by Robert Heinlein 
Version 1.0 
MAGIC, INC 

'Whose spells are you using, buddy?' That was the first thing this bird said after coming into my 
place of business, He had hung around maybe twenty minutes, until I was alone, looking at samples 
of waterproof pigment, fiddling with plumbing catalogues, and monkeying with the hardware display. 
I didn't like his manner. I don't mind a legitimate business inquiry from a customer_ but I resent 
gratuitus snooping. 
Various of the local licensed practitioners of thaumaturgy,' I told him in a tone that was chilly but 
polite. Why do you ask?' 
You didn't answer my question,' he pointed out. Come on - speak up. I ain't got all day.' 
I restrained myself. I require my clerks to he polite, and, while I was pretty sure this chap would 
never be a customer, I didn't want to break my own rules. If you are thinking of buying anything,' I 
said, I will be happy to tell you what magic, if any, is used in producing it, and who the magician is. 
Now you're not being cooperative,' he complained. We like for people to be cooperative. You 
never can tell what bad luck you may run into not cooperating.' 
Who d'you mean by we, I snapped, dropping all pretence of politeness, and what do you mean by 
bad luck?' 
'Now we're getting somewhere,' he said with a nasty grin, and settled himself on the edge of the 
counter so that he breathed into my face He was short and swarthy - Sicilian, I judged and dressed 
in a suit that was overtailered. His clothes and haberdashery matched perfectly in a color scheme that 
I didn't like. 'I'll tell you what I mean by "we"; I'm a field representatve for an organisation that 
protects people. from bad luck - if they're smart, and cooperative. That's why I asked you whose 
charms you're usin'. Some of the magicians around here aren't cooperative; it spoils their luck, and 
that bad luck follows their products. 
'Go on.' I said. I wanted him to commit himself as far as he would. 
I knew you were smart,' he answered. F'rinstance - how would you like for a salamander to get 
loose in your shop, setting fire to your goods and maybe scaring your customers? Or you sell the 
materials to build a house, and it turns out there's a Poltergeist living in it, breaking the dishes and 
souring the milk and kicking the furniture around. That's what can come of dealing with the wrong 
magicians. A little of that and your business is ruined. We wouldn't want that to happen, would we?' 
He favoured me with another leer. 
I said nothing; he went on, Now, we maintain a staff of the finest demonologists in the business, 
expert magicians themselves, who can report on how a magician conducts himself in the Half World, 
and whether or not he's likely to bring his clients bad luck. Then we advise our clients whom to deal 
with, and keep them from having bad luck. See?' 
I saw all right. I wasn't born yesterday. The magicians I dealt with were local men that I had known 
for years, men with established reputations both here and in the Half World. They didn't do anything 
to stir up the elementals against them, and they did not have bad luck. 
What this slimy item meant was that I should deal only with the magicians they selected at whatever 
fees they chose to set, and they would take a cut on the fees and also on the profits of my business. 
If I didn't choose to cooperate', I'd be persecuted by elementals they had an arrangement with - 
renegades, probably, with human vices - my stock in trade spoiled and my customers frightened 
away. If I still held out, I could expect some really dangerous black magic that would injure or kill 
me. All this under the pretence of selling me protection from men I knew and liked. 
A neat racket! 
I had heard of something of the sort back East, but had not expected it in a city as small as ours. He 
sat there, smirking at me, waiting for my reply, and twisting his neck in his collar, which was too tight. 
That caused me to notice something. In spite of his foppish clothes a thread showed on his neck just 
above the collar in back. It seemed likely that it was there to support something next to his skin - an 
amulet. If so, he was superstitious, even in this day and age. 
There's something you've omitted,' I told him. I'm a seventh son, born under a caul, and I've got 
second sight. My luck's all right, but I can see bad luck hovering over you like cypress over a grave!' 
I reached out and snatched at the thread. It snapped and came loose in my hand. There was an 
amulet on it, rght enough, an unsavoury little wad of nothing in particular and about as appetizing as 
the bottom of a bird cage. I dropped it on the floor and ground it into the dirt. 
He had jumped off the counter and stood facing me, breathing hard. A knife showed up in his right 
hand; with his left hand he was warding off the evil eye, the first and little fingers pointed at me, 
making the horns of Asmodeus. I knew I had him - for the time being. 
Here's some magic you may not have heard of,' I rapped out, and reached into a drawer behind the 
counter. I hauled Out a pistol and pointed it at his face. Cold iron! Now go back to your owner and 
tell him there's cold iron waiting for him, too - both ways!' 
He backed away, never taking his eyes off my face. If looks could kill, and so forth. At the door he 
paused and spat on the doorsill, then got out of sight very quickly. 
I put the gun away and went about my work, waiting on two customers who came in just as Mr 
Nasty Business left. But I will admit that I was worried. A man's reputation is his most valuable asset. 
I've built up a name, while still a young man, for dependable products. It was certain that this bird 
and his pals would do all they could to destroy that name - which might be plenty if they were 
hooked in with black magicians! 
Of course the building-materials game does not involve as much magic as other lines dealing in less 
durable goods. People like to know, when they are building a home, that the bed won't fall into the 
basement some night, or the roof disappear and leave them out in the rain. 
Besides, building involves quite a lot of iron, and there are very few commercial sorcerers who can 
cope with cold iron. The few that can are so expensive it isn't economical to use them in building. Of 
course if one of the café-society crowd, or somebody like that, wants to boast that they have a 
summerhouse or a swimming pool built entirely by magic, I'll accept the contract, charging 
accordingly, and sublet it to one of the expensive, first-line magicians. But by and large my business 
uses magic only in the side issues - perishable items and doodads which people like to buy cheap 
and change from time to time. 
So I was not worried about magic in my business, but about what magic could do to my business - if 
someone set out deliberately to do me mischief. I had the subject of magic on my mind, anyhow, 
because of an earlier call from a chap named Ditworth - not a matter of vicious threats, just a 
business proposition that I was undecided about. But it worried me, just the same, 
I closed up a few minutes early and went over to see Jedson - a friend of mine in the cloak-and-suit 
business. He is considerably older than I am, and quite a student, without holding a degree, in all 
forms of witchcraft, white and black magic, necrology, demonology, spells, charms, and the more 
practical forms of divination. Besides that, Jedson is a shrewd, capable man in every way, with a 
long head on him. I set a lot of store by his advice. 
I expected to find him in his office, and more or less free, at that hour, but he wasn't. His office boy 
directed me up to a room he used for sales conferences. I knocked and then pushed the door. 
Hello, Archie,' he called out as soon as he saw who it was. Come on in. I've got something.' And he 
turned away. 
I came in and looked around. Besides Joe Jedson there was a handsome, husky woman about thirty 
years old in a nurse's uniform, and a fellow named August Welker, Jedson's foreman. He was a 
handy all-around man with a magician's licence, third class. Then I noticed a fat little guy, Zadkiel 
Feldstein, who was agent for a good many of the second-rate magicians along the street, and some 
few of the first-raters. Naturally, his religion prevented him from practising magic himself, but, as I 
understand it, there was no theological objection to his turning an honest commission. I had had 
dealings with him; he was all right. 
This ten-percenter was clutching a cigar that had gone out, and watching intently Jedson and another 
party, who was slumped in a chair. 
This other party was a girl, not over twenty-five, maybe not that old. She was blonde, and thin to the 
point that you felt that light would shine through her. She had big, sensitive hands with long fingers, 
and a big, tragic mouth. Her hair was silver-white, but she was not an albino. She lay back in the 
chair, awake but apparently done in. The nurse was chafing her wrists. 
What's up?' I asked. The kid faint?' 
Oh no,' Jedson assured me, turning around. She's a white witch - works in a trance. She's a little 
tired now, that's all.' 
What's her speciality?' I inquired. 
Whole garments.' 
Huh?' I had a right to be surprised. It's one thing to create yard goods; another thing entirely to turn 
out a dress, or a suit, all finished and ready to wear. Jedson produccd and merchandised a full line of 
garments in which magic was used throughout. They were mostly sportswear, novelty goods, ladies' 
fashions, and the like, in which style, rather than wearing qualities, was the determining factor. 
Usually they were marked One Season Only', but they were perfectly satisfactory for that one 
season, being backed up by the consumers' groups. 
But they were not turned out in one process. The yard goods involved were made first, usually by 
Welker. Dyes and designs were added separately. Jedson had some very good connexions among 
the Little People, and could obtain shades and patterns from the Half World that were exclusive with 
him. He used both the old methods and magic in assembling garments, and employed some of the 
most talented artists in the business. Several of his dress designers free-lanced their magic in 
Hollywood under an arrangement with him. All he asked for was screen credit. 
But to get back to the blonde girl- That's what I said,' Jedson answered, whole garments, with good 
wearing qualities too. There's no doubt that she is the real McCoy; she was under contract to a 
textile factory in Jersey City. But I'd give a thousand dollars to see her do that whole-garment stunt 
of hers just once. We haven't had any luck, though I've tried everything but red-hot pincers.' 
The kid looked alarmed at this, and the nurse looked indignant. Feldstein started to expostulate, but 
Jedson cut him short. That was just a figure of speech; you know I don't hold with black magic. 
Look, darling,' he went on, turning back to the girl, do you feel like trying again?' She nodded, and 
he added, All right - sleepy time now!' 
And she tried again, going into her act with a minimum of groaning and spitting. The ectoplasm came 
out freely and, sure enough, it formed into a complete dress instead of yard goods. It was a neat- 
little dinner frock, about a size sixteen, sky blue in a watered silk. It had class in a refined way, and I 
knew that any jobber who saw it would be good for a sizeable order. 
Jedson grabbed it, cut off a swatch of cloth and applied his usual tests, finishing by taking the swatch 
out of the microscope and touching a match to it. 
He swore. Damn it,' he said, there's no doubt about it. It's not a new integration at all; she's just 
reanimated an old rag!' 
Come again,' I said. What of it?' 
huh? Archie, you really ought to study up a bit. What she just did isn't really creative magic at all. 
This dress' - he picked it up and shook it - had a real existence someplace at some time. She's 
gotten hold of a piece of it, a scrap or maybe just a button, and applied the laws of homeopathy and 
contiguity to produce a simulacrum of it.' 
I understood him, for I had used it in my own business. I had once had a section of bleachers, 
suitable for parades and athletic events, built on my own grounds by old methods, using skilled 
master mechanics and the best materials - no iron, of course. Then I cut it to pieces. Under the law 
of contiguity, each piece remained part of the structure it had once been in. Under the law of 
homeopathy, each piece was potentially the entire structure. I would contract to handle a Fourth of 
July crowd, or the spectators for a circus parade, and send out a couple of magicians armed with as 
many fragments of the original stands as we needed sections of bleachers. They .vould bind a spell to 
last twenty-four hours around each piece. That way the stands cleared themselves away 
automatically. 
I had had only one mishap with it; an apprentice magician, who had the chore of being on hand as 
each section vanished and salvaging the animated fragment for further use, happened one day to pick 
up the wrong piece of wood from where one section had stood. The next time we used it, for the 
Shrine convention, we found we had thrown up a brand-new four- room bungalow at the corner of 
Fourteenth and Vine instead of a section of bleachers. It could have been embarrassing, but I stuck a 
sign on it 
MODEL HOME NOW ON DISPLAY 
and ran up another section on the end. 
An out-of-town concern tried to chisel me out of the business one season, but one of their units fell, 
either through faulty workmanship on the pattern or because of unskilled magic, and injured several 
people. Since then I've had the field pretty much to myself. 
I could not understand Joe Jedson's objection to reanimation. What difference does it make?' I 
persisted. It's a dress, isn't it?' 
Sure, it's a dress, hut it's not a new one. That style is registered somewhere and doesn't belong to 
me. And even if it were one of my numbers she had used, reanimation isn't what I'm after. I can 
make better merchandise cheaper without it; otherwise I'd be using it now.' 
The blonde girl came to, saw the dress, and said, Oh, Mr Jedson, did I do it?' 
He explained what had happened. Her face fell, and the dress melted away at once. Don't you feel 
bad about it, kid,' he added, patting her on the shoulder, you were tired. We'll try again tomorrow. I 
know you can do it when you're not nervous and overwrought.' 
She thanked him and left with the nurse. Feldstein was full of explanations, but Jedson told him to 
forget it, and to have them all back there at the same time tomorrow. When we were alone I told him 
what had happened to me. 
He listened in silence, his face serious, except when I told him how I had kidded my visitor into 
thinking I had second sight. That seemed to amuse him. 
You may wish that you really had it - second sight, I mean,' he said at last, becoming solemn again. 
This is an unpleasant prospect. Have you notified the Better Business Bureau?' 
I told him I hadn't. 
Very well then. I'll give them a ring and the Chamber of Commerce too. They probably can't help 
much, but they are entitled to notification, so they can be on the lookout for it.' 
I asked him if he thought I ought to notify the police. He shook his head. Not just yet. Nothing illegal 
has been done, and, anyhow, all the chief could think of to cope with the situation would be to haul in 
all the licensed magicians in town and sweat them. That wouldn't do any good, and would just cause 
hard feeling to be directed against you by the legitimate members of the profession. There isn't a 
chance in ten that the sorcerers connected with this outfit are licensed to perform magic; they are 
almost sure to be clandestine. If the police know about them, it's because they are protected. If they 
don't know about them, then they probably can't help you.' 
What do you think I ought to do?' 
Nothing just yet. Go home and sleep on it. This Charlie may be playing a lone hand, making small-
time shakedowns purely on bluff. I don't really think so; his type sounds like a mobster. But we need 
more data; we can't do anything until they expose their hand a little more.' 
We did not have long to wait. When I got down to my place of business the next morning I found a 
surprise waiting for me - several of them, all unpleasant. 
It was as if it had been ransacked by burglars, set fire to, then gutted by a flood. I called up Jedson 
at once. He came right over. He didn't have anything to say at first, but went poking through the 
ruins, examining a number of things. He stopped at the point where the hardware storeroom had 
stood, reached down and gathered up a handful of the wet ashes and muck. Notice anything?' he 
asked, working his fingers so that the debris sloughed off and left in his hand some small metal 
objects - nails, screws, and the like. 
Nothing in particular. This is where the hardware bins were located; that's some of the stuff that 
didn't burn.' 
Yes, I know,' he said impatiently, but don't you see anything else? Didn't you stock a lot of brass 
fittings?' 
Yes.' 
Well, find one!' 
I poked around with my toe in a spot where there should have been a lot of brass hinges and drawer 
pulls mixed in with the ashes. I did not find anything but the nails that had held the bins together. I 
oriented myself by such landmarks as I could find, and tried again. There were plenty of nuts and 
bolts, casement hooks, and similar junk, but no brass. 
Jedson watched me with a sardonic grin on his face. 
Well?' I said, somewhat annoyed at his manner. 
Don't you see?' he answered. It's magic, all right. In this entire yard there is not one scrap of metal 
left, except cold iron!' 
It was plain enough. I should have seen it myself. 
He messed around awhile longer. Presently we came across an odd thing. It was a slimy, wet track 
that meandered through my property, and disappeared down one of the drains. It looked as if a giant 
slug, about the size of a Crosley car, had wandered through the place. 
Undine,' Jedson announced, and wrinklcd his nose at the smell. I once saw a movie, a Megapix 
super production called the Water King's Daughter. According to it undines were luscious enough 
to have interested Earl Carroll, but if they left trails like that I wanted none of them. 
He took out his handkerchief and spread it for a clean place to sit down on what had been sacks of 
cement - a fancy, quick- setting variety, with a trade name of Hydrolith. I had been getting eighty 
cents a sack for the stuff; now it was just so many big boulders. 
He ticked the situation off on his fingers. Archie, you've been kicked in the teeth by at least three of 
the four different types of elementals - earth, fire, and water. Maybe there was a sylph of the air in on 
it, too, but I can't prove it. First the gnomes came and cleaned out everything you had that came out 
of the ground, except cold iron. A salamander followed them and set fire to the place, burning 
everything that was burnable, and scorching and smoke-damaging the rest. Then the undine turned 
the place into a damned swamp, ruining anything that wouldn't burn, like cement and lime. You're 
insured?' 
Naturally.' But then I starred to think. I carried the usual fire, theft, and flood insurance, but business-
risk insurance comes pretty high; I was not covered against the business I would lose in the 
meantime, nor did I have any way to complete current contracts. It was going to cost me quite a lot 
to cover those contracts; if I let them slide it would ruin the good will of my business, and lay me 
open to suits for damage. 
The situation was worse than I had thought, and looked worse still the more I thought about it. 
Naturally I could not accept any new business until the mess was cleaned up, the place rebuilt, and 
new stock put in. Luckily most of my papers were in a fireproof steel safe; but not all, by any means. 
There would be accounts receivable that I would never collect because I had nothing to show for 
them. I work on a slim margin of profit, with all of my capital at work. It began to look as if the firm 
of Archibald Fraser, Merchant and Contractor, would go into involuntary bankruptcy. 
I explained the situation to Jedson. 
Don't get your wind up too fast,' he reassured me. What magic can do, magic can undo. What we 
need is the best wizard in town.' 
Who's going to pay the fee?' I objected. Those boys don't work for nickels, and I'm cleaned out.' 
Take it easy, son,' he advised, the insurance outfit that carries your risks is due to take a bigger loss 
than you are. If we can show them a way to save money on this, we can do business. Who 
represents them here?' 
I told him - a firm of lawyers downtown in the Professional Building. 
I got hold of my office girl and told her to telephone such of our customers as were due for deliveries 
that day. She was to stall where possible and pass on the business that could not wait to a firm that I 
had exchanged favours with in the past. I sent the rest of my help home - they had been standing 
around since eight o'clock, making useless remarks and getting in the way - and told them not to 
come back until I sent for them. Luckily it was Saturday; we had the best part of forty- eight hours to 
figure out some answer. 
We flagged a magic carpet that was cruising past and headed for the Professional Building. I settled 
back and determined to enjoy the ride and forget my troubles. I like taxicabs - they give me a feeling 
of luxury - and I've liked them even better since they took the wheels off them. This happened to be 
one of the new Cadillacs with the teardrop shape and air cushions. We went scooting down the 
boulevard, silent as thought, not six inches off the ground. 
Perhaps I should explain that we have a local city ordinance against apportation unless it conforms to 
traffic regulations - ground traffic, I mean, not air. That may surprise you, but it came about as a 
result of a mishap to a man in my own line of business. He had an order for eleven-odd tonsof glass 
brick to be delivered to a restaurant being remodelled on the other side of town from his yard. He 
employed a magician with a common carrier's licence to deliver for him. I don't know whether he 
was careless or just plain stupid, but he dropped those eleven tons of brick through the roof of the 
Prospect Boulevard Baptist Church. Anybody knows that magic won't work over consecrated 
ground; if he had consulted a map he would have seen that the straight-line route took his load over 
the church. Anyhow, the janitor was killed, and it might just as well have been the whole 
congregation. It caused such a commotion that apportation was limited to the streets, near the 
ground. 
It's people like that who make it inconvenient for everybody else. 
Our man was in - Mr Wiggin, of the firm of Wiggin, Snead, McClatchey & Wiggin. He had already 
heard about my fire', but when Jedson explained his conviction that magic was at the bottom of it he 
baulked. It was, he said, most irregular. Jedson was remarkably patient. 
Are you an expert in magic, Mr Wiggin?' he asked. 
I have not specialized in thaumaturgic jurisprudence, if that is what you mean, sir.' 
Well, I don't hold a licence myself, but it has been my hobby for a good many years. I'm sure of 
what I say in this case; you can call in all the independent experts you wish - they'll confirm my 
opinion. Now suppose we stipulate, for the sake of argument, that this damage was caused by 
magic. If that is true, there is a possibility that we may be able to save much of the loss. You have 
authority to settle claims, do you not?' 
Well, I think I may say yes to that - bearing in mind the legal restrictions and the terms of the 
contract.' I don't believe he would have conceded that he had five fingers on his right hand without an 
auditor to back him up. 
Then it is your business to hold your company's losses down to a minimum. If I find a wizard who 
can undo a part, or all, of the damage, will you guarantee the fee, on behalf of your company, up to a 
reasonable amount, say twenty-five per cent of the indemnity?' 
He hemmed and hawed some more, and said he did not see how he could possibly do it, and that if 
the fire had been magic, then to restore by magic might be compounding a felony, as we could not be 
sure what the connexions of the magicians involved might be in the Half World. Besides that, my 
claim had not been allowed as yet; I had failed to notify the company of my visitor of the day before, 
which possibly might prejudice my claim. In any case, it was a very serious precedent to set; he must 
consult the home office. 
