Bill was a writer, a really good writer. As a matter of fact, the whole country knew his name ” although they did not know him as "Bill." Editors competed to get Bill's stories. He was not one of those struggling young writers who couldn't get a break. In fact, editors paid top dollar competing for Bill's work. Bill seemed to have it made. He had money, he had fame, and he was superb at what he did.

One more thing. Bill's stories usually had a bit of mystery about them. He was famous for the little twist at the end that gave his stories a surprise ending. In that way Bill's stories were like their author; there was a bit of mystery about his life.

Bill refused to give out biographical information. He wandered the back alleys and bars of New York. At times he wrote furiously. But then he …