The owner had been there and gone and we still had a patrolman stationed in front. Donovan unlocked the door and released the patrolman for his regular beat and we went inside. It was very quiet. Naturally. Nothing is quieter in this world than an empty bar. I said, "Well, where do we start?" Donovan shrugged. "You got me. And you know damn well nothing's going to happen on this case until it breaks from the outside." "That's right." What he meant was a new angle coming from a stoolie. Or something opening up while we investigated Davis' background or Garver's. But something new was added right there in the tavern. Very suddenly. A guy popped up from behind the bar and said, "Hello." We whirled around and looked at him and Donovan snorted, "Who the hell are you?" "My name is Tennyson Dalrymple." "What kind of a label is that?" The man came around from behind the bar. "I liked it--I took it. If it annoys you I'm sorry." But you could tell by the sneer on his face that he wasn't sorry at all. He was a medium-sized unattractive figure of a man and yet you couldn't put your finger on just where the unattractiveness came from. He wasn't good looking but neither was he repulsive. He didn't have a superman's frame but neither was he a cripple nor a malformed freak. There was just something about him you took an instant dislike to and the dislike stayed with you. And Dalrymple seemed to enjoy increasing the antagonism. He wore a habitual sneer and his voice had a cutting quality to it. I said, "What the hell are you doing in here?" "Going about my business." "Entrance is prohibited. There was a policeman in front. The door was locked." "There's a back door." "That was locked too." "Locks are silly things. Any fool should be able to handle such feeble devices." Donovan was snarling. "Look, brother. You're talking yourself right into trouble. Now tell us what you're doing here and tell it quick." "Reading the gas meter." "Why?" "Why would anyone read a gas meter? I work for the gas company. This place is on my route." "I think you're lying." "It will be easy enough to find out." "We'll find out at headquarters." "You're taking me in?" "What do you think?" Dalrymple certainly wasn't afraid of cops. He shook his head in disgust and said, "This is certainly a stupid world you live in. A world of idiots. Really it is." Normally I'm pretty easy going but this punk with his talent for rubbing people the wrong way, just plain got me. "If you're so damn smart why are you reading meters for the gas company?" He grinned, and his grin said he was happy at getting a rise out of me. "I just arrived recently. The job will do until I get around to what I'm planning." * * * * *