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ALFUMD NOVEMBER 35# — COCKS fAYSTERY AlAGAZINE NEW stories presented by the master of SUSPENSE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Dear Readers, The current census shows an increase in bubble-gum-chewing and the writing of fiction. Psychiatrists tell us this is most encouraging and salubrious, indi cating a release of tensions "in these troubled times." Always eager to be decidedly therapeutic, my fine publication is therefore sponsoring a short story contest that is open to everyone —the incarcerated and those not' as yet apprehended. Elsewhere in this issue are the rules and the rewards. Interestingly enough, the prizes without exception are monetary in nature. For those winners, however, who are opposed to money on principle, there will be durable, embossed plastic metals. As you know, Halloween is almost upon us. This is a holiday dangerously close to my heart. When that form of life known as children come trooping to my door in sundry disguises, demanding "trick or treat," I am ready for them, barricaded and ready. You see, I am aware that children prefer conflict of sorts to bouquets of lollipops and scatterings of chicken corn candy. And, of course, politics has been with us right through the summer. Early in May, I turned my television set off; and when the oratory still came through the walls, I called the police. ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE ^S;Ji^L%:^rioi"'L'"^^ T^J'SSliSd SLutcs iiiu! I'ossfKsions; elsewhere $5.00 (in U. S. funds) for one year. Piihlisiieii monthly by 11. S. D. I'uhliealion.s, Inc., Lukeview HiiiklinK #105. North I'aim Keaeli. Fhi. I'uhlication office. 10 Ferry Street. Con- eoni, \. H. Socoiul chiss poslajie paid at Ooticoni, N. K. (H) 19fiO by H. S. D. riihlications. Inc. All rights reservcil. I'rjleetiou secureii under the Interniitiniial and I'aii-Arnerieai) copyrifiht conventions. Title regi.stered • IJ. S. I'Hi.. Office. Keprodiietion or use, without express permission, of eiiitorial or pictorial content in any iiuuuier is !irohil)tted. I'oslafie must accompany manuscripts if return is desired, hut no responsibility will he assuriiud for un.solicited material. .Manuscripts should be sent to Alfred Hitchcock's ilystery Magazine, I.akevievv Muilding #105, North I'alm Beach, Fia. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or iiistihitions ai)peaririK in this numa/.ine and those of any livinH; or dead person or institution , is intcniU'd-anil ;ni,v similarity whicli may exist is purely eoincidental. I'rinled in the U.S A. LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED VOLUME 5, No. 11 NOVEMBER, 1 MO CONTENTS ONE POUND OF DEATH by Donald Honig 2 MURDER MOST CONVENIENT by Gilbert Ralston 11 NIGHT OF AN EXECUTION by Mann Rubin 28 POLITICS IS SIMPLY MURDER by Jac\ Ritchie 36 30,000,000 WITNESSES by Talmage Powell 48 WHEN YOU COMMIT A CRIME by Donald Martin 54 WANTED: A RESPECTABLE VICTIM by C. B. Giljord 64 RUN, MURDERER, RUN! by Bryce Walton 78 RUBY MARTINSON'S POISONED PEN by Henry Slesar 90 THE LIPSTICK EXPLOSION by James Holding 102 9 FROM 12 LEAVES .3 by Steve O'Connell 112 FASTER THAN AN HONEST MAN by O. H. Leslie 122- RICHARD E. DECKER, Publisher WILLIAM MANNERS, Editorial Director PAT HITCHCOCK, Associate Editor G. F. FOSTER, Manag ing Editor LISA BELKNAP, Associate Editor MEINRAD AAAYER, Art Director BARBARA REMINGTON, Illustrator LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C^ARL wondered if the valise looked as suspicious to other peo ple as it did to him. Beside him on the back seat of the cab, it looked positively lethal. When he had taken it from his friends (along with his instructions) a lit tle while ago and hailed the cab and got in and told the driver to take him to the airport, he was certain the driver could tell that the valise held a can containing a pound of heroin. That was one of the hazards of carrying something like that—its grimness seeped into you and made you look suspicious. Carl told himself as they sped along the highway toward the air port that his fears were ridiculous, of course, that no one had X-ray vision. The driver's whistling non chalance, eased him somewhat. Arriving at the terminal, Carl got out—valise in hand. From It's wholesome and American for a criminal to want to rise in the world, to want to get on to bigger, but not better things. And so we have our hero, Carl Luca, about to niake the most of an important illegality. 