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

P. S. Daisy Brittlenet left in a hurry this morning even before the wedding. I was sure glad that she went because I’m pretty certain that she didn’t recognize me and won’t have to worry about her bumping into Mary. Youngblood won’t do any talking either. He’d die if the newspapers ever got wind of what happened. I’m sending a wire to Mary and I’m enclosing a copy of it. Back me up.

WESTERN UNION

MRS. LESTER BARNES,

CLAM SHELL HOTEL,

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.

BONDS RECOVERED. FLYING TO FRISCO AND BACK THIS AFTER

NOON IN CHARTERED PLANE. WILL SEE YOU LATE TONIGHT. LOVE.

LES.

WESTERN UNION

JIM HANDMORE,

RED STAR DETECTIVE AGENCY,

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

DAISY BRITTLENET INSISTS SHE SAW LES AT NUDIST CAMP THIS MORNING. WHAT IS HE DOING? I WANT THE TRUTH.

MARY.

WESTERN UNION

MRS. LESTER BARNES,

CLAM SHELL HOTEL,

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.

DAISY IS NUTS. ANYONE WHO GOES TO A NUDIST CAMP IS NUTS. SHE SAW SOMEONE ELSE. LES JUST LEFT THE OFFICE HERE TO FLY TO YOU. HAPPY HONEYMOON.

JIM.

Dear Jim:

Well, I’m back with Mary. I’m writing this letter on the sneak. Mary just put me through a third-degree. I had to call Daisy Brittlenet a liar to her face when she insisted that she saw me and no one else! She’s gone back to the nudist camp and I hope she falls into a bunch of cactus.

When I told Mary how I’d nearly lost my life recovering the bonds from the ex-con, she opened up with tears and was sure glad that I was all in one piece. I guess I’m a pretty smooth liar because it looks like a happy honeymoon ahead.

Priscilla and her husband have gone back to San Diego and I hope they stay there. Your telegram telling Mary that Daisy was nuts to go to a nudist camp cinched the argument for me. Mary is positive that Daisy is screwy, but I still think you were a sucker to give her up.

Relieved,

Les.

P. S. Don’t disturb us for the next two weeks.

WESTERN UNION

JIM HANDMORE,

RED STAR DETECTIVE AGENCY,

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

MARY IS WISE. MY COMPLETE TARZAN TAN PUT ME ON THE SPOT TONIGHT. SHE SAID I DIDN’T HAVE IT WHEN I WENT AWAY. I TOLD HER THE TRUTH. DOESN’T BELIEVE ME. DO SOMETHING QUICK. SHE HAS TAKEN ANOTHER ROOM AND KEEPS IT LOCKED.

LES.