rtners want to join us? I'd
like to give a real demonstration, which it would waste a lot of good
time and energy to repeat."

"Don't see what they've got on hand more important," muttered Hogarth.
"Wait a minute."

From an adjoining room she could hear Hogarth's voice rising
disputatiously. "No harm investigating, anyhow!" And she could not keep
back a secret exultation when, after a time, he appeared in company with
two men whom he introduced as "Mr. Wiley" and "Mr. Malvine."

* * * * *

Half an hour later, she had led them into the University laboratory, a
corner of which had been partitioned off. There a twenty-four-inch
telescope-like tube shot up through the ceiling; while nearer at hand
was a table covered with complicated electrical devices.

"Well, trot out your discoveries!" barked Wiley.

From a compartment Miss Landers drew three pairs of binoculars, with
wires attached. "Adjust these, gentlemen," she instructed.

Automatically each man reached for a pair. And as they took them, a look
of triumph crossed the woman's averted face. She pressed a button--and
with what astonishing results!

[Illustration: Her finger sought the button behind her; found it...]

All three men gasped, and began to writhe. A convulsive shudder shot
through each; they sagged, and fell to the floor; then gradually all
three stiffened, except for their necks and faces, which still twitched
spasmodically.

At the same time, the young woman pressed a buzzer; and three men, in
the uniforms of university guards, hastened in with ropes, which they
wound around the helpless trio.

"What--what in hell's name is this?" sputtered Wiley, as he began to
recover from the first shock. "We--we're paralyzed!"

"That's just it," stated the lady, calmly. "You're paralyzed, from the
necks down. I merely wanted to introduce you to another little invention
of your friend Dan Holcomb. He asked me to show it to you, with his
compliments. You see, the rays of telurox, much diluted and carried over
a wire, will temporarily paralyze the human nerve centers. But have no
fear. The spell will wear off in half an hour."

"This--this is an outrage!" groaned Hogarth, as he lay amid his ropes.

"Not at all. I'm sure, when you're no longer paralyzed, you won't mind
signing a little paper, containing an order for the release of Mr.
Holcomb--"

"What the devil makes you so interested in Holcomb?" flared back Wiley.

"Wel