Jedson stood up. I can see that we are simply wasting each other's time, Mr Wiggin. Your 
contention about Mr Fraser's possible responsibility is ridiculous, and you know it. There is no 
reason under the contract to notify you, and even if there were, he is within the twenty-four hours 
allowed for any notification. I think it best that we consult the home office ourselves.' He reached for 
his hat. 
Wiggin put up his hand. Gentlemen, gentlemen, please! Let's not be hasty. Will Mr Fraser agree to 
pay half of the fee?' 
No. Why should he? It's your loss, not his. You insured him. 
Wiggin tapped his teeth with his spectacles, then said, We must make the fee contingent on results.' 
Did you ever hear of anyone in his right mind dealing with a wizard on any other basis?' 
Twenty minutes later we walked out with a document which enabled us to hire any witch or wizard 
to salvage my place of business on a contingent fee not to exceed twenty-five per cent of the value 
reclaimed. I thought you were going to throw up the whole matter,' I told Jedson with a sigh of relief. 
He grinned. Not in the wide world, old son. He was simply trying to horse you into paying the cost 
of saving them some money. I just let him know that I knew.' 
It took some time to decide whom to consult. Jedson admitted frankly that he did not know of a man 
nearer than New York who could, with certainty, be trusted to do the job, and that was out of the 
question for the fee involved. We stopped in a bar, and he did some telephoning while I had a beer. 
Presently he came back and said, I think I've got the man. I've never done business with him before, 
but he has the reputation and the training, and everybody I talked to seemed to think that he was the 
one to see.' 
Who is it?' I wanted to know. 
Dr Fortescue Biddle. He's just down the street - the Railway Exchange Building. Come on, we'll 
walk it.' 
I gulped down the rest of my beer and followed him. 
Dr Biddle's place was impressive. He had a corner suite on the fourteenth floor, and he had not 
spared expense in furnishing and decorating it. The style was modern; it had the austere elegance of a 
society physician's layout. There was a frieze around the wall of the signs of the zodiac done in 
intaglio glass, backed up by aluminium. That was the only decoration of any sort, the rest of the 
furnishing being very plain, but rich, with lots of plate glass and chromium. 
We had to wait about thirty minutes in the outer office; I spent the time trying to estimate what I 
could have done the suite for, subletting what I had to and allowing ten per cent. Then a really 
beautiful girl with a hushed voice ushered us in. We found ourselves in another smaller room, alone, 
and had to wait about ten minutes more. It was much like the waiting room, but had some glass 
bookcases and an old print of Aristotle. I looked at the bookcases with Jedson to kill time. They 
were filled with a lot of rare old classics on magic. Jedson had just pointed out the Red Grimoire 
when we heard a voice behind us. 
Amusing, aren't they? The ancients knew a surprising amount. Not scientific, of course, but 
remarkably clever-' The voice trailed off. We turned around; he introduced him- sell as Dr Biddle. 
He was a nice enough looking chap, really handsome in a spare, dignified fashion. He was about ten 
years older than I am - fortyish, maybe - with iron-grey hair at the temples and a small, stiff, British 
major's moustache. His clothes could have been out of the style pages of Esquire. There was no 
reason for me not to like him; his manners were pleasant enough. Maybe it was the supercilious twist 
of his expression. 
He led us into his private office, sat us down, and offered us cigarettes before business was 
mentioned. He opened up with, You're Jedson, of course. I suppose Mr Ditworth sent you?' 
I cocked an ear at him; the name was familiar. But Jedson simply answered, Why, no. Why would 
you think that he had?' 
Biddle hesitated for a moment, then said, half to himself, That's strange. I was certain that I had 
heard him mention your name. Do either one of you,' he added, know Mr Ditworth?' 
We both nodded at once and surprised each other, Biddle seemed relieved and said, No doubt that 
accounts for it. Still - I need some more information. Will you gentlemen excuse me while I call him?' 
With that he vanished. I had never seen it done before. Jedson says there are two ways to do it, one 
is hallucination, the other is an actual exit through the Half World. Whichever way it's done, I think 
it's bad manners. 
About this chap Ditworth,' I started to say to Jedson. I had intended to ask you-' 
Let it wait,' he cut me off, there's not time now.' 
At this Biddle reappeared. It's all right,' he announced, speaking directly to me. I can take your case. 
I suppose you've come about the trouble you had last night with your establishment?' 
Yes,' I agreed. How did you know?' 
Methods,' he replied, with a deprecatory little smile. My profession has its means. Now, about your 
problem. What is it you desire?' 
I looked at Jedson; he explained what he thought had taken place and why he thought so. Now I 
don't know whether you specialize in demonology or not,' he concluded, but it seems to me that it 
should be possible to evoke the powers responsible and force them to repair the damage. If you can 
do it, we are prepared to pay any reasonable fee.' 
Biddle smiled at this and glanced rather self-consciously at the assortment of diplomas hanging on the 
walls of his office. I feel that there should be reason to reassure you,' he purred. Permit me to look 
over the ground-' And he was gone again. 
I was beginning to be annoyed. It's all very well for a man to be good at his job, but there is no 
reason to make a side show out of it. But I didn't have time to grouse about it before he was back. 
Examination seems to confirm Mr Jedson's opinion; there should be no unusual difficulties,' he said. 
Now as to the . 
ah . . . business arrangements-' He coughed politely and gave a little smile, as if he regretted having 
to deal with such vulgar matters. 
Why do some people act as if making money offended their delicate minds? I am out for a legitimate 
profit, and not ashamed of it; the fact that people will pay money for my goods and services shows 
that my work is useful. 
However, we made a deal without much trouble, then Biddle told us to meet him at my place in 
about fifteen minutes. Jedson and I left the building and flagged another cab. Once inside I asked him 
about Ditworth. 
Where'd you run across him?' I said. 
Came to me with a proposition. 
Hm-m-m-' This interested me; Ditworth had made me a proposition, too, and it had worried me. 
What kind of a proposition?' 
Jedson screwed up his forehead. Well, that's hard to say - there was so much impressive sales talk 
along with it. Briefly, he said he was the local executive secretary of a nonprofit association which 
had as its purpose the improvement of standards of practising magicians.' 
I nodded. It was the same story I had heard. Go ahead.' 
He dwelt on the inadequacy of the present licensing laws and pointed out that anyone could pass the 
examinations and hang out his shingle after a couple of weeks' study of a grimoire or black book 
without any fundamental knowledge of the arcane laws at all. His organization would be a sort of 
bureau of standards to improve that, like the American Medical Association, or the National 
Conference of Universities and Colleges, or the Bar Association. If I signed an agreement to 
patronize only those wizards who complied with their requirements. I could display their certificate of 
quality and put their seal of approval on my goods.' 
Joe, I've heard the same story.' I cut in. and I didn't know quite what to make of it. It sounds all 
right, but I wouldn't want to stop doing business with men who have given me good value in the past, 
and I've no way of knowing that the association would approve them.' 
What answer did you give him?' 
I stalled him a bit - told him that I couldn't sign anything as binding as that without discussing it with 
my attorney.' 
Good boy! What did he say to that?' 
Well, he was really quite decent about it, and honestly seemed to want to be helpful. Said he thought 
I was wise and left me some stuff to look over. Do you know anything about him? Is he a wizard 
himself?' 
No, he's not. But I did find out some things about him. I knew vaguely that he was something in the 
Chamber of Commerce; what I didn't know is that he is on the board of a dozen or more blue-
ribbon corporations. He's a lawyer, but not in practice. Seems to spend all his time on his business 
interests. 
He sounds like a responsible man.' 
I would say so. He seems to have had considerably less publicity than you would expect of a man of 
his business importance - probably a retiring sort. I ran across something that seemed to confirm 
that.' 
What was it?' I asked. 
I looked up the incorporation papers for his association on file with the Secretary of State. There 
were just three names, his own and two others. I found that both of the others were employed in his 
office - his secretary and his receptionist. 
Dummy setup?' 
Undoubtedly. But there is nothing unusual about that. What interested me was this: I recognized one 
of the names.' 
Huh?' 
You know, I'm on the auditing committee for the state committee of my party. I looked up the name 
of his secretary where I thought I had seen it. It was there all right. His secretary, a chap by the name 
of Mathias, was down for a whopping big contribution to the governor's personal campaign fund.' 
We did not have any more time to talk just then, as the cab had pulled up at my place. Dr Biddle 
was there before us and had already started his preparations. He had set up a little crystal pavilion, 
about ten feet square, to work in. The entire lot was blocked off from spectators on the front by an 
impalpable screen. Jedson warned me not to touch it. 
I must say he worked without any of the usual hocus-pocus. He simply greeted us and entered the 
pavilion, where he sat down on a chair and took a loose-leaf notebook from a pocket and 
commenced to read. Jedson says he used several pieces of paraphernalia too. If so, I didn't see 
them. He worked with his clothes on. 
Nothing happened for a few minutes. Gradually the walls of the shed became cloudy, so that 
everything inside was indistinct. It was about then that I became aware that there was something else 
in the pavilion besides Biddle. I could not see clearly what it was, and, to tell the truth, I didn't want 
to. 
We could not hear anything that was said on the inside, but there was an argument going on - that 
was evident. Biddle stood up and began sawing the air with his hands. The thing threw back its head 
and laughed. At that Biddle threw a worried look in our direction and made a quick gesture with his 
right hand. The walls of the pavilion became opaque at once and we didn't see any more. 
About five minutes later Biddle walked out of his workroom, which promptly disappeared behind 
him. He was a sight -, his hair all mussed, sweat dripping from his face, and his collar wrinkled and 
limp. Worse than that, his aplomb was shaken. 
Well?' said Jedson. 
There is nothing to be done about it, Mr Jedson - nothing at all.' 
Nothing you can do about it, eh?' 
He stiffened a bit at this. Nothing anyone can do about it, gentlemen. Give it up. Forget about it. 
That is my advice.' 
Jedson said nothing, just looked at him speculatively. I kept quiet. Biddle was beginning to regain his 
self-possession. He straightened his hat, adjusted his necktie, and added, I must return to my office. 
The survey fee will be five hundred dollars. 
I was stonkered speechless at the barefaced gall of the man, but Jedson acted as if he hadn't 
understood him. No doubt it would be,' he observed. Too bad you didn't earn it. I'm sorry. 
Biddle turned red, but preserved his urbanity. Apparently you misunderstand me, sir. Under the 
agreement I have signed with Mr Ditworth, thaumaturgists approved by the association are not 
permitted to offer free consultation. It lowers the standards of the profession. The fee I mentioned is 
the minimum fee for a magician of my classification, irrespective of services rendered.' 
I see,' Jedson answered calmly; that's what it costs to step inside your office. But you didn't tell us 
that, so it doesn't apply. As for Mr Ditworth, an agreement you sign with him does not bind us in any 
way. I advise you to return to your office and reread our contract. We owe you nothing.' 
I thought this time that Biddle would lose his temper, but all he answered was, I shan't bandy words 
with you. You will hear from me later.' He vanished then without so much as a by-your-leave. 
I heard a snicker behind me and whirled around, ready to bite somebody's head off. I had had an 
upsetting day and didn't like to be laughed at behind my back. There was a young chap there, about 
my own age. Who are you, and what are you laughing at?' I snapped. This is private property.' 
Sorry, bud,' he apologized with a disarming grin. I wasn't laughing at you; I was laughing at the 
stuffed shirt. Your friend ticked him off properly.' 
What are you doing here?' asked Jedson. 
Me? I guess I owe you an explanation. You see, I'm in the business myself-' 
Building?' 
No - magic. Here's my card.' He handed it to Jedson, who glanced at it and passed it onto me. It 
read: 
JACK BODIE 
LICENSED MAGICIAN, 1ST CLASS 
TELEPHONE CREST 3840 
You see, I heard a rumour in the Half World that one of the big shots was going to do a hard one 
here today. I just stopped in to see the fun. But how did you happen to pick a false alarm like 
Biddle? He's not up to this sort of thing.' 
Jedson reached over and took the card back. Where did you take your training, Mr Bodie?' 
Huh? I took my bachelor's degree at Harvard and finished up postgraduate at Chicago. But that's 
not important; my old man taught me everything I know, but he insisted on my going to college 
because he said a magician can't get a decent job these days without a degree. He was right.' 
Do you think you could handle this job?' I asked. Probably not, but I wouldn't have made the fool of 
myself that Biddle did. Look here - you want to find somebody who can do this job?' 
Naturally,' I said. What do you think we're here for?' 
Well, you've gone about it the wrong way. Biddle's got a reputation simply because he's studied at 
Heidelberg and Vienna. That doesn't mean a thing. I'll bet it never occurred to you to look up an old-
style witch for the job.' 
Jedson answered this one. That's not quite true. I inquired around among my friends in the business, 
but didn't find anyone who was willing to take it on. But I'm willing to learn; whom do you suggest?' 
Do you know Mrs Amanda Todd Jennings? Lives over in the old part of town, beyond the 
Congregational cemetery.' 
Jennings ... Jennings. Hm-m-m - no, can't say that I do. Wait a minute! Is she the old girl they call 
Granny Jennings? Wears Queen Mary hats and does her own marketing?' 
That's the one.' 
But she's not a witch; she's a fortune-teller.' 
That's what you think. She's not in regular commercial practice, it's true, being ninety years older than 
Santa Claus, and feeble to boot. But she's got more magic in her little finger than you'll find in 
Solomon's Book.' 
Jedson looked at me. I nodded, and he said: 
Do you think you could get her to attempt this case?' 
Well, I think she might do it, if she liked you.' 
What arrangement do you want?' I asked. Is ten per cent satisfactory?' 
He seemed rather put out at this. Hell,' he said, I couldn't take a cut; she's been good to me all my 
life.' 
If the tip is good, it's worth paying for.' I insisted. Oh, forget it. Maybe you boys will have some 
work in my line someday. That's enough.' 
Pretty soon we were off again, without Bodie. He was tied up elsewhere, but promised to let Mrs 
Jennings know that we were coming.
The place wasn't too hard to find. It was on an old street, arched over with elms, and the house was 
a one-storey cottage, set well back. The veranda had a lot of that old scroll-saw gingerbread. The 
yard was not very well taken care of, but there was a lovely old climbing rose arched over the steps. 
Jedson gave a twist to the hand bell set in the door, and we waited for several minutes. I studied the 
coloured-glass tri- angles set in the door's side panels and wondered if there was anyone left who 
could do that sort of work. 
Then she let us in. She really was something incredible. She was so tiny that I found myself staring 
down at the crown of her head, and noting that the clean pink scalp showed plainly through the 
scant, neat threads of hair. She couldn't have weighed seventy pounds dressed for the street, but 
stood proudly erect in lavender alpaca and white collar, and sized us up with lively black eyes that 
would have fitted Catherine the Great or Calamity Jane. 
Good morning to you,' she said. Come in.' 
She led us through a little hall, between beaded portieres, said, Scat, Seraphin!' to a cat on a chair, 
and sat us down in her parlour. The cat jumped down, walked away with an un- hurried dignity, then 
sat down, tucked his tail neatly around his carefully placed feet, and stared at us with the same calm 
appraisal as his mistress. 
My boy Jack told me that you were coming,' she began. You are Mr Fraser and you are Mr 
Jedson,' getting us sorted out correctly. It was not a question; it was a statement. You want your 
futures read, I suppose. What method do you prefer - your palms, the stars, the sticks?' 
I was about to correct her misapprehension when Jedson cut in ahead of me. I think we'd best leave 
the method up to you, Mrs Jennings.' 
All right, we'll make it tea leaves then. I'll put the kettle on; twon't take a minute.' She bustled out. 
We could hear her in the kitchen, her light footsteps clicking on the linoleum, utensils scraping and 
clattering in a busy, pleasant disharmony. 
When she returned I said, I hope we aren't putting you out, Mrs Jennings.' 
Not a bit of it,' she assured me. I like a cup of tea in the morning; it does a body comfort. I just had 
to set a love philter off the fire.- that's what took me so long.' 
I'm sorry-' 
Twon't hurt it to wait.' 
The Zekerboni formula?' Jedson inquired. 
My goodness gracious, no!' She was plainly upset by the suggestion. I wouldn't kill all those harmless 
little creatures. Hares and swallows and doves - the very idea! I don't know what Pierre Mora was 
thinking about when he set that recipe down. I'd like to box his cars! 
No, I use Emula campana, orange, and ambergris. It's just as effective.' 
Jedson then asked if she had ever tried the juice of vervain. She looked closely into his face before 
replying, You have the sight yourself, son. Am I not right?' 
A little, mother,' he answered soberly, a little, perhaps.' 
It will grow. Mind how you use it. As for vervain, it is efficacious, as you know.' 
Wouldn't it be simpler?' 
Of course it would. But if that easy a method became generally known, anyone and everyone would 
be making it and using it promiscuously - a bad thing. And witches would starve for want of clients - 
perhaps a good thing!' She flicked up one white eyebrow. But if it is simplicity you want, there is no 
need to bother even with vervain. Here-' She reached out and touched me on the hand. 
"Bestarberto corrum pit viscera e)us virilis. ' That is as near as I can reproduce her words. I may 
have misquoted it. 
But I had no time to think about the formula she had pronounced. I was fully occupied with the 
startling thing that had come over me. I was in love, ecstatically, deliciously in love - with Granny 
Jennings! I don't mean that she suddenly looked like a beautiful young girl - she didn't. I still saw her 
as a little, old, shrivelled-up woman with the face of a shrewd monkey, and ancient enough to be my 
great-grandmother. It didn't matter. She was she - the Helen that all men desire, the object of 
romantic adoration. 
She smiled into my face with a smile that was warm and full of affectionate understanding. Everything 
was all right, and I was perfectly happy. Then she said, I would not mock you, boy,' in a gentle 
voice, and touched my hand a second time while whispering something else. 
At once it was all gone. She was just any nice old woman, the sort that would bake a cake for a 
grandson or sit up with a sick neighbour. Nothing was changed, and the cat had not even blinked. 
The romantic fascination was an emotionless memory. But I was poorer for the difference. 
The kettle was boiling. She trotted out to attend to it, and returned shortly with a tray of things, a 
plate of seed cake, and thin slices of homemade bread spread with sweet butter. 
When we had drunk a cup apiece with proper ceremony, she took Jedson's cup from him and 
examined the dregs. Not much money there,' she announced, but you shan't need much; it's a fine full 
life.' She touched the little pool of tea with the tip of her spoon and sent tiny ripples across it. Yes, 
you have the sight, and the need for understanding that should go with it, but I find you in business 
instead of pursuing the great art, or even the lesser arts. Why is that?' 
Jedson shrugged his shoulders and answered half apologetically, There is work at hand that needs to 
be done. I do it. 
She nodded. That is well. There is understanding to be gained in any job, and you will gain it. There 
is no hurry; time is long. When your own work comes you will know it and be ready for it. Let me 
see your cup,' she finished, turning to me. 
I handed it to her. She studied it for a moment and said, Well, you have not the clear sight such as 
your friend has, but you have the insight you need for your proper work. Any more would make you 
dissatisfied, for I see money here. You will make much money, Archie Fraser.' 
Do you see any immediate setback in my business?' I said quickly. 
No. See for yourself.' She motioned towards the cup. I leaned forward and stared at it. For a matter 
of seconds it seemed as if I looked through the surface of the dregs into a living scene beyond. I 
recognized it readily enough. It was my own place of business, even to the scars on the driveway 
gate- posts where clumsy truck drivers had clipped the corner too closely. 
But there was a new annex wing on the east side of the lot, and there were two beautiful new five-
ton dump trucks drawn up in the yard with my name painted on them! 
While I watched I saw myself step out of the office door and go walking down the street. I was 
wearing a new hat, but the suit was the one I was wearing in Mrs Jennings's parlour, and so was the 
necktie - a plaid one from the tartan of my clan. I reached up and touched the original. 
Mrs Jennings said, That will do for now,' and I found myself staring at the bottom of the teacup. You 
have seen,' she went on, your business need not worry you. As for love and marriage and children, 
sickness and health and death - let us look.' She touched the surface of the dregs with a fingertip; the 
tea leaves moved gently. She regarded them closely for a moment. Her brow puckered; she started 
to speak, apparently thought better of it, and looked again. Finally she said, I do not fully understand 
this. It is not clear; my own shadow falls across it. 
Perhaps I can see,' offered Jedson. 
Keep your peace!' She surprised me by speaking tartly, and placed her hand over the cup. She 
turned back to me with compassion in her eyes. It is not clear. You have two possible futures. Let 
your head rule your heart, and do not fret your soul with that which cannot be. Then you will marry, 
have children, and be content.' With that she dismissed the matter, for she said at once to both of us, 
You did not come here for divination; you came here for help of another sort.' Again it was a 
statement, not a question. 
What sort of help, mother?' Jedson inquired. 
