I just mentioned will have a catalyzing effect on telurox,
increasing its activity fifty per cent--more than enough to bring the
earth back to its orbit. So my experiments indicate. Try it out just as
soon as possible!"

Such was one of the first messages that Dan tapped out to his wife,
after a few explanatory interchanges.

"For God's sake, hurry! At any minute those bandits may catch on!" the
message continued. "Let me hear the results as soon as you can! We've
just got to succeed, and trap them!"

Several days went by, while the signals still flashed back and forth.
But Dan knew, as did Lucile also, that their time was short, very short.
All too soon the week allowed him by Hogarth, Wiley and Malvine passed;
all too soon the sinister three paid him another visit.

They found him still working at the Deflector, from whose interior once
more a strange rat-tat-tat was issuing.

"Well," demanded Hogarth, "what success?"

Dan looked up casually. "Oh," he declared, trying to appear unconcerned,
"as much as could be expected."

"What the devil does that mean?" snapped Wiley, projecting his ridged
horse-face pugnaciously. "You promised results in a week. Have you had
them? Can you put the earth back on its orbit?"

"If you'll give me more time--"

"More time, and we'll all be driven to our deaths!" stormed Malvine.
"Not another day! No, not another hour!"

Wiley, who had been peering into the recesses of the Deflector, was
fumbling in an exploratory fashion at its fittings. Suddenly he pulled a
half concealed lever, released a panel, and let out a low whistle. "What
in blazes is this?"

With an angry wrench, he drew out a mass of wires, bulbs and batteries.
"Looks to me like a radio transmitter!" he growled.

All three men glared menace at Dan. He had foreseen and dreaded this
very event. Confronted with the evidence, it would be folly to attempt a
denial. His only course would be to try to turn suspicion in the least
dangerous channel.

"Of course it's a radio transmitter," he admitted, quietly. "I'll be
frank with you--I was hoping to find a chance to get away."

Ominously the three conspirators closed about him. There was a nasty
rumble in Wiley's voice as he decided. "Well then, you damned traitor,
it's up to us to put you where you won't get away--not for many a good
long day! We were cursed fools to place any trust in you!"

Abruptly he motioned to the guards. "Solitary confinement again--and a
brea