ul DECEMBER 50< K MYSTERY MAGAZINE

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NEW storieipresenfeLICENSEDd by TO th UNZ.ORGe AAASTER OF SUSPENSE ELECTRONICt REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED December 1969

Dear Reader:

While not wishing to do mischief to the great tradition of turkey and cran­ ^a^ berry sauce, I herewith serve a banquet of hohday dishes and treats and trim­ mings fit for a king or queen—you. The contents are an artful blend of new mystery and suspense and related singular ofTerings by literary chefs de cuisine, many of them your favorites. All cook up plots to please, and I trust you will send your compliments, as have I, to their bizarre kitchens. Despite the number of courses, all of this sumptuous- ness comes packaged in just over four ounces of paper and ink, but as I have indicated it does go a long way. Simply add eyes, read and enjoy.

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R chard E. Decker, Publish er Gladys Foster Decker, Editorial Director Ernest M. Hutter Editor

Patricia Hitchcock , • Associate Editor Nick J. Sartorio C rculation Director Marguerite Blair Deacon Art Director

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED VOLUME 14, NO. 12 DECEMBER 1969 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S mystery magazine

CONTENTS

NOVELETTE

No ESCAPE by C. B. Gilford i... ..^LS.. .jjL.^.-.-ctor.iissaa: 138

SHORT STORIES

THE SiNGLE WING EPICURE by Fran\ Sis\ 2 EULOGY by Pauline C. Smith :..; 19 A FINGER HERE ... A FINGER THERE . . . by Jac\ Ritchie 26 EARLY SUNDAY MORNING by Jonathan Craig 36 THE ALL-SEEING EYE by Edward Y. Breese 41 NOTHING BUT HUMAN NATURE by Hillary Waugh 58 WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT by Michael Zuroy 67 STRANGER'S GIFT by Talmage Powell 78 ASHES TO ASHES by Leo R. Ellis 91 THE CLINCHER by Jac\ Foxx > ... 100 DEATH AT STONEHENGE by Norma Schier 106 A ROCK HAS MANY SIDES by John G: Hill 121 SUCCESS STORY by Richard M. Ellis 133

ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE aMS^ilo?f„-„'«e%Wt\e"U^^^^^^ £ind Possessions: elsewhere S7.00 (In U.S. tuncis) lor one year. Published monthly by H. S, D. Publications, Inc., 2441 Beacb Court. Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404. Publications office, 10 Perry Street. Concord, N. H. 03302. Second class postage paid at Concord, N. H. Copyright H. 9. D. Publications, Inc., 1969. All rights reserved. Protection secured under the International and Pan-American copyright convention. Title registered U.S. Pat. Office. Reproduction or use without express permission of editorial or pictorial content In any manner Is pro­ hibited. Postage must accompany manuscripts U retiurn la desired but no responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited material. Manuscripts and changes of addresses should bo 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 Instttutlona appearing In this magazine and those of any living or dead pereoh or Inatltutlon la Intended and any similarity which may exist Is purelLICENSEDy coincidental TO. Printe UNZ.ORGd in the U.S.A. ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A man of demanding tastes may ris^ finding them all-consuming.

THE NAME of my place is La Mai- and the letter s came off his tongue son d'etre. Mr. Seagrave first pa­ as a 2 sound and this is how I tronized us only five months ago. knew in the evening that he had It was, I well recall, a rainy Tues­ been the man on the phone that af­ day evening. He was accompanied ternoon. on that. occasion by the blonde He began by saying, "I zpeak for young lady named Bessie Schacter.. Mizder Zeagrave—Mizder Nicho- Also present, invariably as it de­ laz Zeagrave. Yez?" veloped, was the dusky little man The name was totally unknown called Darius. to me, but I made the good restau­ I'm unable to regard Darius as rateur's response. "We're delighted either a general factotum or a body to hear from him again." servant and yet he was a bit of "Again? I zink you miztaken. both and then something else. It Mizder Zeagrave never zeen you was Darius who phoned to make houze before." the reservations. The diphthong th "I'm most sorry. I was sure he

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED had visited us in the past," 1 said. finement to such plebeian fare. An "Not zo. But he vizit you to­ artist with few equals, he often night maybe. But he very fuzzy yearns to show off the depth and man." breadth of his talent. Blanquette of For a moment I visualized a young rabbit would be the merest man adorned with a riot of hair soupgon from the reservoir. "No and then realized the word was trouble there," I said. "Rabbit for 'fussy'. Well, Tuesday is never a three." good day for restaurants in this "Not for zree. For two." city and the rain had already be­ "I understood you to say there'd gun. A fussy customer was better be three in the party," than none. "How may I accommo­ "Zat is right. But two only will date Mister Seagrave.'"' eat. Now next, a zchrimp or lobz- "You got zmall private dining der zoup can you make zick?" room?" Zick, that baffled me. "Repeat "Yes, it seats ten quite comfort­ that, please."

ably," I hastened to convince him. "Tonight it zits zree." "Will you repeat that, please?" "Zree. One, two, zree." "That can be arranged. What "Zick like gravy. You make it?" time shall we set it up for?" "A veloute? But of course. Ei­ "Not yet. I muzt azk more quez- ther shrimp or lobster. They are tionz." standards with us." "Of course." "And zoze zmall eclairz, can you "Can you prepare a blanquette of fill zem wiz zweet creamz, all dif­ young rabbit?" ferent flavor?" Many people consider us strictly "Profitcroles, yes. What flavors a steak and chop house. We serve would Mister Seagrave like?" these items superbly, if I do say so "Vanilla, chocolate, maple, al­ myself, but our chef Fran5ois suf­ mond, cherry, banana, peach. Zoze fers spells of frustration from con­ okay."

THE SINGLE WING EPICURE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Seagrave was beginning to take est." And I meant it. No matter shape in my mind as a man of how bizarre were Seagrave's tastes flamboyant tastes, but I knew he in food, his knowledge of wines was going to make Francois hap­ was exceptionally high. py. The trio arrived at precisely 7:30. "Now next, za winez." Without any exaggeration, I think I "Our cellar is one of the finest." may say they were the strangest "I name zem, you zay if you trio ever to enter La Maison d'etre ain't got zem." in its twenty years, of operation. "As you wish." They were all wearing raincoats. "Champagne Pol Roger, 1959." The small dark man I came to "Yes." know as Darius was in the fore­ "Red Bordeaux Chateau Lafite, front. The bright orange slicker 1955." reached to his ankles. Immediately "Yes." behind him stood a stocky man of "Red Burgundy Pommard, medium height who bore himself 1959," like a hard-tempered ramrod. He "Yes." wore an expensive-looking silken "White Bordeaux Chateau raincoat draped over his shoulders. d'Yquem, 1957." His French pro­ His blunt head was protected, if nunciation was superior to his En­ that is the word, by a dove-colored glish. beret which emphasized the crim­ "Yes." son suffusion of his face. The "White Burgundy Montrachet, whites of his protruding green eyes 1959." were flecked with dots of blood. "Yes." This was, of course, Mr. Nicholas "Rhone Ermitage, 1947." Seagrave. Beside him was a thin "There you have me. It was the girl with a deep pallor suggestive last truly excellent year. I don't be­ of anemia. She was perhaps 22. lieve you'd find more than a few Her expression was one of bovine dozen bottles in the entire United blankness. She was chewing some­ States. And those privately owned." thing methodically—^gum, I soon "Zo.?" . learned—but it could have been "The 1960 Ermitage is very good cud. and available. here." Oscar, our maitre d', met them "Okay. Zeven-zirty tonight we at the cloak room and assisted in be zere." the divestment of rainwear. Darius "Til await you with every inter- was dressed in a tuxedo. Seagrave

4 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED wore a tweed sport coat and gray introduction, along with Seagrave's flannel slacks. The girl's spindle­ order, by dropping her wad of like figure was somewhat con­ gum in an ash tray. Ugh, cealed in a sleeveless pink mini- "Darius, my shoulders, please," dress. The dusky man, standing ready From an alcove I watched Os­ behind Seagrave's chair, began ex­ car escort them to their private din­ pertly to massage neck and shoul­ ing room, then I presented myself. der muscles, Though I'm American as barbe­ "Tell me. Monsieur," Seagrave cue, my last name is French and purred, eyes partly shut, "how does right ofl Seagrave insisted on call­ your chef manage a blaiiquette of ing me Monsieur. young rabbit.?" "I thirst. Monsieur," he said. "My observations, though fre­ "Two bottles of chilled Pol Roger quent, are generally casual. He immediately," cuts the rabbit into uniform pieces I noticed now for the first time and soaks it in cold water for per­ that his left arm was missing. The haps forty minutes. Next he empty sleeve was secured inside blanches the pieces in brown but­ the coat pocket by a black safety ter, and then again soaks them in pin. cold water—" Snapping my fingers, I sum­ "The proper preliminaries I am moned Bob, our best waiter, whom acquainted with. The sauce is what I addressed as Robert, Francophil- interests me." ing thes pronunciation, and in­ "I'm not privy to certain of the structed him to fetch the cham­ chef's secrets." pagne. To Seagrave I said, "It's my Seagrave didn't answer. He hope you may fijid our house to closed his eyes entirely. Darius, your liking, sir." massaging, was the one who final­ "If I do I shall return often. ly spoke. "What goez into zauce, Count on it. Bessie," he turned his zat is what he wish to know, Mon­ bloodshot eyes on the masticating sieur." female, "you are about to have "Well, let's -see. I know this your first taste of something other much. He prepares a liaison of egg than rum cola and pepper pizza. yolks, heavy cream, grated lemon So kindly dispose of that gum. peel and a pinch of nutmeg. This Monsieur, this is Miss Schacter, a he keeps hot in a white stock—" recently acquired protegee." Seagrave's eyes opened a slit, Miss Schacter acknowledged the "Nutmeg? Are you sure.?"

THE SINGLE WING EPICURE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ALFB£D HITCHCOCK^ MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Quite so. His individual touch." paring to depart but first wanted a "Ah, that may make the differ­ word with me. Hastening to the ence, Darius." small dining room, I found my "It could." epicurean guest none the worse for "A bit lower down, my boy. Fa­ all he had eaten and drunk. His vor that left shoulder if you will. face no, redder than earlier, his Well, Bessie, even your innocent eyes no more bloodshot or protru­ palate may discover a new subtlety sive, he was smiling now and that in. rabbit tonight." was the only difference. "Rabbit.?" Miss Schacter said, "Was the dinner to your satis­ surprised. faction, sir.''" I asked. Later, curiosity prompted me to "Very much so. Monsieur." A check the parking lot. Only eight cloud of cigar smoke rose slowly cars stood there in the cold drizzle. from his mouth and temporarily One was a Rolls. It figured. veiled his face. "Is this room avail­ Starting with shrimp veloute able again tomorrow, same time.?" and ending with cognac, the Sea- I was certain it was but I said I grave repast lasted well over three was not certain until I could check hours. Of course Darius was the my records. one who didn't eat. He cut certain "Then check your records im­ foods, when required, into por­ mediately." tions his one-armed master could I walked quickly to my office. A handle. He poured the wine, private dining room for ten is not which was almost a full-time job. much used. Most people dine in He buttered rolls. He lit the after- pairs or in groups no larger than dinner cigar. He even paid the •six. When groups do get larger, check and dispensed generous tips they tend to number twenty-five^or from a large wallet handed to him more and these we accommodate by Seagrave. in our banquet room downstairs. It was, by the way, the largest Hence, this little room ninety per­ check wc rang up that evening cent of the time was a waste of and among the largest ever in­ space. After a minute I returned to curred in our place by a pair of Seagrave, whose bald scalp was diners alone. being vigorously manipulated by Bob brought word to my oflfice Darius, and said we could take around 11 o'clock that the 'single- care of him the following evening. winger,' as he and eventually all "Good," he said. "That will do, the help called Seagrave, was pre­ Darius,"

THE SINGLE WING EPICURE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Real bunny rabbit," Miss Schac- afternoon with any further details." ter said, slurring the words. "Can't believe we been eating little old So began a five-month asso­ bunny rabbit tonight. Poor little ciation that ended only yesterday. bunnies." La salle petite, as Seagrave soon "With a good quantity of vintage christened the private room, be­ wine," Seagrave said to me as if in came exclusively his. Night after mild apology for the girl's condi­ night, nearly always at 7:30, he ap-' tion. "These civilized habits must peared with Miss Schacter and Da­ be acquired. Now as to woodcock, rius. Each dinner was sumptuous,, have you any of them hanging?" each different from the other. The: "No, sir, but I know others who only constant was the choice of have." wines, and they remained the same: "I don't like them too high, you superb vintages that he had se­ understand." lected the first night. "Of course. I know of several During the period after the first! brace that have been hanging just week I kept a record of some of under a month." the gastronomical miracles Sea­ "Perfect. What is your chef's way grave asked Francois to perform. with them?" In the simple category of soups,, "An appetizing way, I assure for instance, we served him cream you. With truffles and brandy and of artichoke, cream of endive,, a forcemeat of trail. If you like cream of lobster with madeira, trail." cream of young nettles, crayfish "I insist on it. Anyone who bisque, frog legs puree (which he would gut a baccivorous bird like ordered on six occasions), a veloute the woodcock is a barbarian." comprised of breast fillets of par­ "The great Brillat-Savarin agrees. tridge, pheasant and hazel-grouse, But we do remove the gizzard." hochepot a la flamande (which he "Naturally. And you serve it in roundly condemned and deserved­ a demi-glace?" ly so), potage a la tortue, mulliga­ "As a rule. Thickened with a tawny, and oxtail. puree of foie gras, butter and gent­ I made a note midway of this ly sieved intestines." list that "Mr. S displays a special Seagrave got to his feet. "I bow interest in all foods made from the to you. Monsieur." And he did ' extremities of animals: legs, wings, just that. "Expect us tomorrow tails, ears, heads, snouts, flippers. evening. Darius will phone in the Strange."

8 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Strange indeed, as it turned out they were. Frangois, who had not Bear paws are on the list. One tackled this dish before, smiled day Seagrave commissioned us to self-congratulations the rest of the find these, the front paws only, be­ week. cause he had just read in Le Grand It was on this occasion that Sea­ Dictionnaire de Cuisine that Alex­ grave first discussed (with me at andre Dumas pronounced them least) his theory of becoming what irresistible. It took us two weeks you consume. I forget how the to locate a pair. They came from a subject came up, but I remember small game-meat packer in Mon­ clearly, today of all days, exactly treal. Seagrave personally gave what he said. Francois the recipe for their prep­ "The primate began to develop a aration. I still have it here on my strong underjaw when he came desk. out of the trees, grabbed a club Remove s\in. Wash thoroughly, and slaughtered his first antelope. salt, place in croc\, cover with red Ever think of that. Monsieur? wine vinegar marinade. Let stand That if our ancesters had con­ 4 days. To coo\, line bottom of pot tinued on a diet of roots and fruits with chopped bacon, ham, onions, we would today possess somewhat • celery, grape leaves, tomatoes, the same chinless physiognomy of • mushrooms. Arrange paws, pads the baboon?" up, on this bed and then inundate The question required no an­ with marinade, adding cup of. beef swer, so I sat, faintly smiling, at bouillon. Coo^ over low heat 8 the end of the table where a mo­ hours. Permit paws to cool in liq­ ment earlier I'd tried bear paw. uid. Drain, wipe, slice lengthwise That I was at the table at all was about an inch thic\. Sprinl^e lib­ due to my having sent over a bot­ erally with fresh-ground pepper tle of Palo Cortado which I was (white) and lightly with garlic sure Seagrave would like in spite salt. Dip slices in mixture of melt­ of his bias against fortified wines ed butter and bread crumbs. Grill and hard liquor. He had insisted I 30 minutes on slowly rotating join in the tasting. s\ewers. Serve with sauce piquante "Man the meat eater got his and currant jelly. mandibles by aeons of mastica­ Well, I endorse the Dumas pro­ tion," Seagrave continued. "As nouncement on bear paws, for Sea­ long as he ate meat raw, he had grave insisted that I try a mouth­ the tearing canines of a wolf. Then ful. Succulent in a woodsy way he learned about fire, and another

THE SINGLE WING EPICURLICENSEDE TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED dozen millenia passed. And where sieur," he added after pausing to are your canines and mine, Mon­ take a second sip of the Palo Cor- sieur? Or those of Miss Schacter tado. and Darius? Still in our heads, of "Favorably unique, I trust." course, but reduced in size and bit­ Seagrave shuttered one bulging ing power to about the same level eye and aimed its bloodshot asso­ as a pair of pinking shears. All ciate an uncertain distance over my primates but man have fighting right shoulder. "The deep-dipped teeth even in these modern times alcoholic," he said thoughtfully. because man is the only primate "Have you ever had a whiff of his who cooks his meat. If this bear flesh?" . paw had not been cooked for eight "Not deliberately," I replied, hours, we may have found it near­ rather startled. ly unchewable. Feed ten genera­ "Have you smelled the emana­ tions of tigers on warm bran mash tions from the pores of a four- and you couldn't tell their teeth pack-a-day cigarette man? Or from a horse's. The average man, woman, for that matter?" even in the fleeting moment of his I said nothing. A whispering in­ lifetime, subtly emits the essence of timation began to inform me that what he eats and drinks. Long Seagrave might not be quite sane. years ago, when I was a collegian, "Fetid," he said stressfuUy. there was a classmate named Rod­ "Mephitic. Rank." riguez whose misguided parents "I suppose so," I said. had educated him to enjoy noth­ "Garlic," he said, suddenly open­ ing except goat milk and legumi­ ing the closed eye. nous vegetables. His hair was the I sat in fascinated silence. color of whey. Under the skin of "Pick up a towel that has been his face, in certain slants of sun­ recently used by a compulsive gar­ light, one could discern a pallid lic eater. Hold it a few inches from pigmentation of green. This was your nose. Inhale, but not too all of thirty years ago. But I wager deeply. The reek will send you that if Rodriguez is alive today reeling." He took another swallow and pursuing the same narrow of the sherry. "You do have im­ course of nutriment, he has a com­ peccable taste. Monsieur. I really plexion the color of chlorophyll- rnust hand it to you." chewing gum and hair and eye­ The word 'hand' involuntarily brows of albino hue. drew my eyes to Seagrave's empty "This sherry is unique, Mon- sleeve and of course he noticed.

10 LICENSED ALFRETO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Oh, that interests you, does it?" whose eyes were brilliantly out of he asked with a benign smile. focus behind a fine wine haze. "Don't be embarrassed. Your curi­ "You too may find this story of a osity is most natural. I too am pro­ convivial truncation a little bit voked to inquisitiveness by the ab­ edifying." sence of some integral part of the "Eddie who.?" she asked, blonde human body. Once, briefly, I knew head tilting. a woman with a glass eye. Knew her in the biblical sense, that is, You must continually bear in and only in order to learn where mind, Seagrave began from behind she'd lost the real optic. On an­ a large unlightcd cigar, that the other occasion I saw a man on skid staple diet of the jungle Indians row in Scranton, with both his along the upper reaches of the Rio ears missing as if planed down by Negro is farinha ... a carpenter, and I bought him (This gratuitous observation de­ breakfast, lunch and dinner, with scended inside my skull like two drinks and ten-dollar bills tendered layers of mildewed cobweb.) in between, until he told me a gar­ . . . Farinha, if you don't already bled story of what had happened know, is a granular flour some­ to him. Always behind each miss­ what the color and texture of corn- ing segment of a human being lies meal. It is derived from a yam, the a story, Monsieur, but not always mandioca yam to be precise, which are they worth listening to. In my in and of itself is a deadly poison. case, however, I think the yarn The average mandioca yam con­ goes hand in glove, if you'll excuse tains enough hydrocyanic acid to the expression, with the subject we fell an oversize Percheron. Fortu­ have under discussion. Would you nately for the Indian and everyone so concur, Darius.?" else in Brazil, the acid is volatile "Indeed yez." and rapidly yields its potency to "Would you like to hear my heat, and much heat is used in de­ strange little tale. Monsieur.''" cocting farinha from the yam. "I shall be enchanted, sir." This An Indian can thrive for two or is the approved way of responding three weeks on an exclusive diet of to a regular customer who never this meal while paddling his dug­ bothers to glance at the grand total out canoe ten hours a day. He of his dinner check. swallows the farinha dry, washing "And you, Bessie.?" He turned it down with a gourdful of water. his florid face to Miss Schacter The liquid quadruples the solid.

THE SINGLE WING EPICURLICENSEDE TO UNZ.ORG 11 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED As a result, ail the Indians, who Wuppermanns have been distilling came within my purview were their Angostura Bitters since 1830. supporting outlandish potbellies If you should ever think of jour­ utterly alien to the admirable mus­ neying to the upper reaches of the culature of their arms, legs, et Rio Negro, I'd be the first to ad­ cetera. vise firmly against it. The vegeta­ Now what was I doing on the tion is thick and steamy. The Rio Negro? palms that line the banks like sen­ And when was I there? tinels have thorns like sabers. Li­ (These questions had been on ana vines, Tarzan's cinematic tra­ the tip of my tongue.) peze, are rife and grow so fast that The time: twelve or thirteen or they could quite possibly encircle maybe all of fourteen years ago, you in your sleep and constrict wasn't it, Darius? Zirteen. Then you to death. The river itself is zirteen it is. perfectly, named; it is black as ink. Darius was with me, of course, And during the rainy season, as was an elderly Brazilian bota­ which covers six months of the nist. Noddleman, Benito Noddle- year, this inky stream spreads out man. He specialized in barks. Not in the gloom under the endless the canine kind. Monsieur, the ceiling of trees for mile upon mile. barks of trees. For like the legen­ In some places, Noddleman told dary Ponce de Leon, I was search­ us, the Rio Negro is fifty miles ing for something wildly rumored wide. in the delirium of dreamers to exist Well, so much for that. And so hidden from the world. In this case much for Noddleman also. We lost it was a nameless tree. A bite of him to a tropical ague a few days its bark, the tiniest chew, was sup­ beyond Santa Isabel and buried posed to impart an instant sense of him in the spongy ground with a divine peace, of eternal well-being. dugout canoe as a coffin. This Needless to say, I never found it. event was seemingly interpreted by But I did come across the Cusparia our native paddlers as an evil febrifuga, if you are interested, and omen. That night, while Darius chewed some of its bark, thinking and I slept, the entire gang de­ for a few wondrous moments that camped. They left us a monteria, I had found what I was looking which is twice as long as the aver­ for. Noddleman put me straight. age dugout canoe and three times What I had in my mouth was the harder to handle. As for proven­ basic substance from which the der, we found the invariable fa-

12 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED rinha, forty pounds of it, six slabs I noticed then that several of our of baccalhau, which is a dried and guests were missing an arm and salted codfish that can make you that one of them, who appeared to hate codfish the rest of your life, be the chief, was armless. This two bottles of cane-sugar alcohol armless one was given the first known with great respect in those drink of caxiri by one of his com­ parts as caxiri, and my precious panions who respectfully held the mahogany humidor containing a bottle for him. dozen first-class cigars. After that, sociability abounded. Any rational man would have Some of the Indians went into the promptly returned to Santa Isabel, jungle and brought back more but in those days I was savagely wood for the fire. A signal must driven. My heart kept misinform­ have gone out because presently ing me that the peace-giving bark four native women appeared with was to be found around the next a dozen or so children. When the bend of the river. caxiri was finished, our guests pro­ Eight days later we were down duced from somewhere two large to the last several handsful of fa- gourds of a liquor that tasted a bit rinha and the last few pounds of like hard cider that had been over­ baccalhau and were seriously con­ ly infused with a minty mouth­ sidering a trip back to civilization. wash. It packed an authoritative We w^re- squatting on the river jolt. Dancing and chanting began. bank. It was dusk. We had just ht Soon we broke out our small store a small fire and were about to of farinha and baccalhau. The In­ open one of our two bottles of dians politely declined the meal caxiri, the better to come to a deci­ but were hugely obliged for the sion, when there rose up around fish. They distributed it bite by us a dozen naked shadows ail bite, each member of the tribe from armed with long .blowguns. In­ the armless chief to the smallest stantly I sensed they were more child having an equal share. I was curious than hostile. I addressed so impressed, and probably very them in Portuguese, Spanish, En­ drunk in the bargain, that I finally glish. They quacked back in a opened the humidor and took out a tongue neither Darius nor I had precious cigar. Lighting it from an ever heard. I offered them the ember, I passed it to the young In­ freshly opened bottle of caxiri and dian who acted as the chief's body they came smilingly, into the ring servant and he in turn held it to of our little fire. the chief's lips. From there the ex-

THE SINGLE WING EPICURE 13 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED cellent cigar made the rounds stance not tmlike a nougat. One among the men much in the maor licked it from a stick. Within five ner of the North American peace minutes of swallowing a few pipe. Perfect amity existed. ounces of it, I was overcome by a I was reminded at that hour, as I wonderfully pleasant lethargy and am now, of Epicurus' sage counr soon fell into deep sleep of gentle sel: We should loo\ for somebody dreams. to eat and dnn\ with rather than Upon waking, I thought only a looking for something to eat and few minutes had passed. It was still drin\, for dining alone is leading dark, though, and I pondered over the life of a jacl{al. These savages, dawn's failure to bring daylight. I if you will, epitomized that aspect learned later that my sleep had of^the Epicurean philosophy. Bare­ lasted fourteen or fifteen hours. I ly subsisting on an endless diet of might have known, I had never farinha, they found us and cheer­ felt so completely rested and re­ fully sat down to make a banquet laxed in my life. of a few cups of untamed beverage Gradually orienting myself, I no­ and a few bits of salted fish. With ticed I was the center of attention. a single cigar they created a ritual The Indians were crouched in a of comradeship. A second cigar semicircle facing me, their brown bound us all together in a cabbala bodies shining like oiled teak. Be­ against the dark night and the hind them the fire danced bright­ specter of death always lurking ly. The hanging liana vines seemed within it. to shimmy in the shadows. Darius Because of the seasonal expan­ was sitting to my left but I was not sion and contraction of the Rio conscious of hini at die moment. I Negro, game is almost nonexistent kept looking at the faces of the In­ in that country and yet by dawn dians. A soft chant was coming these friendly people were recipro­ from their closed lips and they cating our hospitality by cooking a were rocking slightly to and fro, as stew that contained sizeable pieces if in common mourning. of meat. It was subtly different I presently realized that I was from any stew I ever tasted before sitting slightly elevated on a cush­ or since. But we ate with good ap­ ion of something soft with my petite, didn't we, Darius.? Then back against a heavily mossed tree. they served Darius and me exclu­ (The cushion, I learned later, was sively a sort of Tissue deMa table, fashioned from multi-layers, of a which was a whitish gumlike sub­ spinach-like leaf called manisawa,

14 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED a basic ingredient of all native It was then, Monsieur, that my stews. What I also learned later gaze began to wander in a frantic was the symbolism involved.) search for the good Darius. I When the chief saw my open eyes found him six feet away to my left, questing, he came erect from his propped like me against a tree, crouch and then the tribal dirge though not elevated, and he was changed tempo—fast and joyful— regarding me with ineluctable and the unified swaying was con­ compassion. A few seconds later I verted into a forward movement, a noticed that my left arm was miss­ repetitive obeisance. ing. The chief uttered a series of stac­ cato commands. The body servant It took me a couple of long min­ leaped to his feet. The tribal ranks utes to return with Mr. Nicholas parted to allow the body servant to Seagrave from the Rio Negro to approach the fire. With a long flat La Maison d'etre. stone used like a shovel, he lifted Darius had used the interval to an earthenware pot from the coals light the large cigar and Miss _ and carried it to the chief, placing Schacter was replenishing her glass it at his feet. The armless one be­ from the bottle of Palo Cortado. gan to crank out an incantation to Her arms, so meager several the accompaniment of a mesmeric months ago, were now plump and rotation of his head on his spindly firm—and redolent, I guessed, of neck. The performance must have the excellent food she had been lasted a good fifteen minutes—long eating. Delicious arms, I thought, enough at least to let the contents and the thought stunned me. of the pot go from boiling to sim­ I looked at Seagrave's green eyes. ply hot. Then the body servant They expressed an insane satisfac­ dipped a hand in the scalding stew tion with himself. "They had par­ and quickly came up with what I taken of me," he was saying, "as I first thought was a third-degree had partaken of them." burn—the phalanges covered with "They were cannibals," I said. painfully swollen flesh as gray as "In the narrowest definition of boiled veal—which he raised to the the term, yes. But they were not chief's waiting lips. In another mo­ true anthropophagi. No more than ment, though, my eyes told an in­ I. They did not k}U a man to eat credulous brain that the offering him. They simply panoo\ of a was not the body servant's hand joint and they rituahzed the shar­ but somebody else's. ing. When the diet of farinha be-

THE SINGLE WING EPICURE 15 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED came unendurable, when the high "Indeed I do. I know him well." waters of the rainy season dis­ "I don't quite like the way you persed even the monkeys and the say that, John." macaws, when the human body "A small altercation, nothing could no longer tolerate the lack of more." ' protein, dien a member of the "Tell me about it." tribe, always a volunteer, contrib­ "I'd have forgotten about it long uted an arm to the stew pot. Wom­ ago except for its bizarre nature," en were ineligible for this honor, "I'm listening." but male children were permitted "To the best- of my knowledge," to give as many as, but no more he was the first customer in the than, three fingers. It had been a history of Vallancourt's who chal­ finger stew, by the way, which Da- lenged us to serve sturgeon braised ,rius and 1 had unknowingly con­ in champagne and garnished with sumed with such relish. The chief broiled truffles and cucumbers. As had attained his rank by giving he waited for Henry to produce both arms to the tribe, and no oth­ the dish, he whetted his appetite er warrior could make this su­ with large quantities of beluga cav­ preme contribution until that chief iar and Pol Roger." died." "Nineteen fifty-nine." Not knowing what else to say, I "Right. He had a lady with him, said, "Did you eat any part of, uh, a very young lady, and that little your, uh—" dark-complexioned man of his—" "No, I regret to say. I fainted "Darius." upon discovering what was cook- "Right again. At any rate, they ing." came night after night and spent most liberally until the matter of At a trade-association meeting a the lady's fingers terminated in the few days later I was having a cock­ worst brawl our place has ever tail with John Vallancourt, the witnessed." proprietor of the best seafood res­ "The lady's fingers?" taurant in the state, when he said "Yes, well, it appears that this passingly, "Oh, I understand the young lady had the most exquisite wealthy Mister Seagrave is now an fingers. You know, long and deli­ habitue of your place." ' cate. I never really noticed them "Every day except Monday, myself, but the waiter later assured when we are closed. Do you know me they were something to behold. him?" Seagrave seemed to worship them,

16 LICENSEDALFRE TO DUNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED referred, to them often, often hit and quite imperturbable. Sea- touched them during the dinner. grave left a half hour later. Neither Then one night, according to the has ever returned, thank God." waiter, he offered the young lady twenty thousand dollars for the in­ Yesterday afternoon Darius dex finger of her left hand. Said phoned to cancel the standing res­ she was right-handed anyway and ervation for the private dining had little real use for that particu­ room; As if this were not ominous lar digit. Simply say the word and enough, he requested that Francois he would present the young lady a prepare a quart of sauce bontemps certified check when the banks and send it in a vacuum bottle to opened in the morning. The wait­ the Seagrave residence at 7:45. er leaned over backwards to hear, "Is Mister Seagrave temporarily of course." incapacitated?" I asked. "Of course." "Not at all." "At first the young lady thought "Miss Schacter then.?" Her firm he was joking. Then it slowly round arms were on my mind. dawned on her that he was in "Not at all." dead earnest. Darius^ he said, was That was that. an expert with a scalpel, having . At seven o'clock I suddenly de­ studied surgery at one time, and cided to deliver the sauce in person. the Seagrave residence was stocked It took longer than I figured to with the necessary anesthetics. The . find the house, which was situated operation could be performed in on a good deal of rural acreage Jrve minutes. The twenty thousand covered with hundreds of tall dollars would be payable in ad­ pines, and so it was a few minutes vance. Well, the young lady was a after eight when I rang the door­ bit horrified now but she had the bell. The door was opened imme­ guts to ask what in hell he would diately by Darius as though he had do with her finger if he ever got it. been waiting impatiently just in­ And he told her, without blinking side. He was impatient and, for the an eye, that he would simmer it in first time in my observation, visi­ a special chicken stock, serve it bly disturbed. with caper sauce and eat it. Well, "Come in. Monsieur, come in," the kindest thing she called him he said, much to my surprise. was a crazy creep and the least of "I'm sorry to be late." the objects she hurled at him was "Zat is okay." an ash tray, and then she left. Un- "The sauce is still hot."

