,,*APT] ,,XXXIII ,M>T9 0 /1DILY LOS+ 8 BATTLE4 ,ECONOMIZE Z HE WD1 ! E>N+S F HACK-"W DID N BAL.E EXP5SES4 ,?ANKSGIV+ F.D HM ) 8 BLACK SUIT 9 PAWN & UNA# 6A3EPT ! ,MORSES' 9VIT,N 6D9N]4 ,RU? 0 N MADE HAPPY 0HIS R1SON = N -+1 &! CORRESPOND+ E6ECT ON HM 0 "O ( DESP],N4 ,HE TOLD H] T HE WD -E1 AF ALL2 T HE WD G OV] 6,SAN ,FRANCISCO1 6! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL (FICE1 COLLECT ! FIVE DOLL>S DUE HM1 &) X REDEEM 8 SUIT ( CLO!S4 ,9 ! MORN+ HE BORR[$ T5 C5TS F ,M>IA4 ,HE WD H BORR[$ X1 0PREF];E1 F ,BRISS5D51 B T ]RATIC 9DIVIDUAL _H 4APPE>$4 ,TWO WEEKS _H PASS$ S9CE ,M>T9 _H SE5 HM1 & HE VA9LY CUDGELL$ 8 BRA9S = "S CAUSE ( (F;E4 ,! T5 C5TS C>RI$ ,M>T9 ACR ! F]RY 6,SAN ,FRANCISCO1 & Z HE WALK$ UP ,M>KET ,/REET HE SPECULAT$ ^U 8 PREDICA;T 9 CASE HE FAIL$ 6COLLECT ! M"OY4 ,"! WD !N 2 NO WAY = HM 6RETURN 6,OAKL&1 & HE KNEW NO "O 9 ,SAN ,FRANCISCO F :OM 6BORR[ ANO!R T5 C5TS4 ,! DOOR 6! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL (FICE 0 AJ>1 & ,M>T91 9 ! ACT ( OP5+ X1 0 BR"\ 6A SU45 PAUSE 0A L\D VOICE F )91 : EXCLAIM$3- 8,B T IS N ! "Q1 ,MR4 ,=D40 7,=D1 ,M>T9 KNEW1 F 8 CORRESPOND;E1 6BE ! $ITOR'S "N47 8,! "Q IS1 >E Y PREP>$ 6PAY8 -- CA%1 & CA% D[N1 ,I M1N8 ,I AM N 9T]E/$ 9 ! PROSPECTS (! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL & :AT Y EXPECT 6MAKE X NEXT YE>4 ,:AT ,I WANT IS 6BE PD = :AT ,I D4 ,& ,I TELL Y1 "R N[1 ! ,*RI/MAS ,,TRANSCONT95TAL DON'T G 6PRESS TILL ,I H ! M"OY 9 MY H&4 ,GD "D4 ,:5 Y GET ! M"OY1 -E & SEE ME40 ,! DOOR J]K$ OP51 &! MAN FLUNG PA/ ,M>T91 ) AN ANGRY C.T5.E & W5T D[N ! CORRIDOR1 MUTT]+ CURSES & CL5*+ 8 FI/S4 ,M>T9 DECID$ N 65T] IMMLY1 & L+]$ 9 ! HALLWAYS =A QU>T] ( AN H\R4 ,!N HE %OV$ ! DOOR OP5 & WALK$ IN4 ,X 0 A NEW EXP]I;E1 ! F/ "T HE _H BE5 9SIDE AN $ITORIAL (FICE4 ,C>DS EVID5TLY 7 N NEC 9 T (FICE1 =! BOY C>RI$ ^W 6AN 9N] ROOM T "! 0 A MAN :O WANT$ 6SEE ,MR4 ,=D4 ,RETURN+1 ! BOY BECKON$ HM F HALFWAY ACR ! ROOM & L$ HM 6! PRIVATE (FICE1 ! $ITORIAL SANCTUM4 ,M>T9'S F/ IMPRES.N 0 (! 