Three Thousand to the Good: Race Williams #2 (Black Mask)

By Carroll John Daly

Race Williams—the classic hard-boiled detective from the pages of Black Mask Magazine—takes on the biggest blackmailing scheme of his career. Plus a bonus Daly hard-boiled classic: "Paying an Old Debt." Story #2 in the Race Williams series.

Carroll John Daly (1889–1958) was the creator of the first hard-boiled private eye story, predating Dashiell Hammett's first Continental Op story by several months. Daly's classic character, Race Williams, was one of the most popular fiction characters of the pulps, and the direct inspiration for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Mask
• Release date: Nov 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9788827516317

Book preview

Three Thousand to the Good

Race Williams book #2

A Black Mask Classic

by

Carroll John Daly

Black Mask

Copyright Information

© 2017 Steeger Properties, LLC. Published by arrangement with Steeger Properties, LLC, agent for the Estate of Carroll John Daly.

Publication History:

Three Thousand to the Good originally appeared in the July 15, 1923 issue of Black Mask magazine.

Paying an Old Debt originally appeared in the April, 1923 issue of The American magazine.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Race Williams is a trademark of the Estate of Carroll John Daly. Black Mask is a trademark of Steeger Properties, LLC, and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Three Thousand to the Good

My little office looked good from the outside with its big gold letters—

Race Williams

Detective and Private Investigator

That I am not a regular detective is of little importance; just simply a gentleman adventurer who lends his services against the crooks for the benefit of innocent humanity and—and pecuniary gain—the two of them running neck and neck for honors. Besides it helps as an excuse for hanging out so much in the underworld and getting a beat on what the crooks are going to pull off next. It also sort of eases up that friendly interest which the police show in a good citizen trying to earn a little honest money. For after all the ethics of my profession is on the level even if I do occasionally slip over that uncertain line which divides the law-abiding citizen from the criminal.

Well, I was sitting in that office one afternoon when Abe Nation walked in. Of course he was a familiar figure to me though I had never met him personally before but everybody knows Abe, The Fixer.

No sooner was he in the door when he started off with a little blarney.

You have been recommended to me, Mr. Williams—well recommended. I think that I have a little business for you.

I simply nodded as Abe’s shrewd little eyes ran up and down me and along my desk. Then, after first assuring himself that no one was listening, he sat down and handed me an earful.

You, I believe, have upset the plans of more blackmailers than any man in the country, he said with some truth. "That you are a good shot and somewhat feared is proved by your still being alive. No, Mr. Williams, I would not fancy being in your shoes. But to the point!

There was a bit of a railroad strike out in Penn—just a small thing which I felt that I could fix. You understand the game—but there—why go into detail?

He took a letter from his pocket and tossed it on the desk before me.

Read that!

A glance was enough. It was blackmail pure and simple. Abe Nation had written a letter to a certain labor leader stating the terms for fixing the strike. It was plainly apparent that Abe had started that strike for his own benefit and was splitting with some labor official. His letter had been stolen and was now