The Project Gutenberg EBook of Telempathy, by Vance Simonds

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Title: Telempathy

Author: Vance Simonds

Release Date: February 1, 2010 [EBook #31153]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcribers Note:

This etext was produced from Amazing Stories June
1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.

TELEMPATHY

_Suppose you really knew what everyone was feeling ... suppose you
had a surefire way of predicting public reaction. Wouldn't you
wonder, sometimes, if it could backfire._

By VANCE SIMONDS

Illustrated by SCHELLINGS

[Illustration]

* * * * *

Huckster Heaven, in Hollywood, set out to fulfill the adman's dream in
every particular. It recognized more credit cards than it offered
entrees on the menu. Various atmospheres, complete with authentic decor,
were offered: Tahitian, Parisian, even Afro-Cuban for the delectation of
the Off-Beat Client. In every case, houris glided to and fro in
appropriate native costume, bearing viands calculated to quell, at least
for the nonce, harsh thoughts of the combative marketplace. Instead,
beamish advertisers and their account executive hosts were plied so
lavishly that soon the sounds of competitive strife were but a memory;
and in the postprandial torpor, dormant dreams of largesse on the
Lucullan scale came alive. In these surroundings, droppers of such names
as the Four Seasons, George V, and the Stadium Club were notably silent.

Campbell ("Cam") Schofft was ostentatiously honored as one of the
Huckster Heaven "in-group." His business card (die-bumped and
gold-dusted, of course) was one of those enshrined, under glass as it
were, in the foyer. His advice concerning California land speculation
was sought by the maitre d', a worthy who had so