4ORD] & CLUTT]$ 3FU.N (! ROOM4 ,NEXT HE NOTIC$ A 2:ISK]$1 Y\?;L-LOOK+ MAN1 SITT+ AT A ROLL-TOP DESK1 :O REG>D$ HM CURI\SLY4 ,M>T9 M>VELL$ AT ! CALM REPOSE ( 8 FACE4 ,X 0 EVID5T T ! SQUAB# )! PR9T] _H N A6ECT$ 8 EQUANIM;Y4 8,I -- ,I AM ,M>T9 ,$510 ,M>T9 2GAN ! 3V]S,N4 78,& ,I WANT MY FIVE DOLL>S10 0 :AT HE WD H LIK$ 6SAY47 ,B ? 0 8 F/ $ITOR1 & "U ! CIRCUM/.ES HE DID N DESIRE 6SC>E HM TOO ABRUPTLY4 ,6HIS SURPRISE1 ,MR4 ,=D L1P$ 96! AIR )A 8,Y DON'T SAY S60 &! NEXT MO;T1 ) BO? H&S1 0 %AK+ ,M>T9'S H& E6USIVELY4 8,C'T SAY H[ GLAD ,I AM 6SEE Y1 ,MR4 ,$54 ,(T5 WOND]$ :AT Y 7 L40 ,"H HE HELD ,M>T9 (F AT >M'S L5G? & RAN 8 B1M+ EYES OV] ,M>T9'S SECOND-BE/ SUIT1 : 0 AL 8 WOR/ SUIT1 & : 0 RA7$ & PA/ REPAIR1 ?\< ! TR\S]S %[$ ! C>E;L CR1SE HE _H PUT 9 ) ,M>IA'S FLAT-IRONS4 8,I 3FESS1 ?\<1 ,I 3CVD Y 6BE A M* OLD] MAN ?AN Y >E4 ,YR /ORY1 Y "K1 %[$ S* BR1D?1 & VIGOR1 S* MATUR;Y & DEP? ( ?"\4 ,A MA/]PIECE1 T /ORY -- ,I KNEW X :5 ,I _H R1D ! F/ HALF-DOZ5 L9ES4 ,LET ME TELL Y H[ ,I F/ R1D X4 ,B NO2 F/ LET ME 9TRODUCE Y 6! /AFF40 ,/ TALK+1 ,MR4 ,=D L$ HM 96! G5]AL (FICE1 ": HE 9TRODUC$ HM 6! ASSOCIATE $ITOR1 ,MR4 ,:ITE1 A SL5D]1 FRAIL LL MAN ^: H& SEEM$ /RANGELY COLD1 Z IF HE 7 SU6]+ F A *ILL1 & ^: :ISK]S 7 SP>SE & SILKY4 8,& ,MR4 ,5DS1 ,MR4 ,$54 ,MR4 ,5DS IS \R BUSI;S MANAG]1 Y "K40 ,M>T9 F.D HMF %AK+ H&S )A CRANKY-EY$1 BALD-H1D$ MAN1 ^: FACE LOOK$ Y\?;L 5 F :AT LL CD 2 SE5 ( X1 = MO/ ( X 0 COV]$ 0A SN[-:ITE BE>D1 C>E;LLY TRIMM$ -- 0HIS WIFE1 :O DID X ON ,SUN"DS1 AT : "TS %E AL %AV$ ! BACK ( 8 NECK4 ,! ?REE M5 SURR.D$ ,M>T91 ALL TALK+ ADMIR+LY & AT ONCE1 UNTIL X SEEM$ 6HM T !Y 7 TALK+ AG/ "T =A WAG]4 8,WE (T5 WOND]$ :Y Y DIDN'T CALL10 ,MR4 ,:ITE 0 SAY+4 8,I DIDN'T H ! C>F>E1 & ,I LIVE ACR ! ,BAY10 ,M>T9 ANSW]$ BLUNTLY1 )! IDEA ( %[+ !M 8 IMP]ATIVE NE$ =! M"OY4 ,SURELY1 HE ?"\ 6HMF1 MY GLAD RAGS 9 !MVS >E ELOQU5T ADV]TISE;T ( MY NE$4 ,"T & AG1 :5"E OPPORTUN;Y (F]$1 HE H9T$ AB ! PURPOSE ( 8 BUSI;S4 ,B 8 ADMIR]S' E>S 7 D1F4 ,!Y SANG 8 PRAISES1 TOLD HM :AT !Y _H ?"