same size as this one, or
say make twenty-four so that we shall have some extra ones in case of
accident. These two will be put into action at once. Naka Machi, bring
me Lecky, completely uniformed as a smart chauffeur! Have you laid in
a store of clothing, as I bade you, to fit every conceivable need of
Lecky, Stanley, Morton and Cleve?"

"Yes, my master."

"Then bring in Lecky accoutered as a chauffeur."

Ten minutes later a young man entered behind Naka Machi. He was
slender and his chauffeur's uniform fitted him like a glove. He looked
like a soldier in it. Indeed his bearing, his whole stance, spoke of
many years as a soldier--and a proud one. The fellow was brimful of
health. His cheeks were rosy with vitality. He looked like a man with
health so abundant he never found means to tire himself to the point
where he could sleep dreamlessly.

But, nevertheless his arms hung listlessly at his sides. His eyes
seemed empty of hope, dull and lifeless, and one looked into those
eyes and shuddered. One tried to gaze deeply into them and found
oneself baffled. There was no soul behind them.

"Come here, Lecky," said Barter coldly.

- - -

Lecky glided effortlessly forward to stand before Barter.

"You've no brains, Lecky," said Barter emotionlessly; "no brains of
your own. You have a splendid body which moves only at the will of
Caleb Barter. I need that body for my purposes. But a man with brains
is dangerous. That's why you haven't any."

Barter now took the silvery tympanum with the ball atop it and set it
on the head of Lecky. On top of it he placed the chauffeur's cap,
bringing it down tightly to keep the tympanum in place.

"If I had it to do again I'd insert the tympanum under the skull as
part of the operation, Naka Machi," said Barter as he worked. "We'll
do that hereafter. And we begin work immediately. I'm going to send
Lecky out now to get the first subject."

"The first subject, sir?"

"Yes. Manhattan's richest man. A man must have brains to become
Manhattan's richest man, and I need men with brains. His name is
Harold Hervey. He will be leaving his office in the Empire State
Building in about half an hour. I want Lecky to be on hand to meet
him."

On his own head Barter placed a second tympanum which Naka Machi had
brought him. Over it he pulled a rubber cap, like a bathing cap with a
hole cut in the top.

"Now, we'll try it out, Naka Machi," said Barter. "Which one of these
li