The package was lying by the front door- a cube shaped carton sealed with tape, their name and address printed by hand: "Mr. and Mrs. Arthur lewis, 217-E Thirty-seven street, New york, New york 10016". Norma picked it up, unlocked the door, and went into the apartment. It was just getting dark.

After she had put the lamb chops in the boiler. She sat down to open the package.

Inside the carton was a push-button unit fastened to a small wooden box. A glass dome covered the button. Norma tried to lift it off, but it was locked in place. She turned the unit over and saw a folded piece of paper scotch-taped to the bottom of the box. She pulled it off:" Mr. Steward will call you on at 8:00 PM."

Norma put the bottom unit beside her on the couch. She reread the typed note, smiling.

A few moments later, she went back into the kitchen to make the salad. The doorbell rang at 8 o'clock. "I'll get it." Norma called from the kitchen. Arthur was in the living room, reading. There was a small man in the hallway. He removed hus hat as Norma opened the door.

"Mrs. Lewis?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Mr. Steward."

"Oh, yes." Norma repressed a smile. She was sure now it was a sales pitch.

"May I come in?" asked Mr. Steward.

"I'm rather busy," Norma said.

"Don't you want to know what it is?"

Norma turned back. Mr Steward's tone had been offensive. " No. I don't think so," she replied.

"It could prove very valuable," he told her

" Monetarily?" She challenged.

Mr. Steward nodded, "Monetarily", he answered.

Norma frowned. She didn't like his attitude.

"What are you trying to sell." She asked.

" I'm not selling anything," he answered.

Arthur came out of the living room. " Something wrong?"

Mr. Steward introduced himself.

" Oh\, the _______" Arthur pointed towards the living room and smiled.

"What is that gadget, anyway?"

"It won't take long to explain," replied Mr. Steward. " May I come in?"

"If if your selling something_________\," Arthur said.

Mr. Steward shock his head, " I'm not."

Arthur looked at Norma. "Up to you." she said.

He hesitated. "Well, why not?" he said.

They went into the living room and Mr. Steward sat on Norma's chair. He reached into an inside coat pocket and withdraw a small sealed envelope. " Inside here is a key to the bell-unit dome," he said. He sat the envelope on the chair side table. " The bell is connected to our office."

" What's it for." asked Arthur.

" If you push the button," Mr. Steward told him, " Somewhere in the world someone you don't know wil die. In the return for which you will receive a payment of $50,000."

Norma stared at the small man. He was smiling.

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked him.

Mr. Steward looked surprised. " But I've just explained," he said.

"Is this a practical joke?" asked Arthur.

" Not at all the offer is completely genuine."

"You aren't making any sense\," Arthur said. " You expect us to believe______."

"Who do you represent." demanded Norma.

Mr. Steward looked embarrassed. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to tell you that," he said.

"However, I can assure you, the organization is of international scope.

"I think you'd better leave," Arthur said standing.

Mr. Steward rose. " Of course."

"And take button unit with you."

"Are you sure you won't care to think about it for a day or so?"

Arthur picked up the button unit and envelope and thurst them into Mr. Steward's hands. He walked into the hall and opened the door.

"I'll leave my card." said Mr. Steward. He placed it on the table by the door.

When he was gone, Arthur tore it in half and tossed the pieces onto the table.

Norma was still sitting on the sofa. "What do you think it was?" She asked.

"I don't care to know," he answered.

She tried to smile but couldn't. "Aren't you curious at all?"

"No." He shocked his head.

After Arthur has returned to his book, Norma went back to kitchen and finished washing the dishes.

"Why won't you talk about it?" Norma asked.

Arthur's eyes shifted as he brushed his teeth. He looked at her reflect in the bathroom mirror.

"Doesn't it intrigue you?"

"It offends me, Arthur said.

"I know but" ______ Norma rolled another curl in her hair_____" Doesn't it intrigue you\, too?" "You think it's a practical joke?" She asked as they went into the room.

" If it is, it's a sick one."

Norma sat on her chair and said after a moment.

"May be it is some kind od psychological research."

Arthur shrugged. " Could be."

" May be some eccentric millionaire is doing it."

" May be."

" Wouldn't you like to know?" Arthur shocked his head.

" Why?"