For this.' She shoved my cup under his nose. 
He looked at it and answered, Yes, that is true. Is there help?' I looked into the cup, too, but saw 
nothing but tea leaves. 
She answered, I think so. You should not have employed Biddle, but the mistake was natural. Let us 
be going.' Without further parley she fetched her gloves and purse and coat, perched a ridiculous old 
hat on the top of her head, and bustled us out of the house. There was no discussion of terms; it 
didn't seem necessary. 
When we got back to the lot her workroom was already up. It was not anything fancy like Biddle's, 
but simply an old, square tent, like a gypsy's pitch, with a peaked top and made in several gaudy 
colours. She pushed aside the shawl that closed the door and invited us inside. 
It was gloomy, but she took a big candle, lighted it and stuck it in the middle of the floor. By its light 
she inscribed five circles on the ground .- first a large one, then a somewhat smaller one in front of it. 
Then she drew two others, one on each side of the first and biggest circle. These were each big 
enough for a man to stand in, and she told us to do so. Finally she made one more circle off to one 
side and not more than a foot across. 
I've never paid much attention to the methods of magicians, feeling about them the way Thomas 
Edison said he felt about mathematicians - when he wanted one he could hire one. but Mrs Jennings 
was different. I wish I could understand the things she did - and why. 
I know she drew a lot of cabalistic signs in the dirt within the circles. There were pentacles of various 
shapes, and some writing in what I judged to be Hebraic script, though Jedson says not. In particular 
there was, I remember, a sign like a long flat Z, with a loop in it, woven in and out of a Maltese 
cross. Two more candles were lighted and placed on each side of this. 
Then she jammed the dagger - arthame, Jedson called it - with which she had scribed the figures into 
the ground at the top of the big circle so hard that it quivered. It continued to vibrate the whole time. 
She placed a little folding stool in the centre of the biggest circle, sat down on it, drew out a small 
book, and commenced to read aloud in a voiceless whisper. I could not catch the words, and 
presume I was not meant to. This went on for some time. I glanced around and saw that the little 
circle off to one side was now occupied - by Seraphin, her cat. We had left him shut up in her house. 
He sat quietly, watching everything that took place with dignified interest. 
Presently she shut the book and threw a pinch of powder into the flame of the largest candle. It 
flared up and threw out a great puff of smoke. I am not quite sure what happened next, as the smoke 
smarted my eyes and made me blink, besides which, Jedson says I don't understand the purpose of 
fumigations at all. But I prefer to believe my eyes. Either that cloud of smoke solidified into a body or 
it covered up an entrance, one or the other. 
Standing in the middle of the circle in front of Mrs Jennings was a short, powerful man about four 
feet high or less. His shoulders were inches broader than mine, and his upper arms were thick as my 
thighs, knotted and bowed with muscle. He was dressed in a breechcloth, buskins, and a little 
hooded cap. His skin was hairless, but rough and earthy in texture. It was dull, lustreless. Everything 
about him was the same dull monotone, except his eyes, which shone green with repressed fury. 
Well!' said Mrs Jennings crisply, you've been long enough getting here! What have you to say for 
yourself?' 
He answered sullenly, like an incorrigible boy caught but not repentant, in a language filled with 
rasping gutturals and sibilants. She listened awhile, then cut him off. 
I don't care who told you to; you'll account to me! I require this harm repaired - in less time than it 
takes to tell it!' 
He answered back angrily, and she dropped into his language, so that I could no longer follow the 
meaning. But it was clear that I was concerned in it; he threw me several dirty looks, and finally 
glared and spat in my direction. 
Mrs Jennings reached out and cracked him across the mouth with the back of her hand. He looked 
at her, killing in his eye, and said something. 
So?' she answered, put out a hand and grabbed him by the nape of the neck and swung him across 
her lap, face down. She snatched off a shoe and whacked him soundly with it. He let out one yelp, 
then kept silent, but jerked every time she struck him. 
When she was through she stood up, spilling him to the ground. He picked himself up and hurriedly 
scrambled back into his own circle, where he stood, rubbing himself. Mrs Jennings's eyes snapped 
and her voice crackled; there was nothing feeble about her now. You gnomes are getting above 
yourselves,' she scolded. I never heard of such a thing! One more slip on your part and I'll fetch your 
people to see you spanked! Get along with you. Fetch your people for your task, and summon your 
brother and your brother's brother. By the great Tetragrammaton, get hence to the place appointed 
for you!' 
He was gone. 
Our next visitant came almost at once. It appeared first as a tiny spark hanging in the air. It grew into 
a living flame, a fireball, six inches or more across. It floated above the centre of the second circle at 
the height of Mrs Jennings's eyes. It danced and whirled and flamed, feeding on nothing. Although I 
had never seen one, I knew it to be a salamander. It couldn't be anything else. 
Mrs Jennings watched it for a little time before speaking. I could see that she was enjoying its dance, 
as I was. It was a perfect and beautiful thing, with no fault in it. There was life in it, a singing joy, with 
no concern for - with no relation to - matters of right and wrong, or anything human. Its harmonies 
of colour and curve were their own reason for being. 
I suppose I'm pretty matter-of-fact. At least I've always lived by the principle of doing my job and 
letting other things take care of themselves. But here was something that was worth while in itself, no 
matter what harm it did by my standards. Even the cat was purring. 
Mrs Jennings spoke to it in a clear, singing soprano that had no words to it. It answered back in pure 
liquid notes while the colours of its nucleus varied to suit the pitch. She turned to me and said, It 
admits readily enough that it burned your place, but it was invited to do so and is not capable of 
appreciating your point of view. I dislike to compel it against its own nature. Is there any boon you 
can offer it?' 
I thought for a moment. Tell it that it makes me happy to watch it dance.' She sang again to it. It spun 
and leaped, its flame tendrils whirling and floating in intricate, delightful patterns. 
That was good, but not sufficient. Can you think of anything else?' 
I thought hard. Tell it that if it likes, I will build a fireplace in my house where it will be welcome to 
live whenever it wishes.' 
She nodded approvingly and spoke to it again. I could almost understand its answer, but Mrs 
Jennings translated. It likes you. Will you let it approach you?' 
Can it hurt me?' 
Not here.' 
All right then.' 
She drew a T between our two circles. It followed closely behind the arthame, like a cat at an 
opening door. Then it swirled about me and touched me lightly on my hands and face. Its touch did 
not burn, but tingled, rather, as if I felt its vibrations directly instead of sensing them as heat. It flowed 
over my face. I was plunged into a world of light, like the heart of the aurora borealis. I was afraid to 
breathe at first, but finally had to. No harm came to me, though the tingling was increased. 
It's an odd thing, but I have not had a single cold since the salamander touched me. I used to sniffle 
all winter. 
Enough, enough,' I heard Mrs Jennings saying. The cloud of flame withdrew from me and returned to 
its circle. The musical discussion resumed, and they reached an agreement almost at once, for Mrs 
Jennings nodded with satisfaction and said: 
Away with you then, fire child, and return when you are needed. Get hence-' She repeated the 
formula she had used on the gnome king. 
The undine did not show up at once. Mrs Jennings took out her book again and read from it in a 
monotonous whisper. I was beginning to be a bit sleepy - the tent was stuffy - when the cat 
commenced to spit. It was glaring at the centre circle, claws out, back arched, and tail made big. 
There was a shapeless something in that circle, a thing that dripped and spread its slimy moisture to 
the limit of the magic ring. It stank of fish and kelp and iodine, and shone with a wet 
phosphorescence. 
You're late,' said Mrs Jennings. You got my message; why did you wait until I compelled you?' 
It heaved with a sticky, sucking sound, but made no answer. 
Very well,' she said firmly, I shan't argue with you. You know what I want. You will do it!' She 
stood up and grasped the big centre candle. Its flame flared up into a torch a yard high, and hot. She 
thrust it past her circle at the undine. 
There was a hiss, as when water strikes hot iron, and a burbling scream. She jabbed at it again and 
again. At last she stopped and stared down at it, where it lay, quivering and drawing into itself. That 
will do,' she said. Next time you will heed your mistress. Get hence!' It seemed to sink into the 
ground, leaving the dust dry behind it. 
When it was gone she motioned for us to enter her circle, breaking our own with the dagger to 
permit us. Seraphin jumped lightly from his little circle to the big one and rubbed against her ankles, 
buzzing loudly. She repeated a meaningless series of syllables and clapped her hands smartly 
together. 
There was a rushing and roaring. The sides of the tent billowed and cracked. I heard the chuckle of 
water and the crackle of flames, and, through that, the bustle of hurrying footsteps. She looked from 
side to side, and wherever her gaze fell the wall of the tent became transparent. I got hurried 
glimpses of unintelligible confusion. 
Then it all ceased with a suddenness that was startling. The silence rang in our ears. The tent was 
gone; we stood in the loading yard outside my main warehouse. 
It was there! It was back - back unharmed, without a trace of damage by fire or water. I broke 
away and ran out the main gate to where my business office had faced on the street. It was there, 
just as it used to be, the show windows shining in the sun, the Rotary Club emblem in one corner, 
and up on the roof my big two-way sign: 
ARCHIBALD FRASER 
BUILDING MATERIALS & GENERAL CONTRACTING 
Jedson strolled out presently and touched me on the arm. What are you bawling about, Archie?' 
I stared at him. I wasn't aware that I had been. 
We were doing business as usual on Monday morning. I thought everything was back to normal and 
that my troubles were over. I was too hasty in my optimism. 
It was nothing you could put your finger on at first - just the ordinary vicissitudes of business, the little 
troubles that turn up in any line of work and slow up production. You expect them and charge them 
off to overhead. No one of them would be worth mentioning alone, except for one thing: they were 
happening too frequently. 
You see, in any business run under a consistent management policy the losses due to unforeseen 
events should average out in the course of a year to about the same percentage of total cost. You 
allow for that in your estimates. But I started having so many small accidents and little difficulties that 
my margin of profit was eaten up. 
One morning two of my trucks would not start. We could not find the trouble; I had to put them in 
the shop and rent a truck for the day to supplement my one remaining truck. We got our deliveries 
made, but I was out the truck rent, the repair bill, and four hours' overtime for drivers at time and a 
half. I had a net loss for the day. 
The very next day I was just closing a deal with a man I had been trying to land for a couple of 
years. The deal was not important, but it would lead to a lot more business in the future, for he 
owned quite a bit of income property - some courts and an apartment house or two, several 
commercial corners, and held title or options on well-located lots all over town. He always had 
repair jobs to place and very frequently new building jobs. If I satisfied him, he would be a steady 
customer with prompt payment, the kind you can afford to deal with on a small margin of profit. 
We were standing in the showroom just outside my office, and talking, having about reached an 
agreement. There was a display of Sunprufe paint about three feet from us, the cans stacked in a 
neat pyramid. I swear that neither one of us touched it, but it came crashing to the floor, making a din 
that would sour milk. 
That was nuisance enough, but not the pay-off. The cover flew off one can, and my prospect was 
drenched with red paint. He let out a yelp; I thought he was going to faint. I managed to get him back 
into my office, where I dabbed futilely at his suit with my handkerchief, while trying to calm him 
down. 
He was in a state, both mentally and physically. Fraser,' he raged, you've got to fire the clerk that 
knocked over those cans! Look at me! Eighty-five dollars' worth of suit ruined!' 
Let's not be hasty,' I said soothingly, while holding my own temper in. I won't discharge a man to suit 
a customer, and don't like to be told to do so. There wasn't anyone near those cans but ourselves.' 
I suppose you think I did it?' 
Not at all. I know you didn't.' I straightened up, wiped my hands, and went over to my desk and got 
out my chequebook. 
Then you must have done it!' 
I don't think so,' I answered patiently. How much did you say your suit was worth?' 
Why?' 
I want to write you a cheque for the amount.' I was quite willing to; I did not feel to blame, but it had 
happened through no fault of his in my shop. 
You can't get out of it as easily as that!' he answered unreasonably. It isn't the cost of the suit I mind-
' He jammed his hat on his head and stumped out. I knew his reputation; I'd seen the last of him. 
That is the sort of thing I mean. Of course it could have been an accident caused by clumsy stacking 
of the cans. But it might have been a Poltergeist. Accidents don't make themselves. 
Ditworth came to see me a day or so later about Biddle's phony bill. I had been subjected night and 
morning to this continuous stream of petty annoyances, and my temper was wearing thin. Just that 
day a gang of coloured bricklayers had quit one of my jobs because some moron had scrawled 
some chalk marks on some of the bricks. Voodoo marks,' they said they were, and woi.ild not touch 
a brick. I was in no mood to be held up by Mr Ditworth; I guess I was pretty short with him. 
Good day to you, Mr Fraser,' he said quite pleasantly, can you spare me a few minutes?' 
Ten minutes, perhaps,' I conceded, glancing at my wristwatch. 
He settled his briefcase against the legs of his chair and took out some papers. I'll come to the point 
at once then. It's about Dr Biddle's claim against you. You and I are both fair men; I feel sure that we 
can come to some equitable agreement.' 
Biddle has no claim against me.' 
He nodded. I know just how you feel. Certainly there is nothing in the written contract obligating you 
to pay him. But there can be implied contracts just as binding as written contracts.' 
I don't follow you. All my business is done in writing' 
Certainly,' he agreed; that's because you are a businessman. In the professions the situation is 
somewhat different. If you go to a dental surgeon and ask him to pull an aching tooth, and he does, 
you are obligated to pay his fee, even though a fee has never been mentioned-' 
That's true,' I interrupted, but there is no parallel. Biddle didn't "pull the tooth .' 
In a way he did:' Ditworth persisted. The claim against you is for the survey, which was a service 
rendered you before this contract was written. 
But no mention was made of a. service fee.' 
That is where the implied obligation comes in, Mr Fraser; you told Dr Biddle that you had talked 
with me. He assumed quite correctly that I had previously explained to you the standard system of 
fees under the association-' 
But I did not join the association!' 
I know, I know. And I explained that to the other directors, but they insist that some sort of an 
adjustment must be made. I don't feel myself that you are fully to blame: but you will understand our 
position, I am sure. We are unable to accept you for membership in the association until this matter is 
adjusted - in fairness to Dr Biddle.' 
What makes you think I intend to join the association?' 
He looked hurt. I had not expectcd you to take that attitude, Mr Fraser. The association needs men 
of your calibre. But in your own interest, you will necessarily join, for presently it will be very difficult 
to get efficient thaumaturgy except from members of the association. We want to help you. Please 
don't make it difficult for us.' 
I stood up. I am afraid you had better sue me and let a court decide the matter, Mr Ditworth. That 
seems to be the only satisfactory solution.' 
I am sorry,' he said, shaking his head. It will prejudice your position when you come up for 
membership.' 
Then it will just have to do so,' I said shortly, and showed him out. 
After he had gone I crabbed at my office girl for doing something I told her to do the day before, and 
then had to apologize. I walked up and down a bit, stewing, although there was plenty of work I 
should have been doing. I was nervous; things had begun to get my goat - a dozen things that I 
haven't mentioned - and this last unreasonable demand from Ditworth seemed to be the last touch 
needed to upset me completely. Not that he could collect by suing me - that was preposterous - but 
it was an annoyance just the same. They say the Chinese have a torture that consists in letting one 
drop of water fall on the victim every few minutes. That's the way I felt. 
Finally I called up Jedson and asked him to go to lunch with me. 
I felt better after lunch. Jedson soothed me down, as he always does, and I was able to forget and 
put in the past most of the things that had been annoying me simply by telling him about them. By the 
time I had had a second cup of coffee and smoked a cigarette I was almost fit for polite society. 
We strolled back towards my shop, discussing his problems for a change. It seems the blonde girl, 
the white witch from Jersey City, had finally managed to make her synthesis stunt work on footgear. 
But there was still a hitch; she had turned out over eight hundred left shoes - and no right ones. 
We were just speculating as to the probable causes of such a contretemps when Jedson said, Look, 
Archie. The candidcamera fans are beginning to take an interest in you.' 
I looked. There was a chap standing at the kerb directly across from my place of business and 
focusing a camera on the shop. Then I looked again. Joe,' I snapped, that's the bird I told you about, 
the one that came into my shop and started the trouble!' 
Are you sure?' he asked, lowering his voice. 
Positive.' There was no doubt about it; he was only a short distance away on the same side of the 
street that we were. It was the same racketeer who had tried to blackmail me into buying protection', 
the same Mediterranean look to him, the same flashy clothes. 
We've got to grab him,' whispered Jedson. 
But I had already thought of that. I rushed at him and had grabbed him by his coat collar and the 
slack of his pants before he knew what was happening, and pushed him across the street ahead of 
me. We were nearly run down, but I was so mad I didn't care. Jedson came pounding after us. 
The yard door of my office was opcn. I gave the mug a final heave that lifted him over the threshold 
and sent him sprawling on the floor, Jedson was right behind; I bolted the door as soon as we were 
both inside. 
Jedson strode over to my desk, snatched open the middle drawer, and rummaged hurriedly through 
the stuff that accumulates in such places. He found what he wanted, a carpenter's blue pencil, and 
was back alongside our gangster before he had collected himself sufficiently to scramble to his feet. 
Jedson drew a circle around him on the floor, almost tripping over his own feet in his haste, and 
closed the circle with an intricate flourish. 
Our unwilling guest screeched when he saw what Joe was doing, and tried to throw himself out of 
the circle before it could be finished. But Jedson had been too fast for him - the circle was closed 
and sealed; he bounced back from the boundary as if he had struck a glass wall, and stumbled again 
to his knees. He remained so for the time, and cursed steadily in a language that I judged to be 
Italian, although. I think there were bad words in it from several other languages - certainly some 
English ones. 
He was quite fluent. 
Jedson pulled out a cigarette, lighted it, and handed me one. Let's sit down, Archie,' he said, and rest 
ourselves until our boy friend composes himself enough to talk business.' 
I did so, and we smoked for several minutes while the flood of invective continued. Presently Jedson 
cocked one eyebrow at the chap and said, Aren't you beginning to repeat yourself?' 
That checked him. He just sat and glared. Well,' Jedson continued, haven't you anything to say for 
yourself?' 
He growled under his breath and said, I want to call my lawyer.' 
Jedson looked amused. You don't understand the situation,' he told him. You're not under arrest, 
and we don't give a damn about your legal rights. We might just conjure up a hole and drop you in it, 
then let it relax.' The guy paled a little under his swarthy skin. Oh yes,' Jedson went on, we are quite 
capable of doing that - or worse. You see, we don't like you. 
Of course,' he added meditatively, we might just turn you over to the police. I get a soft streak now 
and then.' The chap looked sour. You don't like that either? Your fingerprints, maybe?' Jedson 
jumped to his feet and in two quick strides was standing over him, just outside the circle. All right 
then,' he rapped, answer up and make em good! Why were you taking photographs?' 
The chap muttered something, his eyes lowered. Jedson brushed it aside. Don't give me that stuff - 
we aren't children! Who told you to do it?' 
He looked utterly panic-stricken at that and shut up completely. 
Very well,' said Jedson, and turned to me. Have you some wax, or modelling clay, or anything of the 
sort?' 
How would putty do?' I suggested. 
Just the thing.' I slid out to the shed where we stow glaziers' supplies and came back with a five-
pound can. Jedson prised it open and dug out a good big handful, then sat at my desk and worked 
the linseed oil into it until it was soft and workable. Our prisoner watched him with silent 
apprehension. 
There! That's about right,' jedson announced at length, and slapped the soft lump down on my 
blotter pad. He commenced to fashion it with his fingers, and it took shape slowly as a little doll 
about ten inches high. It did not look like much of anything or anybody - Jedson is no artist - but 
Jedson kept glancing from the figurine to the man in the circle and back again, like a sculptor making 
a clay sketch directly from a model. You could see the chap's nervous terror increase by the minute. 
Now!' said Jedson, looking once more from the putty figure to his model. It's just as ugly as you are. 
Why did you take that picture?' 
He did not answer, but slunk farther back in the circle, his face nastier than ever. 
Talk!' snorted Jedson, and twisted a foot of the doll between a thumb and forefinger. The 
corresponding foot of our prisoner jerked out from under him and twisted violently. He fell heavily to 
the floor with a yelp of pain. 
You were going to cast a spell on this place, weren't you?' He made his first coherent answer. No, 
no, mister! Not me!' Not you? I see. You were just the errand boy. Who was to do the magic?' 
I don't know- Ow! Oh, God!' He grabbed at his left calf and nursed it. Jedson had jabbed a pen 
point into the leg of the doll. I really don't know. Please, please!' 
Maybe you don't,' jedson grudged, but at least you know who gives you your orders, and who some 
of the other members of your gang are. Start talking.' 
