ll you in advance so you won't
worry."

"I understand," he said, rising and checking his toupee once more. "Many
thanks to you, sir." He shook Harry's hand and left the room.

Harry glanced at the papers again. Mr. Thompson's background was
impressive indeed. There didn't seem to be much question as to his
ability. But what a queer duck he was!

The second applicant was a short, wiry man named Chase. Like his
predecessor, he was brief and to the point with his answers. He let his
qualification papers speak for themselves. He was formal and polite.

Midway through the interview Harry noticed that he too was wearing a
toupee. If that wasn't the damnedest coincidence! Fortunately Mr. Chase
didn't have the annoying habit of patting his head every thirty seconds.
Harry guessed he either had a more expensive one or was just endowed
with more confidence that it would not slip off.

The interview over, Mr. Chase offered his thanks and strolled out.

Harry had a few moments to himself before Paula's third client arrived.
He thought about the first two men. Funny thing about toupees ... even
the most expensive ones could always be detected. He couldn't quite
understand why the two men wore them. They were often used by playboys,
actors, self-styled over-age Romeos, people whose niche in society
depends upon their looks. But not scientists or technicians. In fact
Harry couldn't remember ever having known one such person who shunned
his baldness in this manner. That didn't mean they had no right. But it
did seem peculiar as hell.

* * * * *

By the time the third interview was over Harry Payne's curiosity was
ablaze. Applicant number three, Mr. Boles, was not only wearing a toupee
but had gone one step further. Just north of his mouth there was a
mustache! A good-looking mustache, well groomed and shaped, but phoney
as a wax banana.

For a moment he thought Paula Ralston might be perpetrating a joke of
elaborate proportions. He rejected the idea as fast as it came to him.
He didn't know the girl very well yet, but he knew her well enough to
know she was strictly business. _She wanted one of these men to get that
job._

He flipped the intercom button for Miss Conway. She might be able to
tell him ... indirectly.

"You wanted me, Mr. Payne?"

"Yes, Miss Conway. The three men who've already been in here ... have
you noticed anything strange about them?"

Her eyebrows merged and spelled p