because you're sore at me,
you don't have to take it out on the snake."

The telepath was not to be silenced. "My folks been in this country over
three hundred years," he stormed at me. "And it takes someone like you
to call me a traitor!"

I am very dark, and my hair is black and curly. I don't mind. With my
heredity, it should be.

"Under the power vested in me--" I started.

"Aw, shet up," he said, turning to walk to the door. "I reckon I know
the rest!"

Anita stayed behind after Fred Plaice dragged the snake out with him.
"Better get me George Kelly on the 'visor," I said to her.

"Right away," Anita said, coming over to my desk. "But first--"

I looked up. "Yes?"

"Fred Plaice is throwing you a curve, Gyp."

The instant she used my nickname, _I_ knew Anita felt that it was
important. She never did that unless we were alone and talking
seriously.

"What the devil!"

"Fred caught _another_ telepath last night, at the same time he got the
snake you just saw," Anita said. "You didn't know that, did you, Gyp?"

"Hell, no," I growled. "Does George Kelly know?"

"No," she said.

"How did you find out, Anita?"

She shrugged. "I stand pretty good with a couple of the guys in Fred's
section. One of them tipped me on the 'visor at home before I came to
work. That's how I knew to be down here, actually."

I scowled over that one. "What did your buddy tell you?"

"Fred had said he'd have your O.K. to execute the second snake by noon
and that everything about her was top-secret."

That was enough. "Get Fred and this top-secret snake in here, Anita, and
right now! Forget about that call to the Director."

"Yes, _sir_!" she said, and went out with a swish of skirts.

* * * * *

But Fred came in alone. I decided it was about time to get him back on
his heels. "Don't you give a damn about my orders?" I growled at him.
His eyebrows shot up. "I distinctly told Anita I wanted you to bring
that other snake in _with_ you. I know Anita got the message to you."

[Illustration]

But it didn't shake him up. Fred Plaice came right toward my desk,
leaned over and put his hands on it, and looked me in the eye. "Gyp," he
said. "Gyp, this is once you're going to let me have _my_ way."

"Not that it makes any difference," I snapped. "But why?"

"That's exactly what I'm not going to tell you," he said. "Listen, Gyp,
have I ever tried to stick it in you, in any form?"

Fred's a hot-sh