f, for
fear of exposing myself. And believe me"--he snapped his fingers--"I
would not get as far as the nearest policeman. However, professor, you
are unsuspected. _You_ could report this plan with no danger to
yourself."

"Enough! My dear Mr. Rumplestein-O'Grady, do you expect me to charge
into a police station and blurt out this ridiculous story?"

"I don't expect you to charge anywhere, professor. Not without proof. I
will get the proof for you, by tomorrow. Then--as I suspect--if _I_ am
unable to warn the authorities, I will expect _you_ to do so. In the
meantime, make use of these when you go to the university, tomorrow. I
found them on the body of the man I disposed of."

He dropped several tinkly objects on my desk, rose, and, without another
word, was gone. I picked up the items. They were subway tokens. I
hurried to the window and glanced out. I could see the little man
hurrying down the street, his head bobbing up and down like a swimmer in
the ocean. Then, my mind in a turmoil, I turned out the light and went
to bed. Fortunately, regardless of the press of circumstances, I have
never had difficulty in falling asleep and tonight was no exception.

* * * * *

At seven-thirty the next morning I arose, dressed, and prepared my
breakfast. I thought of the events of the preceding evening. Had it not
been for the bloodied towel with which I had washed the little man's
wounds, I might have dismissed the entire incident as a dream. I
continued to think about it while walking to the subway. I berated
myself for taking the story seriously even for a moment, as I dropped a
token into the turnstile and pressed forward. I gasped in sudden pain as
the turnstile, still locked, pushed into my midriff. I glanced at the
token in the slot. It had not dropped. I pressed it down. It refused to
budge. I tried several other tokens, all with the same result. By this
time half a dozen people had gathered behind me, making angry remarks.
Flustered, I backed away, bought a token from the cashier, and rode to
the University. Then it was I recalled that I had tried to use the
tokens my strange visitor had placed on my desk before parting from me,
and which I had, without thinking, picked up in the morning.

All that day I pondered over the tokens and the odd tale of Mr.
Rumplestein-O'Grady. I could still give it no credence, but I _was_
disturbed. On my way home, that evening, as is my wont, I bought a