\ ( 8 /ORY AT F/ SID ! CURR5T NUMB] (! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL40 ,MY ,GOD6 ,M>T9 ?"\2 Y C TRAVEL 9 A ,PULLMAN :ILE ,I />VE =! PALTRY FIVE DOLL>S Y [E ME4 ,A WAVE ( ANG] RU%$ OV] HM4 ,! WR;G D"O HM 0! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL LOOM$ COLOSSAL1 = /R;G ^U HM 7 ALL ! DRE>Y MON?S ( VA9 YE>N+1 ( HUNG] & PRIV,N1 & 8 PRES5T HUNG] AWOKE & GNAW$ AT HM1 REM9D+ HM T HE _H EAT5 NO?+ S9CE ! "D 2F1 & LL 5 !N4 ,=! MO;T HE SAW R$4 ,^! CR1TURES 7 N EV5 RO2]S4 ,!Y 7 SN1K- ?IEVES4 ,0LIES & BROK5 PROMISES !Y _H TRICK$ HM \ ( 8 /ORY4 ,WELL1 HE WD %[ !M4 ,&A GRT RESOLVE SURG$ 96HIS W 6! E6ECT T HE WD N L1VE ! (FICE UNTIL HE GOT 8 M"OY4 ,HE REMEMB]$1 IF HE DID N GET X1 T "! 0 NO WAY = HM 6G BACK 6,OAKL&4 ,HE 3TROLL$ HMF ) AN EF=T1 B N 2F ! WOLFI% EXPRES.N ( 8 FACE _H AW$ & P]TURB$ !M4 ,!Y 2CAME M VOLU# ?AN "E4 ,MR4 ,=D />T$ ANEW 6TELL H[ HE _H F/ R1D 8,! ,R+ ( ,BELLS10 & ,MR4 ,5DS AT ! SAME "T 0 /RIV+ 6REP1T 8 NIECE'S APPRECI,N ( 8,! ,R+ ( ,BELLS10 SD NIECE 2+ A S*OOL-T1*] 9 ,ALAM$A4 8,I'LL TELL Y :AT ,I CAME =10 ,M>T9 SD F9,Y4 8,6BE PD = T /ORY ALL ( Y L S WELL4 ,FIVE DOLL>S1 ,I 2LIEVE1 IS :AT Y PROMIS$ ME WD 2 PD ON PUBLIC,N40 ,MR4 ,=D1 ) AN EXPRES.N ON 8 MOBILE F1TURES ( M$IATE & HAPPY ACQUIESC;E1 />T$ 6R1* = 8 POCKET1 !N TURN$ SU45LY 6,MR4 ,5DS1 & SD T HE _H LEFT 8 M"OY HOME4 ,T ,MR4 ,5DS RES5T$ ?1 0 PAT5T2 & ,M>T9 SAW ! TWIT* ( 8 >M Z IF 6PROTECT 8 TR\S]S POCKET4 ,M>T9 KNEW T ! M"OY 0 "!4 8,I AM SORRY10 SD ,MR4 ,5DS1 8B ,I PD ! PR9T] N AN H\R AGO1 & HE TOOK MY R1DY *ANGE4 ,X 0 C>E.S ( ME 6BE S %ORT2 B ! BILL 0 N YET DUE1 &! PR9T]'S REQUE/1 Z A FAVOR1 6MAKE AN IMM ADV.E1 0 Q UNEXPECT$40 ,BO? M5 LOOK$ EXPECTANTLY AT ,MR4 ,:ITE1 B T G5TLEMAN LAU<$ & %RU7$ 8 %\LD]S4 ,8 3SCI;E 0 CL1N AT ANY RATE4 ,HE _H -E 96! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL 6LE>N MAGAZ9E-LIT]ATURE1 9/1D ( : HE _H PR9CIP,Y LE>N$ F9.E4 ,! