,,*APT] ,,VI -- ,,H] ,,MAID ,,(
    ,,ALL ,,"W
  ,& "S"TS ,I 0 H] MAID ( ALL "W4
  ,X IS E>LY MORN1 & MY "M HAS -E
NOISE.SLY 96MY ROOM4 ,I "K X IS %E1 ?\<
MY EYES >E %UT1 & ,I AM ONLY HALF AWAKE4
,P]H ,I 0 DR1M+ ( H]1 = ,I A3EPT H]
PRES;E )\T SURPRISE1 Z IF 9 ! AWAK5+ ,I
_H B SE5 H] G \ AT "O DOOR 6-E 9 AT
ANO!R4 ,B %E IS SP1K+ 6H]F4
  ,8,I'M SWE] 6WAK5 HM -- ,I D\BT HE 0
"W+ LATE -- OH1 T WE>Y WRIT+ -- NO1 ,I
MAUNNA WAK5 HM40'
  ,I />T UP4 ,%E IS WR++ H] H&S4 ,8,:AT
IS WR;G80' ,I CRY1 B ,I "K 2F %E ANSW]S4
,MY SI/] IS D[N ) "O (! H1DA*ES AG/ :
EV5 %E _C FI<T1 & MY "M1 :O BE>S
PHYSICAL PA9 Z IF X 7 A -RADE1 IS MO/
WOEBEG"O :5 H] DAU<T] IS ! SU6]]4 ,8,&
%E W9NA LET ME G D[N ! /AIR 6MAKE A CUP
( TEA = H]10' %E GROANS4

,8,I W SOON MAKE ! TEA1 "M40'

