ht a momentary glimpse on the screen of my fluoroscope of the
ultra-violet line which he reports as characteristic of lunium, but I am
not certain. I haven't been able to photograph it yet. He notes in his
article that the line seems to be quite impermanent and fades so rapidly
that an accurate measurement of its wave-length is almost impossible.
However, let's drop the subject. How do you like your new assignment?"

"Oh, it's all right. I would rather be back on my old work."

"I haven't seen you since you were assigned to the Presidential detail.
I suppose that you fellows are pretty busy getting ready for Premier
McDougal's visit?"

"I doubt if he will come," replied Carnes soberly. "Things are not
exactly propitious for a visit of that sort just now."

* * * * *

Dr. Bird sat back in his chair in surprise.

"I thought that the whole thing is arranged. The press seems to think
so, at any rate."

"Everything is arranged, but arrangements may be cancelled. I wouldn't
be surprised to hear that they were."

"Carnes," replied Dr. Bird gravely, "you have either said too much or
too little. There is something more to this than appears on the surface.
If it is none of my business, don't hesitate to tell me so and I'll
forget what you have said, but if I can help you any, speak up."

Carnes puffed meditatively at his pipe for a few minutes before
replying.

"It's really none of your business. Doctor," he said at length, "and yet
I know that a corpse is a chatterbox compared to you when you are told
anything in confidence, and I really need to unload my mind. It has been
kept from the press so far; but I don't know how long it can be kept
muzzled. In strict confidence, the President of the United State acts
as though he were crazy."

"Quite a section of the press has claimed that for a long time," replied
Dr. Bird, with a twinkle in his eye.

"I don't mean crazy in that way, Doctor, I mean _really_ crazy. Bugs!
Nuts! Bats in his belfry!"

* * * * *

Dr. Bird whistled softly.

"Are you sure, Carnes?" he asked.

"As sure as may be. Both of his physicians think so. They were
non-committal for a while, especially as the first attack waned and he
seemed to recover, but when his second attack came on more violently
than the first and the President began to act queerly, they had to take
the Presidential detail into their confidence. He has been quietly