ange
the life of these other planes. Think of it!"

"Life--plane--dimensions?" said Bert blankly. "Remember, I know very
little about this science of yours."

* * * * *

"Haven't you read the news-paper accounts of Einstein's researches and
of others who have delved into the theory of relativity?"

"Sa-ay! I read them, but they don't tell me a thing. It's over my head
a mile."

"Well, listen: this universe of ours--space and all it contains--is a
thing of five dimensions, a continuum we have never begun to
contemplate in its true complexity and immensity. There are three of
its dimensions with which we are familiar. Our normal senses perceive
and understand them--length, breadth and thickness. The fourth
dimension, time, or, more properly, the time-space interval, we have
only recently understood. And this fifth dimension, Bert, is something
no man on earth has delved into--excepting myself."

"You don't say." Bert was properly impressed; the old gleam of the
enthusiastic scientist was in Tom's keen eyes.

"Surest thing. I have called this fifth dimension the interval of
oscillation, though the term is not precisely correct. It has to do
with the arrangement, the speed and direction of movement, and the
polarity of protonic and electronic energy charges of which matter is
comprised. It upsets some of our old and accepted natural laws--one in
particular. Bert, two objects can occupy the same space at the same
time, though only one is perceptible to our earthbound senses. Their
differently constituted atoms exist in the same location without
interference--merely vibrating in different planes. There are many
such planes in this fifth dimension of space, all around us, some
actually inhabited. Each plane has a different atomic structure of
matter, its own oscillation interval of the energy that is matter, and
a set of natural laws peculiar to itself. I can't begin to tell you;
in fact, I've explored only a fraction. But here--look!"

* * * * *

Tom's instrument set up a soft purring at his touch of a lever, and
eery blue light flickered from behind the double eyepiece, casting
grotesque shadows on walls and ceiling, and paling to insignificance
the light of day that filtered through the long-unwashed windows.

Bert squinted through the hooded twin lenses. At first he was dazzled
and confused by the rapidly whirling light-images, but these quickly
res