Midnight »

Octavus Roy Cohen (1891-1959) was born in South Carolina. After working as a newspaper man he was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1913. He published 56 books including both detective and humorous fiction. Many of his stories appeared in The Saturday Evening Post. He also wrote plays and radio and film scripts. Several of his books were made into movies including “Curtain at Eight” based on his novel The Backstage Mystery.

Atlantic Avenue was deserted. The lights at the main entrance of the Union Station glowed frigidly. Opposite a single arc-lamp on the corner of Cypress Street cast a white cheerless light on the gelid pavement. The few stores along the avenue were dark with the exception of the warmly lighted White Star restaurant directly opposite the Stygian spot where Spike's car was parked.