“What’ll you bet?” Sellers asked.

“Fifty bucks,” Bertha said quickly. “Come on, is it a go?”

I could see that that bothered Sellers. He hesitated for a minute then said, “I’m not betting, but I’m taking a look around, just the same.”

“You can’t search my apartment,” Claire Bushnell said.

“Oh, oh,” Sellers observed. “That’s the pay off.”

“Well, you can’t. You haven’t a warrant and you just can’t come barging in here. How do I know you’re an officer?”

“Bertha knows I’m an officer,” Sellers said. “Why don’t you want me to search the place, sister?”

“Because it’s my place. I don’t like the idea of police barging in here and going through it just any time they happen to feel like it.”

“Still want to bet?” Sellers asked Bertha.

There was a long interval of silence, then Bertha said dubiously, “I’ll bet you ten bucks.”