Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 1956 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

and you couldn’t just throw a gen- uine lady out on her can like any tramp. It was sure to make her. feel degraded and washed up and. not wanted any more, and it wasn’t right to da it. “Forget it, baby,” he said. “It’s no trouble, and I guess it’s not so important after all.” He stayed around a while longer and then left and went down to a club of the Duke’s, a dark little place on a crummy street, not the fancy spot where Moira was taking it off to Stravinsky. He went there because he wanted to see a fellow called Slivers who patronized the place. This Slivers was a fellow who did odd jobs for the Duke, and when he came in Freddie beckoned him over and bought a drink. “T’m wondering if you'd like to do a little work,” he said. “For the Duke?” Slivers said. “No. For me personally.” “Well, I got nothing on hand right now. I might be interested if the fee’s right.” “Five hundred.” “The Duke pays me a_thou- sand.” “This is simple work. Fast and easy. No risk. It’s like finding the money in the street.” | “If it’s so easy, why don’t you handle it yourself?” A SOFT SPOT FOR MADDY “Reasons. Personal ones. You in- terested or not?” “T’m listening.” “There’s this girl. She ioe in apartment 503 out at Castle Arms. I pay the rent. I just came from there, and she’s alone. She'll be alone, because I’m the only one who goes there, and I’m not going back.” “What are the risks?” “T already told you. None. She’s alone. The place is even sound- proof. You walk up and do it and walk away, that’s all.” “When do I get the five i : dred?” “Tl wait here for you.” “Okay.” Slivers stood up, started away. “Do it neat,” Freddie said. “T always do it neat,” Slivers said. After he was gone, Freddie car- ried his glass over to the bar and got it filled up again. “Remember that I’m here,” he said to the bartender. “TI Be ete all evening.” He went back to his table wale his full glass and sat down. It was funny, he thought, how it was when you had a soft spot for some- one. You’d go to all kinds of trou- ble to keep from humiliating them or making them feel bad or any- thing like that. aie Gomichbooksco