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were watching it from the other side of the fence.
    “That’s right,” I said. “But on the other hand, in the course of a day we sell a hell of a lot of small items. Flies, leaders, plugs, lines, spinning lures, and so on. We make change for a lot of twenties.”
    He nodded. “Most of your business is local? That is, with people you know, at least by sight?”
    “A good part of it, yes. Say within a fifty-mile radius. But fishermen can come from anywhere. We even get a lot of trade from Sanport.”
    I was still thinking about Otis. I had to find out, before I went too far with this.
    “It’s just possible the shop man may know something about it,” I said. He covers the front when I’m out.”
    “I was just coming to that,” Ramsey said. “Is he here now?”
    “Yes,” I said. “Just a moment.”
    I went out in the showroom and called him. He came in a moment later, wiping his hands on a piece of waste, which he shoved in the pocket of his overalls.
    I performed the introductions, and let Ramsey take it from there. Otis looked at the note, frowning, and then shook his head.
    “No,” he said. “I don’t place it.”
    I sat down and lit another cigarette.
    “It came from here,” I said. “There’s not much doubt of that; it was in that bank deposit this morning. You were here when I was making it up—remember, you came in while I was putting the change in the register. Do you recall seeing it while I was doing all that?”
    “I don’t think so,” he said. “But, hell, you could look right at it and not see it. It’s just another twenty-dollar bill. I could have taken it in myself.”
    He hadn’t noticed. I was shuffling money and he was making sardonic wisecracks about it, but that was as far as it went. He didn’t know I’d taken two twenties out of the register while putting the change in.
    He went back to the shop.
    I sighed and spread my hands. “Otis just about named it,” I said. “You look at money, but you never see it. Nothing but the figures in the corners.”
    He nodded. “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep trying, though. There are a number of angles in a thing of this sort. If the man comes back, for instance, you may remember waiting on him Friday or Saturday. When you sell a particular piece of merchandise, try to remember the last time you sold the same thing and how it was paid for.”
    “Okay,” I said. “Now, what about if another one shows up? You want me to call the bank? Or you?”
    “Call our office in Sanport. We would appreciate it.”
    “Any new twenty?” I asked. “Or does it have to have that mark?”
    “The mark is not significant,” he said thoughtfully. “Though it may have it. The things to watch for are the year, and then the number.”
    “Is it all right if I write this one down?”
    “Yes.”
    I pulled over a pad and drew the bill toward me. While I was copying the number I studied the stain intently. I was beginning to have an idea about that, and I was pretty sure he did too. I tried to memorize the exact form of it.
    “Anything else?” I asked.
    “If another one comes in with very close to the same number, call us immediately. If you know the person passing it, give us his name and address. If he’s a stranger, try to get the license number of his car and a good description of him. Unobtrusively, of course.”
    “Any others beside the twenties to watch for?”
    “No. That’s all,” he said. “Except . . .” He opened the briefcase again and came out with about a dozen photographs which he handed across to me. “Have you ever seen any of these men?”
    There were no names on them, but I didn’t need a tag to recognize the seventh one I turned up. It was Bill Haig.

Three
    There was no doubt of it; I had seen his picture in the papers several times, and it was even displayed in the post-office on a “wanted” notice right now unless it had been taken down in the last week.
    I leaned back in the chair and shook my head after I had