THE SINGLE WING EPICURLICENSEDE TO UNZ.ORG 17 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Zo. Enough zat you come your- "Zee for yourzelf," Darius said, zelf. Not zend mezzenger boy." opening the door. "Is something amiss?" I in­ Inside, on an operating table, lay quired, following him into a vast Nicholas Seagrave. He was wear­ hall. ing pajama pants of blue silk. His "A matter of loyalty," he said. formidable torso was covered by a "You zolve za problem maybe. mat of graying hair. His eyes were Take it out of my handz maybe." closed, thereby transmitting to the "Maybe," I said, following him rest of the face an uncharacteristic along the hall. "Exactly what is the expression of profound peace. His problem, Darius?" remaining arm was flung out in "Mizder Zeagrave azk me to do a harness on a right-angle extension zing I cannot do." of the table that also held an enam­ As we proceeded down the hall el tray filled with an assortment of the faint but distinct odor of chlo­ scalpels, surgical saws, sutures and roform reached my nostrils. "Don't clips. tell me that Mister Seagrave has "Holy God!" I said softly. dismembered Miss Schacter," I "I pledge myzelf to do it," Da­ heard myself saying in a shocked rius was saying, "but now, no." voice.. "He must be absolutely mad," I Darius looked at me in puzzle­ said, ment, then shook his head. "No, "I zuppoze zo." Monsieur. Mizder Zeagrave would "The bontemps sauce was for not do zat. He inzizt alway it be this?" voluntary. Bezidez, he did not care "Yez. At my zide he ztood while for her aroma. Zo he dizmizzed I order it. Za firzd ztep in my zo- her from hiz employ ziz morning." lemn promize to help him partake We had arrived at a closed door of himzelf." near a telephone table. The smell I relieved Darius of his dreadful of chloroform was strong now. "If obligation by going to the tele­ not Miss Schacter, then who?" phone. 1

18 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED There is some good to be found in everyone; at least the ability {,. to die. f ^smB^

knew more about him than he had known I knew. "What'll I say?" 1 asked. THINK you ought to give "You'll figure out something." Eddie Caravel's eulogy, Frank. You I looked down at Eddie on his were his best friend and director. white satin pillow, admiring the We think you know more about way they'd even managed to mold him than anyone else." his lips in that lopsided smile he'd That was true. I knew enough cultivated for his trademark. Eddie about Eddie Caravel to hang him would have liked that. He looked if he hadn't been dead already. I great, as good as the best of his

EULOGY LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 19 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED carefully planned publicity shots. windows, casting triangles of "They did a good job on him, colored light on all the upturned didn't they?" I remarked. faces, except for Eddie's, resting "Well, he wasn't in the water long there against his white satin pillow enough to do him any harm except in the casket—his was clear and drown him." unshadowed, haloed with gold. He would have liked that, too. The crowd was outside the As the organ music faded, I stood chapel, straining, pushing and to deliver the eulogy, glancing only pointing as limousines drove up to briefly at the notes in the palm of disgorge the mourners. The crowd, my hand. "Dear friends, we are mostly women, loved Eddie Cara­ gathered here together to pay final vel, and now that he was dead, tribute to a man we have known they owned him at last. in life, so let us now remember him Inside, the chapel wasn't exactly in death. stuffed. There were the three "A great man," I waved toward former wives who didn't know his the casket, "mourned by many— estate had already been inherited but we, only we here in this chapel by the government for back taxes; today, can truly mourn, for only studio executives along with their we truly knew him." I waited for wives, sitting stiffly equal yet separ­ the small sound of restless move­ ate from each other; the crew, ment to pass. "Some of us knew which formed a tight, expression­ Eddie as far back as when he be­ less, obedient group, here for publi­ gan his career as a prop man with city reasons only, all except for the aspirations. We all have aspirations. writers who were probably hud­ Eddie Caravel had his . . ." dled on the dark set, killing off Eddie's aspirations were big, Eddie again so we could begin bold and well-defined. They were shooting a new story line around to rise to the top of the heap by him as soon as the funeral was climbing the shoulders of the men over. above him and over the breasts of Organ music flowed in melliflu­ the women who could help. There ous sound with an occasional had been many women—wives and stentorian note for solemn accent. girlfriends, secretaries and script Whoever rigged the ceremony knew girls, . actresses and producers' what he was doing. daughters. During his first aspir­ It was a bright day, with the ing years on his first step upward, sun shining through stained glass Eddie stole Carl Haven's lopsided

20 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED smile and Carl Haven's luscious, of my beach house, then fell in­ wife to get where he wanted. side, so hysterical I hardly knew There she is, right down there, him, with that fantastic tale of at­ center-right, Carl- Haven's former tempted murder and being taken wife and Eddie Caravel's former off the hook by the victim! wife too, dabbing her dry eyes with "All right now ..." I poured the wisp of a handkerchief. Pudgy a glass of brandy and he belted it now. Give her another two years Uke water. "Make sense. What's all on 'the sauce and she'll be a slob. this about shooting and killing, the Carl isn't around anymore; last I ambulance, pohce, and a state­ heard, he was up north selling cars ment.'"' He was talking garbled on commission. Too bad, he was a nonsense until he got hold of him­ steady-working small-parts actor self and made sensible nonsense who thought he had it made until out of the babble. Eddie decided he was the guy to He had suspected Melanie and make what Carl had and Carl's Eddie—and why not.? Everybody wife too. else on the studio lot knew the "Will we ever forget the bright score. But then, Herm was busy young star who meteorically rose casting 'The Name of the Hour', from a name on the crawl to The producing it on a shoestring. "I Name in 'The Name of the was in that damn picture with Hour'.?" I asked the congregation, both feet," he explained that night, and to a man-and-woman, every "right up to my lieck. If I could head shook in negative agreement. get the right lead I figured I might None of them would forget. make a killing." He winced at his Especially, Melanie and Herm own poor choice of words. "If not, Fielding. I searched them out in I was dead," and he winced again. the congregation. There was Mel­ "Then Melanie came up with this anie, a mask of sorrow, to mask the Eddie Caravel . . ." bitterness, to mask the mask of "Came up with him.?" I asked. bright vivacity; one of the ex-wives "She suggested him. For the lead, of Eddie Caravel who, before being yetl I told her she was out of her the wife of Eddie was the wife of skull, I needed a name for the Herm—and where was Herm.? In picture . . ." Melanie scratched at the back, sitting alone in the center him about it until he finally woke of a pool of empty seats. up and began to ask himself what I wouldn't forget either, the night was her percentage, and came up Herm beat against the front door with a .figure he didn't like . . .

EULOGY LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 21 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "I worked at the office until late them, single-handed, and got shot and when I got home—no Melanie. in the bargain—not by me, by the Where would she be? I had a good prowlers." idea. So I found out where this "He did.?" I said hoarsely. Then clown lives, grabbed my gun and I pulled myself together, trying to took off for the beach . . ." bring order out of chaos. "You "Oh, for God's sake, Herm," I mean he could tal^J He was dead groaned and poured out another and he could tal}{}" couple of belts for both of us. "He isn't dead. At least he wasn't Well, he caught them, all right, then. He told the police, 'Don't and crashed in shooting. I guess involve my friends,' meaning me, there was a lot of screaming and a I guess, and Melanie." scuffle, with Melanie getting the "Well, he sure as hell couldn't gun away and screaming murder- talk if he had a bullet in his heart," police over the phone and Herm I observed, having read plenty of in catatonic shock at what he'd authoritative scripts on the subject. done, staring glazed-eyed at Eddie, "Where's the gun.?" white as a sheet except for the big Herm didn't know where the red stain spreading from his left gun was after Melanie had wrested shoulder down his left side. it from him. It wasn't hard to "Frank!" Herm yelled at me. "All figure out, though, after the whole that blood on his left side! I think crummy scene was over. All Eddie I hit his heart!" Caravel had was a slug in his "Wasn't that what you meant to shoulder, enough to make him lose do.?" I asked coldly, not that I about a quart of blood and send gave a damn at that point whether him to the hospital with Melanie Eddie Caravel Hved or died. It in fond attendance, but not enough wasn't my wife he was playing to keep his brain from, working. around with—not yet, anyway. During that moment of truth, "Yes, I meant to do it," yelled Eddie had enough wits about him Herm, "but after I did it, I wished to take Herm off the hook and I hadn't. I'm no killer, Frank," and keep the gun as evidence in case Herm's voice broke plaintively. Herm didn't give him the lead in "Don't tell me that," I said, "ex­ 'The Name of the Hour' . . . plain it to your lawyer." I looked at Melanie in the con­ "I won't have to." Herm shook gregation, thinking: It was a hell his head, dazed. "He told the police of a short and miserable marriage it was prowlers and he routed you came up with out of the mess.

22 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED wasn't it, kjd? And she looked They all lose, I thought, finally. back at me, one of Eddie Caravel's The ex-wife's face was empty, for ex-wives, and die beautiful face, so she had lost Eddie, and Eddie's cynical now, so bitter, said right face was dead, for he had lost his back at me: It was a short and Ufe. miserable marriage. "Yes, Eddie Caravel was a great Then I looked at Herm, all alone man," I continued. "A great man in the middle of all those empty is one who wins fame no matter seats, and thought: And you came how he gets there, so Eddie was out on the short end of the stic\, great. Now, in television, we have ' settling for giving your wife away, lost him; and we who have so giving Eddie the part that made recently worked with him on his him, and getting stuc\ with the weekly series, do mourn." image of a producer who builds I looked at the crew then, that stars out of nothing—on the s\ids expressionless, obedient nucleus of now because another nothing li\e opposition. Every one of them Eddie never came along. Herm's hated Eddie Caravel's guts. face was no longer bitter, but lost. "It is we of television, Eddie's I glanced at the notes in the latest medium of greatness, we who palm of my hand. "It has been said," have worked with him these last I continued the eulogy, "that Eddie years, who were with him at the Caravel was an opportunist." I last, who will miss him the most." looked at the congregation, atten­ With him at the last, I thought, tive, yet not wanting to be attentive and I could see that last party on because attention made each re­ every face of the crew turned up to member a personal incident of op­ me. I, the director, gave the party portunism. "But all Eddie did was at my home; I and my wife, Jenni­ find opportunity and use it first." fer. Where was Jennifer? I had All the women, I thought, and forced her to come to the funeral. the men through the women, while Then I saw her. She looked as searching for the third and last ex- she had when I married her years wife in that congregation, also ex- ago, young and scared. The party wife of one of the academy judges. was on her face too. The party She got what she wanted, which would forever be there . . . was Eddie. Eddie got what he The week before the party had wanted, which was an Oscar. But been grueling. There was a water the academy judge got nothing. scene. Eddie was to jump in and There is always one who loses. save a young girl. "Not me," he

EUtOGY LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 23 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED said, "get the double to do the a strong, lusty man, playing games." scene." The eyes of the crew were upon "Why a double?" I asked. "That's me. I searched their faces which a stretch of water just five feet told me nothing. Each of them across, just wide enough to get in knew exactly what happened. If a camera shot." they didn't see it from the begin­ "Not me," he repeated. "Shoot ning, they saw its ending. from a distance and get a double." My hands had begun to shake "I don't want a double," I said. and the eulogy notes were damp in "I want a close shot. Have you got my palm. "We, his television a thing about water?" friends," I said, "knew his strength "Yes," he yelled, "I've got a thing and we knew his weaknesses'. . ." about water." His strength was his lusty virility, I remembered, then, his beach and his weaknesses were women house and what had happened and water. The pool lights were on there to give him stardom. "You in the patio. The house was brilliant live on the beach," I said, "so how with noise and lights. The party come?" was swinging, with liquor, laugh­ "Used to." He'd turned his back ter and lights—lights everywhere on me. "When I lived there I never except for that one bedroom. That stepped any closer to the water one was dark. The crew and the than the porch." He walked off cast were milling around, having and I saw for sure he really had a fun—everyone except Eddie. Then thing about water. How about I looked for my wife, Jennifer ... that? This lopsided smiler slashing I found them together in the his way through life, scared of a dark bedroom. little water! Well, it was too late I knew then how Herm Fielding for a scene rewrite, so we worked had felt, blasting his way into the out a distance shot, flattened the beach house; how Carl Haven had climax, and I announced the party. felt; the academy judge; all the At the end of each season, I threw husbands of all the wives, and the a party—Jennifer and. I—for the boyfriends of the girlfriends. cast and crew. This was that party. I yanked my wife free and she I repeated the last words of the screamed like Melanie must have eulogy, "We, the television cast and screamed. I had only one blazing crew, were with Eddie Caravel that thought in my mind: to rid the last night of his life. It was at a world of Eddie Caravel. I jerked party, so he died as he had lived. him from that dark room, into the

24 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED lights of the house, and out to the or tell the thing that each and lights of the patio. I shoved. He every one of them knew. splashed. "His strength and his weakness," The party people surged from the I repeated the words of the eulogy. house. Jennifer's screams had "Which shall we mourn? Arid turned to moans. The noise and which shall we rejoice?" And I revelry were hushed as the guests saw by their expressions that the clustered around the pool. Eddie crew was with me to a man-and- was floundering, reaching out a woman. They would mourn Eddie hand, fingers clutching for the Caravel's strength for its destruc­ pool's rim. He almost made it. I tion and rejoice his weakness which reached out a foot and kicked him brought about his destruction. back. He splashed a moment or Their faces told me, to a man- two. Then he sank. and-woman, that I was not a mur­ "Well," I said, "I guess we'd derer but an executioner. better call the pohce or fire depart­ "So," I finished the eulogy, "we ment or whoever it is you call at a say good-bye to Eddie Caravel and time like this. They can get him turn again to the living." out. It will be too late then, of I was very tired. I would get my course, to revive him. But they'll wife now, and take her home. try." Then, tomorrow, I would see what "But, Frank," I heard, and offers the writers had come up with—see to jump in. if they had, as successfully as I, "No," I said. "No. We'll wait." killed off Eddie, and what they It was I who told the police that had put in his place. Eddie Caravel must have fallen The sun had slanted now so that into the pool, and not a voice rose the faces of the congregation were in protest. in the clear light and Eddie Cara­ I looked again at my obedient, vel's, resting against his satin expressionless crew, still not know­ pillow, was mottled with green and ing if they would keep the secret violet. X

EULOGY LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 25 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED It requires more than frugality to scotch a \idnappihg.

THE MCGREGOR USED CARS lot occupied half a city block with the offices situated in the center. In James McGregor's office, Cap­ tain Dakin questioned the dealer's secretary, Miss Wilson. "You saw Mr. McGregor tear up the note?" "Yes. Though he wasn't aware you telephoned the department?" that I was watching him at the "Not right away," Miss Wilson time." said. "First I confronted Mr. Mc­ "And when he left the office, you Gregor with the reconstructed went to the wastepaper basket, note." took out the pieces, and put them "What was his reaction?" together again, jigsaw fashion?" "He said, 'Bah! Humbug!'" "Yes. Just feminine curiosity, I The pieces of the note had been guess." pasted to a sheet of paper. Dakin "Snoopiness," McGregor growled. studied it again. "It says here, Mr. Dakin ignored him. "And then McGregor, that if you do not pay

26 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the kidnappers |200,000, your nappers get it through their heads nephew will be returned to you in that they're never going to get ran­ installments. A finger here, a toe soms, they're going to stop kid­ diere." napping people and turn to some­ McGregor shrugged. thing else." Dakin frowned. "Just how old McGregor agreed. "I won't pay a is your nephew?" cent." "Thirty. Thirty-one. Something Captain Dakin smiled confiden­ like that." tially. "I also think it's only fair to "Twenty-nine," Miss Wilson tell you that this is only the official said. stand of the department. Unoffi­ "When did you see him last?" cially, of course, it is preferable "About ten days ago," McGregor that the ransom be paid and the said. victim released. That way we are "Ten days ago?" free to swing into action without McGregor colored slightly. "So fear of the victim being harmed." he's been gone for a while. I don't McGregor reiterated his position. keep tabs on everything my neph­ "They won't get a penny out of ew does." me." "Isn't he also one of your sales­ Dakin tried again. "What I mean men?" is that, after all, there is a human McGregor looked pained. "Sales­ life at stake." man ? He doesn't know a - thing '"They're bluffing." about cars. Look at that lemon he "A possibility," Dakin conceded, drives." "but on the other hand, suppose Dakin blinked. "You sold your they aren't?" own nephew a lemon?" "They are," McGregor insisted. McGregor drew himself up. "He "I ignored the first two notes and didn't buy the car from this lot." nothing happened." Miss Wilson explained. "Albert— There was a silence and then Mr. McGregor's nephew—doesn't Dakin took a deep breath. "There trust his uncle. Especially when it were two other notes?" comes to cars." McGregor shifted uncomfortably. Dakin put the note into a brown "I guess I forgot to mention that." envelope. "I'd like to mention that "Where are they now?" it is the official policy of our de­ "Incinerated long ago. I tore partment to discourage the pay­ them up. Evidently when my sec­ ment of ransoms. Once these kid­ retary wasn't at the keyhole." Mc-

A FINGER HERE . A FINGELICENSEDR THERE TO UNZ.ORG 27 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Gregor tried a smile of reason. television program and retired to "After all, Captain, the kidnappers the kitchen. didn't say that they were going to She made two salami sand­ kill Albert right off—in one piece, wiches, wrapped them in waxed so to speak—now, did they? Sup­ paper, and went back to the door­ pose we wait until we get a few way. Her parents were completely toes or something before we get engrossed in their program. rash with $200,000, I'm sure that Nora carried the sandwiches even my nephew would see the and a quart of milk down to the fairness of that." basement. She stopped at the door Dakin's eyes went to the plate of the fruit cellar and knocked glass windows and the lot beyond. softly. "I understand that you have one of Albert McGregor opened the the most successful used car lots in door. "It gets lonely down here. I the state." haven't heard or seen anybody but McGregor almost smiled, but you in ten days." then controlled himself. "Exagger­ Nora put the food on the smaU ation by people who don't know wooden table. "Mother hasn't the business." He watched one of needed the fruit cellar in years and his salesmen descend upon a pro­ Dad hasn't been down here either spective customer. "I couldn't pos­ since we converted from coal to sibly raise $200,000. It's absolutely natural gas." impossible." Albert took a bite from a sand­ "How much could you raise?" wich. "I \now Uncle James can Miss Wilson asked. afford at least two hundred thou­ He scowled at her. "None of sand. He has at least double that your business." safely tucked away. Why doesn't But Dakin saw possibilities in he pay? After all, I am a relative, that. "After all, $200,000 is just even though we don't really get their asking price. Perhaps you along at all." . could negotiate? Would it do any "Some people are like that, real harm to offer $50,000?" dear," Nora said. "They have no "No," McGregor said firmly. '1 respect for family ties. If only we will not negotiate." had some fingers to send him— just one would probably do the At seven-thirty that evening, trick." She sighed. "If only I were Nora Wilson switched to the chan­ a medical intern or technician or nel carrying her parents' favorite something like that, I'm sure I

28 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED could pick up a finger or two." Dakin turned to Miss Wilson. Albert looked doubtful. "When "The mailman brought this.?" you get right down to it, that prob­ "No," she said. "A messenger." ably wouldn't work anyway. If we "A uniformed messenger.?" sent a strianger's finger, undoubt­ "Why, no," Miss Wilson said. edly the police would immediately "He wore an ordinary jacket. He compare it with the fingerprints in just gave me the package and my army file and discover that left." nothing matched." Dakin rushed to the office door "How about a toe?" and pulled it open. "Sergeant Hal- Albert rubbed his jaw. "I don't loway!" think that would work either. Halloway had been reading a There's my hospital birth record. magazine. "Yes, chief?" The police could check the toe "Did you see who delivered a with the hospital where I was small package to Miss Wilson just born." now?" "But they take only one foot­ Halloway nodded. "Sure. He's print, Albert. We could get a toe gone now." from the other foot." "Well, go after him and bring Albert frowned. "Yes, but which him back," Dakin ordered. "And footprint was taken when I was don't take any chances." born.'' Right or left.? I don't re­ Dakin reentered the inner office member." and looked at the package. "Aren't you going to open it, McGregor?" Miss Wilson entered the office McGregor Ucked his hps. "I and put a small package on Mc­ think you'd better do it, Captain. I Gregor's desk. "This was just de­ consider this to be police business, livered." more or less." Captain Dakia and McGregor Dakin did not appear to relish stared at the package. It was ap­ the assignment, but he opened a proximately four inches long and pocketknife. "We'll keep the knot wrapped in brown paper. intact. A lot of cases have been McGregor leaned forward cau­ solved because of knots, though I tiously. "There doesn't seem to be can't think of any at the moment." a return address. Just my name." He cut the string. Dakin agreed. "There might be fingerprints," Neither of them made a move to Dakin said. He wrapped a hand­ touch the package. kerchief around each one of his

A FINGER HERE ... A FINGELICENSEDR THERE TO UNZ.ORG 29 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED hands and then slowly and clum­ After fifteen seconds, McGregor sily unfolded the wrapper. He ex­ spoke up meekly. "It's my wrist- posed a small cardboard box. He watch. I left it over at Moorhead's held it to his ear and shook it sev­ Jewelry Shop for repairs, and eral times. "I guess they got it asked them to deliver it when it wrapped in cotton." was done. I forgot all about it." Carefully he pulled ofl the cover Sergeant Halloway appeared in and they stared at the contents. the doorway, service revolver in

30 ALFRB) HTTCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED one hand and the other grasping fle? Now that this case has gotten the collar of a frightened teen-ager. a lot of publicity, you shouldn't "He gave me some kind of song have any trouble getting rid of and dance about being just a mes­ tickets." senger boy for a jewelry store, McGregor frowned, but he was Captain. Do I take him to head­ listening. quarters?" "You could charge two dollars Captain Dakin rubbed the back or something like that for tickets. of his neck and sighed. And the entire proceeds ought to The next morning, McGregor ,b,e tax deductible, considering that and Dakin met again in McGreg­ it would go to charity of a sort. I or's office. mean ransoming somebody before McGregor was furious, "I they're dismembered is certainly a thought it was police policy to work of charity, isn't it?" keep these affairs secret? Reporters McGregor's eyes clouded have been hounding me ever since thoughtfully. noon yesterday." "And you could offer one of "I'm sorry," Dakin said, "but your automobiles as -first prize," there's nothing I can do about it. Miss Wilson said. Every newspaper in the city got a McGregor went along with that, note from the kidnappers. I "How about that four-door sedan checked them out. Same typewrit­ at the end of aisle B. Air-condi­ er, same kind of notepaper." tioning. One owner. Power steer­ McGregor's hand swept over the ing. Stereo. Champagne with newspapers scattered over his desk. matching interior. Like new." "Just what do the kidnappers ex­ Miss Wilson glanced out of the pect to accomplish by all of this window. "Is that the one you said publicity?" would lose its transmission in a Dakin cleared his throat. "I couple of months?" think their strategy is to shame you McGregor glared at her, "There's into making the ransom payment." nothing wrong with that car, I give McGregor drew himself, up, a full thirty-day warranty with "Shame me? I refuse to be sharried every car I sell. Or give away. All just as much, as I refuse to be in­ defective parts will be replaced timidated." free. The labor is something else, of Miss Wilson made a few doodle course." marks in her stenographic note­ Captain Dakin vetoed the project. book, "Why don't you hold a raf­ "I'm afraid a rafBe is out. They're

A FINGER HERE ... A FINGER THERE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 31 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED against the law in this state, even could I possibly have $200,000 so if they are for charity." readily handy to pay off some kid­ After Dakin left, McGregor be­ napper gan pacing the office. "Now sup­ Miss Wilson made a few more pose, just suppose that I ivere able marks on her pad. "Just how much to raise the $200,000? Do you really do you think you could safely think that would be the end of it.?" raise.?" "You mean the kidnapper McGregor shrugged absently, wouldn't be satisfied.?" Miss Wilson "Twenty thousand." Then he stiff­ asked. "But I assure you that . . . ened. "But, no. On principle, I re­ I mean, it seems only reasonable—" fuse to pay a dime." "To hell with the kidnappers!" "But if you don't raise the money McGregor roared. "And my neph­ —or a reasonable portion of it—the ew too, for that matter. What I'm kidnappers will surely dismember talking about is the IRS." your nephew." "IRS.?" McGregor's jaw firmed. "I've "The Internal Revenue Service, seen no evidence of that yet." you idiot! The tax people." "Oh," Miss Wilson said, indicat­ He was a compact man with a ing plainly that she still did not pink-skulled crew cut and a firm understand. handshake. "The name is Jones," he "Suppose I did raise $200,000 and said. "Amos Jones. I'm president of paid off the kidnappers.? The tax the Used Car Dealers Association' people would want to know how I of this county." managed to accumulate that much McGregor nodded. "I've seen money." your picture in the trade magazine." "But . . ." Miss Wilson gestured. Jones came immediately to the "The lot has been prospering." point. "Mr. McGregor, you are giv­ McGregor smiled with acute ing the entire business a bad name." pain. "Actually, business has been McGregor frowned. "What do terrible. You don't see the whole you mean.?" picture, Miss Wilson. There are a "I mean that our collective image lot of expenses you don't know with the general public is already about. Anyone examining my tax re­ pretty . . . Well, there are all kinds turns—to take a random example— of vicious jokes about us and you would see immediately that over the aren't making things any pleasanter. past fifteen years I've barely man­ People consider you—and by infer­ aged to eke out a living. So how ence, all of us—to be heartless, un-

32 LICENSED ALFRETO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S, MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED thinking, unscrupulous, et cetera." its own—to frame me for income Miss Wilson nodded absently. tax evasion? Suppose I was found Jones regarded her coldly for a guilty? Suppose I draw a sentence moment and then resumed. "We of ten years? I don't think I would used car dealers are doing a job— be at all happy with that." a dirty job at times—but one that Jones was inclined to agree. must be done. No one seems to McGregor showed shark's teeth. appreciate that fact." "I might be so unhappy that I'd McGregor agreed. "There are blow the whistle. I'd tell everything times I could cry." I know about the ins and outs of Jones returned to the point. "For evading . . ." the sake of the business and public Jones felt obliged to defend the relations, the association thinks you industry. "Ninety-five percent of all ought to pay the ransom." used car dealers are honest. Or "But the kidnappers are blufSng," nearly so. They have nothing to McGregor protested. "We haven't fear from the IRS." gotten one toe, one finger." McGregor chuckled significantly. Jones acknowledged that. "But "But what about the remaining five there is still the overall hardhearted percent?" aspect of it—deliberately running Jones rose. "Don't do a thing the risk of seriously handicapping until you hear from me again." your nephew before you consent to Amos Jones returned two days pay the ransom." later. "I've been in touch with McGregor ran > a handkerchief members of the association and I've over his forehead. "I am not hard­ explained the delicate nature of hearted. The point is that I don't your situation. We've decided that dare—couldn't possibly raise $200,- if you put up $20,000, we will lend 000. Even if I wanted to." you die difference—$180,000." "The best he can do is $20,000," McGregor raised an eyebrow sus­ Miss Wilson said. piciously. "The association has McGregor glared at her and then some kind of a special fund?" turned back to Jones. "Suppose I "Well, no," Jones said. "It's just did raise the money and ransom my that we felt that we ought to help nephew. Naturally the IRS would out a fellow dealer in his hour o£ want to know where I got it. And need. We're spreading the tab suppose the IRS finds—" He cor­ around the association so that rected that. "Suppose the IRS de­ nobody gets the bite too hard. And cides—for some insidious reason of when you get right down to it, it's

A FINGER HERE A FINGER THERE 33 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED not bad publicity either. It shows list of the serial numbers of the that we have heart." bills. Captain Dakin will want McGregor smiled tightly. "You them, you know." used the word lend}" Jones nodded. "With absolutely Albert ran a pencil down their no interest. Not even a carrying check list. "I don't think it will do charge and, believe me, that's re­ any good to ask the police to stay straint." away from the pickup point." McGregor rejected the deal. "It's just form," Nora said. "And "There's just one basic trouble with our final note will also insist that I borrowing money. You have to pay act as the intermediary and carry it, back." He shook his head. "In the money. It will direct that I ar­ order to pay bac\ $180,000, I'd have rive at the bus stop at 120th and to get $180,000. And the IRS people Hillcrest at 2:45 a.m." would be watching how I did that "The police will undoubtedly with a great deal of interest. They'd' have the area staked out before you be on my back." He sat back in his get there." swivel chair. "As far as I can see, "Of course. But they won't inter­ we're right back where we started." fere with anything as long as they There was a silence and then think you are still in the hands of Miss Wilson spoke up. "Wouldn't the kidnappers." She poured milk 'it be simpler if the association for Albert. "The note will direct donated the money to the noble me to turn over a brick just behind cause of freeing Mr. McGregor's the bench at the bus stop. There I nephew? As you mentioned, it will find another note further iii- wouldn't be putting the bite too structing me to drive on two blocks much on anybody. And just think to the pubhc phone booth at 122nd how much more favorable the pub­ and Hillcrest. At exactly three, the licity would be." phone will ring and I will answer Jones chewed on his cigar. "I'll it." take it up with the board." "Is it necessary that I make the He returned twenty-four hours phone call at all?" Albert asked. later with a large package. "Well, "Couldn't you just pretend the here it is, $180,000. I suppose you phone raiig?" got your $20,000?" "No. There's always the possibil­ McGregor moved reluctantly to ity that the police might make an the wall safe. effort to find out if there really was Miss Wilson smiled. "I'll make a a phone call to that booth at that

34 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED particular time. What with every­ "I will have It stowed away in thing being computerized and that little compartment we created stored these days, they just might under the front seat of my car." be able to do that." Albert nodded. "What about the Albert conceded. "All right. I'll serial numbers of the bills?" make the call from a booth at the Nora smiled. "Captain Dakin has university. I won't say a word, but a list of numbers, but I don't think I'll keep the line open until you they'll do him any good." hang up, which should be in about Albert put down the pencil. "At a minute." five o'clock, I'll remove the beard "Be sure to wear your false and stagger into the nearest police beard," Nora said. "Now that your station looking bewildered." picture's appeared in the news­ papers, we wouldn't want you to be In his apartment later that week, recognized. After I hang up I will Albert unwrapped the ransom pack­ drive to the undeveloped section of age. Wellington Park where there are no Amos Jones lit a fresh cigar. street lights." "What made you turn to me for "The police will follow?" help?" "Very likely. But at a consider­ "We were stymied," Nora said. able distance. They will be extreme­ "Albert's uncle wouldn't pay a cent ly cautious so as not to ruin the to redeem him, we had no source transaction. I will park the car and of fingers or toes, and even publicity shut off the lights. Considering that didn't seem to be working. That's there will be no moonlight, that why I came to you. We needed puts me in total darkness. I will sit something different." there fifteen minutes, turn on the Jones watched Albert divide the car lights, and drive back to Mc­ stack into three even piles. "I could Gregor and Dakin. I will tell them have gone to the police. What made that while I sat there—as instructed you think I wouldn't?" by phone—a shadowy figure ap­ Albert smiled thinly. "You per­ proached and demanded the sonally sold me that red convertible money, which I gave him, and he I drive. I figured that anybody told me that you would be released who'd deliberately stick a fellow later in the day." used-car salesman with a lemon like Albert's pencil hovered over an­ that would do anything for a buck." other item on the sheet. "And the Amos Jones smiled and began money?" counting his money.

A FINGER HERE A FINGER THERE 35

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED One may meet a witness here or there who would be adjudged r\ immaterial in any case. ( ^B^y-s ^

THE FEELING that someone was be­ hind him, staring at him, was so sudden, so strong, that Ralph Yeager felt the hair rise at the nape of his neck. He had heard no sound, but there was someone there; he was certain of it. He was close to panic, but he .W" forced himself to remain completely motionless, a gaunt young man in prison denim, gazing straight ahead QM into the early-morning mist that lous that he'd been discovered. shrouded the scrub oak and boul­ She was about twenty, he judged, ders here on the hillside where he a beautiful girl with long auburn had spent the night. Then, very hair and slightly slanted blue eyes slowly, he began to inch his hand as dark as cobalt. She stood smiling toward the handle of the knife in at him, head tilted a little to one the waistband of his pants. side, as if amused by his alarm. "You won't be needing that, "I sure didn't mean to scare you," mister," a girl's voice said. she said. He whirled toward her, incredu- He swore softly, eyes straining

36 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED into the mist that swirled behind "That so? They did say that?" her. She might be alone, and she "That's what they said." might not; there was no way to tell. "Then it'd seem you'd be a littk "Who's with you?" he said. nervous yourself." "Nobody." "Shoot," she said, "there's mean­ "You'd better be telling the truth, er men than you right here in the girl. Why'd you sneak up on me?" hills. Lots meaner." She sat down "I didn't. It's just that us moun­ on a rock and crossed her legs and tain folks don't make much noise. smiled at him. "I'm not scared of We're like Indians, sort o£." you one bit." "What're you doing here?" "You're not here just for your She laughed. "You're the most health, either," he said. "Just what nervous man I ever saw. You're not is it you're up to, girl?" scared of a girl, are you?" "I don't like you to call me that. "I'm not scared of anyone alive. My name's Dreama Mae." I asked what you were doing here." "They must go for wacky names "You've got a right to be nervous, around here. Dreama Mae. You've though, I admit. In fact, you've got got to be kidding." more right than anybody." "Folks around here always He felt his hand start toward the thought it was real pretty." knife again, the knife it had taken "Well, Dreama Mae, let's hear it. him so long to fashion from the You're after something. What is it?" tablespoon stolen from the peniten­ "I'll bet you're hungry. You've tiary mess hall. "What's that sup­ been on the run four days now. posed to mean?" he said. And you haven't got any money "You're that Yeager fella, aren't either, most likely." you? I saw your picture in the "Never mind all that. Tell me paper. They said a guard was tak­ what you—" ing you somewhere and you killed "And you sure can't get very far him and got away." with those jailhouse clothes on, can He moistened his lips, studying you?" her face, listening for the scrape "I'm telling you, girl. You'd of a shoe or the snap of a twig out better—" there in the mist. "Dreama Mae. Can't you re­ "They also said you was the member? I was going to say I know meanest man they'd ever had in the where you can get something to pen," she said. "The most danger­ eat. All you want. And all the ous." clothes you want, too." She leaned

EABLY SUNDAY MORNING 37 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED forward. "And money, Mr. Yeager. He held her gaze for a long mo­ Lots of money. Maybe almost two ment, then sank down on a rock, thousand dollars." facing her. "You're serious about "Sure," he said. this, aren't you?" "I'm telling you the truth." "I sure am. I want that man dead "You're beautiful, but nuts. Get the worst way, Mr. Yeager." out of here." "This man—does he go with the "With food and clothes and cabin and the clothes and the money money, you could get away." and all?" "And I suppose all these goodies She nodded. "His clothes will fit are just lying there, waiting for me you fine, and there's two thousand to take diem. Right.?" dollars in a sugar sack under his "Yes." mattress." "I hate to say this, Dreama Mae, "How do we split it?" but I think you're trying to set me "The money ? I don't want it. All up for something." I want is to see him dead." "It's only a mile from here." "This guy wouldn't be your hus­ "What is?" band, by any chance?" "This cabin." "No." "Where all the goodies are?" "Who, then?" "Yes." "He was my fella—once." "And you want to take me "And he did this terrible thing there?" to you, whatever it was, and now "Yes." you want revenge. Is that it?" "Why?" "Us moimtain folks are that "Because I want you to do some­ way," she said quietiy. thing for me." "So I've heard." He got to his "I sec. And just exactly what is it feet. "All right, Dreama Mae. If you want me to do?" this is a trap, you'll be the first to "I want you to kill somebody." get the knife. If it isn't, you've made "Very good. Now I know you're yourself a deal." nuts." She jumped up quickly, eyes "He deserves to die. He did bright. "You'll really do it?" something awful to me. Something "Why not? As you say, for a man terrible." Her eyes narrowed a little. like me, it'll be easy." "You've got to kill him for me, "It really will be," she said over Mr. Yeager. It'll be easy for a man her shoulder as she moved off into like you." the mist. "He's sleeping off a

38 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED drunk. He'll be asleep for ages." whiskey. A man, full clothed, lay "How do you know ?" face down on a cot, snaring softly. "Never mind. All you have to do "The money's under the mat­ is walk in and do it." tress," Dreama Mae whispered. "How far did you say it was?" "I know," he said, and drew the "Only a little over a mile. Stay knife from his belt. close behind me." It was only two paces to the bed, "That's the one thing you don't four thrusts of the knife, and it was have to worry about," he said. over. She was more sure-footed than He put the knife on the floor, he, and she hurried ahead eagerly, rolled the body off the bed, and pausing impatiently now and then reached beneath the mattress. It was to wait for him to catch up. But there, just as she had said it would the twisting mountain trail was be: a white cloth bag almost com­ hard going, even for her, and the pletely filled with paper money. trip took almost an hour. Holding the bag in his left hand, Suddenly she stopped and ges­ he glanced at the clothing hanging tured toward a small, ramshackle on nails along the wall, and then cabin looming dimly ahead in the bent down to pick up the knife. It mist. was a pity, he reflected, but litde "That's it," she said. "Oh, let's Dreama Mae's time had come. hurry, Mr. Yeager." He turned toward the spot where "Relax," he said. "And by the she had been standing only seconds way—not that I don't trust you, but ago, and then froze. you're going inside with me." She was no longer there. She was She seemed surprised. "Why, sure npwhere in the cabin. Yet she I am. I want to see you do it." hadn't left while he was killing her I'll just bet you do, he thought friend, of that he was certain. as they moved silently toward the Cold sweat studded his forehead cabin. But it'll be the last thing you and the skin across his shoulders ever see, Dreama Mae. It's a shame, grew chill. The bag of money a pretty girl li\e you, but I'm sure seemed suddenly too heavy to hold. as hell not leaving any live wit­ He had taken only one stumbling nesses. step toward the door when it She eased the door open carefully jerked open and two men came in. and they stepped inside. There was Both were tall and lean, both wore just the one small room, heavy with uniforms, and both held revolvers the stored smell of fried food and aimed direcdy at Ralph.

