him, "I'd be glad to do this and I think I can have my notes typed by tomorrow noon." This seem- ed to please him and he made a wry wink as if we had a secret between us. To me it seemed that it was a secret and I felt that I was probably the only one on the whole staff to know about it.

When I went out for supper, I called Chief Harn and told him what I was asked to do and asked him what I should do about it. He told me to go ahead and play it straight. I then had a light supper, returned to the goldfish bowl as I thought about it and picked up a shorthand tab- let and about 5 pencils. I then sat and waited for a few minutes and then in came Mr. Hardin. He was accompanied by Val. She winked at me and siad that sometimes she still sat in on these meetings to keep up on the work of recep- tionist as you can never tell when she might need it again.I couldn't see how keeping up on the work and receptionist work was the same now that she was his assis- tant.

Mr. Hardin then said that they held meetings of this sort in the basement. I felt that something was wrong but the Chief said to play it straight. So I went along. I noticed that Mr. Hardin turned out the display lights in the main room, leaving only the outside display windows lighted. As we went down the stairs, Val and I went back to a part of the base- ment where I had never been be- fore and did not know was a part of the building. There was a short stage and a little Model's runway such as might be for very private showings. There was a knock on a basement door. Five men and two women were

brought into the light and took seats near the runway. They were expensively dressed and looked like they might be very good spenders, but, there was some- thing that just didn't seem right. I could not put my finger on what didn't seem right. After they became seated, Mr. Hardin told Val to get me ready. I won- dered whether I had done wrong in showing up. I had on a blue suit with a blouse and jabot. Val seemed to turn into an animal. She snarled, "Get out of them duds you show off! I'll help you really show off!" She almost tore my clothes from me. She left my panty girdle on but did tear my slip as she forcefully undressed me. Fortunately, she was more concerned in what she was do- ing than what she was likely to see. Fortunately, my bra hid my falsies quite well and there were no teltale bulge on my panty girdle. She threw a special slip at me and told me to put it on. This I did. She then put me in a dress that made me look redicu- lous. It was too tight in the wrong places. I was embarassed as she shoved me through the curtins into the whitehot light before the runway. I could not see the people but I knew they were there. I heard a woman in a coarse voice ask, "Who sent you here?" Another, "Why were you sent here?" Then a man said be- fore I'd had time to answer, I'll see that you answer!" He jumped on the stage and threw a fist at me. I instinctively dodged away. I thought it was too far gone to not reveal that I was not really a girl. I fended the blow as I thought a girl would and I let out a little squeel and he tripped me, as he swung at me again. The man then got carried away and

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shouted at the top of his lungs, "We get everything lined up to make a mint and a little pip- squeek like you comes along and fouls it all up. We had Hardin bought to slip the patterns out under his coat at night and back in the morning and no one was the wiser and then you had to come along. I don't know who is more to blame you being suspi- cious of Hardin or him losing his nerve. But by the Holy H ... I'll see that you and even he pays what we should have had. I'll mark you so you can't get anouther job." With that he drew back his hand and I saw he had a small knife in his hand. Chief Harn, where are you kept run- ning through my mind.

I then heard a word that sounded more like my "Chief". The word was "Stop!" I could not see Chief Harn but I knew he was there. I heard a short scuffle and the man that was threatening me was jerked backwards beyond the lights. Because I felt very tired and yet relieved, I merely lay there. Someone turned on other lights and turned off the bright lights. I then saw that Chief Harn was not alone. He was being helped by 8 or 10 of his crack plain clothes men. Everything was secure. Chief Harn helped me up. He asked me if I wanted to go and change back to my clothes. I did this and rejoined the gang. They were being herded out to waiting vans.

At the police station, Chief Harn and several of his men were standing around and compli- menting me on my part in the roundup. I stated that I did nothing and why was I being given kudos?

Chief Harn then told me and the group, "Well, right after you