  ,8,W Y80' %E SAYS EAG]LY4 ,X IS :AT %E
HAS -E 6ME =1 B ,8,X IS A P;Y 6R\SE Y10'
%E SAYS4
  ',& ,I W TAKE *>GE (! H\SE TD1 & LI<T
! FIRES & WA% ! DI%ES -- '
  ,8,NA1 OH NO2 NO1 ,I CDNA ASK T ( Y1 &
Y AN AU?OR40'
  ,8,X WON'T 2 ! F/ "T1 "M1 S9CE ,I 0 AN
AU?OR40'
  ,8,M L ! FIFTIE?60' %E SAYS ALM
GLEE;LLY1 S ,I H 2GUN WELL1 = 6KEEP UP
H] _SS IS ! GRT ?+ TD4
  ,KNOCK AT ! DOOR4 ,X IS ! BAK]4 ,I
TAKE 9 ! BR1D1 LOOK+ S /]NLY AT HM T HE
D>E N SMILE4
  ,KNOCK AT ! DOOR4 ,X IS ! PO/MAN4 7,I
HOPE HE DID N SEE T ,I _H ! LID (!
KETTLE 9 MY O!R H&47
  ,FURI\S KNOCK+ 9 A REMOTE "P4 ,? M1NS
T ! AU?OR IS 9 ! COAL CELL>4
  ,ANON ,I C>RY TWO BR1KFA/S UP/AIRS 9
TRIUMPH4 ,I 5T] ! B$ROOM L NO M]E
HUMDRUM SON1 B AF ! MANN] (! ,GLASG[
WAIT]4 ,I M/ SAY M AB HM4 ,HE _H BE5 MY
"M'S "O WAIT]1 ! ONLY MANS]VANT %E "E
CAME 9 3TACT )1 & !Y _H MET 9 A ,GLASG[
HOTEL : %E 0 EAG] 6SEE1 HAV+ HE>D (!
MON/R\S ?+S1 & 3CVD !M 6RESEM# C.TRY 9NS
) ANO!R TWELVE B$ROOMS4 ,I REMEMB] H[ %E
B1M$ -- YET TRI$ 6LOOK Z IF X 0 Q AN
ORD9>Y EXP]I;E -- :5 WE ALI<T$ AT !
HOTEL DOOR1 B ?\< %E SD NO?+ ,I SOON R1D
4APPO9T;T 9 H] FACE4 ,%E KNEW H[ ,I 0
EXULT+ 9 HAV+ H] "!1 S WD N SAY A ^W
6DAMP ME1 B ,I CRAFTILY DREW X \ ( H]4
,NO1 %E 0 V -=TA#1 &! H\SE 0 GR& 2Y
SPEE*1 B -- B -": 0 HE8 HE _H N BE5 V
HE>TY4 ,8,HE0' 0 ! L&"L2 %E _H EXPECT$
HM 6RCV U AT ! DOOR & ASK IF WE 7 9 GD
H1L? & H[ WE _H LEFT ! O!RS1 & !N %E WD
H ASK$ HM IF 8 WIFE 0 WELL & H[ _M *N !Y
_H1 AF : WE %D ALL H SAT D[N TGR 6D9N]4
,TWO *AMB]MAIDS CAME 96H] ROOM & PREP>$
X )\T A S+LE ^W 6H] AB H] J\RNEY OR ON
ANY O!R SUBJECT1 & :5 !Y _H G"O1 ,8,!Y
>E TWO HAU<TY MISSES10' SD MY "M ) _S4
,B :AT %E MO/ RES5T$ 0 ! WAIT] ) 8 SWA7]
BLACK SUIT & %ORT QK /EPS &! ,8T[EL0'
OV] 8 >M4 ,)\T S M* Z A ,8,WELCOME
6,GLASG[60' HE %[$ U 6\R S1TS1 N !
SMALLE/ AC"KL$G;T ( \R K9D;S 9 GIV+ S*
MUNIFIC5T ORD]S DID WE DRAW F HM1 HE
HOV]$ >.D ! TA# Z IF X WD 2 UNSAFE 6L1VE
U ) 8 KNIVES & =KS 7HE %D H SE5 H]
KNIVES & =KS71 :5 WE SPOKE 6EA* O!R HE
A6ECT$ N 6HE>1 WE MI<T LAU< B ? UPPI%
FELL[ WD N JO9 IN4 ,WE RETIR$1 CRU%$1 &
HE _H ! F9AL IMPUD;E 6OP5 ! DOOR = U4 ,B
?\< ? HURT MY "M AT ! "T1 ! HUM\R ( \R
EXP]I;ES FILL$ H] ON REFLEC;N1 & 9 H] [N
H\SE %E WD DESCRIBE !M ) UNC;N1 "S"TS
6^? :O _H BE5 9 _M HOTELS1 (T5 6O!RS :O
_H BE5 9 N"O1 & :O"E 7 H] LI/5]S %E MADE
!M LAU<1 ?\< N ALW AT ! SAME ?+4
