As I stepped back from the mic, I watched as my engineer, Effie Whitestone, cued up the recording of The Star Spangled Banner. She'd been doing a great job filling in for my regular engineer, who had been drafted a month or so ago. I grabbed my suit coat and was about to leave when Effie stopped me.

"Mr. Clark?" she asked.

"No need to be so formal, Effie," I said smiling. "You know you can call me Dave."

"Sorry" she blushed. "Anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a favor. Could you drop these off for me at the post office on your way home? I know its on your way…"

She handed me two white envelopes, both addressed to that beloved agency, the Internal Revenue Service.

"Ah ha!" So you're a late filer too!" I teased.

"I know," said the girl as she blushed again. "I needed to help my mother do her taxes too. Those forms can be so confusing, you know?"

I laughed. "No kidding. Seriously though, I haven't mailed mine in yet either. I need to go to the post office anyway."

"Thanks Mr. Clark!" said Effie as she turned to leave. "Just make sure you get there before they close at midnight. I don't want to pay a late penalty!"

"No problem!"

The post office is only six blocks from the station, and being only 11:35, I figured I had plenty of time. As I was walking down Kane Street, I passed the new library that was opening tomorrow. Stopping to look at the large signs and fancy ribbons that adorned the building for tomorrow's war bond rally, I happened to notice a light coming from inside the building.

Now, I know that I should've kept on going, but something about that light didn't seem right to me. I crept into the alley alongside the library, hopped up on the metal fire escape, and looked in the window. I sure didn't like what I saw.

Four men, dressed head to toe in black, were busy planting what looked like tiny explosives under several of the floor boards. These saboteurs, fifth columnists, or whatever they were, were definitely up to no good.

Remember how I said that I sometimes make the news too? Well, this was one of those times. I pulled the black mask out of my suit coat pocket, and put it and my pair of black gloves on (It's best if us mysterymen don't leave any finger prints, you know?). I don't wear any fancy, long-john type costume, so I was set to go. Midnight was about to make his grand entrance.

"Ahhh!" the man hollered. "It's….Its' the Spir--…."

Before he could finish, I hit him with a haymaker, and he crumpled to the ground.

"Close, but no cigar, fella!" I announced, knowing what he was going to say. "It happens all the time though, I look just like him!"

"It's Midnight!" hollered one of the others, this time getting my name right. "Stop 'im!"

While the head honcho looked on, the other two saboteurs charged towards me. One was roughly my size, and the other looked to have a couple of inches and at least 30 or 40 pounds on me. Having been a boxer during the Depression, I can't help but notice these things.

"Two on one?" I admonished. "Didn't your mothers ever teach you to fight fair?"

The saboteurs had no witty replies though; they must've been in a hurry like me. I got in a few good punches on the one my size before the big saboteur grabbed me from behind in a bear hug. I struggled and squirmed, but couldn't free myself.

"Hold 'im still!" growled the one as he picked up a metal chair and prepared to swing. "This oughtta fix 'im!"

I shook my head sadly. Bad guys never seem to get any smarter. They must come from one big mold marked "Dummies." As he swung the chair, I simply ducked and let the big guy take the hit.

SMACKKKKK!

The big guy, and the dented chair, both hit the floor while the other saboteur stood there with a dumbfounded expression on his face. He didn't stand there much longer though as I quickly pummeled him. Now then, where did their leader, the last saboteur, go to?

"Don't move!" came his voice from behind me. "Or I'll detonate the bombs right now!"

I turned to face the leader (villains never really mean it when they say "don't move"), and I could see the metallic detonator device in his hand.

"You blow me up, and you die too!" I warned as I stalled for time. "What do you hope to accomplish by that?"

My bait worked. Hook, line, and sinker. As he rambled on and on, as villains are prone to do, I slowly removed my vacuum gun from it's holster on my belt. It's a pretty neat gizmo my scientist friend Doc Wackey made for me, and it fires a super strong suction cup that I can reel in like a fishing line.

"….and that's why we're blowing up the library!" finished the lead saboteur.