RANSVESTIA

somewhere very rapidly they would discover him. There was no way now to cross over to the beauty salon without being seen. The burglars had cut off his avenue of escape.

Whether it was instinct or inspiration or both he never knew. The burglars were on his right. To his left, conveniently adjacent to the fur department, was an area devoted to bridal gowns and the like. Less than twenty feet from the entrance to the fur department was a floor display proclaimed by a large poster which read, "For the mother of the groom." Beneath were three dress mannequins in suitably elegant costumes. Summoning his scattered wits as best he could Harry somehow made his way to this display and slipped in among the frozen figured, haughty looking mannequins. His costume did not exactly fit in with "mothers of the grooms" and he was shoeless and somewhat mussed from crawling but his chances of avoiding detection were much better among the mannequins than elsewhere. If he remained silent and motionless there was a chance that they would not notice him in the shadows of the display. It was the first time Harriet had been called upon to give such a performance and she would have to make the best of it. He assumed what he thought was a proper dress mannequins pose and held it. He was standing between two mannequins, weight equally on both legs, purse held over his right forearm in the classic manner. None of the mannequins were equipped with purses but Harry was not going to set his purse down for a minute. If he had to get to the pistol fast this was the only way to do it. He tried to stare off into blank space in imitation of his mute colleagues. The ruse was adopted not a moment

too soon.

The three men were heading directly for the fur department. Even normal breathing might betray him. He held his breath. There was a lump in Harry's throat as the three men approached. They were walking abreast in silence. Harry tensed as one of them passed within two fect of his extended right arm. The man had looked directly at him. And then they were past. It was a close call.

"This is it," one of the three said as they stopped within Harry's range of vision before the locked doors of the fur department.

"There's gotta be fifty grand in skins in there," another said hoarsely.

"All right, let's get with it,” replied the first.

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