He rocked back and forth and covered his face with his hands. I don't dare, mister,' he groaned. 
Please don't try to make me-' Jedson jabbed the doll with the pen again; he jumped and flinched, but 
this time he bore it silently with a look of grey determination. 
OK,' said Jedson, if you insist-' He took another drag from his cigarette, then brought the lighted end 
slowly towards the face of the doll. The man in the circle tried to shrink away from it, his hands up to 
protect his face, but his efforts were futile. I could actually see the skin turn red and angry and the 
blisters blossom under his hide. It made me sick to watch it, and, while I didn't feel any real 
sympathy for the rat, I turned to Jedson and was about to ask him to stop when he took the cigarette 
away from the doll's face. 
Ready to talk?' he asked. The man nodded feebly, tears pouring down his scorched cheeks. He 
seemed about to collapse. Here - don't faint,' Jedson added, and slapped the face of the doll with a 
finger tip. I could hear the smack land, and the chap's head rocked to the blow, but he seemed to 
take a brace from it. 
All right, Archie, you take it down.' He turned back. And you, my friend, talk - and talk lots. Tell us 
everything you know. If you find your memory failing you, stop to think how you would like my 
cigarette poked into dolly's eyes!' 
And he did talk - babbled, in fact. His spirit seemed to be completely broken, and he even seemed 
anxious to talk, stopping only occasionally to sniffle, or wipe at his eyes. Jedson questioned him to 
bring out points that were not clear. 
There were five others in the gang that he knew about, and the setup was roughly as we had 
guessed. It was their object to levy tribute on everyone connected with magic in this end of town, 
magicians and their customers alike. No, they did not have any real protection to offer except from 
their own mischief. Who was his boss? He told us. Was his boss the top man in the racket? No, but 
he did not know who the top man was. He was quite sure that his boss worked for someone else, 
but he did not know who. Even if we burned him again he could not tell us. But it was a big 
organization - he was sure of that. He himself had been brought from a city in the East to help 
organize here. 
Was he a magician? So help him, no! Was his section boss one? No - he was sure; all that sort of 
thing was handled from higher up. That was all he knew, and could he go now? Jedson pressed him 
to remember other things; he added a number of details, most of them insignificant, but I took them 
all down. The last thing he said was that he thought both of us had been marked down for special 
attention because we had been successful in overcoming our first lesson'. 
Finally Jedson let up on him. I'm going to let you go now,' he told him. You'd better get out of town. 
Don't let me see you hanging around again. But don't go too far; I may want you again. See this?' He 
held up the doll and squeezed it gently around the middle. The poor devil immediately commenced to 
gasp for breath as if he were being compressed in a strait jacket. Don't forget that I've got you any 
time I want you.' He let up on the pressure, and his victim panted his relief. I'm going to put your alter 
ego - doll to you! - where it will be safe, behind cold iron. When I want you, you'll feel a pain like 
that' - he nipped the doll's left shoulder with his fingernails; the man yelped - then you telephone me, 
no matter where you are.' 
Jedson pulled a penknife from his vest pocket and cut the circle three times, then joined the cuts. 
Now get Out!' 
I thought he would bolt as soon as he was released, but he did not. He stepped hesitantly over the 
pencil mark, stood still for a moment, and shivered. Then he stumbled towards the door. He turned 
just before he went through it and looked back at us, his eyes wide with fear. There was a look of 
appeal in them, too, and he seemed about to speak. Evidently he thought better of it, for he turned 
and went on out. 
When he was gone I looked back at Jedson. He had picked up my notes and was glancing through 
them. I don't know,' he mused, whether it would be better to turn this stuff at once over to the Better 
Business Bureau and let them handle it, or whether to have a go at it ourselves. It's a temptation.' 
I was not interested just then. Joe,' I said, I wish you hadn't burned him!' 
Eh? How's that?' He seemed surprised and stopped scratchin' his chin. I didn't burn him.' 
Don't quibble,' I said, somewhat provoked. You burned him through the doll, I mean with magic.' 
But I didn't, Archie. Really I didn't. He did that to himself - and it wasn't magic. I didn't do a thing!' 
What the hell do you mean?' 
Sympathetic magic isn't really magic at all, Archie. It's just an application of neuropsychology and 
colloidal chemistry. He did all that to himself, because he believed in it. I simply correctly judged his 
mentality.' 
The discussion was cut short; we heard an agony-loaded scream from somewhere outside the 
building. It broke off sharply, right at the top. What was that?' I said, and gulped. 
I don't know,' Jedson answered, and stepped to the door. He looked up and down before 
continuing. It must be some distance away. I didn't see anything.' He came back into the room. As I 
was saying, it would be a lot of fun to-' 
This time it was a police siren. We heard it from far away, but it came rapidly nearer, turned a 
corner, and yowled down our street. We looked at each other. Maybe we'd better go see,' we both 
said, right together, then laughed nervously. 
It was our gangster acquaintance. We found him half a block down the street, in the middle of a little 
group of curious passers-by who were being crowded back by cops from the squad car at the kerb. 
He was quite dead. 
He lay on his back, but there was no repose in the position. He had been raked from forehead to 
waist, laid open to the bone in three roughly parallel scratches, as if slashed by the talons of a hawk 
or an eagle. But the bird that made those wounds must have been the size of a five-ton truck. 
There was nothing to tell from his expression. His face and throat were covered by, and his mouth 
choked with, a yellowish substance shot with purple. It was about the consistency of thin cottage 
cheese, but it had the most sickening smell I have ever run up against. 
I turned to Jedson, who was not looking any too happy himself, and said, Let's get back to the 
office.' 
We did. 
We decided at last to do a little investigating on our own before taking up what we had learned with 
the Better Business Bureau or with the police. It was just as well that we did; none of the gang 
whose names we had obtained was any longer to be found in the haunts which we had listed. There 
was plenty of evidence that such persons had existed and that they had lived at the addresses which 
Jedson had sweated out of their pal. But all of them, without exception, had done a bunk for parts 
unknown the same afternoon that their accomplice had been killed. 
We did not go to the police, for we had no wish to be associated with an especially unsavoury 
sudden death. Instead, Jedson made a cautious verbal report to a friend of his at the Better Business 
Bureau, who passed it on secondhand to the head of the racket squad and elsewhere, as his 
judgement indicated. 
I did not have any trouble with my business for some time thereafter, and I was working very hard, 
trying to show a profit for the quarter in spite of setbacks. I had put the whole matter fairly well out 
of my mind, except that I dropped over to call on Mrs Jennings occasionally and that I had used her 
young friend Jack Bodie once or twice in my business, when I needed commercial magic. He was a 
good workman - no monkey business and value received. 
I was beginning to think I had the world on a leash when I ran into another series of accidents. This 
time they did not threaten my business; they threatened me - and I'm just as fond of my neck as the 
next man. 
In the house where I live the water heater is installed in the kitchen. It is a storage type, with a pilot 
light and a thermostatically controlled main flame. Right alongside it is a range with a pilot light. 
I woke up in the middle of the night and decided that I wanted a drink of water. When I stepped into 
the kitchen - don't ask me why I did not look for a drink in the bathroom, because I don't know - I 
was almost gagged by the smell of gas. I ran over and threw the window wide open, then ducked 
back out the door and ran into the living room, where I opened a big window to create a cross 
draught. 
At that point there was a dull whoosh and a boom, and I found myself sitting on the living room rug. 
I was not hurt, and there was no damage in the kitchen except for a few broken dishes. Opening the 
windows had released the explosion, cushioned the effect. Natural gas is not an explosive unless it is 
confined. What had happened was clear enough when I looked over the scene. The pilot light on the 
heater had gone out; when the water in the tank cooled, the thermostat turned on the main gas jet, 
which continued inde- finitely to pour gas into the room. When an explosive mixture was reached, 
the pilot light of the stove was waiting, ready to set it off. 
Apparently I wandered in at the zero hour. 
I fussed at my landlord about it, and finally we made a dicker whereby he installed one of the 
electrical water heaters which I supplied at cost and for which I donated the labour. 
No magic about the whole incident, eh? That is what I thought. Now I am not so sure. 
The next thing that threw a scare into me occurred the same week, with no apparent connexion. I 
keep a dry mix - sand, rock, gravel - in the usual big bins set up high on concrete stanchions, so that 
the trucks can drive under the hoppers for loading. One evening after closing time I was walking past 
the bins when I noticed that someone had left a scoop shovel in the driveway pit under the hoppers. 
I have had trouble with my men leaving tools out at night; I decided to put this one in my car and 
confront someone with it in the morning. I was about to jump down into the pit when I heard my 
name called. 
Archibald!' it said - and it sounded remarkably like Mrs Jennings's voice. Naturally I looked around. 
There was no one there. I turned back to the pit in time to hear a cracking sound and to see that 
scoop covered with twenty tons of medium gravel. 
A man can live through being buried alive, but not when he has to wait overnight for someone to miss 
him and dig him out. Acrystallized steel forging was the prima-facie cause of the mishap. I suppose 
that will do. 
There was never anything to point to but natural causes, yet for about two weeks I stepped on 
banana peels both figuratively and literally. I saved my skin with a spot of fast footwork at least a 
dozen times. I finally broke down and told 
Mrs Jennings about it. 
Don't worry too much about it, Archie,' she reassured me. It is not too easy to kill a man with magic 
unless he himself is involved with magic and sensitive to it.' 
Might as well kill a man as scare him to death!' I protested. 
She smiled that incredible smile of hers and said, I don't think you have been really frightened, lad. At 
least you have not shown it.' 
I caught an implication in that remark and taxed her with it. You've been watching me and pulling me 
out of jams, haven't you?' 
She smiled more broadly and replied, That's my business, Archie. It is not well for the young to 
depend on the old for help. Now get along with you. I want to give this matter more thought.' 
A couple of days' later a note came in the mail addressed to me in a spidery, Spencerian script. The 
penmanship had the dignified flavour of the last century, and was the least bit shaky, as if the writer 
were unwell or very elderly. I had never seen the hand before, but guessed who it was before I 
opened it. It read: 
My dear Archibald: This is to introduce my esteemed friend, Dr Royce Worthington. You will 
find him staying at the Belmont Hotel; he is expecting to hear from you. Dr Worthington is 
exceptionally well qualified to deal with the matters that have been troubling you these few 
weeks past. You may repose every confidence in his judgement, especially where unusual 
measures are required. 
Please to include your friend, Mr Jedson, in this introduction, if you wish. 
I am, sir, 
Very sincerely yours, 
Amanda Todd Jennings 
I rang up Joe Jedson and read the letter to him. He said that he would be over at once, and for me to 
telephone Worthington. 
Is Dr Worthington there?' I asked as soon as the room clerk had put me through. 
Speaking,' answered a cultured British voice with a hint of Oxford in it. 
This is Archibald Fraser, Doctor. Mrs Jennings has written to me, suggesting that I look you up.' 
Oh, yes!' he replied, his voice warming considerably. I shall be delighted. When will be a convenient 
time?' 
If you are free, I could come right over.' 
Let me see-' He paused about long enough to consult a watch. I have occasion to go to your side of 
the city. Might I stop by your office in thirty minutes, or a little later?' 
That will be fine, Doctor, if it does not discommode you-' 
Not at all. I will be there.' 
Jedson arrived a little later and asked me at once about Dr Worthington. I haven't seen him yet,' I 
said, but he sounds like something pretty swank in the way of an English-university don. He'll be here 
shortly.' 
My office girl brought in his card a half hour later. I got up to greet him and saw a tall, heavy-set man 
with a face of great dignity and evident intelligence. He was dressed in rather conservative, 
expensively tailored clothes and carried gloves, stick, and a large briefcase. But he was black as 
draftsman's ink! 
I tried not to show surprise. I hope I did not, for I have an utter horror of showing that kind of 
rudeness. There was no reason why the man should not be a Negro. I simply had not been expecting 
it. 
Jedson helped me out. I don't believe he would show surprise if a fried egg winked at him. He took 
over the conversadon for the first couple of minutes after I introduced him; we all found chairs, 
settled down, and spent a few minutes in the polite, meaningless exchanges that people make when 
they are sizing up strangers. 
Worthington opened the matter. Mrs Jennings gave me to believe,' he observed, that there was some 
fashion in which I might possibly be of assistance to one, or both, of you-' 
I told him that there certainly was, and sketched out the background for him from the time the 
racketeer contact man first showed up at my shop. He asked a few questions, and Jedson helped me 
out with some details. I got the impression that Mrs Jennings had already told him most of it, and that 
he was simply checking. 
Very well,' he said at last, his voice a deep, mellow rumble that seemed to echo in his big chest 
before it reached the air, I am reasonably sure that we will find a way to cope with your problems, 
but first I must make a few examinations before we can complete the diagnosis.' He leaned over and 
commenced to unstrap his briefcase. 
Uh . . . Doctor,' I suggested, hadn't we better complete our arrangements before you start to work?' 
Arrangements?' He looked momentarily puzzled, then smiled broadly. Oh, you mean payment. My 
dear sir, it is a privilege to do a favour for Mrs Jennings.' 
But . . . but . . . see here, Doctor, I'd feel better about it. I assure you I am quite in the habit of 
paying for magic-' 
He held up a hand. It is not possible, my young friend, for two reasons: In the first place, I am not 
licensed to practise in your state. In the second place, I am not a magician.' 
I suppose I looked as inane as I sounded. Huh? What's that? Oh! Excuse me, Doctor. I guess I just 
naturally assumed that since Mrs Jennings had sent you, and your title, and all-' 
He continued to smile, but it was a smile of understanding rather than amusement at my discomfiture. 
That is not surprising; even some of your fellow citizens of my blood make that mistake. No, my 
degree is an honorary doctor of laws of Cambridge University. My proper pursuit is anthropology, 
which I sometimes teach at the University of South Africa. But anthropology has some odd bypaths; 
I am here to exercise one of them.' 
Well, then, may I ask-' 
Certainly, sir. My avocation, freely translated from its quite unpronounceable proper name, is "witch 
smeller .' 
I was still puzzled. But doesn't that involve magic?' 
Yes and no. In Africa the hierarchy and the categories in these matters are not the same as in this 
continent. I am not considered a wizard, or witch doctor, but rather an antidote for such.' 
Something had been worrying Jedson. Doctor,' he inquired, you were not originally from South 
Africa?' 
Worthington gestured towards his own face. I suppose that Jedson read something there that was 
beyond my knowledge. As you have discerned. No, I was born in a bush tribe south of the Lower 
Congo.' 
From there, eh? That's interesting. By any chance, are you nganga?' 
Of the Ndembo, but not by chance.' He turned to me and explained courteously. Your friend asked 
me if I was a member of an occult fraternity which extends throughout Africa, but which has the bulk 
of its members in my native territory. Initiates are called nganga.' 
Jedson persisted in his interest. It seems likely to me, Doctor, that Worthington is a name of 
convenience - that you have another name.' 
You are again right - naturally. My tribal name - do you wish to know it?' 
If you will.' 
It is' - I cannot reproduce the odd clicking, lip-smacking noise he uttered - or it is just as proper to 
state it in English, as the meaning is what counts - Man-Who-Asks-Inconvenient- Questions. 
Prosecuting attorney is another reasonably idiomatic, though not quite literal, translation, because of 
the tribal functions implied. But it seems to me,' he went on, with a smile of unmalicious humour, that 
the name fits you even better than it does me. May I give it to you?' 
Here occurred something that I did not understand, except that it must have its basis in some African 
custom completely foreign to our habits of thought. I was prepared to laugh at the doctor's witticism, 
and I am sure he meant it to be funny, but Jedson answered him quite seriously: 
I am deeply honoured to accept.' 
It is you who honour me, brother.' 
From then on, throughout our association with him, Dr Worthington invariably addressed Jedson by 
the African name he had formerly claimed as his own, and Jedson called him brother' or Royce'. 
Their whole attitude towards each other underwent a change, as if the offer and acceptance of a 
name had in fact made them brothers, with all of the privileges and obligations of the relationship. 
I have not left you without a name,' Jedson added. You had a third name, your real name?' 
Yes, of course,' Worthington acknowledged, a name which we need not mention.' 
Naturally,' Jedson agreed, a name which must not be mentioned. Shall we get to work, then?' 
Yes, let us do so.' He turned to me. Have you some place here where I may make my preparations? 
It need not be large-' 
Will this do?' I offered, getting up and opening the door of a cloak- and washroom which adjoins my 
office. 
Nicely, thank you,' he said, and took himself and his briefcase inside, closing the door after him. He 
was gone ten minutes at least. 
Jedson did not seem disposed to talk, except to suggest that I caution my girl not to disturb us or let 
anyone enter from the outer office. We sat and waited. 
Then he came out of the cloakroom, and I got my second big surprise of the day. The urbane Dr 
Worthington was gone. In his place was an African personage who stood over six feet tall in his bare 
black feet, and whose enormous, arched chest was overlaid with thick, sleek muscles of polished 
obsidian. He was dressed in a loin skin of leopard, and carried certain accoutrements, notably a 
pouch, which hung at his waist. 
But it was not his equipment that held me, nor yet the John Henrylike proportions of that warrior 
frame, but the face. The eyebrows were painted white and the hairline had been outlined in the same 
colour, but I hardly noticed these things. It was the expression - humourless, implacable, filled with a 
dignity and strength which must be felt to be appreciated. The eyes gave a conviction of wisdom 
beyond my comprehension, and there was no pity in them - only a stem justice that I myself would 
not care to face. 
We white men in this country are inclined to underestimate the black man - I know I do - because 
we see him out of his cultural matrix. Those we know have had their own culture wrenched from 
them some generations back and a servile pseudo culture imposed on them by force. We forget that 
the black man has a culture of his own, older than ours and more solidly grounded, based on 
character and the power of the mind rather than the cheap, ephemeral tricks of mechanical gadgets. 
But it is a stern, fierce culture with no sentimental concern for the weak and the unfit, and it never 
quite dies out. 
I stood up in involuntary respect when Dr Worthington entered the room. 
Let us begin,' he said in a perfectly ordinary voice, and squatted down, his great toes spread and 
grasping the floor. He took several things out of the pouch - a dog's tail, a wrinkled black object the 
size of a man's fist, and other things hard to identify. He fastened the tail to his waist so that it hung 
down behind. Then he picked up one of the things that he had taken from the pouch - a small item, 
wrapped and tied in red silk - and said to me, Will you open your safe?' 
I did so, and stepped back out of his way. He thrust the little bundle inside, clanged the door shut, 
and spun the knob. I looked inquiringly at Jedson. 
He has his . . . well .. . soul in that package, and has sealed it away behind cold iron. He does not 
know what dangers he may encounter,' Jedson whispered. See?' I looked and saw him pass his 
thumb carefully all around the crack that joined the safe to its door. 
He returned to the middle of the floor and picked up the wrinkled black object and rubbed it 
affectionately. This is my mother's father,' he announced. I looked at it more closely and saw that it 
was a mummified human head with a few wisps of hair still clinging to the edge of the scalp! He is 
very wise,' he continued in a matter-of-fact voice, and I shall need his advice. Grandfather, this is 
your new son and his friend.' Jedson bowed, and I found myself doing so. They want our help.' 
He started to converse with the head in his own tongue, listening from time to time, and then 
answering. Once they seemed to get into an argument, but the matter must have been settled 
satisfactorily, for the palaver soon quieted down. After a few minutes he ceased talking and glanced 
around the room. His eye lit on a bracket shelf intended for an electric fan, which was quite high off 
the floor. 
There!' he said. That will do nicely. Grandfather needs a high place from which to watch.' He bent 
over and placed the little head on the bracket so that it faced out into the room. 
When he returned to his place in the middle of the room he dropped to all fours and commenced to 
cast around with his nose like a hunting dog trying to pick up a scent. He ran back and forth, snuffling 
and whining, exactly like a pack leader worried by mixed trails. The tail fastened to his waist stood 
up tensely and quivered, as if still part of a live animal. His gait and his mannerisms mimicked those of 
a hound so convincingly that I blinked my eyes when he sat down suddenly and announced: 
I've never seen a place more loaded with traces of magic. I can pick out Mrs Jennings's very strongly 
and your own business magic. But after I eliminate them the air is still crowded. You must have had 
everything but a rain dance and a sabbat going on around you!' 
He dropped back into his character of a dog without giving us a chance to reply, and started making 
his casts a little wider. Presently he appeared to come to some sort of an impasse, for he settled 
back, looked at the head, and whined vigorously. Then he waited. 
The reply must have satisfied him; he gave a sharp bark and dragged open the bottom drawer of a 
file cabinet, working clumsily, as if with paws instead of hands. He dug into the back of the drawer 
eagerly and hauled out something which he popped into his pouch. 
