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           Theywanttousehim,theywanttomakehimgeekforthem,theirway.Buthe’smyclientandIdon’tproposetoholdstillforit.IfIcanhelpit.ButmyonlychanceistotalkwithMr.Douglashimself,facetoface."

           "TheManfromMarsisyourclient?Youcanturnhimup?"

           "Yes.ButonlytoMr.Douglas.YouknowhowitisBecky–themayorcanbeagoodJoe,kindtochildrenanddogs.Buthedoesn’tnecessarilyknoweverythinghistownclownsareupto–especiallyiftheyhaulamaninandtakehimintothatbackroom."

           Shenodded."I’vehadmytroubleswithcops.Cops!"

           "SoIneedtodickerwithMr.Douglasbeforetheyhaulmein."

           "Allyouwantistotalktohimonthetelephone?"

           "Yes.Ifyoucanswingit.Here,letmegiveyoumynumber–andI’llbesittingrighthere,hopingforacall?untiltheypickmeup.Ifyoucan’tswingit?thanksanyway,Becky,thanksalot.I’llknowyoutried."

           "Don’tswitchoff!"shesaidsharply.

           "Eh?"

           "Keepthecircuit,Doc,whileIseewhatIcando.IfIhaveanyluck,theycanpatchrightthroughthisphoneandsavetime.Soholdon."MadameVesantleftthescreenwithoutsayinggood-by,thencalledAgnesDouglas.Shespokewithcalmconfidence,pointingouttoAgnesthatthiswaspreciselythedevelopmentforetoldbythestars–andexactlyonschedule.NowhadcomethecriticalinstantwhenAgnesmustguideandsustainherhusband,usingallherwomanlywitandwisdomtoseethatheactedwiselyandwithoutdelay.