gs. They let
other scientists in on their findings, hoping that these outsiders
might be able to put their fingers on errors that had been overlooked.

Now, more than a year after the occurrence of the mysterious
incidents that they had recorded, a year spent in analyzing their
data, the "rock hounds" had no answer.

By the best scientific tests that they had been able to apply, the
visual sightings and the high radiation had taken place more or less
simultaneously.

Intriguing ideas are hard to kill, and this one had more than one
life, possibly because of the element of mystery which surrounds the
subject of flying saucers. But the scientific mind thrives on taking
the mystery out of unexplained events, so it is not surprising that
the investigation went on.

According to my friend the scientist, a few people outside the
laboratory where the "rock hounds" worked were told about the
activities of the "mineral club," and they started radiation-
detection groups of their own.

For instance, two graduate astronomy students from a southwestern
university started a similar watch, on a modest scale, using a
modified standard Geiger counter as their detection unit. They did
not build a recorder into their equipment, however, and consequently
were forced to man their equipment continuously, which naturally cut
down the time they were in operation. On two occasions they
reportedly detected a burst of high radiation.

Although the veracity of the two astronomers was not doubted, the
scientist felt that the accuracy of their readings was poor because
of the rather low quality of their equipment.

The scientist then told me about a far more impressive effort to
verify or disprove the findings of the "mineral club." Word of the
"rock hounds" and their work had also spread to a large laboratory in
the East. An Air Force colonel, on duty at the lab, told the story to
some of his friends, and they decided to look personally into the
situation.

Fortunately these people were in a wonderful spot to make such an
investigation. At their laboratory an extensive survey of the
surrounding area was being made. An elaborate system of radiation-
detection equipment had been set up for a radius of 100 miles around
the lab. In addition, the defenses of the area included a radar net.

Thanks to the flashing of silver eagles, the colonel's group got
permission to check the records of the radiation-survey station and
to look over the lo