◆ SpookStack

va) wee gt ee voy NY 100-162445 "The conspiracy appeared to be in full flower yesterday, when Hoffman toured four bookstores in the area, three of which (Lauriat's, the Old Corner Book Store at 50 Bromfleld st., and the Paperback Booksmith, 37a Brattle st., Cambridge) had nary a copy on hand and the (The Coop) appeared to be giving it the kind of display Jack Benny usually reserves for his money. "After swiping the Currier & Ives book, it was off to the Back Bay offices of The Phoenix, where Hoffman outlined future plans. His next book will be on how to rob banks, and he is trying to work out a scheme for a ‘hustlers convention' at which Willie Sutton will be keynote speaker and the feasibility will be explored of constructing a ‘Rip-off stitute,' "Next on the agenda was the trip to Cambridge - specifically to the Coop and a confrontation with a clerk at the customers service desk, “ "Hoffman: 'Do you carry 'Steal This Book'?? "Clerk: 'Yeah,! “Hoffman: ‘Where?! "Clerk: ‘In the bosses' office.’ "'How come there's a price on it if you can steal 1t?' challenged a girl with heavy eye-shadow. "'tBecause some people are dumb enough to pay $2 for it,’ answered the author, "After some conversation, Hoffman managed to convince the clerks that 'Steal This Book' might do a little business if The Coop's customers were made aware there was such a book. TE me eS ne RE ICD CC EET GRE ogee, GBR re ae ee ee ee re