Argosy: The Short Story Magazine — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

TRUST LITTLE AL BY MICHAEL GILBERT CAR stopped ahead of me in Bond Street and Sergeant Cator of the Special Branch looked out. ‘“‘ Hop in,” he said. “ They want you.” I felt as if the lift had gone down unexpectedly, leaving me on Floor Six and taking my stomach down to the basement with it. I’ve been doing small jobs for Them for some time—nothing terrifically exciting, errand-boy stuff, really. I ought to have got used to it by now. When we got there, I was taken straight up to Captain Fores- tier’s office. I know Tony Forestier as well as anyone is allowed to know anyone in that line of business. He is a red-haired, freckled man with light eyes, who stands poised on the balls of his feet as if he’s ready to jump out of the window at the drop of a hat. I play quite a lot of squash with him. He’s not subtle, but he never stops running. ‘““'We’ve got something for you,” he said, as soon as the door was shut. ‘“‘ Have you ever heard of Alex Baker? ”’ ‘‘ Plays centre three-quarter for Richmond,”’ I said, promptly. ‘““Not this one,’’ said Forestier. ‘‘ Certainly not this Alex. He’s about five foot nothing, looks as if the wind would blow him over, wears glasses, seldom has his hair cut, and doesn’t always remember to brush his teeth in the morning.” ‘““ Doesn’t sound quite my type.” “ Nevertheless, you’re going to take a holiday with him. And you'll have to stick to him like a long-lost brother.” ‘ What’s it all about?” “In fact, you must never let him out of your sight. We don’t insist that you share a bed with him, but your bedrooms must have intercommunicating doors.” “Would you mind telling me why?” “Since when have you questioned your orders?” I think he saw the light of revolt in my eye, and relented. “ It’s like this,’ he said. ‘‘ That little man is one of the most valuable assets in this country today. Worth—oh, I don’t know—a - couple of aircraft carriers—the Brigade of Guards—a wing of jet bombers.”’ comiclooks.comn