After that he trotted very cheerfully around the place for a short time, until he had poked his nose 
into every odd corner. When he had finished he returned to the middle of the floor, squatted down 
again, and said, That takes care of everything here for the present. This place is the centre of their 
attack, so grandfather has agreed to stay and watch here until I can bind a cord around your place to 
keep witches out.' 
I was a little perturbed at that. I was sure the head would scare my office girl half out of her wits if 
she saw it. I said so as diplomatically as possible. 
How about that?' he asked the head, then turned back to me after a moment of listening. Grandfather 
says it's all right; he won't let anyone see him he has not been introduced to.' It turned out that he was 
perfectly correct; nobody noticed it, not even the scrubwoman. 
Now then,' he went on, I want to check over my brother's place of business at the earliest 
opportunity, and I want to smell out both of your homes and insulate them against mischief. In the 
meantime, here is some advice for each of you to follow carefully: Don't let anything of yourself fall 
into the hands of strangers - nail parings, spittle, hair cuttings - guard it all. Destroy them by fire, or 
engulf them in running water. It will make our task much simpler. I am finished.' He got up and strode 
back into the cloakroom. 
Ten minutes later the dignified and scholarly Dr Worthington was smoking a cigarette with us. I had 
to look up at his grandfather's head to convince myself that a jungle lord had actually been there. 
Business was picking up at that time, and I had no more screwy accidents after Dr Worthington 
cleaned out the place. I could see a net profit for the quarter and was beginning to feel cheerful again. 
I received a letter from Ditworth, dunning me about Biddle's phony claim, but I filed it in the 
wastebasket without giving it a thought. 
One day shortly before noon Feldstein, the magicians' agent, dropped into my place. Hi, Zack!' I 
said cheerfully when he walked in. How's business?' 
Mr Fraser, of all questions, that you should ask me that one,' he said, shaking his head mournfully 
from side to side. Business - it is terrible.' 
Why do you say that?' I asked. I see lots of signs of activity around-' 
Appearances are deceiving,' he insisted, especially in my business. Tell me - have you heard of a 
concern calling themselves "Magic, Incorporated ?' 
That's funny,' I told him. I just did, for the first time. This just came in the mail' - and I held up an 
unopened letter. It had a return address on it of Magic, Incorporated, Suite 700, Commonwealth 
Building'. 
Feldstein took it gingerly, as if he thought it might poison him, and inspected it. That's the parties I 
mean,' he confirmed. The gonophs!' 
Why, what's the trouble, Zack?' 
They don't want that a man should make an honest living 
- Mr Fraser,' he interrupted himself anxiously, you wouldn't quit doing business with an old friend 
who had always done right by you?' 
Of course not, Zack, but what's it all about?' 
Read it. Go ahead.' He shoved the letter back at me. 
I opened it. The paper was a fine quality, watermarked, rag bond, and the letterhead was chaste and 
dignified. I glanced over the stuffed-shirt committee and was quite agreeably impressed by the 
calibre of men they had as officers and directors - big men, all of them, except for a couple of names 
among the executives that I did not recognize. 
The letter itself amounted to an advertising prospectus. It was a new idea; I suppose you could call it 
a holding company for magicians. They offered to provide any and all kinds of magical service. The 
customer could dispense with shopping around; he could call this one number, state his needs, and 
the company would supply the service and bill him. It seemed fair enough - no more than an 
incorporated agency. 
I glanced on down. -fully guaranteed service, backed by the entire assets of a responsible company-
-' -surprisingly low standard fees, made possible by elimination of fee splitting with agents and by 
centralized administration-' The gratifying response from the members of the great profession enables 
us to predict that Magic, Incorporated, will be the natural source to turn to for competent 
thaumaturgy in any line - probably the only source of truly first-rate magic-' 
I put it down. Why worry about it, Zack? It's just another agency. As for their claims - I've heard 
you say that you have all the best ones in your stable. You didn't expect to be believed, did you?' 
No,' he conceded, not quite, maybe - among us two. But this is really serious, Mr Fraser. They've 
hired away most of my really first-class operators with salaries and bonuses I can't match. And now 
they offer magic to the public at a price that undersells those I've got left. It's ruin, I'm telling you.' 
It was hard lines. Feldstein was a nice little guy who grabbed the nickels the way he did for a wife 
and five beady- eyed kids, to whom he was devoted. But I felt he was exaggerating; he has a 
tendency to dramatize himself. Don't worry,' I said, I'll stick by you, and so, I imagine, will most of 
your customers. This outfit can't get all the magicians together; they're too independent. Look at 
Ditworth. He tried with his association. What did it get him?' 
Ditworth - aagh!' He started to spit, then remembered he was in my office. This is Ditworth - this 
company!' 
How do you figure that? He's not on the letterhead.' 
I found out. You think he wasn't successful because you held out. They held a meeting of the 
directors of the association - that's Ditworth and his two secretaries - and voted the contracts over 
to the new corporation. Then Ditworth resigns and his stooge steps in as front for the nonprofit 
association, and Ditworth runs both companies. You will see! If we could open the books of Magic, 
Incorporated, you will find he has voting control. I know it!' 
It seems unlikely,' I said slowly. 
You'll see! Ditworth with all his fancy talk about a nonprofit service for the improvement of standards 
shouldn't be any place around Magic, Incorporated, should he, now? You call up and ask for him-' 
I did not answer, but dialled the number on the letterhead. When a girl's voice said, Good morning - 
Magic, Incorporated,' I said: 
Mr Ditworth, please.' 
She hesitated quite a long time, then said, Who is calling, please?' 
That made it my turn to hesitate. I did not want to talk to Ditworth; I wanted to establish a fact. I 
finally said, Tell him it's Dr Biddle's office.' 
Whereupon she answered readily enough, but with a trace of puzzlement in her voice, But Mr 
Ditworth is not in the suite just now; he was due in Dr Biddle's office half an hour ago. Didn't he 
arrive?' 
Oh,' I said, perhaps he's with the chief and I didn't see him come in. Sorry.' And I rang off. 
I guess you are right,' I admitted, turning back to Feldstein. 
He was too worried to be pleased about it. Look,' he said, I want you should have lunch with me 
and talk about it some more.' 
I was just on my way to the Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Come along and we'll talk on the 
way. You're a member.' 
All right,' he agreed dolefully. Maybe I can't afford it much longer.' 
We were a little late and had to take separate seats. The treasurer stuck the kitty under my nose and 
twisted her tail'. He wanted a ten-cent fine from me for being late. The kitty is an ordinary frying pan 
with a mechanical bicycle bell mounted on the handle. We pay all fines on the spot, which is good for 
the treasury and a source of innocent amusement. The treasurer shoves the pan at you and rings the 
bell until you pay up. 
I hastily produced a dime and dropped it in. Steve Harris, who has an automobile agency, yelled, 
That's right! Make the Scotchman pay up!' and threw a roll at me. 
Ten cents for disorder,' announced our chairman, Norman Somers, without looking up. The 
treasurer put the bee on Steve. I heard the coin clink into the pan, then the bell was rung again. 
What's the trouble?' asked Somers. 
More of Steve's tricks,' the treasurer reported in a tired voice. Fairy gold, this time.' Steve had 
chucked in a synthetic coin that some friendly magician had made up for him. Naturally, when it 
struck cold iron it melted away. 
Two bits more for counterfeiting,' decided Somers, then handcuff him and ring up the United States 
attorney.' Steve is quite a card, but he does not put much over on Norman. 
Can't I finish my lunch first?' asked Steve, in tones that simply dripped with fake self-pity. Norman 
ignored him and he paid up. 
Steve, better have fun while you can,' commented Al Donahue, who runs a string of drive-in 
restaurants. When you sign up with Magic, Incorporated, you will have to cut out playing tricks with 
magic.' I sat up and listened. 
Who said I was going to sign up with them?' 
Huh? Of course you are. It's the logical thing to do. Don't be a dope.' 
Why should I?' 
Why should you? Why, it's the direction of progress, man. Take my case: I put out the fanciest line 
of vanishing desserts of any eating place in town. You can eat three of them if you like, and not feel 
full and not gain an ounce. Now I've been losing money on them, but kept them for advertising 
because of the way they bring in the women's trade. Now Magic, Incorporated, comes along and 
offers me the same thing at a price I can make money with them too. Naturally, I signed up. 
You would. Suppose they raise the prices on you after they have hired, or driven out of business, 
every competent wizard in town?' 
Donahue laughed in a superior, irritating way. I've got a contract.' 
So? How long does it run? And did you read the cancellation clause?' 
I knew what he was talking about, even if Donahue didn't; I had been through it. About five years 
ago a Portland cement firm came into town and began buying up the little dealers and cutting prices 
against the rest. They ran sixty-cent cement down to thirty-five cents a sack and broke their 
competitors. Then they jacked it back up by easy stages until cement sold for a dollar twenty-five. 
The boys took a whipping before they knew what had happened to them. 
We all had to shut up about then, for the guest speaker, old B. J. Timken, the big subdivider, started 
in. He spoke on Cooperation and Service'. Although he is not exactly a scintillating speaker, he had 
some very inspiring things to say about how businessmen could serve the community and help each 
other; I enjoyed it. 
After the clapping died down, Norman Somers thanked B. J. and said, That's all for today, 
gentlemen, unless there is some new business to bring before the house-' 
Jedson got up. I was sitting with my back to him, and had not known he was present. I think there is, 
Mr Chairman - a very important matter. I ask the indulgence of the Chair for a few minutes of 
informal discussion. 
Somers answered, Certainly, Joe, if you've got something important.' 
Thanks. I think it is. This is really an extension of the discussion between Al Donahue and Steve 
Harris earlier in the meeting. I think there has been a major change in business conditions going on in 
this city right under our noses and we haven't noticed it, except where it directly affected our own 
businesses. I refer to the trade in commercial magic. How many of you use magic in your business? 
Put your hands up.' All the hands went up, except for a couple of lawyers'. Personally, I had always 
figured they were magicians themselves. 
OK,' Jedson went on, put them down. We knew that; we all use it. I use it for textiles. Hank 
Manning here uses nothing else for cleaning and pressing, and probably uses it for some of his dye 
jobs too. Wally Haight's Maple Shop uses it to assemble and finish fine furniture. Stan Robertson will 
tell you that Le Bon Marché's slick window displays are thrown together with spells, as well as two 
thirds of the merchandise in his store, especially in the kids' toy department. Now I want to ask you 
another question: In how many cases is the percentage of your cost charged to magic greater than 
your margin of profits? Think about it for a moment before answering.' He paused, then said: All right 
- put up your hands.' 
Nearly as many hands went up as before. 
That's the point of the whole matter. We've got to have magic to stay in business. If anyone gets a 
strangle hold on magic in this community, we are all at his mercy. We would have to pay any prices 
that are handed us, charge the prices we are told to, and take what profits we are allowed to - or go 
out of business!' 
The chairman interrupted him. Just a minute, Joe. Granting that what you say is true - it is, of course - 
do you have any reason to feel that we are confronted with any particular emergency in the matter?' 
Yes, I do have.' Joe's voice was low and very serious. Little reasons, most of them, but they add up 
to convince me that someone is engaged in a conspiracy in restraint of trade.' Jedson ran rapidly over 
the history of Ditworth's attempt to organize magicians and their clients into an association, 
presumably to raise the standards of the profession, and how alongside the nonprofit association had 
suddenly appeared a capital corporation which was already in a fair way to becoming a monopoly. 
Wait a second, Joe,' put in Ed Parmelee, who has a produce jobbing business. I think that 
association is a fine idea. I was threatened by some rat who tried to intimidate me into letting him 
pick my magicians. I took it up with the association, and they took care of it; I didn't have any more 
trouble. I think an organization which can clamp down on racketeers is a pretty fine thing.' 
You had to sign with the association to get their help, didn't you?' 
Why, yes, but that's entirely reasonable-' 
Isn't it possible that your gangster got what he wanted when you signed up?' 
Why, that seems pretty farfetched.' 
I don't say,' persisted Joe, that is the explanation, but it is a distinct possibility. It would not be the 
first time that monopolists used goon squads with their left hands to get by coercion what their right 
hands could not touch. I wonder whether any of the rest of you have had similar experiences?' 
It developed that several of them had. I could see them beginning to think. 
One of the lawyers present formally asked a question through the chairman. Mr Chairman, passing 
for the moment from the association to Magic, Incorporated, is this corporation anything more than a 
union of magicians? If so, have they a legal right to organize?' 
Norman turned to Jedson. Will you answer that, Joe?' 
Certainly. It is not a union at all. It is a parallel to a situation in which all the carpenters in town are 
employees of one contractor; you deal with that contractor or you don't build.' 
Then it's a simple case of monopoly - if it is a monopoly. This state has a Little Sherman Act; you 
can prosecute.~ 
I think you will find that it is a monopoly. Have any of you noticed that there are no magicians 
present at today's meet? We all looked around. It was perfectly true. I think you can expect,' he 
added, to find magicians represented hereafter in this chamber by some executive of Magic, 
Incorporated. With respect to the possibility of prosecution' - he hauled a folded newspaper out of 
his hip pocket - have any of you paid any attention to the governor's call for a special session of the 
legislature?' 
Al Donahue remarked superciliously that he was too busy making a living to waste any time on the 
political game. It was a deliberate dig at Joe, for everybody knew that he was a committee-man, and 
spent quite a lot of time on civic affairs. The dig must have gotten under Joe's skin, for he said 
pityingly, Al, it's a damn good thing for you that some of us are willing to spend a little time on 
government, or you would wake up some morning to find they had stolen the sidewalks in front of 
your house.' 
The chairman rapped for order; Joe apologized. Donahue muttered something under his breath about 
the whole political business being dirty, and that anyone associated with it was bound to turn 
crooked. I reached out for an ashtray and knocked over a glass of water, which spilled into 
Donahue's lap. It diverted his mind. Joe went on talking. 
Of course we knew a special session was likely for several reasons, but when they published the 
agenda of the call last night, I found tucked away towards the bottom an item "Regulation of 
Thaumaturgy . I couldn't believe that there was any reason to deal with such a matter in a special 
session unless something was up. I got on the phone last night and called a friend of mine at the 
capitol, a fellow committee member. She did not know anything about it, but she called me back 
later. Here's what she found out: The item was stuck into the agenda at the request of some of the 
governor's campaign backers; he has no special interest in it himself. Nobody seems to know what it 
is all about, but one bill on the subject has already been dropped in the hopper-' There was an 
interruption; somebody wanted to know what the bill said. 
I'm trying to tell you,' Joe said patiently. The bill was submitted by title alone; we won't be likely to 
know its contents until it is taken up in committee. But here is the title: "A Bill to Establish 
Professional Standards for Thaumaturgists, Regulate the Practice of the Thaumaturgic Profession, 
Provide for the Appointment of a Commission to Examine, License, and Administer- and so on. As 
you can see, it isn't even a proper title; it's just an omnibus on to which they can hang any sort of 
legislation regarding magic, including an abridgement of anti- monopoly regulation if they choose.' 
There was a short silence after this. I think all of us were trying to make up our minds on a subject 
that we were not really conversant with - politics. Presently someone spoke up and said, What do 
you think we ought to do about it?' 
Well,' he answered, we at least ought to have our own representative at the capitol to protect us in 
the clinches. Besides that, we at least ought to be prepared to submit our own bill, if this one has any 
tricks in it, and bargain for the best compromise we can get. We should at least get an implementing 
amendment out of it that would put some real teeth into the state anti-trust act, at least in so far as 
magic is concerned.' He grinned. That's four "at leasts , I think.' 
Why can't the state Chamber of Commerce handle it for us? They maintain a legislative bureau.' 
Sure, they have a lobby, but you know perfectly well that the state chamber doesn't see eye to eye 
with us little businessmen. We can't depend on them; we may actually be fighting them.' 
There was quite a powwow after Joe sat down. Everybody had his own ideas about what to do and 
tried to express them all at once. It became evident that there was no general agreement, whereupon 
Somers adjourned the meeting with the announcement that those interested in sending a 
representative to the capitol should stay. A few of the diehards like Donahue left, and the rest of us 
reconvened with Somers again in the chair. It was suggested that Jedson should be the one to go, 
and he agreed to do it. 
Feldstein got up and made a speech with tears in his eyes. He wandered and did not seem to be 
getting anyplace, but finally he managed to get out that Jedson would need a good big war chest to 
do any good at the capitol, and also should be compensated for his expenses and loss of time. At 
that he astounded us by pulling out a roll of bills, counting out one thousand dollars, and shoving it 
over in front of Joe. 
That display of sincerity caused him to be made finance chairman by general consent, and the 
subscriptions came in very nicely. I held down my natural impulses and matched Feldstein's donation, 
though I did wish he had not been quite so impetuous. I think Feldstein had a slight change of heart a 
little later, for he cautioned Joe to be economical and not to waste a lot of money buying liquor for 
those schlemiels at the capitol'. 
Jedson shook his head at this, and said that while he intended to pay his own expenses, he would 
have to have a free hand in the spending of the fund, particularly with respect to entertainment. He 
said the time was too short to depend on sweet reasonableness and disinterested patriotism alone - 
that some of those lunkheads had no more opinions than a weather vane and would vote to favour 
the last man they had had a drink with. 
Somebody made a shocked remark about bribery. I don't intend to bribe anyone,' Jedson answered 
with a brittle note in his voice. If it comes to swapping bribes, we're licked to start with. I am just 
praying that there are still enough unpledged votes up there to make a little persuasive talking and 
judicious browbeating worth while.' 
He got his own way, but I could not help agreeing privately with Feldstein. And I made a resolution 
to pay a little more attention to politics thereafter; I did not even know the name of my own 
legislator. How did I know whether or not he was a high-calibre man or just a cheap opportunist? 
And that is how Jedson, Bodie, and myself happened to find ourselves on the train, headed for the 
capitol. 
Bodie went along because Jedson wanted a first-rate magician to play bird dog for him. He said he 
did not know what might turn up. I went along because I wanted to. I had never been to the capitol 
before, except to pass through, and was interested to see how this law-making business is done. 
Jedson went straight to the Secretary of State's office to register as a lobbyist, while Jack and I took 
our baggage to the Hotel Constitution and booked some rooms. Mrs Logan, Joe's friend the 
committee-woman, showed up before he got back. 
Jedson had told us a great deal about Sally Logan during the train trip. He seemed to feel that she 
combined the shrewdness of Machiavelli with the greathearted integrity of Oliver Wendell Holmes. I 
was surprised at his enthusiasm, for I have often heard him grouse about women in politics. 
But you don't understand, Archie,' he elaborated. Sally isn't a woman politician, she is simply a 
politician, and asks no special consideration because of her sex. She can stand up and trade punches 
with the toughest manipulators on the Hill. What I said about women politicians is perfectly true, as a 
statistical generalization, but it proves nothing about any particular woman. 
It's like this: Most women in the United States have a short-sighted, peasant individualism resulting 
from the male- created romantic tradition of the last century. They were told that they were superior 
creatures, a little nearer to the angels than their menfolks. They were not encouraged to think, nor to 
assume social responsibility. It takes a strong mind to break out of that sort of conditioning, and most 
minds simply aren't up to it, male or female. 
Consequently, women as electors are usually suckers for romantic nonsense. They can be flattered 
into misusing their ballot even more easily than men. In politics their self-righteous feeling of virtue, 
combined with their essentially peasant training, resulted in their introducing a type of cut-rate, petty 
chiselling that should make Boss Tweed spin in his coffin. 
But Sally's not like that. She's got a tough mind which could reject the hokum.' 
You're not in love with her, are you?' 
Who, me? Sally's happily married and has two of the best kids I know.' 
What does her husband do?' 
Lawyer. One of the governor's supporters. Sally got started in politics through pinch-hitting for her 
husband one campaign.' 
What is her official position up here?' 
None. Right hand for the governor. That's her strength. Sally has never held a patronage job, nor 
been paid for her services.' 
After this build-up I was anxious to meet the paragon. When she called I spoke to her over the 
house phone and was about to say that I would come down to the lobby when she announced that 
she was coming up, and hung up. I was a little startled at the informality, not yet realizing that 
politicians did not regard hotel rooms as bedrooms, but as business offices. 
When I let her in she said, You're Archie Fraser, aren't you? I'm Sally Logan. Where's Joe?' 
He'll be back soon. Won't you sit down and wait?' 
Thanks.' She plopped herself into a chair, took off her hat and shook out her hair. I looked her over. 
I had unconsciously expected something pretty formidable in the way of a mannish matron. What I 
saw was a young, plump, cheerful-looking blonde, with an untidy mass of yellow hair and frank blue 
eyes. She was entirely feminine, not over thirty at the outside, and there was something about her that 
was tremendously reassuring. 
