Edward Everett Evans

“ Hanlon went first to the bank, and made out a card for his own box. But once in the vault, and the attendant gone out, it was box 1044 he opened. There was a note for him.
“Welcome to Simonides,” he read. “My name—here—is Art Georgopoulis. I work at present as a bartender at the Golden Web, on Thermopylae street. The high-ups in the underworld hang out there, and I pick up occasional bits of news. If you come in, introduce yourself by asking for ‘a good old Kentucky mint-julep,’ Practically no one ever asks for those. I'm the blond, skinny one at the far end of the bar. ”

“ He would have to think of himself as a soldier in war, and Rellos an enemy.
Outwardly calm, he shrugged indifferently. “Any guy that can't produce isn't worth keeping,” he said. “Any special way you want it done?” ”

“ When they were alone, the leader leaned forward and spoke earnestly to Hanlon, yet watching him carefully as he did so. “I like you, Hanlon, and I'm going to test you out. I am not too sure of you, yet, but if I become so, you can go far—very, very far with me. This Rellos I sent for is the man who was shadowing you today. I cannot—I will not!” he spat venomously, “abide failure or incompetence. I am assigning you the pleasant little task of seeing that some sort of an ... uh ... accident happens to Rellos. ”

“ There were far too many minds engaged in aggressive thoughts for a political revolution, he felt sure. If it was this wide-spread, surely others of the Corps of the Secret Service would have found out something definite about it. ”