,*APT] ,EI<T

,! ,EMPTY ,%$

  8,B.S MY D>K-LANT]N6 ,": >E Y1 ,TOM80
CALL$ ,MR4 ,DAMON Z HE 5T]$ ! DIM %$ ":
! "S:AT FRAIL-APPE>+ AEROPLANE LOOM$ UP
9 ! SEMI-D>K;S1 = X 0 AFN1 & R CL\DY4
8,": >E Y80
  8,"H60 CALL$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I'M GLAD
6SEE Y6 ,-E IN60
  8,AH6 "! X IS1 EH80 EXCLAIM$ ! ODD
MAN1 Z HE LOOK$ AT ! AEROPLANE1 = "! _H
BE5 M* "W D"O ON X S9CE HE _H LA/ SE5 X4
8,B.S MY P>A*UTE1 ,TOM6 ,B X LOOKS Z ?\<
Y CD BL[ X OV]40
  8,X'S /R;G] ?AN X SEEMS10 REPLI$ !
LAD4 8,B1 ,MR4 ,DAMON1 ,I'VE GOT "S?+ V
IMPORTANT 6TALK 6Y AB40
  ,"!^U ,TOM TOLD ALL AB ,MR4 ,%>P'S
VISIT1 ( ,&Y'S 5TRY 9 ! BIG RACE1 &(!
SUSPICIONS ( HMF &! BALLOONI/4
  8,& :AT IS X Y WI% ME 6D80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,"W UP "S CLUES AG/ ,&Y ,FOG]40
  8,GD6 ,I'LL D X6 ,I'D L 6GET AH1D ( T
BULLY & 8 "F1 :O ONCE TRI$ 6WRECK ! BANK
,I'M 9T]E/$ IN4 ,I'LL HELP Y1 ,TOM6
,I'LL PLAY DETECTIVE6 ,LET ME SEE--:AT
4GUISE % ,I ASSUME8 ,I ?9K ,I'LL TAKE !
"P (A TRAMP4 ,B.S MY HAM S&WI*6 ,T W 2 !
V ?+4 ,I'LL GET "S RA7$ CLO!S1 LET MY
BE>D GR[ AG--Y SEE ,I %AV$ X (F S9CE MY
LA/ VISIT--& ,I'LL G >.D 6! ,FOG] PLACE
& ASK = "W4 ,!N ,I C GET 9SIDE ! %$ &
LOOK >.D4 ,H['S T =A PLAN80
  8,X MI<T 2 ALL "R10 AGRE$ ,TOM1 8ONLY
,I DON'T 2LIEVE Y'RE CUT \ =! "P (A
TRAMP1 ,MR4 ,DAMON40
  8,B.S MY F+]NAILS6 ,:Y N80
  8,OH1 WELL1 X ISN'T V PL1SANT 6G >.D 9
RA7$ CLO!S40
  8,DON'T M9D AB ME4 ,I'LL D X40 ,&! ODD
G5TLEMAN SEEM$ Q DELI<T$ AT ! IDEA4 ,HE
& ,TOM TALK$ X OV] AT "S L5G?1 & !N
ADJ\RN$ 6! H\SE1 ": ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 :O _H
SEEM$ 6IMPROVE 9 ! LA/ FEW "DS1 0 TOLD
(! PLAN4
  8,CDN'T Y G >.D AF EVID;E J Z Y >E80
ASK$ ! AG$ 9V5TOR4 8,I DON'T M* C>E = ?
4GUIS+ BUSI;S40
  8,OH1 X'S V NEC10 9SI/$ ,MR4 ,DAMON
E>NE/LY4 8,B.S MY GIZZ>D6 B X'S V NEC4
,:Y1 IF ,I W5T >.D ! ,FOG] PLACE Z ,I AM
N[1 !Y'D "K ME 9 A M9UTE1 & ,I CDN'T F9D
\ :AT ,I WANT 6"K40
  8,WELL1 IF Y KEEP ON B.S+ YRF10 SD
,TOM1 )A LAU<1 8!Y'LL "K Y1 NO MATT] :AT
4GUISE Y PUT ON1 ,MR4 ,DAMON40
  8,T'S S10 ADMITT$ ! E35TRIC G5TLEMAN4
8,I M/ BR1K MYF ( T HABIT4 ,I W4 ,B.S MY
TOPKNOT6 ,I'LL N"E D X ANY M4 ,B.S MY
TR\S]S BUTTONS60
  8,I'M AFRAID Y'LL N"E D X60 EXCLAIM$
,TOM4

8,X IS R H>D10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON RUE;LLY1 Z
  HE
R1LIZ$ :AT HE _H SD4 8,B ,I'LL D X4 ,B.S
  --0

