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           Stayswitchedtothispitchfordirtthat’salert,Andnowamomentforyourlocalsponsor-"Thesceneofdestructionshimmeredoutandmed-closeshotofalovelyyounghousewifereplaced,withdolly-in.

           "Damn,Larry,unplugthatcontraptionandwheelitintothestudy.Anne–no,Dorcas.PhoneBen."

           Anneprotested,"YouknowtheTempleneverhadatelephone–ever.Howcanshe?"

           "Thenhavesomebodychaseoverand–no,ofcoursenot;theTemplewouldn’thaveanybody–uh,callthechiefofpolicethere.No,thedistrictattorney.ThelastyouheardMikewasstillinjail?"

           "That’sright."

           "Ihopehestillis–andalltheothers,too."

           "SodoI.Dorcas,takeAbby.I’lldoit."

           Butastheyreturnedtothestudythephonewassignallinganincomingcallanddemandinghushamp;scramble.Jubalcursedandsetthecombo,intendingtoblastwhoeveritwasoffthefrequency.

           ButitwasBenCaxton."Hi,Jubal."

           "Ben!Whatthehellisthesituation?"

           "Iseeyou’vehadsomeofthenews.That’swhyIcalled,toputyourmindatrest.Everythingisundercontrol.Nosweat."

           "Whataboutthefire?Anybodyhurt?"

           "Nodamageatall.Mikesaystotellyou-"

           "Nodamage?Ijustsawashotofit;itlookedlikeatotal-"

           "Oh,that-"Benshruggeditoff."Look,Jubal,pleaselistenandletmetalk.I’vegototherthingsandothercallsafterthisone.Youaren’ttheonlypersonwhoneedstobereassured.ButMikesaidtocallyoufirst."

           "Uh?verywell,sir.Ishallkeepsilent."