t be boiling about the
election. Maybe Security's getting set to spring."

The idea of Marsport rebelling against Earth seemed ridiculous. Even
with guns, they wouldn't have a chance if Earth sent a force of any
strength to back Security. But it was the only explanation.

Gordon took the next day off to look for Sheila Corey, but nobody would
admit having seen her.

He had seen crowds beginning to assemble all afternoon, but had paid no
attention to them. Now he found the way back to Corey's blocked by a
mob. Then he saw that the object of it all was the First Marsport Bank.
It was only toward that that the shaking fists were raised. Gordon
managed to get onto a pile of rubble where he could see over the crowd.
The doors of the bank were locked shut, but men were attacking it with
an improvised battering ram. As he watched, a pompous little man came to
the upper window over the door and began motioning for attention. The
crowd quieted almost at once, except for a single yell. "When do we get
our money?"

"Please. Please." The voice reached back thinly as the bank president
got his silence. "Please. It won't do you any good. Not a bit. We're
broke. Not a cent left! And don't go blaming me. _I_ didn't start the
rush. Your friends did that. They took all the money, and now we're
cleaned out. You can't--"

A rope rose from the crowd and settled around him. In a second, he was
pulled down, and the crowd surged forward.

Gordon dropped from the rubble, staring at the bank. He'd played it safe
this time--he'd put his money away, to make sure he'd have it!

A heavy hand fell on his shoulder, and he turned to see Mother Corey.
"That's the way a panic is, cobber," the man said. "There's a run, then
everything is ruined. I tried to get you when I first heard the rumor,
but you were gone. And when this starts, a man has to get there first."
He patted his side, where a bulge showed. "And I just made it, too."

The mob was beginning to break up now, but it was still in an ugly mood.
"But what started it?"

"Rumors that Mayor Wayne got a big loan from the bank--and why not,
seeing it was his bank! Nobody had to guess that he'd never pay it back,
so--"

Gordon found Izzy organizing the bouncers from the joints and some of
the citizens into a squad. Every joint was closed down tightly already.
Gordon began organizing his own squad.

Izzy slipped over as he began to get them organized. "If we hold past
midnight, we'll be se