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL [$ HM F\R MON?S' SAL>Y1 & HE KNEW T ! PR9T] M/ 2 APP1S$ 2F ! ASSOCIATE $ITOR4 8,X'S R ABSURD1 ,MR4 ,$51 6H CAUE.S;S1 ,I ASSURE Y4 ,B ,I'LL TELL Y :AT WE'LL D4 ,WE'LL MAIL Y A *ECK ! F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+4 ,Y H ,MR4 ,$5'S A4RESS1 HAV5'T Y1 ,MR4 ,5DS80 ,YES1 ,MR4 ,5DS _H ! A4RESS1 &! *ECK WD 2 MAIL$ ! F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+4 ,M>T9'S K ( BANKS & *ECKS 0 HAZY1 B HE CD SEE NO R1SON :Y !Y %D N GIVE HM ! *ECK ON ? "D J Z WELL Z ON ! NEXT4 8,!N X IS "U/OOD1 ,MR4 ,$51 T WE'LL MAIL Y ! *ECK TM80 ,MR4 ,=D SD4 8,I NE$ ! M"OY TD10 ,M>T9 ANSW]$ /OLIDLY4 8,! UN=TUNATE CIRCUM/.ES -- IF Y _H *.ED "H ANY O!R "D10 ,MR4 ,=D 2GAN SUAVELY1 ONLY 6BE 9T]RUPT$ 0,MR4 ,5DS1 ^: CRANKY EYES JU/IFI$ !MVS 9 8 %ORT;S ( TEMP]4 8,MR4 ,=D HAS ALR EXPLA9$ ! SITU,N10 HE SD ) ASP];Y4 8,& S H ,I4 ,! *ECK W 2 MAIL$ -- 0 8,I AL H EXPLA9$10 ,M>T9 BROKE IN1 8& ,I H EXPLA9$ T ,I WANT ! M"OY TD40 ,HE _H FELT 8 PULSE QK5 A TRIFLE AT ! BUSI;S MANAG]'S BRUSQUE;S1 & ^U HM HE KEPT AN AL]T EYE1 = X 0 9 T G5TLEMAN'S TR\S]S POCKET T HE DIV9$ ! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL'S R1DY CA% 0 REPOS+4 8,X IS TOO BAD -- 0 ,MR4 ,=D 2GAN4 ,B AT T MO;T1 ) AN IMPATI5T MOVE;T1 ,MR4 ,5DS TURN$ Z IF AB 6L1VE ! ROOM4 ,AT ! SAME 9/ANT ,M>T9 SPRANG = HM1 CLUT*+ HM 0! ?ROAT ) "O H& 9 S* FA%ION T ,MR4 ,5DS' SN[-:ITE BE>D1 / MA9TA9+ XS IMMACULATE TRIM;S1 PO9T$ CEIL+W>D AT AN ANGLE ( =TY-FIVE DEGREES4 ,6! HORROR ( ,MR4 ,:ITE & ,MR4 ,=D1 !Y SAW _! BUSI;S MANAG] %AK5 L AN ,A/RAKHAN RUG4 8,DIG UP1 Y V5]A# 4C\RAG] ( RIS+ "Y TAL5T60 ,M>T9 EXHORT$4 8,DIG UP1 OR ,I'LL %AKE X \ ( Y1 EV5 IF X'S ALL 9 NICKELS40 ,!N1 6! TWO A6"R$ ONLOOK]S3 8,KEEP AWAY6 ,IF Y 9T]F]E1 "SBODY'S LIA# 6GET HURT40 ,MR4 ,5DS 0 *OK+1 & X 0 N UNTIL ! GRIP ON 8 ?ROAT 0 EAS$ T HE 0 A# 6SIGNIFY 8 ACQUIESC;E 9 ! DI7+-UP PROGRAMME4 ,ALL TGR1 AF REP1T$ DIGS1 XS TR\S]S POCKET