you Simpson giggled, a high, insane wouldn't have tried to lure me out sound. With his fat face framed by here with that stupid letter!" the dark rubber head piece, the "Simpson, how else could I have

A SINGULAR QUARRY 157 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED arranged to see you? I keep telling I shut my eyes for a second, you, Daisy is out. I know where opening them slowly to accustom the mine is and you know how to myself to the pale moonlight. I cut the stones, where to sell 'em. looked around quickly for Simp­ Forty percent for me and you take son—but he had vanished! Simp­ sixty; Just untie me and—" son had simply vanished! Without "No! I've wasted too much time knowing why, I knelt and touched with you, detective. Now, I'm go- the dirt. It burned my fingertips. ing— With a muffled scream of panic, I Suddenly, we both became aware raced for my car. For a second of a faint humming sound, like the the battery seemed dead. Then the noise of a giant generator. The in­ lights came on, the starter turned terior of the shack turned a blind­ over. I kept the gas pedal on the ing red and there was the smell of floor all the way to Daisy's house. burning oxygen, a blanket of heat. Once inside, I ran to her liquor Through the one broken window cabinet, took a big swig of the first I saw that the entire outside was a bottle I touched. It didn't do a flashing red. Simpson spun around damn thing for me. My nerves, my and headed for the door. He shift- whole being, were drum tight. • ed the .45 to his right' hand, picked Daisy came in, and gasped, "Bill, up the diamond with his left as he what's wrong? You're so pale, so stepped through the doorway, out ferribly white.'-' of my sight. "Listen, listen," I heard a strange The red turned even brighter, voice mumble, then I got myself and I had to close my eyes. Then I under control, told her what, had heard this short but piercing happened. I finished with, "Wheth­ scream, the light dimmed, and it er you believe it or not, it's the was night again. Bending forward, truth! Simpson killed yjDur hus­ I untied my ankles, stumbled to­ band, and the—the spaceship took ward the doorway, picking up my him away!" wallet and gun on the way. "I believe it," Daisy whispered, Speeding up toward the stars staring into my eyes. was a large, spinning, red ball, "You really do? I'm not positive rings of blue blinking on and of? I beUeve it, but it's over. You're underneath it. It was going at such safe, Daisy. I'm driving back now. incredible speed that within a few - Wheeling a car relaxes me, and I'll seconds it looked like a red star. explode if I don't do something. Then it vanished. Tomorrow, or soon as I pull my-

158 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED self together, I'll return the balance son. And the letter doesn't mean a of your $1000. I put in three days, damn thing. Simpson's clothes plus traveling to New York and—" must be someplace around the "No," she whispered, touching quarry, but that's no link to us. my face gently with a finger. Daisy, should you ever be ques­ "You're trembling, Bill." . tioned, you hired me to look into "I'll calm down soon, I hope." Nick's death, I found nothing, "Keep the money. Bill. You did gave it up. That's it." your job, risked your life. What She nodded. There was an awk­ about the police? Are you going to ward moment as we walked to­ tell thern what happened ?" ward the door. We shook hands. Shaking my head, I squeezed her Then Daisy suddenly kissed me, hand as I pulled it from my face. hard, on the mouth, and whis­ "I should report it, but they'd nev­ pered, "That's something else we'll er believe me. If I tried telling never talk about again. Goodbye, them, they'd fit me for a straitjack- Bill." et." Once in my car, I started for "Of course. I understand. Nei­ home, driving fast. My nerves were ther of us will ever say a word still taut and I was so wide awake about tonight. We can't." I doubted if I'd ever be able to "Right. Except for that letter I sleep again. There was always the signed Carlos, there's no possible possibility of a humming, bright connection between us and Simp­ red nightmare awaiting me.

««>—^i(R5|&

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