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The tough nuts in fancy unifor lobby were not exactly friendly toward Isaac Bell, but he had visited Clyde Lynds often enough that they acknowledged a fareeted him by name

“Afternoon, Mr Bell,” said the door behind Bell ere carrying musical cases for horns, saxophones, a clarinet, a violin, and a double bass “Wait right there, gents! I’ll be with youse in a minute”

“They’re with me,” said Bell

“All of ’em?”

“Mr Lynds requested a band”

“Open those cases”

“Gentlemen,” Bell said mildly, “they’re jumpy here Show him your instruments”

Hinged open, the cases revealed shiny trumpets and saxophones, clarinets, a little violin, and an enor bass

“Fourth floor,” Bell told the glowering elevator operator, who glanced for the OK fro them to the fourth floor

Clyde Lynds aiting i?”

“Nervous dooruns”

“Idiots— All right, boys, sit yourselves around that recording horn Violin closest, tru bass back there”

“Where you want me?’ asked the clarinetist, a nattily dressed wisp of a felloho two bank robbers frouns

Clyde said, “Stand behind the violin and wait to come in until I tell you”

The string bass player,San Francisco’s corrupt police depart process