She made me think of county fairs and well water and sugar cookies. 
I'm afraid this is going to be a tough proposition,' she began at once. I didn't think there was much 
interest in the matter, and I still don't think so, but just the same someone has a solid bloc lined up for 
Assembly Bill 22 - that's the bill I wired Joe about. What do you boys plan to do, make a straight 
fight to kill it or submit a substitute bill?' 
Jedson drew up a fair-practices act with the aid of some of our Half World friends and a couple of 
lawyers. Would you like to see it?' 
Please. I stopped by the State Printing Office and got a few copies of the bill you are against - AB 
22. We'll swap.' 
I was trying to translate the foreign language lawyers use when they write statutes when Jedson came 
in. He patted Sally's cheek without speaking, and she reached up and squeezed his hand and went 
on with her reading. He commenced reading over my shoulder. I gave up and let him have it. It made 
a set of building specifications look simple. 
Sally asked, What do you think of it, Joe?' 
Worse than I expected,' he replied. Take Paragraph 7-' 
I haven't read it yet.' 
So? Well, in the first place it recognizes the association as a semipublic body like the Bar Association 
or the Community Chest, and permits it to initiate actions before the commission. That means that 
every magician had better by a damn sight belong to Ditworth's association and be careful not to 
offend it., 
But how can that be legal?' I asked. It sounds unconstitutional to me - a private association like that-' 
Plenty of precedent, son. Corporations to promote world's fairs, for example. They're recognized, 
and even voted tax money. As for unconstitutionality, you'd have to prove that the law was not equal 
in application - which it isn't! - but awfully hard to prove.' 
But, anyhow, a witch gets a hearing before the commission?' 
Sure, but there is the rub. The commission has very broad powers, almost unlimited powers over 
everything connected with magic. The bill is filled with phrases like "reasonable and proper , which 
means the sky's the limit, with nothing but the good sense and decency of the commissioners to 
restrain them. That's my objection to commissions in government - the law can never be equal in 
application under them. They have delegated legislative powers, and the law is what they say it is. 
You might as well face a drumhead court- martial. 
There are nine commissioners provided for in this case, six of which must be licensed magicians, 
first-class. I don't suppose it is necessary to point out that a few ill-advised appointments to the 
original commission will turn it into a tight little self-perpetuating oligarchy - through its power to 
license.' 
Sally and Joe were going over to see a legislator whom they thought might sponsor our bill, so they 
dropped me off at the capitol. I wanted to listen to some of the debate. 
It gave me a warm feeling to climb up the big, wide steps of the statehouse. The old, ugly mass of 
masonry seemed to represent something tough in the character of the American people, the 
determination of free men to manage their own affairs. Our own current problem seemed a little 
smaller, not quite so overpoweringly important - still worth working on, but simply one example in a 
long history of the general problem of self-government. 
I noticed something else as I was approaching the great bronze doors; the contractor for the outer 
construction of the building must have made his pile; the mix for the mortar was not richer than one to 
six! 
I decided on the Assembly rather than the Senate because Sally said they generally put on a livelier 
show. When I entered the hall they were discussing a resolution to investigate the tarring and 
feathering the previous month of three agricultural-worker organizers up near the town of Six Points. 
Sally had remarked that it was on the calendar for the day, but that it would not take long because 
the proponents of the resolution did not really want it. However, the Central Labour Council had 
passed a resolution demanding it, and the labour- supported members were stuck with it. 
The reason why they could only go through the motions of asking for an investigation was that the 
organizers were not really human beings at all, but mandrakes, a fact that the state council had not 
been aware of when they asked for an investigation. Since the making of mandrakes is the blackest 
kind of black magic, and highly illegal, they needed some way to drop it quietly. The use of 
mandrakes has always been opposed by organized labour, because it displaces real men - men with 
families to support. For the same reasons they oppose synthetic facsimiles and homunculi. But it is 
well known that the unions are not above using mandrakes, or mandragoras, as well as facsimiles, 
when it suits their purpose, such as for pickets, pressure groups, and the like. I suppose they feel 
justified in fighting fire with fire. Homunculi they can't use on account of their size, since they are too 
small to be passed off as men. 
If Sally had not primed me, I would not have understood what took place. Each of the labour 
members got up and demanded in forthright terms a resolution to investigate. When they were all 
through, someone proposed that the matter be tabled until the grand jury of the county concerned 
held its next meeting. This motion was voted on without debate and without a roll call; although 
practically no members were present except those who had spoken in favour of the original 
resolution, the motion passed easily. 
There was the usual crop of oil-industry bills on the agenda, such as you read about in the 
newspapers every time the legislature is in session. One of them was the next item on the day's 
calendar - a bill which proposed that the governor negotiate a treaty with the gnomes, under which 
the gnomes would aid the petroleum engineers in prospecting and, in addition, would advise humans 
in drilling methods so as to maintain the natural gas pressure underground needed to raise the oil to 
the surface. I think that is the idea, but I am no petroleum engineer. 
The proponent spoke first. Mr Speaker,' he said, I ask for a "Yes vote on this bill, A B 79. Its 
purpose is quite simple and the advantages obvious. A very large part of the overhead cost of 
recovering crude oil from the ground lies in the uncertainties of prospecting and drilling. With the aid 
of the Little People this item can be reduced to an estimated 7 per cent of its present dollar cost, and 
the price of gasoline and other petroleum products to the people can be greatly lessened. 
The matter of underground gas pressure is a little more technical, but suffice it to say that it takes, in 
round numbers, a thousand cubic feet of natural gas to raise one barrel of oil to the surface. If we can 
get intelligent supervision of drilling operations far underground, where no human being can go, we 
can make the most economical use of this precious gas pressure. 
The only rational objection to this bill lies in whether or not we can deal with the gnomes on 
favourable terms. I believe that we can, for the Administration has some excellent connexions in the 
Hall World. The gnomes are willing to negotiate in order to put a stop to the present condition of 
chaos in which human engineers drill blindly, sometimes wrecking their homes and not infrequently 
violating their sacred places. They not unreasonably claim everything under the surface as their 
kingdom, but are willing to make any reasonable concession to abate what is to them an intolerable 
nuisance. 
If this treaty works out well, as it will, we can expect to arrange other treaties which will enable us to 
exploit all of the metal and mineral resources of this state under conditions highly advantageous to us 
and not hurtful to the gnomes. Imagine, if you please, having a gnome with his X-ray eyes peer into a 
mountainside and locate a rich vein of gold for you!' 
It seemed very reasonable, except that, having once seen the king of the gnomes, I would not trust 
him very far, unless Mrs Jennings did the negotiating. 
As soon as the proponent sat down, another member jumped up and just as vigorously denounced 
it. He was older than most of the members, and I judged him to be a country lawyer. His accent 
placed him in the northern part of the state, well away from the oil country. Mr Speaker,' he 
bellowed, I ask for a vote of "No! . Who would dream that an American legislature would stoop to 
such degrading nonsense? Have any of you ever seen a gnome? Have you any reason to believe that 
gnomes exist? This is just a cheap piece of political chicanery to do the public out of its proper share 
of the natural resources of our great state-' 
He was interrupted by a question. Does the honourable member from Lincoln County mean to imply 
that he has no belief in magic? Perhaps he does not believe in the radio or the telephone either.' 
Not at all. If the Chair will permit, I will state my position so clearly that even my respected colleague 
on the other side of the house will understand it. There are certain remarkable developments in 
human knowledge in general use which are commonly referred to by the laity as magic. These 
principles are well understood and are taught, I am happy to say, in our great publicly owned 
institutions for higher learning. I have every respect for the legitimate practitioners thereof. But, as I 
understand it, although I am not myself a practitioner of the great science, there is nothing in it that 
requires a belief in the Little People. 
But let us stipulate, for the sake of argument, that the Little People do exist. Is that any reason to pay 
them blackmail? Should the citizens of this commonwealth pay cumshaw to the denizens of the 
underworld-' He waited for his pun to be appreciated. It wasn't. -for that which is legally and 
rightfully ours? If this ridiculous principle is pushed to its logical conclusion, the farmers and dairymen 
I am proud to number among my constituents will be required to pay toll to the elves before they can 
milk their cows!' 
Someone slid into the seat beside me. I glanced around, saw that it was Jedson, and questioned him 
with my eyes. Nothing doing now,' he whispered. We've got some time to kill and might as well do it 
here' - and he turned to the debate. 
Somebody had gotten up to reply to the old duck with the Daniel Webster complex. Mr Speaker, if 
the honoured member is quite through with his speech - I did not quite catch what office he is running 
for! - I would like to invite the attention of this body to the precedented standing in jurisprudence of 
elements of every nature, not only in Mosaic law, Roman law, the English common law, but also in 
the appellate court of our neighbouring state to the south. I am confident that anyone possessing even 
an elementary knowledge of the law will recognize the case I have in mind without citation, but for 
the benefit of-' 
Mr Speaker! I move to amend by striking out the last word.' 
A stratagem to gain the floor,' Joe whispered. 
Is it the purpose of the honourable member who preceded me to imply-' 
It went on and on. I turned to Jedson and asked, I can't figure out this chap who is speaking; a while 
ago he was hollering about cows. What's he afraid of, religious prejudices?' 
Partly that; he's from a very conservative district. But he's lined up with the independent oilmen. They 
don't want the state setting the terms; they think they can do better dealing with the gnomes directly.' 
But what interest has he got in oil? There's no oil in his district.' 
No, but there is outdoor advertising. The same holding company that controls the so-called 
independent oilmen holds a voting trust in the Countryside Advertising Corporation. And that can be 
awfully important to him around election time. 
The Speaker looked our way, and an assistant sergeant at arms threaded his way towards us. We 
shut up. Someone moved the order of the day, and the oil bill was put aside for one of the magic bills 
that had already come out of committee. This was a bill to outlaw every sort of magic, witchcraft, 
thaumaturgy. 
No one spoke for it but the proponent, who launched into a diatribe that was more scholarly than 
logical. He quoted extensively from Blackstone's Commentaries and the records of the 
Massachusetts trials, and finished up with his head thrown back, one finger waving wildly to heaven 
and shouting,' "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live! ' 
No one bothered to speak against it; it was voted on immediately without roll call, and, to my 
complete bewilderment, passed without a single nay! I turned to Jedson and found him smiling at the 
expression on my face. 
It doesn't mean a thing, Archie,' he said quietly. 
Huh?' 
He's a party wheel horse who had to introduce that bill to please a certain bloc of his constituents.' 
You mean he doesn't believe in the bill himself?' 
Oh no, he believes in it all right, but he also knows it is hopeless. It has evidently been agreed to let 
him pass it over here in the Assembly this session so that he would have something to take home to 
his people. Now it will go to the senate committee and die there; nobody will ever hear of it again.' 
I guess my voice carries too well, for my reply got us a really dirty look from the Speaker. We got 
up hastily and left. 
Once outside I asked Joe what had happened that he was back so soon. He would not touch it,' he 
told me. Said that he couldn't afford to antagonize the association.' 
Does that finish us?' 
Not at all. Sally and I are going to see another member right after lunch. He's tied up in a committee 
meeting at the moment.' 
We stopped in a restaurant where Jedson had arranged to meet Sally Logan. Jedson ordered lunch, 
and I had a couple of cans of devitalized beer, insisting on their bringing it to the booth in the 
unopened containers. I don't like to get even a little bit tipsy, although I like to drink. On another 
occasion I had paid for wizard-processed liquor and had received intoxicating liquor instead. Hence 
the unopened containers. 
I sat there, staring into my glass and thinking about what I had heard that morning, especially about 
the bill to outlaw all magic. The more I thought about it the better the notion seemed. The country 
had gotten along all right in the old days before magic had become popular and commercially 
widespread. It was unquestionably a headache in many ways, even leaving out our present troubles 
with racketeers and monopolists. Finally I expressed my opinion to Jedson. 
But he disagreed. According to him prohibition never does work in any field. He said that anything 
which can be supplied and which people want will he supplied - law or no law. To prohibit magic 
would simply be to turn over the field to the crooks and the black magicians. 
I see the drawbacks of magic as well as you do,' he went on, but it is like firearms. Certainly guns 
made it possible for almost anyone to commit murder and get away with it. But once they were 
invented the damage was done. All you can do is to try to cope with it. Things like the Sullivan Act - 
they didn't keep the crooks from carrying guns and using them; they simply took guns out of the 
hands of honest people. 
It's the same with magic. If you prohibit it, you take from decent people the enormous boons to be 
derived from a knowledge of the great arcane laws, while the nasty, harmful secrets hidden away in 
black grimoires and red grimoires will still be bootlegged to anyone who will pay the price and has 
no respect for law. 
Personally, I don't believe there was any less black magic practised between, say, 1750 and 1950 
than there is now, or was before then. Take a look at Pennsylvania and the hex country. Take a look 
at the Deep South. But since that time we have begun to have the advantages of white magic too.' 
Sally came in, spotted us, and slid into one side of the booth. My,' she said with a sigh of relaxation, 
I've just fought my way across the lobby of the Constitution. The "third house" is certainly out in full 
force this trip. I've never seen em so thick, especially the women.' 
She means lobbyists, Archie,' Jedson explained. Yes, I noticed them. I'd like to make a small bet 
that two thirds of them are synthetic.' 
I thought I didn't recognize many of them,' Sally commented. Are you sure, Joe?' 
Not entirely. But Bodie agrees with me. He says that the women are almost all mandrakes, or 
androids of some sort. Real women are never quite so perfectly beautiful - nor so tractable. I've got 
him checking on them now.' 
In what way?' 
He says he can spot the work of most of the magicians capable of that high-powered stuff. If 
possible we want to prove that all these androids were made by Magic, Incorporated - though I'm 
not sure just what use we can make of the fact. 
Bodie has even located some zombies,' he added. 
Not really!' exclaimed Sally. She wrinkled her nose and looked disgusted. Some people have odd 
tastes.' 
They started discussing aspects of politics that I know nothing about, while Sally put away a very 
sizeable lunch topped off by a fudge ice-cream cake slice. But I noticed that she ordered from the 
left-hand side of the menu - all vanishing items, like the alcohol in my beer. 
I found out more about the situation as they talked. When a bill is submitted to the legislature, it is 
first referred to a committee for hearings. Ditworth's bill, A B 22, had been referred to the 
Committee on Professional Standards. Over in the Senate an identical bill had turned up and had 
been referred by the lieutenant governor, who presides in the Senate, to the Committee on Industrial 
Practices. 
Our immediate object was to find a sponsor for our bill; if possible, one for each house, and 
preferably sponsors who were members, in their respective houses, of the committees concerned. 
All of this needed to be done before Ditworth's bills came up for hearing. 
I went with them to see their second-choice sponsor for the Assembly. He was not on the 
Professional Standards Committee, but he was on the Ways and Means Committee, which meant 
that he carried a lot of weight in any committee. 
He was a pleasant chap named Spence - Luther B. Spence - and I could see that he was quite 
anxious to please Sally - for past favours, I suppose. But they had no more luck with him than with 
their first-choice man. He said that he did not have time to fight for our bill, as the chairman of the 
Ways and Means Committee was sick and he was chairman pro tem. 
Sally put it to him flatly. Look here, Luther, when you have needed a hand in the past, you've got it 
from me. I hate to remind a man of obligations, but you will recall that matter of the vacancy last year 
on the Fish and Game Commission. Now I want action on this matter, and not excuses!' 
Spence was plainly embarrassed. Now, Sally, please don't feel like that. You're getting your feathers 
up over nothing. You know I'll always do anything I can for you, but you don't really need this, and it 
would necessitate my neglecting things that I can't afford to neglect.' 
What do you mean, I don't need it?' 
I mean you should not worry about A B 22. It's a cinch bill.' 
Jedson explained that term to me later. A cinch bill, he said, was a bill introduced for tactical 
reasons. The sponsors never intended to try to get it enacted into law, but simply used it as a 
bargaining point. It's like an asking price' in a business deal. 
Are you sure of that?' 
Why, yes, I think so. The word has been passed around that there is another bill coming up that 
won't have the bugs in it that this bill has.' 
After we left Spence's office, Jedson said, Sally, I hope Spence is right, but I don't trust Ditworth's 
intentions. He's out to get a stranglehold on the industry. I know it!' 
Luther usually has the correct information, Joe.' 
Yes, that is no doubt true, but this is a little out of his line. Anyhow, thanks, kid. You did your best.' 
Call on me if there is anything else, Joe. And come Out to dinner before you go; you haven't seen Bill 
or the kids yet.' 
I won't forget.' 
Jedson finally gave up as impractical trying to submit our bill, and concentrated on the committees 
handling Ditworth's bills. I did not see much of him. He would go out at four in the afternoon to a 
cocktail party and get back to the hotel at three in the morning, bleary-eyed, with progress to report. 
He woke me up the fourth night and announced jubilantly, It's in the bag, Archie!' 
You killed those bills?' 
Not quite. I couldn't manage that. But they will be reported out of committee so amended that we 
won't care if they do pass. Furthermore, the amendments are different in each committee. 
Well, what of that?' 
That means that even if they do pass their respective houses they will have to go to conference 
committee to have their differences ironed out, then back for final passage in each house. The 
chances of that this late in a short session are negligible. Those bills are dead.' 
Jedson's predictions were justified. The bills came out of committee with a do pass' recommendation 
late Saturday evening. That was the actual time; the statehouse clock had been stopped forty-eight 
hours before to permit first and second readings of an administration must' bill. Therefore it was 
officially Thursday. I know that sounds cockeyed, and it is, but I am told that every legislature in the 
country does it towards the end of a crowded session. 
The important point is that, Thursday or Saturday, the session would adjourn sometime that night. I 
watched Ditworth's bill come up in the Assembly. It was passed, without debate, in the amended 
form. I sighed with relief. About midnight Jedson joined me and reported that the same thing had 
happened in the Senate. Sally was on watch in the conference committee room, just to make sure 
that the bills stayed dead. 
Joe and I remained on watch in our respective houses. There was probably no need for it, but it 
made us feel easier. Shortly before two in the morning Bodie came in and said we were to meet 
Jedson and Sally outside the conference committee room. 
What's that?' I said, immediately all nerves. Has something slipped?' 
No, it's all right and it's all over. Come on.' 
Joe answered my question, as I hurried up with Bodie trailing, before I could ask it. It's OK, Archie. 
Sally was present when the committee adjourned sine die, without acting on those bills. It's all over; 
we've won!' 
We went over to the bar across the street to have a drink in celebration. 
In spite of the late hour the bar was moderately crowded. Lobbyists, local politicians, legislative 
attaches, all the swarm of camp followers who throng the capitol whenever the legislature is sitting - 
all such were still up and around, and many of them had picked this bar as a convenient place to wait 
for news of adjournment. 
We were lucky to find a stool at the bar for Sally. We three men made a tight little cluster around her 
and tried to get the attention of the overworked bartender. We had just managed to place our orders 
when a young man tapped on the shoulder of the customer on the stool to the right of Sally. He 
immediately got down and left. I nudged Bodie to tell him to take the seat. 
Sally turned to Joe. Well, it won't be long now. There go the sergeants at arms.' She nodded 
towards the young man, who was repeating the process farther down the line. 
What does that mean?' I asked Joe. 
It means they are getting along towards the final vote on the bill they were waiting on. They've gone 
to "call of the house now, and the Speaker has ordered the sergeant at arms to send his deputies out 
to arrest absent members.' 
Arrest them?' I was a little bit shocked. 
Only technically. You see, the Assembly has had to stall until the Senate was through with this bill, 
and most of the members have wandered out for a bite to eat, or a drink. Now they are ready to 
vote, so they round them up.' 
A fat man took a stool near us which had just been vacated by a member. Sally said, Hello, Don.' 
He took a cigar from his mouth and said, How are yuh, Sally? What's new? Say, I thought you were 
interested in that bill on magic?' 
We were all four alert at once. I am,' Sally admitted. What about it?' 
Well, then, you had better get over there. They're voting on it right away. Didn't you notice the "call 
of the house ?' 
I think we set a new record getting across the street, with Sally leading the field in spite of her 
plumpness. I was asking Jedson how it could be possible, and he shut me up with, I don't know, 
man! We'll have to see.' 
We managed to find seats on the main floor back of the rail. Sally beckoned to one of the pages she 
knew and sent him up to the clerk's desk for a copy of the bill that was pending. In front of the rail 
the Assembly men gathered in groups. There was a crowd around the desk of the administration 
floor leader and a smaller cluster around the floor leader of the opposition. The whips had individual 
members buttonholed here and there, arguing with them in tense whispers. 
The page came back with the copy of the bill. It was an appropriation bill for the Middle Counties 
Improvement Project - the last of the must' bills for which the session had been called - but pasted to 
it, as a rider, was Ditworth's bill in its original, most damnable form! 
