r communities around the world.

Tonight, the Earth entered the comet's tail, and during the coming
winter would be swept continuously by its million-mile spread.

There was no visible change. The astronomers had cautioned that none was
to be expected. The Earth had passed through the tails of comets
before, although briefly, and none of the inhabitants had been
physically aware of the event.

This time there was a difference. As intangible as a mere suspicion, it
could yet be felt, and there was the expectancy of the unknown in the
air.

Ken prided himself on a scientific attitude, but it was hard not to
share the feelings of those around him that something momentous and
mysterious was taking place this night. There would be no quick passage
this time. Earth would lie within the tail for a period of over four
months as they both made their way about the sun.

Such close-lying orbits had never occurred before in the known history
of the world.

"It's frightening, isn't it?"

Ken was aware that he had stopped at the edge of a crowd in front of
Billings Drugstore, and beside him Maria Larsen was staring intently
upward as she spoke.

She was a small, blonde girl with intense blue eyes. Ken smiled
confidently and looked down at her. "No," he said. "It's a beautiful
thing. It's a kind of miracle that we should be alive when it happened.
No human beings have ever seen such a sight before."

Maria shivered faintly. "I wish I could feel that way. Do you think it
will get any bigger?"

"Yes. It will not reach its closest approach for over three months, yet.
Its approach is very slow so we won't notice much change."

"It is beautiful," Maria agreed slowly, "but, still, it's frightening.
I'll be glad when it's gone."

Ken laughed and tucked the girl's arm in his. There was something so
disturbingly serious about the Swedish girl, who was spending a year in
Mayfield with her parents. Her father, Dr. Larsen, was a visiting
professor of chemistry, engaged to teach this season at the State
Agricultural College in Mayfield. Ken's own father was head of the
chemistry department there.

"Come down to the post office with me to get some stamps," Ken said.
"Then I'll drive you home."

"It's closed. You can't get any stamps tonight."

"Maybe the boys in gray haven't been too busy watching the comet to
stock the stamp machine. Look out!" He pulled her back quickly as she
stepped from the curb. A wheezy car moved past, it