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING 39

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Easy, fella," the older of the thanks to our new friend here. And men said. "Just kind of drop that it looks hke we've caught ourself knife and put your hands on top of a real prize to take his place." your head." "Still," Harv said, "I was kind of Ralph, stunned by the girl's dis­ looking forward to giving old Jud appearance and the arrival of the a few lumps for my own sake. officers, hesitated. After what he done to that poor "Better do what the sheriff says, girl, I'd of purely enjoyed it." sonny," the younger officer said "Can't say I blame you much," easily. "And do it now, before I the sheriff said. "A man that gets a blow your fool head off." nice Uttle girl in a family way, and Ralph dropped the knife and then murders her to solve his then the bag, and put his hands problem . . ." He shook his head on top of his head. "That girl," he and turned to spit in the corner. "A heard himself say inanely. man like that deserves to be killed, "Where'd she go?" is how I feel." "What girl?" the sheriff said, Ralph Yeager stared at the "You see any girl, Harv?" sheriff's face. He tried twice to "Not me," Harv said. "Walt! You speak before the words would know who this is ? It's the con that come. killed the guard. Ralph Yeager, his "He murdered her?" he said. name is." "You say he murdered her?" "Well, now," the sheriff said. The sheriff nodded. "Did it last "Ain't that nice? We was sitting night." out there in the scrub, waiting for "What was her name ?" the mist to lift enough to rush the "Your face is whiter than that place, and all the time you was in sugar sack," Harv said. here with the joker we come to "Please," Ralph said. "Please tell arrest." He turned to Harv. "Looks me—what was her name?" like we won't have to trouble none ' "Dreama Mae Harris," the sheriff with Jud after all. He's done for, said. "What's it to you?" 1

40 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED With an 'eye such as this, one cannot have too much vision

iv- xi^\ ^

THE LITTLE MAN cut through the Miami racetrack crowd with ease. He just seemed to flow through man's name to the trade. He was a hurrying knots of fans, sHpping professional thief, and a good one in and out of places where a bigger who could pick a pocket or a lock man would have to bull his way. with equal facility. He was well up That's exactly what the two men in his sixties though, and the word chasing him were doing. They was that arthritis had slowed him were both too big to move easily in down. a press, and too much in a hurry He recognized me just about the to try. They were hard-faced, hard- time I saw him. His eyes widened nosed hoods, and trampling a few a bit, and he slanted toward me assorted citizens didn't bother ci­ through the crowd. I could smell ther of them. trouble in the way the hoods bored Jimmy Brooklyn was the little after him, but I didn't move. Jimmy

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 41

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Brooklyn had never done me any in the pocket of his suit coat. harm. If he wanted to use Johnny Because of a prejudice on the Hawk as a tree to dodge behind, it part of track Security, I don't wear was okay by me. a gim when I go to the races. All Neither of us showed any sign I had was a tcakwood cane with a of recognition. He came on straight fancy stirrup handle that opened as an arrow, then swerved to out to form a seat. There were only carom ofl my left side. Though the two of us on the ramp, and the I'd begun to suspect what was crowd was whooping as the action coming, I swear I never felt his of the fifth race swung into the far hand in my jacket pocket. Then he turn. Nobody would hear either a was past me, but his two blood­ yell for help or a shot. hounds were gaining on Jimmy by Trying to look as innocent as brute strength. I made my second possible, I waited for Turkey. He mistake of the afternoon by letting came fast because of his own im­ myself get in their way. It didn't patience and the downhill grade. really slow them down, but it did When he was almost up to me I give them a good look at me. The flipped the cane between his legs. bigger one was Turkey Wills. I He started to fall forward, let go hoped he hadn't recognized ' me. of the gun and threw both hands Then they, too, were gone by. out to break the fall. I sidestepped I felt inside my pocket. There fast and kicked him right at the was a soft leather, drawstring hinge of the jaw as he fell. He pouch that had no business there. skidded downhill a few feet on his I left it where it was and headed face and then didn't even twitch. for the exit gate and the parking Turkey was out for the long count. lot where I'd left my car. I must have just about torn his Halfway down the exit ramp head ofl. from the stands I spotted Turkey When the track was a couple of Wills coming after me. They must miles behind me, I pulled off onto a have caught Jimmy Brooklyn and quiet residential street and parked found him clean of whatever he'd for a look at whatever Jimmy slipped me. That had brought me Brooklyn had fed me. I pulled the back to Turkey's mind, and he'd drawstring of the pouch and headed for the exit to box me in. I dumped something out in my was already ahead of him, but not hand. The effect was like stepping far enough. He was coming fast under a cold shower with no ad­ with his hand curled around a gun vance warning. 42 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED It lay there in the palm of my a good sized cast-net. They had hand and the slanting rays of the also killed a couple of guards while afternoon sun made it blaze Uke a getting out of his walled estate. lighthouse beacon. This wasn't I couldn't figure how a small­ quite the world's largest diamond, time bum like Jimmy Brooklyn but it might very well have been had got his hands on a rock like the best. In my hand it looked as that, but it didn't really matter big as an egg, and the blue-white right then. I just wished he'd kept fires leaped and danced out of its it in his own pocket. I'd thought flawless bulk like a genuine flicker­ I was helping an old pal who'd ing flame. sticky-fingered some hood's wallet I was scared. I knew that stone. by mistake. Instead, I was a carrier I'd seen its picture on the front pigeon with no place to perch but page of half a dozen papers just a a naked high-tension wire with the week before, and it was hotter than power on. I had at least half a the inside of Krakatoa just before million dollars in my hand. I the mountain blew. couldn't either keep it or sell it. I This was the 'All-Seeing Eye.' couldn't even throw it away. Originally it came out of the stone A stone like that is too big and forehead of a heathen goddess in easily idendfied to fence. Jimmy's a lost temple somewhere in the people must have had a market Cambodian jungle. It should have ready before the heist. It was prob­ been left there. ably an eminendy 'respectable' rich The last empress of China had collector. I had no idea who. worn it inside the Forbidden City. If the Law found it in my pos­ Then a Russian grand duke had it session, they'd never believe I hadn't in his money belt when his ex- engineered the heist. They'd lock peasants impaled him on a birch me up till hell froze. Even if I tried stump in 1917. The one who found to turn the stone in, they'd likely it was one of the commissars just think I lost my nerve. I'd go purged in '32. Somehow the Eye on trial for murder anyhow. was smuggled into France and I could run or hide for a while, sold. It had had four owners since but one mob or the other would —and all four were dead. find me. When that happened I A week ago, the last one inter­ had to have the stone or be killed rupted whoever had blown his pri­ out of hand. vate safe, and the thieves had put There was one possible way out. enough lead in his body to weight I'd try it because there was literally

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 43 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED nothing better I could think of. You understand that clearly now.'"' First I drove north about fifty "Sure, Johnny. You trust me." miles along the highway and took I didn't trust him too far. Dur­ a motel suite under another name. ing the afternoon I put the stone in Then I phoned a man I knew in one of those little 'snack pack' the insurance business in Palm cereal boxes and padded it with Beach. some tissue. Then I made a real "I understand there's an iceberg wrapping job of brown paper, floating someplace along shore plastic tape and twine. here," I said after the preliminary It was four blocks to the nearest chit-chat. branch post office. I walked over He caught the point. "That's one and addressed the package to my­ way to say it, Johnny. Except it's a self, care of General Delivery in real hot iceberg. Hot enough to Miami. I used my right name. The burn even you, if you let yourself post office receipt went into my get mixed up in it. You haven't, wallet—I'd insured the package for have you?" twenty-five dollars—and the wallet "Of course not," I said. "You into my right rear trouser pocket. know I don't go for robbery and Ihad already gotten a gun, a .38, murder. I just wondered who has out of the trunk of my car and the policy on the merchandise. Just belt-holstered it. Just having it in case I should get a lead on who made me feel better. Then I had does have it." dinner in a restaurant near the "We don't, Johnny. I can find out motel. who does fast enough. We all work In winter the sun goes down together on a half-million-dollar early even this far south. It was loss. I'm sure there'd be plenty for dark when I picked up my car to you, if you could help us." drive to Palm Beach. My friend "I might. Not sure yet, but I Sam's office was close to Phipps might. If so, I'd rather deal direct Plaza, so I took the middle bridge with you. Can you get authority.?" over Lake Worth. The season was "I'll try. Tell you what—come to on, and lights blazed in hotels and my office about eight tonight. I'll private homes and shimmered on have some details then." the water. "Okay," I said. "Eight o!clock. I parked a couple of blocks away But no stake-out. And if we make and walked to his office. As far as a deal I want the cops kept off my I could tell I wasn't followed—and back. Otherwise I can't do a thing. I usually can tell. A leggy, mini-

44 LICENSED ALFRETO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED skirted, red-haired secretary with a I have to do to get that stone." healthy surfer's tan let me in. Sam "You have it. Just how much do introduced her as Sally Porter and you know.?" told her to run along. Our talk was "I'll level with you, Sam. I private. lucked onto some information and "First of all," I said, "you've got followed it up. Two and two to believe me. I wasn't in on this added up to four. I thin\ the caper, Sam. Not at all." crowd that pulled this heist has "I believe you," he said. "It's not run into trouble making delivery your style." to the buyer. The merchandise is "So?" I said. so hot they don't want to hold it "I've made some calls. I have the long. // I'm right, and ij I talk to authority to deal with you. We all the right party, there's just a work together on something like chance they'll let me sell it to you. this." That part will come on top of the "All right, Sam. What's the fifty thousand though." deal?" "I expected that, Johnny. Can "If the stone is recovered you quote me a price now?" through you, there's a commission "No. Not right now. There are of fifty thousand dollars in un­ still too many things I don't know marked bills to cover your effort for sure. All I can promise to do and the risks you take." now is follow up what I've I didn't say anything right away. guessed, and play things off the He misunderstood. "They won't cuff." I knew I had to be careful. go a dime higher, Johnny. That's What I actually intended to do was generous as it is." 'recover' the stone and turn it over "I know that," I said. "I just for the reward. I'd claim I had want to know exactly what I have stolen or heisted it from the real to do." thieves. That would be close to the "You don't even have to bring truth and at the same time keep in the stone," he said. "If you tell the insurance people off my back. us where to go, and we find it, you I left Sam's office with the under­ get paid anyway." standing that I'd call him in a day "I can't do that," I said. "Right or so when I had some news. now I'm not sure exactly where it My car was on a shaded side is." That was true enough. "I'll street a couple of blocks away, have to get it first myself. I want a parked at the side of one of the promise of immunity for whatever big estates in the shadow of a

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 45 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED flowering tulip tree. When I opened cation of my own and make the the door, somebody came but of pickup first. jthe shrubbery fast. I glimpsed him It all sounded simple, but things when he moved and I tried to were beginning to get complicated. swing around, but he was too fast. The game had five players now be­ A blackjack hit me on the right sides myself. There were Jimmy temple, and the lights went out, Brooklyn's friends and Turkey but I had seen that he was big, Wills' people. They'd kill without young, and wore expensive slacks a thought. There was the insurance and alligator shoes. He hit harder security team and the regular-Law. than was needed—which marked And now the X-factor, the big kid him as an amateur. He might have with the sap. That made a real killed me. crowd for me to try and keep track When I came around, I saw I of. had been dragged into the heavy It turned out to be just a bit too shrubbery bordering the estate. My. much of a crowd. wallet was gone. That meant he I went' back to the motel on the had the post office insurance receipt mainland. I was trying to be care­ and my driver's license and other ful. If an amateur could find me, so identification. My gun was gone, could the hoods. I parked across but my car was still there. He the street from the motel instead of hadn't taken the keys in my side in the slot by my suite. I circled pocket. around behind the row of efficien­ I had another gun and a wallet cies to get to the back window and cached under the spare tire in the try to spot anyone who might've trunk. The amateur had missed gotten in while I was out. them. This crowd was smart. They Yet how would an amateur had two men watching the back of know where I'd be and what to my place. They stepped out quietly look for.? with guns in their hands. I put my I wasn't seriously worried yet. own hands shoulder high. One of Amateurs ' don't scare Johnny them rapped a code on the back Hawk. All I had to do was watch door, and somebody inside opened the general delivery window in the up. Miami post office where the pack­ So far nobody'd said a word. age was addressed. If anyone When they turned the light on, I showed up with my I.D., I had saw there'd been two more waiting him. Or I could use other identifi­ inside. Turkey Wills, with his face

46 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORGHITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED wrapped in bandages, was one of you happen to think you are?" them. The leader was a smaller "Not really. The only thing man with a black mustache and a makes a difference to you right homburg hat. now is how fast you tell us where "Well," I said, "it's kind of you you've got it." all to worry about me." "We all know the rules," I said. "Shut up, Hawk," Homburg "Just for laughs—how did you said in easy tones. "Frisk him, find me?" boys." "The word went up and down In a couple of minutes I'd lost the coast this afternoon. Hawk. wallet and gun for the second time Every pimp, hustler, tout and that night. small-time heist-man knows you're "Now you know I don't have it hot by now. The waitress where on me," I said. you ate turned you in to her Turkey hauled back and belted bookie. We got a better grapevine me with a roundhouse right. A than the Law. Now tell us what chair went over on the floor with you did with the big rock Jimmy me. "Where is it?" he yelled at me. Brooklyn slipped you. We know it I got back up, picked up the had to be you. He wasn't near any­ chair and sat down. "You don't body else he knew once we started learn, do you, Turkey? I took you to close in." once today, and I'll take you again "I gave it to Uncle Sam to hold when I'm ready. Next time I'll for me." break your neck instead of your Wills drew back his hand to let fool jaw." me have it again. I brought up my He snarled through his bandages foot and kicked him, hard, in the and reversed the gun in his hand. groin. He went chalk white and I looked at Homburg. "You tell folded onto the floor. him, pop," I said. At exactly that moment there "Back up and sit down. Wills," was a knock on the door. the man said. "Right now we need We all froze. This time Hom­ him alive." To me he said, "Do burg pulled a gun himself and got you know who I am?" over to the side of the door. He "I never saw you before, but you motioned to one of his hoods to fit the description of a little fink open it. who ramrods for Ace Dansko." I Jimmy Brooklyn was standing could see that I'd guessed right. there with his hands up. "Evening, "Does it make any difference who gents," he said. "Don't nobody do

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 47

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED nothing rash. There's guns all don't come any tougher than that. around this joint. Let's us all just "Hello, Max," I said. have a nice talk." He came in. "You got my rock." He came "Welcome aboard, Jimmy," I right to the point. "I want it back. said. "I'm happy to see you." You know I'll get it back." "You still got the package, "Sure, Max," I said. "I know Johnny.?" how tough you are. Every time "Not- exactly, friend, but these you take a breath, a Chinaman dumb hoods haven't got it," I said. dies." "How did you find me.?" I heard Homburg suck in his "The grapevine sells to anybody, breath, and I watched Max get red Johnny. Some dame around here in the face. He looked like he spotted you. You ready to do busi­ didn't believe his ears. "Whatsa- ness with us.?" matta.?" he said. "You outta your "First of all—who's 'us,' Jimmy? head.? Try an' make jokes with I've got a right to know what me. Hawk, an' you're dead." gives." "I know that. Max," I said. "I "He's a bigmouth," Homburg don't joke any more than you do. said, I'm scared of you. Sure I am, but Jimmy paid no attention. He you better be scared of me too. went back to the door and opened You can't kill me till you know it. Three men came in. Two were where the stone is. But there's just gunsels. The third was Fat nothing to stop me from killing Max Cronin. you." "Meet the boss," Jimmy said. He put his head back and Fat Max was five-foot-four • and laughed. "Nothing.? Nothing but 180 pounds of meat and muscle. my boys here. Are they nothing?" He was rough. He came up, way "You said it. Max," I told the up, with his feet and hands and roomful of them. "Your bpys are teeth and a gun. He used thenq all" strictly nothing. Don't tempt me —interchangeably—for weapons. to prove it." 3 was partly bluffing, He was the kind who would have of course, but I couldn't show been happiest back in the crude weakness. old days. "You're nuts," he said. "Tell him Dansko and his boys were what he wants to know, Jimmy." slicked-up, miracle-fabric-and-plas- "You tell me, Max," I said. "Any tic type modern hoods. Fat Max deal we make will be you and me. was gorilla-with-the-fur-ofl. They We deal—we talk."

48 LICENSEDALFRE TO DUNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I got up and walked over to the scat of that chair. I was gambling chair in front of the writing desk it was still there. and sat down. Before going out Max took a minute to think over I'd taped my last hold-out gun, a what I'd said. With a wave of his two-shot .44 derringer, under the thumb he cleared Homburg out of

THE AIX-SEEING EYE 49 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the one comfortable chair and took slight charge for storage and inci­ it for himself. dentals." "Okay, Johnny," he said. "You'n A new expression showed in me talk. My boys an' me done the Max's eyes. This he could under­ heist. It was supposed to be clean, stand. "Well, well," he said. "I but the old bum come downstairs should've known that was it. with a popgun and we hadda plug You're a fox, Johnny, a fox. How him. That waked up the guards so much you want?" all hell was poppin' for a while. "Whatever you think is right, After that, the buyer got jumpy. Max. Considering the risk in­ We couldn't go to his house to volved, of course. I'll take you to make delivery like we planned, and the stone. Then you pay off what­ I didn't want to hold a rock that ever you think is right." hot any longer'n we had to." Dansko's boys made their play I nodded. then. For them it was all or noth­ "We fixed it up so he was to ing and no time to waste. It was take delivery at the track today. four to four, and they were under I hired Jimmy Brooklyn special be­ the gun, but Jimmy Brooklyn is cause he ain't one of my regulars. no killer and Max's gun was still As a fingers man he could slip the bolstered. Homburg's signal merchandise right into the buyer's started the action. pocket. The money was to be in a Max's boys weren't real smart. briefcase he could pick up at the They both shot at the same man, same time. All smooth and easy the first to draw. He died fast. His like." partner shot one of Max's boys in One of his hoods brought him the face and the other in the shoul­ a glass of water and laced it with der. Then he went down with a whiskey from a pint botde. slug in his throat. "Everything was going smooth Homburg and his third boy just like I planned—till Jimmy were slower getting their guns out. spots them bums tailing him. One They just about made it a dead of my boys musta sold out to heat with Max. Jimmy Brooklyn Dansko. I'll find out. So, Jimmy hit the floor and tried to wriggle plants the rock on you and figures under the bed. to come back later and pick it up I groped under the chair and when—" found my .44 where I'd left it. My "Not 'pick it up'. Max," I said. first shot hit Homburg in the back "Say, 'buy it back'. There'll be a of the head.

50 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The fourth man tried to run. Then we heard the thin wail of Max let him get to the window a police siren. It was getting louder and then broke his back with one fast. shot. "Your car out front?" I asked. The room was full of noise and He nodded. "Then we better take powder stink. The rug was soak­ mine. We can get to it out the ing up blood. Jimmy Brooklyn, back way." half under the bed, squealed like "Yeah," he said. "They'll be a stuck pig. Max's wounded hood looking for mine anyway." suddenly buckled at the knees and "When they get a make on the went down on the floor with the bodies," I said, "you and I and rest. What I'd thought was just a Dansko and everybody who's ever shoulder wound had cut a major heard of us will be hotter than a artery. bowl of burned chili. Come on." That left Max and Jimmy and me "I ain't going with you," Jimmy in a room with six dead or dying Brooklyn said at the door. "I men. Outside, doors were banging didn't kill nobody. I ain't part of open and yells sounding as the your regular bunch. The cops other motel gUests reacted. The won't be lookin' for me. I want cops would be along any minute. out." "Them bums," Max said heat­ Max gave him a disgusted look. edly. "Them bums never shoulda "Suit yourself, punk. Just remem­ started that." ber what I'll sure do to you if you "They thought they had to," I talk." said, "as soon as they knew I'd do Jinmiy Brooklyn slid away into business with you. Ace Dansko the shadows. He could move like isn't an easy man to alibi to." a snake when he wanted to. "You're smart, Johnny," Max We got to my car without any said. "Ain't you worried about get­ trouble. By the time the sirens ting too smart for your own converged on the motel we were good?" four blocks away and picking up "Maybe tomorrow," I said. "And speed. It'd be a while yet before haven't you noticed. Max, that it's they knew who to look for and always today." I'd been helping got out their all-points bulletin. myself to a .45 auto from one of "Where do we go?" I asked. the dead hoods. I also found a "Wherever you got the Eye," couple of spare clips and dropped Max said. "Don't forget about them in a jacket pocket. that."

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 51

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I told him what I'd done with "can you tell me what's going on.?" the stone. It was logical enough so "Just fun and games." he'd believe it and not bother me "That's not what , Lieutenant the rest of the night while we Brown called it when he phoned holed up. All I held out was one me from headquarters. I think the little detail—the name of the word he used was massacre." branch post office to which it was "Oh, that," I said. "Just small fry.^ addressed. None of them will be missed." He gave me a location on the "Did you get the stone, Johnny?" edge of downtown West Palm "The cops can stop tearing the Beach and said, "A friend of mine motel apart," I said. "It's not there, owns the house. He uses it for a and never was. I'm closer to it than private game. He'll put us up L was though. That's where you okay." come in, Sam. You call those cop His friend agreed. He didn't friends of yours. I want a back want to, even overnight—he'd been road left open so I can go south in listening to the late news—but he the morning." I told him which was scared not to. road. Gjming in, I'd noticed a public- "I can't tell the police what to phone booth on the corner. After do." an hour I told Max I was going to "Sure you can. At least your in­ make a call. surance association can. I've got "Why not make it here?" he said. somebody with me who can lead "Oh, come off it, Max," I said. me right to the stone, but he can't "I want to call my girl. A call from if we're bottled up in a hideout." a private house can be traced if "I'll do what I can, Johnny. You anybody picked it up. I won't cross just deUver the stone and you'll be you. It wouldn't even do me any all square with the law. We'll have good. The cops will have my prints a celebration." off that motel furniture by now, "When we do that," I said, "I and I'm just as hot as you are." want a date with that red-haired He accepted that. secretary.of yours." I went down to the public booth, "Sally? I guess that can be man­ knowing perfectly' well he'd be aged:" watching out the window. The "What do you mean, guess? She call I actually put through was to has a steady boyfriend?" Sam at his home. He laughed. "Yep, and a hus­ "My God, Johnny," he said, band too. She doesn't work at the

52 LICENSEDALFRE TO DUNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED marriage though, and the boy­ off, we had a flat tire. Max friend's got no monopoly. At least wouldn't even get out of the car that's what I hear. 1 never dated to help change it. her myself." We were a good forty minutes "Sounds interesting," I said. behind schedule, and the branch "But first you keep that road clear post office in Miami had been open in the morning." for a half hour when we finally "I'll try," he said. "And by the arrived. There were two cop cars way, Johnny . . ." parked in front, so I went down "Yes.?" two blocks and around a corner "Give my regards to Fat Max to park. Max and I put on dark Cronin." glasses and walked back. I was "I never heard of him," I said, pretty sure it was too late, but we and hung up. had to try. I slept most of the rest of the There was a news-butch on the night. Fat Max sat up playing two- corner a block from the post office. handed gin with our host and lis­ I bought a paper. "What's going on tening to a pohce-band radio. We down there?" I asked, looking at were getting plenty of publicity. the post office. We made an early start, but not "Nothing now." He sounded before other traffic was moving, disgusted. "Some hood on the or we would have been too con­ wanted list come in and picked up spicuous. That cut our margin of mail. The clerk didn't recognize time. him until after he left. Then he On the way I finally told Max thinks he remembers the name and. the real facts of the trip. When I sure enough, when he looks at the told about the sapping, the big bum notice board, there's a brand new actually laughed. sheet with this hood's name on it. "You'd better get it back," was Imagine him having the nerve to all he said. use his own name. Then they call "I'll get it," I said. "Even if I the Law." have to strong-arm the postal clerk, "Them hoods," I said, "have got I'll get it." the nerve, okay." The road was in worse condition Max and I started back for the than I'd figured. Sam had kept the car. The ilat tire had done us in. I cops off it, but he couldn't do any­ said as much. thing about mud holes, washouts "You're supposed to be smart, and deep ruts. To top everything Hawk," Max said. "This punk

THE ALL-SEEING EYE 53 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED with the sap has made a monkey down. There weren't many eligible outta you. It ain't doing nothing suspects. for your image." I'd just about decided it had to "We'll still nail him." be Sally. She was the only one with "You will—not me. Now gimme both knowledge and the opportu­ your car keys. I ain't riding no bus nity to set up the last twenty-four downtown. When you get the rock, hours. A good confidential secre­ call my Miami mouthpiece. And tary knows her boss' business. mind you get it or I'll send some She'd have the details of my call boys for a chat with you." to Sam. She could have told her I'd rather have slugged him, but boyfriend to wait for me at my car I gave him the keys. I couldn't and blackjack me there. She could start a fight, with cops only a block also tell him approximately what away. I watched him walk to the to look for, since I'd already told next block, climb in, and turn the Sam I wouldn't have the stone key. The ignition whined for a with me. fraction of a second before the The only chance she'd had to bomb blew. take at that point was that I'd The sap artist must have stuck lied when I said I didn't already around out of sight till I drove by, have the Eye. Even that wasn't too watched where I parked, then much of .a chance. If I'd told the booby-trapped the car while we triith, all she and lover-boy had to were around the corner talking to do was tail me. If and when I got the newsy. It wouldn't take long. the rock, I could then be hit. Be- . He didn't even have to stay and sides, like Sam, she was' probably watch. The explosion could be smart enough to figure I wouldn't heard for blocks. I left before the have phoned in the first place un­ crowd gathered. less I either had the diamond or Three blocks away I found a car was sure I could put my hand on with the key in the ignition and • it. Of course', she could figure the drove it back to Palm Beach. By score as soon as they went through now I thought I knew who to look my wallet. for. The clue was that somebody'd I dialed her number. I didn't ex­ had to tip the man who to sap. pect any answer and so I wasn't Only a person who knew about the disappointed. I ditched my stolen stone and suspected I might al­ car in downtown West Palm. It ready have it would know enough took ten minutes to find another to do that. So the field narrowed with the key left in.

54 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Her apartment door was locked. there was a heavy gun inside that I got the bolt back with a plastic too. calendar card inserted through the "Let me see it again," he said. crack where door and jamb didn't She reached into her bag and quite meet. There was no dead- came up with a familiar leather bolt. bag. She loosened the drawstring Once inside I cased the apart­ and spilled the big diamond out on ment quickly. The furnishings the table where the sunlight hit it. were expensive, and so were the The stone soaked in the sunlight clothes in her closet. There was a and blazed it back, multiplied a 'hidden' wall safe back of a picture, hundred times, through every per­ but I left it alone. I made sure fect facet. she'd bolted the back door from "The All-Seeing Eye," she said inside, and then waited in the with awe. "Look at it. Bob. I swear spare room where I could watch it's alive and enjoying itself." through the slightly open door. The stone flashed like a distilled I didn't have long to wait. Only drop of all the world's treasure and by pounding the car on the back all the world's tears. I think Sally road and missing traffic all the way had forgotten what it was doing had I managed to beat them back. there. If they hadn't avoided the turnpike Bob hadn't. "Come on," he said. just as I had for fear of police "We gotta get this show on the spotters at entrance and exit road before somebody wises up. booths, I'd never have made it. The cruiser's ready, and we can be The lock must have been oiled. in Bimini in a few hours, but not I saw the door opening before I if we stand here gawking." heard a thing. Sally came in first, I could see Sally pull herself to­ then a man. Both wore expensive gether. Then she surprised us both. slacks and conservative sport shirts. Her hand went into the big leather "We made it," she said when the bag again. This time it came out door closed. "We made it. Bob." with a short-barreled Luger, aimed Bob just crossed to a window rock-steady at Bob's stomach. and looked down at the street to "You're right," she said. "It's be sure they hadn't been tailed. It time to get the show on the road. was the act of a pro. He had a snub- Only—you're not going. Bob." nosed 38 inside his waistband His mouth opened, and his eyes under the loose shirt tails. The way grew wide with shock. His hands Sally's bag sagged from its handle, were nowhere near the gun in his THE ALL-SEEING EYE 55

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED belt. He wouldn't stand a chance. Sally bent down and picked up I was getting sick of killing. her gun from the floor, "He scared "You shouldn't try it alone, Sally. me," she said. "Let me kill him my­ Take me instead," I said, ^as I self. Let me kill them both, Sam." stepped into the open. I didn't even Now I knew who the boyfriend draw, but they could see my hand was, and how the Job had been set close to the big .45 in my belt. up. I knew why he'd risk every­ It was her turn for shock, and it thing for a fortune and a chance cost her the spht second when she to run away with her. I knew what might still have tried to turn and I should have known before. fire. Nobody in the world can be "Just freeze," I said. "Now open quite as dangerous as a trigger- your hand and let that cannon hit happy amateur who's already got the rug." the drop on you. Any little thing She dropped the gun. "Johnny can jolt him into firing. I had to Hawk." do something fast. "Sorry to disappoint you, but "I can still draw and kill you that wasn't me in my car. Things both," I said. are tough all over today, honey. He did what I'd hoped he You don't get to kill me or your would. "Don't try," he said, and boyfriend." stepped closer to take my gun with "I'm not her boyfriend," Bob his left hand. His own gun was said suddenly. "It's worse than held out in front of him, cocked that. I'm her husband." and ready. Naturally he figured I Sheer instinct started the alarm wouldn't dare buck a rod that bell inside my skull. That was the , close to my vitals. wrong answer—wrong! I tried to He forgot about judo. step back and draw at one and the I knocked his gun hanH off to same moment, but this time I was my left with a fast chop to the the one a fraction late. wrist that numbed his fingers. As I hadn't heard the sUck lock he swung a little to the right I move. The door was opening as I stepped in. My own right hand turned and a man with a gun caught his left elbow and my stepped through. My hand froze right leg hooked behind his. He inches away from the butt of my was off balance then, and my fin­ automatic, gers hit the elbow pressure-point "That's right," he said. "Just and sent pain screaming down to hold everything, Johnny." his toes. I yanked and rolled him

56 LICENSEDALFRE TO DUNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED over my hip to slain, face first, onto They looked at me dumbfound- the floor. By then he'd dropped his edly. gun. "You're going to get on the My own gun was out before he phone, Sam," I said, "and phone hit the floor. the cops and die F.B.I. You'll tell Sally took one look at my face them I recovered the diamond and and dropped the Luger for the that I've been working for you all second time. "What," she said, "are the time. I brought it here on your you going to do?" orders for security reasons. You see "If you were me, what would that no charges are pressed against you do?" I asked. Her eyes wid­ me. Then you fetch me a cashier's ened and she flinched. check for fifty grand, and put the "You're lucky I'm still me," I stone in a bank vault." said, and laughed at the hatred in "But—" Sam started. her face. "What about the three of you?" Sam had managed to sit up on I finished for him. "Nothing, Sam; the rug. "You might as well shoot, nothing at all. I'm not the Law. Johimy," he said. "The way I've -You all go about your business, fouled up, I'm not worth keeping." and I say nothing. As far as anybody "You are to me, Sam," I said, knows from me, this was all a "You are to me. Now all of you straight business deal and no com- listen close. If you do what I say, pUcations. You have my word, and maybe nobody has to get killed. It's you know it's good." up to you." "Yes," he said, "I know it's good. "What do you mean?" Sam said. But why, Johnny?" "I mean I'm not stupid enough to "I don't hate anybody," I said. "I think I could run far with a dia­ have the money and a clear ticket mond that size, or stay alive for with the cops. Why should I long. Instead, I'll scttie for the fifty bother about you all?" thousand dollar commission as So that's the way we did it. I'm promised." glad I'm not Sam. 1 THE ALL-SEEING EYE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 57 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Every day it becomes more evident that the universe is a pro­ gression of interrelated phenomena.

