ir stooge, the crawling worms!"

He took a turn or two about the room, then went on, more composedly.

"Remember how I agreed to use the Deflector to pull the earth a few
thousand miles off its course--only a few thousand, for experimental
purposes! Well, now it's more than that distance off, and getting
further every minute. This afternoon I put it up to them that we'd
better send things into reverse. What do you think they did? Laughed at
me!"

"I don't call it exactly a laughing matter."

"Believe me, it's not! That fellow Wiley came up, with his horse-like
face and black eyes that seemed to drill right into me. 'Listen here,
old boy,' he said. 'I'll let you into a secret. We haven't any idea of
putting the earth back on its orbit--not just yet! We'll let the
distance widen a few million miles. We're going to raise hell on this
planet--simply hell!'"

"My glory, is he crazy?"

"Not by a long shot! That's the terrible part of it. They outlined their
scheme to me--enough, anyhow, to show it's the most diabolical plot ever
hatched. Thought I would work with them. 'Never fear, you'll get your
share of the swag, old fellow!' Wiley promised. What does he take me
for--a louse?"

The vivid blue flames of his anger seemed to leap straight out of Dan's
eyes.

"Well, what is their plot?"

"To steal the planet--make themselves a World Triumvirate, the dirty
cutthroats! Their scheme is clever too, clever as the devil!"

* * * * *

By degrees he explained the conspiracy, so far as he knew it. Wiley and
his colleagues intended to deflect five or ten per cent of the sun's
gravity, so sending the earth several million miles farther into space.
This would not be fatal, but would cause great climatic inconveniences,
and would so alarm the whole world that it would pay any price to get
back on its orbit. By that time the agents of the Triumvirate would be
planted in every country--Quislings of the sort that can always be
bribed by the prospect of a little power, a little notoriety. When the
present national leaders had been frightened out of their wits, they
would be willing, even eager to turn over the reins to the Triumvirate
"for the duration of the emergency," in the belief that Hogarth and his
fellows would save the earth. Meanwhile the Triumvirs would establish a
secret police. They would demand control of the armies, navies and air
fleets of the earth. And they would win reputations as