Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 1956 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

nerves had been a little bad at the time, so maybe he’d considered too hastily. After all, people had been threat- ening to kill him for years, with- out, obviously, carrying the project through. And the sucker you'd trimmed was always the best sucker to trim again. He’d be wanting to get even with you. He’d think that he was wise to all your tricks, and that he would take you this time. So? Los Angeles or New York? Or, rather, Los Angeles then New York, instead of New York period. Mitch turned the matter over in his mind.... There was a soft knock on the bedroom door. He didn’t answer it, naturally. He knew no one in San Diego but Doc, and Doc most certainly would not be paying him a call. Picking up the phone, he spoke softly to the room clerk. The clerk’s reply was similarly.. soft. “None of the employees, Mr. Alli- son. Someone must have slipped past me. Want the house dick?” “No, Tl handle. it,” Mitch de- cided. He replaced the receiver, came lithely to his feet. He tiptoed out of the parlor and into the bed- room, listened unbreathing at the door. There was another knock. Mitch frowned, hesitating, and then he grinned. Entering the bathroom, he turned the shower on full blast. He let out a brief, muted bellow, as of a man singing in his bath; then cautiously, noiselessly, he un- locked the bedroom door and re- turned to the parlor. If things. worked out as he ex- pected themto... They did work out that way, after a few more knocks. The bed- room door opened slowly. It closed again softly. And there in his room, looking frightened but an- gry and determined, stood the red- haired girl, Peggy Turner. Mitch scowled. Only Doc knew his address. Had Doc sicked her on him, told her she’d- been cheated, just to make trouble for him? Well, he’d have to do something nice ve Doc, -too. Yes, he’d do something very nice for him. Meanwhile, first things first. . Mitch took a roll of adhesive tape from his pocket; a _ very handy item, he’d found, and noth- ing that the cops could kick about in case you were searched. He ripped. off a piece. of it, laid it flat in his palm and moved back softly into the bedroom. The girl was at the baggage rack, rummaging through his suit- case. As she straightened, Mitch’s hand swooped in front of her face, slapping the tape across her mouth. She gasped and kicked back- ward. Mitch bumped her head against the wall, jerked and whirled her, and sent her sprawl- ing on the bed. Before she could rise, he was on it with her. Hold- 60 ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE GomichbooksEeco