The Plagiarist From Rigel IV

by Evan Hunter

CAN'T YOU READ, IDIOT?

"Of course I can read!" I protested.

THEN WHY DID YOU BEG MY PARDON?

I put my nose close to the keys and studied them. Then I looked around the room suspiciously. I was alone.

"This is absurd," I said. "Who ever heard of a typewriter...."

WHAT'S ABSURD?

I pointed my finger sharply at the machine. "And if you're so smart, why are you all in upper case? Suppose you tell me that!"

BECAUSE YOU LEFT THE SHIFT KEY LOCKED. IF YOU'D SIMPLY—

I stabbed out with my finger at the shift release, and the carriage dropped abruptly.

unlock the shift ... ok, there, thats much better.