The Payoff is Murder

Standard of California, on behalf of independent chevron gas stations and standard stations throughout the West, invite you to let George do it. The payoff is murder. Another adventure of George Valentine. The personal notice changes my stock and trade.

If it's touch and go with trouble and you want out, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Right full detail. Dear Mr. Valentine, maybe you've heard of my husband, Johnny Wyatt. Just a notch higher than a club fighter. Big strong boy who hasn't gotten anywhere.

Well, Friday night he meets Pat Driscoll at the Christopher Arena and the payoff is all set. But not if Johnny plays it my way. Then the payoff might be murder. Still I want to take...

Maybe my reasons for this are a little cock-eyed, but if you're interested let's talk it over and it's signed. It's on Doris Wyatt. Christopher Arena, I'm Brooksy. Sounds like old Homewake, remember? Remember, I have to sit there and watch you get worked over just to satisfy the ego of a vicious little gangster named Salvador.

Ah, the late Johnny Salvador. Someone out is a Douglas Hager running all of his rackets. It's enough to make a growing boy turn cynical. One thing certain from Mrs. Wyatt's letter, the heir around Christopher Arena still has an odor from here to there and back again.

Yeah, with Hager in the picture, the fight could very well be a fix. But why should an ever-loving wife want to change the payoff so it might read murder? Well, George, she admitted her reasons might sound a little cock-eyed.

But just how cock-eyed? Alright, Mr. Valentine, I'll tell you why I'm not going to let Johnny throw that fight Friday night. Yeah, Mrs. Wanda. Because I've never had him in coat. Huh? Was that exactly what I said in this book?