Continuity mistake: In the last scene, Max's bathing suit changes color, from dark blue to light tan, back to dark blue.
Continuity mistake: In the last scene Walken is sitting there with his hand completely untouched, no sign of any surgery or re attachment of his finger, not even a band aid.
Continuity mistake: During the last scene, Max climbs out of the water soaking wet, in the next shot he jumps down below to get the money and his shorts are completely dry.
Answer: I found a google hit showing it was released as a short story for Cosmopolitan in Aug 1953.