wouldn't wonder. Goodnight, George."

"'Night, Mr. Philander." And as Hanlon walked back to his own room his
heart was light. He'd learned another important fact about their
location in space--the approximate distance from Sol.

Chapter 18

A few nights later one of the junior engineers came running into the
office where Hanlon and Philander were playing chess.

"Trouble down in Stope Four," he gasped.

Philander jumped up, upsetting the board. He grabbed his glo-light and
started out.

"Want me along, sir?" Hanlon asked.

"Might as well," and Hanlon ran with them.

Down in the mine they found, after examination, that it was not as bad
as it at first seemed. Some timbers had rotted away--or had not been
good wood in the first place--and a rock fall had occurred. But once
they started working at it, they found it not too big. Hanlon was sent
running for the rest of the men, and in a few hours everything was all
tight again.

Back in the office Hanlon picked up the fallen chess pieces while
Philander and the engineers talked for some time. When they left Hanlon
asked, "Want to finish the game--or rather, since the board was upset,
want to play another?"

"Better make it a rain-check. I've got some paper work I should do. Make
it tomorrow."

"That's okay with me. I'll go hit the hay."

"Thanks for your help tonight, George. You pitched in so gladly, while
the others were surly and grumbling. It was very noticeable, and I
appreciate it. You're a good kid. Wish I had one just like you."

Hanlon flushed a bit, and couldn't meet his friend eye to eye. "I was
glad to do it," he said lamely. "'Night," and he ran out. Blast it, he
thought, I hate using Pete that way, 'cause he's really a swell egg
underneath. But the job's more important.

A few nights later they had finished the second game, and the elder had
won both. He was consequently in very good humor, for the two were so
evenly matched it was seldom either ever won two games in the same
evening.

Philander leaned back in his chair and smiled at the younger man. "Well,
George, the freighter'll be here in three days, and I'm sending you back
for your vacation."

"Gee, thanks, Chief. That's swell of you. I'm going to miss you, but
I'll admit I'll be glad to get away from this awful climate for a while.
This place sure gets my goat--I can't seem to get used to it all."

"Then you won't want to come back?" There was disappointment in the
question