ftly, might wreak an unholy amount of
damage in little time; in the resulting confusion anything might happen.
If!

* * * * *

Into the depths of his concentration came the odor of tsin-tsin flowers,
followed by the familiar, silkie voice of his arch-enemy.

"I see you are deep in thought, my friend. I trust it indicates your
complete recovery."

Dr. Ku Sui stood smiling in the doorway, his same bodyguard of three
armed men behind him. His sardonic words brought no reply. He went on:

"I hope so. I have arranged, thanks to your kindness, a meeting with an
old, dear friend of yours. An illustrious friend: he already honors my
establishment with his presence. I have come to ask you to join us."

The Hawk's gray eyes turned frigid: a lesser man would have blanched at
the threat implied in his answer.

"God help you, Ku Sui."

The Eurasian turned it aside. "Always," he said, "God helps those who
help themselves. But come with me, if you'll be so kind. We are expected
in the laboratory."

This exchange passed quickly. Friday was still grasping at its
underlying meanings as they again filed down the short straight outside
corridor. It brought a perverse satisfaction to see the coolie guards
bearing their ray-guns unsheathed and ready. Ku Sui's general attitude
did not fool him. He knew that the man's suave mockery and flowery
courtesy were camouflage for a very real fear of the quick wits and
brilliant, pointed action of his famous master, the Hawk.

Carse walked steadily enough, but every step he took beat in his mind
like the accents of a dirge. For he had betrayed into the hands of the
Eurasian his most loved and loyal friend. Betrayed him! Despicably
egotistical he had been in submitting to the chair, in not making one
last wild break for freedom at that time. He had thought he could beat
Ku Sui at his own game. Ku Sui, of all men!

* * * * *

Unseen hands opened from the other side the metal laboratory door, they
passed through and the close-fitting halves closed behind them. Ku Sui
went to the main switchboard and Carse glanced rapidly around. Leithgow
was not there. The wire-ball device was gone, but otherwise the details
of the room were unchanged, even to the four white-clad assistants whose
fine heads had eyes so lifeless and faces so expressionless. Emphasized,
now, somehow, was the tall screen that hid something on one