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By Proxy
by
“Porter deserves every bit of credit for the Polarizer. I am perfectly happy with the way things are working out.”
Elshawe said: “But what if the FBI gets hold of the evidence I have?”
“That’s why I have told you the truth, Mr. Elshawe,” Skinner said earnestly. “I want you to destroy that evidence. I would deny flatly that I had anything to do with the Polarizer, in any case. And that would put an end to any inquiry because no one would believe that I would deny inventing something like that. But I would just as soon that the question never came up. I would rather that there be no whisper whatever of anything like that.”
He paused for a moment, then, very carefully, he said: “Mr. Elshawe, you have intimated that the inventor of the Polarizer deserves some kind of reward. I assure you that the greatest reward you could give me would be to help me destroy all traces of any connection with the device. Will you do that, Mr. Elshawe?”
Elshawe just sat silently in the chair for long minutes, thinking. Skinner didn’t interrupt; he simply waited patiently.
After about ten minutes, Elshawe put his pipe carefully on a nearby table and reached down to pick up his briefcase. He handed it to Skinner.
“Here. It contains all the evidence I have. Including, I might say, the recording of our conversation here. Just take the tape out of the minirecorder. A man like you deserves whatever reward he wants. Take it, Mr. Skinner.”
“Thanks,” said Skinner softly, taking the briefcase.
* * * * *
And, on the plane winging back to New York from the Congressional investigation, Mr. Terrence Elshawe sighed softly. He was glad none of the senators had asked anything about Skinner, because he knew he would certainly have had to tell the truth.
And he knew, just as certainly, that he would have been in a great deal more hot water than Porter had been. Because Malcom Porter was going to become American Hero Number One, and Terry Elshawe would have ended up as the lying little sneak who had tried to destroy the reputation of the great Malcom Porter.
Which, all things considered, would have been a hell of a note.