G "mi CAPTAIN of Detectives Mike Gal- pounds overweight. Whether she ton, or "the old man" as he was was pretty or not was hard to tell known to his underlings, looked from the way her head was down at the woman's body. It was smashed. The instrument that did dressed in a nightgown and a blue the damage, a length of lead pipe, flannel robe and lay on the kitchen lay beside her. There was a bag of floor in a crumpled heap. The groceries on the kitchen table, and woman was a brunette, thirty-three the back door was open. years old, and . perhaps twenty "Photo been called?" the old

58 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED man asked William Dennis, the young detective beside him. "Yes, sir, and the M.E." The old man turned and went back to the little front parlor where Joseph Eldridge, the dead wom­ an's husband, sat twisting his hands between his knees. A po- Uceman stood nearby, trying to look invisible. "That piece of pipe," the old ^f!^ man said to the husband. "Did that come from somewhere in the house?" Joseph Eldridge focused on the detective's face. He was a lean, handsome man in his mid-thirties though now he looked harrowed and white. "No," he said, shaking his head. "I never saw it before." "You want to tell it again—ex­ MDEE actly what happened this a.m.?" "Yeah. I sell insurance." Then he "I went to do the marketing, said, "I didn't touch her money, if same as every Saturday morning—" that's what you mean. We lived on "You do the marketing?" what I make." "My wife teaches school all "But she taught?" week. I want—wanted her to relax Joseph Eldridge nodded. "She on weekends." taught because she loved teaching. "You work, Mr. Eldridge?" She didn't want to give it up when "Me?" He looked startled. we married, and I didn't make

NOTHING BUT HUMAN NATURLICENSEDE TO UNZ.ORG 59 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED her," he said, sighing deeply. store, Mr. Eldridge, and what time Mike Galton nodded. "And you did you get back?" do die marketing Saturday morn­ "I left the house around nine ings. Tell me about this morning." o'clock, give or take ten miiiutes. Eldridge shrugged and looked I wasn't noticing the time." down at the floor. He spoke in a "Somewhere between eight-fifty choked voice. "There's nothing to and nine-ten, then?" tell, really. I went to the super­ "That sounds about right." market, I bought the week's gro­ "And you got home?" ceries, I drove home, came in the "I didn't notice. I came in. I saw back door and—and found her." her. I guess after that I just stopped "Any idea who did it?" thinking," He shook his head slowly. "I "Can you give me a rough idea can't imagine." what the time was?" Detective Dennis said, "Did you Eldridge tried to think. "About go into the bedroom ?" half an hour ago, I suppose. I Eldridge nodded. "When I called phoned the police, and then—" He you. The phone's in there." looked up. "Wait, I do remember. "You touch anything?" The clock in the store said twenty "No." of eleven when I was checking out. Dennis said to the eld man, Five minutes to load the car and "The bedroom's been ransacked. five minutes to get home here— Captain. The bureau drawers, the Call it about ten minutes of eleven closets." when I found her.". Galton said, "You have valuables "How long have you been mar­ in the house, Mr. Eldridge?" ried, Mr. Eldridge?" "Not anything much. A few dol­ "Ten years in June." lars maybe, and May had a couple "No children?" of rings that might have been "No." worth a little—a hundred bucks or "Did she have any enemies that so." you know of?" The photographer arrived and "She couldn't have. Everybody Galton and Dennis took him out loved her." to the kitchen. Then the medical "Any relatives?" examiner came and was also "Her mother, two brothers and shown the scene. a sister. But they live on the west Galton returned to the* husband. coast." "What time did you go to the The old man went back to the

60 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED kitchen. The medical examiner search a body." Then she saw the told him the woman had been dead woman • and she sobered. beaten to death with the pipe. The; "That's not very pretty," she said. photographer said he'd got his pic­ "It's a homicide, then?" tures, and did the captain want Galton said, "It's a homicide, him to dust for fingerprints? pet, and a nasty one." "See if you can get anything of? While Jenny searched the apparel the pipe," the old man said. "And on the body, Galton went outside drawers in the bedroom. I under­ for a look around. The house was stand the bureaus have been ran­ a tiny brick bungalow in an area of sacked." tiny brick bungalows, packed to­ Dennis said, "Do you believe gether on midget lots with one-car the burglar theory?" garages in back and just room for The old man shrugged. "It's pos­ a driveway between. Joseph El- sible there was a burglar. It's possi­ dridge's station wagon was stand­ ble Eldridge killed her and faked ing in front of the garage and two the burglary. It's possible someone steps from the stoop. In the back else killed her and faked the bur­ were two more bags of groceries glary." He said to the doctor, "Do like the one on the kitchen table. you think she was beaten unneces­ Detective Dennis came out to sarily—by someone who hated her join him. "No fingerprints on the rather than someone who wanted pipe,^he said, "and it doesn't look to rob her?" like there's going to be anything on The doctor said he couldn't ven­ the bureau knobs either." He ture an opinion. He sat down at smiled wryly. "We aren't left with the kitchen table to fill out his much." papers. "We never are when there are no The body was lying face up now, "witnesses." Galton sighed and and Captain Gallon said to Dennis, turned to the porch steps. "Well, I "See if you can find a sheet or guess the next step is to canvass something and cover her." the neighborhood, see if there've Policewoman Jenny Galton been any strangers around—sales­ came through from the livingroom. men, vagrants, and the like—and She was a young and pretty red­ see if anybody can tell us anything head, but poised and experienced about the Eldridges. I'd like to despite her youth, for she was know whether his grief is as real Mike Galton's daughter. "Hi, as it looks." Pops," she said. "I hear I'm to A sheet was over the body when NOTHING BUT HUMAN NATURLICENSEDE TO UNZ.ORG 61 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED they came back in, and Jenny told church on Mondays. I guess it got them the woman was missing her changed." wedding and engagement rings. "Do you know when she re­ Otherwise there was nothing to ceived the call.?" report. "I don't have any idea. It wasn't "You get any ideas when you when I was around." examined the body, kitten.? Any "Do you know who would have female intuition.?" made the call.?" She said, "I£ you mean, do I Eldridge said it was probably the think Mr. Eldridge is telling the committee chairman. Her name truth, I don't know. Nothing I was Mrs. Bertha Crump, and the found is inconsistent with his story. old man found her number in It could have happened like that." the address book on the phone The captain went on into the table, little bedroom. The police photog­ Dennis took Eldridge back to rapher was putting away his fin­ the livingroom while Galton got gerprint equipment and shaking the woman on the line. Yes, she his head. "Just smudges," he said. told him, she was the one who "One partial on the bureau top but called May Eldridge about the it looks like the woman's." change. She'd called her just that The old man and Dennis morning, in fact. brought Mr. Eldridge into the bed­ "Do you know what time this room then to make a search. He morning, Mrs. Crump.?" looked through the drawers and "About quarter past nine. Why, his wife's purse. He found there is something the matter.?" was no money in the purse and "Yes, something is the matter. her jewelry box was missing from But can you say for sure that you the drawers. made the call at quarter past nine.?" "You got any insurance on the , "Well," Mrs. Crump said hesi­ jewelry?" Dennis asked him. tantly, . "I wouldn't want to swear Eldridge shook his head. "It to it. But I do know that I don't wasn't worth that much." make phone calls before nine The old man showed him a note o'clock, and Mrs. Eldridge was on the telephone pad. It said: the fourth person I talked to about "Membership comm. Tues. at the change. It couldn't have been 4:00." , \ before quarter past nine. Of that "May wrote that," Eldridge told I'm sure." him. "They usually meet at the "It was Mrs. Eldridge who an-

62 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED swered the phone?" Galton said. swered by a trim, young, bottled "Yes." blonde in shorts and halter. Galton "How long did the two of you showed his badge, apologized for talk?" the intrusion, and explained about "Oh, perhaps two minutes. Usu­ the death next door. ally I'd talk longer but I had five "Yeah," the woman said. "I saw others to call so I didn't want to the hearse. You say she was killed, dally." huh? Gee, that's terrible." "Did she mention her husband "Did you know them well, Mrs. at all?" -ah-" Mrs. Crump said no, and asked "Jenks. Mimi Jenks. No, I didn't again what the trouble was. know them except to say hello to." Galton told her, helped her over "What about Mr. Jenks?" her shock, and questioned her some The woman laughed. "Mr. Jenks more, but the answers didn't sends me an alimony check once a change. month. That's all I know about When he hung up, Galton went him, or care." back to Eldridge and had him tell Galton said, "Oh." Then he said, the story over again two more •'Can you tell me anything about times. It came out the same way, this morning? Did you see any­ but with two additions. He knew thing or hear anything next door?" nothing of Mrs. Crump's phone Mrs. Jenks frowned in thought. call, for he had already left. He Then she said, "I heard their car knew of nobody who could sup­ go out at nine o'clock. I can't think port his alibi. of anything else." The hearse pulled into the drive "Did you say nine o'clock?" and two morgue attendants came She shrugged. "Well, it might not through the back door with a have been exactly nine o'clock. It stretcher. Galton watched them might have been two or three min­ lift the body onto it with practiced utes after." precision and take it out. He sent "How do you remember the the patrolman back to his beat and, time so well?" with Detective Dennis, started a She laughed. "That's easy. I got canvass of the neighborhood to see up at nine. I looked at the clock. what they could learn. And I had just got out of bed when The brick bungalow abutting I heard their car start up." the Eldridges' driveway was their "And you saw or heard noth­ first stop and the door was an­ ing else?" NOTHING Btrr HUMAN NATUKE 63 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Nothing else. Until the hearse." all, nor could anyone else in the "You didn't hear his car return?" neighborhood. No one had noticed She shook her head. "I only suspicious strangers around. No heard it go out because the bed­ one had seen Eldridge go to the room's on that side of the house supermarket. and the window was open." The old man and his youthful "I see." Galton pursed his lips. companion returned to police "One more question. You know headquarters at half past twelve. anything about what kind of a The chief was there and so was marriage they had ? They get along, Jennyj they fight, or what?" "We're up a tree," Dennis told Mrs. Jenks said she didn't have the chief. "Absolutely no clues." any idea. All she knew was, she He went on to explain the problem. never heard them, fight. She never Mr. Eldridge left the house be­ heard anything from them at all. tween nine and nine-five. Mrs. El­ "I see. Now, one last thing. It's dridge received a phone call from very important. Are you absolute­ Mrs. Crump between nine-fifteen ly sure it was nine o'clock when he and nine-twenty. Between nine- drove away?" twenty, when she hung up, and "Absolutely, because I looked at ten-fifty, when Mr. Eldridge re­ the clock when I got up and then turned, someone came in the back I did my exercises by the window door, beat Mrs. Eldridge to death for fifteen minutes and I remem­ with a pipe, ransacked the bureaus ber the car wasn't there. Why is in the bedroom, and made oil with that so important?" a box of inexpensive jewelry and "Because it supports his own the few dollars in Mrs. Eldridge's story that' that's when he went purse. shopping." The chief said, "Is that how you "I see. I'm his alibi, in other see it?" to the old man, but Gal- words?" ton's attention was on his daugh­ "Yes, you could call it that." ter. "I'm glad I can help." "You're a right pretty girl, kit­ "So are we. You'll be asked to ten," he said. "Now that I notice, testify, of course." I'm struck by that fact." She smiled. "Any time." She laughed and told him he Galton and Dennis tried the was dotty. family on the other side of the El- "No, I'm not dotty, I'm serious. dridges' but they could not help at What are your measurements, thir-

64 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ty-eight, twenty-three, thirty-six?" were in the squad room when the "That's reasonably close. Why?" old man brought Mrs. Jenks in. He "Because when we go home for introduced her and told her that lunch, you're going to change into they'd take her statement in just a your prettiest dress. Then we're few rninutes, and if she'd wait in going to see what kind o£ an actress the other room ... He took her you are." to the door and there was Jenny, Jenny, the chief, and William sitting on the couch in her prettiest Dennis all were curious, but the old dress, her hair just so, looking as man merely said very mysteriously, luscious as chocolate cake. "This is "Wait and see." Miss Murphy, Mrs. Jenks," the old At half past two that afternoon, man said. "She's the one,I was tell­ the old man rang Mrs. Jenks' door­ ing you about, the one who saw bell again. He smiled and said he Mr. Eldridge in the supermarket. was sorry to trouble her but could Isn't that right. Miss Murphy?" she come down to headquarters so Mrs. Jenks stopped dead in the they could take her statement? She doorway" but "Miss Murphy" said she'd be glad to oblige and got didn't seem to notice. "That's her coat. right," she said brightly. "Joe came On the way he told her how in at exactly ten minutes past nine. much he appreciated her coopera­ I know because I was looking at tion and she said she was only do­ my watch." ing her duty. As an innocent man's, Captain Galton smiled with ap­ only alibi, she had to testify. proval, but Mrs. Jenks didn't smile "Yes," the old man said, "except, at all. "She's a liar," she said. you will be pleased to learn, the Miss Murphy put her nose in burden is no longer solely on your the air. "I ought to know when Joe own shoulders. We've found some­ came in," she said. "I'm the one one else to verify his alibi." who was looking at my watch." "Oh?" she said, and turned to "She's a liar," Mrs. Jenks re­ look at him. "Who?" peated in a louder voice. "Because "A young woman he knows. Joe Eldridge didn't leave his house She's come forward to testify that until half past nine." she saw him enter the supermarket "Half past nine?" the captain at ten minutes past nine." said. Mrs. Jenks said, "Oh," again, in a "Half past nine," she told him. very strange voice. "Because that's how long it took The chief and WilHam Dennis that two-timing cheat to bash in

NOTHING BUT HUMAN NATURE 65 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED his wife's head. And he didn't go "It's nothing but human nature," to the store for five more minutes the old man replied. "I figured after that because he got blood on the moment she thought a younger his shirt and had to change it. I and prettier girl was also lying to know, because the bloody one is in save Eldridge's neck, she'd blow his the bottom of my laundry bag, alibi to kingdom come." wrapped around her jewelry box." Dennis said, "That, I under­ Captain Galton said, "Is that stand.. But how did you know she right?" but Mrs. Jenks wasn't pay­ and Eldridge were a twosome to ing any- attention to him. begin with? That's what amazes She was pointing at "Miss Mur­ me. What tipped you off?" phy" and saying, "So if you think The old man said, "Human na­ you're going to run off with him to ture again, Bill. Put a sexy young the Virgin Islands while I'm left grass widow next door to a hand­ holding the bag, forget it. He's go­ some free-lance insurance agent ing to jail. And I'm going to put whose wife is away at work all day hirtl there." and you can expect there's going to She told it all to the detectives be a situation. And when the wife and a tape recorder, how Eldridge has ten years' worth of teaching promised her marriage and a life, of salary lying around unspent, you Caribbean luxury in return for a know the answer to that situation murder alibi. Then they got the isn't going to be divorce, it's going district attorney in and she went to be murder. over it again. After that, they sent "We had the murder, so one look two policemen out with a warrant at the woman next door was all I for Mr". Eldridge's arrest. needed to know the whole story. In the squad room. Detective It wasn't the piece of pipe or the William Dennis and the chief of missing jewelry or the stories -they police looked at Captain Galton told that gave it away. It was her and shook their heads. "Absolutely shorts, her halter, and her bleached amazing," they said. blonde hair." 1

66 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Those who sit in judgment must, indeed, be flexible within reason—and sometimes beyond.

J UDGE FRISBIE, Court o£ Special Sessions, was favorably known to defense attorneys as an open- minded judge, flexible within rea­ son, understanding of the pressures below. Judge Frisbie said, "Ronald and twists of fate that might drive Meggs, this court was not born men to crime. yesterday. Crime becomes chronic. Now, before passing sentence, he Your record suggests that it has so was interrogating a defendant who become for you, though you are had pleaded guilty to a jewelry being judged today on only the store larceny. Hands clasped, single felony. Still, I see a conflict of frowning at the commonplace man character, a history of steady, legiti-

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT 67 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED mate employment and a decent back, Judge. If I only could go—" family life, as your attorney has "How often that sentiment is shown. This is not a typical criminal voiced," Judge Frisbie said sadly. pattern. Why, then, the excursions "No one goes back, Meggs, but we into crime.? Do you have a law­ learn. I hope that you have. I'm less drive.? Is it the excitement.? Or giving you a light isentence this do you find crime a handy side­ time—six months. If I see you here. line.? Speak frankly. This court again, it won't be hght." wishes to help, as well as penalize." "Thank you. Judge," Meggs said "Judge, I'd like nothing better earnestly. "I won't be back." than to be a respectable citizen," Next on the calendar was a wife- the man said, "but I couldn't afford beating case. This plea, too, was it." guilty. "How's that.?" "How could you beat a woman.?" "Expenses, Judge. They kept Judge Frisbie asked the' stocky de-, getting ahead of me. Doctor bills, fendant, in a tone both reproving taxes, insurance, rent, car* costs, and humanely interested. food, and all the time the value "It wasn't easy. Your Honor," of the dollar shrinking. I knew it the defendant, a Mr. Rothbuck, was wrong. Judge, but I had to do said. "Eleanor was no pushover." . something." The judge looked stern. "'This "We all face the problem of court deplores brutality. Especially mounting costs, Meggs," Judge to a woman." Frisbie said gravely. "Suppose "I'm no animal. Your Honor. everybody turned to crime.?" For almost twenty years, I never "I know. Judge, I know." laid a finger on her. Finally I dost "I understand your hardships, patience." but you must resist desperation. "With what?" The criminal impulse must be "She was a nag. Know what I fought." mean?" "I kept telling myself that. Judge. "Tell me." This was going to be absolutely "Harry, get up, get up, get up, my last job, only I got caught." Harry, go to bed, go to bed, Harry, "So crime didn't pay, did it, I want you home by six, Harry, Meggs.? You lose income in jail don't spill ashes on the carpet, and come out with even worse Harry, when are you going to fix financial problems." -the ceiling, Harry, mow the lawn, "I was a fool. If I only could go kill those flies, Harry, I don't want

68 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED you bowling with those bums, graded gravel to the spot where his Harry, I saw you looking at that shining, luxurious car was parked. girl, Harry, Harry, Harry—until He had to admit the pleasure it the time I let her have it." gave him, but a compact would "I hope you are at least sorry." have been more practical, only "No, Your Honor," Mr. Roth- Roxanne didn't think an inexpen­ buck said iirmly. "I should have sive car suited the standing of a done it years ago; would have judge. Driving through the select, gotten her off my back. This taught broad-lawned area, he arrived at her a lesson." his own considerable white-bricked "Did it.?" home and turned up the curving The prosecuting attorney came driveway into the three-car garage forward and spoke to the judge. wing. "I see," Judge Frisbie said He found Roxanne in the front thoughtfully^ "Mrs. Rothbuck wants sitting room. She was a handsome to drop the complaint." He looked woman who somewhat outweighed at Mrs. Rothbuck, sitting at the him. She kissed him briskly. "Have front of the full courtroom, eyes a good day, dear, that's nice. Try fixed on her husband with obvious to be fresh for the soiree we're love. Catching the judge's glance, giving tonight; take a Uttle nap, she nodded vigorously. "Hmn," the perhaps. I want.you to stay out of judge said. "Case dismissed." the way of the caterers anyway. Divested of the dignity of bench Also, remember, Grover, stay away and court, out on the street Grover from onions." Frisbie was an ordinary looking "Right," Judge Frisbie said to his man in his forties, not a type to be wife. "No onions." remembered or to stand out in a "Have you spoken to a contractor crowd. On his way home after yet about the game-room altera­ court, clacking along on the Long tions.?" Island Railroad, looking out at the "Not yet. I will." shifting dwellings and commercial "Please do. Must I keep remind­ areas, he reflected again on the ing you? And yes, my car has range of human problems he en­ developed palpitations. I don't want countered in court and how illu­ to be embarrassed by being stuck minating they were of life. Well, all in pubhc traffic." humans had their weaknesses . . . "I'll have it checked." At the Hickoryville station, he "Why spend money on repairs? left the train and walked over the I'd rather trade it in on a new one.

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT 69 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Since Susan is old enough now to other crop of bills in the mail be­ have her own car, perhaps you can sides the large school bill; in­ get a good deal on two cars." surance bills, property taxes—pain­ "I'll think about it." - ful enough last year, raised out­ "You have mail from Morton's rageously this year^credit card school. It has the appearance of a charges, department store invoices bill." . . . Too discouraging to examine "It must be a bill." them further; he tossed them into "I hope you keep these things a desk tray, thinking about all his up-to-date. It doesn't look right, other outstanding obligations—car otherwise, especially for a judge. payments, mortgage payments, Nor does ragged shrubbery. Our medical, plumbing, painting, seem­ lahdscapin~g hasn't been too good ingly without end. He was keenly lately." aware of his unfinished income tax "I hadn't noticed." return waiting in a drawer, which "People do. I want you to change would take another big chunk of our landscaping service. Pay a little money. There was that confounded more for better service if necessary. party tonight; no telling what that By the way, something nice hap­ would come to, but it would be pened today. I was able to pick up huge. Roxanne's eternal expendi­ a Minton majolica vase for only tures, interest on his debt . . . He seventy-six dollars." , didn't have the nerve to total the Judge Frisbie looked at his wife. money he'd need, but he did know He sighed heavily, opened his that it was more than he could mouth, then closed it again. Long possibly raise through regular ago he had learned that vocally he channels. Bills seemed to breed and was outclassed. "Think I'll wash multiply like live things, over­ up," he said. whelming his income. "Don't take any drinks before the He was just plain over his head, party," she called after him. "And again. drink very lightly during the party, Judge Frisbie drummed his fin­ if at all. Even a suggestion of in­ gers on the desk, trying to put off toxication does not set well on a the decision, but knowing that he judge, particularly if he is the host." would have to do it again, soon. He "All right," Judge Frisbie said. didn't want to, but no other way In his study, afterwards, he did could he find. He had to. some of his desk work before dress­ The affair was sumptuous. Judge ing for\ the party. There was an­ Frisbie himself felt dazzled.

70 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Streamers of lights strung on house rible to behold, like the Phantom and grounds, wine flowing from of the Opera?" fountains in the form of cherubs, "I'd say it's a psychological de­ mountains of dehcacies covering vice as much as a mask—to terror­ the great tables, unlimited cock­ ize his victims," another man tails and drinks, professional musi­ named Kolby said. cians, pert waitresses in plum-col­ "It makes me nervous to know ored uniforms flitting about, main he's lurking somewhere," "the stout courses served at tables scintillating woman said. "Are the police on his with fine silver and crystal, a fan­ trail, Judge?" tastic centerpiece—the caterer had "I really don't know," Judge gone all out. Judge Frisbie would Frisbie answered. "Let's hope he'll have appreciated it if he hadn't be brought to justice." been paying for it. . Mrs. Pennster said, "He's robbed People everywhere, all invited by so many places on the Island, peo­ Roxanne, and the place was swarm­ ple ivill stop keeping valuables on ing. He felt his facial muscles fix­ their premises." ing themselves into an expression Mr. Kolby laughed. "That, dear that he hoped was gracious. Con­ lady, would go against human na­ versation surged in floods and tor­ ture. Women enjoy having their rents, a few drops occasionally di­ jewels on hand, don't they? Many rected at him. "Judge, why can't wealthy men like plenty of cash something be done about this in­ around, regarding it as an advan­ creasing crime?" "What are the real tage of wealth. Some need it.,Some causes of crime?" "Do you believe hide cash at home to avoid paying in capital punishment?" "What higher taxes. It's also human nature about rehabilitation ?" for people to feel that they won't "It's a shame they can't catch this be robbed, the odds being against Hooded Bandit," a stout woman it. Furthermore, consider that most remarked. valuables are insured. Dear lady, I "He seems to strike at will," a fear that the affluent neighborhoods man named Runnle said. "Then will always provide rich spoils for lies low until people forget and— the enterprising robber.". whammo! Another big robbery." "I'll go along there," Mr. Runnle "I think it's terribly sinister the said. "Take just the people at this way he wears this hood," a Mrs. party. I'll bet there's enough in Pennster said. "This black hood. their homes right now to pay the Do you suppose his face is too hor­ national debt. Eh, Judge?"

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT 71 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Well, a good part of it." Judge would entertain the thought that Frisbie laughed, politely. he hadn't been at the party all night. A corporation dii"ector, a Mr. He could slip away, be back soon, Slade, said, "I know people who as though he'd never left. think nothing of keeping forty or Speculatively, his eyes roved over fifty thousand on hand. Don't see the throng, touching here, there, that. Ten, fifteen thousand is plen- settling at last' on the Bronchards. ty." They were wealthy. She could only Mr. Kolby said, -"To my mind, be wearing a small part of her jew­ guarding valuables is not the solu­ elry. Tom Bronchard liked to flash tion to crime, anyway. Education cash around. Their home was with­ is the solution. When enough peo­ in easy driving range. ple are educated and conditioned He faded from the gathering, to hold the law sacred—well, like away from the hubbub, up to the Judge Frisbie—crime, will cease to isolation and comparative quiet of be a problem." his study, picking up an inconspic­ "Thank you," Judge Frisbie said. uous business suit from his ward­ The conversation faded and the robe on'the way. Behind the locked group broke up. Following dinner, door of his study he changed from the party picked up noise and evening wear into the suit. He un­ warmth. Judge Frisbie found him­ locked a lower drawer of his filing self . apart, watching the miUing cabinet, rolled it out and removed throngs. Nobody was paying atten­ a glinting, blued-steel automatic, tion to him. anymore, which was pocketed it. Then he took out the often the case at Roxarine's affairs: dead-black hood and, finally, the he was no social lion with this kind black sack he used for the loot. of crowd. Roxanne, handsome, for­ Grimly, he smiled. Might shock midable, was absorbed, within a a few people to know the identity glittering, chattering group. He of the ,Hooded Bandit, but this watched the dancers on the floor. must be the last time, he told him­ The invisible man, he thought. A self. He had to stop before the law ghost in his own home. of averages got him. The scandal It struck him; since it was so, would rock the Island if he were why not? Why not now, right ever caught. Roxanne must never now? They'd be here for hours, find out;, it would ruin her; the away from their homes, on ice. kids, too. Besides, the guilt both­ It was a setup, an opportunity. ered him, especially sitting in court. No one would miss him. No one Yes, this would be absolutely the

72 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED last time, just a little help over this ing the servants. He didn't blame latest financial bind. them. Why risk their skins protect­ The last time. Where had he ing someone else's property? heard those words? In court, this He stole to the window and morning; the Ronald Meggs case. looked in. A middle-aged couple Meggs had said, ". . . was going to was sitting at a table, playing cards, be absolutely my last job, only I got partly filled beer glasses at their caught." elbows. Judge Frisbie hesitated. Then he Judge Frisbie took the black shook off the foreboding. He had hood from his pocket and put it to get out of this money bind. Then over his head. The bottom window —though he flinched at the thought was partly open for air; he flung it —he'd pull the reins in on Rox- up the rest of the way and leaned anne, do some drastic economizing, into the room, presenting his auto­ live within his income. matic. He went down the deserted back The man's mouth fell open, his stairs, opened the rear door of the face went ashen. The woman gave garage and drove out, away from a little scream and stared. "The the massed parked cars around his Hooded Bandit!" the man cried. home. "Just do what you're told and A twenty-minute drive over the you won't get hurt," Judge Frisbie good highways of the Island and he said, keeping his voice calm and was in the exclusive neighborhood reassuring. He climbed into the where the Bronchard residence was. room, pulled the shade down be­ The homes were secluded by their hind him. "We'll start with the extensive grounds here, a help.-The master bedroom. I want the money Bronchards' street was in genteel, and the jewels. Cooperate and deserted, dim. repose. you'll be all right, don't and I'll He parked a few hundred feet shoot. Got that straight?" away and strolled casually to the "Yes, sir," the man quavered. bulking house, slipped around it to "Get up." the rear and waited, listening. No They rose shakily. barking, no growling; no dog. "Lead the way and flick on the Good. lights," Frisbie ordered the woman. There was a lighted lower win­ "I'll have the gun on your husband, dow in the servants' quarters, but so behave." he'd expected the servants might be In the master bedroom. Judge home. He never had trouble cow- Frisbie looked around. Most people

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT 73 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED didn't have safes. They stored valu­ hind him. He ran to the street and ables in unoriginal places. "Where's toward his car and more shots fol­ the stufl?" he asked. Save time if lowed him. Starting the car, he he could get them to show him made a screeching takeoff, a what they knew; otherwise he'd glimpse over his shoulder showing ransack each likely room systemati­ that the man was still running to­ cally, forcing them to help. ward him. The glimpse also "I believe there are some jewels showed something else, a revolving in this drawer, sir," the man said. blue light was swinging in from a "Open it." crossroad; a police car, attracted by The man obeyed, snatched some­ the shots. thing out and whirled around. In the rear-view mirror, Judge "Now you just get your hands up!" Frisbie saw it slow briefly where he ordered shakily. He w^s hold­ the servant must have shouted ing a revolver that trembled vio­ something, then leap ahead. lently. Now he was in for it, he knew. The surprise paralyzed Judge Fingers seemed to snap in appre­ Frisbie for an instant. This, he'd hension within his head. He could­ never encountered. Since when did n't afford even to let them get close they come this loyal ? The man was enough to read his license plate. an idiot for nerve. That would be the end. -He "Hands up," the man repeated. tromped down harder on the ac­ "Drop that gun," Judge Frisbie celerator, though he was already said. travehng at a speed for which this There was a thunderous clap as winding residential street was nev­ the man fired. For a few seconds er designed. Pebbles tore loose from afterwards the two men stood star­ the road under his tires and went ing at each other. Judge Frisbie skittering. He slammed full tilt into had a detached reaUzation that he curves, braking and gunning des­ had not been hit. So it had come perately, skidding, sliding broad­ to this, actual shooting. The first side, pulling out with roaring mo­ time this had happened. He could tor. Glances into his rear-view mir­ easily shoot the man down, but of ror showed the blue roof light still course that was out of the question. tied to him, even somewhat closer. He couldn't shoot anybody. Up ahead and higher, streamers Judge Frisbie turned and ran. of lights pushed by bright beads He tore downstairs and out of were moving in opposed directions the house, hearing another shot be- on the rnain highway. Perhaps he

74 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED could lose them there. He swung the car slowed. Then he turned into the highway entrance when it right, off the highway, across the appeared out of the night; the car shoulder, into the grass and brush, heeled around the approach, tires heading cross-country. screaming. He shot into the high­ Vaguely he heard a screeching way, praying he wouldn't collide of brakes back on the highway, the with anybody; no time to check. A police car trying not to overshoot. blasting horn told him he'd come He went bumping down a grassy close, his side mirror showing him dip, then bumped up a rise, scrap­ a wildly swerving car just behind. ing branches, dodging boulders Sorry, Judge Frisbie thought, and and trees. Past the top, the ground streaked ahead. fell sharply. The car went skidding His mirror showed the blue po­ and sliding down, turning side­ lice light again, on his tail, still ways, turning backward, turning in closer, but the road was good now. slow, complete circles as it descend­ He floored the pedal. Wind gob­ ed. At the bottom, he straightened bled and trilled in the window and drove, twisting and angling, glass, the engine climbed to a high through the underbrush of the un­ whine. Lights flashed past, blurring. even ground. He splashed through Cars slid past as though on con­ a small brook, hoping the wheels veyer belts. Keyed up to the preci­ wouldn't bog down. He drove up sion of a computer, he controlled a gentle swell, then into a series of the wheel, hurtling in and out of meandering, undulating hills, and traffic. found himself overlooking the The rotating blue light was still lights of the back windows of a there, closer. He realized that the row of houses. He drove down doleful wailing of the police siren into the open back area and roared^ was in his ears. behind the line of homes until he There would be only one end to found a clear driveway, conscious this, Judge Frisbie reflected. They'd that people were coming to their get him. They'd overhaul him, he'd windows; but once, he gained the end up in a wreck or other police street, he pulled rapidly out of the cars would soon close in. Some­ isection. thing different had to be done. No blue light behind him now. Hardly understanding his own He'd lost them. Judge Frisbie let mind, he swerved to the side of out a deep sigh. Never again. No, the road, braking hard. Tires never, never again. screamed in tortured protest until He drove slowly and carefully

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENLICENSEDT TO UNZ.ORG 75 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED home, keeping to the secondary people told me they thought so. roads and streets. He garaged his However, I have some different car, skirted behind the lights and ideas for the next one . .-." noise of the party and took the , He must talk to her now, Judge quiet back stairs up to his study. Frisbie told himself, before his reso­ He secreted again the gun, sack lution slipped away. It was as good and hood. Then he sank down a time as any, alone in the house upon the couch, feeUng that he and the .children off at school. needed a few minutes to rest. "There won't be any more of these Finally, he washed, changed affairs, Roxy," he said. back into evening clothes and went Her , head whipped around. down to the party. Nothing much "What's that.?" seemed to have changed. Judge "Come into the sitting room, out Frisbie noted, standing on the side, of this mess," he said. "I want to watching the ebb and flow of the talk to yoii." He walked off, hear­ affair. Hadn't been gone too much ting her follow him. "Now," he over an hour anyway. said, "I must tell you, Roxy, that Roxanne came by. "For heaven's we are going to have to cut our ex­ sake, talk to somebody," she hissed. penses to the bone. We can't live "You've been standing practically on this scale anymore. I can't af­ by yourself all evening. You might ford it. No more big parties, no show some interest, after the work automobiles for the' children, no and planning I've put into this." new car for you, rhine will have to She stalked off. be traded for something cheaper, He looked after her, nodding, no game-room, alteration, no expen­ thinking of what he'd just gone sive landscapers, and as for clothes, through. So he could have the nothing—" privilege of paying. He circulated a "Just one moment, Grover," Rox bit more, waiting for the party to anne burst out, face swelling, eyesX be over. narrowing, "I don't care to hear When the door had closed be­ another of your economy talks. We hind the last guest and the last of have a position to maintain; we are the help had gone, he stood look­ not going to sink to money-pinch­ ing over the great waste that was ing. I abhor meanness. When we left, nodding again. are invited to the affairs of others, "The caterers' people will be here the least we can do—" • tomorrow and clear it all up," Rox­ She was off. Judge Frisbie anne said. "It was lovely. Several thought, wearily. He was no match

76 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED for her in one of her tirade's. His jab. He followed up with a rapid resolution would weaken, it always tattoo of punches that snapped did. her head from side to side. She That other case this morning, clinched. He sunk one into her the Rothbuck case, the wife-beat­ middle. She grunted and pulled ing case . . . Yes, Judge Frisbie back. They stood toe-to-toe, trad­ thought. Yes, Rothbuc\ might have ing blows. had something there. Too much She sent another long right. He was too much. One did lose pa­ slid under that, but as he did so tience. One did feel a certain wrath. she kneed him in the chin. He went And if it had wor\ed for Roth- whiplashing up and over, landing buc/(^— heavily on his back. Judge Frisbie walked over to his Dizzily, Judge Frisbie hauled wife and slapped her deliberately himself up. "Now I'm getting in the face. Then he said, "You'll mad," he said. do as I tell you, woman. I'll have Warily, the two stalked each no more of your nagging, either." other, circling with crooked arms. Staggered, she stared at him with Suddenly, Judge Frisbie delivered wide, incredulous, eyes. Then- fury a hard chop to the side of the neck. convulsed her features and she- She sagged and began to whimper. struck back with all her weight. "I give up," she sobbed. She lay Judge Frisbie went reeling along weeping for a while, then at last the room and down. sat up, tears rolling'down her face. He was up in an instant, charg­ She looked, at him. There was a ing. light that Judge Frisbie realized he She caught him again with a hadn't seen for many years, an right to the side of the head that awed, submissive light. "Oh, Gro- half-turned him and set him up for ver," she said. "I love you." her left to the midsection. He fold­ Judge Frisbie knew that every­ ed. She landed a crashing blow to thing was going to work out. the chin that slammed him against the wall. Yes, Judge Frisbie of the Qjurt He came off the wall, shaking of Special Sessions was known as his head. His eyes focused again. an open-minded judge, understand­ Doggedly, he charged back. She ing of the pressures and twists of swung a roundhouse right. He fate that might drive men to crime, ducked this one and' caught her a judge, who, in a word, seemed high on the cheekbone with a left to understand human weaknesses.

WHO SITS IN JUDGMENT 77 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The true essence of a gift is inevitably resolved by the volatility of the donor.

lence the human mind could, con­ ceive, and prior to the murder of one of the elderly twins, he be­ lieved that he could handle any case with detachment. P.erhaps it was the quiet bravery of Miss Nettie, the surviving twin, that got through to him; or maybe in her gracious and fragile person­ age he glimpsed the last fragments STHflKSEHS

OETECTIVE SHAPIRO took a person­ of a genteel world that existed only al interest in the case from the in memory or storybooks. start. He was mildly surprised by Be that as it may, he was not al­ his reaction. A man doesn't stay on together the tough cop when he es­ the police force for twenty-five corted Miss Nettie hoine from the years without developing the inner hospital, where emergency mea­ armor necessary for the protection sures had failed to keep life from of his own spirit. He had dealt leaking from her sister's broken with just about every act of vio- skull.

78 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The headlights of his unmarked proud with paint, limousines and car picked through a neighbor­ roadsters in the driveways, people hood of large, once-fine homes enjoying the evening cool in porch now suffering the blight of urban swings; here or there a house blaz­ decay. The present dreary reahty ing with light and the activity of a was one of converted apartment party, with Gene Austin crooning and rooming houses, a junky fill- from a Gramophone. II ^f '"'^^fe

ing station on a corner, faded signs Shapiro could see in his mind's offering rooms to let, a gloomy lit­ eye a Sunday morning with two tle grocery store secured for the little twin girls ready for church in night with iron-grille shutters. the rambling house halfway.down With Miss Nettie's tea-and-crum- the block, bright-faced and pets presence beside him, it was scrubbed in their starched crino­ easy for Shapiro to imagine the lines, white gloves, Mary Jane street as it had been in forgotten shoes,--and white sailor straws with days: well-trimmed hedges, houses ribbons spilling down their backs.

