Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= ‘, 7 |} s J = x a“ . 7 7 “3 Ce or. + a its _? ‘. 1 4 - > . . ~ +. el Ura ROBERT SHERMAN TOWNES Herr K. shrugged, tried to look bored. ‘“ Another seal,” he said deprecatingly. “‘ What would I do with another seal?” “You might,” said Bela Kurtz tartly, “ replace that sloppy lout you have now.” - Circus people, Herr K. told himself bitterly, know too much about each other’s business. _ With the fierce pride of a theatre child’s mother, Bela Kurtz thrust into Herr K.’s hand a thick batch of press clippings. Unanimously they agreed that Oskar the Incomparable was a maestro in his own right; Oskar had genius, personality—sex appeal, even. Herr K. jabbed his thumb at a notice of Oskar’s London triumph. “ Before the war. You know, he isn’t getting any younger.” ‘“‘ Oskar has as many good years ahead of him as either of us,” said Bela Kurtz. “Perhaps many more,” he added grimly, looking straight across the room at a bulky man whose excellent shoes proclaimed his police connection. Herr K. choked on his cigar. Afraid he had scared off his only possible customer, Bela Kurtz smiled lightly. “ After all, Klaus, nobody would ever know. ‘To most people all seals look alike.” Herr K. wavered. It was true, most people could never tell one seal from another. He himself, for one, could not. And he did very much need something extra special for the Admiral’s ala. < How much?” he said. Bela Kurtz hesitated, gulped. ‘One thousand English pounds,” he stammered. Herr K. almost jumped out of his seat. ‘To mention such a thing right out loud in a public place! “I know that you sometimes come by such—items,”’ Bela Kurtz went on. “Perhaps something could be arranged on those lines,” said Herr K. pompously. ‘ But certainly not more than three hun- dred—er—such items. No more.” ** But, Klaus, I must have a thousand for my esca—my trip.” ‘““ Ah yes,” said Klaus Kleinmikkel. “ But if I were to drop a word in the right quarter, there would be no—trip.” Bela Kurtz sat very still. His eyes dimmed. He seemed to look through the circus man at something remote, familiar, and horrible. “So be it, Klaus,” he said. ‘‘ Three hundred, then. I shall send Oskar round to your hippodrome. If you are satisfied, you comiclooks.comn)