Evening star., 1941-03-09

will sometimes do things which ordinarily
he wouldnt % for any amount To show what
he means, Doc gets into terrific argument
with the chauffeur on how much he d charge
to eat a fat juicy earthworm, in which the
chauffeur starts out at ten thousand dollars
but finally says he'd do it for a quarter if he
was hungry.
Everybody seems so busy at the Sea Sled
works that l don't understand what MIR.
Midgeley is worrying about, until see the
same man go by three times with the same
piece of wood under his arm and the same
helper following him. At the office we meet
a spoiled faced guy logged out in white uni
form and high-pressure cap with crossed
anchors
He turns out to be MIR. Midgeley'S son,
Mortimer, and in spite of his Carefree ex-
terror he is really Vice-President in charge
of production He's just about to leave for
a weekend cruise to Newport, but when he
hears what's up he seems only too glad and
happy to stay.
'Its really case for the FBI, he says;
and when Mortimer talks he is not dealing
with opinions but with facts. Wallace is
stalling He knows what's wrong with the
boat, but he won't fix it because he's been
paid off by enemy agents not to. He's sold
us and the country down the river"
PLEASE, Mortimer" says MIR. Midgeley.
We can look through a glass partition to
a big room outside, and from there into a
smaller office, where Wallace is walking up
and down in front of drawing board If he
is misguided patriot dealing with foreign
agents. then his conscience is sure bothering
him.
He walks to the water cooler for drink and
then stands there miserably. His eyes are
brooding and fixed on an empty chair at a
nearby desk. He forgets what he came for
and goes back to stare out the window at the
ripples on the Sound A nifty white yacht
with rakish masts and streamlined stack
is riding at anchor near the breakwater and
gather it belongs to Mortimer because he
keeps looking out there too.
Who sits in the empty chair" says Doc.
My private secretary" answers MIR.
Midgeley, and he looks around trying to find
her SOS he can point her out. Mortimer,
where is Miss Deborah" he says.
SHE has the afternoon off, says Morti-
mer And when he sees that his old man
ism any too pleased, Her mother suddenly
took sick and naturally Deborah was needed
at home" he says peevishly. Il hope l can
use some Judgment around here once in
while"
Il hope so too, Mortimer" sighs Mr..
Midgeley.
Mote, Pootch' says Doc Water cooler,
empty chair by -"
"Off the track, Doc" warn.
Put it down. he says. In another mo-
ment he has opened the door and is walking
through to the small room. l may be wrong,
but have already figured out this guy Wal
lace is no fifth columnst He's just dreamy
engineer who's bitten off more than he can
chew and now he's trying to chew it.
At the cooler Doc tells me to draw a cup
of water, and when we get to Wallace l
promptly let him have it down the back of
his neck.
This is just part of Docs technique, and
he calls it the stimulus. The response is
that Wallace first draws up his shoulders and
shivers. Then he turns around quick, and
when he sees me with the paper cup in my
hand he aims for my chin with his right and
let's go. Lucky for me that | know responses
are sometimes violent and have taken few
steps backward, so his punch does not con-