STRANGER'S GIFT 79 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Now one was dead, beaten to and followed as she unlocked and death by a mugger who might oc­ went inside. cupy the very house across the She turned on a light and Sha­ street, dismal as the neighborhood piro glanced about a parlor straight had become. out of a yellowed issue of Better "This is our driveway, Mr. Sha­ Homes; velour, velvet, and mo­ piro," Miss Nettie instructed po- hair, heavy, overstuffed couches Utely. and chairs, lamps with tassels and As Shapiro turned, the head- stained-glass shades, tables with Hghts swept a two-story frame clawed feet resting on glass, balls. house with a long front porch. The Miss Nettie, trim and girlish as a grounds and structure were in bet­ seventy-five-year-old woman could ter repair and upkeep than their be imagined, brushed a wisp from surroundings. Shapiro's sharp in­ her forehead. Her eyes were blue stincts painted in history. He pools of grief in a delicately boned guessed it was the only home the, face cobwebbed v/ith fine wrinkles, twins had ever known. It had been but her control was superb. She re­ theirs after the demise of their par­ membered the proprieties. "May I ents. Dr. Cooksey, whom Shapiro take your hat, Mr. Shapiro? Do sit vaguely remembered by repute down and make yourself comfort­ from his boyhood, had left his able. Would you care for some maiden daughters modestly fixed, tea.?" - - and they had continued 'on until - Shapiro was a coffee drinker, one day it was too late for them to with a cold beer when he was off move, to change, to shed the tiny duty, but he was suddenly aware of habits of endless days. the silence and emptiness of the Shapiro braked the car in the slightly musty house, and of this shadows of the porte cochere, got little woman's determination to out with an energy that denied his bear up, to hold life on a normal bulk, his sleepy-looking, rough- keel. "Some tea would go nicely, hewn face, his forty-nine years. He Miss Cooksey." hurried around and opened the She seemed to be grateful for the door for Miss Nettie. She was a chance to be doing something. soft, decorous rustling as she got Shapiro sank into a chair as she out and laid a slender, waxen hand hurried out. He pulled a package on the beefy arm he offered. He es­ of cigarettes from his suit coat corted her to a pair of French pocket, but his glance didn't locate doors that glinted in the darkness, any ash trays, and he put the

80 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED smokes back, patted his pocket. harmless . . . How could anyone Miss Nettie came in carrying an be so bestial as to . . ." Her cup old and ornate tea service. Shapiro rattled on its saucer. Perched on stood up. Miss Nettie placed the the edge of the overstuffed couch, tea things on a table before the her back stiffened. She looked at couch. her hand as if daring it be un­ - As she busied her hands with steady again. teapot and cups, she said, "I knovv "Nothing that happened during there are questions you must ask. the day warned of what the eve­ Please do so, freely. I'm quite pre­ ning would hold," she resumed, pared and now in control of my­ her sweet maidenly-aunt voice only self, Mr. Shapiro." slightly off-key. "In the afternoon His preliminary questions estab­ I made a batch of coconut bon­ lished what he • had already bons, with freshly grated coconut. guessed. Yes, she and Miss Lettie, Making the bonbons is a now-and- her twin, had lived here all alone, again hobby with me, Mr. Shapiro. except for a yardman who came Specialty of the house, you might one day every other week. They say." entertained rarely, a small tea or She drew in a shallow breath. game of bridge with the two or "A very poor family lives a couple three old friends they had left. of blocks west, on the same side of "Most of the girls with whom the street. A young mother whose we grew up," she explained, "have husband deserted her and four either passed away, yielded to the children. Two of ^them twin girls, care of nursing homes, or live a strangely enough . . . like Lettie world away from the old neighbor­ and me." hood. Sugar, Mr. Shapiro.? One Shapiro nodded his understand­ lump or two?" ing that an affinity might develop When he sipped, his distaste for between two little .twins and two tea was pleasantly soothed. "I did­ old ones. n't know it could be brewed like "We became acquainted with the this." family," Miss Cooksey said, "Thank you, Mr. Shapiro." "through the twins, whom we saw He cleared his throat. "Now now and then in the grocery store about the events of this eve­ or playing along the street. Dur­ ning . . ." ing the past year or so, Lettie and "It all hardly seems real, Mr. I had the privilege of doing little Shapiro. Lettie was so kind ... so things for the children, assisting

STRANGERS GIFT 81 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the family in some small way." step to the apartment ahd have my "That was kind of you," Shapiro sister come to the phone. When he remarked. returned, he reported that she was­ The eyes in their shadows of n't there, hadn't been there." transluscent blue Hfted to his. She lapsed from the present for a "Kind? Not at all, Mr. Shapiro. moment, her soft mouth drawing The rewards were ours. We en­ into a thin, tortured line. , joyed the children. And today, Shapiro quickly envisioned it, when we heard that one of the the chill that must have come to twins had come down with a httle the silent vacancy of the house as flu bug, I dropped over to make she'd hung up the phone. She'd sure a doctor had come. The child probably sat a, moment, a cold was doing nicely, but I noticed an pulse beginning deep within her, expectancy and then a disappoint­ telling herself it didn't mean too- ment in her manner. She was too much, Lettie was all right and polite to tell me what was on her would have an explanation that mind, but I wormed it out of her. would make her sister's fears seem When I'd arrived, she'd thought I silly. was surely bringing her some bon­ "You went out to look for her bons." and found her ... in the darkness "So you returned home and of the alley beside the grocery made her some," Shapiro said. store," Shapiro reprised gently. • "Why, of course. I regretted not "Yes, that's right." The. teacup having thought of it sooner." began rattling again. This time she "And Lettie was taking the bon­ had to set it on the table and clasp bons to the child this evening?" her hands hard in her lap. They She nodded, her slender throat continued to tremble slightly. "I working. The first hint of tears might have gone past without ghnted in her eyes. "Lettie never knowing she was there, Mr. Sha­ reached her destination, Mr. Sha­ piro, but I heard the faint sound piro. She intended to dehver the of her moan. It was almost the last candy, visit briefly, and return sound she made. I stopped, lis­ right away. Her lengthening ab­ tened, edged into the alley. Then I sence didn't upset me right away. I saw the pale shadow of her lying assumed she'd got talking with the there . . . He had smashed her litde girl and forgot the time. But, head, dragged her off the street . . . finally I grew uneasy. I called the and gorged on the coconut bon­ building super and asked him, to bons while he rifled her purse . . ."

82 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED A hard shiver went through her. ers we don't know about. Your sis­ "What sort of beast, Mr. Shapiro.?" ter was the first fatality." The words dropped to a whisper, A quick touch of color splashed "Eating candy while his victim . Miss Nettie's cheeks. "All by the dies at his feet." 'same young man?" "Maybe a drug addict," Shapiro Shapiro lifted and dropped his said. "Maybe the craving for sweets shoulders, standing up' as he did suggests a hard-drug user." so. "We can't be sure. One other "He was young, rather tall and woman got a look at his face be­ skinny, with a scar on his cheek fore she was slugged unconscious. shaped like a W. Lettie managed to She gave us the same description— tell me that, Mr. Shapiro. And including the W-shaped scar on his then she said, 'I won't be able to cheek." dust my rose garden tomorrow, Her eyes reflected the way she sis.' Her last words . . ." She stran­ was twisting and turning if»all in gled and was very pale. her mind. "Then you've been try­ Shapiro reached and touched the ing to stop this pathological beast thin shoulder. It made him think for some time—without much of the soft wing of a bird. "Miss luck." Cooksey, let me arrange for you to "Without any luck," Shapiro ad­ stay someplace else tonight." mitted. He hesitated. "But we try, "Thank you, Mr. Shapiro. But Miss Cooksey. I want you to believe no. This is rny house and I've no that." intention of running from it." Her eyes met his. She seemed to "Then at least have someone sense something of his job, the here. We have police matrons who dirtiness and thanklessness of it, are quite good company." the frustrations that were all too "I'm sure they are." She moved a much a part of it. little, as if not to hurt his feelings "The public doesn't always un­ in "casting off the support of his derstand," he said. "I'm not com­ hand. "But I'll make do. The plaining, but we're under-inanned, quicker I accept the . . . the silence, always facing a job that grows the better it will be." more impossibly big every day. We "All right." Shapiro slumped, can't blanket the city looking for a back. "But I must warn you. This single mugger. We just have to do is the fourth reported mugging in the best we can with what we've this general area in the past six got. weeks. There might have been oth­ She touched his hand, gently

STRANGER S GIFT 83 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED comforting him. ^ven in her own marked car' cruised the Cooksey extremity, he thought. neighborhood nightly for more "Good night, Mr. Shapiro, and than a week. thank you for your kindness. His trained eye picked out de­ You've made it easier for me." tails, the young girl who was ped­ Shapiro drove back to headquar­ dling herself; the strident wohian ters with the thought of her haunt­ who beat up her day-laborer hus­ ing him, piercing the armor of band when he came home drunk; .twenty-five-years of being a cop, of the broad-shouldered teen-ager seeing it,all. who undoubtedly was gang chief On his way through the corridor of the block; the old grouch who to • Communications, Shapiro chased dogs and kids from his bumped into Captain Ramey. Ra- yard with sticks and rocks. mey's eyes widened as he took in Shapiro liked least of all the ac­ the cast of Shapiro's face. tions of Miss Nettie. Each evening "Wow! Who licked the red off right after dark she came out of your candy?" the ghostly old house and walked Shapiro steamed a breath. "Don't west, past the steel-shuttered gro­ mention candy to me. Cap! Not cery, across the intersection, the right now. And don't ever men­ full length of the next block.^Then tion coconut bonbons!" she turned and went back the way Ramey scratched his head and she had come, a fragile, helpless stared as Shapiro continued his figure. She would pause at her stormy way to the radio room. front walk and look back at the In the den of electronic gear, long, dark sidewalk she had tra­ Shapiro had the order put on the versed. Then she would slip into air: Pick up slender nian probably her house, and a dim light would in his twenties, W-shaped scar on turn on behind a curtained win­ cheek, wanted on suspicion of dow upstairs, and Miss Nettie murder committed during course would be in for the night. of forcible robbery. She started the excursions the He was afraid it wouldn't do any night after her sister was buried. good—and it didn't. He went off Nothing discouraged her. She duty at midnight, and when he got walked if it rained, if the wind home and sacked in he kept his blew, if the moon shone. It was as wife awake grumbling in his sleep. if the void of grief "had filled her ' Between calls to knifings, shoot­ with a compulsion to retrace the ings, and sluggings, Shapiro'si un- steps and feel the same feelings

84 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED suffered by that other twin image Shapiro drew a deep breath, but of herself. held it suddenly. The famiUar, In a corner of his mind, Shapiro slight figure with the short, grace­ knew he was making a cardinal ful steps seemed to flow out of the mistake in police work. He'd let darkness. Shapiro watched as she Miss Nettie become an entity, neared the shadows of the grocery someone very personal. She was store across the street; His face the memory of the grandmother drooped with sadness. As much as he'd known in childhood, the echo he disliked the thought of her sub­ of lost days buried in the smogs of jected to psychiatric probing, he time when cookies had tasted of a knew it must be. He couldn't let never-again sweetness and a tree her continue this way. house in a. back-yard oak had Out of habit, his gaze swept the soared over a world without ugli­ street as he started to move out and ness. cross diagonally to intercept her. The unseen observer in the shad­ His reluctantVjourney toward a ows of a tree or dark, deserted face-to-face confrontation with her doorway, Shapiro fretted about suddenly became a charge. He saw her. Her newly developed quirk, the slender figure of a tall, crouch­ he told himself, was the result of ing man resolve from the alleyway her sudden bereavement, It was darkness and slip up behind her. temporary. It would wear itself Unreal and dream-like, the shadow out. But if not . . . then he-would seemed to fold about her as the take an off-duty hour to talk with mugger crooked an arm about her the department psychiatrist about neck and snatched her purse. her. "Hold it!" Shapiro shouted the Three weeks passed before Miss order savagely. Nettie varied what had come to be The man threw Miss Nettie to her norm.. Staked out in the con­ the sidewalk and lunged into the cealment of a peeling billboard, well of darkness alongside the gro­ Shapiro watched the opposite side­ cery. walk. The riight was gloomy, with Miss Nettie scrambled to her low gray clouds. He looked at the feet, rearing in Shapiro's path. luminous dial of his watch. She "Mr. Shapiro!" was ten minutes behind schedule, She grabbed his arm and fell then twenty, with no sign of her against him. Her weight, even as coming shadow-like along the slight as it was, and his momen­ street. tum threw him off balance. He

STRANGERS GIFT LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 85 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED twisted and almost fell, banging piro." She got up with but little as­ his shoulder against the corner of sistance, brushed a wispy spill of the building. white hair from her forehead with "You're not hurt, obviously," he her fingertips. "Don't blame your­ said, short-breathed. "Just sit tight. self. Really, I tripped over my own That rat won't find a hole big feet, but I'm quite all right." enough to hold him." "Did you get a look at the mug- She hung onto him. "I didn't ger?" N - ^ know you there, Mr. Shapiro." Her eyes glinted, blue- candles in Her thin hands were talons, the faintest haze of street glow. clutching his clothing. He tried to "Not clearly—but enough. He was brush them away. "For heaven's young, tall, skinny, with the tell­ sake, Miss Cooksey, let go! That tale W-shaped scar on his cheek." guy's getting away." Shapiro dropped his hand from "Don't risk yourself for me, Mr. her shoulder, muttering an ungen- Shapiro. He may be armed." tlemanly word under his breath. "My worry," he bit out, "if you'll "Well," he sighed bitterly, "the bird let me do my job." seems to have flown the coop. The He grabbed her wrist, discover­ best I can do now is put him on ing a surprising strength. The the air and hope for a pickup." ever-lurking hunting instinct was "Do you think it will work.?" aware that the fleeing feet had de­ "I doubt it. He's managed to parted the farther end of the alley. hole up pretty well so far." "Miss Nettie!" he snarled in ex­ She dropped her eyes, making asperation. He let his hands apply Shapiro think of a chastised child. enough pressure to break her grip "I'm glad you didn't get hurt, Mr. and shove him free. She stumbled Shapiro." backward and collapsed with a "You took care of that, Miss small outcry. Shapiro threw a des­ Cooksey, delaying rne as you did." pairing look down the empty alley She sighed softly. "Please don't as he dropped to one knee beside be angry with me. Even if you had her. caught him at the risk of your life, Her face was a pale, soft etching would it have done any good ? The in white. court decisions nowadays, the pa­ "Miss Nettie, I didn't mean . . ." role system—wouldn't he have He slipped a hand behind her been back on the streets in a few shoulder to help her up. years.?" "I know you didn't, Mr. Sha­ "Maybe so," Shapiro admitted. 86 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "but he would have been oflE of A uniformed patrolman had them for a few, too." cleared the curious from the scab­ Her eyes inched back to his. by, odorous hall and stairway. "Yes, I guess you have to think of Adams and Mcjunkin had arrived it that way, or your lifework would to take charge of the investigation. be for nothing." The lab men and photographer The words were a gentle mirror had taken their pictures and sam­ held up to him. She had sized up ples, and Doc Jefferson, the medi­ the policeman's one excuse for be­ cal examiner, was snapping his ing with uncomfortable accuracy. black bag closed when Shapiro's By the time he was ready to sign rough-hewn and iron-gray pres­ out at midnight, he had a case of ence loomed in the doorway. heartburn, bloodshot eyes, and a Shapiro nodded at the'departing headache that would do for the lab men, said hello to his fellow whole department. detectives, and crossed the dreary, He had showered (without re­ stifling room to the figure sprawled lieving his symptoms) and dressed, beside the grimy, swaybacked bed. and was slamming his locker door "Who is he.'"' Shapiro looked when Browne from Communica­ down at the bony face with its scar tions called his name from the and bonnet of wild, long, brownish doorway. hair. "Yeah?" Shapiro growled, glanc­ "One Pete Farlow," Adains said. ing briefly across his shoulder. "Or maybe it's an alias." "Bounced down hoping I'd catch "Whoever, he must be our boy," you," Browne, robust and dark Mcjunkin added. He was a stocky, and an enviable twenty-seven, said. freckled redhead, ambling toward "The call just came in. I think Shapiro's side. "That scar is just too we've turned up your mugger-kill­ unique. Odds,are a million to one er. Young, skinny—with the cheek against its duplicate in a city this scar." size." Shapiro whirled toward Browne, "Drifter.?" Shapiro suggested. his headache dissolving. "Where.''" "I wouldn't bet against you," Mc­ "Fleabag rooming house. One-;^ junkin said, "the way he showed one-four River Street. His girl­ up and took the room, according friend, a -late-working waitress, to the building super. Same old breezed in for an after-work date pattern. He works a town until it and came out squalling. She found gets too hot and then drifts on to lover boy on the floor. Dead." another room, girl, way of life just

STRANGERS GIFT 87 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED like the one he left behind him." second. In one corner was a tissue- "He seems to be the solution—in wrapped ball of candy. As if fear­ addition to the murder of Lettie fully, his forefinger inched and Cooksey—to a string of muggings, pushed the tissue aside to expose drunk-rollings, and strong-arm the tempting creaminess of a coco­ robberies vye've had," Adams said. nut bonbon. He was the tallest man in the room, "Doc," Shapiro said in a far-off dark and ramrod straight. He mo­ voice, his broad, bent back toward tioned with his hand toward the the room, "what did our killer narrow closet, where the door stood pigeon, die oi?" open. "He's stashed enough purses "1 won't have a complete report and wallets in there to open a until after the autopsy," Jefferson counter in a secondhand store." said. "Maybe in his private moments," "But you could give me a very Doc Jefferson said, "he liked to educated guess right now." look in on them, touch them, sort "You birds always want your of relive the big-man moment when forensic medicine instant," Doc he had taken this one or that one." said: "Okay, for what it's worth, I'll Doc shook a fine head of silver wager Mcjunkin's freckles against hair. "You never know about these Adams' eyeteeth that the autopsy guys." will back up the symptoms. Our Shapiro drifted to the closet. vulture died of poisoning. Arsenic, Which was hers.? He tried to re­ I'd say. He gulped a walloping member; a flash of white when the dose of arsenic." mugger had grabbed it there at the "The lab boys found little tissues steel-shuttered grocery, but not all scattered all over the floor," Mc- white; not large, either—relatively Junkin said, "the kind they used to small handbag, black or brown, use in the old-fashioned candy trimmed in white. stores." . On top of the jumble at his feet, Shapiro mumbled to himself. just a little to the left of the door- Mcjunkin said, "What'd you say, jamb, lay a woman's purse with its Shappy.?" dark blue relieved by a diagonal "I said," Shapiro bit out angrily, band of white; a rather old-fash­ "that I'm never surprised at any­ ioned purse. thing the lab boys find." Shapiro hunkered and picked it up. Its clasp was broken. He pulled , Wearing a flannel robe^ felt slip­ it open, and stopped breathing for a pers, and a net about her soft white

ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED hair, Miss Nettie ushered Shapiro gings he'd pulled around here. You into her parlor. saw a pattern. You hoped he'd re­ "I'm very sorry to rouse you at turn—and take the bait." this hour," Shapiro said, "but it was "Mr. Shapiro-" necessary." He silenced her with a stern "I'm sure it must have been, for finger waggling in her face. "Don't you to have done so. Would you you open your gentle little peep to like some tea?" me one more time until I'm fin­ Shapiro gave her a stare and sigh. ished. Do you understand.?" "Not this go-round. Sit down, "Yes, Mr. Shapiro." please." "You took those nightly walks, She sank to the edge of an over­ waiting for him to return, wanting stuffed chair and clasped her hands him to, hoping he would strike quietly in her lap. again. And when he struck, you Shapiro faced her with his hands threw a veritable body-block at me cocked on his hips. "Was your so he could get away with your purse a dark blue, with a white purse and everything it contained band across it.?" —maybe a little cash, and a batch "Yes it was, Mr. Shapiro. And of bonbons loaded with arsenic!" I assume from your question that "Where would I get—" you have found it" "Don't play innocent with me!" "In the room of a dead man. A Shapiro almost popped a'vein across young, skinny dead man with a his forehead. "You have a yardman. W-shaped scar on his cheek." Your sister grew roses. Anybody He thought he saw the faintest can get arsenic, in plant sprays, in­ of smiles on her soft lips. secticides." His teeth made a sound His hands came loose from his like fingernails scraping across sides. He banged a fist into a palm. sandpaper. "You pegged him to a "Miss Cooksey,^ blast you, you've T, Miss Cooksey. He gulped the made a total fool of me!" arsenic-loaded candy. Almost .all of "Oh, no, Mr. Shapiro! I'm rnuch it." . too fond of you to do anything like "Almost, Mr. Shapiro?" that." He reached in his side pocket Shapiro snorted, kicked a table and brought out the tissue-wrapped leg, spun on her again with the bonbon he had taken from the mien of a grizzly. "You made bait rooming house closet. of yourself. Miss Cooksey. I had With exaggerated care, he peeled told you about the previous mug-. back the tissue and extended his

STRANGERS GIFT 89 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED palm. "It's the one that stuck in the kill you." He shook his head hope­ corner of the purse when he lessly. "Whatever am I going to do dumped it on his bed or dresser. with you. Miss Nettie.?" It's the one he didn't eat. Do you "Arrest me for destroying evi­ deny making it.?" dence.?" she suggested. She rose slowly. "It's. a lovely "I doubt that I could make it— bonbon, Mr. Shapiro, although a or any other charge—stick," Sha­ bit squashed from so much han­ piro said. "Even if we could prove dling." you made some poisoned candy, She peered, lifted a dainty fore­ you didn't offer it to anyone. The finger to touch the candy. She only shred of evidence we have that picked it up. Then she popped it in involves you, come to think of it, is her mouth and swallowed before the purse—evidence of a crime Shapiro had the first inkling of against you." what she was up to. She strolled with him to the front Flat-footed and with a dumb look door. "Will you come some after^ on his face, Shapiro received her noon for tea, Mr. Shapiro.?" soft smile. He studied her a moment. "No, "Mr. Shapiro, would I eat poi­ Miss Nettie—I think I never want soned candy?" to see yoii again." He shook off a faintly trance­ She nodded and patted his hand like state. "Yes," he said. "Faced with a touch of gentle understand­ with a situation of sufficient ur­ ing.. Then she turned a little in the gency, I'm beginning to believe dark front doorway, looking from you'd have the courage to do any­ his face to a point far along the thing, Miss Cooksey. I think your sidewalk. question is rhetorical. I think you "Given the chance," she said al­ have already, just now, eaten a most in a whisper, "I'd have been piece of poisoned candy. I'm also the first to warn the young man to certain that the arhount contained mend his ways in time—and never in a single piece is not enough to to take candy from strangers." 1

90 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED As everyone is good for something, so does everything have a use.

each, sagged a little and creaked here and there in the joints. Herk Bebber had remained a bachelor through all the years and lived alone. In the early darkness of a winter evening the house stood dark and gaunt when Herk limped home from work and let himself through the back door, into the kitchen. He lighted the oven and left its door open. He never attempted to heat the rest of the house during the winter months. "It ain't fair," the tall man said as he held his hands up to the stove. Herk started to prepare his eve­ ning meal after some of the warmth had soaked into his body. He placed a few dishes on the kitchen table and sat down. "It ain't fair," he muttered as

THE weather-beaten, slab-sided old house and Herkimer Bebber had lived together so long they had be­ gun to resemble each other in cer­ tain respects. The house was ac­ tually a bit older, for Herk was born there. Now, sixty years later,

ASHES TO ASHES LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 91 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED he crushed a fistful of crackers into Herk Bebber drained the last of his canned soup. "Mr. Thayer don't his soup and wiped his chin. There have the right to order me to come would be no promotion for him, back to the plant tonight." he was more apt to be fired. Preston Mr. Thayer had the right, be­ Thayer had already said he meant cause Mr. Thayer was the boss' to clean out all the decrepit dead- nephew. Preston Thayer had been wood and cripples when he took at Koopens Pottery Company for over. This was Friday. Herk had only a year now, was less than until Monday morning to wait.- half Herk's age and held no official Herk read, the evening paper, title as yet, but the young upstart then with a groan he struggled would become general manager into his overcoat, his fur cap and next Monday. gloves, and started out. The plant foreman had relayed The night appeared about as the order to Herk just before bleak as Herkimer Bebber's future quitting time. "The boss' nephew at Koopens Pottery. He had said for you to come back tonight. trudged the mile between home arid He wants you here at^ eight; to plant twice a day for forty years. check the temperature in that hew Herk could judge his arrival to kiln they fired up this morning, the second, and tonight he had write up the reading in the record allowed two extra minutes for the book." slowing effect of the weather on Herk had not dared to protest, his bad leg. but he did offer a timid suggestion. Herk wondered what he would. The tunnel kiln would be operating dp if Thayer did fire him next all night, so wouldn't it be possible Monday. Herk had a part-tiine job for one of the crew to slip over doing odd jobs at the Pyramid and take the reading.? Club, but this didn't pay enough The foreman shook his/ head. to live on. He couldn't apply for "Thayer asked for you personally. Social Security for two years yet, He said for me to get that stooped and he had no savings to tide him old handyrnan with a limp. over. Herk's nest egg had been Thayer's got his eye on you, Herk. wiped out by medical bills and Maybe when his uncle makes him funeral expenses when his mother general manager next Monday, he'll had died. take you on as his assistant." The "it ain't fair," Herk muttered foreman almost choked on his own into his coat collar. "Adam Koopens humor. wouldn't let me go like this." Mr.

92 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Koopens had been a good boss, a his coat to absorb the heat. He kind man who had sent flowers closed his eyes and for a moment to the hospital after the gas explo­ imagined he had actually reached sion in number two kiln had Florida. mangled Herk's leg. Adam Koop­ Herk slipped out of his over­ ens had even made the handyman coat, picked up the record book job for Herk when he got out of and walked back into the gloom. the hospital. He approached the new kiln Herk had long dreamed of being cautiously; the monster was not of able to retire in Florida. Now he his era. This super-heated, howling, would have a job trying to stay fire-breathing dragon had been alive here. created for Preston Thayer and Herk arrived at the plant and built to his order. unlocked the gate. He snapped the Preston Thayer had big plans lock closed behind him, but turned for this kiln. He had boasted that his head away from the founda­ this was the device that would take tion of the new building that Koopens Pottery out of dishes and would rise here. It was another of ash trays and launch the company Preston Thayer's brainstorms, and into the space age, where there was it was here that the young man a demand for rocket motor ceram­ would be made general manager, ics.- at the cornerstone laying ceremony Herk made his pyrometer read­ Monday. ing. He peered into the eyepiece The low tunnel kiln building was of the instrument and increased lighted, but Herk headed for the the current flow through a fine dark plant. He walked around the wire inside the telescopic device. old, brick building to the back, When the wire glowed as white where he let himself into what had hot as the kiln interior, Herk wrote been the original kiln room of the the dial reading in the book. pottery company. This was all he had been ordered A single, shaded light bulb to do. Now the job was completed glowed over a desk. Beyond the and Herk would have to walk circle of light the gloomy shadows back home again. He had reached blended into total blackness. A for his coat when a voice called blower's howl filled the air, helped out over the noise of the blower. along by the roar of fire jets. A "Hey, you. You down there." wave of warm air swept oyer Herk Herk walked out of the circle of when he closed the door. He spread light and looked up. He had

ASHES TO ASHES 93 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED recognized Preston Thayer's voice, gotten to replace the loose pin. and now he could make out the He'd do that come Monday. young man's form on the catwalk, Thayer had taken out a flash­ high up against the brick wall. light and now poked the beam Thayer had come out of the fire ahead of him as he walked down door that led back into the office the dark corridor. Herk followed building. "Yes, Mr. Thayer.?" him down the hallway and through "Come up here." the main office doorway. Inside, Herk hesitated as he looked at Herk stopped and looked around the iron steps that zigzagged up uneasily. It wasn't right that the the wall, from the Hoor to the cat­ office had been left open, with the walk. His bad leg throbbed as he lights on. He felt even more ner­ trudged over to the steps. vous when he saw, the open safe Thayer waited impatiently on the door. catwalk. Though not yet thirty, Thayer walked between the desks his hair had thinned out con­ to the safe. He took out a brown siderably. He looked pudgy, even leather satchel and' placed it on in a well-tailored suit, and had a one of the desks. "I suppose you've florid complexion. His full lips wondered why I ordered you to curled up slightly, as though he come back here tonight. Pops." were offended at something he Herk shuffled his feet. "I reckon thought he smelled. you had your reasons, Mr. Thayer." Herk pulled himself up on the "I did." Thayer swung a pudgy catwalk. leg up over the corner of the desk "You have quite a bit of trouble and studied him from under lower­ getting around. Pops." ed eyelids. "You moonlight out at "I get by fine, Mr. Thayer," Herk the Pyramid Club. I've seen you gasped. out there." "Did you write down the time "I just work out there weekends," and the temperature reading?" Herk said hastily. "It doesn't inter­ Herk nodded. fere with my work here at the "Come with me, then." Thayer plant." piilled the metal-clad fire door open "You know the setup out there. and walked through. Herk fol­ You've heard rumors—rumors lowed and the door closed slowly, about me." the action controlled by the air , Herk knew about the gambling check valve. Herk looked up. He at the Pyramid, and he'd heard had repaired that valve and for­ that Preston Thayer was a heavy

94 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED loser. "I don't pay attention to a knot it made him sick. "Please, rumors, Mr. Thayer." Mr. Thayer, I don't want anything Thayer Ut a cigarette and to do with whatever you're doing dropped .the, dead match into his here. I can't tell the police that two jacket pocket. He made a fat-lipped men made me let them into the circle and blew out a cloud of office. I can't lie like that." smoke. "I'm going to become a Thayer dropped his leg off the respectable businessman next Mon­ desk and stood up straight. "You day. As you know, I've run into won't have to lie, Pops. You're a bad luck lately. I've had to take stumbling block to me. You know some drastic steps to straighten about the gambling losses and things out before I take this new you're nothing but deadwood here job." Thayer studied the trail of at the plant. You're expendable, old smoke. "You wrote the temperature man. Alive, you're a nuisance, but and the time down in the book.?" if the police find you shot to death Herk nodded. "That's what I here in the office, they'll go out was told to do." looking for gunmen." Thayer "Exactly, so now we have a pulled a gun from his pocket. written record that you were here Herk had been frozen with at the plant at eight o'clock to-. terror, unable to move. Now the night. Now suppose when you left sight of a gun triggered a panic the gate, two men jumped you.. that exploded him into action. He These men had guns and they gave a yelp and leaped for - the forced you to let them into the door. plant, and into this office." Thayer aimed and fired. It was a Herk swallowed, but his throat good shot, but Herk's bad leg gave still felt choked up and dry. "Even way when he leaped, and he fell if some men with guns did force to his knees. The bullet crashed me to let them in here, I couldn't into the wall, and Herk scrambled open the safe for them.. I don't through the doorway. He slammed know the combination." the door and twisted the key in "This safe is older than you are. the lock, then fled across the hall­ Pops," Thayer said. "It's antiquated, way and down the corridor as an­ like everything else around this other bullet smashed through the place. It's a wonder to me some wood panel. sniart safe man hasn't tapped it Herk knew Thayer would leave before this." the office by the other door, but Herk's stomach twisted into such that led out to the opposite side

ASHES TO ASHES 95 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED of the building. Then Herk's heart his rib cage. He could feel the sank when he realized the corridor blood pound in his temples and he led into a trap. The only escape thought he would collapse when for Herk was down the iron steps he heard footsteps pounding down and across the room below. From the corridor toward him. the catwalk Thayer would have a The door burst open and Preston clear shot at him a-11 the way. Thayer hurled through the open­ Herk remembered the loose pin ing. He struck the rail and was in the air check valve just as he catapulted into empty air. A long, reached the fire door. He reached despairing scream came from the up, lifted the pin out and swept pudgy form as it described a slow the arm to one side. Now the door arc out into the darkness. swung free, with no restraint. Herk Herk closed his eyes and held his pushed down-on the crossbar and breath. Then he dashed down the slipped out on, the catwalk. He steps, grabbing at the rail to keep closed the door and flattened his from pitching to the floor below. body against the bricks. He reached the bottom and Herk's heart banged until he hobbled out until he almost stum­ thought it might burst through bled over the body. A long, search-

96 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ing look told him that young Pres­ locked the door and carried the ton Thayer would never become satchel back downstairs. Herk sat general manager of Koopens down to ponder his next move. Pottery. The money had disappeared from Herk stumbled over to the desk a locked safe. Preston Thayer knew and sank into the chair. His mind the combination, so if Thayer dis­ refused to function. He could only appeared, then they would be feel relief, relief that he would not forced to suspect the young man, be killed. After a time he could even if he was the boss' nephew. think well enough to wonder if his But how to make Thayer disap­ story would be believed. Even Herk pear? The form still lay out there could realize it would sound ridicu­ on the floor, pudgy and solid. The lous. ground was frozen and Herk had Herk shook his head and stood no means to carry a body out of up. "I'll tell them the truth," he the plant. said grimly. "I'll tell the police diat All of this reasoning had taken Mr. Thayer went over to the safe time, so the wall clock said it was and took out the satchel. He—" well past midnight. Herk did not Herk sat down again. He had fear that he would be disturbed, completely forgotten the brown for this section of the old plant had leather satchel, a satchel that prob­ been abandoned when they had ably held enough money to buy a built the new tunnel kiln building. Florida retirement. It had remained unused until Herk was panting by the time Thayer's new kiln had been con­ he had the oflSce door unlocked. structed in here. At the thought of The satchel was still on the desk. the new kiln, the sound of the Herk unfastened the catch, plung­ blower penetrated Herk's brain. ed both hands in and lifted. All He thought for a moment, then timidity and terror disappeared as nodded with satisfaction. The kiln the handyman watched the bundles would make a fine crematory. It of currency tumble from his hands, was added justice that Preston back into the satchel. Thayer would be consumed by the He knew that in one way or monster he had created. another he had found his retire­ Herkimer Bebber, in his forty ment, years at the plant, had learned Herk closed the safe door, several tricks on how to prepare twisted the dial and wiped it clean. bulky and unwieldy objects for the He turned off the oflSce lights, kiln. He wheeled out a flatbed

ASHES TO ASHES 97

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED hand truck and placed a fireproof the fuel lines. He next pulled the tray on it. After considerable effort lever on the switch box. The he got the body up on the tray. blower's howl trailed off into a Herk wheeled the hand truck wail and then into silence. Herk around the desk and over to the left without looking into the kiln. kiln. He used a floor hoist to lift Monday morning Herk rose an the burden up onto the loading hour earher than usual. It was black rack, and then he pushed the rack outside when he ate his breakfast, over until it stood directly in front and was only dawn when he ar­ of the oven. rived at the pottery plant. The The door operated by remote parking lot was deserted, except control. Herk pulled back the lever, for a few cars over by the tunnel and when the door opened, he kiln building. He walked around gave a tremendous heave that sent the old plant and unlocked the the tray across the rollers and on back door. The room inside was into the inferno. strangely silent, but still warm. The It was early morning when Herk­ first ray of sunshine hit the dirty imer Bebber let himself through and streaked windows. It was go­ the plant gate. The air was cold ing to be a fine day, Herk thought and crisp, the moon a silver disk as he slipped out of his coat. in the sky. Herk noticed none of He opened the kiln door and these things. He didn't even shiver, pulled the tray out onto the load­ for the brown leather satchel he ing rack with a pair of long- hugged against his body kept him handled tongs. All that remained as warm as though it were a chimk of Preston Thayer was a layer of of Florida sunshine. gray ashes. The next day was Saturday, and Herk sat at the desk and waited Herk made his usual weekend trip half an hour, and when the tray out to the Pyramid Club. He per­ had cooled, he carefully brushed formed his customary odd jobs up the ashes and swept them into a and returned home that evening. dustpan. Once again he was faced He ate his evening meal and then with the problem of having to dis­ walked to the plant. He saw no pose of Preston Thayer. Herk had one in the darkness. not hked the young man in life, The light bulb still glowed. The but he felt that any man, no matter blower howled and the fire jets how mean, deserved a better rest­ roared. Herk pulled on a pair of ing place than a trash bin. gloves and shut ofE the valves- on Herk had come to no conclusion

98 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED about the ashes when he noticed said, and then he launched into the time. He shd the dustpan un­ his prepared speech. der the desk and hurried off to Herk did not hear the words. punch the time clock. He stood back at the edge of the The sun continued to shine and crowd while he composed his it turned out to be a lovely day, speech of resignation. After he had weatherwise, for a cornerstone cere­ accepted the gold watch from the mony. The plant foreman kept company, Herk intended to put Herk busy, right up to the minute the old house up for sale and buy a the employees started out of the ticket for Florida. plant and on to the parking lot. The crowd applauded. Herk The cornerstone hung in a sling looked up and politely clapped his over the foundation. Herk had hands. erected a tiny speaker's stand, com­ Adam Koopens dipped the trowel plete with bunting. He had mixed into the bucket of cement and held a bucket of cement and had set it the trowel aloft. "And so with this beside the stand, with the trowel ceremony, I bring my nephew, placed across the top of the bucket. Preston Thayer, into the Koopens The last of the employees had Pottery Company." The plant own­ gathered by the foundation, when er plopped a blob of cement on Adam Koopens himself came out the cornerstone and smeared it of the plant. The old man stepped around. up on the speaker's stand and Herk nodded his approval. He looked around anxiously. He felt sure now he had done the peered at his watch, then around right thing when he had emptied again. The crowd grew restless. the dustpan into the cement bucket. Adam Koopens cleared his throat Adam Koopens plopped another and spoke. First, he apologized be­ trowelful of Preston Thayer on cause the guest of honor was absent. the cornerstone. This time Herki­ "I am sure Preston Thayer is here mer Bebber applauded louder than with us in spirit," the plant owner any of the others. 1

ASHES TO ASHES 99

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED With serpice, it is the unexpected^ extras that count.

