Pulp Fiction, 1938 · page 24 of 116
10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: 10-Story Detective This page contains **story prose** from what appears to be page 22 of a pulp detective/espionage story titled "10-STORY DETECTIVE." The narrative follows Paul Hammond, an undercover agent posing as a wine merchant, who dances with a woman named Nevel Mason at what appears to be a social gathering. During their dance, she whispers an emergency code ("KL—47—ATU—93") to him, but Hammond becomes suspicious when he observes a waiter—the same one who served the South American guests at his table—sliding a card beneath Nevel's plate. Hammond's doubt about her loyalty increases, and he subtly rejects her appeal for help. After the dance, Nevel discovers and tears up the mysterious card, which is then removed with her plate.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sia ea. CRs 22—_________________10-STORY DETECTIVE Pombal and his group. There must be some reason for that, since he had given no such order. Then he saw that the waiter who had come to his room was serving the South American. Hammond turned his attention to his guests. Nevel Nason was chatting with Arthur Hayeox, asking him in- numerable questions about news- paper work. Major Carter was also talking with Arthur Haycox and Colonel Ward and Miss Pierson had joined the throng on the dance floor. Nevel Mason smiled into Hammond’s They began dancing. “TI want to thank you for arranging such a dignified and correct meet- ing,” he heard her murmur, when they had circled the floor. “It was very clever. How did you know that I had met Major Carter?” “A friend mentioned it,” he an- swered, “I believe you were going to tell me something of interest. What was it you said about—the Stone?” He felt her slender figure stiffen. “Why are you so interested in the Stone?” she questioned. “Stones have always intrigued me,” he parried. ‘““What was this interest- ing news?’ “I’m afraid I ean’t tell you unless I am sure just who you are.” “You know my name—Paul Ham- mond. I am an agent for certain wine merchants—” “Please don’t tease me,” she broke in. He looked down into her face. It was serious. : “TI might reply that I don’t know who you are,” he countered. She glameced around, her eyes watching the South Americans at the table. She raised herself until her lips almost touched his ear. - “T told you over the telephone,” “That meant nothing to me.” “Then perhaps this does.” Her voice was scarcely audible against the barbaric throb of the orchestra. “KL—47—_ATU—$93.” For a moment, Paul Hammond lost the rhythm of the dance. The letters and numerals were D-1 signals, to be used only in extreme emergency. They called for an answering signal in the same code. No excuse could be offered for using them except in a case of life or death. The girl was looking up into his face, her own quivering with eager- ness. For a moment, Hammond hesi- tated. Nevel Mason might be facing a dangerous dilemma and be appeal- ing to him for aid. They were dancing past the table they had left a few minutes before. Hammond caught a glimpse of the waiter who had come to his room. The man had left the table occupied by the South Americans and was sliding a card beneath Nevel’s plate. The doubt vanished from Ham- mond’s face. “I said KL—47—ATU—93.” Ten- sion sounded in the girl’s voice, but the friendly smile on the man’s face told her that she had met defeat. “I’m afraid you have made a mis- take, Miss Nason,” Hammond said. “I don’t understand you.” “Don’t understand, when you—” “T told you I represented certain wine merchants of Bordeaux, France. They are interested in California wines,” said Paul Hammond. HE danee ended with a blare of horns, and Hammond escorted his partner back to the table. He saw her glance in the direction of the waiter serving the South Americans, but he could not see her expression. The conversation around the table was resumed. Nevel, however, was plainly distracted. Hammond watched her slide the card from beneath her plate, read it and then tear it inte bits. In another moment, her plate was withdrawn and carried away, the torn card upon it. Comicbooks (E(0)