to drop toward the floor. Sheila came up off the
couch with a choking cry and leaped for the door. Mother Corey's immense
arm moved out casually, sweeping her back onto the couch.

"Very convenient," the old man said. "The two of you simply fill out a
form--I've got a few left from the last time--and get Izzy and me to
witness it. Drop it in the mail, and you're married."

"If you think I'd marry you, you filthy--" Sheila began.

Mother Corey listened attentively. "Rich, but not very imaginative," he
said thoughtfully. "But she'll learn. Izzy, I have a feeling we should
let them settle their differences."

As the door shut behind them, Gordon yanked Sheila back to the couch.
"Shut up!" he told her. "This isn't a game. Hell's popping here--you
know that better than most people. And I'm up to my neck in it. If I've
got to marry you to keep you out of my hair, I will."

Her face was pasty-white, but she bent her head, and fluttered her
eyelashes up at him. "So romantic," she sighed. "You sweep me off my
feet. You--Why, you--"

"Me or Trench! I can take you to him and tell him you're mixed up in
Security, and that you either have papers on you or out at the Chicken
Coop to prove it. He won't believe _you_ if I take you in. Well?"

She looked at him a long time in silence, and there was surprise in her
eyes. "You'd do it! You really would.... All right; I'll sign your
damned papers!"

Ten minutes later, he stood in what was now a connecting double room,
watching Mother Corey nail up the hall door to the room that was to be
hers. There were no windows here, and his own room had an excellent lock
on it already--one he'd put on himself. Izzy came back as Mother Corey
finished the door and began knocking a small panel out of the connecting
door. The old man was surprisingly adept with his hands as he fitted
hinges and a catch to the panel, and re-installed it so that Sheila
could swing it open.

"They're married," Izzy said. "It's in the mail to the register, along
with the twenty credits. Gov'nor, we're about due to report in."

Gordon nodded. "Be with you in a minute," he said as he paid Mother
Corey for the materials and work. He jerked his head and the two men
went out, leaving him alone with Sheila.

"I'll bring you some food tonight. And you may not have a private bath,
but it beats the Chicken Coop. Here." He handed her the key to the
connecting door. "It's the only key there is."

Chapter XI

THE S