The Spider's Reward

By Johnston McCulley and John Betancourt

The Spider's Reward is the final volume in The Spider mystery series, by Johnston McCulley, creator of Zorro.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wildside Press
• Release date: Aug 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781479463527

Johnston McCulley

Johnston McCulley (1883–1958) was a pulp writer best known for creating the character Zorro. A former reporter, McCulley published stories of adventure and romance in magazines like Argosy. He introduced Zorro in the 1919 story “The Curse of Capistrano,” later republished as The Mark of Zorro, and continued to feature him in his writing into the 1950s.

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Table of Contents

THE SPIDER’S REWARD

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SPIDER’S REWARD

JOHNSTON McCULLEY

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright © 2021 by Wildside Press LLC.

Originally published in Detective Story Magazine, April 29 1919.

Published by Wildside Press LLC.

wildsidepress.com | bcmystery.com

INTRODUCTION

Johnston McCulley (1883–1958) was an American writer, the author of hundreds of stories, more than fifty novels, numerous screenplays for film and television

Although largely remembered for his historical and western tales—he created the character Zorro—he was prolific as a mystery writer, too, particularly in the pulp magazine Detective Story Magazine in the early 20th century. There, he published hundreds of mystery and crime stories in many series: tales of Thubway Tham, the lisping pickpocket; gimicky mysteries, like the Avenging Twins and The Crimson Clown, and even stories about super-criminals, including The Black Star and The Spider.

All told, The Spider appeared in 11 novellas which were assembled into three collections between 1918 and 1930. The back-story is simple: The Spider was injured as a young man and relegated to a wheelchair, but he used his mental abilities to run an international crime ring from his office, The Spider's Den. He forced others to do his bidding, including the protagonist of the series—who, along with the able assistance of his Japanese manservant, works to escape his forced servitude.

—John Betancourt

Cabin John, Maryland

CHAPTER I.

STARTLING ORDERS.

TOSSING away the end of his cigarette, John Warwick got slowly out of the easy-chair, walked languidly across the big living room to the nearest window, and stood there looking at the busy avenue far below him, at the throngs of hurrying people, the rushing automobiles, the charging trucks.

Presently, he turned around and paced the full length of the room, stopped before a bookcase in a moment of indecision, finally turned away from it without selecting a book to read, and sat down beside the table again. He sighed, rubbed one hand across his eyes, and then contemplated a corner of the room as a man who looks and yet fails to see.

Togo, Warwick’s Japanese valet, was watching his master closely while pretending to go about his regular work. Togo was more than a mere valet. He was a gentleman’s man, and almost a perfect one, but he also was a sort of comrade-in-arms to John Warwick, and he took a more personal interest in Warwick and his affairs that was something more than an evident desire to earn his salary and keep his position.

You are not feeling well, sar? Togo asked in a respectful manner, looking at John Warwick searchingly again. Is there something I can get for you, sar?

Warwick glanced across the room.

I can’t complain, old top, Warwick replied. Heart and liver are all right, and all that sort of thing. I imagine that I am not in for a bit of illness, if that is what you mean. Nothing of the sort! My word, no!

Pardon, sar, but I thought you were acting in a peculiar manner, Togo said. You seemed—

Seemed to be a bit undecided, eh? Warwick asked. Quite so! Precisely! Did I elect to speak in vulgar idioms, Togo, honorable man, I’d remark at this juncture that I fancy I have what is called a—well, a hunch.

Yes, sar.

Now and then it is my fortune to get one of those hunch things, as perhaps you may have noticed. It always pays to give some attention to a hunch—what? My word, yes! Quite so! Got in trouble once because I did not listen to the sound of a hunch; I remember it distinctly.

Yes, sar.

Life is a beastly bore at times, what? Warwick went on. In some ways it is great, and in other ways it appears to be absolutely useless, and all that sort of thing.

Yes, sar, said Togo.

Here I am, Togo, old top, with ample of the world’s goods, and engaged to be married to the sweetest little girl in all the word, and yet I am not feeling at all fit. My word. I have it—inaction! That is the whole trouble!

I fancy so, sar, Togo said, grinning slightly as he turned away from the table.

That’s right—grin, you fraud! Warwick exclaimed. You are suffering from inaction yourself, confound it! Eager to be up and doing, and all that sort of thing! I recognize the symptoms. And I have a hunch!

Sar?

Our—er—that is to say, our flabby-cheeked friend whose name we need not mention at this time—he has not communicated with us recently, at least officially.

No, sar, said Togo.

And I have a hunch that it is about time for him to communicate with us, Warwick went on. Saw him the other day for a minute, but he did not mention business. Wish he’d communicate—what? My word, yes! Like to be busy, and all that sort of silly rot! And, besides—

John Warwick ceased speaking and smiled, and Togo grinned again as he caught his master’s eye. And then, thinking that perhaps he had gone a bit too far, the wily Japanese hurried into the adjoining room and pretended to be very busy.

Lighting another cigarette, Warwick leaned back in the easy-chair, and gave himself up to thought. He was almost done with his work as a member of the band controlled by that individual known as The Spider, the clever supercriminal whose mere name caused the police of more than one country to gnash their teeth in rage. One more task, and then John Warwick would be free.

He reviewed his association with The Spider. Ruined by men of his own social set, whom he had believed to be his friends, Warwick had been enlightened by The Spider, and then had been offered membership in the band. He had accepted, for risk and adventure called to him, and he also wanted to acquire funds with which to maintain his place in society. John Warwick was the scion of an old family of prominence and culture, but the last of his line. He proved to be of great value to The Spider, working with the men and women of his own social circle, and being particularly happy when he could strike at the pocketbook of one of the pseudo-friends who had ruined him financially through crooked business deals. He had built up his fortune again, the supercriminal helping him as a reward for work well done. And then love had come, unexpected and unannounced.

The Spider had a niece, Silvia Rodney. Warwick had pretended to be interested in her at first