It had been added as an amendment in the Senate, probably as a concession to Ditworth's stooges in 
order to obtain their votes to make up the two-thirds majority necessary to pass the appropriation 
bill to which it had been grafted. 
The vote came almost at once. It was evident, early in the roll call, that the floor leader had his 
majority in hand and that the bill would pass. When the clerk announced its passage, a motion to 
adjourn sine die was offered by the opposition floor leader and it was carried unanimously. The 
Speaker called the two floor leaders to his desk and instructed them to wait on the governor and the 
presiding officer of the Senate with notice of adjournment. 
The crack of his gavel released us from stunned immobility. We shambled out. 
We got in to see the governor late the next morning. The appointment, squeezed into an 
overcrowded calendar, was simply a concession to Sally and another evidence of the high regard in 
which she was held around the capitol. For it was evident that he did not want to see us and did not 
have time to see us. But he greeted Sally affectionately and listened, patiently while Jedson explained 
in a few words why we thought the combined Ditworth-Middle Counties bill should be vetoed. 
The circumstances were not favourable to reasoned expostulation. The governor was interrupted by 
two calls that he had to take, one from his director of finance and one from Washington. His 
personal secretary came in once and shoved a memorandum under his eyes, at which the old man 
looked worried, then scrawled something on it and handed it back. I could tell that his attention was 
elsewhere for some minutes after that. 
When Jedson stopped talking, the governor sat for a moment, looking down at his blotter pad, an 
expression of deep- rooted weariness on his face. Then he answered in slow words, No, Mr 
Jedson, I can't see it. I regret as much as you do that this business of the regulation of magic has 
been tied in with an entirely different matter. But I cannot veto part of a bill and sign the rest - even 
though the bill includes two widely separated subjects. 
I appreciate the work you did to help elect my administration' - I could see Sally's hand in that 
remark - and wish that we could agree on this. But the Middle Counties Project is something that I 
have worked towards since my inauguration. I hope and believe that it will be the means whereby the 
most depressed area in our state can work out its economic problems without further grants of public 
money. If I thought that the amendment concerning magic would actually do a grave harm to the 
state-' 
He paused for a moment. But I don't. When Mrs Logan called me this morning I had my legislative 
counsel analyse the bill. I agree that the bill is unnecessary, but it seems to do nothing more than add 
a little more bureaucratic red tape. That's not good, but we manage to do business under a lot of it; a 
little more can't wreck things.' 
I butted in - rudely, I suppose - but I was all worked up. But, Your Excellency, if you would just 
take time to examine this matter yourself, in detail, you would see how much damage it will do!' 
I would not have been surprised if he had flared back at me. Instead, he indicated a file basket that 
was stacked high and spilling over. Mr Fraser, there you see fifty-seven bills passed by this session 
of the legislature. Every one of them has some defect. Every one of them is of vital importance to 
some, or all of the people of this state. Some of them are as long to read as an ordinary novel. In the 
next nine days I must decide what ones shall become law and' what ones must wait for revision at the 
next regular session. During that nine days at least a thousand people will want me to see them about 
some one of those bills-' 
His aide stuck his head in the door. Twelve-twenty, chief! You're on the air in forty minutes.' 
The governor nodded absently and stood up. You will excuse me? I'm expected at a luncheon.' He 
turned to his aide, who was getting out his hat and gloves from a closet. You have the speech, Jim?' 
Of course, sir. 
Just a minute!' Sally had cut in. Have you taken your tonic?' 
Not yet.' 
You're not going off to one of those luncheons without it!' She ducked into his private washroom and 
came out with a medicine bottle. Joe and I bowed out as quickly as possible. 
Outside I started fuming to Jedson about the way we had been given the run-around, as I saw it. I 
made some remark about dunderheaded, compromising politicians when Joe cut me short. 
Shut up, Archie! Try running a state sometime instead of a small business and see how easy you find 
it!' 
I shut up. 
Bodie was waiting for us in the lobby of the capitol. I could see that he was excited about something, 
for he flipped away a cigarette and rushed towards us. Look!' he commanded. Down there!' 
We followed the direction of his finger and saw two figures just going out of the big doors. One was 
Ditworth, the other was a well-known lobbyist with whom he had worked. What about it?' Joe 
demanded. 
I was standing here behind this phone booth, leaning against the wall and catching a cigarette. As you 
can see, from here that big mirror reflects the bottom of the rotunda stairs. I kept an eye on it for you 
fellows. I noticed this lobbyist, Sims, coming downstairs by himself, but he was gesturing as if he 
were talking to somebody. That made me curious, so I looked around the corner of the booth and 
saw him directly. He was not alone; he was with Ditworth. I looked back at the mirror and he 
appeared to be alone. Ditworth cast no reflection in the mirror!' 
Jedson snapped his fingers. A demon!' he said in an amazed voice. And I never suspected it!' 
I am surprised that more suicides don't occur on trains. When a man is down, I know of nothing 
more depressing than staring at the monotonous scenery and listening to the maddening lickety-tock 
of the rails. In a way I was glad to have this new development of Ditworth's inhuman status to think 
about; it kept my mind off poor old Feldstein and his thousand dollars. 
Startling as it was to discover that Ditworth was a demon, it made no real change in the situation 
except to explain the efficiency and speed with which we had been outmanoeuvred and to confirm as 
a certainty our belief that the racketeers and Magic, Incorporated, were two heads of the same 
beast. But we had no way of proving that Ditworth was a Half World monster. If we tried to haul 
him into court for a test, he was quite capable of lying low and sending out a facsimile, or a 
mandrake, built to look like him and immune to the mirror test. 
We dreaded going back and reporting our failure to the committee - at least I did. But at least we 
were spared that. The Middle Counties Act carried an emergency clause which put it into effect the 
day it was signed. Ditworth's bill, as an amendment, went into action with the same speed. The 
newspapers on sale at the station when we got off the train carried the names of the new 
commissioners for thaumaturgy. 
Nor did the commission waste any time in making its power felt. They announced their intention of 
raising the standards of magical practice in all fields, and stated that new and more thorough 
examinations would be prepared at once. The association formerly headed by Ditworth opened a 
coaching school in which practising magicians could take a refresher course in thaumaturgic 
principles and arcane law. In accordance with the high principles set forth in their charter, the school 
was not restricted to members of the association. 
That sounds bighearted of the association. It wasn't. They managed to convey a strong impression in 
their classes that membership in the association would be a big help in passing the new examinations. 
Nothing you could put your finger on to take into court - just a continuous impression. The 
association grew. 
A couple of weeks later all licences were cancelled and magicians were put on a day-to-day basis in 
their practice, subject to call for re-examination at a day's notice. A few of the outstanding holdouts 
against signing up with Magic, Incorporated, were called up, examined, and licences refused them. 
The squeeze was on. Mrs Jennings quietly withdrew from any practice. Bodie came around to see 
me; I had an uncompleted contract with him involving some apartment houses. 
Here's your contract, Archie,' he said bitterly. I'll need some time to pay the penalties for 
noncompletion; my bond was revoked when they cancelled the licences.' 
I took the contract and tore it in two. Forget that talk about penalties,' I told him. You take your 
examinations and we'll write a new contract.~ 
He laughed unhappily. Don't be a Pollyanna.' 
I changed my tack. What are you going to do? Sign up with Magic, Incorporated?' 
He straightened himself up. I've never temporized with demons; I won't start now.' 
Good boy,' I said. Well, if the eating gets uncertain, I reckon we can find a job of some sort here for 
you.' 
It was a good thing that Bodie had some money saved, for I was a little too optimistic in my offer. 
Magic, Incorporated, moved quickly into the second phase of their squeeze, and it began to be a 
matter of speculation as to whether I myself would eat regularly. There were still quite a number of 
licensed magicians in town who were not employed by Magic, Incorporated - it would have been an 
evident, actionable frame-up to freeze out everyone - but those available were all incompetent 
bunglers, not fit to mix a philter. There was no competent, legal magical assistance to be got at any 
price - except through Magic, Incorporated. 
I was forced to fall back on old-fashioned methods in every respect. Since I don't use much magic in 
any case, it was possible for me to do that, but it was the difference between making money and 
losing money. 
I had put Feldstein on as a salesman after his agency folded up under him. He turned out to be a 
crackajack and helped to reduce the losses. He could smell a profit even farther than I could - 
farther than Dr Worthington could smell a witch. 
But most of the other businessmen around me were simply forced to capitulate. Most of them used 
magic in at least one phase of their business; they had their choice of signing a contract with Magic, 
Incorporated, or closing their doors. They had wives and kids - they signed. 
The fees for thaumaturgy were jacked up until they were all the traffic would bear, to the point where 
it was just cheaper to do business with magic than without it. The magicians got none of the new 
profits; it all stayed with the corporation. As a matter of fact, the magicians got less of the proceeds 
than when they had operated independently, but they took what they could get and were glad of the 
chance to feed their families. 
Jedson was hard hit - disastrously hit. He held out, naturally, preferring honourable bankruptcy to 
dealing with demons, but he used magic throughout his business. He was through. They started by 
disqualifying August Welker, his foreman, then cut off the rest of his resources. It was intimated that 
Magic, Incorporated, did not care to deal with him, even had he wished it. 
We were all over at Mrs Jennings's late one afternoon for tea - myself, Jedson, Bodie, and Dr Royce 
Worthington, the witch smeller. We tried to keep the conversation away from our troubles, but we 
just could not do it. Anything that was said led back somehow to Ditworth and his damnable 
monopoly. 
After Jack Bodie had spent ten minutes explaining carefully and mendaciously that he really did not 
mind being out of witchcraft, that he did not have any real talent for it, and had only taken it up to 
please his old man, I tried to change the subject. Mrs Jennings had been listening to Jack with such 
pity and compassion in her eyes that I wanted to bawl myself. 
I turned to Jedson and said inanely, How is Miss Megeath?' 
She was the white witch from Jersey City, the one who did creative magic in textiles. I had no special 
interest in her welfare. 
He looked up with a start. Ellen? She's ... she's all right. They took her licence away a month ago,' 
he finished lamely. 
That was not the direction I wanted the talk to go. I turned it again. Did she ever manage to do that 
whole-garment stunt?' 
He brightened a little. Why, yes, she did - once. Didn't I tell you about it?' Mrs Jennings showed 
polite curiosity, for which I silently thanked her. Jedson explained to the others what they had been 
trying to accomplish. She really succeeded too well,' he continued. Once she had started, she kept 
right on, and we could not bring her out of her trance. She turned out over thirty thousand little 
striped sports dresses, all the same size and pattern. My lofts were loaded with them. Nine tenths of 
them will melt away before I dispose of them. 
But she won't try it again,' he added. Too hard on her health.' 
How?' I inquired. 
Well, she lost ten pounds doing that one stunt. She's not hardy enough for magic. What she really 
needs is to go out to Arizona and lie around in the sun for a year. I wish to the Lord I had the money. 
I'd send her.' 
I cocked an eyebrow at him. Getting interested, Joe?' Jedson is an inveterate bachelor, but it pleases 
me to pretend otherwise. He generally plays up, but this time he was downright surly. It showed the 
abnormal state of nerves he was in. 
Oh, for cripes' sake, Archie! Excuse me, Mrs Jennings! But can't I take a normal humane interest in 
a person without you seeing an ulterior motive in it?' 
Sorry.' 
That's all right.' He grinned. I shouldn't be so touchy. Anyhow, Ellen and I have cooked up an 
invention between us that might be a solution for all of us. I'd been intending to show it to all of you 
just as soon as we had a working model. Look, folks!' He drew what appeared to be a fountain pen 
Out of a vest pocket and handed it to me. 
What is it? A pen?' 
No.' 
A fever thermometer?' 
No. Open it up.' 
I unscrewed the cap and found that it contained a miniature parasol. It opened and closed like a real 
umbrella, and was about three inches across when opened. It reminded me of one of those clever 
little Japanese favours one sometimes gets at parties, except that it seemed to be made of oiled silk 
and metal instead of tissue paper and bamboo. 
Pretty,' I said, and very clever. What's it good for?' 
Dip it in water.' 
I looked around for some. Mrs Jennings poured some into an empty cup, and I dipped it in. 
It seemed to crawl in my hands. 
In less than thirty seconds I was holding a full-sized umbrella in my hands and looking as silly as I felt. 
Bodie smacked a palm with a fist. 
It's a lulu, Joe! I wonder why somebody didn't think of it before.' 
Jedson accepted congratulations with a fatuous grin, then added, That's not all - look.' He pulled a 
small envelope out of a pocket and produced a tiny transparent raincoat, suitable for a six-inch doll. 
This is the same gag. And this.' He hauled out a pair of rubber overshoes less than an inch long. A 
man could wear these as a watch fob, or a woman could carry them on a charm bracelet. Then, with 
either the umbrella or the raincoat, one need never be caught in the rain. The minute the rain hits 
them, presto! - full size. When they dry out they shrink up.' 
We passed them around from hand to hand and admired them. Joe went on. Here's what I have in 
mind. This business needs a magician - that's you, Jack - and a merchandiser - that's you, Archie. It 
has two major stockholders: that's Ellen and me. She can go take the rest cure she needs, and I'll 
retire and resume my studies, same as I always wanted to.' 
My mind immediately started turning over the commercial possibilities, then I suddenly saw the hitch. 
Wait a minute, Joe. We can't set up business in this state.' 
No.' 
It will take some capital to move out of the state. How are you fixed? Frankly, I don't believe I could 
raise a thousand dollars if I liquidated.' 
He made a wry face. Compared with me you are rich.' 
I got up and began wandering nervously around the room. We would just have to raise the money 
somehow. It was too good a thing to be missed, and would rehabilitate all of us. It was clearly 
patentable, and I could see commercial possibilities that would never occur to Joe. Tents for 
camping, canoes, swimming suits, travelling gear of every sort. We had a gold mine. 
Mrs Jennings interrupted in her sweet and gentle voice. I am not sure it will be too easy to find a 
state in which to operate.' 
Excuse me, what did you say?' 
Dr Royce and I have been making some inquiries. I am afraid you will find the rest of the country 
about as well sewed up as this state.' 
What! Forty-eight states?' 
Demons don't have the same limitations in time that we have.' 
That brought me up short. Ditworth again. 
Gloom settled down on us like fog. We discussed it from every angle and came right back to where 
we had started. It was no help to have a clever, new business; Ditworth had us shut out of every 
business. There was an awkward silence. 
I finally broke it with an outburst that surprised myself. Look here!' I exclaimed. This situation is 
intolerable. Let's quit kidding ourselves and admit it. As long as Ditworth is in control we're whipped. 
Why don't we do something?' 
Jedson gave me a pained smile. God knows I'd like to, Archie, if I could think of anything useful to 
do.' 
But we know who our enemy is - Ditworth! Let's tackle him - legal or not, fair means or dirty!' 
But that is just the point. Do we know our enemy? To be sure, we know he is a demon, but what 
demon, and where? Nobody has seen him in weeks.' 
Huh? But I thought just the other day-' 
Just a dummy, a hollow shell. The real Ditworth is somewhere out of sight.' 
But, look, if he is a demon, can't he be invoked, and compelled-' 
Mrs Jennings answered this time. Perhaps - though it's uncertain and dangerous. But we lack one 
essential - his name. To invoke a demon you must know his real name, otherwise he will not obey 
you, no matter how powerful the incantation. I have been searching the Half World for weeks, but I 
have not learned that necessary name.' 
Dr Worthington cleared his throat with a rumble as deep as a cement mixer, and volunteered, My 
abilities are at your disposal, if I can help to abate this nuisance-' 
Mrs Jennings thanked him. I don't see how we can use you as yet, Doctor. I knew we could depend 
on you.' 
Jedson said suddenly, White prevails over black.' 
She answered, Certainly.' 
Everywhere?' 
Everywhere, since darkness is the absence of light.' 
He went on, It is not good for the white to wait on the black.' 
It is not good.' 
With my brother Royce to help, we might carry light into darkness.' 
She considered this. It is possible, yes. But very dangerous.' 
You have been there?' 
On occasion. But you are not I, nor are these others.' 
Everyone seemed to be following the thread of the conversation but me. I interrupted with, Just a 
minute, please. Would it be too much to explain what you are talking about?' 
There was no rudeness intended, Archibald,' said Mrs Jennings in a voice that made it all right. 
Joseph has suggested that, since we are stalemated here, we make a sortie into the Half World, smell 
out this demon, and attack him on his home ground.' 
It took me a moment to grasp the simple audacity of the scheme. Then I said, Fine! Let's get on with 
it. When do we start?' 
They lapsed back into a professional discussion that I was unable to follow. Mrs Jennings dragged 
out several musty volumes and looked up references on points that were sheer Sanskrit to me. 
Jedson borrowed her almanac, and he and the doctor stepped out into the back yard to observe the 
moon. 
Finally it settled down into an argument - or rather discussion; there could be no argument, as they all 
deferred to Mrs Jennings's judgement concerning liaison. There seemed to be no satisfactory way to 
maintain contact with the real world, and Mrs Jennings was unwilling to start until it was worked out. 
The difficulty was this: not being black magicians, not having signed a compact with Old Nick, they 
were not citizens of the Dark Kingdom and could not travel through it with certain impunity. 
Bodie turned to Jedson. How about Ellen Megeath?' he inquired doubtfully. 
Ellen? Why, yes, of course. She would do it. I'll telephone her. Mrs Jennings, do any of your 
neighbours have a phone?' 
Never mind,' Bodie told him, just think about her for a few minutes so that I can get a line-' He 
stared at Jedson's face for a moment, then disappeared suddenly. 
Perhaps three minutes later Ellen Megeath dropped lightly out of nothing. Mr Bodie will be along in a 
few minutes,' she said. He stopped to buy a packet of cigarettes.' Jedson took her over and 
presented her to Mrs Jennings. She did look sickly, and I could understand Jedson's concern. Every 
few minutes she would swallow and choke a little, as if bothered by an enlarged thyroid. 
As soon as Jack was back they got right down to details. He had explained to Ellen what they 
planned to do, and she was entirely willing. She insisted that one more session of magic would do her 
no harm. There was no advantage in waiting; they prepared to depart at once. Mrs Jennings related 
the marching orders. Ellen, you will need to follow me in trance, keeping in close rapport. I think you 
will find that couch near the fireplace a good place to rest your body. Jack, you will remain here and 
guard the portal.' The chimney of Mrs Jennings's living room fireplace was to be used as most 
convenient. You will keep in touch with us through Ellen.' 
But, Granny, I'll be needed in the Half-' 
No, Jack.' She was gently firm. You are needed here much more. Someone has to guard the way 
and help us back, you know. Each to his task.' 
He muttered a bit, but gave in. She went on, I think that is all. Ellen and Jack here; Joseph, Royce, 
and myself to make the trip. You will have nothing to do but wait, Archibald, but we won't be longer 
than ten minutes, world time, if we are to come back.' She bustled away towards the kitchen, saying 
something about the unguent and calling back to Jack to have the candles ready. I hurried after her. 
'What do you mean, I demanded, about me having nothing to do but wait? I'm going along!' 
She turned and looked at me before replying, troubled concern in her magnificent eyes. I don't see 
how that can be, Archibald.' 
Jedson had followed us and now took me by the arm. See here, Archie, do be sensible. It's utterly 
out of the question. You're not a magician.' 
I pulled away from him. Neither are you.' 
Not in a technical sense, perhaps, but I know enough to be useful. Don't be a stubborn fool, man; if 
you come, you'll simply handicap us.' 
That kind of an argument is hard to answer and manifestly unfair. How?' I persisted. 
Hell's bells, Archie, you're young and strong and willing, and there is no one I would rather have at 
my back in a roughhouse, but this is not a job for courage, or even intelligence alone. It calls for 
special knowledge and experience.' 
Well,' I answered, Mrs Jennings has enough of that for a regiment. But - if you'll pardon me, Mrs 
Jennings! - she is old and feeble. I'll be her muscles if her strength fails.' 
Joe looked faintly amused, and I could have kicked him. But that is not what is required in-' 
Dr Worthington's double-bass rumble interrupted him from somewhere behind us. It occurs to me, 
brother, that there may possibly be a use for our young friend's impetuous ignorance. There are times 
when wisdom is too cautious.' 
Mrs Jennings put a stop to it. Wait - all of you,' she commanded, and trotted over to a kitchen 
cupboard. This she opened, moved aside a package of rolled oats, and took down a small leather 
sack. It was filled with slender sticks. 
She cast them on the floor, and the three of them huddled around the litter, studying the patterns. 
Cast them again,' Joe insisted. She did so. 