" Because it is immortal."he told her. Norma slid beneath the covers. " Well, it is intriguing," she said. Arthur turned off the lamp." Good night." he said.

Norma closed her eyes. Fifty thousand dollars, she thought. In the morning as she left the apartment, Norma saw card halves on the table. Impulsively she dropped them into her purse.

She locked the front door and joined Arthur in the elevator.

While she was on her coffee break, she took the card halves from her purse and held the torn edges together. Only Mr. Steward's name and telephone number was printed on the card. After lunch, she took the card halves from her purse again and scotch-taped the edges together. "Why am I doing this?" She thought. Just before five she dialed the number.

"Good afternoon said Mr. Steward's voice.

Norma almost hung up herself but restrained herself.

She clear her throat.

"Thus is Mrs. Lewis." she said.

"Yes, Mrs. Lewis." Mr. Steward sounded pleased.

" I'm curious."

" That's natural." Mr. Steward said.

" Not that I believe a word of what you told us."

" Oh, it's quite authentic." Mr. Steward answered.

" Well\, whatever_______" Norma swallowed. " When you said someone in the world would die what did you mean?"

" Exactly that" he answered. " It could be anyone. All we guarantee that you don't know them. And, of course, that you won't have to watch them die."

" For $50,000." Norma said.

" That's correct." Norma made a scoffing sound.

" That's crazy."

"Nonetheless, that is the proposition," Mr. Steward said. "Would you like me to return rhe button unit?"

Norma stiffened. "Certainly not." She hung up angrily.

The package was lying on the front door; Norma saw it as she left the elevator. Well, of the nerve, she thought. She glared at the carton as she unlock the door. I just woke take it in, she thought. She went inside and started dinner.

Later, she went into the front hall. Opening the door, she picked up the package and carried it into the kitchen, leaving it on the table.

She sat in the living room, looking out the window. After a while, she went back into the kitchen to turn the cutlets in the broiler. She put the package in a bottom cabinet. She'd throw it out in the morning.

"May be some eccentric millionaire is playing games with people," she said.

Arthur looked up from his dinner." I don't understand you."

"What does that mean?"

" Let it go," he told her.

Norma ate in silence. Suddenly, she put her fork down. "Suppose it's a genuine offer?" She said.

Arthur stared at her.

" Suppose it's a genuine offer?"

"All right, suppose it is?" He looked incredulous. "What would you like to do? Get the button back and push it? Murder someone?"

Norma looked disguised. " Murder."

" How would you define it?"

"If you don't even know the person?" Norma said.

Arthur looked astounded, " Are you saying what I think you are?"

" If it's some old chinese peasant ten thousand miles away? Some disease narive in the Congo?"

" How about some baby boy in Pennsylvania?" Arthur countered. " Some beautiful little girl on the next block?"

" Now you're loading things."

" The point is, Norma," he continued. " What's the difference who you kill? It's still murder."

" The point is," Norma broke in, " if it's someone you've never seen in life and never will see, someone whose death you don't even have to know about, you still won't push button?"

 Arthur stared at her, appalled. " You mean you would."

"Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur."

" What has the amount________"

" Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur," Norma interrupted." A chance to take that trip to Europe we've always talked about."

" Norma, no."

" A chance to buy that cottage on the island."

" Norma, no." His face was white,

She shuddered. " All right, take it easy," she said. "Why are you getting so upset? It's only talk."

After dinner, Arthur went into the living room. Before he left the table, he said, "I'd rather not discuss it anymore, if you don't mind."

Norma shrugged," Fine with me."

She got up earlier than usual to make pancakes, eggs, and tea for Arthur's breakfast.

"What's the occasion?" he asked with a smile.

" No occasion." Norma looked offended. " I wanted to do it, that's all."

" Good," he said. "I'm glad you did."

She refilled his cup. " Wanted to show you I'm not_____\," she shrugged.

" Not what?"

" Selfish."

"Did i say you were?"

" Wel"_____she gestured vaguely_____" last night".......

Arthur didn't speak.

" All that talk about button\, "Norma said." I think you____well\, misunderstood me."

" In what way?" His voice was guarded.

"I think you felt" _____she gestured again___"that I was only thinking of myself."

"Oh."

" I wasn't."

" Norma_____