r
been made. Nor can I doubt but that your coming may prove of tremendous
benefit to the humanity of this other equally important, though, in our
eyes, infinitesimal world.

"'I therefore suggest, gentlemen, that you start your journey into the
ring at 8 P. M. on the evening of November 4, 1923. You will do your
best to find your way direct to the city of Arite, where, if I am alive,
I will be awaiting you.'"

CHAPTER X

TESTING THE DRUGS

The Doctor laid his papers on the table and looked up into the white
faces of the three men facing him. "That's all, gentlemen," he said.

For a moment no one spoke, and on the face of each was plainly written
the evidence of an emotion too deep for words. The Doctor sorted out the
papers in silence, glanced over them for a moment, and then reached for
a large metal ash tray that stood near him on the table. Taking a match
from his pocket he calmly lighted a corner of the papers and dropped
them burning into the metal bowl. His friends watched him in awed
silence; only the Very Young Man found words to protest.

"Say now, wait," he began, "why----"

The Doctor looked at him. "The letter requests me to do that," he said.

"But I say, the formulas----" persisted the Very Young Man, looking
wildly at the burning papers.

The Doctor held up one of the white tin boxes lying on the arm of his
chair.

"In these tins," he said, "I have vials containing the specified
quantity of each drug. It is ample for our purpose. I have done my best
to memorize the formulas. But in any event, I was directed to burn them
at the time of reading you the letter. I have done so."

The Big Business Man came out of a brown study.

"Just three weeks from to-night," he murmured, "three weeks from
to-night. It's too big to realize."

The Doctor put the two boxes on the table, turned his chair back toward
the others, and lighted a cigar.

"Gentlemen, let us go over this matter thoroughly," he began. "We have a
momentous decision to make. Either we destroy those boxes and their
contents, or three weeks from to-night some or all of us start our
journey into the ring. I have had a month to think this matter over; I
have made my decision.

"I know there is much for you to consider, before you can each of you
choose your course of action. It is not my desire or intention to
influence you one way or the other. But we can, if you wish, discuss the
matter here to-night; or we can wait, if you pre