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           Ihadtriedthatterriblereedyventriloquismthingtochangemyvoiceandhadgivenitupforsilenceandgestures.Everythinginplaceandready.

           IwasalmostsorryMr.Bakerwasn’there.TherewouldbeonlyMorphandHarryRobbitandEdithAlden.Itwasplannedtothesplitsecond.AtfiveminutestonineIwouldplacethebroomintheentrance.I’dpracticedoverandover.Aprontuckedup,scaleweightonthetoiletchaintokeepitflushing.Anyonewhocameinwouldhearthewateranddrawhisownconclusion.Coat,mask,cakebox,gun,gloves.Crossthealleyonthestrokeofnine,shoveopenthebackdoor,putonmask,enterjustaftertimeclockbuzzesandJoeyswingsopenthedoor.Motionthethreetoliedown,withthegun.They’dgivenotrouble.AsJoeysaid,themoneywasinsured,hewasn’t.Pickupthemoney,putitincakebox,crossalley,flushglovesandmaskdowntoilet,putgunincanofoil,coatoff.Aprondown,moneyinhatbox,cakeincakebox,pickupbroom,andgoonsweepingsidewalk,availableandvisiblewhenthealarmcame.Thewholethingoneminuteandfortyseconds,timed,checked,andrechecked.ButcarefullyasIhadplannedandtimed,IstillfeltalittlebreathlessandIsweptoutthestorepriortoopeningthetwofrontdoors.Iworeyesterday’sapronsothatnewwrinkleswouldnotbenoticeable.

           Andwouldyoubelieveit,timestoodstillasthoughaJoshuainawingcollarhadshotthesuninitscourse.Theminutehandofmyfather’sbigwatchhadsetitsheelsandresistedmorning