Originally Aired: December 13, 1955
Suspense #628, "A Present for Benny," Ricky, a small-time hood, receives a threatening Christmas letter from rival gangster Machine Gun Benny, who hijacked Ricky's fur shipment and is now declaring war. Instead of responding with an open gunfight, Ricky devises a sinister holiday scheme. While at Halgram's department store buying an ermine coat for his girlfriend Mill, Ricky purchases two identical gift boxes—one for the coat and one empty. He orders his associate Artie to construct a bomb with a 23-hour timer and plans to have it delivered to Benny disguised as a Christmas present from the high-class store, ensuring his enemy won't suspect a thing.
As Ricky's crew—including loyal but dim-witted henchmen Swifty, No Nose, and Artie the Grunt—execute the elaborate plan, the clock ticks down toward 4 o'clock the following afternoon when the deadly package is set to explode. With Christmas cheer masking murderous intent, Ricky believes he's found the perfect solution to eliminate his rival without raising suspicion, proving that sometimes the most dangerous gifts come wrapped in the prettiest packages.