I saw Mrs Jennings and the doctor nod solemn agreement to each other. Jedson shrugged and 
turned away. Mrs Jennings addressed me, concern in her eyes. You will go,' she said softly. It is not 
safe, but you will go.' 
We wasted no more time. The unguent was heated and we took turns rubbing it on each other's 
backbone. Bodie, as gatekeeper, sat in the midst of his pentacles, mekagrans, and runes, and 
intoned monotonously from the great book. Worthington elected to go in his proper person, ebony in 
a breechcloth, parasymbols scribed on him from head to toe, his grandfather's head cradled in an 
elbow. 
There was some discussion before they could decide on a final form for Joe, and the metamorphosis 
was checked and changed several times. He finished up with paper-thin grey flesh stretched over an 
obscenely distorted skull, a sloping back, the thin flanks of an animal, and a long, boy tail, which he 
twitched incessantly. But the whole composition was near enough to human to create a revulsion 
much greater than would be the case for a more outlandish shape. I gagged at the sight of him, but he 
was pleased. There!' he exclaimed in a voice like scratched tin. You've done a beautiful job, Mrs 
Jennings. Asmodeus would not know me from his own nephew.' 
I trust not,' she said. Shall we go?' 
How about Archie?' 
It suits me to leave him as he is.' 
Then how about your own transformation?' 
I'll take care of that,' she answered, somewhat tartly. Take your places.' 
Mrs Jennings and I rode double on the same broom, with me in front, facing the candle stuck in the 
straws. I've noticed All Hallow's Eve decorations which show the broom with the handle forward 
and the brush trailing. That is a mistake. Custom is important in these matters. Royce and Joe were 
to follow close behind us. Seraphin leaped quickly to his mistress' shoulder and settled himself, his 
whiskers quivering with eagerness. 
Bodie pronounced the word, our candle flared up high, and we were off. I was frightened nearly to 
panic, but tried not to show it as I clung to the broom. The fireplace gaped at us, and swelled to a 
monster arch. The fire within roared up like a burning forest and swept us along with it. As we 
swirled up I caught a glimpse of a salamander dancing among the flames, and felt sure that it was my 
own - the one that had honoured me with its approval and sometimes graced my new fireplace. It 
seemed a good omen. 
We had left the portal far behind - if the word behind' can be used in a place where directions are 
symbolic - the shrieking din of the fire was no longer with us, and I was beginning to regain some 
part of my nerve. I felt a reassuring hand at my waist, and turned my head to speak to Mrs Jennings. 
I nearly fell off the broom. 
When we left the house there had mounted behind me an old, old woman, a shrunken, wizened body 
kept alive by an indomitable spirit. She whom I now saw was a young woman, strong, perfect, and 
vibrantly beautiful. There is no way to describe her; she was without defect of any sort, and 
imagination could suggest no improvement. 
Have you ever seen the bronze Diana of the Woods? She was something like that, except that metal 
cannot catch the live dynamic beauty that I saw. 
But it was the same woman! 
Mrs Jennings - Amanda Todd, that was - at perhaps her twenty-fifth year, when she had reached the 
full maturity of her gorgeous womanhood, and before time had softened the focus of perfection. 
I forgot to be afraid. I forgot everything except that I was in the presence of the most compelling and 
dynamic female had ever known. I forgot that she was at least sixty years older than myself, and that 
her present form was simply a triumph of sorcery. I suppose if anyone had asked me at that time if I 
were in love with Amanda Jennings, I would have answered, Yes!' But at the time my thoughts were 
much too confused to be explicit. She was there, and that was sufficient. 
She smiled, and her eyes were warm with understanding. She spoke, and her voice was the voice I 
knew, even though it was rich contralto in place of the accustomed clear, thin soprano. Is everything 
all right, Archie?' 
Yes,' I answered in a shaky voice. Yes, Amanda, everything is all right!' 
As for the Half World- How can I describe a place that has no single matching criterion with what I 
have known? How can I speak of things for which no words have been invented? One tells of things 
unknown in terms of things which are known. Here there is no relationship by which to link; all is 
irrelevant. All I can hope to do is tell how matters affected my human senses, how events influenced 
my human emotions, knowing that there are two falsehoods involved - the falsehood I saw and felt, 
and the falsehood that I tell. 
I have discussed this matter with Jedson, and he agrees with me that the difficulty is insuperable, yet 
some things may be said with a partial element of truth - truth of a sort, with respect to how the Half 
World impinged on me. 
There is one striking difference between the real world and the Half World. In the real world there 
are natural laws which persist through changes of custom and culture; in the Half World only custom 
has any degree of persistence, and of natural law there is none. Imagine, if you please, a condition in 
which the head of a state might repeal the law of gravitation and have his decree really effective - a 
place where King Canute could order back the sea and have the waves obey him. A place where 
up' and down' were matters of opinion, and directions might read as readily in days or colours as in 
miles. And yet it was not a meaningless anarchy, for they were constrained to obey their customs as 
unavoidably as we comply with the rules of natural phenomena. 
We made a sharp turn to the left in the formless greyness that surrounded us in order to survey the 
years for a sabbat meeting. It was Amanda's intention to face the Old One with the matter directly 
rather than to search aimlessly through ever changing mazes of the Half World for a being hard to 
identify at best. 
Royce picked Out the sabbat, though I could see nothing until we let the ground come up to meet us 
and proceeded on foot. Then there was light and form. Ahead of us, perhaps a quarter of a mile 
away, was an eminence surmounted by a great throne which glowed red through the murky air. I 
could not make out clearly the thing seated there, but I knew it was himself' - our ancient enemy. 
We were no longer alone. Life - sentient, evil undeadness - boiled around us and fogged the air and 
crept out of the ground. The ground itself twitched and pulsated as we walked over it. Faceless 
things sniffed and nibbled at our heels. We were aware of unseen presences about us in the fog-shot 
gloom: beings that squeaked, grunted, and sniggered; voices that were slobbering whimpers, that 
sucked and retched and bleated. 
They seemed vaguely disturbed by our presence - Heaven knows that I was terrified by them! - for I 
could hear them flopping and shuffling out of our path, then closing cautiously in behind, as they 
bleated warnings to one another. 
A shape floundered into our path and stopped, a shape with a great bloated head and moist, limber 
arms. Back!' it wheezed. Go back! Candidates for witchhood apply on the lower level.' It did not 
speak English, but the words were clear. 
Royce smashed it in the face and we stamped over it, its chalky bones crunching underfoot. It pulled 
itself together again, whining its submission, then scurried out in front of us and thereafter gave us 
escort right up to the great throne. 
That's the only way to treat these beings,' Joe whispered in my ear. Kick em in the teeth first, and 
they'll respect you.' There was a clearing before the throne which was crowded with black witches, 
black magicians, demons in every foul guise, and lesser unclean things. On the left side the cauldron 
boiled. On the right some of the company were partaking of the witches' feast. I turned my head 
away from that. Directly before the throne, as custom calls for, the witches' dance was being 
performed for the amusement of the Goat. Some dozens of men and women, young and old, comely 
and hideous, cavorted and leaped in impossible acrobatic adagio. 
The dance ceased and they gave way uncertainly before us as we pressed up to the throne. What's 
this? What's this?' came a husky, phlegm-filled voice. It's my little sweetheart! Come up and sit 
beside me, my sweet! Have you come at last to sign my compact?' 
Jedson grasped my arm; I checked my tongue. 
I'll stay where I am,' answered Amanda in a voice crisp with contempt. As for your compact, you 
know better.' 
Then why are you here? And why such odd companions.' He looked down at us from the vantage of 
his throne, slapped hairy thigh and laughed immoderately. Royce stirred and muttered; his 
grandfather's head chattered in wrath. Seraphhi spat. 
Jedson and Amanda put their heads together for a moment, then she answered, By the treaty with 
Adam, I claim the right to examine. 
He chuckled, and the little devils around him covered their ears. You claim privileges here? With no 
compact?' 
Your customs,' she answered sharply. 
Ah yes, the customs! Since you invoke them, so let it be. And whom would you examine?' 
I do not know his name. He is one of your demons who has taken improper liberties outside your 
sphere.' 
One of my demons, and you know not his name? I have seven million demons, my pretty. Will you 
examine them one by one, or all together?' His sarcasm was almost the match of her contempt. 
All together.' 
Never let it be said that I would not oblige a guest. If you will go forward - let me see - exactly five 
months and three days, you will find my gentlemen drawn up for inspection.' 
I do not recollect how we got there. There was a great, brown plain, and no sky. Drawn up in 
military order for review by their evil lord were all the fiends of the Half World, legion on legion, 
wave after wave. The Old One was attended by his cabinet; Jedson pointed them out to me - 
Lucifugé, the prime minister; Sataniacha, field marshal; Beelzebub and Leviathan, wing commanders; 
Ashtoreth, Abaddon, Mammon, Theutus, Asmodeus, and Incubus, the Fallen Thrones. The seventy 
princes each commanded a division, and each remained with his command, leaving only the dukes 
and the thrones to attend their lord, Satan Mekratrig. 
He himself still appeared as the Goat, but his staff took every detestable shape they fancied. 
Asmodeus sported three heads, each evil and each different, rising out of the hind quarters of a 
swollen dragon. Mammon resembled, very roughly, a particularly repulsive tarantula. Ashtoreth I 
cannot describe at all. Only the Incubus affected a semblance of human form, as the only vessel 
adequate to display his lecherousness. 
The Goat glanced our way. Be quick about it,' he demanded. We are not here for your amusement.' 
Amanda ignored him, but led us towards the leading squadron. Come back!' he bellowed. And 
indeed we were back; our steps had led us no place. You ignore the custom. Hostages first!' 
Amanda bit her lip. Admitted,' she retorted, and consulted briefly with Royce and Jedson. I caught 
Royce's answer to some argument. 
Since I am to go,' he said, it is best that I choose my companion, for reasons that are sufficient to me. 
My grandfather advises me to take the youngest. That one, of course, is Fraser.' 
What's this?' I said when my name was mentioned. I had been rather pointedly left out of all the 
discussions, but this was surely my business. 
Royce wants you to go with him to smell out Ditworth,' explained Jedson. 
And leave Amanda here with these fiends? I don't like it.' 
I can look out for myself, Archie,' she said quietly. If Dr Worthington wants you, you can help me 
most by going with him.' 
What is this hostage stuff?' 
Having demanded the right of examination,' she explained, you must bring back Ditworth - or the 
hostages are forfeit.' 
Jedson spoke up before I could protest. Don't be a hero, son. This is serious. You can serve us all 
best by going. If you two don't come back, you can bet that they'll have a fight on their hands before 
they claim their forfeit!' 
I went. Worthington and I had hardly left them before I realized acutely that what little peace of mind 
I had came from the nearness of Amanda. Once out of her immediate influence the whole mind-
twisting horror of the place and its grisly denizens hit me. I felt something rub against my ankles and 
nearly jumped out of my shoes. But when I looked down I saw that Seraphin, Amanda's cat, had 
chosen to follow me. After that things were better with me. 
Royce assumed his dog pose when we came to the first rank of demons. He first handed me his 
grandfather's head. Once I would have found that mummified head repulsive to touch; it seemed a 
friendly, homey thing here. Then he was down on all fours, scalloping in and out of the ranks of 
infernal warriors. Seraphin scampered after him, paired up and hunted with him. The hound seemed 
quite content to let the cat do half the work, and I have no doubt he was justified. I walked as 
rapidly as possible down the aisles between adjacent squadrons while the animals cast out from side 
to side. 
It seems to me that this went on for many hours, certainly so long that fatigue changed to a wooden 
automatism and horror died down to a dull unease. I learned not to look at the eyes of the demons, 
and was no longer surprised at any outre shape. 
Squadron by squadron, division by division, we combed them, until at last, coming up the left wing, 
we reached the end. The animals had been growing increasingly nervous. When they had completed 
the front rank of the leading squadron, the hound trotted up to me and whined. I suppose he sought 
his grandfather, but I reached down and patted his head. 
Don't despair, old friend,' I said, we have still these.' I motioned towards the generals, princes all, 
who were posted before their divisions. Coming up from the rear as we had, we had yet to examine 
the generals of the leading divisions on the left wing. But despair already claimed me; what were half 
a dozen possibilities against an eliminated seven million? 
The dog trotted away to the post of the nearest general, the cat close beside him, while I followed as 
rapidly as possible. He commenced to yelp before he was fairly up to the demon, and I broke into a 
run. The demon stirred and commenced to metamorphose. But even in this strange shape there was 
something familiar about it. Ditworth!' I yelled, and dived for him. 
I felt myself buffeted by leather wings, raked by claws. Royce came to my aid, a dog no longer, but 
two hundred pounds of fighting Negro. The cat was a ball of fury, teeth, and claws. Nevertheless, 
we would have been lost, done in completely, had not an amazing thing happened. A demon broke 
ranks and shot towards us. I sensed him rather than saw him, and thought that he had come to 
succour his master, though I had been assured that their customs did not permit it. But he helped us - 
us, his natural enemies - and attacked with such vindictive violence that the gauge was turned to our 
favour. 
Suddenly it was all over. I found myself on the ground, clutching at not a demon prince but Ditworth 
in his pseudo- human form - a little mild businessman, dressed with restrained elegance, complete to 
briefcase, spectacles, and thinning hair. 
Take that thing off me,' he said testily. That thing' was grandfather, who was clinging doggedly with 
toothless gums to his neck. 
Royce spared a hand from the task of holding Ditworth and resumed possession of his grandfather. 
Seraphin stayed where he was, claws dug into our prisoner's leg. 
The demon who had rescued us was still with us. He had Ditworth by the shoulders, talons dug into 
their bases. I cleared my throat and said, I believe we owe this to you-' I had not the slightest notion 
of the proper thing to say. I think the situation was utterly without precedent. 
The demon made a grimace that may have been intended to be friendly, but which I found 
frightening. Let me introduce myself,' he said in English. I'm Federal Agent William Kane, Bureau of 
Investigation.' 
I think that was what made me faint. 
I came to, lying on my back. Someone had smeared a salve on my wounds and they were hardly 
stiff, and not painful in the least, but I was mortally tired. There was talking going on somewhere near 
me. I turned my head and saw all the members of my party gathered together. Worthington and the 
friendly demon who claimed to be a G-man held Ditworth between them, facing Satan. Of all the 
mighty infernal army I saw no trace. 
So it was my nephew Nebiros,' mused the Goat, shaking his head and clucking. Nebiros, you are a 
bad lad and I'm proud of you. But I'm afraid you will have to try your strength against their champion 
now that they have caught you.' He addressed Amanda. Who is your champion, my dear?' 
The friendly demon spoke up. That sounds like my job.' 
I think not,' countered Amanda. She drew him to one side and whispered intently. Finally he 
shrugged his wings and gave in. 
Amanda rejoined the group. I struggled to my feet and came up to them. A trial to the death, I think,' 
she was saying. Are you ready, Nebiros?' I was stretched between heart-stopping fear for Amanda 
and a calm belief that she could do anything she attempted. Jedson saw my face and shook his head. 
I was not to interrupt. 
But Nebiros had no stomach for it. Still in his Ditworth form and looking ridiculously human, he 
turned to the Old One. I dare not, Uncle. The outcome is certain. Intercede for me.' 
Certainly, Nephew. I had rather hoped she would destroy you. You'll trouble me someday.' Then to 
Amanda, Shall we say... ah.. . ten thousand thousand years?' 
Amanda gathered our votes with her eyes, including me, to my proud pleasure, and answered, So be 
it.' It was not a stiff sentence as such things go, I'm told - about equal to six months in jail in the real 
world - but he had not offended their customs; he had simply been defeated by white magic. 
Old Nick brought down one arm in an emphatic gesture. There was a crashing roar and a burst of 
light and DitworthNebiros was spread-eagled before us on a mighty boulder, his limbs bound with 
massive iron chains. He was again in demon form. Amanda and Worthington examined the bonds. 
She pressed a seal ring against each hasp and nodded to the Goat. At once the boulder receded with 
great speed into the distance until it was gone from sight. 
That seems to be about all, and I suppose you will be going now,' announced the Goat. All except 
this one-' He smiled at the demon G-man. I have plans for him.' 
No.' Amanda's tone was flat. 
What's that, my little one? He has not the protection of your party, and he has offended our 
customs.' 
No!' 
Really, I must insist.' 
Satan Mekratrig,' she said slowly, do you wish to try your strength with me?' 
With you, madame?' He looked at her carefully, as if inspecting her for the first time. Well, it's been a 
trying day, hasn't it? Suppose we say no more about it. Till another time, then-' 
He was gone. 
The demon faced her. Thanks,' he said simply. I wish I had a hat to take off.' He added anxiously, 
Do you know your way out of here?' 
Don't you?' 
No, that's the trouble. Perhaps I should explain myself. I'm assigned to the antimonopoly division; we 
got a line on this chap Ditworth, or Nebiros. I followed him in here, thinking he was simply a black 
wizard and that I could use his portal to get back. By the time I knew better it was too late, and I 
was trapped. I had about resigned myself to an eternity as a fake demon.' 
I was very much interested in his story. I knew, of course, that all G-men are either lawyers, 
magicians, or accountants, but all that I had ever met were accountants. This calm assumption of 
incredible dangers impressed me and increased my already high opinion of Federal agents. 
You may use our portal to return,' Anianda said. Stick close to us.' Then to the rest of us, Shall we 
go now?' 
Jack Bodie was still intoning the lines from the book when we landed. Eight and a half minutes,' he 
announced, looking at his wrist watch. Nice work. Did you turn the trick?' 
Yes, we did,' acknowledged Jedson, his voice muffled by the throes of his remetamorphosis. 
Everything that-' 
But Bodie interrupted. Bill Kane - you old scoundrel!' he shouted. How did you get in on this party?' 
Our demon had shucked his transformation on the way and landed in his natural form - lean, young, 
and hard-bitten, in a quiet grey suit and snap-brim hat. 
Hi, Jack,' he acknowledged. I'll look you up tomorrow and tell you all about it. Got to report in 
now.' With which he vanished. 
Ellen was out of her trance, and Joe was bending solicitously over her to see how she had stood up 
under it. I looked around for Amanda. 
Then I heard her out in the kitchen and hurried out there. She looked up and smiled at me, her lovely 
young face serene and coolly beautiful. Amanda,' I said, Amanda-' 
I suppose I had the subconscious intention of kissing her, making love to her. But it is very difficult to 
start anything of that sort unless the woman in the case in some fashion indicates her willingness. She 
did not. She was warmly friendly, but there was a barrier of reserve I could not cross. Instead, I 
followed her around the kitchen, talking inconsequentially, while she made hot cocoa and toast for all 
of us. 
When we rejoined the others I sat and let my cocoa get cold, staring at her with vague frustration in 
my heart while Jedson told Ellen and Jack about our experiences. He took Ellen home shortly 
thereafter, and Jack followed them out. 
When Amanda came back from telling them goodnight at the door, Dr Royce was stretched out on 
his back on the hearthrug, with Seraphin curled up on his broad chest. They were both snoring softly. 
I realized suddenly that I was wretchedly tired. Amanda saw it, too, and said, Lie down on the 
couch for a little and nap if you can.' 
I needed no urging. She came over and spread a shawl over me and kissed me tenderly. I heard her 
going upstairs as I fell asleep. 
I was awakened by sunlight striking my face. Seraphin was sitting in the window, cleaning himself. Dr 
Worthington was gone, but must have just left, for the nap on the hearthrug had not yet straightened 
up. The house seemed deserted. Then I heard her light footsteps in the kitchen. I was up at once and 
quickly out there. 
She had her back towards me and was reaching up to the old-fashioned pendulum clock that hung 
on her kitchen wall. She turned as I came in - tiny, incredibly aged, her thin white hair brushed neatly 
into a bun. 
It was suddenly clear to me why a motherly goodnight kiss was all that I had received the night 
before; she had had enough sense for two of us, and had refused to permit me to make a fool of 
myself. 
She looked up at me and said in a calm, matter-of-fact voice, See, Archie, my old clock stopped 
yesterday' - she reached up and touched the pendulum - but it is running again this morning.' 
There is not anything more to tell. With Ditworth gone, and Kane's report, Magic, Incorporated, 
folded up almost overnight. The new licensing laws were an unenforced dead letter even before they 
were repealed. 
We all hang around Mrs Jennings's place just as much as she will let us. I'm really grateful that she 
did not let me get involved with her younger self, for our present relationship is something solid, 
something to tie to. Just the same, if I had been born sixty years sooner, Mr Jennings would have had 
some rivalry to contend with. 
I helped Ellen and Joe organize their new business, then put Bodie in as manager, for I decided that I 
did not want to give up my old line. I've built the new wing and bought those two trucks, just as Mrs 
Jennings predicted. Business is good.