2 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED gratitude (for what he didn't quite insist upon cUnging to it, would be know) he was going to give the certain to arouse suspicion. (He cabbie an inordinately large tip, had been thinking about all these but suddenly became afraid it things since they had told him two would draw attention to him— days ago he was being entrusted one of the cardinal rules was not to with this mission.) So he watched draw attention to one's self—and the valise go riding away on the so tipped only a quarter. belt, through the litde archway. Entering the terminal, he When it was out of sight he was straightened his shoulders and almost relieved, as if he were no determined to walk as casually as longer responsible for it. Then he he could, despite what seemed like went to the waiting' room and a thousand pound weight in his lighted a cigarette. hand. He went to the flight desk All he had ever done for the or and inquired concerning the time ganization, heretofore, had been to of departure of his' plane and then collect money from their various checked in his luggage—the single bookmakers. So why they had valise. Checking the valise was the chosen him for this dangerous as most difficult act of all, but he felt signment, he did not know. Maybe he had no alternative. For him to because it was not as dangerous as ONE POUND OF DEATH LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED he thought. To their way of think ly because he knew, iji a moment ing it was probably simple. All he of clear, logical reasoning, they had to do was ride on the plane and couldn't all possibly be looking for then when he landed in Chicago him—he remained where he was. give the vahse to men who would Then, out of curiosity, he rose and be waiting for him, and then turn pushed aside the waiting room door around and catch the next plane and sauntered out into the ter back. It was all so very simple, ex minal. The pohcemen were stand cept, of course, if he happened to ing around the desk, in their midst get caught. But there was no way two distinguished old men. for that to happen, he felt. This "What's all that about.?" Carl was a simple, uncomplicated plan. asked a stewardess who was just Perhaps he was finally getting passing. his chance. He had been in the or ^ "Oh," she said, "that's the Prime ganization for almost ten years Minister." now, and had always been deep in Then Carl remembered. The for the lower echelons. But he had al eign dignitary vras touring the ways been loyal and competent— country. He recalled having read he was sure the higher-ups were in the rnorning paper that the man aware of this—and perhaps this as was going on to Chicago after signment was in the form of a pro having pled in Washington for as motion, a first chance to do bigger sistance for his strife-torn coun things. After years and years of try. He was evidently going on the running errands and fulfilling same plane as Carl. menial jobs, perhaps he was finally Carl breathed with relief, then getting his chance. congratulated himself for not pan These thoughts were like a icking and running away. He dream, a dream that included all would have to report this to his the trappings: the expensive suits, employers, let therri know how he the big cars, the showy women, the had handled himself in what had nods of respect from his associates. appeared to be a bad situation. The desire to make good on his Feeling smug with self-confi mission suddenly became a passion. dence, he mingled with the police, Sitting there smoking, thinking a wry humor amusing him. It these things, Carl almost leaped would be a good one to tell when out of his seat at the sight of he got back, how he had virtually a dozen policemen swarming had a police escort right to the through the terminal. He would plane. He looked at his watch and have ignored caution and run out then checked it-against one of the of there, but—partly because he wall clocks. They would be board was too terrified to move and part ing the plane shortly. He began to ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED feel the nervous excitement that wards the front and Carl could not follows the relaxation of tension. see him. Then it was time. The Prime After about fifteen minutes, Minister had gone first. The other when all the passengers had been passengers stood back and watched seated, Carl glanced at his watch the police escort him across the and noted that it was past take-off field to the plane.