he ceiling of the hell-hole dropped the fine gray
ash, all that remained--save the imprisoned brain--of Frank Keller,
the diplomat.

Now Bentley was cognizant of something else. With Barter's concentrated
work on Keller, something of the power went out of him. Ever so slightly
Bentley could feel that Barter was lacking in strength. Some of his
will, some of the essential essence of his brain, of his soul, had
been expended in the operation--and by so much was Bentley enabled to
move. For now he could move two full fingers on each hand. But how
carefully he kept watch to see that neither Naka Machi nor Barter
noticed that he was bursting from his invisible prison.

If he could get that incineration tube. He'd do the necessary things
first ... then direct the ray of it against the softer portions of the
hideout of Barter. The flame would eat through. Somewhere it would
finally reach wood; that was inflammable.

There would be smoke, and fire ... and in the end people would come.
Tyler would be watching for a sign, anyway. Barter had said that the
police knew approximately where he, Barter, was located.

- - -

"Now, Bentley," said Barter, "I'll explain what I intend doing while I
rest a moment before the next ordeal. The whole world is against me
now because it regards my experiments as horrible, but if I prove to
the world that I am right, and that the men of my creation are
supermen, in the end the world will be on my side. I can force it to
obey me, in time, but I prefer the world to serve me willingly,
because it realizes that what I do for civilization should really be
done."

Bentley said nothing, because he could not speak.

"I'll send Keller to his office under my instructions," said Barter.
"Of course I'll issue a manifesto, first, so that the city will know
that it is not a wild ape that has escaped. When the new Keller, with
the strong brain of Keller and the mighty body of an ape, appears at
his office and proves to his people that he has been vastly improved
by my experiment...."

Bentley tried to shut his mind to the horrible picture Barter's words
drew before his eyes. Barter broke off short, while Bentley's mind
seemed to rock with the shock of Barter's last statement. He saw a
picture ... a great office filled with many desks occupied by
white-faced men and women ... an ornate desk where a "manape" sat....
It was ghastly beyond comprehension. It must never come to pass.

Barter sp