all I ask is a chance to show you our line.
Our products sell themselves. Besides, I'm paid on a demonstration
basis--so much for every potential customer who receives our free
sample and so much for every home demonstration. You wouldn't want me
to lose two-fifty when it would take only six and a third minutes of
your time exactly to look over one of the most amazing displays
ever...."

"Well, I don't know...."

"I know you'll enjoy watching our Tissue Cleanser in action and seeing
the new simplicity of our Home Re--...." (oops, he'd almost said it)
"... Hair Relustrification Kit. I promise you that your few minutes
won't be wasted."

"Yours would be, young man. I don't buy that stuff."

"You may be one of the lucky few women who don't need our products,
but I don't think you can say that before you've seen them."

"I never did see such persistence, honest to goodness!" Her face
assumed a crabbed smile. "Come along then."

* * * * *

She moved back from the door into the darkness of the house; and the
salesman shifted his case back to his left hand, pushed the front door
wide and took a quick long step inside. He was just in time to hear
the slight click of the closing of a second door in front of him. He
reached for the knob, turned it; but the door was locked. The outside
door still stood open, caught by the end of the sample case.

The July daylight from outside showed him that he was in a tiny
entrance hall not more than forty inches each way. He pulled the case
in and by squeezing against the inner door allowed the front door to
close. Anyhow, he was inside the house. He rapped sharply on the inner
door.

The latch on the front door snapped to and instantly the hall was
flooded with light from a tremendous bulb in the ceiling, which,
surprisingly, was twenty feet above him.

A harsh voice, tinny with tremendous amplification but unmistakably
that of the old woman, filled the hall, "ALL RIGHT, YOUNG MAN. I HAVE
THE VIZER TURNED ON YOU. LET'S SEE THE DEMONSTRATION. I BELIEVE YOU
SAID SIX MINUTES. GET ON WITH IT."

Screening his eyes with his fingers, the salesman scanned the walls
and ceiling for the vizer lens, found it beside the five-hundred watt
bulb pouring blindingly down on him, on the other side of a speaker
grille.

"C-certainly, madame." What a layout. As he automatically laid his
case on the floor and opened back the top against the front door, his
eyes sear