 Had the gun barrel not became extremely hot and burned Higgins, what would have likely happened during his standoff?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] There was Mrs. Dolly Daniels, withdrawing money from her savings account again. The man who had spoken withdrew a small but mean-looking thirty-two calibre pistol from his jacket pocket. One of the others took the pistol away from Mister Anderson, the guard, and said to him in a low voice, "Think about retirement, my friend." The third one, who carried a black satchel like a doctor's bag, walked quickly around behind the teller's counter and started filling it with money. The man who had first spoken herded the tellers, Mr. Featherhall and the customers all over against the back wall, while the second man stayed next to Mr. Anderson and the door. She fell unconscious to the floor, and all three of them ran out of the bank to the car out front, in which sat a very nervous-looking fourth man, gunning the engine. The police cars and the getaway car passed one another, with everybody shooting like the ships in pirate movies. Except that in the trunk lid the owner had burned in 'The Scorpion' in big black letters you could see half a block away." "It was four professional criminals, I thought you knew that.
 The police would have had to force entry into his home and take him into custody.
 Higgins' wife would have eventually been able to convince him to surrender.  The police would have eventually given up on their suspect and left the scene.  The police would have had to force entry into his home and take him into custody.  Higgins' sister would have eventually been able to convince him to surrender.