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                            THE EXPENDABLES

                             BY JIM HARMON

                    It was just a little black box,
                   useful for getting rid of things.
                   Trouble was, it worked too well!

           [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
                Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1962.
         Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
         the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]


"You see my problem, Professor?" Tony Carmen held his pinkly manicured,
flashily ringed hands wide.

I saw his problem and it was warmly embarrassing.

"Really, Mr. Carmen," I said, "this isn't the sort of thing you discuss
with a total stranger. I'm not a doctor--not of medicine, anyway--or a
lawyer."

"They can't help me. I need an operator in your line."

"I work for the United States go