asked the reporter, throwing his cigarette down
on the brick floor and stepping on it. "You're his old friend from
college days, handled his financial affairs, and helped him raise enough
money to build his machine?"

"Yes," Stern replied, a little pompously. "It was through my efforts
that several wealthy men took an interest in the machine, so that Dr.
Curtis did not have to bear the entire expense himself."

"Yeah, yeah," the reporter sighed. "I read an old story on it before I
came here. Now I'm out of cigarettes." He looked hopefully at Stern.

Stern returned the look coldly. "There's a store where you can buy some
about three blocks down the road."

"Is that the room where he's expected to materialize with his machine?"
The reporter pointed to an inner door.

"Yes. Dr. Curtis wanted to be sure no one would be injured. This inner
circular room was built first; then he had the outer wall put up as an
added precaution. The circular passageway we're in leads all around the
old room, but this doorway is the only entrance."

"And what are those holes in the top of the door for?"

"If he returns, we can tell by the displaced air rushing out. Then the
door will open automatically."

"And when is the return scheduled for?" asked the reporter.

"Three-forty-seven and twenty-nine seconds."

"If it happens," the reporter added skeptically. "And if it doesn't, we
have to wait another year."

"Optimum conditions occur just once a year."

"Well, I'm going out to get some cigarettes. I've got time ... and
probably nothing to wait for. I'll return though."

He walked briskly through the outer door.

* * * * *

"This is the hardest part of the year, especially now. Suppose he did
come back," Beryl said plaintively.

"You don't have to worry," Stern assured her. "Clyde himself said that
if he didn't come back the second year, he might not make it at all."
Stern opened his gold case now and offered Beryl a cigarette.

She shook her head. "But he made two trial runs in it first and came
back."

"That was for a short distance only--that is, a short distance
astronomically. Figuring for Mars was another story. Maybe he missed the
planet and ..."

"Oh, don't! It's just not _knowing_ that I can't stand."

"Well," he said drily, "we'll know in--" he stopped and looked at his
wristwatch--"in just about fifteen minutes."

"I can't wait," she moaned.

He put his arm around her. "Rela