grew purple with rage and
threatened to have me thrown into jail for insulting a police officer
unless I disappeared immediately.

All that night and the next day I tried to reach someone in authority
with my information. The New York City police were admirably calm about
my information. My actions and voice, however, seemed to disturb them
greatly. When I insisted they investigate the warehouse, they told me
the officer on the beat would do so in good time. When I suggested they
examine the tokens found on the body they informed me that these had
been turned over to the Property Clerk and if not claimed within ninety
days would be given to the PAL.

As a last desperate measure I went to the New York office of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and presented myself to one of the Federal men.
I told him my story. He looked at me calmly, then pored through a thick
book on his desk. He closed one eye thoughtfully and peered at me
through the other.

"There's really nothing," he said, "that we can do about it."

"Don't you believe me?"

"That has nothing to do with it. According to regulations this is
strictly a municipal affair. It doesn't come within the jurisdiction of
the FBI. And we wouldn't want to step on municipal toes." He closed the
book smartly.

I was crushed. I couldn't believe it. Finally I said, "_Serum est
cavendi tempus in mediis malis!_"

"What?"

"'It is too late to be cautious when in the very midst of dangers.'
Seneca said that two thousand years ago."

The young man rose and nodded towards the door. "Good day, professor.
And an _E pluribus unum_ to you!"

That was an hour ago.

* * * * *

Professor Clarke stopped talking. Jimmy and I said nothing. The only
sound was the hum of traffic outside. "And that is the way it is,
gentlemen," said Professor Clarke, finally. "_Quando cadet Roma, cadet
et mundus._ When Rome falls--the world!" He sipped the beer which by now
had gone flat. "Do you believe me?"

Jimmy and I exchanged glances. "Have another beer," said Jimmy. "On the
house."

"I see." Professor Clarke sighed. "Well, I cannot really blame you,
gentlemen. I only hope you do not live to regret it." He got up and put
a coin on the bar. Jimmy went to make change.

Then we became aware of automobile horns blasting steadily on a rising
note of urgency. Jimmy and I ran outside. Traffic was piling up rapidly
in the street. And as far as we could see in eve