^JaJ^ ^<^1c

THEY WERE some forty-five min­ "There, you go," Tyler said sud­ utes from the Oregon-California denly, touching Cord's arm and border when Ck)rd noticed that the pointing. red needle on the fuel gauge Cord squinted against the late hovered close to Empty. He glanced afternoon sun,, and then saw the over at Tyler. "Almost out of gas," small white building a hundred he told him. yards to the right of the freeway. Tyler grinned. "So am I. I could Across the front was a paved area sure use something to eat." and a single row of gasoline pumps. In the rear seat, Fallon andi A large white sign, lettered in Brenner sat shackled close together' faded red and mounted on a tall with double cuffs. Fallon's eyes, metal pole, stood between the build­ were cold and black and watchfull ing and the highway. It read: Ed's —waiting. Service—Open 24 Hours.

100 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "Okay," Cord said. A half-mile asked the old man. "Out back?" farther on was an exit ramp, and "Never mind that now," Cord he turned there. He doubled back said. "Just keep quiet back there, along a blacktopped county road Fallon. You understand that?" that paralleled the freeway, and "Sure," Fallon replied softly. took the car in alongside the pumps. "Sure, I understand." He shut off the engine. The old man went to the rear Presently, an old man with of the car and busied himself at tousled silver hair and a weather- the pumps. After a moment, he eroded face, and dressed in tattered took a paper towel and a squeeze coveralls, came out of a cubbyhole bottle of liquid from a pocket of office and approached them. He his coveralls. He came up to the bent at the window. "Help you?" front of the car again, leaned across "Fill 'er up," Cord said. "High the hood, and began to clean the octane." windshield. In the front seat, Tyler "Yes, sir," the old man answered. yawned hugely. Cord took a pack­ Then he saw Fallon and Brenner. age of cigarettes from his shirt He moistened his lips, staring at pocket and put one of the cyUnders them with bright blue eyes. in his lips, watching Fallon in the "Don't worry," Cord told him. rear-view mirror. The old man's "They're not going anywhere." eyes lingered over the four men as "You fellas peace officers?" he rubbed at the windshield glass, Tyler smiled, nodding. as if he were fascinated by what he Cord said, "I'm a United States saw. marshal, and this is my guard. When he had finished, the old We're transporting these two down man put the squeeze bottle and to San Francisco for federal court the soiled towel back into his appearances." pocket. There was a sharp click as "They from McNeil Island, up the pump hose shut off automati­ in Washington?" cally, indicating that the tank was "That's right." full. Returning to the rear of the The old man made a soft whis­ car, the old man replaced the hose, tling sound with his lips. screwed the gas cap back on, and Fallon said from the back seat, took a metal clipboard that held "Say, pop-" credit shps from a shelf beside the "Shut up, Fallon," Tyler said pumps. He stepped up to the win­ sharply, watching him. dow. "That'll be six even," he said. "Where's the rest rooms?" Fallon "Credit card, I reckon."

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED G)rd shook his head, taking the. up back there," Tyler snapped. wallet from his rear pocket. He "Whatever you say." extracted two bills and gave them "You'd better believe that, to the old man. Shrugging lightly, Fallon." the old man took the bills inside "Come on, come on," Cord said. his office. He unlocked the cash "Get the sandwiches, will you, box, deposited the bills inside, and Johnny? We've got a long way to removed another slip of paper go yet." which he put on his clipboard. He Tyler stepped out of the car and wrote on the slip, chewing at his followed the old man across the lower lip and frowning. Then, paved area and around the side of shielding his actions with his body, the white building. Cord swiveled he took the .44 caliber pistol from on the seat and looked back at the bottom of the cash box and Fallon. "Why don't you wise up?" slipped it inside his coveralls. Slow­ "I could ask you the same thing." ly, he ventured back out to the "Easy, Art," Brenner said to him. car. "The hell with that," Fallon said. "Here's your receipt," he said to "This—" Cord. "You keep pushing and pushing, Cord was still watching Fallon don't you, Fallon?" Cord asked in the rear-view mirror. "Oh," he him. "You can't keep that fat mouth said perfunctorily. "Thanks." He of yours closed." wadded the slip of paper and put Fallon's black eyes bored into it into the open ash tray. Cord'sj and they stared at each Tyler said to the old man. "You other unblinkingly. It grew very have anything to eat here?" quiet. Brenner fidgeted finally. , "Sandwich machine in the ga­ "Art ...» rage." "Listen to Brenner here," Cord "Where's the garage?" said to Fallon. "He's got the right "Around on the other side. Ill idea." show you." Fallon remained silent, but his "It's better than nothing, I sup­ big hands clenched and unclenched pose." Tyler looked at Cord. "Any inside the steel handcuffs. preference?" Cord turned then, looking out Cord shook his head. of the open window. The old man "I'll take ham on rye," Fallon was ambling back across the paved said from the rear seat. area, and he was carrying a square "I thought I told you to shut of rough, grease-stained cloth over

102 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED one hand. He approached the win­ Cord made three forward steps dow. and halted. Behind him, the old "What's keeping my guard?" man found the key and unlocked Cord asked him. "We're in kind the handcuffs on Fallon and Bren­ of a hurry." ner. Fallon took the automatic im­ "I guess you are," the old man mediately. said, and flicked the cloth away "The other one's in back," the with his left hand. Cord froze. In old man said. "I tapped him with the old man's right hand was the my gun here as soon as he had his .44 he had taken from the cash box. back turned." It was pointing directly at Cord's "Check him," Fallon said to temple. "You make a move, mister, Brenner. Brenner nodded, and he and I reckon you're dead." and the old man went around the Fallon sucked in his breath side of the building. Then, "You sharply in the back seat. Cord sat can turn around now. Cord." looking at the gun, not moving. Cord pivoted slowly. Fallon told One of the old man's eyes darted him, "Face the car, hands on the briefly to the back. "Where's the roof, legs spread. You know the key.-"' position, don't you?" "On the ignition ring," Fallon Wordlessly, Cord complied. Fal­ told him. "Watch out he doesn't try lon passed his free hand over him for the gun." quickly. Satisfied that Cord had no The old man reached down with other weapon, he dipped his hand one hand, never taking his eyes into Cord's rear pocket and removed from Cord, and pulled open the the wallet from there. He put it into door. "Keep your hands where I his own trousers, and then said, can see 'em and step out here." "All right. Put your hands behind Slowly, Cord obeyed. He stood you now." holding his hands out in front of He snapped the cuflfs over Cord's him, watching the old man's hand. wrists, and caught his shoulder The gun did not waver. The old and turned him. Brenner and the man said, "Turn around." old man came back then, shoving Cord did that. The old man Tyler ahead of them. There was a pressed the .44 against his spine, smear of blood on the side of then removed the automatic from Tyler's head where the old man the holster at Cord's belt. "Walk had hit him, and he was still groggy. ahead a few steps," he said. "And His hands also were cuffed behind don't look around." him now.

THE CLINCHER 103

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Fallon saw the two of tkcm into a number of things. By themselves, the rear seat of the car and locked they didn't mean much, but when the door. He put the automatic in you put 'em all together they could his belt, and looked at the old man. only spell one thing. I was county "What can we say? You just saved sheriff here for twenty-five years, our lives." before I retired and opened up this "That's a fact," Brenner said. He here station two summers ago. I looked immensely reUeved. "AH seen a lot of federal marshals trans­ they talked about, coming down porting prisoners to and from from Washington, was shooting us McNeil in my time. And I seen a and putting our bodies in the lot of prisoners, too; used to house trunk." 'em in my jail when an overnight "What happened up there.?" stop was needed. I know a few "We got careless," Fallon ad­ things about both breeds." mitted. "We stopped this morning "Go on," Fallon encouraged. for coffee, and made the mistake "Well, first off, neither of you of letting them have some. The lads had those plastic identity bands next thing we knew, we had hot all prisoners have to wear on their coffee in our faces and Cord there wrists. I never seen one yet who had my gun." had his off outside, no matter "I told you," Tyler hissed to Cord what" in the back seat. "I told you we Brenner nodded. "They broke should have finished them off." the ones they were wearing, and Cord stared straight ahead. "May­ there was no way to get them on be," he said sofdy. "But if Fd let us." you have your way, we'd be a- hell "Another thing," the old man of a lot worse off than we are said, "was when the fella you call now. Would you rather put in Cord had himself a cigarette while twenty years for bank robbery and I was washing the windshield. I attempted escape, or do life for had a good look at the pack when murder?" he took it out of his pocket." Fallon asked the old man, "How Fallon frowned. "Yes?" did you know ? They didn't give us "It was opened at the bottom." the chance to say anything, to tip Fallon's frown switched to a you off. How did you know?" smile. "An old habit of prison in­ The old man put the .44 inside mates, coast to coast," he said. his coveralls and rubbed the back "Sure." of his neck. "Well," he said, "it was The old man nodded. "They like

104 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED to set themselves apart. I suppose .44 into my coveralls when I went there're honest folks who open into the office. But when I give smokes that way, too, but sure not the Cord fella his receipt, that made a federal marshal." He tugged at his me positive what I was seein' in ear. "And then there was the gaso­ this here car wasn't what it seemed line." to be. He crumpled it right up "Gasoline.''" Brenner asked. and stuck it in the ash tray. Hell, "He paid me in cash. Ain't never no man on the federal payroll is seen a marshal in recent years who going to crumple six bucks and put paid for gasoline 'cept with a credit it in the ash tray, and that's a fact." card. 'Specially when he's got one The old man passed a hand peeking out of his wallet, like the through his silver hair. "I'm gettin' one I glimpsed when the Cord fella on in years, but I ain't senile yet; give me the bills." He looked at and I used to be a pretty fair sheriff Fallon. "Ami right.?" in my day, if I do say it myself. "As rain," Fallon said with some Takin' these two really wasn't much admiration. of a sweat. No offense, you under­ "And you get reimbursed for stand." mileage, don't you.?" Fallon looked in at Cord and "That's right." Tyler, both now sullen and quiet. "That was the clincher," the old "No," he said, taking the old man's man said. "With the other things, I hand respectfully. "No offense at was sure enough to slip my old all, sir."

Dear Fans: It is aluiays 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. Hiuhcoc\, 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 all of you for your interest. Most ancerely, Pat Hitchcock

THE CXIMCHER 105

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED It is supposedly a lofty trait to cling to one's beliefs.

HE FOUND them disturbing, those Sarsen Circle, the Bluestone Circle, great hulking shapes. The bril- between a monolith and a trilithon, hance of the moon etched them on through the Bluestone Horse­ sharply. He had been so pleased, it shoe, and so to the Altar Stone. had gone so smoothly—^but those The flattish boulder came about to stones! In daylight Stonehenge his waist, and none too gently he struck him as fusty, a few crum­ laid her on its uneven surface. The bling relics of a bygone age, but winds swept howling across the the moonlight breathed a terrifying Salisbury Plain, stirring her long life into the great forms, and in yellow hair. He wiped wet palms spite of himself his mind conjured on his trouser legs. Only the wind primeval watchers lurking in silent would stir it ever again . . . disapproval. The stones threw giant shadows Her hair was blowing next in thick black bars across his path. morning too, when Chief Inspector He staggered slightly under his Harlan Faulkner stood over the burden as he walked—through the corpse. His long, agile hands were

106 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED thrust into his pockets, and his tall, which this woman had been sacri­ lean body was braced to resist the ficed. chilly, screeching wind that gusted "Which is as great a nonsense as in and out of the titanic trilithons. you'll ever think of," he grumbled He feit at home in this odd place, to himself. "There never were sacri­ having forsaken a career in archae­ fices here, and this is the work of ology only when he realized that a more than somewhat cracked

he could not afford a doctorate. He brain. Or," he amended, "someone had turned to detection of the crim­ who wants me to think so." inal present as a substitute for the He felt profoundly sorry for the historic past, and seldom regretted woman, baldly abandoned to the it, for he found in pohce work un­ winds of that ancient place. Her expected human satisfactions. coat was open, and an unusual- With Stonehenge empty of re­ looking dagger protruded starkly minders of the mundane present— from her blue silk dress. She the sightseers with their everlasting looked about thirty, with delicate, cameras had been turned away, and pretty features and, even in death, his men were still in the car park a wistful look. What, he wondered, collecting their gear—time here had led her to this bizarre end? seemed to have slipped its moor­ On impulse, he brushed the hair ings, and one could imagine that back from her face, and started. It the ancient stones, looming as high moved oddly under his hand. He as twenty feet over him, were im­ shook his head to clear it of primi­ bued with the primitive spirits to tive vapors and returned to the

DEATH AT STONEHENOE 107

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED twentieth century. She was wearing dagger. "No fingerprints, sir." what he knew was called a fall^ and He nodded, slipping it into his he pulled it off. She looked quite coat pocket.. "I'm going to pay a different, somehow more interest­ call. Check out this telegram and ing and at the same time less pret­ see what you can find out about the ty, her face now framed with short, Carmichaels—and what she did wispy locks. yesterday. See you later at the sta­ The others came straggling up tion." He headed briskly across the and set to work, following their ground, through the circles of usual routines. Faulkner, too, be­ stones—or what was left of them came businesslike. He picked up after nearly four thousand years— the purse that was lying on the and on to the road, swinging along ground and went swiftly through in an easy stride, it. The only noteworthy item was a telegram addressed to Mrs. Alex­ Dr. Alexander Carmichael was a ander Carmichael at 21 Upper King quiet, shaggy-haired professor of Street, Salisbury. It read, "Meet me mathematics, retired, with sad, ner­ nine tonight car park Stonehenge, vous eyes. His face became tragic Urgent." It was unsigned. when Faulkner broke the news to "So that's it!" he whisdfed to him­ him. They were in the small Uving- self. "Cherchez I'homme,, after all." room of the Carmichael home. It fit with the silk dress and fancy Books and papers were lying hairpiece. around in casual disorder,, many "Hugh,** he said to his sergeant, overlaid with a fine coating of dust. a chunky, fresh-faced man who Some nondescript plants drooped looked younger than he was, "take on the windowsill, and badly fit­ this stuff back to the station and ting slipcovers sagged on two or we'll look it over later," He handed three pieces of furniture. Whatever him the purse and the fall. "But the dead woman had been, she had­ have the weapon cheeked out now. n't been a zealous housekeeper. I want it." Dr. Carmichael spentrnostof his While he waited, the police doc­ time pursuing esoteric researches tor made a quick examination and and writing them up for learned report. The dagger had apparently journals; Of medium height^ he had killed' her, probably instantly, be­ to crane his neck to meet the eyes tween nine and twelve the previous o£ the lanky inspector. He looked evening, at a rough estimate. considerably older than his vnfe. The sergeant returned with tbe- "Felicity dead.?" he said dazedly

DEATH AT STONEHENGE 109 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED in a high, thin voice. "Murdered? what developed afterward. She's You're sure there's no mistake?" been going up to London every "I'm afraid you'll have,to iden­ week to see him. It's been horri­ tify her, sir," Faulkner said, "and ble." then we'll know for sure." "How do you know?" There was no mistake, and when "She'd go out, and lie about he saw the woman lying on the im­ where she was going. Only yester­ personal morgue slab, he wept. day she did that. Many times—you Faulkner took him back home and may think this strange behavior for gave him brandy. a professor, Faulkner, but I had to - "Have you any idea, Doctor," he know—^I followed her. On three asked quietly, "who might have occasions I saw her go into his done this.''" house." "Oh, yes," Carmichael said dully. "But why would he kill her?" "How could he do this to me.? It "Why indeed?" Carmichael was bad enough before, but now— echoed hollowly. "Perhaps he'd now I'll never get her back." found someone else and she was in He struggled for control, and his, way. He's an evil man, Inspec­ then it came out. His cherished, tor!" adored Felicity^a sweet and gentle Faulkner reached into his pocket soul, according to him—was hav­ and brought out the dagger. ing an affair with an archaeologist "Is that what did it?" Carmi- in London. The man had come chael's voice was harsh. "It's his— down to study Stonehenge the year Donat's! He showed it to us not before, and Mrs. Carmichael, a long ago. That proves it, doesn't knowledgeable astronomer, had it?" worked with him. "We'll soon find out," Faulkner "At first I couldn't believe it, In­ promised grimly. spector. Not Felicity. She insisted she had just met him and their as­ On the eighty mile drive to Lon­ sociation was professional, and I don, Faulkner went over the case tried to accept that. But they were with Hugh Freddie, his sergeant. so close. I often thought that they The other man's enthusiasm enter­ previously knew each other and tained him, for Freddie still man­ cooked up the 'professional investi­ aged to find in crime investigation gation' for my benefit. I suppose she a fulfillment of boyhood dreams couldn't help herself," he added that had been nurtured by the de­ wistfully. "But there's no doubt tective magazines. This did not,

110 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED however^ prevent him from being some kind of cultist nonsense be­ an able investigator. hind the murder, though the sim­ "Let's not forget, Hugh," Faulk­ plest explanation is that they used ner said now, "there are two Stone- Stonehenge as a meeting place. henges—the scientific one of ar­ They may have done so often, this chaeologists and astronomers^ and time having a lovers' quarrel, or he the superstitious, romantic one of having planned to murder her, Druid temples and blood sacrifices. maybe for some such reason as the Pure nonsense, of course. No evi­ husband suggests. Having the dag­ dence the Druids had anything to ger with him looks Uke premedita­ do with the place, which was about tion." fifteen centuries before their time. Freddie cleared his throat self­ The scientific makes much more consciously. "It strikes me, sir, that sense, naturally, and besides, we're the dagger points to this Donat dealing with scientists. But still, very clearly. For a learned and, I you do hear of queer cults from should think, inteUigent man, he's time to time, and I've always left a pretty obvious trail. Do you thought scientists are more credu­ suppose he's being framed.?" lous than they hke to admit—as if a Faulkner laughed. "You know secret yearning to beUeve in the very well that crimes are usually mystic attracts a lot of 'em to sci­ more obvious than your fiction ence in the first place. Not hope of writers make them out to be. Still, finding disproof^ but an uncon­ it could be. We're a long way yet scious hope they won't. I noticed a from knowing all about it. FlI give sizeable collection of books on you odds Donat will tell us the ancient cultism at the Carmichaels'. dagger was stolen. It might have I don't know if they're his or hers, been, Hugh, it might have been. but there again the interest may or But the rendezvous—and Stone­ may not be purely scientific" henge at that—sounds Uke another "Yes, ar," Freddie agreed duti­ man. fully. He himself leaned toward "By the way, what did you find the Druid-temple-andrblood-sacri- out about the telegram?" fice Stonehenge, and not uncon­ "Came from. London," replied sciously either, but he would have Freddie. "They phoned it and got died rather than admit it to his no answer, so they delivered it. It chief. turns out she was at her hairdress­ "So vK don't know," Faulkaer er's in Sahsbury—getting that fall said, "whether wc can rule eitt thing, in fact, That's the only rimp ISATH AT STO>SEHENeS HI

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED she did go out, far as I could learn. levantly, "all the recent excitement No visitors, either, that anyone saw. over Stonehenge. Astronomers have And no one saw her go out last said for years that the stones were night." aligned to show the position of the "Which we know she did," sun at the—uh—solstices, isn't it? Faulkner observed. "Her own car, To celebrate the sun god," he add­ too. It was still in the car park." ed in a welter of uncertainty. ' "It was the husband," Freddie "Ah, but a chap named Hawkins doggedly pursued his original made quite an addition." Faulkner thought, "that put you on to Do- galloped happily away on his hob­ nat, wasn't it.'" byhorse. "The stones do show po­ "I see what you mean, but I'll sitions, like the sun rising right swear he was really broken up. over the heelstone on Midsummer You can tell, you know. And Day, and setting, if you're looking crushed about the affair." from the right place, within the "Of which we have his word for framework of one of the trilithons its existence." at the Winter Solstice. Someone— "He went up to London yester­ Sir Arthur Evans, I think—pointed day morning, and got back by the out it would look like the sun go­ early morning train today—he says. ing into a tomb, which fits with a We'll check after we see Donat. primitive religion, but Hawkins What did you find out about found more astronomical align­ them?" ments than the earlier fellows • "Lived quietly. No one seems to dreamed of—sun and moon. How­ have thought she was playing ever, the big thing he proved was around. A devoted couple, I'm told. •that these supposedly primitive Him worshiping the ground she ancients could predict important walked on and her very solicitous astronomical events—especially of him. No close friends, though, eclipses, which terrified them—for or anyone that really knew them all the years to come, with a little well. Kept to themselves." resetting of their computer every "What if it wasn't an assigna­ three centuries." tion," Faulkner mused, "but a meet­ "Sounds fantastic." Freddie was ing to check out an astronomical impressed in spite of himself. "How position at firsthand?" did they do it?" ," "How would that lead to mur­ "You know the Aubrey holes der?" Freddie was skeptical. "I've that circle the stones. The scien­ never understood," he added irre­ tists haven't really been able to ex-

112 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED plain them, and Hawkins worked ful, combined with polite doubt out that they were a digital comput­ that he could. ing machine, that all eclipses could "The Carmichaels? Oh, yes, they be predicted in a fifty-six year cycle, were here recently," he said, usher­ and there are fifty-six Aubrey ing them into a livingro»m in holes! They could have been used which the odors of leather and an­ to track the years. If six rocks are tiquity mingled. "Brilhant couple. placed at certain intervals and She was invaluable on the Stone- moved one hole per year, when henge thing. We were working on certain rocks are at certain holes, one of Hawkins' unanswered ques­ eclipses occur. He proved it in one tions, the Bluestone Circle of Stone- minute on a modern computer by henge II. It's been written up, if feeding his data into it. They used you'd like to see." to think the Aubrey holes were in­ "I would, later," Faulkner said tended for more stones, or some sincerely. "At present we're investi­ ritual purpose. There were crema­ gating Mrs. Carmichael's murder." tions in them, but that must have "Good lord! I knew she was un­ been secondary." stable, but—murder!" Freddie felt a twinge for the rit­ "How do you mean, unstable?" ual cremations, but arrival at an "Well, overemotional. Fearful. impressive Georgian house in May- And terribly hipped on cultism. fair bearing Donat's address fore­ Unnerved me at times. She was stalled further archaeological dis­ seeing a psychiatrist, you know. cussion. They parked and alighted, Friend of mine, actually. Felicity coattails flapping, though the winds met her here. Shall I call her.'" were distinctly tamer in London "In good time," Faulkner said, than on the Salisbury Plain. crossing his long legs. "I'd like to When they got inside, they ask you some questions first." learned that the house had been "Of course," Donat said easily, made into flats. They had no trou­ leaning back in his black leather ble locating Donat's, and he him­ easy chair. "Background and so on, self opened the door to them. He I suppose. I don't think I can shed was a dark, handsome man with much light, however." an athletic build and weathered Faulkner hestitated. Donat was face to be expected in a working putting on a good act—if it was an archaeologist—or a big game hunt­ act. "She was attractive, wasn't er, Faulkner thought. He professed she?" he began tentatively. a courteous willingness to be help­ "Y-e-es, if you like the type. Rath-

IXBATH AT STONEHENGE 113

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED er too much the perennial sweet know you were busy." Her voice young thing for my taste," Donat was soft and faintly accented. answered coolly. Vienna, thought Faulkner. He "You weren't interested in her wondered if she'd been Ustening. —personally?" "As a matter of fact, I was just "Whatever gave you that idea?" going to get you," Donat said he asked sardonically. "Don't tell quickly. "Inspector Faulkner and me old Alex Carmichael had some Sergeant Freddie are from the Wilt­ such notion!" He chuckled. "No, shire poUce, and they're looking Inspector, forget that tack. Not my into Felicity Carmichael's murder; style at all." Gentlemen, Dr. Amalie Angel." He's acting, Faulkner thought. He asked, "Where were you last night?" "You sound serious." Donat was still amused. "With a lady friend, as a matter of fact. She'll vouch for it." "They usually do." Faulkner's tone was dry. "Have you seen this before?" Once again he displayed the distinctive dagger. Donat was silent for a time, and the tension increased. "Faulkner," What a lot of doctors in this he said at last, "my apologies. I un­ case, thought Freddie, and not one derestimated you. I thought this was that could cure a hangnail. (In plain silly, but I see I was mistaken. which he was mistaken, for Dr. You won't believe that was stolen Angel, like most psychoanalysts, from me, and I can't prove it. You had a medical degree.). really should talk to my lady friend. Meantime, she was saying to She happens to be the psychoanalyst Faulkner, "But this is terrible I Yes, I mentioned, and she Uves just she was my patient, but 1 cannot across the hall." tell you anything about her with­ As if on cue, there was a tap at out violating professional confi­ the door, and wdthout waiting, a dence."^ tall, beautiful' woman with sleek, "Since she is dead^—murdered— dark blonde hair came in. don't you think you could best help "Gary, I—oh, I'm sorry. I didn't her by letting us know what was

114 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZIN1E LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED the matter with her?" Faulkner directly to Salisbury. "I've an urge wondered just how ethical would to revisit the scene of the crime," be a psychoanalyst in love. he explained. "Perhaps, but I would have to He never failed to be stirred by think about it. I do have an idea the approach to the old stones. One where you should look." minute you were rushing down a "That's a help," Faulkner said long straight road with flat un­ coldly. "Did her husband know she broken plains stretching as far was seeing you?" ahead as the eye could see, and the "Yes, though he didn't approve." next, small humps appeared on Since there was little more that the horizon, growing steadily larger either doctor was willing to say, till they dominated the landscape. Faulkner requested that they re­ They left their car in the now- main available till further notice, crowded car park, crossed the road and he left with Freddie. and bought two tickets. Walking "One for you, Hugh," Faulkner through the crowds of sightseers conceded on the way back to Salis­ milling, gaping, and taking pictures, bury, shifting his long legs with they headed for the Altar Stone. A difficulty in the small English car. plump, giggling girl was posing "Carmichael was certainly in Lon­ on the spot where the corpse had don all afternoon, and got back by lain such a short time ago, while the early train this morning as he her companion busily adjusted his said, but he could just have nipped camera. out of his meeting unnoticed, come "Why here, Hugh?" Faulkner down in a fast car, and gotten back mused. "Did that poor woman have in time to be seen at his club later. some kind of craziness that turned We can't rule him out on his alibi." her into a sacrificial victim? A sick "But," said Freddie, "if he knew relationship with Donat—or some­ she was seeing Dr. Angel, why did one else?" He shrugged. "Let's go he think she went there to see see Carmichael. I want to know Donat?" what he has to say about his wife's "We only have their word for need for a psychiatrist." that," Faulkner reminded him. "If she did have a mental ailment, I'd "Surely you don't believe that, certainly like to know what it was." Inspector?" was what he did say, Just beyond Wheat Sheaf Inn, in a condescending tone, when they Faulkner directed Freddie to by­ asked him. "Felicity told me she pass the turn that would take them was seeing this Dr. Angel, but it

DEATH AT STONEHENGE 115

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED was a blind to cover her going "You've solved the thing, sir?" there so often. I assure you she "We'll see." But in his long thin was perfectly sane and happy. I bones he knew he had; The data don't doubt that everyone who was all there for the answer, and knows us will say the same." he was finally reading it right. They had, Faulkner thought, It came to a head that night. with the exception of the London The moon was more fitful than pair. "She wasn't—ah—carried away it had been the previous evening, by cultism?"^ Faulkner pursued. for dark heavy clouds were drifting "My dear man," Carmichael said across it. with asperity, "/ am sometimes She was sitting on the Altar 'carried away' by ancient mathe­ Stone, waiting, long slim legs dan­ matics. Does that make me crazy? gling over the side, when he ar­ No," he said, reverting to his earlier rived, a dim form at first, striding manner of listless misery, "I ]{now through the intermittent shadows she was seeing him. I have reasons cast by those giant hulks. . . . For one thing, she had a dis­ "You came," he said in a low guise which transformed her ap­ voice, when he was close enough. pearance." "I thought you needed my help," Abruptly the mathematician she said in her soft accent. buried his shaggy head in his "You said you know everything. hands. This is a fitting place to meet. Do "I'm sorry," he apologized, after you know why?" a moment, "I can't discuss it with­ "You w;anted to return to the out breaking down. She was very^ scene of your crime." dear to me. I wanted her back. "I want to commit another," he Inspector. I would have cherished corrected in a conversational tone. her all the more for her transgres­ The moon appeared full in time to sion. It just showed her human glint on the kitchen knife he had frailty." produced. Suddenly he jerked his Faulkner murmured something, head, and they left. "What's the matter?" she asked "Back to the station, Hugh," tranquilly, Faulkner said when they were out­ "These stones," he muttered. "It's side. "I'm almost sure, but I want absurd, but sometimes they seem to think it through. I've a good —alive. Have you felt it?" idea, too, what Dr. Angel can tell "You're not far wrong. Doctor, me, and I want to talk to her." Drop that knife!" Faulkner spoke

116 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED briskly from the shadows, which him. A headstrong woman, if ever came swarmingly to life as police I saw one." poured from behind the stones. The circles seethed with them, converg­ "Amalie says you had it all ing on the Altar Stone. figured out," a curious Donat was The moon emerged brilliantly saying to a complacent Faulkner a again to illumine the grey, shaggy short time later, around a table head of the man the policemen in the Bear's private bar. were holding firmly. "A lot of things didn't make "Got you, Carmichael!" Faulkner sense until Carmichael gave him­ was jubilant. self away," Faulkner said. "When I "Amalie, you idiot." Donat was reviewed everything in the light holding the analyst as firmly, and of that, it all fell into place. I a good deal more tenderly, than thought Dr. Angel's conscience the police were holding their cap­ might let her corroborate what I tive. "Darling," he breathed, "I was already prepared to act on. don't hold with my women taking Especially," he grinned, "as it would my risks, but you were marvelous." clear you. I thought she might not "I was terrified," she said, burrow­ be completely disinterested in that. ing into Donat's arms. "If there was an affair," he went "Damn you all!" snarled Carmi­ on, "motive was no problem. But chael. "You're all in it together to if you and Dr. Angel were telling cuckold me, but I'll kill every one the truth, I couldn't see at first why of youl" either you or Carmichael would But the police had already dis­ want to kill her—unless her mental armed him, and now two burly problem were involved in some un­ constables led him away. known way. But once he gave me "Inspector," Donat said, "when reason to think he had killed her, I I was working on Stonehenge, I realized there was another alterna­ stayed at a nice old inn in Devizes tive—that she wasn't mentally ill, called the Bear. Could you meet but he was, with a jealousy that us there and fill us in?" wasn't rational, and she was getting "With pleasure," Faulkner said. help to cope with it. I wanted Dr. "I owe the lady a lot for the risk Angel's confirmation. So he really she took, though I have a few thought he was being cuckolded— well-chosen words to say about her and you knew it, by the way. You taking it—calling him and telling put on quite an act." him she knew, and agreeing to meet "It seemed prudent," Donat said. DEATH AT STONEHENGE 117

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED "He sent his wife a telegram the new fall when he killed her." making the rendezvous at Stone- "Why Stonehenge.?" Dr. Angel henge," Faulkner continued. "He wondered. "He wasn't mad in a told us later what I finally realized way to believe in sacrifices." —though he didn't sign it, he ex­ "Purely practical," said Faulkner. pected her to think it came from "His alibi required her to be found you. When she came, that con­ soon enough to establish time of stituted the final 'proof to his death, and he also needed a private crazed mind." place to kill her. At home he risked "He didn't seem crazy to me," being seen in the . neighborhood offered Freddie. when he was supposed to be in Lon­ "That's true paranoia," Dr. Angel don. Stonehenge was ideal—private explained. "Logical within the but accessible by night and public frame of the delusion, and sane by day. Besides, it was another outside it; The paranoid schizo­ pointer to Donat. He wanted to phrenic thinks the v/orld plots punish him, too. against him because he is Napoleon "I have a question for you, Dr. or a lost prince, but the true para­ Angel," he added. "You believed noid is most apt to think his spouse your patient utterly. Wasn't it with­ is unfaithful' and weave a chain of in the realm of possibility that she 'proof to support his delusion." was the sick one weaving a false "Like the hairdresser," Freddie story i?" suddenly realized. "She really did "Not in this case, Inspector," have an appointment." smiled the pretty analyst. "I \new "That," said Faulkner, "was the Gary wasn't carrying on with her giveaway. She got that fall yester­ because I don't give him time. You day, after he went to London, and must come to our wedding, which she wasn't wearing it when he will be soon." identified her, yet he referred to And, having drunk amply to the how different she looked in dis­ solution of the case, they drank to guise. So he must have seen her in that.

