even if his name did sound like the forced marriage of two extremist parties, and that the murders would speedily be solved.

"They'd better be!" declared Penny Anne. "It was quite bad enough when the mayor was killed, but this one—ugh!" She shivered. "Do—do you think it's safe for us to even stay here, Heck?"

The nickname came as a surprise. Her voice was deep and musical; and the way she spoke it, together with her whole manner to the doctor, at once defined their relationship as firm and normal and affectionate. Timuroff decided that he approved of her.

"Now, Penny Anne," said the doctor soothingly. "The Inspector here has everything in hand."

"I'm leaving three men here, Mrs. Short," Pete told her. "We've searched the secret passages, and they're clean. Nowwith the chief and Kielty trying to job Pete the same way they did me, so when Pete phoned I had no trouble making up my mind. And here it is."

He handed it to Pete.

Pete glanced at it, drew his breath in sharply, read it through again.

"Would you mind reading it aloud?" said Faraday.

Pete did so, very slowly. It was from a gubernatorial mansion in one of the North Atlantic states.

Dear Mayor Munrooney:

As you have known since our conversations at the last Convention, I am deeply impressed by your progressive attitudes and policies, your political genius, and your great sincerity.

After much consideration, I have decided that there is no man in the United States whom I would rather have as my running mate if I have the good