"No. Just conventional old rifles and shotguns. Let's hope nobody starts anything."
"Look," Alis said, grabbing Don by the arm. "Isn't that Ed Clark going into the Gripe Room?"
"It sure is. Gathering material for another powerful editorial, I guess."
But within minutes Clark's visit had provoked another bustle of activity. Two of Thebold's men dashed out of the renovated store and off toward the country club. They came back with the Senator himself, making his first public appearance.
Thebold strode down the center of the midway, wearing his soft aviator's helmet with the goggles pushed up on his forehead and his silk scarf fluttering behind him. A group of small boys followed him, imitating his self-confident walk and scrambling occasionally for the Thebold buttons he threw to them. The Senator went into the Gripe Room.
"Looks as if Ed has wangled an interview with the great man himself," Alis said.
"You didn't say anything to Clark about our talk with the Gizl, did you?"
"I did mention it to him," Alis said. "Was that bad?"
"Half an hour ago I would have said no. Now I'm not so sure."