that in the dimness almost blended with the 3-button worsted with an Egyptian cotton shirt flaring whitely, accented by a Countess Mara necktie. The man was seated, one leg thrown casually over the other, displaying hand-sewn Italian shells that complemented his wardrobe. One powerful hand clutched the skeleton-frame of an efficient-looking Beretta while he tapped out code signals on the dial of a Rolex Perpet- ual Oyster on his left wrist.

"Well?" the Chief inquired of him. The dark man peered intently at 661 for several minutes, his cold, flat pupils waxed and waned within his glowing eyes. "A trifle conservative, but he'll do. He'll do." With a lithe spring he moved out of the chair to a spot immediately in front of the door.

"Very good. Well, ta-ta, Jimmie," said the Chief. "Cheerie-bye" came the reply as Jimmie wheeled and with a perfectly-executed karate blow split the oaken-panels of the door exactly in half, then stepped through into the outer office. The Chief sighed and picked up a green telephone from the profusion of red, yellow, blue, and even black in- struments there and spoke into the receiver. "Yes, that's right. An- other door-that's right—Oh, let me look." He covered the mouth- piece with his hand and peered at the wreckage of the door. Through the splinters, 661 could see Miss Pennythwaite running round and round her desk with "Jimmie" following, arms outstretched. "Yes," said the Chief. "We do still have the hinges and the knob. It's the wood we're short. What's that? Yes, yes. Quite. Oh?-but how did you know it wasn't-Oh, yes of course. He always takes the hinges off, too. Quite so. Well, do hurry. Bit of a draft here, you know. What's that— Why, why how should I know? I'm not an accountant, for pity's sake! Oh, just charge it to Operations to Operation SCHNOOK. Thanks awfully," and the Chief rang off.

"Quite a good show, you've had there, in Liverpool, old boy." The Chief was not given to compliments and when one came, it was gen- uine. "I must of course give myself some credit there for sending in a Double-six rather than one of the other types. Right?" Agent double- Six-One nodded. Each of the specialized operatives were designated by a double-number prefix that was a clue, although but vaguely, to their talents and capabilities.

The Double-Six section was something unique among the world powers. Considerably less people knew that there even was such a sec- tion than knew about the more famous, or infamous execution squads.

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