ered: "Schwartzmann! His hand is everywhere.... And
that sample was all I had.... I must leave at once--go back to
America."

He was halfway to the door--he was almost carrying Diane Delacouer
with him--when Chet's quiet tones brought him up short.

"I've never seen you afraid," said Chet; and his eyes were regarding
the other man curiously; "but you seem to have the wind up, as the old
flyers used to say, when it comes to Schwartzmann."

* * * * *

Harkness looked at the girl he held so tightly, then grinned boyishly
at Chet. "I've someone else to be afraid for now," he said.

His smile faded and was replaced by a look of deep concern. "I haven't
told you about Schwartzmann," he said; "haven't had time. But he's
poison, Chet. And he's after our ship."

"Where is the ship; where have you hidden it? Tell me--where?"

Harkness looked about him before he whispered sharply: "Our old
shop--up north!"

He seemed to feel that some explanation was due Chet. "In this day it
seems absurd to say such things," he added; "but this Schwartzmann is
a throw-back--a conscienceless scoundrel. He would put all three of us
out of the way in a minute if he could get the ship. _He_ knows we
have been to the Dark Moon--no question about that--and he wants the
wealth he can imagine is there.

"We'll all plan to leave; I'll radio you later. We'll go back to the
Dark Moon--" He broke off abruptly as the door opened to admit the
nurse. "You'll hear from me later," he repeated; and hurried Diane
Delacouer from the room.

But he returned in a moment to stand again at the door--the nurse was
still in the room. "In case you feel like going for a hop," he told
Chet casually, "Diane's leaving her ship here for you. You'll find it
up above--private landing stage on the roof."

Chet answered promptly, "Fine; that will go good one of these days."
All this for the benefit of listening ears. Yet even Chet would have
been astonished to know that he would be using that ship within an
hour....

* * * * *

He was standing at the window, and his mind was filled, not with
thoughts of any complications that had developed for his friend
Harkness, but only of the adventures that lay ahead of them both. The
Dark Moon!--they had reached it indeed; but they had barely scratched
the surface of that world of mystery and adventure. He was wild with
eagerness to return--to see again that new wor