Kenneth Robeson - The Avenger 10 by The Smiling Dogs

Author:The Smiling Dogs
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-20T15:09:15+00:00

Chapter E

LIGHTS OUT

Twenty minutes past ten was the time the man with the dead, paralyzed face and the cold, colorless eyes had noted on his watch.

Twelve minutes later, at twenty-eight minutes to eleven, a man got a phone call.

The man was a hard-working young fellow who had just opened an office as sales representative of a New York toy firm. He had two tiny rooms. One was the office part The other was the sample room, with shelves around all the walls and samples of different kind of games and toys on the shelves.

He was in the office part, bending over a new list of prospects he had dug up that afternoon. But the light was on in the sample room, too. Through the open door a toy panda leered at his back with glass-button eyes.

The building in which the little suite was located was on Pennsylvania Avenue not far from the Willard Hotel. There were several other lights in it. Not many, for few were at work this late at night.

And then the man’s telephone rang. He picked up the receiver, wondering who was calling him at this time of night

“Peter Gottlieb,” he said mechanically. “Knox Toy and Novelty Company.”

“Mr. Gottlieb,” came a smooth voice, “I am Withers, with the Baylor Game Company. I wonder if you could drop over and see me about a business proposition. I am at the Willard Hotel.”

Gottlieb looked mildly surprised. “It’s a little late, isn’t it, Mr. Withers?”

“Yes. But I’m sure an up-and-coming young man like yourself doesn’t mind a night call.”

Gottlieb was an up-and-coming young man, and he did not mind a night call. Or one at two o’clock in the morning, if it would bring in some business. But he was clever, too. And he did not think it would be good policy to make this call.

If the Baylor Game Company wanted to see him, it must be that they wanted him to handle their line of games and toys, too. And it would not be good business to be too eager about accepting such a proposition. He would get less commission the more anxious he appeared to want the job.

So he stalled, which was good psychology, but very bad destiny. “I’ll have to make it in the morning, I’m afraid,” he said importantly. “I’m very busy listing a big order I got today.”

“It will have to be tonight?at once, or not at all,” snapped the voice of Withers.

Gottlieb smiled. Fat chance this man had of getting another representative this late at night. He’d be around in the morning, all right. And Gottlieb could get a better commission in a contract if he stuck to his guns.

“I’m awfully sorry. I just can’t get away tonight.”

The phone went dead.

Gottlieb had a moment’s doubt, but he reassured himself that he had acted smartly and that a phone call at that time of night on such a proposition was kind of screwy anyway. He went back to his work.

Ten minutes passed; then there was a tap at his door.

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