Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 1956 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

three years of obedience had its © way. She picked up the receiver, said hello. . It was Jonathan. He said, in his rather flat, Midwestern voice, “Miss Cassidy? I’m. terribly sorry, but I won't be able to keep our date to- night. You see a friend of mine has. gotten sick, and I’ve got to stay with him. So I'll have to ask for a raincheck. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble, Miss Cas- sidy.” . Before she put down the phone, Lurline managed to say, “No—no trouble at all.” Fall Mouse in the Big House A warden of a midwest prison received a tip that within the next few days three lifers were going to make a break, Although the informant revealed their names, he said he knew they also had hidden weapons, but had no idea where the three men had put them. The warden knew that by placing the men in solitary he could stop the break. But he wanted the guns and ammunition to stop bloodshed in the future. He had the three men brought to his office. He told them | he knew their plans and could stop the break by putting them in solitary, but what he really wanted was their guns. He then took out a-deck of playing cards. He would play them one hand of draw poker. If one of the three men drew high hand they could return to their cells, no further ques- tions asked. If he drew high hand, they would tell him where the guns were. The men agreed, First man drew a pair; second man, two pair .. . third man, three of a kind. The warden turned over his cards ... full house. The men stood by their bargain and led the warden to the guns. Returning to his ofhce his assistant asked him why he took such a big risk, “It was no risk at all,” explained the warden. A professional card sharp taught me how to do this - when he was a con here years ago.” | A DATE WITH JONATHAN EOPMICLO© 45 S (E@)