  ,HE PAUS$ A MO;T1 LOOK$ AT ,TOM & 8
"F1 & !N BUR/ 96A LAU<4 ,! HABIT 0 M
FIRMLY FA/5$ ON HM ?AN HE 0 AW>E4
  ,= S"EAL H\RS ,TOM1 8 "F & ,MR4 ,DAMON
4CUSS$ V>I\S ME?ODS ( PROCE$+1 & X 0
F9,Y AGRE$ T ,MR4 ,DAMON %D F/ TRY 6LE>N
:AT ,&Y 0 DO+1 IF ANY?+1 )\T RESORT+ 6A
4GUISE4
  8,!N1 IF T DOESN'T "W1 ,I'LL 2COME A
TRAMP10 0 ! DECI.N (! ODD "*4 8,I'LL WE>
! RA7$E/ CLO!S ,I C F9D ,B.S--0 ,B HE
/OPP$ 9 "T4
  ,MR4 ,DAMON TOOK UP 8 RESID;E 9 !
,SWIFT H\SEHOLD1 Z HE _H (T5 D"O 2F1 &=!
NEXT WEEK HE W5T & CAME Z HE PL1S$1
"S"TS 2+ AWAY ALL NI<T4
  8,X'S NO USE1 ?\<10 DCLD ,MR4 ,DAMON
AT ! 5D (! WEEK4 8,I C'T GET ANY": NE> T
%$1 NOR EV5 GET A GLIMPSE 9SIDE ( X4 ,I
HAV5'T BE5 A# 6LE>N ANY?+1 EI'4 ,"! >E
TWO G>D5]S ON GU>D ALL ! :ILE1 & S"EAL
"TS :5 ,I'VE TRI$ 6G 9 ! SIDE GATE1
!Y'VE /OPP$ ME40
  8,ISN'T "! ANY NEWS ( ,&Y AB T[N80
ASK$ ,TOM4 8,I %D ?9K ,SAM OR ,PETE WD
"K ": HE IS40
  8,WELL1 ,I DIDN'T ASK !M1 = !Y'D "K "R
AWAY :Y ,I 0 9QUIR+10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1 8B
X SEEMS 6ME Z IF "! 0 "S?+ QUE] GO+ ON4
,IF ,&Y ,FOG] IS "W+ 9 T %$ ( HIS1 HE'S
KEEP+ MI<TY QUIET AB X4 ,B.S MY--0

,& ONCE M HE /OPP$ 9 "T4 ,HE 0 3QU]+ !
HABIT 9 A M1SURE4

  8,WELL1 :AT D Y PROPOSE 6D NEXT80 ASK$
,TOM4
  8,4GUISE MYF L A TRAMP1 & G "! LOOK+ =
"W10 0 ! FIRM ANSW]4 8,"! >E PL5TY ( ODD
JOBS ON A BIG PLACE S* Z ! ,FOG] FAMILY
H4 ,I'LL F9D \ :AT ,I WANT 6"K1 Y SEE4
  ,X SEEM$ USE.S 6FUR!R -BAT ? RESOLU;N1
&1 9 A FEW "DS ,MR4 ,DAMON PRES5T$ A V
DI6]5T APPE>.E4 ,HE _H ON A MO/ RA7$
SUIT1 "! 0 A SCRU2Y BE>D ON 8 FACE1 & HE
WALK$ )A CURI\S %U6LE1 CAUS$ 0A PAIR (
BIG1 H1VY %OES : HE _H DONN$1 F/ HAV+
TAK5 ! PRECAU;N 6MAKE HOLES 9 !M & GET
!M MU4Y4
  8,N[ ,I'M ALL R1DY10 HE SD 6,TOM "O
"D1 :5 8 4GUISE 0 -PLETE4 8,I'M GO+ OV]
& TRY MY LUCK40
  ,HE LEFT ! H\SE 0A SIDE DOOR1 S T NO
"O WD SEE HM1 & />T$ D[N ! WALK4 ,Z HE
DID S A VOICE %\T$3
  8,HI1 "!6 ,GIT "R \ OH H1H6 ,MISTAH
,SWIFT DOAN'T ALL[ NO TRAMPS H1H1 AN' WE
A9'T GOT NO WUK FO' YO'1 AN' "! A9'T NO
COLD VICTUALS4 ,I DOES ALL DE WUK1 ME
AN' MAH MULE ,BOOM]ANG1 AN' WE TAKES ALL
DE COLD VICTUALS1 TOO6 ,GIT "R AL;G1
N[60

