then took personal exception to it
and made a personal issue out of it. So the grudge begun in jest
developed until it was noticeable to the rest of the troupe.

Grogan chuckled and in a few words made clear how the thing started.
But the smile was wiped from his lips at Allerdyce's words:

"Too late now, Sam. I'd just as soon forget it but not Ed. He's got
that excuse for a brain thinking the whole thing is real. I'd suggest
you get to work on him before it's too late altogether...."

"That bad, huh? Maybe I'd better straighten the yuk out...."

* * * * *

Flight 243 was well out over the Atlantic, thirty thousand feet below.
The super-cruiser _Orion_ of the _TWP_ lines held a full complement of
passengers among whom was the wrestling circus of Sam Grogan and his
partner Algernon Allerdyce, more affectionately known to the
wrestling public as Oogie the Caveman.

The hour was for sleep and everyone but two were observing it. These
two, Allerdyce and Finster, were in the lounge, playing gin. Finster
had challenged Allerdyce to a couple of games to pass the time. But
those two games had long been played. Finster played a wild and woolly
game, never remembering discards, or trying knocks when they would be
to his advantage, but always playing for gin. So it was that Allerdyce
had won almost every game. And since they were playing for a cent a
point, Finster was out money. That was why they were still playing
while the rest had gone to bed.

"... I'll knock with two, Ed," Allerdyce said.

"Now why the hell didn't you give that ten!" Finster yelled. He held
up the discard and looked at it with savage eyes. "That would have
ginned me...."

Allerdyce shrugged his shoulders and replied:

"That's what I figured. Well, Ed, let's call it quits, huh?"

"Sure! Call it quits when you got me stuck for dough. But that's the
way you operate. Why you yellah...."

It was at that instant the horror descended on the _Orion_. There was
a screaming cacophonous whirlwind of sound, a shriek of metal parting,
flames suddenly bursting into full bloom, and the thin voices of men
and women in mortal fear. Above all there was a _whooshing_ noise, as
though a giant hand was gripping them. Finster and Allerdyce felt
themselves lifted from the depths of the ship and plunged into a
maelstrom of storm in space.

For a full ten seconds Algernon Allerdyce looked into the face of
terror beyond words, then uncon