aw the approaching figure.

There was a snapping sound as a rifle was brought into position, and a
rapping command barked out.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

The shadowy figure halted abruptly a short distance away from the guard.
And a voice answered.

"Dr. Blair Gaddon."

The guard's rifle snapped into present arms and then back to the
soldier's right shoulder.

"Oh, it's you, sir. Is there anything wrong? The launching is set for
fifteen minutes from now, isn't it?"

Gaddon walked slowly up to the soldier and the guard could then see his
face in the thickening shadows.

"That's right," Gaddon replied. "I'm making a last minute inspection."

The guard nodded. "Dr. Mathieson and the newspapermen will be along any
minute, sir?"

Gaddon moved closer to the soldier, and then suddenly his hand came out
of his coat pocket and there was a gun in it.

"Drop your rifle, soldier. Quick!"

The guard stared at the scientist in shocked astonishment.

"What is this, sir? A gag?"

Gaddon motioned with his gun.

"It is no gag! Do as I say--or must I shoot?"

* * * * *

There was an ominous note in Gaddon's voice. And a strained quality to
it that told the guard the man meant what he said. Very slowly the
soldier removed the rifle from his shoulder and dropped it to the
ground.

Gaddon motioned with his gun.

"Now step back! Move!"

The guard moved slowly back a pace, and then the Englishman stepped
forward and kicked the rifle away from the man. Then he motioned around
the rocket.

"Now move over around the side of the number one rocket to the far side
of number two."

He watched as the guard turned and began to walk slowly around the huge
base of the waiting rocket. He followed the soldier.

"I don't know what this is all about, Dr. Gaddon," the guard protested.
"But I can tell you one thing, you're playing with the United States
Government right now. When Dr. Mathieson hears about this--"

"When Dr. Mathieson hears about this, soldier, I'll be a long way from
here--out at the edge of space itself!"

Gaddon could hear the guard draw in his breath sharply, but the man kept
walking around to the far side of the second rocket cradle.

"You can't mean that you're going to go up--"

The soldier's voice broke off uncertainly and Gaddon laughed shortly.

"You are a discerning man, soldier. That is exactly what I intend to do.
And I warn you, don't make a false move or I'll sho