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 of it extended through the record rack, so that in the assembly it became integral. The end seemed designed to carry out the curve of the rack. Someone would have to be twisting his thoughts the way Tredel was shaping his to imagine that the record rack might have been designed to agree with the end.

Tredel checked the spec. Nothing bad here. It 'called for tolerances that were a cinch to meet, though they were exacting. Once the tools were made accurately, they couldn't miss. Hardness specified was natural for the grade of aluminum used. Holes were to be located and drilled on assembly. No finish.

Then he was guessing again. Production of Triesting stampings were five hundred a month. Approximately half were used in Mystery Ray Pistols, leaving two hundred and fifty unaccounted for. Therefore, two hundred and fifty of the record rack ends should be unaccounted for, leaving seven hundred and fifty to go into record racks.

Providing there were such record racks, and he rather imagined—

There were, all right. Tosdal Specialties made record racks and book ends and ash trays and other low-cost home furnishing extras. They had a small shop, employed seven people including the owner, and had two salesmen on the road working on commission. It took two weeks of maneuvering to determine that each month they, manufactured seven hundred and fifty record racks. Their deliveries were all made through Higgenson Rapid Transit.

He had a few things to stop and think about. Assuming: Someone was acquiring parts for an assembly, and didn't want it known, then there were certain things they should do.

Some of those things were being taken care of very well. That was the use of the components for normal purposes. Strained usages, perhaps, but under most circumstances good enough so as to arouse no suspicions. The use of one trucking company was not, possibly, a mistake, since it was a popular trucking line and most of its business was probably legitimate. It did not seem a mistake to have more than one component of such an assembly manufactured by one company. Of course, it should be good enough. Had been good enough until Tredel chanced on it. Still—

He investigated a little further, carefully, and now through Morton. All it seemed to be was routine curiosity about their cutsomers.

"We inherited Tosdal Specialties," Morton explained. "They were having their work done by Marcus Sheet Metal. We took Marcus over, lock stock and barrel. They got into a few things out of their line, and got in too deep. It was a good chance to pick up equipment and business, so I bought them out.

"We took over most of their accounts, too. Tosdal didn't care, so long as he got the same work at the NOT TO BE OPENED—