Black Mask (Vol. 22, No. 2 — Mary 1939)

Jim Handmore,

Red Star Detective Agency,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Jim:

I’m worried about my darling husband. He didn’t give me any address where I can reach him. Do you suppose he’ll get the bonds back? How much are they worth? Aren’t they insured? I can’t figure out how the ex-con could know that Les was carrying the bonds. It’s not like Les to go around advertising the fact.

I feel certain that the rancher is in it too. Maybe Mr. Youngblood framed the whole thing. Suppose he’d been gambling with the bank’s money and decided to cover his losses by sending some phony bonds for Les to have stolen. That way, he could cover up and poor Les will take the rap.

I’m so worried I can’t sleep nights. Please let me hear from you right away.

Anxious,

Mary.

Mrs. Lester Barnes,

Clam Shell Hotel,

Laguna Beach, Calif.

Dear Mary:

Don’t worry. Les know what he’s doing and has all the bare facts right at his fingertips. I’m working on it too from this end checking up on the muggs at the ranch. As soon as this Jenson case is out of court, I’ll hop down there if things aren’t straightened out by then.

Youngblood is above suspicion, and by all means don’t write to him. We don’t want him to know about it if we can help it. I feel certain that the bonds are insured so don’t worry on that score.

Is Daisy Brittlenet still at Laguna? I hope so. That is, I still have a soft spot for her in my heart and would like to see her. If she’s still there, keep her with you until Les gets back and tell her that I will come with him. Maybe I’ll be able to break away from court here sooner than I expected.

Yours,

Jim.

P. S. By all means keep Daisy with you if you can because I’ve been thinking a lot about her since you wrote me that she was there. Tell her to keep away from that nudist camp.

WESTERN UNION

JIM HANDMORE.

RED STAR DETECTIVE AGENCY,

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

TALKED WITH PRISCILLA AT DINNER. SHE REFUSES TO BUDGE. HAVE YOU WIRED HER FATHER?

LESTER BARNES.

WESTERN UNION

LESTER BARNES,

HAPPY VALLEY NUDIST CLUB,

HAPPY VALLEY JUNCTION, CALIFORNIA

HER FATHER MUST NOT KNOW. TRY AND FIGURE A WAY OUT.

JIM HANDMORE.