two detectives who were fighting their
way toward him. He made two successful leaps missed his foothold and
fell in the arms of his enemies. In blind fury he felt the smash of
blows on his face and head. A stream of blood was trickling down his
forehead and its salty taste penetrated his mouth. With a desperate
effort he freed his hands and knocked two men down.

A sudden crash from space seemed to send the world into a mass of
flaming splinters and the light faded. He heard the soft rustle of silk
and felt the pressure of a woman's lips on his. Surely he must be dead
was the first thought that flashed through his mind. And then from
somewhere far away in space came Nan's voice low and tense:

"Come back, Jim, dear, I've something to tell you. You can't die, you
shall not die until I've told you!"

A tear fell on his face and he knew no more until suddenly, into the
dark cave in which he lay dead a ray of sunlight flashed.

He opened his eyes and found Nan bending over him. His hand rested on
her soft arm and his head lay pillowed on her breast.

"Why, Nan, it's you."

Her lips quivered. She closed her eyes and murmured:

"Thank God, you're alive!"

"Why, yes," he said, slowly rising. "Very much alive; what's happened?"

She placed her finger on his lips.

"Oh, I remember now."

"You mustn't talk, Jim," she said, with quiet authority. "The doctor
will be here in a moment."

"Oh, I'm not hurt much, just a few scratches and bruises." He lifted
himself on his elbow. "Oh the snake that choked me! If I could only
have killed him I think I'd be happy."

He looked at Nan in a stupor.

"But what on earth are you doing here, Nan?"

He looked about the room and saw that he was in the inner office of the
president of the bank, alone with Bivens's wife. He was lying on the
big leather couch.

"I heard that you were going to speak this morning. I wanted to hear
you and came. I arrived just as you began and managed to get into the
bank. I saw that man try to kill you, Jim, and that crowd of wild
beasts trampling you to death. I saw you knock them down one at a time
while I watched you, paralyzed with fear. I wanted to rush out and
fight my way to your side--but I was a coward. I tried to go, but my
legs wouldn't move. I only stood there trembling and sobbing for some
one else to go. I'm afraid I'm not very heroic."

Stuart smiled feebly.

"I understand, Nan, I felt the same thing out there."

"The two detect