ravity and the thrust of the rockers always
gave.

From experience he knew how to regulate his breathing and to let his
muscles and nerves relax as much as possible, so that for him there was
but a brief moment of discomfort. Then he was able to watch the scene
unfolding before and below him.

The ground and that outward splash of almost-intolerable flame quickly
dropped away and within minutes the scene expanded until he was able to
see hundreds of square miles of city, country and ocean. Soon he could
see the distant mountains; but gradually the scene assumed a dimness of
detail that persisted until they were far outside the atmosphere. Then
the great continental masses became visible as a whole, but without any
smaller details apparent.

Two and a half hours later they were past the Moon, and began building
up the tremendous speed that was to take them across inter-stellar
depths in a matter of short days. And as Luna shrank to a small sphere
behind them, Hanlon felt the acceleration grow constant, so unstrapped
himself and got up. He stretched hugely, to relieve the cramped feeling
in his muscles, then turned to survey his fellow passengers.

He noticed several men in Corps' uniform, and hoped none of them knew
him--or if so, would be good enough not to spread word of his disgrace.
That would make the trip uncomfortable, lonely and unproductive, for
then it would be better for him to spend most of his time in his
stateroom. He thought of those "interesting people" he had been told
about ... whatever that tip might mean.

For George Hanlon, youngest man ever to be assigned to the Inter-Stellar
Corps' Secret Service--although he did not know this until later--had
that within him which placed matters of duty uppermost in his mind at
all times.

Accustomed for nearly half of his life to the conscious task of keeping
his mind-reading talent hidden and unused, he now knew he must work at
it continuously to bring it up to its highest possible level of
efficiency. Only by thus knowing every facet of his ability could he do
what had to be done in his new task.

He sat down again and closed his eyes in order better to study this
problem without outside and extraneous matters interfering. He became
awed and a little frightened as he realized fully the weight of his new
duties and responsibilities, even though he had been all through this
several times before. Somehow, his being aboard ship on his way to his
actual wor