xtent ... yet realized this could as easily be wish-fulfillment as
actuality.

After luncheon he returned to the observation deck and there, as the
long afternoon slowly passed, he sat in his deck chair, eyes closed,
mind wide open.

Several times he caught some one thought-impression more distinctly than
the general run, and concentrated on trying to trace it mentally; to
read it more clearly and minutely. But as he did not have much success,
it began to irritate him ... and that made him angrier.

"Keep at it, and don't expect miracles," he scolded himself. "Sure,
you've got something, but anything--any ability of mind or muscle--needs
training and practice to get anywhere!"

After dinner that first evening Hanlon went into the recreation hall.
There were dozens of tables where people were playing various games. He
saw that around many of these other people were standing, watching the
play, and knew from this that social custom on the ship did not frown on
such silent kibitzing.

Therefore, he wandered about until he found a table where four men were
playing stud poker. Here he stood, watching the game, but concentrating
on the mind of the man opposite him, checking his mental impressions
against the man's wins and losses.

He couldn't, at any time, actually read in the man's mind what his "hole
card" was, he found. But he could quite easily sense from the player's
mind whether the latter considered it a good one, a very poor one, or
only a possible winner. By watching the play as well as studying the
man's feelings, facial movements and muscle twitches or tensenesses,
Hanlon was soon able to make some remarkably accurate predictions as to
what the card was. By checking his deductions with the card when it was
shown, he saw he was gradually coming closer and closer to a perfect
score of "reading."

* * * * *

The next day Hanlon again sat most of the time in the lounge, his eyes
closed, letting his mind soak up all the impressions and vibrations he
could. When one seemed particularly strong, he tried to follow it and
locate the person--with his mind, not his eyes--and read the whole
thought.

Mostly he found again excitement and pleasure. Almost everyone on board
seemed to be having a grand time, and enjoying the trip to the utmost.
It was what might be expected--a gay, carefree holiday crowd.

Yet there was, occasionally caught, that sinister undercurrent that had
so puzzle