Scotty shook his head. "I'm not. I said I wasn't sure. But I don't want to stand in front and look, because if it is the barber, he'd recognize us." Rick thought quickly. "Come on." Back inside the Sports Center, he went to the manager and borrowed a powerful monocular--a pocket telescope that was really one half of a pair of binoculars. Then he and Scotty went across the street, taking care to keep out of sight of the barbershop by using parked cars as cover. Rick found a vantage point behind a sedan that had all its windows open. He focused the monocular on the barbershop window. Vince Lardner, the shop owner and--until now--the sole barber, was cutting the hair of a man Rick recognized as a local resident. A second barber was cutting the hair of another local man, but the barber had his back to the street for the moment. Rick waited patiently. Scotty asked, "See anything?" "Only his back. Wait a minute." Presently the barber spun the chair around and walked to the sink. In a moment he turned and his face came into view in the tight close-up the powerful glass provided. Rick sank his teeth into his lip and handed the glass to Scotty wordlessly. The pieces were beginning to fall in place now, and the assumption that the project had been penetrated was a long step closer to proved fact. The Washington barber had come to Whiteside! "Wonder what he's after?" Scotty asked. "One thing is for sure," Rick stated grimly. "He isn't here just to cut hair!" CHAPTER VIII The Mind Reader Strikes Jerry Webster often spoke of himself as "Whiteside's best reporter," which Rick considered a fair description, since he was the only reporter in town. Of course Duke Barrows, the editor, did some reporting himself, but that didn't count since he carried the title of managing editor. "I'm a good reporter because I can sense a story," Jerry told Rick and Scotty. "You two have that certain look that spells trouble. What gives?" "No trouble," Rick answered swiftly. "We just need a little help." Duke Barrows glanced up from the proof sheets he was editing. "When Spindrift needs a little help, there's always a story in it. We'll make a deal, won't we, Jerry? You give us the story and we'll supply the help." Rick knew Duke and Jerry well, so it wasn't necessary to beat around the bush. "No story. At least not yet, and I can't even give you a hint. Only we do need help." "Two kinds," Scotty added. "That's right. First of all, we have guests at Spindrift. Name of Morrison. You'll pick that up sooner or later, because Barby is running around town with Janice Morrison. What we need is a promise that you won't mention it in the paper." Duke's eyebrows went up. "Ahah! Trying to suppress legitimate news, are you? What do you think, Jerry?"