Robert Leslie Bellem - The Spicy-Adventure MEGAPACK: 25 Tales From the Spicy Pulps

Contents

COPYRIGHT INFO

The Spicy Adventure MEGAPACK is copyright 2015 by Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

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The MEGAPACK ebook series name is a trademark of Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

The pulp magazines of the early to mid 20th Century are often politically incorrect by todays standards. The Spicy magazines were politically incorrect by their contemporary standards as well.With the occasional passing glimpse of a creamy-smooth thigh (or other womanly part!), and filled with sexism, racism, and over-the-top plots and language, they nevertheless managed to titillate with more innuendo than anything else. If you find such things offensive, this is definitely not the right MEGAPACK for you. But if you enjoy the occasional stroll down the back alleys of pulp publishing, heres a walk on the seamy side of the 1930s!

John Betancourt

Publisher, Wildside Press LLC

www.wildsidepress.com

ABOUT THE SERIES

Over the last few years, our MEGAPACK ebook series has grown to be our most popular endeavor. (Maybe it helps that we sometimes offer them as premiums to our mailing list!) One question we keep getting asked is, Whos the editor?

The MEGAPACK ebook series (except where specifically credited) are a group effort. Everyone at Wildside works on them. This includes John Betancourt (me), Carla Coupe, Steve Coupe, Shawn Garrett, Helen McGee, Bonner Menking, Colin Azariah-Kribbs, A.E. Warren, and many of Wildsides authorswho often suggest stories to include (and not just their own!)

RECOMMEND A FAVORITE STORY?

Do you know a great classic science fiction story, or have a favorite author whom you believe is perfect for the MEGAPACK ebook series? Wed love your suggestions! You can email the publisher at wildsidepress@yahoo.com.

Note: we only consider stories that have already been professionally published. This is not a market for new works.

TYPOS

Unfortunately, as hard as we try, a few typos do slip through. We update our ebooks periodically, so make sure you have the current version (or download a fresh copy if its been sitting in your ebook reader for months.) It may have already been updated.

If you spot a new typo, please let us know. Well fix it for everyone. You can email the publisher at wildsidepress@yahoo.com.

THE SHANGHAI JESTER, by Robert Leslie Bellem

Originally published in Spicy Adventure Stories, July 1934.

Cliff Downey, ace operative of the Consolidated Detective Agecy, strode down the thick-carpeted hallway of the fifth floor of the Hotel Cosmopole in Shanghai on the heels of a soft-footed Cantonese bellhop.

Cliffs hairy right fist was thrust deep into the pocket of his coat, the capable fingers clenched around the comforting butt of a service .38 automatic. In the breast pocket of that same coat reposed a yellow cablegram. Every time Cliff Downey thought of that cablegram his square jaw jutted, his icy gray eyes narrowed and his mouth became a grim slit in the hard granite of his face.

The Chink bellhop stopped before a closed door at the end of the corridor and raised his saffron knuckles to knock. Cliff Downeys left hand shot out, catching the yellow boys fingers in a steel grip. No! the American grunted. Then he slipped a coin into the servants startled palm. Beat itscatget out! Savvee?

The other nodded, grinned in silent Oriental fashion, and pad-padded away. While Cliff Downey waited for the clang of the elevator gates around a bend in the corridor, signifying the departure of the bellhop, he thought once more of that cablegram.

It was from the home office of the Consolidated, back in Chicago, and it had reached him here in Shanghai just the day before. Argus Agency has operative on Mullers trail. Watch your step, the message read.

Muller was the man Cliff Downey was after; the man he had trailed over three continents; the man he had finally run to earth here in the Hotel Cosmopole, Shanghai. Muller was in the room behind that closed door.

Downey hunched his broad shoulders. That was the end of a long traila trail that had led from Chicago to New York, from New York to Europe, from Europe to China. Muller was a jewel thief. Muller had stolen diamonds valued at three quarters of a million from the Vandervort mansion in Chicago. Old Man Vandervort had offered a reward of ten thousand dollars for the return of the missing jewels. Cliff Downey was after that ten grand reward and had his mind made up to get it.

There was just one hitch: the cablegram from Chicago. Downey realized its full significance, and the short red hairs around the nape of his neck bristled combatively. The Argus Agency was a blackleg crowd who wouldnt hesitate to wait until Cliff Downey had recovered the stolen plunder, then slip a knife between his ribs, make away with the retrieved diamonds, return them to Old Man Vandervort and claim the reward for themselves.

He stared into the piquant, youthful features of a girla slender, elfin person whose tawny yellow hair tumbled in a glorious cascade over bare and intriguing shoulders, whose hazel eyes were demurely fringed with gentian lashes, whose bee-stung lips were parted to reveal two rows of tiny, even teeth. Her boyish body was clad in a negligee that had fallen open at the throat to disclose creamy expanses of smooth girl-flesh swelling into twin firm half-globes of breasts straining beneath the soft silken restraint of a diaphanous brassiere.

With his free hand Cliff Downey swept the Stetson from his crisply-curling red hair. I beg your pardon. I was looking for Mr. Muller he murmured. Inwardly he cursed the suavely perfidious Chink bellhop for leading him to the wrong room.

Astonishingly, the girl nodded and stepped aside for him to enter. Come in. Ill call my father, she said. Then, observing his eyes centered upon her partially-exposed form, she blushed slightly and drew the negligee more tightly around her.

Warily the Consolidated operative entered the room. The girl left him standing there, went through a door into an adjoining chamber. Cliff Downey heard her clear, low voice. A man to see you, Daddy.

Cliff tensed his muscles. A man appeared in the doorway of the next room. It was Muller.

Downey faced him. Well, Muller, here I am. Its been a long chase.

The jewel thief ran nervous fingers through his heavy shock of iron-gray hair. He shot a warning glance at the detective. Youre

Downey of Consolidated. Cliff s right fist bulged through the pocket of his coat, training the muzzle of his automatic on Mullers broad chest.

The older man shook his head almost beseechingly. He forced a smile. Glad to see you, Downey. Youll be wanting to talk about that deal

The Vandervort deal, Downey interposed grimly.

Sh-h! Muller gestured toward the room where the girl had gone. Icant we wait until my daughter goes out? he begged in a low tone.

Downey grinned sardonically. And let her get away with what Ive come after?

Sheshe doesnt know about that, Downey. He lowered his voice almost to a whisper. Ive got the diamonds on me. He reached toward a pocket.

None of that! Downey spat sharply. His right hand rose inside his coat pocket. Im warning you!

Muller smiled wanly. He still spoke in tones too low to carry into the next room. Ive no gun. Youve got the drop on me. See for yourself. Downey approached the jewel thief. He ran expert hands over Mullers body. Then he fished a chamois bag from the older mans pocket. Are these?

Muller nodded. Now will you let her go out while we talk?

Downey grunted assent. Muller raised his voice. Babs! he called into the next room. Babs, honey, suppose you go downstairs and have your luncheon? Mr. Downey and I have an important business deal we want to discuss.

The girl appeared from the adjoining chamber. She had donned a simple, effective afternoon frock that revealed every graceful line of her lithe young body. From tiny, high-arched shoes and chiffon-encased, provocative legs to the crown of her tawny coiffure she was all feminine perfection. Of course, Daddy, she smiled graciously. She went lightly out of the suite. Downey watched her speculatively as she departed.