Box 13 - Design for Danger

Dan Holiday receives a letter in Box 13 that reads: "Dear Dan, I need your help desperately. Johnny Tide was released from the State Penitentiary this morning with murder in his heart. I don't know any of the details but I'm sure that he'll be back here in Watertown by nightfall, at the latest. If you mean what you say in your ad in the Star Times, be at the waterfront tonight and stop him. Remember, if you fail, Johnny Tide will kill or be killed by morning and that would be wrong because there's lots of good in him. I know, I love him, Janice Reed". That's the way it started, just a girl worrying about a boy, but before it was all over, a lot of people were worrying about that boy. They had to, if they wanted to live. Once Dan arrived in Watertown, he notices there are none of the usual rowdy noises, none at all. Watertown seems quiet, too quiet. Dan could feel a peculiar tension in the air as he walks the streets. The people he sees are hurrying along and vanishing into their dark doorways and shuttered houses, afraid. Suddenly, Dan hears two men talking. He stops in the shadows and listens. The first man says "I know what I'm talking about, Fatty. Johnny Tide was sprung this morning and he headed straight for here". Fatty says "Oh, maybe he ain't in Watertown, maybe he'd be afraid to come back". The man says "Oh, Johnny Tide afraid of what? You, Fatty Ralston? You know him, Fatty, or have you forgot?" Fatty says "Oh, shut up. You guys make me sick. That punk is headed for someplace else. He ain't coming back to Watertown". The man says "Just the same, Fatty, if I was you I'd be holding up someplace". Fatty says "Aww, go on, beat it. Get out of here". The man leaves and Fatty says "I ain't afraid of Johnny Tide. I ain't." Dan says "Why not, Fatty? Why should you be?" Fatty is startled, and asks "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Dan says "I just wanted to ask you a question". Fatty says "You don't know me, and I don't know you". Dan says "That's right". Fatty says "Then, run along and mind your own business, Mister". Dan says "I got business here".