The Electronic Mind Reader   By: Harold L. Goodwin (1914-1990)

Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

[Illustration: Horrified with fear, the men threw themselves to the deck ]

A RICK BRANT SCIENCE ADVENTURE STORY

THE

ELECTRONIC

MIND READER

BY JOHN BLAINE

GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS

NEW YORK, N. Y.

© BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1957

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I THE MILLION DOLLAR GIMMICK 1

II THE INVASION OF SPINDRIFT 10

III A SYSTEM WITHIN A SYSTEM 24

IV A HAIRCUT AND A WINK 33

V JANIG RUNS A SECURITY CHECK 45

VI A CALM PRECEDES A STORM 55

VII THE PERIPATETIC BARBER 65

VIII THE MIND READER STRIKES 74

IX DAGGER OF THE MIND 86

X SEARCH FOR STRANGERS 94

XI THE DANGEROUS RESEMBLANCE 105

XII THE COAST GUARD DRAWS A BLANK 119

XIII THE MEGABUCK MOB ACTS 130

XIV SURVEILLANCE WITH CEREAL 148

XV A MATTER OF BRAIN WAVES 154

XVI THE VANISHING MERMAIDS 164

XVII POINTER TO DISASTER 179

XVIII THE ONE MAN BOARDING PARTY 186

XIX TAPED FOR TROUBLE 194

XX JANIG CLOSES IN 202

THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER

CHAPTER I

The Million Dollar Gimmick

Rick Brant stretched luxuriously and slid down to a half reclining, half sitting position in his dad's favorite library armchair. He called, "Barby! Hurry up!"

Don Scott looked up from his adjustment of the television picture. "What's the rush? The show hasn't started yet."

Rick explained, "She likes the commercials."

A moment later Barbara Brant appeared in the doorway, hastily finishing a doughnut. Rick cocked an eyebrow at her. "If you're going to eat, you might at least bring a plateful, so we can have some, too."

Barby gulped. "Sorry. I didn't intend to have a doughnut. I went to the kitchen to see if Mom and Dad wanted to watch the show, and they were having doughnuts and milk."

"Never mind," Scotty said. "We forgive you. We'll get ours later. Are Mom and Dad coming?"

"Maybe later. Now be quiet, please, so I can hear the commercial."

Dismal, the Brant pup, wandered in and paused at Rick's chair to have his ears scratched before taking up his favorite position, under the TV table. Rick obliged and the shaggy pup groaned with pleasure.

"Why all the interest in a breakfast food commercial?" Scotty asked.

"The announcer is cute," Barby stated.

This made no sense to Scotty. He stretched out on the rug in front of the set, then rolled over on his back and looked up at the girl. "I don't get it. Then why do you eat Crummies for breakfast instead of the hay this guy sells?"

"The Crummies announcer is cuter," Barby explained patiently.

The boys grinned and fell silent as the cereal salesman went into his spiel. Barby perched on the edge of a chair and listened attentively.

Rick watched his sister's expressive face, chuckling to himself. Barby always listened to the commercials. It was only fair, she insisted, and the boys went along with her wishes. Come right down to it, Rick thought, listening to commercials was the price that had to be paid for entertainment. Not listening meant not paying the price. He didn't think that the point was particularly important, but there was a small element of justice in Barby's view.