the beach ..."

"Johnny!" Harry Bettis said. "Think, pal. Think!"

"I'm calling Washington," Chief Botts said. "This is too much for me."

But Harry Bettis was still holding his arm. "Now, just a minute, bucko,"
he said. "You're not calling anyone--not without his manager's
permission."

"Whose manager's permission?"

"Why, Mr. Sloman's manager's permission, of course. In a word, me."

"This is preposterous!" Chief Botts cried.

"Is it?" Bettis asked. "Listen, Johnny, don't let anyone sell you a bill
of goods--like the Civil Service Commission giving you a GS-8 rating and
sending you to Washington. Because stick with me, kid, and there'll be
great things in store for you, you'll see."

"Such," said Maxine dubiously, "as what?"

"Are you on our side?" Harry Bettis asked her suspiciously.

"I'm on Jo-Anne's side. If old Johnny here has something she ought to
have, I want to know it."

* * * * *

"You mean, if she ought to change her mind and marry him? I'll admit it
even if I think Jo-Anne's a real cute trick: she'd be nuts if she
didn't." Women, Harry Bettis did not add, never came between Harry
Bettis and ten percent of a gold mine. But that's what he was thinking.
He went on: "Just think of it, Johnny. Drought in the Midwest. They call
Sloman. Sloman predicts rain. It rains. Have any idea what they'd pay
for a stunt like that? Or swollen rivers in New England, or California.
Looks like another big flood is on the way, but they call Sloman. Looks
like rain, kiddo? That don't matter. Predict a dry spell and it won't
rain. Do you know," Harry Bettis said in a devout whisper, "what a stunt
like that would be worth? Millions."

"Yeah, wise guy," said Maxine. "So what's in it for you?"

Harry Bettis did not look at Maxine when he answered. He looked at
Johnny and said, "I'll be frank, kiddo. You have the talent, but you
don't have the salesmanship to promote it. Do you want a mediocre job
while the weather boys exploit you for the rest of your life or--do you
want greatness, riches, and Jo-Anne?"

"Jo-Anne," Johnny said.

Harry Bettis nodded. "My price is twenty-five percent."

"Of Jo-Anne?" Maxine asked suspiciously.

"Of everything Johnny makes as the world's first _real_ Weather Man. Not
a forecaster--a commander. Because when my client forecasts the weather,
it happens. Brothers and sisters, it happens." He turned abruptly to
Johnny, said, "You have any money saved up