Part 23 (1/2)

”What a rig!” the reporter et it?”

”Built it”

During the next half hour, while they waited for Duke to return, Rick told Jerry the story of the Megabuck Mob, o only what follohen Steve Ames arrived

Then Duke returned, freshly barbered, trying to scratch his back ”One thing about this new barber,” he greeted the hair out of your shi+rt than Vince is Why is it that barbers can't cut hair without getting it into places where it itches?”

Rick smiled sympathetically He kneas No matter how careful a barber tried to be, it seeet a haircut without a shower of hair clippings down the back Usually they lodged where it was iainst the doorfraan

Rick tensed If the houseboaters were going to contact the barber, they would naturally try to choose a time when they could see him alone Maybe there had been an earlier contact, and the barber had told theht account for the houseboat's ” The editor grinned ”I suspect that's the only reason he got a helper, anyway, so he could go fishi+ng h work in town for e machine?” Rick asked anxiously

The editor nodded ”It's nothing but a hood, with three ordinary ets inside Vibrator heads, I think they're called”

That tallied with the description Steve's agent had given ”Did you examine it closely?” Rick pursued

”Yes There's only one cord attached--the power cord But I did notice an interesting thing Set around the edges are little disks, like round covers I started to lift one up, but the barber asked me to stop He said the ht upset the adjusth luck,” Scotty said, disappointed

”Oh, I don't know” Duke's eyes twinkled ”I got enough of a look to see two tiny holes in the piece of stuff the disk covered The stuff was black, probably plastic Like telephones are made of”

”In other words,” Rick said slowly, ”you saw holes for electrical plugs?”

”I think so I don't knohat else they could be”

Rick and Scotty exchanged glances

”What does it mean?” Jerry asked

Rick answered ”We don't know And I' We really don't know”

”I believe you,” Duke said briefly ”Okay I've doneelse?”

”We'd like to stick around,” Rick replied ”Jerry already knows about this, but Barby is watching a houseboat anchored in North Cove If anyone leaves the houseboat for the Whiteside pier, she'll call us

We'll take over at the pier It just ht happen that the houseboater will pay a call on the barber”

Duke didn't comment, but Rick knew the editor's mind was at work

”Make yourself at ho

Now and then Barby called, wanting to chat, but Rick discouraged her