It persisted without reason.

It was fast becoming unbearable!" He paused in his restless pacing and Willits' keen eyes noticed the look of strain which had aroused his alarm some months ago.

Nevertheless he asked in his most matter-of-fact tone, "And the idea was-- ?" Callandar hesitated.

"I can hardly speak of it yet in the past tense.
The idea is--that Molly is not dead!" "Good Heavens!" ejaculated the professor, startled out of his calm.

"But have you any reason to doubt?
To--to base--" "None whatever.