THE Adventurer       

       BY C. M. KORNBLUTH     

 ILLUSTRATED BY FREAS 

ILLUSTRATED BY FREAS

 For every evil under the sun, there's an answer. It may be a simple, direct answer; it may be one that takes years, and seems unrelated to the problem. But there's an answer—of a kind.... 

For every evil under the sun, there's an answer. It may be a simple, direct answer; it may be one that takes years, and seems unrelated to the problem. But there's an answer—of a kind....

       President Folsom XXIV said petulantly to his Secretary of the Treasury:       "Blow me to hell, Bannister, if I understood a single word of that. Why can't I buy the Nicolaides Collection? And don't start with the rediscount and the Series W business again. Just tell me why."     

       The Secretary of the Treasury said with an air of apprehension and a thread-like feeling across his throat: "It boils down to—no money, Mr. President."     

       The President was too engrossed in thoughts of the marvelous collection to fly into a rage. "It's such a bargain," he said mournfully. "An archaic Henry Moore figure—really too big to finger, but I'm no culture-snob, thank God—and fifteen early Morrisons and I can't begin to tell you what else." He looked hopefully at the Secretary of Public Opinion: "Mightn't I seize it for the public good or something?"     

       The Secretary of Public Opinion shook his head. His pose was gruffly professional. "Not a chance, Mr. President. We'd never get away with it. The art-lovers would scream to high Heaven."     

       "I suppose so.... Why isn't there any money?" He had swiveled dangerously on the Secretary of the Treasury again.     

       "Sir, purchases of the new Series W bond issue have lagged badly because potential buyers have been attracted to—"     

       "Stop it, stop it, stop it! You know I can't make head or tail of that stuff. Where's the money going?"     

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