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rain began. The wipers slapped lazily at the water spattering the windshield. His headlights probed mM feebly at the wet mirror of the blacktop. He leaned forward and squinted to see. The girl jumped out from no­ where. Suddenly she was there, waving from the right side of the THE SECONDARY road which Clay­ road. Clayton Black had been ton Black hoped would soon lead raised to respect older people and him to Meadsville wound dark and women in distress so he pressed lonely through a long stretch of down on the brake pedal and state reforestation land. The last brought the car.to a stop just a few farmhouse he'd passed had been feet beyond the girl. The door miles back. He slowed the four- opened and the girl quickly year-old car to about forty as the climbed in beside him. "Gee, thanks

A I.OCK HAS MANY SIDES 121

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED a lot, mister," she said breezily. young, too iimocent to be involved In the moment the dome Ught. in something illegal. "What kind had been on, Black had a glance of of man is this creep?" he asked. a very young, pretty girl, long black The girl hugged her arms about hair wet and straight now, wearing her and shivered. "He's an animal. a green blouse, matching skirt, and I think he's a little crazy. His high heels. He could smell the name's Arnie. And you know dampness of her clothes. She wiped what? I think—well, never mind." water from her forehead with one "That's nice. He's an animal and hand. you think he's a little crazy, so you Black said, "I didn't see your car. go out on .a date with him." Of course—" "Oh, the other time he wasn't "I don't have a car. Gee, am I like this," the girl protested. "To­ ever glad you came along. It'd be a night he just seemed different. He long walk home." wasn't drunk, but he kept saying "You live in Meadsville?" how tough he is, that he could get "No. A farm about four miles anything he wanted. He'll be sorry. this side of it. About five miles up My dad will have him arrested. I this road." told him so, too. You didn't tell me Black had the car moving again. your name. I'm Joanne Cabot." "And you just went for a walk and "Clay Black." got caught in the rain?" "Where are you from, Clay ? I'm "Of course not. Same old story. sure glad you stopped for me." I had a date with a guy who turned "Ohio. A small town near Co­ out to be a bum. Gee, what a creep. lumbus." Buys me a dinner and thinks that "You're a long way from home." entitles him to—well, you know. "I'll be living in Meadsville, at Gee, was he ever mad? I was lucky least for a while. I'll be teaching in to get away. I had to jump out of the high school. When I—" the car and hide in the woods. He "There it is," Joanne Cabot inter­ was taking me to his house whether rupted, pointing. "There's the lane I wanted to go or not. Wait'll I tell to our house. On the left." my dad. My dad's a part-time Black slowed the car. A narrow deputy sheriff." muddy rut angled into trees off to Black didn't know whether to the left. "Where's the house?" believe her or not. He wondered if "It's about a hundred yards he were being set up for some kind back. You can't see it from here. of con game, but she looked too Don't try to turn in. It's too muddy.

122 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I can get out here and walk in." the car for an instant. The thunder "It's not that bad. I'll drive you followed quickly, rumbling and in." He turned the wheel and nosed growling. the car into the slippery ruts of the "Come inside for a minute and lane. The rain had stopped. Black I'll get you a cup of coffee. I want stared at the ruts in front of him, you to meet my dad." Joanne constandy twisting the wheel to fol­ opened the door and held it far low the most solid portion of the Black, and he entered a large, dark lane. Finally the road curved be­ hvingroom. hind a stand of trees and he could "He must be in the kitchen," Jo­ see the house. anne said. "Just a minute." "There's a light in dre kitchen," Black, left standing in the dark­ Joanne said. "Dad's waiting up for ness of the hvingroom, fek an odd me." uneasiness. Outside, Ughtning Black pulled the car out of the again crackled through the atmo­ lane and faced it toward the house, sphere, making square panes of up on the grass of the yard where Hght at each of the windows. The it would be easier for him to turn sudden piercing scream froze him around. The farmhouse was a scab­ into complete immobility momen­ by white, boxlike structure like a tarily. Then Black rushed across thousand other farmhouses in this the unfamiliar room and down the part of the country. hallway where Joanne had gone, "Wait'll I tell him what hap­ the prolonged scream growing in pened," the girl said. "Thanks volume as he approached its source. again, Clay." Joanne was standing just inside "Perhaps I'll see you in town." the kitchen door, her back braced The girl seemed reluctant to against the wall, her hands at her leave him. Looking at the house ears as if to blot out the sound of she said, "It's funny he hasn't come her own screaming. Her eyes to the door yet." bulged in riveted fascination at a "I'll walk you to the door," Black lump of a man on the floor, said. He got out, circled the car sprawled with outflung arms in the and took the girl's hand and middle of a red stream of blood walked with her toward the house. which flowed from his lower trunk The rain came down again and across the sloping old linoleum and they hurried up to the porch. Light­ disappeared beneath the kitchen ning flashed and crackled nearby, table. lighting up the house, the yard and Black's muscles tightened, mak-

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LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ing every move an effort conscious­ gan to sink limply to the floor. ly thought of and then forced, Uke Black moved to her and led her a robot whose actions must first be to a chair at the other side of the programmed by an outside source table, out of sight of the man on before the correct button is pushed. the floor. With Joanne in the chair, He should go to the man to see if he went around the table and bent he were still alive, and he should down. The blood and the wounds do something to stop Joanne's nauseated him, but. he swallowed screams; yet another part of him and forced himself to feel for a wanted to search the rest of the heartbeat. There was none. room to be sure they were safe Cabot was a big man, his leath­ from whatever had attacked the ery, lined face pale now, the lips man on the floor. For a moment pulled back in a snarl. His thick he did.nothing except stand there, hair was almost totally white. Black the weight of making a decision looked at the rest of him. The over­ holding him motionless. all pants were ripped and tattered Joanne's screaming slowed into below the waist where a knife had choking sobs and her body relaxed, slashed at him, and the blood must her knees bending so that she be­ have spurted out at his attacker.

124 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Probably each one of the knife tered came out only a hoarse moan. wounds would have been fatal, but - "It's Arnie," she croaked. "I know he had been stabbed time after time. it was. He's crazy." Her shoulders A long, wickedly sharp butcher and hands began to shake as if she knife lay near his head, as if the had suddenly developed palsy. killer had thrown it at his victim Black said, "Do you have a tele­ as he died. phone?" Black stood up, sweating and Joanne nodded. Deliberately shivering simultaneously. He start­ avoiding looking at her father's ed to speak to Joanne and was in­ body, she stumbled into the living- terrupted by a crack of thunder. room with Black following her. Suddenly it seemed to him he had She went to a wall phone, spun Uved all his life with the sound of the crank and then raised the re­ hard, pelting rain in his ears. He ceiver to her ear. She waited a waited patiently for the thunder to moment, hung up, then tried again. pass. The second time she replaced the "Joanne," he said, going to her. phone she shook her head. "It's Joaxme's head rested on her arms dead. Maybe the lines." on the table and her body still "Yes," Black said. He wanted to shook with the gasps of her weep­ comfort the girl, to reassure her, ing. tell her they would be all right, but Black raised her head with his he only stood there, feeling blank hands, looking down into her red and empty, drained of thought. He and swollen fear-drenched eyes. found himself simply listening to "Joanne, we've got to get out of the steady downpour of the rain, here." drumming loudly on the porch "My daddy. That's my daddy. roof. He's dead, isn't he.?" "Clay, are you all right?" Joanne "Yes." grasped liis arms and tried to shake She tried to hide her head again him. in her arms. Black pushed her away. "I'm Black pulled her out of the chair. okay. I'm okay. But we can't go "It wasn't long ago. He may still out to the car." be here." "Why not? We can't stay here, It took an instant for his words not with—" to penetrate to her, but when they "Joanne, the blood—" He swal­ did she raised her head and tried lowed. "The blood. It was still- to scream again. The sound she ut­ well, it was warm. It hadn't even

A ROCK HAS MANY SIDES 125 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED started to coagulate," he told her. "Clay, what are we going to do ?" "What are you talking about?" "We can't go out to the car. He'll "It was just a few minutes ago. be waiting for us." It couldn't have been more than Joanne looked over her shoulder five minutes before we came in. He before she said, "You're making me might be waiting for us out there." more frightened the more you talk." He was afraid she was going to "I'm scared, too. Maybe we can scream again, but she whispered so slip out the back way while he's low he had to bend toward her to waiting and watching the car." make out the words. "Then maybe "Through the kitchen ? I can't go he's still in the house. That's all the back in there again." more reason why we've got to get "You'll have to." away." Lightning cracked again, light­ "How far is it to town?" ing the earth for an instant with a "Four miles. Maybe four and a noonday brightness and then was half." gone, and thunder and the hum of Black took a deep breath. He had the rain filled the air. The lights in to think. He could not understand the house flickered and blinked out. why they'd been given this much Joanne ran to Black, throwing her­ time. Joanne's father must have self into his arms. been killed about the time they She cried, "He put the lights out. were driving down the lane to the He's like a devil." house. The killer probably heard Black held her close to him. "Lis­ them and had no way of telhng' ten, Joanne. We're going out the who it might be. So what would back. I hope we can get away, but he do? He'd leave the house. Then if he comes at us, don't hesitate. he'd either use whatever lead time Don't try to stop him. Run, but not he had to escape, to run from the to the car. Run into the woods and place of his killing, or he could hide. Have you got that?" wait and see who was in the car, "And what about you?" watch them go in the house, per­ "Never mind about me. You do haps feeling he was not in any dan­ as I've said." ger at all. He could afford to take "All right. Clay." his time, allowing them to find the Holding hands, they started to­ body while he planned what he ward the kitchen, walking on tip­ would do to therri. Or would he? toe as if the rain did not smother If he were really crazy, how would any sound their steps might make. you anticipate his actions? They were halfway across the liv-

126 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ingroom when they heard the muf­ her along a corral fence. It was a fled slam of a car door. wooden plank fence, once painted Joanne hissed, "Did you hear white. The darkness of the night that?" engulfed them, the rain soaking "He miist have been waiting for into their clothes. Ahead of them, us right in the car." bordering a pasture, was a row of They groped into the kitchen. tall pine trees running in a straight Black tried to recall the location of line as far as Black could see. The the table and the door. Above all, trees were fifty yards from the they had to avoid stimibling over house and the barn. Without a the body lying on the floor. word to each other, the two began They heard the front door flung running, their feet slipping and open with a great crash. Joanne sliding in the muddy turf. They was guiding Black silendy through gained the trees and halted briefly. the kitchen. They were at the door. "Did he see us?" Joanne said. "Is Black glanced back as Joanne he coming? I can't see." opened the door and slipped out. '1 can't either," Black said. He saw nothing and followed the "We've got to keep going." He girl down off the low stoop and pushed on through the pines and out into the mud of the yard, the walked direcdy into a barbed wire rain pouring down on them. Fifty fence. He resisted the impulse to yards away loomed the black shad­ curse and extricated himself from ow of the barn. They began to run the barbs, tearing at those parts of toward it. his clothes which would not easily "Hurry,'* Joanne was saying. pull away. "Hurry. Hurry." She recited it over Black dropped to the ground and and over like the chant of a prayer. wormed his way under the lower Behind them, Black heard an­ strand of wire. His clothes were other door slam open, and he now nothing but a thin outer skin, pounded harder for the barn, fight­ molded to his body by the water ing the slippery, slowing suction of and the mud. He held two of the the mud. Joanne raced beside him, strands apart and motioned for Jo­ still mumbling her chant for speed. anne to climb between them. Her Someone started to laugh. It came skirt tore as she struggled through. from the house, a loud, mocking, "You said the town's about four weirdly wild laugh. It went on and miles," Black whispered. "That's on. It was laughter of the insane. only an hour or hour and a half Black took Joanne's hand and led walk if we keep right at it." A ROCK HAS MANY SIDES 127

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Joanne was looking over her rent was whipping at him with shoulder. "All right. All right. Only enough force to unbalance him. He let's go. If he saw us—" retreated quickly to the edge where The open field before them slant­ Joanne stood. He shook his head. ed upward. Black took Joanne's "I don't think we could make it." hand and began walking rapidly. "The only place we'll be able to He would have felt safer if they cross this tonight is over the bridge were going through some type of at the road." She started wading cover, but the cave-like blackness of back out of the ankle-deep water, the night swallowed everything. moving in the direction of the flow. Perhaps it was better this way. Black followed-'her. He marveled Trees would only slow their prog­ for a moment at the girl's stamina. ress, perhaps confuse their sense of He himself ached in every bone, direction. and an uncontrollable trembling Miraculously the rain stopped. racked him periodically. Perhaps it "I'm so tired," Joanne panted. was true that women were basically . "We'll be at the top soon. It'll be stronger than men, at least in the easier then." They stumbled on, sense of accepting punishment, en­ chests heaving, concentrating on during hardship. sucking in the chill moist air and In a few minutes Joanne ex­ expelling it again almost before it claimed, "We're there! The road had entered their lungs. must be just ahead. This is the Sometime later they almost right-of-way fence." stumbled into a creek, which was Across the fence the land slanted now a rapidly rushing river. There down into a drainage ditch, and was no steep and abrupt bank, then abruptly they were on the merely a gently sloping grade. They shoulder of the road. Black had heard the gurgling of the water, begun visualizing the road as a and only then did Black realize his highway ablaze with the headlights numbed feet were under water. of many cars traveling in both di­ White tufts of water cascaded off rections over its surface, but in real­ rocks, speckling the river, the only ity it was still a macadam country color visible to them. road, as deserted now as the woods "I've never seen it so wide," Jo­ from which they had just emerged. anne said. The bridge was actually just a Black took a few tentative steps wide section of road over a huge farther into the stream. As soon as culvert, with concrete railings Hn- the water reached his knees the cur­ ing both sides. It would have been

128 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED invisible except for the whiteness brush. Black turned and saw the of the concrete. hulk crashing after them, gaining "We might as well keep walking on them rapidly. toward town," Black said. Joanne whimpered like a burned "I suppose so," murmured Jo­ infant when she ran into the fence. anne. Black skidded to a stop. Her clothes The sky rumbled, a noise famil­ were snagged on the barbs. He iar to them by now and yet fright­ yanked at her, pulling her from the ening. The rain did not resume fence, and threw her to his left. She gently. Great drops of water beat fell on her knees and remained down as if turned loose by a cosmic there, sobbing. Behind them, the faucet. They plodded on, ignoring snapping of breaking branches the downpour. drowned out the sound of the rain "It was a dirty trick getting you and deadened the cries of the girl. into this, Clay. I'm sorry. And my Their pursuer was so close, they father . . , He must have killed could hear his panting. my father just because I said I'd Black spun away from the girl tell him about tonight and daddy and braced himself. He could see would throw him in jail." Her Arnie quite clearly now, as if his voice choked. fear had so heightened his vision Black put an arm around her that he could see through darkness waist. "Don't think about it now. and rain. He was surprised at how Just think about getting to town slow the big man's progress seemed. and getting warm and dry again— He was no more than a few feet seeing lights and getting out of this away, yet to Black he seemed dis­ damn rain. I never saw such coun­ tant enough that he could still turn try." and elude him. Certainly it would "You're good, Clay," Joanne said. be possible. Glide to his right, "You're a good man." dodge in among the denser stand A swift scent of danger caused of trees and he would lose him, he Black to glance back over his felt sure. He'd be deserting Joanne. shoulder. Through the slashing Sure, but what comfort" could he rain he thought he saw movement, be to her simply accompanying her a blur of z man trotting after them. in death.? She was dead now. She He grabbed Joanne's hand and, couldn't possibly escape when breaking into a run, pulled her af­ Arnie was this close. Get out. Sur­ ter him off the road. vival was the first law. You can't They scrambled through the take all night deciding.

A ROCK HAS MANY SIDES 129 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Then it was done. With the de­ booming of his heartbeat. Now he cision made, a calm settled over could not get leverage to hit at the him, relaxing his muscles, and he stomach. He dug his knuckles into wondered how this could be, Arnie's ribs. Again and again he whether this was what spitting in slammed his fists into the side of death's eye bought a man. He felt the ribs. It was like hitting a tree. almost confident. The arms pressed him closer He hurled himself at Arnie's legs against the chest. Clay squirmed like a football player hitting below and tried to slide out from under the knees, rolling his shoulder into them. He could barely draw breath the attacking form. He kept on into his lungs. He had time to won­ rolling, feeling the ground tremble der why the man did not simply as the heavy man went down, hit him, knock him unconscious, grunting. and then finish the job without re­ Black sprang to his feet. Arnie sistance. had already recovered his balance This was death. It was gliding and was erect, turning toward him. in and sweeping him up in this To Black it was like facing a bear. lonely thicket on a stormy summer He could not discern the face but night. It was so different than he'd saw only the wide, blocky silhou­ imagined. No swift flashes from out ette. The bear lunged at him. Black of his past life blazed through his stepped back, trying to sidestep at mind. He was in great pain and the same time. A paw reached out wanted to live. He could not defeat and grasped his forearm and he death, and its inevitability angered was pulled close to Arnie. Black him. Orange streaks knifed into his pounded at the stomach with his eyes, and then his mind seemed to free right hand. He felt the man explode. give ground slightly, but the grip The sum total of power in each on his arm did not lessen. cell in his body revolted against the He kept pounding at the stom­ pressure squeezing his back into ach, kicked at the shins, but there his chest, and in an instinctive cata­ was no reaction from the blows. clysm of energy he lifted his feet Arnie still had not spoken. The from the ground, wrapped them only sounds from him were his around the knees and calves of heavy breathing and occasional Arnie and used the full power of grunts. Now the other arm circled his weight to swing the man to his Black and squeezed him against , left. Arnie's chest. He could hear the Arnie tripped and fell, still hold-

130 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ing onto Black, landing beside him back of Arnie's head. He felt the on the ground. The fail loosened rock hit and heard the pop of the his grip momentarily and Black fell spUtting skull. For a moment he back against the muddy earth. imagined he had failed, as Arnie Arnie dug his hands into Black's started a slow turn. Black svrang shoulders and hfted him from the again and the rock caught Arnie ground. above the temple, just at the hair­ "Arnie," Joanne screamed, "leave line. He crashed forward, face him alone! You hear? Leave him down in the mud, part of his legs alone!" She clutched ^at Artiie's draped across Joanne. thick mass of hair and tugged back. Joanne scrambled out from the Growling deep in his throat, legs and jumped to her feet. "Run," Arnie let Black drop back into the she cried. "Run. You knocked him thick mud and whirled on Joanne. out. Let's get out of here." He slapped her backhanded and Black stood still, holding the sent her slipping and sprawling to bloody rock in his right hand, star­ the ground. He seemed to have ing down at the form on the forgotten Black altogether as he ground. His breath still came in plodded after Joanne. short, grating gasps. "I think he's Black pushed himself out of the dead." mud, slid and fell again, and his "What? You couldn't kill him. hand scraped against the edge of a Let's don't wait." rock. He dug his hands into the Black slowly bent over Arnie's mud and pulled it out, an irregu­ body and looked at the back of his lar-shaped piece of shale about ten head. It was opened like a partly inches in diameter and an inch or cut orange. Black squeezed his eyes two thick. On one side it tapered shut, then rose and turned away. to a' narrow edge. He hoped he'd Joanne took a closer look and have time. Arnie was about to kick nudged the body with her foot. or stomp on Joanne. Black would . "You did," she said. "You did kill have perhaps one blow. If one blow him." Awe was in her voice. didn't do it, he would at least di­ Black had dropped the rock and rect attention to himself and maybe now staggered away toward the the girl would have sense enough road. He drew in the sweet, moist this time to flee. air as he walked and exhaled it Directly behind Arnie now. gratefully. Self-defense, he was say­ Black swung the rock in a wild ing to himself. Self-defense. He was lunging arc and slashed it into the going to \ill me. He'd have filled

A ROCK HAS MANY SIDES 131 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Joanne, too, but instead I killed he'd used less force in the swing. him. I didn't want to \ill him. Oh, The truth was that he had hated yes, I did. I wanted to \ill him. I the man at. the tirne with such ve­ was scared and mad and I damn hemence he wanted to kill him. well wanted to l{ill him. Nothing short of death would satis­ He came to the ditch bordering fy the hatred. So now he was a kill­ the road and stopped. He noted er. The odd part was, he would several rocks of varying sizes on have no trouble justifying the slay­ the ground. If Arnie had slammed ing to others. He might well be Black's head into the ground, soon­ commended for it by the police, er or later it would have struck a become a sort of hero. They would­ rock and then it would have been n't know about the nagging doubt himself who had the cracked skull. pricking his conscience. Only he He'd killed to keep from being could say whether murder had killed. Self-defense. been necessary, or whether it could Joanne came up beside him. She have been avoided. touched his arm. "Gee, Clay, you "Clay.?" were brave. You could have run "Yes.?" away when he was beating me." "We can't just stand here." Black looked at her. "You had "No. We'll go back to your house. plenty of time yourself." Get my car." "Yes, but that wasn't the same. I "Do you think we should.?" couldn't have got far. He'd have "What.?" come right after me and caught me. "I mean go back to the house." You could have got away." She shuddered. Black turned his eyes toward the "It's closer than walking into road. What was bothering him.? town. I don't think a car is ever go­ Why did he feel so strange, so ing to come along this road." changed.? What if he hadn't swung "Well, whatever you say." so hard.? He could have knocked They started back along the road. Arnie out without killing him if The rain had stopped. i 132 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED There is nothing more uncertain in its success, Machiavelli tells us, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

SNS^3pSm>S^•••V'^^ could relax. I surely could use it. "Don't you start in on me, Frank," I said wearily, "Captain Mason to you." I shrugged. "Okay. But what's your beef? You went along with the plan." "One helluva lot of choice I had." He leaned forward in his [ chair, his pale blue eyes watching me across his desk. "Don't try to shovel any of this mess onto me, or the department. It's all yours, brother. You and that lousy com-

XHE POLICE captain looked at me mittee did it all by yourselves!" with a mixture of disgust and His large nose wrinkled as if at anger. He snapped, "Well, Profes­ a very bad smell. sor? Satisfied?" I shrugged again. I didn't want He and I were alone now, in his to argue. AH I wanted was to get shabby office at the precinct house. out of there; out of the office, out The reporters were gone. The vari­ of the precinct house, out of the ous and assorted police and civil­ moldering neighborhood that sur­ ian officials concerned were gone. rounded it, but I'd wait a few There would be more hell to pay more minutes until, hopefully, the tomorrow, and for many days last of the reporters had left the thereafter, but for the moment I area. I'd had more than enough

SUCCESS STORV 133 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED attention for one day, at least. experts, with their charts and "We did what we thought would graphs, and high-blown theories work," I said, as much to myself that, when it gets down to the nit­ as to Mason. I tried to find solace ty-gritty, don't amount to a thing. in the words. I want new ideas. When can you The captain breathed fervently, start?" "God deliver us from people with • I sighed. "You're still the same good intentions . . ." con artist, I see. But really, Tom—" I didn't even bother to groan. , "Really." When the governor had first Tom O'Hara and I went back a called me some months before, ask­ long way—since we'd been kids to­ ing me to head the crime-preven­ gether—growing up in a neighbor­ tion study committee he was ap­ hood not a great deal better than pointing, I hadn't wanted any part the slum presently sweltering in of it. the summer night outside the pre­ I'd long since had my try at im­ cinct house. proving the world, and had retired, I joined Governor O'Hara's com­ sadder and perhaps wiser, into the mittee, and soon found that Tom more congenial atmosphere of the wasn't kidding. He not only college campus to teach American wanted new ideas, he had some of History. Over the years I had his own. His particular interest was gained a modest amount of re­ the problem of youth in the city nown for a series of semi-factual slums; hardly surprising, consider­ historical novels, but what did I ing his own background, and the know about contemporary crime, fact that ours is a highly urbanized and the conditions that bred it? state, much of our population be­ "Nothing," I had told the gov­ ing centered in two or three huge ernor. city-complexes. "Exactly," he said. "That's why. Naturally enough, then, the com­ I want you, old boy. You and the mittee soon concentrated upon others I'm appointing to this com­ this special area in the overall pic­ mittee all have two things in ture of crime. common: you've been successful in "The slum gang. That's our your chosen fields, and you cheer­ target," said Torn, in one of the fully admit you have no idea what frequent informal confabs we had to do about controlling crime." during this formative period. "But-" "These gangs are directly and in­ "We've had enough ot selt-styled directly responsible for at least

134 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZI>ffi LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED fifty percent of the crime in the the governor's approval, we settled cities." on a group in the slums of the capi­ "What else is new?" I asked sar­ tal, a gang of young toughs caUing donically. themselves the "Blood Angels." "I know, I know. People rang­ At this point Tom told us pre­ ing from hard-boiled cops to dewy- cisely what he had in mind. I lis­ eyed social workers, and all degrees tened with a certain amount of sur­ in between, have tried for years to prise, not because of the nature of do something about the gangs, his plan, but because I had been with no luck. Yet something must formulating a similar plan myself. be done . . ." "It's about the only avenue of ap­ I took a puff from my pipe and proach that, as far as I know, has­ said, "How about sticking to some­ n't been previously explored," Tom thing easy, like putting the syndi­ finished. "What do you say, gen­ cate out of business?" tlemen?" Tom gave me a sample of his He looked around at the half famous boyish grin. Then he dozen or so of us, gathered in his sobered. "Where do you think the study at the governor's mansion; syndicate and like organizations for a moment the only sound was get the new blood that keeps them the muted whir of the air-condi­ in business? From these same street tioner in the window beyond gangs in these same city slums. Tom's desk. Right?" . "Well, it is an original idea," said I agreed. Frazier, a rather hard-bitten indus­ Time went by. The committee trialist. met and, in both open and closed Someone else chided, "But to use sessions, worried at the problem public funds—" like so many bears at a bee tree— "If it works, even partially, the but without the bear's comfortable savings will far outweigh the ex­ assumption that he could reach the penditures," Tom argued. honey without being badly stung. "If it works ... A mighty big We finally decided to zero in on 'if'," Frazier grunted. one particular gang, to make it a When the others had left, after sort of pilot project. Reasonable more or less agreeing to go along enough, as what would work with with the plan, Tom poured two one representative gang might strong shots of bourbon, handed work with most. mc one, and said, "That's it. Al­ After some reseairch, and with most."

SUCCESS STORY 135 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED I had an idea what was coming. easy. I was on the right track. "Now the governor makes a gra­ By the end of the week almost cious but firm withdrawal from the entire membership—some thir­ the field." ty youths, ranging in age between "Right. From now on, it's strict­ fourteen and twenty—were on the ly your baby. Any success, or fail­ state payroll. Not directly, of ure, will attach itself to the com­ course; the funds involved had mittee." been transferred from the public "Which is why you appointed a treasury to the committee and the committee in the first place," I said. committee, through me, did the "Of course," Tom said blandly. disbursing. "You want out?" In return for their services, the "Yes. However—" Blood Angels were to receive $75 Tom nodded, satisfied. He lifted to $125 a week, depending on in­ his glass in a toast. dividual need. , The next day, after preliminary Their "services" were purely arrangements by phone, I drove nominal, the main one. being the into the city. I found the dingy refurbishing of an empty loft brick precinct house in the heart of building in the neighborhood, to the dingy slum area that was the serve as a recreation center. literal, as well as figurative, stomp- "What it amounts to, you're pay­ ing-grounds of the Blood Angels. ing those punks blackmail," Cap­ The police captain in charge at tain Mason said angrily. the precinct. Captain Frank Mason, "Not at all," I retorted. "The was not overcome by joy at my ad­ main thing holding this gang, or vent. any such gang, together is poverty, "Let me get this straight," Ma­ and the bitter frustrations that son said. "You want to meet the arise—" leaders of this gang.?" "Go hire a hall," Mason snapped. I nodded. "Preferably at their— Yet as the weeks passed, and the er—headquarters." crime rate in the precinct steadily "Why.?" declined to an all-time low, Mason "To offer them a job," I said. began to change his tune—up to a Mason threw up his hands in point. "It's still no better than disgust, but he had little choice in blackmail," he said. the matter. I met with the more "The point is, it's working. It's a prominent members of the gang start," I told him. that same afternoon; the rest was Later, the somewhat unpleasant

136 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED rumors began to seep in that a with good intentions," the captain large percentage of the money be­ repeated, as he and I sat alone in ing paid to the Blood Angels was his office that sweltering summer finding its way into the hands of a evening. "You start out with some few of the members, the hard-core harebrained scheme to 'rescue' a element, and that the money was bunch of punks who don't want to being used to build up a "war be rescued in the first place, and—" chest" and even for the wholesale "Please," I said, lifting a weary purchase of firearms. hand. "Absolute nonsense," I said. "If "—And now four of those punks anything like that were going on, are dead, another three or four I'd have heard about it from some aren't expected to live out the of the boys. As I've told you, I have night, several are critically hurt, established genuine communica­ and the rest will be on the run and tion with—" looking back over their shoulders "Yeah. You've told me," the cap­ from now on." tain said. Mason shook his head in some­ Yet the rumors persisted. thing like awe. Naturally, the operation so far , I got up from my chair. I was had been conducted in secrecy, but going home. To hell with it. "I now hints of it began to appear in won't be seeing you again." the local press. The governor de­ "I hope not," the captain said. nied all knowledge, and I—speak­ Then he relented a bit. "Oh, well, I ing for the committee—said noth­ guess you people were sincere; at ing at great length. least you tried. For what it's worth, Then, suddenly, the lid blew oS. Professor, for a while there I To put it in simple terms, the thought it just might work out. Blood Angels tried to take over the You know, that you might actually city's underworld establishment, or reach a few of those punks ... I at least a sizable portion of it. They should've known better." tried by the direct method of at­ In silence I headed for the door. tempting to murder the racketeers The captain spoke again. "So then in power, and they tried to do long. Off the record, I'm sorry you it all in one bloody day. However, failed." the Blood Angels found they were I paused. "Off the record—" badly overmatched. "Yeah.?" I allowed myself a smile. "What "God deliver us from people ma^es you thin\ we failed?"

SUCCESS STORY 137

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Those who would loo\ to nature for relief should be apprised of the uHld creatures that do likewise.

^rtrllO'trf/

PATROLMAN PETE KREBS had an the comfortably warm patrol car. easy job on a day like this. He At noon he ate his sack lunch was alone on duty in the County and reported in by radio. The park Park, but then he was alone most was empty, he said. Pete Krebs days. Today, however, he would had to stay on nevertheless. Both really be alone. People never came park gates would remain open till out to the park in bad weather. dark. The taxpayers of the county There was a complete overcast, expected their park to be available dull gray and threatening rain, for use whatever the weather. and a chilly wind gusting now A car did enter, as a matter of and then across the open spaces fact, shortly before one o'clock. and even seeping into the wooded Krebs spotted it from a distant areas. Pete Krebs sampled this hilltop, trained his binoculars on wind several times as he dutifully checked restroom buildings, then gladly retreated to the shelter o£

138 LICENSED TOALFRE UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED '^mm. it. The car came only a hundred to drive around the maze of roads, yards or so inside the park, stopped, show his uniform and his marked and disgorged its occupants, a man car, and let people know they were and a woman. Who else? Krebs being protected, even though one watched them for a while. Hand cop couldn't be everywhere at once. in hand they hiked across the still That was why the second car lush green autumn grass. Nutty. was able to sneak up on him. He Pete Krebs would have preferred found it parked and empty in one a cozy warm little bar. of the graveled areas just off the He continued on his rounds. road, at one end of the Walking There was plenty of park to patrol, Trail. over seven thousand acres. On a Again Pete Krebs shook his head summer weekend, there were in mystification. Another pair of usually about that many people, romancers, no doubt, only this pair and at least three cops on duty. wanted to hike on the trail that Today, however, his job was just went oil through the woods. There

NO ESCAPE 139 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED were three winding miles o£ that Pete Krebs was just slightly dis­ trail, plfenty of privacy on a day turbed, but also somewhat amused like this. at the coincidence of the only two He noted the car. It was a thing cars in the park here, together.. he did automatically. In-state, in- Maybe there'd been only one per­ county license. The car itself wasn't son in each car, and the, trail was worth much more than the license their planned meeting place. That plate. A beat-up, rusted-out old didn't seem likely, though. The Chevy, the kind of car that on a two cars didn't match. No, the busy weekend would be crammed people in the Mustang were full of the kind of kids who were strangers to the people in the potential troublemakers. Today, Chevy. The question was, would however, there was probably just the Mustang people interrupt the one pair, a boy and a girl, hiking privacy of the Chevy people? on the trail for no good purpose, Might be an interesting scene, but it wasn't up to Pete Krebs to Krebs thought, but not really his shadow them. He wasn't paid to business either. snoop, nor was it his job to walk They'd meet in there, though, the trail and be a chaperone. He he was sure of that. He grinned a made a mental note of the car, httle as he drove on. Such a dull, and drove on. lonely day, he had to find some­ It was nearly an hour later before thing to grin about. he returned to the spot. He had stopped and chatted with that first Beryl wanted to be alone. She couple whom he had watched with wanted to think. So when she'd the binoculars. They were a middle- seen the old red Chevy parked aged pair, actually—married, lovers there near the entrance to the Walk­ of the outdoors, but they'd had ing Trail, she had hesitated. Ap­ enough of the chilly wind. They'd parently there was somebody else talked about the new trees and already hiking on the trail. Perhaps shrubs which had been planted. she should try another area in the The old red Chevy was still in park, but she was partial to the the little parking area at the far trail. It was one of her favorite end of the Walking Trail, but it places. So she'd decided that even was no longer alone. Nearby was a if she should meet that other per­ shiny little yellow Mustang. No son, or those persons, they would sign of the drivers or passengers pass quickly, and she could be aloiie from either of the cars, however. once more.