  ,S N[ :5 ,I 5T] ! B$ROOM )! TRAY1 ON
MY >M IS T BADGE ( PRIDE1 ! T[EL2 & ,I
APPROA* ) PRIM /EPS 69=M ,MADAM T
BR1KFA/ IS R1DY1 & %E PUTS ON ! SOCIETY
MANN] & A4RESSES ME Z ,8,SIR10' & ASKS )
CRUEL S>CASM = :AT PURPOSE 7EXCEPT
6BOA/7 ,I C>RY ! T[EL1 & ,I SAY ,8,IS "!
ANY?+ M ,I C D = ,MADAM80' & ,MADAM
REPLIES T "! IS "O M ?+ ,I C D1 & T IS1
EAT H] BR1KFA/ = H]4 ,B ( ? ,I TAKE NO
NOTICE1 = MY OBJECT IS 6FIRE H] )! _S (!
GAME1 S T %E EATS UNWITT+LY4
  ,N[ T ,I H WA%$ UP ! BR1KFA/ ?+S ,I %D
2 AT MY WRIT+1 & ,I AM ANXI\S 6BE AT X1
Z ,I H AN IDEA 9 MY H1D1 :1 IF X IS (
ANY VALUE1 HAS ALM C]TA9LY BE5 PUT "!
0H]4 ,B D>E ,I V5TURE8 ,I "K T ! H\SE
HAS N BE5 PROP]LY SET GO+ YET1 "! >E B$S
6MAKE1 ! EXT]IOR (! T1POT IS FAIR1 B
SUPPOSE "S "O 7 6LOOK 9SIDE8 ,:AT A P;Y
,I KNOCK$ OV] ! FL\R-B>REL6 ,C ,I HOPE T
= ONCE MY "M W =GET 69QUIRE 96^! MATT]S8
,IS MY
SI/] WILL+ 6LET 4ORD] REIGN UNTIL TM8 ,I
DET]M9E 6RISK X4 ,P]H ,I H BE5 AT "W =
HALF AN H\R :5 ,I HE> MOVE;TS OV]H1D4
,"O OR O!R ( !M IS WOND]+ :Y ! H\SE IS S
QUIET4 ,I RATTLE ! T;GS1 B EV5 ? DOES N
SATISFY !M1 S BACK 96! DESK G MY PAP]S1
& N[ :AT Y HE> IS N ! SCRAPE (A P5 B !
R9S+ ( POTS & PANS1 OR ,I AM MAK+ B$S1 &
MAK+ !M ?OR\<LY1 2C AF ,I AM G"O MY "M W
-E 7,I "K H]7 & LOOK SUSPICI\SLY 2N !
COV]LET4
  ,! KIT*5 IS N[ SPECK.S1 N AN UNWA%$
PLATT] 9 SI<T1 UN.S Y LOOK 2N ! TA#4 ,I
FEEL T ,I H E>N$ "T = AN H\R'S WRIT+ AT
LA/1 & AT X ,I G ) VIG\R4 ,"O PAGE1 TWO
PAGES1 RE,Y ,I AM MAK+ PROGRESS1 :5 -- 0
T A DOOR OP5+8 ,B ,I H MY "M'S LI<T /EP
ON ! BRA91 S ,I ,8YOKE0' AG1 & NEXT MO;T
%E IS 2S ME4 ,%E HAS N EXACTLY LEFT H]
ROOM1 %E GIVES ME 6"U/&2 B SU45LY A
3VIC;N _H -E 6H] T ,I 0 WRIT+ )\T A W>M
MAT AT MY FEET4 ,%E C>RIES "O 9 H] H&S4
,N[ T %E IS "H %E REMA9S =A "T1 & ?\< %E
IS 9 ! >M-*AIR 0! FIRE1 ": %E SITS BOLT
UP"R 7%E LOV$ 6H CU%IONS ON ! UNUS$
*AIRS1 B DETE/$ PUTT+ H] BACK AG/ !M71 &
,I AM B5T L[ OV] MY DESK1 ,I "K T 3T5T;T
& P;Y >E /RU7L+ = POSSES.N ( H] FACE3
3T5T;T W9S :5 %E SURVEYS H] ROOM1 P;Y :5
%E LOOKS AT ME4 ,E >TICLE ( FURNITURE1 F
! *AIRS T CAME 96! _W ) ME & H WORN S M*
BETT]1 ?\< ,I 0 NEW & !Y 7 SECOND-H&1 6!
MANTLE-BORD] ( FA%IONA# DESIGN : %E SEW$
9 H] SEV5TIE? YE>1 HAV+ PICK$ UP ! /IT*
9 HALF A LESSON1 HAS XS /ORY ( FI<T &
ATTA9;T = H]1 H;E H] SATISFAC;N2 B %E
SI<S AT SI<T ( H] SON1 DIPP+ & TE>+1 &
*EW+ ! LOA?LY P54
,8,OH1 T WE>Y WRIT+60'

