t want any trouble."

"You don't look any different from us Earth people, Mrs. Dunny. How does
one tell the difference between a Martian and an Earthman when one sees
one?"

"Oh, we don't _look_ any different," said Mrs. Dunny. "Some of the kids
don't even know they're Martians. Most mothers don't tell their children
until they're grown-up. And there are other children who are never told
because they just don't develop their full powers."

"What powers?"

"Oh, telepathy, thought control--that sort of thing."

"You mean that Martians can read people's thoughts?"

"Sure! It's no trouble at all. It's very easy really, once you get the
hang of it."

"Can you read my mind?" I asked, smiling.

"Sure!" said Mrs. Dunny, smiling up at me. "That's why I said that I'd
know the answers. I'll be able to read the answers from your mind when
you look at that sheet of paper."

"Now, that's hardly sporting, is it, Mrs. Dunny?" I said, turning to the
camera. The audience laughed. "Everybody else has to do it the hard way
and here you are reading it from my mind."

"All's fair in love and war," said Mrs. Dunny.

"Tell me, Mrs. Dunny. Why are you telling me about all this? Isn't it
supposed to be a secret?"

"I have my reasons," said Mrs. Dunny. "Nobody believes me anyhow."

"Oh, I believe you, Mrs. Dunny," I said gravely. "And now, let's see how
you do on the questions. Are you ready?"

She nodded.

"Name the one and only mammal that has the ability to fly," I asked,
reading from the script.

"A bat," she said.

"Right! Did you read that from my mind?"

"Oh, yes, you're coming over very clear!" said Mrs. Dunny.

"Try this one," I said. "A princess is any daughter of a sovereign. What
is a princess royal?"

"The eldest daughter of a sovereign," she said.

"Correct! How about this one? Is a Kodiak a kind of simple box camera; a
type of double-bowed boat; or a type of Alaskan bear?"

"A bear," said Mrs. Dunny.

"Very good," I said. "That was a hard one." I asked her seven more
questions and she got them all right. None of the other contestants even
came close to her score, so I wound up giving her the gas range and a
lot of other smaller prizes.

After we were off the air I followed the audience out into the hall.
Mrs. Dunny was walking towards the lobby with an old paper shopping bag
under her arm. An attendant was following her with an armful of prizes.

I caught up with her before she reached the door.