140 LICENSEDALFRE TO UNZ.ORGD HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED In the beginning she had kept alone with a place she loved, and an eye out for the interlopers, but which, she hoped, loved her in when she didn't see anyone for the return. And surely it did. The first several hundred yards she for­ colors, the silence, caressed her got that she might not have the senses. Even that first faint smell trail completely to herself. The of onrushing autumn decay, she woods and their quiet closed liked that too. around her, like salve over a She became so engrossed in the wound. She relaxed, slowed her sensual impressions close about her walk, began to look at the foliage that she did not at first notice rather than to search through it the foreign movement and sounds for signs of other human presence. farther up the trail, beyond several Some of the leaves had begun to twists and turns, flashes of gaudy turn. On this very autumn-like, al­ red and blue amid the natural most wintry day, the trees, sur­ greens and yellows and browns; prised in their summer finery, snapping of twigs crushed under seemed to be trying to catch up feet heavier than those of a squirrel with the rest of nature. Their colors or a rabbit or a bird. appeared to be changing almost as She was totally startled, there­ she gazed on them. fore, when at one particularly See, she told herself, the trees sharp bend in the path she nearly are adjusting to the new season. walked straight into them; the Why can't you adjust, Beryl? strangers, two men, or boys, one Why not indeed? There were in a red wool shirt, the other in a seasons in human lives, ebbing and phosphorescent blue jacket; above flowing. That morning she had the bright garments, pimply faces wanted to kill herself. She had and shaggy hair. been confronted with a truth which In that first moment of the en­ she had previously tried to ignore, counter, it was her first reaction, but which she could ignore no being so startled that her initial longer. He didn't love her. Perhaps impulse was toward fear, toward he never had. He loved instead panic, like a timid woodland crea­ another girl, a beautiful girl, and ture suddenly coming face-to-face Beryl was not beautiful. It was as with some fierce predator, which simple as that. Simple but painful. perhaps set into motion all that She had wanted to flee from the followed. pain into oblivion. The trail was narrow, but it was Instead, she had fled here, to be well-trod, and there was ample

NO ESCAPE 141 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED room to pass a hiker coming from but in her blood, in the prickling the opposite direction. Yet she of her skin. shrank to one side, into the under­ They had been returning to their growth, off the beaten path, as if car, but had reversed directions the trail belonged entirely to the and were following her. Following strangers and not at all to herself, her on this chilly day when the and hurried past them, almost park vyas practically empty, in the running. depths of these woods, out of sight Her curious behavior was indeed of all other humanity and almost fear. Not fear of the strangers them­ surely out of hearing too. selves. They were only that— What could she do.? Turn back strangers. But it was the fear she and try to pass by them again.'' felt of all humankind at that mo­ Walk right into them} Would they ment. Humanity had rejected her. let her go by.? Or try to run, She was not loved. Nobody could farther and deeper into the woods? ever love her again. So she fled Or try to be calm, just keep on foolishly from these two men, walking, ignore their teasing? these two boys, whose names she Teasing! That's what it was, of did not even know. course. They'd seen she was fright­ She walked as fast as she could, ened of them, and were amusing now and then breaking stride and themselves. They could- have running for a few steps, hoping to caught up with her by this time, find solitude again. Finally she but they'd chosen just to follow slowed, and had courage to glance her. Teasing. Enjoying her fear. back over her shoulder. She walked on. She didn't have What she saw startled her even to glance back. Her anxiously more than the first encounter. They straining ears told her the pursuit were there, the red wool shirt continued. They hadn't tired of and the phosphorescent blue jacket, the game yet. The other end of the with the pimply faces and shaggy trail was far distant, more than hair above them. The pimply faces two miles. Surely they would tire. were both grinning, not more than Or even if they followed her to fifty feet behind her on the trail. the end of the trail, she wouldn't She walked on, not daring to be frightened any longer once they run now, the pounding of her pulse broke out of the woods. signaling a different kind of fear, What did they want? To tease a more immediate, .particular, her, she assured herself again. Two primitive kind; not in her psyche, boys finding a female alone here

142 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ... it was just an irresistible temp­ Seconds passed. She could not tation to throw a scare into her. tear her gaze from those grinning If she chose to report the incident faces, but her mind raced, suggest­ later to a park patrolman, they ing a new alternative. They had could say, quite truthfully, that gained on her. They had dared to they hadn't done a thing. come closer. She could not possibly Yet it was only through a great outrun them on the trail, and she effort of will that she restrained dared not scream, even if she could the impulse to run. She could feel manage one. A scream would not their eyes upon her, upon her legs, be heard, not from here, in the her hips. She had dressed for this very middle of the woods, and it walk, in slacks and a short jacket. might frighten them into action. The slacks were tight. She tried No, she must remain calm—and not to think of how they might brave. be watching. Perhaps they might She picked herself slowly off the be looking at the purse hanging ground, then spoke to them. "What at her side from its shoulder strap. do you want?" She would gladly surrender it right They didn't stop grinning, nor now if they would stop following did they answer. They looked at her. each other and shrugged. She was thinking of that, consid­ "You're following me." A litde ering whether to drop the purse more courageous. there on the trail and start to run One of them, the one in the again. She quickened her steps. blue jacket, emitted a sound. It The fear and panic rose in her. was a kind of laugh. A giggle. She made the mistake of glancing Mindless. backward, not watching the path. She saw their faces better now. She fell. They were eighteen or twenty, Her foot caught on a protruding neither in school nor employed, or root, and she sprawled on her back they wouldn't be out here today. in the middle of the trail. The Why were they here.? Looking for pursuers stopped too, automat­ someone as alone and defenseless ically, but they had already nar­ as she was? She was correct in rowed the gap between her and feeling afraid of them. They were them. They stood frozen, staring punks. Hoodlums. Idlers, not very at her. Their grins were frozen on bright, and dangerous. their faces. An open-mouthed look "Please stop following me," she of terror was frozen on hers. said, halfway between a request

NO ESCAPE 143

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED and a demand, but firmly spoken. grudgingly obeying his mind's The giggle came again from the command. one in the blue jacket. The one in Over the sound of her own the red shirt said, "It's a pubHc sobbing, she heard another sound park, lady." —heavy bodies crashing • through So they would continue to follow the woods behind her. her. The alternative clamored for She ran on, terrified, both her attention in her mind again. Run! strength and her courage dwin­ Not down the trail—they can catch dling, the clutching branches more you too easily there—but straight fiendish, malevolent. But she had into the woods! Drop your purse to run. The instinct of the flesh for right here, and take to the woods! survival drove her on, reeling, half They might not bother to follow falling, being grasped and tearing and risk snagging and tearing loose, and the sounds of pursuit their clothes. ever closer. The red wool shirt took one Downhill suddenly, and there, step toward her. Just one. just below her, the weave of green In a single motion, instinctive branches ceased. Beyond them, a and automatic, she dropped the flat, dark glaze somberly reflected purse and plunged headlong into the gray sky. The pond! the undergrowth beside the trail. She had forgotten the pond was Instantly the woods, which once here. In the summer, with the trees had been her soothing companion, in full foliage, it was invisible from her friend, became a vicious enemy. the trail. In winter, though, with Branches and twigs grabbed at her the trees bare, the cold gHnt of the long hair, now flying loose. water beckoned one to leave the Wrenching free was painful, but path and walk the muddy banks. more important, cost time. The She had once spied a family of branches whipped and stung her muskrats here, had watched the face too. They snared her jacket winter birds come for a drink, and and slacks, sought to entwine her the rim ice form around the edges. body and hold her fast. They And here it was now . . . her spe­ didn't succeed, for she staggered cial pond . . . her special friend! and stumbled on, but her pace was Never before, of course, had she slow, as in a dream, wherein the more than dabbled her fingers in dreamer knows he must run fast, this cold spring water. Park rules but is somehow' held back, his had forbidden swimming, and one legs and feet made of lead, only doesn't swim in a woodland pond

144 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED NO ESCAPE

LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED unless one is prepared to share it them. She hoped they would climb with the other creatures, including back up to the trail, and then she snakes. Yet she didn't hesitate now. would exit from the pond at the Beryl was a very good swimmer, opposite shore and try to cut •so the water held no terrors for through the woods toward the her. Even if she hadn't been a nearest, road. Or perhaps even hide swimmer, with the pond more in the woods, maybe till dark, not than a hundred feet across and of taking any chances of their finding unknown depth, any terror of it her on the road. The sudden cold would have been infinitely less bath had cleared her brain. The than her terror of those grinning familiar feel of water gave her a pursuers close behind her. new feeling of security and hope. She leaped in, like a water ani­ With gentle kicks and hand move­ mal returning to its proper habitat. ments she edged still farther from Her face submerged, she struck them. out strongly with both arms and Oh no! The red shirt had sepa­ legs. She never felt the muddy bot­ rated from his companion, and tom at all, but swam straight to the was trotting around to the other very middle. side of the pond. She hadn't es­ She'd had no plan beyond this. caped at all. She was trapped! Perhaps the red shirt and 'the blue For the first time, then, she jacket were as good swimmers as screamed. It was a loud burst of she. She'd acted from instinct and terror and despair, but the woods, desperation, nothing more, but her beautiful friendly woods, wall now she turned to look back. upon wall of trees, bounced her They'd halted at the muddy scream back to her, kept the sound bank. They were staring at her echoing and reechoing within the with grins of amusement. She little cup-like depression contain­ shook moisture from her face, ing the pond. She screamed until moved her legs lazily, and waited her lungs were emptied of every for some sign of their new inten­ atom of air. Her body sank, the tions. water closed over her mouth, and They glanced away from her she had to paddle back to the sur­ and at each other. Their lips face to breathe again. She didn't moved, but they spoke softly and waste energy trying to scream she couldn't hear any words. Cau­ again. tiously and slowly she propelled Her problem was to stay afloat. herself a bit farther away from It didn't appear that her tormen-

146 LICENSEDALFRE TOD UNZ.ORG HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED tors had any notions of entering the pond, they watched her placid­ the water. They didn't seem the ly, in no hurry. Overhead the sky swimmer-athlete sort. The day was was gray, flecked with black scud. cold, and the water even colder. There was a chance of rain. Would Since there were two of them, they rain make the two men uncom­ could easily imprison her there in fortable enough that they might go the pond until she became exhaust­ away? Possibly. But the sky only ed and willing to surrender. There threatened, and down here in the was really no need for them to get hollow overhung with trees, there wet. wasn't even any wind to discour­ But how long could she remain age girl-swimmer-watching. Beryl afloat? Under the best conditions, was freezing in her icy bath. Her in a warm pool or lake, she could body shook and trembled in the tread water almost indefinitely. grasp of the cold. She had to keep Now, however, she could already moving her arms and legs as much feel this frigid bath sucking the en­ to maintain circulation as to stay ergy out of her body. Would she afloat. be any better off if she could find a "Hey." It was the red shirt place where her feet could touch speaking. She looked at his grin­ bottom? Not much, probably. She ning face, and noticed his eyes for would still be immersed in cold the first time. They were the same water. color as the water, alive but with­ Pivoting slowly, she tried tq out human expression. "Come keep track of the two men. They out," he said. were standing directly opposite She made no reply. each other, hands thrust into their "You gotta come out sometime," pockets, their shoulders hunched he went on. against the chill." They both were Her mind refused to concede still grinning. How easy it was for that argument. them to keep her prisoner here. All He stooped, dipped one finger they had to do was to stand there into the water. "Kinda cold, ain't and wait. They hadn't even it?" he asked. touched her, or said a threatening She wouldn't admit it. word. They'd only followed her "What are we going to do?" the and grinned, but she was com­ red shirt called across the pond. pletely in their power. "Wait," said the blue jacket. Nothing seemed to change for a Wait, yes. If they had nothing long time. One on either side of more interesting to do, they could

NO ESCAPE 147 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED wait here at least until dark. The wool shirt laughed, a coarse, bray­ park closed at dark. A park patrol­ ing laugh. man would look for cars. If he saw He stood up and called across to two cars parked at the end of the his companion. "Hey, target prac­ Walking Trail, he would investi­ tice." gate. But it was hours yet until Both, of them, boys with a new dark. Long before then she would game, went into action then, goug­ freeze or drown, or both. ing out clumps of mud from the The red shirt, the impatient one, bank, rolling them round, throw­ squatted down on his heels on the ing them at her. head. They gig­ muddy bank and stared at her. He gled while they played, shouting was still grinning, but she knew challenges across the pond, and that his grin meant nothing, nei­ slurs at each other's marksman­ ther friendliness nor mirth. He ship. They weren't very good at was merely curious, as a cruel bey the game. They weren't the sort of might be toward a bug he has im­ boys who had spent their street paled on a pin. Did he mean her time playing Softball. Usually they harm ? No more than the boy missed by wide margins. By giv­ means harm to the bug. He is only ing them her profile, she could amused by its futile struggles. Yet watch both of them at the same if the bug should escape briefly, time, and thus be ready to dodge. would the boy squash it? They countered this strategy by The red wool shirt, impatient, synchronizing their throws, forc­ restless, dabbed with his fingers in ing her to watch out for two mis­ the soft black mud of the bank. siles at once. Finally, to avoid one,' Then, however, the mindless occu­ she had to duck underwater. When pation appeared to give him an she surfaced again, both boys were idea. He dug into the mud pur­ roaring with laughter. posefully. In a moment he had "One point for me," the blue what he wanted, rolled it between shirt kept insisting. his palms, a small mud ball. In an­ Now the game began to be other moment he had drawn back played in greater earnest. Boys his right arm and thrown it. don't try merely to hit paper boats She was too startled even to con­ or bottles in the water, they try to sider dodging. The projectile fell sin\ them. More care was taken in short by a yard or so, but its im- the rolling of the mud balls now, «pact splashed a drop of water into and the balls grew progressively her face, and she blinked. The red larger. Throws became less fre-

148 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED quent but more accurate. Then, in­ against the injustice. Either sur­ evitably—the law of averages de­ render or death, so needless, at the creed it—one of those more care­ hands of these punks, these ani­ fully engineered projectiles found mals, either choice was unthink­ its mark. able. Soft black mud splattered into The game was escalating. Per­ her face, into both her eyes. She haps those two moronic brains had was blinded, and her nose and short attention spans, required con­ mouth were filled with the gooey stant novelty for their entertain­ stink of the stuff. She plunged un­ ment. Or perhaps their success derwater and washed it off with with the mud balls urged them on both hands. When she came up, to playing games for higher stakes. they were howling their glee. "Hey, got rocks here!" the blue She didn't have to scream, she jacket yelled. thought, they were making more He was digging into a rock noise than she could. The thought ledge imbedded in the steep hill­ was small comfort. Those same side. Several big pieces crumbled trees which sheltered the pond area into his hands. He chose one, heft­ from the stiff wind, also threw ed it, considered its aerodynamic, back sounds, insulating this spot properties, then let fly. He missed from the rest of the park. by two yards, but was far from dis­ She was exhausted now, but couraged. He had plenty of ammu­ knowing it rather than feeling it. nition, and he fired it as quickly as Her body had grown numb. Her he mined it from the ground. legs, she sensed faintly, still ped­ Beryl's numb body was galva­ aled, her hands still pawed the wa­ nized into frantic movement. This ter, but these were automatic, in­ new threat was lethal.. She could stinctive movements. Whenever the not judge the trajectory of the final ounce of energy drained rocks, or did not trust her judg­ away, the movements would just as ment. Some flew straight. Others automatically cease. sailed. From a range of not much For the first time her mind was more than fifty feet, there was no forced to consider what she would time to make decisions when one's do if any warning came of that head was the target. Each time that cessation. Would she use her last the blue jacket threw, she ducked mite of strength to paddle toward for cover underwater. shore, choose surrender before Blue jacket adjusted his tactics death? She wanted to cry out accordingly. Now he picked up

NO ESCAPE 149 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED two rocks at once. When Beryl sur­ ly, on the periphery of her vision, faced from trying to escape the she saw the red shirt running first, the second was already flying around the pond^ to join the blue toward her face. She panicked, jacket. Then they stood together at swallowed water, felt even the last the water's edge. desperate strength ebbing out of Her feet touched bottom. She her body. commenced to walk, even more It had to happen. The law of av­ slowly than she swam. She would erages again. The second of a pair have fallen had not the water held of rocks, not larger than a silver her up. Finally, when the water dollar, slammed against her right was only waist-high, she did fall. temple just as her face emerged. She floundered, crawled on her The blow was like the cut of a knees, then on her hands and hatchet. Multicolored sparks ex­ knees in the mud. The blood from ploded inside her head. Stunned, the cut. on her forehead dripped she lifted a hand to the place, and into her right eye. She tried to wipe it came away with a splotch of it away with a muddy hand. blood. At the water's edge, they stopped Demoniac laughter echoed and and lifted her, the red shirt and reechoed inside the cup-like de­ the bluejacket each putting a hand pression containing the pond. "I'm in one of her armpits and hauling the champ!" the blue jacket shout­ her upward. ed again and again. He had drawn "She ain't very pretty," one of blood. He was pleased. them said. ,'" Beryl knew now ... if she hadn't known before ... if she had tried Patrolman Pete Krebs drove by to pretend she didn't know ... that the parking area at one end of the unless she surrendered . . . unless Walking Trail once again, and saw she came out of the water . . . she that the red Chevy and the yellow would die . . . Mustang were still there. His wrist- "Stop . . . please . . ." It was a watch said four-thirty. Those two scarcely audible gasp. "I'm . . ." cars had been there for a while— She started to swim toward but then the trail was three miles where the blue jacket waited for long. If the owners of the cars had her. She dog-paddled. Her move­ by any chance hiked to the other ments were slow and laborious. end of the trail, then had to return She had difficulty keeping her to their cars, the round trip would mouth and nose above water. Dim­ take a couple of hours. He won-

150 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED dered if the two parties had met. at last. He shrugged his shoulders. He was aware of feeling vaguely "Dead! What do you mean?" disturbed. He stopped his own car, "You know what dead means. climbed out, and walked around She ain't breathing." the two parked vehicles. They They stood facing each other were both unoccupied. Nothing across the inert body that lay be­ unusual about the visible contents tween them in the mud. They were of either. Why was he disturbed? a bit wet and muddy themselves. He didn't know. He glanced again "How come she's dead, Duke?" at the license plates. Both local. Co­ " 'Cause she stopped breathing." incidence or a planned meeting? "I mean why. Why did she stop Lousy day for lovers to go hiking. breathing?" Lousy day for anybody to go hik­ " 'Cause she was killed." ing. Krebs lighted a cigarette, "What killed her?" leaned against the Mustang and There was a silence. They smoked. All around him the park looked down at the body. There was silent. The woods which swal­ was no movement in it, no rise and lowed the trail were silent, except fall of breasts. The eyes were for the sigh of the wind through closed, the lips slightly parted. On the leafy branches. He hoped those the forehead the bright red gash people knew the park closed at had stopped bleeding. dusk. He didn't want to have to "You don't think the rock killed yell for them to come out, or go in her?" The question came in an after them. awed whisper. He ground his cigarette butt into Another silence. the gravel, climbed back into his "That litde old rock couldn't kill own car, and drove on. her!" He went down on his knees in the mud, grabbed the body by "Hey, Duke, what's the matter the shoulders and shook it. "Wake with her?" up . . . wake up . . . you're faking Duke took a while to answer. . . . you ain't dead." He wasn't grinning any more. "Shut up, Rollo. She's dead." Without the grin his face looked Rollo stayed down on his knees, younger, soft, the color and texture letting his hips sink back on his of lumpy oatmeal. Out of it his heels, wiping his muddy hands on eyes stared in a curiously Hfeless his bright blue jacket. "What else way, like two pieces of gray-green could have killed her?" he asked glass. "I think she's dead," he said sofdy. "I mean . . . what else did

NO ESCAPE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG 151 ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED we do to her ... that could kill her, Rollo fidgeted. "What do you I mean?" mean?" "Nothing. It was an accident." "Just going to leave her here?" Duke hunkered down on the other "What else are we supposed to side of the body. His gray oatmeal do?" face twitched. His Hfeless green "Somebody'll find her, stupid." eyes gave no indication that he was "So what?" thinking, but he was thinking. "You know what cops do when "Who knows.? Maybe she had they find a dead body. They start heart failure." looking for who did it." "Or maybe it was the cold wa­ "So what? Who's going to look ter." Rollo's deeply pitted face sud­ down here in this weather?.Maybe denly grinned again, a narrow, they won't find her till next spring. lopsided grin. "She was in the wa­ We'll be gone. Who's going to pin ter a long time ..." it on us?" Duke grinned back. "Sure," he It was a fairly convincing argu­ said. "She died from pneumonia." ment. Duke stood up too, and "Don't make jokes." seemed about to accept the argu­ "I ain't making jokes. What dif­ ment and follow his companion ference does it make why she's back up to the trail. But he didn't. dead? She's dead." "Suppose they do find her?" he Rollo's grin faded. "It was your asked. idea to come to this place . . ." Rollo grinned. "We'll take her "So I happen to like fresh 'air. I car and leave it someplace. So may­ like to stretch my legs. Get out of be the sun shines tomorrow, or our crummy neighborhood once in over the weekend. They find her. a while. What's wrong with that? We'll be gone." And I said we might find some­ "There's always cops in these thing wandering around. Well, we parks," Duke said. did find something, didn't we?" "So what?" "Not much." "Maybe a cop saw our car "Complain, complain. You want parked back there. Her car, too. your money back?" Cops have good memories. They're Rollo stood up and glanced always looking at cars. You know around nervously. "Let's get out of the way it is with hot cars. Cops here," he said. are always looking for certain cars. "What about her?" Duke re­ And they memorize license numr minded him. bers. It's the only thing cops are

152 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED smart about, don't you know that ?" do remember a license number. RoUo nudged the body with his "Murder?" Rollo echoed the toe. hoping it would wake up, but word in a low voice. it didn't. He was left with the "That's what they'd call it," problem. "Okay, what do we do?" Duke assured him. he asked. There were rocks available from "We don't want 'em to find her," the same ledge in the hillside Duke said. "We gotta hide her." where Rollo had dug for missiles. "Where?" The gray oatmeal face, It took time. They needed big, glistening with sweat, was con­ rocks, or lots of small ones. Weight. torted into a questioning frown. Enough weight to make sure, ab­ Then the frown became a grin. "In solutely sure, that the body would the pond maybe, huh?" stay under instead of getting bloat­ Duke nodded. "That's the gen­ ed and floating to the top. eral idea." They dug with a certain haste They discussed the details. Cops and urgency, for the day was maybe have photographic memo­ growing darker. Dirt congealed ries for things like license numbers under their fingernails and their and car descriptions, but those hands were rubbed raw before memories don't hang on forever. they had mined enough of the There are always new and differ­ rocks. ent numbers and descriptions to Then they stuffed them into the think about. The old ones get for­ girl's pockets, and inside her gotten eventually. So they had to clothes," until she bulged and be­ hide the body until the park cop, came fat. Rollo, sweating in the in case he'd noticed their car, chilly air, asked if it was enough. would forget about it. "It's all she'll hold," Duke said. Maybe a week. Better a month Next came the problem of plac­ or a year. But a body on the bot­ ing-the corpse in the water. "She's tom of this pond, if nobody thinks got to go deep," Duke pointed out. there might be one there, might "How deep?" nevex be found. So you have to see "Five or six feet, don't you fig­ to it that the body goes to the bot­ ure?" tom and stays there. Maybe there Neither of them could swim. arc fish or turtles in the pond. Both were afraid of the water. Maybe the body gets eaten, so there They realized that just by stand­ isn't any body. You can't prove ing on the bank and throwing the murder without a body even if you body into the pond, they wouldn't

NO ESCAPE 153 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED be able to get it out far enough. So shoes provided some insulation they would have to carry it in, from the frosty bite of the air. They which meant that they had to take continued to quiver and tremble off their clothes. In wet clothes nevertheless. they might freeze to death, and There were other problems too. wet, muddy clothes would be sus­ Footprints were some. They de­ picious. So they stripped. Naked bated whether to try to rub them just in the air they shivered. The all out. cold of the water set their teeth "Hell," Duke said .finally, "foot­ chattering. prints don't mean nothing. Some RoUo gripped the body under of 'em ain't even ours. It's going to the armpits and Duke had the legs. rain any minute. That'll wash 'em Beneath their feet the pond bottom out." was muddy, soft, slimy, slippery, Then there was the girl's purse. horribly and unexpectedly steep. They found it up on the trail Under the burden of the rock- where she had dropped it hoping stuffed corpse they staggered and to discourage pursuit. It was a big stumbled. thing that yawned wide when they "She's going to drown both of undid the catch. They found the ^ us," Rollo gasped. car keys, which they needed. In­ "A little farther out," Dukc- in­ side a wallet was sixteen dollars, sisted. which they decided ought not go They weren't more than ten feet to waste. The rest was junk, noth­ from the bank, but they'd already ing useful, stuff to be gotten rid of, sunk to their knees in slime and like combs, cosmetics, eyebrow the water was chest high. The things, pencils and brushes, lip­ corpse was already immersed. The sticks. water was supporting some of its "She wasn't very good-looking, weight, but the rocks were pulling but she sure tried," Rollo said. He it down. They had no choice. They was back to giggling, now that the let go, then scrambled in near ter­ worst of the job was over. ror back to the bank. There was a gold compact that They tried to dry a bit then, but he wanted to give to somebody. the chili air offered Uttle help. "Forget it," Duke said. They dragged clothes over their They crammed it all back inside, wet skin. Underwear and socks the wallet included, minus its six­ blotted up moisture and became teen dollars, of course. Duke took soggy, but trousers, jackets and charge. Down on the bank again.

154 ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZI>fE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED he grasped the purse by its long ed trying to guess what they want­ leather handle and heaved it to­ ed the privacy for. At least they ward the center of the pond. accounted for half his problem, the At the top of the arc the catch Chevy. gave way, and some of the con­ They seemed to hesitate when tents tumbled out, like sparks out they saw him, but it wasn't sur­ of a Roman candle, but it all land­ prising. Cops—any kind of cops— ed together in the middle of the are enemies to punks, and vice pond, and sank like a hail of versa. What did surprise him, how­ stones. Except for a yellow facial ever, was their separating. Only tissue that floated . . . like a daisy one of them, the guy in the red on a grave. shirt, went toward the Chevy. Duke and Rollo watched it for a The blue jacket went straight to moment. Then they hustled up to the Mustang. He started to open the trail again and jogged toward the door on the driver's side, could­ the cars. n't, poked a key into the lock. Something in Pete Krebs' mind It was almost six, winter closing- rebelled. It just wasn't the com­ time, and fast darkening. Pete bination he had expected. Two Krebs lounged against his cruiser, guys like these in the Chevy, yes, scowling at the old Chevy and but not two guys like these meet­ the bright little Mustang, and won­ ing at the park, arriving in sepa­ dering whether he'd have to go rate cars—and not a guy like the into the woods and haul those peo­ blue jacket driving an almost new ple out. car. So he was relieved when he The blue jacket was slow in heard footsteps on the trail and making the key work in the lock. saw bright splashes of color flitting Krebs sidled over. "Enjoy your closer through the foliage; two col­ hike?" he asked, for lack of a more ors, red and blue. He waited im­ direct question. patiently till the colors emerged. The kid spun around. His eyes A couple of young punks, just as were blank, but there was a grin he'd guessed earlier. The kind of on his face. "Huh.?" guys who'd drive that old Chevy. "I asked you if you enjoyed your Troublemakers. Unusual for guys hike." like these to come out to the park "Oh . . . sure . . . yeah." Little on a day like this. Looking for pri­ words. Monosyllables, but they vacy very likely. His mind avoid­ came out in a curious stutter.

NO ESCAPE 155 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The kid was shaking. Scared? piinks been doing in the pond? Scared of being questioned by a Punks! That's all they were! What cop? Guilty conscience? Maybe kind of a job did this one have to yes. But something else besides. make enough to buy this Mus­ Krebs glanced at the hand ma­ tang? Why wasn't he at that job neuvering the key. Red with cold. now? But it wasn't that cold. The hand The Chevy, engine roaring, was wet. Sweat? Not if the kid had already backed out. The Mus­ was shaking like this. Wet with tang's engine came alive, barely water? Water from the pond may­ audible beneath the louder noise. be? In weather like this? The Chevy started off. Not too The kid was damp all over, in fast though, not with a cop stand­ fact. Faint stains of moisture ing watching. The Mustang showed on his trousers. His socks, backed too, then followed the a couple of inches of them visible Chevy. Krebs continued to stand between trousers and shoe tops, and watch. The two cars disap­ were almost soggy. peared. The sound of the Chevy Krebs hesitated. A wild idea engine trailed off toward thc-main skidded through his brain.. Arrest gate. him! No swimming was allowed It was only then that Krebs real­ in any body of water, lake or pond, ized what he had seen a moment inside this park. This kid must befoi-e. The pun\ had pushed the have been swimming in the pond. car seat bac\. Krebs made no move, however. Like what was occuring in the He had no proof. It would be a lot blackening sky overhead, dark of trouble besides. Yet the wild things were coming together in­ idea continued to ricochet inside side Krebs' mind now. Why did his head. the punk push the seat back? Was­ The kid had the door of the n't the Mustang his car? Hadn't he Mustang open now, and was eas­ arrived in it? Who had? Was ing down behind the wheel. His somebody still in the woods? left hand searched for the adjust­ Somebody with shorter-legs than ing lever under the seat, found it, the punk's? A girl? pushed the seat back to give him­ Krebs started for his own car, self more room. He glanced up, then stopped. Adjusting a car seat still grinning, and shut the door. wasn't proof of anything, any more Krebs' brain was in turmoil. than wet socks were proof of Nothing fitted! What had these swimming ...

156 ALFRED HITCHCOCKS MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED But what if there was somebody ing in icy water made no sense at ... some girl . . . back there in the all. woods? Tied up, maybe knocked -Trembling himself, from his ex­ unconscious, or bleeding to death. ertions and from the strange ex­ He couldn't leave the park, lock citement seething inside him, up for the night, with the possibil­ Krebs with some difficulty lit a ity that there was somebody! cigarette, tried to think calmly. Pete Krebs started down the There was no evidence of a girl's trail, running. Fifty yards later, he having been here. Just two crazy stopped and yelled, "Anybody punks. Maybe they'd dared each here.?" No answer came. The other to a swim. Kids will do any­ woods mocked him with silence. thing. But what about, the car seat? He ran on. Several more times Puffing at his cigarette, Krebs he halted and shouted his ques­ gazed across the unrippled surface tion. Still no response. He went on. of the pond. There was something Krebs wasn't a young man, and he there, now that he looked more was too stout for this sort of thing, closely. It seemed to be wet facial but he couldn't stop. tissue, or paper towel. Nothing un­ The pond! Very suddenly he re­ usual or suspicious about that. Peo­ membered the wet socks. He left ple always threw junk around. the trail, crashed down the slope ' Then, squinting in the deepen­ through the trees and brush. The ing twilight, he saw something pond was somewhere right around else. A tiny, dark thing was float­ here. He changed directions, then ing on the water. A twig? Prob­ reversed again, and finally he blun­ ably. dered upon it. Pete Krebs had run a long way Pete Krebs couldn't help seeing for a man his age. He was tired, what certainly looked like fresh but his mind wasn't satisfied. He footprints in the muddy bank. was the crazy one now. He flipped Those two punks had been here, all his cigarette into the water, started right. Who else? searching through the nearby The footprints were all over the brush. In a moment he'd found place, prints of shoes in men's what he needed, a severed tree sizes, but no women's. Then, min­ branch about fifteen feet long. gled with the rest, prints of big With it he probed for the twig, un­ bare feet. Those two had been successfully. The branch wasn't swimming—or wading. Crazy, on long enough. a day like this. Swimming or wad­ He was really crazy. He was

NO ESCAPE 157 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED only a park cop, but a cop never­ it floated—and it hadn't been float­ theless, with a good cop's wary sus­ ing there very long. picion of the human race in gen­ eral, and especially of young Back in his own car, talking punks, troublemakers. He hated with the sheriff's deputy on the ra­ punks. So Pete Krebs took off his dio, Pete Krebs didn't kiiow exactly shoes and socks, rolled up his how to say it. How could he ex­ trousers, and waded into the wa­ plain? He wasn't doing too well. ter. "Maybe you'd first better check He had to go in to his waist be­ the Mustang," he suggested. "Li­ fore he could reach the twig with cense JO-15788. I'd be interested to the branch, but at last he coaxed see who it belongs to. Then there's his prize toward the shore. When this beat-up, rusty red Chevy, fif­ he got it in his hand he saw what ty-nine. License WY-203354—" it really was: an eyebrow pencil. "Pete," the deputy interrupted, He stood there, his legs in the "what's the crime?" water, for a long moment. An eye- "Swimming in the park." . brow pencil floating in the middle "Swimming?" of a lonely pond. Such an item "That's the charge!" Pete roared. could belong to a boy, of course, "Pick those guys up, will you, be­ but those two didn't appear to be fore they get too nervous. Hold that kind. So this pencil must have 'em for swimming, till I drag the belonged to a girl. It was wooden. pond."

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You get six of Erie books. As a member, Stanley Gardner's recent you can get three of Perry Mason mysteries— them each month com­ in six full-size, full- plete in one handsomely length, hard-bound bound triple volume (an books. You also get $11.00 to $13.85 value in Eberhart's latest thriller publishers' editions) for — PLUS 2 more recent only $3.39. full-length mysteries in You do not have to a big triple volume. take a volume every These nine mysteries month. You receive a would cost $35.40 in the free copy of the Club's publishers' original edi­ Preview which will fully tions — but you get all describe all coming se­ nine of them for only $1.00 as your introduction lections and you may reject any volume before to the many advantages of membership in The or after receiving it. You pay no money in ad-- Detective Book Club. ° vance; no membership fee. You may cancel Out of the 300 or more new detective books membership at any time. that come out every year, the Club selects the Send no money —just mail card very cream of the crop by outstanding authors Don't be disappointed. While the supply lasts, like Erie Stanley Gardner, Agatha Christie, Mi- send the no-postage-needed card to get your gnon G. Eberhart, John Creasey, and Van Wyck 9 mysteries. If you're a real mystery fan, you'll Mason. All these and many other famous au­ want to mail the card today to: thors have had their books selected by the Club. Many are members themselves. THE DETECTIVE BOOK CLUB Club selections are all newly published Roslyn, New York 11576

SEND NO MONEY-JUST MAIL THIS POSTCARD 23-9A MAIL THIS POSTCARD THE DETECTIVE BOOK CLUB, Roslyn, New York 11576 9-CL NOW FOR YOUR Please enroll me as a member and send me al once the six full-length, hard-bound editions of Perry Mason thrillers, PLUS the specially selected 3-in-1 volume containing NINE the latest Mignon Eberhart and 2 other great mysteries. I enclose no money in advance: MYSTERIES within a week after receiving my books, I will either return tliem and owe nothing, or keep all seven volumes, containing nine first-rate mystery stories, for the special new- !0 POSTAGE member introductory price of only $1.00 (plus a few cents mailing charges). NEEDED As a member, I am to receive advance descriptions of all future selections, but am not obligated to buy any. For each future triple volume I decide to keep, I will send SEE OTHER you only $3.39 (plus a few cents mailing charges). I may re|ect any volume before or SIDE after I receive it, and I may cancel my membership at any time. {Books shipped in U.S.A. only.)

M- (Please Print Plainly) ISS ) Address- (continued om other side) LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONICCity_ REPRODUCTION-State- PROHIBITED^2ip_ 1 6 recent Perry Mason the latest Mignon Eberhart« plus 2 more ^ mysteries just For new members only You gel these 6 Erie Stanley Gardner thrillers Plus the latest In full-length, hardbound editions Eberhart and 2 more excitin The Case of the The Case of the The Case of the I CARELESS CUPID 3 WORRIED WAITRESS 5 TROUBLED TRUSTEE bafflers In thM A well-to-do widow Is Perry Mason's pretty client Dutton was with Palmer big 3-ln-1 volii doomed to the gas cham­ Is charged with murder. And the very^our Palmer died. Dutton's gun killed him. ber . . . unless Perry nails the only one who can save MESSAGE FF the killer who put arsenic her Is blind. Can Perry ever save him now? (Publ. Ed. $3.50) 7 HONG KONC in her husband's last meal. (Publ. Ed. $3.50) Mignon G. Eberhi (Publ. Ed. $3.95) 3 years after the The Case of the The Case of the appearance of The Case of the HORRIFIED HEIRS 4 BEAUTIFUL BEGGAR 6 husband, Marcial Perry Mason's client met 2QUEENLY CONTESTANT Who murdered Daphne? ry flies to Hong t Mrs. Trent only once. But An aging beauty Involves Perry can't figure It out. en a mysterious I a mutual "friend" wants Perry in a $2,000,000 estate, Then, Daphne seems to But she finds heri to kill them both. blackmail, and fancy mur­ make a drastic recovery. tact. . . his neqi der. (Publ. Ed. $3.95) (Publ. Ed. $3.50) (Publ. Ed. $3.50) open with a knid (Publ. Ed. %. TEAR OFF AND MAIL CARD TODAY (see other side) 10 AN EASY WJ O TO GO by George Harmon ( Murdock walks into a trap. As a FIRST CLASS roars off, he cruir PERMIT NO. 7 to the floor. He to convince his ROSLYN, N.Y. sassin he's dea< he can live to p his own innoceni BUSINESS REPLY MAIL (Publ. Ed. $> No postage stamp necessary ir mailed in the United States THE ETRUS< 9 BULL by Frank Gruba Death follows strange little t cotta statue, v POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY over half a mi dollars. Now L THE DETECTIVE BOOK CLUB has the bull . . . Roslyn, New York 11576 now it's Logan's to diet (Publ. Ed. $

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