YIELD$ F\R DOLL>S & FIFTE5 C5TS4 8,9SIDE \ ) X10 ,M>T9 -M&$4 ,AN A4I;NAL T5 C5TS FELL \4 ,M>T9 C.T$ ! RESULT ( 8 RAID A SECOND "T 6MAKE SURE4 8,Y NEXT60 HE %\T$ AT ,MR4 ,=D4 8,I WANT SEV5TY-FIVE C5TS M40 ,MR4 ,=D DID N WAIT1 B RANSACK$ 8 POCKETS1 )! RESULT ( SIXTY C5TS4 8,SURE T IS ALL80 ,M>T9 DEM&$ M5AC+LY1 POSSESS+ HMF ( X4 8,:AT H Y GOT 9 YR VE/ POCKETS80 ,9 TOK5 ( 8 GD FAI?1 ,MR4 ,=D TURN$ TWO ( 8 POCKETS 9SIDE \4 ,A /RIP ( C>DBO>D FELL 6! FLOOR F "O ( !M4 ,HE RECOV]$ X & 0 9 ! ACT ( RETURN+ X1 :5 ,M>T9 CRI$3- 8,:AT'S T8 -- ,A F]RY TICKET8 ,"H1 GIVE X 6ME4 ,X'S WOR? T5 C5TS4 ,I'LL CR$IT Y ) X4 ,I'VE N[ GOT F\R DOLL>S & N9ETY-FIVE C5TS1 9CLUD+ ! TICKET4 ,FIVE C5TS IS / DUE ME40 ,HE LOOK$ FI]CELY AT ,MR4 ,:ITE1 & F.D T FRAGILE CR1TURE 9 ! ACT ( H&+ HM A NICKEL4 8,?ANK Y10 ,M>T9 SD1 A4RESS+ !M COLLECTIVELY4 8,I WI% Y A GD "D40 8,RO2]60 ,MR4 ,5DS SN>L$ AF HM4 8,SN1K-?IEF60 ,M>T9 RETORT$1 SLAMM+ ! DOOR Z HE PASS$ \4 ,M>T9 0 ELAT$ -- S ELAT$ T :5 HE RECOLLECT$ T ,,! ,,HORNET [$ HM FIFTE5 DOLL>S = 8,! ,P]I &! ,PE>L10 HE DECID$ =?) 6G & COLLECT X4 ,B ,,! ,,HORNET 0 RUN 0A SET ( CL1N-%AV51 /RAPP+ "Y M51 FRANK BU3ANE]S :O RO2$ "EY?+ & "EYBODY1 N EXCEPT+ "O ANO!R4 ,AF "S BR1KAGE (! (FICE FURNITURE1 ! $ITOR 7AN EX-COLLEGE A?LETE71 ABLY ASSI/$ 0! BUSI;S MANAG]1 AN ADV]TIS+ AG5T1 &! PORT]1 SU3E$$ 9 REMOV+ ,M>T9 F ! (FICE & 9 A3EL]AT+1 09ITIAL IMPULSE1 8 DESC5T (! F/ FLIT9 GR9N$ Z HE PICK$ HMF UP4 8,PHEW60 HE MURMUR$ BACK4 8,! ,,TRANSCONT95TAL CR[D 7 NANNY-GOATS1 B Y FELL[S >E A LOT ( PRIZE-FIN T "R CROSS -- IF ,I MAY ASK80 8,": Y LE>N$ T HALF-,NELSON10 ,M>T9 ANSW]$4 8,ANYWAY1 Y'RE GO+ 6H A BLACK EYE40 8,I HOPE YR NECK DOESN'T /I65 UP10 ! $ITOR WI%$ SOLICIT\SLY3 8,:AT D Y SAY WE ALL G \ & H A DR9K ON X -- N ! NECK1 ( C\RSE1 B ! LL R\<-H\SE80 8,I'LL G Y IF ,I LOSE10 ,M>T9 A3EPT$4 ,& RO2]S & RO2$ DRANK TGR1 AMICABLY AGREE+ T ! BATTLE 0 6! /R;G1 & T ! FIFTE5 DOLL>S = 8,! ,P]I &! ,PE>L0 2L;G$ 0"R 6,,! ,,HORNET'S $ITORIAL /AFF4