  ,9 VA9 D ,I TELL H] T WRIT+ IS Z
PL1SANT 6ME Z "E 0 ! PROSPECT (A
TREM5D\S "D'S IRON+ 6H]2 T 76"S1 ?\< N
6ME7 NEW *APT]S >E Z EASY 6TURN \ Z NEW
BANNOCKS4 ,NO1 %E MA9TA9S1 = "O BANNOCK
IS ! M>R[S ( ANO!R1 :ILE *APT]S -- & !N1
P]H1 H] EYES TW9KLE1 & SAYS %E SAUCILY1
,8,B1 SAL1 Y MAY 2 "R1 = "S"TS YR
BANNOCKS >E Z ALIKE Z M9E60'
  ,OR ,I MAY 2 R\S$ F MY WRIT+ 0H] CRY T
,I AM MAK+ /RANGE FACES AG4 ,X IS MY
3TEMPTI# W1K;S T IF ,I SAY A "* SMIL$
VACU\SLY1 ,I M/ SMILE VACU\SLY2 IF HE
FR[NS OR LE]S1 ,I FR[N OR LE]2 IF HE IS
A C[>D OR GIV5 63TOR;NS1 ,I CR+E1 OR
TWI/ MY LEGS UNTIL ,I H 6/OP WRIT+ 6UNDO
! KNOT4 ,I B[ ) HM1 EAT ) HM1 & GNAW MY
M\/A*E ) HM4 ,IF ! "* 2 A LADY ) AN
EXQUISITE LAU<1 ,I SU45LY T]RIFY Y
0LAU<+ EXQUISITELY4 ,"O R1DS (! A/.D+
V]SATIL;Y ( AN ACTOR :O IS /\T & L1N ON
! SAME EV5+1 B :AT IS HE 6! NOVELI/ :O
IS A DOZ5 P]SONS )9 ! H\R8 ,MOR,Y1 ,I
FE>1 WE M/ DET]IORATE -- B ? IS A
SUBJECT ,I MAY WISELY $GE AWAY F4
  ,WE ALW SPOKE 6EA* O!R 9 BROAD ,SCOT*
7,I ?9K 9 X /71 B N[ & AG %E WD USE A ^W
T 0 NEW 6ME1 OR ,I MI<T HE> "O ( H]
3TEMPOR>IES USE X4 ,N[ IS MY OPPORTUN;Y
6ANGLE = XS M1N+4 ,IF ,I ASK1 BOLDLY1
:AT 0 *AT ^W %E US$ J N[1 "S?+ L
,8BILBIE0' OR ,8SILV5DY0'8 %E BLU%ES1 &
SAYS %E N"E SD ANY?+ S -MON1 OR HOOTS6 X
IS "S AULD-F>RANT ^W AB : %E C TELL ME
NO?+4 ,B IF 9 ! C\RSE ( 3V]S,N ,I REM>K
CASU,Y1 ,8,DID HE F9D BILBIE80' OR
,8,WAS T Q SILV5DY80' 7?\< ! S5SE (! "Q
IS VAGUE 6ME7 %E FALLS 96! TRAP1 &! ^WS
EXPLA9 !MVS 9 H] REPLIES4 ,OR MAYBE TD
%E SEES :I!R ,I AM L1D+ H]1 & S* IS H]
S5SITIVE;S T %E IS Q HURT4 ,! HUM\R GOES
\ ( H] FACE 76F9D BILBIE 9 "S M SILV5DY
SPOT71 & H] REPROA*;L EYES -- B N[ ,I AM
ON ! >M ( H] *AIR1 & WE H MADE X UP4
,N"E!.S1 ,I % GET NO M OLD-_W ,SCOT* \ (
H] ? =ENOON1 %E WE$S H] TALK DET]M9$LY1
& X IS Z GRT A FALL+ AWAY Z :5 ! MUT*
GIVES PLACE 6! CAP4
  ,I AM (F = MY AFN WALK1 & %E HAS
PROMIS$ 6B> ! DOOR 2H ME & OP5 X 6N"O4
,:5 ,I RETURN1 -- WELL1 ! DOOR IS /
B>R$1 B %E IS LOOK+ BO? FURTIVE & ELAT$4
,I %D SAY T %E IS BURN+ 6TELL ME "S?+1 B
_C TELL X )\T EXPOS+ H]F4 ,HAS %E OP5$ !
DOOR1 & IF S1 :Y8 ,I DON'T ASK1 B ,I
WAT*4 ,X IS %E :O IS SLY N[4
  ,8,H Y BE5 9 ! EA/ ROOM S9CE Y CAME
IN80' %E ASKS1 ) APP>5T 9DI6];E4

