5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 69: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HEADS—IT’S MURDER {inside and got the package. Mr. Ray sucked in his breath sharply as his long talonlike fingers closed over the brown paper. Jeffries seemed re- lieved. “I told you he’d be sensible,” he said to the yellow men. “I told you a guy like him would know which side his bread was buttered on.” He handed Prentiss the ten crisp bills. “Give Mr. Ray your keys. He’ll see that your car’s taken back to your garage.” Al Prentiss put the money in his —NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH 69 dling his shoulders. The sharp, cold point of a knife was pressed against his neck just under his right ear. “Please, not so fast.” Prentiss believed Mr. Doe was prob- ably still smiling. He didn’t move. Jeff- ries climbed heavily to his feet. When he spoke, there was no anger in his voice. “Neatly done,” he said. “Neatly done, pal. But when you’ve lived as long as I have and done business with these heathens as long as I have, you won’t be so ready to try tricks. Let him up, LITTLE item like a tooth cavity thwarted a kidnapping plot in Manila, Po, recently. Go Kong-Hua, a twenty-three year old Chinese, and possessor of the afore- mentioned cavity, was snatched by five-of his armed countrymen, and spirited away to a hideout, where he was forced to pen a ransom note to his father. After finishing the note, Go was handed a pill. “What is it?”’ inquired he. “A sleeping pill,’ he was told. “Swallow it.’ Go thrust the pill into his mouth—but didn’t swallow it. Instead, he used his tongue to force the pill into a hollow tooth—and then fell into a bogus snooze. Figuring he’d be “out”? for many hours, the kidnappers relaxed their guard, and when finally they did get around to checking on their victim, they found that Go—he had went! —Joseph C. Stacey pocket. “What’s wrong if I take it back?” Jeffries smiled and spoke in the tone one would use to a slow-witted child. “Because you’re not going back, pal! Not right now. You’re going on that trip we spoke about.” Prentiss tensed. Suddenly his big fist shot out. He caught Jeffries off guard. The bones of his knuckles hammered against the bone of Jeffries’ jaw. Prentiss turned, started to run—and charged full tilt into a thug who sudden- ly appeared out of nowhere. fetes thug went down—but so did ' & Prentiss. Fortunately, too, for a bul- let whistled over his head as he fell. Then the light from a hand flash was shining on him, and Mr. Doe was strad- Doe. I think he’ll behave himself now.” The yellow man jumped lightly to his feet. Prentiss got up slowly. “You don’t seem to understand,” he explained. “I said I’d go on that trip and I will. But I’ve got a lot of business that will have to be attended to first.” “You're the guy who doesn’t under- stand,” Jeffries replied. “You don’t have any option in the matter. You’re going on the trip and you’re going now. It’s only because I’ve got a weak stomach that they don’t haul you out into that ditch. So you can go peacefully or make a beef and get hurt. Which’ it be?” “Peace,” Prentiss said. They led him across the lot to where a big car was parked. The roads looked oily, wet, and slip- MICLOOKS (C(O) (C(O)