The LONG Question By DAVID MASON Illustrated by GIGLIO _$100,000 wasn't hay, even for a quiz show prize. It was certainly worth spending a little time to win...._ [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Infinity November 1957. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] "We promised you folks something special this week," Larry Lonigan said, his smile glittering under the bright lights of the studio. "And _Win-a-Mint_ always keeps its promises, don't we? So, folks, tonight we're putting up the biggest mint offered yet on this program ... _one hundred thousand dollars_!" The applause was deafening. "Now, then, here's the young man you all remember, the boy who hit the top money on our little group quiz last week, and earned the right to _Win-a-Mint_! Here he is, Mr. Don Gerson! Come on out, Don!" Don Gerson was a tall, thin young man with a serious look. He did not wear glasses, but somehow he looked as if he ought to. He walked onto the stage with a kind of forced confidence and shook hands with Lonigan. "Now, then, Don, we haven't told you very much about what we're going to do for you, have we?" Lonigan asked. "No, sir." "So I think it'll be as big a surprise to you as it will to our audience." Lonigan laughed, and looked archly into the cameras. "But first, we'll have to introduce you all over again, for anybody who didn't see the fine show you put up for us last week. How old are you, Don?" "Twenty-eight." "And you're not married, are you? Engaged? Do you trust your girl friend not to go out with other fellows if you aren't handy?" "Well, I don't know ..." Gerson grinned shyly. "Did you tell her you'd be going away for a little while?" Lonigan asked, winking at the cameras. "That's what I've been told," Gerson said. "Uh huh. But we didn't tell you anything else, did we? Did your boss give you a leave of absence?" "Oh, yes." "Tell us, Don, what do you do for a living?" "I'm an accountant." Lonigan's grin grew wider. "Yes, folks, Don works for the great National American Insurance Company, of which you've all heard. We asked them to let us borrow Don here for two months, and they've been kind enough to agree. Now, working in insurance, Don, I guess you've gotten pretty good at logical predictions, eh? I mean, isn't it part of the insurance business to guess what's likely to happen?" "I'd say it was." Don Gerson was looking mildly puzzled. "Well, Don, we've set up a situation where you'll get a chance to guess what's happening next, and if you guess right, even halfway, you'll _Win-a-Mint_!" Lonigan boomed the last words impressively, and the orchestra blasted the theme chords into his words.