,8,NO2 :Y D Y ASK80'

,8,OH1 ,I J ?"\ Y MI<T H LOOK$ IN40'

,8,IS "! ANY?+ NEW "!80'

,8,I D9NA SAY "! IS1 B -- B J G & SEE40'

  ,8,"! C'T 2 ANY?+ NEW IF Y KEPT ! DOOR
B>R$10' ,I SAY CL"ELY4
  ,? CRU%ES H] =A MO;T2 B H] EAG];S T ,I
%D SEE IS GRT] ?AN H] FE>4 ,I SET (F =!
EA/ ROOM1 & %E FOLL[S1 A6ECT+ HUMIL;Y1 B
) TRIUMPH 9 H] EYE4 ,H[ (T5 ^? LL SC5ES
TOOK PLACE6 ,I 0 N"E TOLD (! NEW
PUR*ASE1 ,I 0 LUR$ 96XS PRES;E1 & !N %E
WAIT$ TIMIDLY = MY />T ( SURPRISE4
  ,8,D Y SEE X80' %E SAYS ANXI\SLY1 & ,I
SEE X1 & HE> X1 = ? "T X IS A BRAN-NEW
WICK] *AIR1 (! K9D T :ISP] 6!MVS =! F/
SIX MON?S4
  ,8,A GO+-AB BODY 0 SELL+ !M 9 A C>T10'
MY "M 2G9S1 & :AT FOLL[$ PRES5TS XF 6MY
EYES 2F %E C UTT] ANO!R ^W4 ,T5 M9UTES
AT ! L1/ DID %E /& AT ! DOOR >GY-B>GY+ )
T MAN4 ,B X WD 2 CRUELTY 6SCOLD A WOMAN
S UPLIFT$4
  ,8,FIFTE5 %ILL+S HE WANT$10' %E CRIES1
,8B :AT D Y ?9K ,I B1T HM D[N TO80'

,8,SEV5 & SIXP;E80'

  ,%E CLAPS H] H&S ) DELI<T4 ,8,F\R
%ILL+S1 Z ,I'M A LIV+ WOMAN60' %E CR[S3
N"E 0 A WOMAN FOND] (A B>GA94
  ,I GAZE AT ! PUR*ASE )! AMAZE;T
EXPECT$ ( ME1 &! *AIR XF CR9KLES & %U4]S
6HE> :AT X W5T = 7OR IS X M]ELY *UCKL+
AT H]874 ,8,&! MAN SD X CO/ HMF FIVE
%ILL+S10' MY "M 3T9UES EXULTANTLY4 ,Y WD
H ?"\ H] ! H>DE/ P]SON _H N A KNOCK ON !
WALL SUMMON$ U AB ? "T 6MY SI/]'S SIDE4
,?\< 9 B$ %E HAS BE5 LI/5+1 & ? IS :AT
%E HAS 6SAY1 9 A VOICE T MAKES MY "M V
9DIGNANT1 ,8,Y DRIVE A B>GA96 ,I'M ?9K+
T5 %ILL+S 0 NE>] :AT Y PD40'
  ,8,F\R %ILL+S 6A P5NY60' SAYS MY "M4
  ,8,I D>ESAY10' SAYS MY SI/]2 ,8B AF Y
PD HM ! M"OY ,I HE>D Y 9 ! LL B$ROOM
PRESS4 ,:AT 7 Y DO+ "!80'
  ,MY "M W9CES4 ,8,I MAY H GIV5 HM A
PRES5T ( AN OLD TOPCOAT10' %E FALT]S4
,8,HE LOOK$ ILL-HAPPIT4 ,B T 0 AF ,I
MADE ! B>GA940'

,8,W]E "! BAIRNS 9 ! C>T80'

,8,"! MI<T H BE5 A BIT LASSIE 9 ! C>T40'

