king
deliberately at Leithgow: "Would the brain of Master Scientist Eliot
Leithgow be more valuable in the position of the master brain than
Cram's?"

A horrible eternity passed. Again came the inhuman voice:

"_I have answered that question before. Yes._"

* * * * *

Dr. Ku broke the stunned silence that followed this verdict.

"Don't forget that several ray-guns are centered on you, Carse," he
remarked casually. "Others, black, are on you. Earthlings would no doubt
consider your emotions very creditable; I only suggest that you keep
them under control."

But the Hawk had given no slightest intimation that he might attempt
anything. He sat quietly, a little tensely, his face an icy mask, only
the freezing shock of his steady gray eyes betraying his emotion as they
bore straight into those of the Eurasian. No man could meet such eyes
for long, and even the tiger ones of Ku Sui the all-powerful went aside
at the icy murder that showed there.

Friday still stood in back of the chairs where were seated his two
friends. He was scared to death from the thing he had seen. His face was
a sickly, ashy gray, and his eyes large round rolling white marbles; but
at the slightest sign of a break he would have metamorphosed into a
demon of destruction, however hopeless the try, with ray-guns covering
him at all times. Such was his love and loyalty for his famous master.

Eliot Leithgow was a man resigned. His head sank down on his chest. Dr.
Ku's next words, though aimed at him, did not seem to penetrate his
consciousness.

"You see, Master Leithgow, I have no choice. My purposes are
all-important; they always come first; they demand this substitution.
Were your intellect of lesser stature, I would have no interest in you
whatever. But as it is...." He shrugged.

Hawk Carse stood up.

The Eurasian's voice fell away. The ensuing silence gave an icy,
clear-cut sharpness to the whisper that then cut through it from thin
lips that barely moved:

"God help you, Ku Sui, if you do it. _God help you._"

* * * * *

Dr. Ku Sui smiled deprecatingly and again shrugged.

"I have told you before that God helps those who help themselves. I have
always had splendid results from helping myself."

For a moment he looked away as he considered something in his mind. Then
to his veiled eyes came the old mocking irony, and he said:

"I think perhaps you