Зима тревоги нашей

           TheMorphylawsstoodupwellandIrememberedthemandhadevenaddedone.Firstlaw:Havenopastrecord.Well,Ihadnone.Numbertwo:Noaccomplicesorconfidants.Icertainlyhadnone.Numberthree:Nodames.Well,MargieYoung-HuntwastheonlypersonIknewwhocouldbecalledadame,andIwasnotabouttodrinkchampagneoutofherslipper.Numberfour:Don’tsplurge.Well,Iwouldn’t.GraduallyIwoulduseittopaybillstowholesalers.Ihadaplaceforit.InmyKnightTemplar’shatboxtherewasasupportofvelvet-coveredcardboard,thesizeandshapeofmyhead.Thiswasalreadyliftedfreeandtheedgescoatedwithcontactcementsoitcouldberestoredinaninstant.

           Recognition—aMickeyMousemask.Noonewouldseeanythingelse.AnoldcottonraincoatofMarullo’s—alltancottonraincoatslookalike—andapairofthosetear-offcellophaneglovesthatcomeonaroll.Themaskhadbeencutseveraldaysagoandtheboxandcerealflusheddownthetoilet,asthemaskandgloveswouldbe.TheoldsilveredIverJohnsonpistolwassmokedwithlampblackandinthetoiletwasacanofcrankcaseoiltothrowitinfordeliverytoChiefStoneyatthefirstopportunity.

           Ihadaddedmyownfinallaw:Don’tbeapig.Don’ttaketoomuchandavoidlargebills.Ifsomewhereaboutsixtotenthousandintensandtwentieswereavailable,thatwouldbeenoughandeasytohandleandtohide.Acardboardcakeboxonthecoldcounterwouldbetheswapbagandwhennextseenitwouldhaveacakeinit.