Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, December 1956 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

in his mind, All you do, Blinky, is read the papers. “Is it true, Lieutenant, that the police have absolutely no clues to work on?” “That’s what it said in the pa- pers. They get the facts, Mr. Pruyn.” “Yes. Well—I was naturally cu- rious as to the job I had done.” He paused to adjust his glasses. “May I assure you, from the out- set, that I am indeed the guilty party. The crime of murder is on my hands.” Bendix nodded, Okay, Blinky, I’m impressed. “T—uh—suppose you'll want to take my story down on tape or wire or however you—” Bendix smiled. “Officer Barnhart will take down what you say. Learned shorthand in Junior High, didn’t you, Pete?” Barnhart grinned from the back of the room. Emery Pruyn glanced nervously over his shoulder at the uniformed policeman seated near the door. “Oh,” he said, “I didn’t realize that the officer had remained. I thought that he—left.” “He’s very quiet,” said Bendix, exhaling a cloud of pale blue cig- arette smoke. “Go on with your story, Mr. Pruyn.” “Of course. Yes. Well—I know I don’t Jook like a murderer, Lieu- tenant Bendix, but then—” he chuckled-softly, “—we seldom look like what we really are. Murderers, THE STRANGE CASE OF MR. PRUYN after all, can look like anybody.” Bendix fought back a yawn. Why do these jokers’ pick late afternoon to unload? God, he was hungry. If I let this characser ramble on, Pll be here all night. Helen will blow her stack if I’m late for din- ner again. Better pep things up. Ask him some leading questions. “How did you get into Mrs. Sloane’s apartment: “ag “Disguise,” said Pruyn with a shy smile. He sat forward in the leather chair. “T posed as a televi- sion man.’ “You mean a television repair man?” “Oh, no. Then I should never have gained entry since I had no way of knowing whether Mrs. Sloane had called a repair man. No, I took the role of a televison rep- resentative. I told Mrs. Sloane that her name had been chosen at ran- dom, along with four others in that vicinity, for a free converter.” “Converter?” “To convert black and white television to color television. I read about them.” , “T see. She let you in?” “Oh, yes. She was utterly con- vinced, grateful that her name had been chosen, all excited and talking fast. You know, like women do.” Bendix nodded, - “Told me to come right in, that her husband would be delighted when he got home and found out what she’d won. Said it would be. a wonderful surprise for him.” Mr. 19 EOMMICLOO|KSs6©