8,X'S ,ERADICATE4 ,HE DOESN'T "K Y10 SD
  ,TOM1 )A
*UCKLE4

  8,S M* ! BETT]10 :ISP]$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
,B ! 4GUISE PROV$ ALM TOO M* (A SU3ESS1
= SEE+ ! SUPPOS$ TRAMP L+]+ NE> ! H\SE1
,ERADICATE CAU<T UP A /\T /ICK & RU%$
=W>D4 ,HE 0 AB 6/RIKE ! RA7$ MAN1 :5
,TOM CALL$ \3
  8,T'S ,MR4 ,DAMON1 ,RAD60
  8,:--:AT60 GASP$ ! COLOR$ MAN2 & :5 !
SITU,N _H BE5 EXPLA9$ 6HM1 &! NECESS;Y =
SIL;E IMPRESS$ ^U HM1 HE TURN$ AWAY1 TOO
SURPRIS$ 6UTT] A ^W4 ,HE S"\ 3SOL,N 9 !
/A# ) 8 MULE4
  ,J :AT ME?ODS ,MR4 ,DAMON US$ HE N"E
4CLOS$1 B "O ?+ IS C]TA93 ,T NI<T "!
CAME A CAUTI\S KNOCK ON ! DOOR (! ,SWIFT
HOME1 & ,TOM1 ANSW]+ X1 2HELD 8 ODD FR4
  8,WELL10 HE ASK$ EAG]LY1 8:AT LUCK80
  8,PUT ON A SUIT ( OLD CLO!S1 & -E )
ME10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,WE'LL LOOK L TWO
TRAMPS1 & !N1 IF WE'RE 4COV]$1 !Y WON'T
"K X 0 Y40
  8,H Y F.D \ ANY?+80 ASK$ ,TOM EAG]LY4
  8,N YET2 B ,I'VE GOT A KEY 6"O (! SIDE
DOORS (! %$1 & WE C GET 9 Z SOON Z X'S
LATE 5 S T "EYBODY "! W 2 9 B$40
  8,A KEY8 ,H[ DID Y GET X80 9QUIR$ !
Y\?4
  8,N"E M9D10 0 ! ANSW]1 )A *UCKLE4 8,T
0 2C ( MY 4GUISE2 & ,I HAV5'T B.S$ ANY?+
TD4 ,I'M GO+ TO1 SOON1 ?\<4 ,I C FEEL X
-+ ON4 ,B HURRY1 ,TOM1 OR WE MAY 2 TOO
LATE40

8,& Y HAV5'T _H A LOOK 9SIDE ! %$80 ASK$
  !
"Y 9V5TOR4 8,Y DON'T "K :AT'S "!80

  8,NO2 B WE SOON W40
  ,EAG]LY ,TOM PUT ON TOME (! OLDE/ &
MO/ RA7$ G>;TS HE CD F9D1 & !N HE &! ODD
G5TLEMAN SET (F T[>D ! ,FOG] HOME4 ,!Y
WAIT$ "S "T AF GETT+ 9 SI<T ( X1 2C !Y
SAW A LI<T 9 "O (! W9D[S4 ,!N1 :5 ! H\SE
0 D>K1 !Y /OLE CAUTI\SLY =W>D T[>D !
BIG1 GLOOMY %$4
  8,ON ? SIDE10 DIRECT$ ,MR4 ,DAMON 9 A
:ISP]4 8,! KEY ,I H OP5S ? DOOR40

8,B WE C'T SEE :5 WE GET 9SIDE10 OBJECT$
  ,TOM4 8,I
%D H BR"\ A D>K LANT]N40

  8,I H "O ( ^? POCKET ELECTRIC
FLA%LI<TS10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B.S MY
C&LE/ICK6 B ,I ?"\ ( T40
,& HE *UCKL$ GLEE;LLY4
  ,CAUTI\SLY !Y ADV.ED 9 ! D>K;S4 ,MR4
,DAMON FUM#D AT ! LOCK (! DOOR4 ,! KEY
GRAT$ Z HE TURN$ X4 ,! PORTAL SWUNG
BACK1 & ,TOM & 8 FR F.D !MVS 9SIDE ! %$
:1 ( LATE1 _H BE5 S* AN OBJECT ( WORRY &
3JECTURE 6! "Y 9V5TOR4 ,:AT WD HE F9D
"!8

8,FLA% ! LI<T10 HE CALL$ 6,MR4 ,DAMON 9
  A HO>SE
:ISP]4

  ,! E35TRIC MAN DREW X F 8 PACKET ,HE
PRESS$ ! SPR+ SWIT*1 & 9 AN 9/ANT A
BRILLIANT %AFT ( RADI.E %OT \1 CUTT+ !
9T5SE BLACK;S L A KNIFE4 ,MR4 ,DAMON
FLA%$ X ON ALL SIDES4
  ,B 6! AMAZE;T ( ,TOM & 8 -PANION1 X
DID N ILLUM9ATE ! BROAD :ITE W+S &
/RET*ES ( CANVAS ( AN AEROPLANE ,X ONLY
%"O ON ! B>E WALLS (! %$1 & ON "S PILES
( RU2I% 9 ! CORN]S4 ,UP & D[N1 6"R &
LEFT1 %OT ! P5CIL ( LI<T4 8,"!'S--"!'S
NO?+ "H60 GASP$ ,TOM1
  8,I--,I GUESS Y'RE "R60 AGRE$ ,MR4
,DAMON 8,! %$ IS EMPTY60
  8,!N ": IS ,&Y ,FOG] BUILD+ 8
AEROPLANE80 ASK$ ,TOM 9 A :ISP]2 B ,MR4
,DAMON CD N ANSW] HM4


