turning from what he was doing,
lifting the cover of the percolator on the electric plate. "Squat
Oog," he directed. "This is just about done. Be with you...."

The fragrant aroma of Mocha, Java and Brazilian coffee beans, ground,
mixed and blended until they had achieved a perfect harmony, perfumed
the air. Two cups, saucers and spoons lay on the desk. Beside them was
a bottle of brandy. Oogie and Sam shared the same vice, _coffee_.

Sam did the honors, and after both men sniffed with the deepest
delight of the brew, he leaned back in his chair and regarded the
muscular man at his side with both affection and speculation. After
all, Algernon Allerdyce, known to the wrestling public as Oogie the
Caveman, had been Sam's own discovery, and he was proud of it.

A flashback of memory brought a clear picture to Sam's mind: A huge
bulk of a man whose face could have served as a model for the drawing
of _Pithecanthropus Erectus_, entering his offices at the old
Hippodrome Building. The wonder he felt at the gentleness of the
voice, as the stranger asked:

"Sam Grogan?" And at Sam's nod, "I'm here in answer to the ad you had
placed in the _Sun_...."

That had been the beginning of a strange and very profitable
friendship. For Grogan had advertised for wrestlers and Allerdyce had
been the first of those to answer. It was Sam who gave him the name of
Oogie the Caveman. As such he had achieved fame around the wrestling
circuits, fame and fortune. Sam had learned many facts in the life of
Allerdyce during the three years of their association. How when
Allerdyce was fifteen a truck had struck the bike he was riding and
hurled the unfortunate boy into a tree which mashed his face to a
pulp. How the family had brought the injured youth to a famous plastic
surgeon who had performed surgery on him. The next day it was found
the surgeon was insane, and had been insane when he performed the
plastic work on the boy. The result was the ape-like face he had given
him.

"... Oogie," Sam said from the depth of his introspection, "I've got
news for you...."

Allerdyce took another appreciative sip of the brew before bending his
attention to the other. And then it was only with lifted brow and
questioning eyes.

"... The Big Deal we've been waiting for is on the fire," Sam said.

"At last, eh?" Allerdyce said.

"Yep! The big clean-up! A hundred grand guarantee plus a percentage.
It will mean at least two hundred thousand for you....