wizards who had
rescued the globe--and so would gain popular support everywhere. By the
time the planet was back in its proper orbit they would have it,
literally, in the palms of their hands.

"Even if they didn't tell me all the details," Dan finished, "I could
guess what they left unsaid. Fact is, they're nothing but a gang of
hijackers, saying 'Your money or your life!' to the whole world. The
worst of it is, they'll have us all in such an infernal hole that it'll
be too late unless we act darned soon!"

"What surprises me," meditated Lucile, "is that they should take you
into their confidence."

"Probably they didn't doubt my loyalty, after the way I've worked with
them all these months. Besides, that fellow Hogarth made a remark I
didn't like. Turning that beefy red face of his toward me, with a wicked
twinkle in his racoon-like eyes, he said, 'The man who works with us,
Holcomb, will have power and glory. But the man who works against us
will be--underground!"

* * * * *

There was a look of terror on Lucile's face as Dan went on, "Naturally,
I made out to be on their side. Hope to heaven they weren't able to see
through me!"

* * * * *

The smell of burning, from the direction of the kitchen, offered Lucile
temporary diversion. And when she had returned from her scorched dinner
pots, Dan had come to his decision.

"Only one thing to do, Lucy! I'll go to the police at once. If they act
in time--well, maybe they'll still save the world."

Already he had seized his hat, and was halfway to the door.

"For mercy's sake, be careful!" she pleaded, distracted.

"Don't you worry, I'll do my best. Wait here for me, Lucy. I'll be back
in half an hour."

Despite her appeals, he was already halfway into the outer hall. She was
never to forget the brave, tragical look of his grimly set face. She
knew that she could not hold him back; that she had no right to hold him
back. Yet something seemed to rise up in her throat and choke her as the
door slammed and she knew that he was gone.

A deep depression had settled over her when the specified half hour had
passed and he had not returned. When the half hour had lengthened into
an hour, uneasiness gave place to alarm. When an hour had been extended
to two, alarm rose to terror. At last, after two hours, her dread got
the better of her and she telephoned the police.

No! there had been no accident to a