"You're right," I told him. "Something that few can do, and that _no telepath can do_! How can we let you wander around Washington leaking out thoughts of every secret your mind might accidentally have overheard from some ranking official? How many Russian telepaths have been accredited to their Embassy? How many crypto-telepaths have the Reds got in town? How many secrets have you _already_ given away? How big a traitor have you been?" That was the one that got him. "Traitor!" he yelled at me, starting across the office to where I stood leaning against my desk. Fred grabbed him and twisted his arm cruelly to stop all movement. "Cut that out!" he snapped. "Cut it out yourself, Fred," I said. "Just because you're sore at me, you don't have to take it out on the snake." The telepath was not to be silenced. "My folks been in this country over three hundred years," he stormed at me. "And it takes someone like you to call me a traitor!" I am very dark, and my hair is black and curly. I don't mind. With my heredity, it should be. "Under the power vested in me--" I started. "Aw, shet up," he said, turning to walk to the door. "I reckon I know the rest!" Anita stayed behind after Fred Plaice dragged the snake out with him. "Better get me George Kelly on the 'visor," I said to her. "Right away," Anita said, coming over to my desk. "But first--" I looked up. "Yes?" "Fred Plaice is throwing you a curve, Gyp." The instant she used my nickname, _I_ knew Anita felt that it was important. She never did that unless we were alone and talking seriously. "What the devil!" "Fred caught _another_ telepath last night, at the same time he got the snake you just saw," Anita said. "You didn't know that, did you, Gyp?" "Hell, no," I growled. "Does George Kelly know?" "No," she said. "How did you find out, Anita?" She shrugged. "I stand pretty good with a couple of the guys in Fred's section. One of them tipped me on the 'visor at home before I came to work. That's how I knew to be down here, actually." I scowled over that one. "What did your buddy tell you?" "Fred had said he'd have your O.K. to execute the second snake by noon and that everything about her was top-secret." That was enough. "Get Fred and this top-secret snake in here, Anita, and right now! Forget about that call to the Director." "Yes, _sir_!" she said, and went out with a swish of skirts. * * * * * But Fred came in alone. I decided it was about time to get him back on his heels. "Don't you give a damn about my orders?" I growled at him. His eyebrows shot up. "I distinctly told Anita I wanted you to bring that other snake in _with_ you. I know Anita got the message to you." [Illustration] But it didn't shake him up. Fred Plaice came right toward my desk, leaned over and put his hands on it, and looked me in the eye. "Gyp," he said. "Gyp, this is once you're going to let me have _my_ way."