  ,8,I ?"\ Z M*4 ,:AT DID Y GIVE H]8 ,I
HE>D Y 9 ! PANTRY40'
  ,8,F\R %ILL+S 0 :AT ,I GOT T *AIR =10'
REPLIES MY "M FIRMLY4 ,IF ,I DON'T
9T]F]E "! W 2 A COLD;S 2T !M = AT L1/ A
M9UTE4 ,8,"! IS BLOOD ON YR F+]10' ,I
SAY 6MY "M4
  ,8,S "! IS10' %E SAYS1 3C1L+ H] H&4
  ,8,BLOOD60' EXCLAIMS MY SI/] ANXI\SLY1
& !N )A CRY ( TRIUMPH1 ,8,I W>RANT X'S
JELLY4 ,Y GAVE T LASSIE "O (! JELLY
CANS60'
  ,! ,GLASG[ WAIT] BR+S UP TEA1 &
PRES5TLY MY SI/] IS A# 6RISE1 & AF A %>P
FI<T ,I AM EXPELL$ F ! KIT*54 ,! LA/ ?+
,I D Z MAID ( ALL "W IS 6LUG UP/AIRS !
CLO!S-BASKET : HAS J >RIV$ )! MANGL+4
,N[ "! IS DELICI\S L95 = MY "M 6F+]2 "!
0 ALW RAPTURE ON H] FACE :5 ! CLO!S-
BASKET CAME IN2 X N"E FAIL$ 6MAKE H]
ONCE M ! ACTIVE G5IUS (! H\SE4 ,I MAY
L1VE H] N[ ) H] %EETS & COLL>S & NAPK9S
& FRONTS4 ,9DE$1 %E PROBABLY ORD]S ME
6G4 ,A SON IS ALL V WELL1 B SUPPOSE HE 7
6TR1D ON T C.T]PANE6
  ,MY SI/] IS B & ,I AM B5 -- ,I M1N %E
IS 9 ! EA/ 5D & ,I AM 9 ! WE/ -- TUTS1
TUTS6 LET U GET AT ! ,5GLI% ( ? 0/RIV+3
%E IS 9 ! KIT*5 & ,I AM AT MY DESK 9 !
P>L\R4 ,I HOPE ,I MAY N 2 4TURB$1 = TN
,I M/ MAKE MY H]O SAY ,8,D>L+10' & X
NE$S BO? PRIVACY & 3C5TR,N4 ,9 A ^W1 LET
ME ADMIT 7?\< ,I %D L 6B1T AB ! BU%7 T
,I H SAT D[N 6A LOVE-*APT]4 ,TOO L;G HAS
X BE5 AVOID$1 ,ALB]T HAS CALL$ ,M>ION
,8DE>0' ONLY Z YET 72T Y & ME ^! >E N _!
R1L "NS71 B ?\< ! PUBLIC W PROBABLY R1D
! ^W )\T BL9K+1 X W5T (F 9 MY H&S )A
BANG4 ,!Y TELL ME -- ! ,SASS5A* TELL ME
-- T 9 "T ,I % 2 A# )\T A BLU% 6MAKE
,ALB]T SAY ,8D>L+10' & EV5 GA!R H] UP 9
8 >MS1 B ,I 2G9 6D\BT X2 ! MO;T SEES ME
Z %Y Z "E2 ,I / F9D X ADVISA# 6LOCK !
DOOR1 & !N -- NO WIT;S SAVE ! DOG -- ,I
,8D0' X D\RLY ) MY TEE? CL5*$1 :ILE !
DOG RETR1TS 96! F> CORN] & MOANS4 ,!
BOLD] ,5GLI%MAN 7,I AM TOLD7 W WRITE A
LOVE-*APT] & !N G \1 Q COOLLY1 6D9N]1 B
S* GO+S ON >E 3TR>Y 6! ,SCOT* NATURE2
EV5 ! GRT NOVELI/S D>$ N4 ,3CV ,MR4
,/EV5SON LEFT AL"O )A H]O1 A H]O9E1 &A
PROPOSAL IMP5D+ 7HE DOES N "K ": 6LOOK74
,SIR ,WALT] 9 ! SAME CIRCUM/.ES GETS \
(! ROOM 0MAK+ 8 LOVE-SC5ES TAKE PLACE 2T
! 5D ( "O *APT] &! 2G9N+ (! NEXT1 B HE
CD AF=D 6D ANY?+1 &! SMALL FRY M/ E'5
6_! TASK1 MOAN ! DOG Z HE MAY4 ,S ,I H
YOK$ 6M9E :51 5T] MY "M1 LOOK+ WI/;L4
  ,8,I SUPPOSE Y >E T]RI# ?RANG10' %E
SAYS4
  ,8,WELL1 ,I AM R BUSY1 B -- :AT IS X Y
WANT ME 6D80'

