The Eleven of Diamonds

white buildings with their brilliant tile roofs dotted like red-topped snowbanks against the green of the jungle. Don was enraptured with the scene.

But as the Alamo drew near to the landing, the rays of the sun caught squarely against the windows of the house. The shining glass changed in a flash to an unearthly shade of crimson—reflecting mute signals of danger and destruction. Then, as the boat moved on, the windows turned from red to black, and gazed blankly down toward the incoming Alamo like so many sunken eyes in a giant skull

“Sometimes that house looks as if everything in it has been dead for centuries,” Dr. Ames remarked.

“The whole damn place is dead—so far as I’m concerned,” Beverly replied. “I wish I was back in New York.”

At the landing, Donald forgot it all. The blue of the ocean was replaced by the deep blue eyes of a girl standing on the dock waiting to greet them. The red and white of the houses gave way to the flashing silk of the beach pajamas which she wore. Instead of the green of the jungle, he was watching the green of a handkerchief, knotted adroitly about the head of Doris Cowan. It set off the charm and beauty of the girl so cleverly, that everything else left Donald’s mind when the Alamo tied up to Broken Heart Key.

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About the Author

Baynard Kendrick (1894–1977) was one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America, later named a Grand Master by the organization. After returning from military service in World War I, Kendrick wrote for pulp magazines such as Black Mask and Dime Detective Magazine under various pseudonyms before creating the Duncan Maclain character for which he is now known. The blind detective appeared in twelve novels, several short stories, and three films.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 1946 by Baynard Kendrick

Cover design by Ian Koviak

ISBN: 978-1-5040-6564-1

This edition published in 2021 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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