The Melanie Carter Matter (Who'd Like To Rock The Old Doll To

The most popular sport on Boston's Charles River is rowing in one man's skulls. Or rather it was the most popular sport that is, until they took to beating on one man's skull. Mine! This is another in the Adventures of America's Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigator, Johnny Dollar!

At insurance investigation, Johnny Dollar is only an expert. At making out his expense account, he's an absolute genius! Expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar to Miss Melanie Carter, Pinkney Street, Beacon Hill, Boston.

The following is an accounting of my expenditures during assignment as your representative investigating list of your relatives who might be interested in murdering you for your insurance, or who'd like to rock the old doll to sleep or the un-nice niece and the charming young rat who put the few in the word nephew.

Spence account item one. Five dollars and ninety-eight cents. Airfare, Hartford to Boston. Item two, three and a quarter. Cabfare, Logan Airport to your residence on Beacon Hill. This is Mr. Dollar, the insurance man from Hartford. An electric latch unlocked the door you're flat and I step through straight out of this century into the last.

It was another world. A remnants of which you see today in antique shops, including those Chinese wind chimes that tinkled over by the window. And you, its tiny and aged queen, set across the 19th century room in your modern throne.

That chromium and black leather wheelchair. Come in, come in, Mr. Dolly. What's the matter, ma'am? Oh, nothing, nothing. You just remind me of someone I once knew. That's all. It was so... It comes down over here.

Thank you, Miss Carr. I take it you are, Miss Carr. Oh, yes, yes indeed. You probably expected a younger woman. Maybe, but certainly not one anymore attractive. You hold on to that gallantry of yours, young man.