,8,X WD 2 A %AME 6ASK Y40'

,8,/1 ASK ME40'

,8,I AM S T]RIFI$ !Y MAY 2 FIL$40'

',Y\ WANT ME TO -- 8'

  ,8,IF Y WD J -E UP1 & HELP ME 6FOLD !
%EETS60'
  ,! %EETS >E FOLD$ & ,I RETURN 6,ALB]T4
,I LOCK ! DOOR1 & AT LA/ ,I AM BR++ MY
H]O =W>D NICELY 7MY KNEE 9 ! SMALL ( 8
BACK71 :5 ? />TL+ "Q IS %OT 0MY SI/] "?
! KEY-HOLE-

,8,": DID Y PUT ! C>ROT-GRAT]80'
  ,X W ALL H 6BE D"O OV] AG IF ,I LET
,ALB]T G =A MO;T1 S1 GRIPP+ HM H>D1 ,I
%\T 9DIGNANTLY T ,I H N SE5 ! C>ROT-
GRAT]4
  ,8,!N :AT DID Y GRATE ! C>ROTS ON80'
ASKS ! VOICE1 &! DOOR-H&LE IS %AK5 J Z
,I %AKE ,ALB]T4
  ,8,ON A BROK5 CUP10' ,I REPLY )
SURPRIS+ R1DI;S1 & ,I GET 6"W AG B AM
LESS 5GROSS$1 =A 3VIC;N GR[S ON ME T ,I
PUT ! C>ROT-GRAT] 9 ! DRAW] (! SEW+-
MA*9E4
  ,I AM WOND]+ :E!R ,I %D 3FESS OR BRAZ5
X \1 :5 ,I HE> MY SI/] GO+ HURRI$LY
UP/AIRS4 ,I H A PRES5TI;T T %E HAS G"O
6TALK AB ME1 & ,I BASELY OP5 MY DOOR &
LI/54

,8,J LOOK AT T1 "M60'

,8,IS X A DI%-CLO?80'

,8,T'S :AT X IS N[40'


,8,LO% 2HE>S6 X'S "O (! NEW TA#-
  NAPK9S40'

  ,8,T'S :AT X WAS4 ,HE HAS BE5 POLI%+ !
KIT*5 GRATE ) X60'
  7,I REMEMB]67
  ,8,WOE'S ME6 ,T IS :AT -ES ( 8 N LETT+
ME BUDGE F ? ROOM4 ,O1 X IS A WAT]Y
,SA2A? :5 M5 TAKE 6DO+ WOM5'S "W60'
  ,8,X DEFIES ! FACE ( CLAY1 "M1 6FA?OM
:AT MAKES HM S S5SE.S40'

,8,OH1 X'S T WE>Y WRIT+40'

  ,8,&! WOR/ ( X IS HE W TALK TM Z IF HE
_H D"O WOND]S40'

,8,T'S ! WAY )! :OLE CLANJAM-FRAY (
  !M40'

,8,YES1 B Z USUAL Y W HUM\R HM1 "M40'

  ,8,OH1 WELL1 X PL1SES HM1 Y SEE10'
SAYS MY "M1 ,8& WE C H \R LAU< :5 8
DOOR'S %UT40'
,8,HE IS MO/ T]RIBLY H&.S40'

,8,HE IS ALL T1 B1 POOR S\L1 HE DOES 8
  BE/40'