Pulp Fiction, 1938 · page 63 of 148
10 Short Novels Magazine — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a story prose page from a pulp magazine titled "Hell Tracks of the Dragon." The visible text depicts a murder investigation scene where detective Flint questions Alvarez about a dead body found in a room. A illustration below shows what appears to be the crime scene with a body and investigators examining it. The dialogue reveals the victim was killed around six o'clock the previous night, and a medical examiner named Professor Kane arrives to begin the autopsy and investigation. The scene establishes the mystery setup typical of hardboiled crime fiction, with law enforcement gathering at the location to process evidence and interview witnesses.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Flint suddenly stepped aside and ges- tured. He sharply watched Alvarez to note his reaction when his eyes accom- modated themselves to the abrupt change from outdoor glare to indoor shadows. Alvarez stared for a moment, then ex- claimed and recoiled. He fixedly regarded the gray huddle just beyond the table, and the blood that blackened the tiles. Then, voice level and unwavering, he queried: “You found him this way?” “How long has he been dead?” Flint asked. Alvarez knelt, frowned and muttered under his breath. Finally, he arose, fum- bled with his watch, stroked his mus- Hell Tracks of the Dragon wow 6] tache, and announced: “One couldn’t say except roughly, without an autopsy. But—” he glanced again at his watch— “T’d judge he was killed around six o’clock last night.” “Thanks, doc,” acknowledged Flint. “Stick around until the sergeant gets here. He’ll want to ask you a few things—” “I’m afraid,” deplored Alvarez, “that I won’t be able to help much.” “We'll worry about that,” said Flint. Alvarez seated himself, fumbled for a match; then without hesitation strode to the far corner of the room to get a smok- ing stand. He evidently knew his way about the house. McDonald, accompanied by the homi- cide squad, presently arrived; and as the medical examiner and fingerprint man set to work, the chief questioned Alvarez. “Professor Kane;” began the doctor, ‘has been my patient for the past six months. I called on him at irregular hours most adaptable to my time. Either around noon, or in the evening. I live right next weer ~ eee et ee te pir eg Wook