In rapid succession came the news that Norfolk harbor was frozen over and Hampton Roads closed, that Charleston was blocked, then Jacksonville. The next morning delayed cablegrams declared that the Panama Canal was a mass of ice, and almost simultaneously the Straits of Gibraltar were again admitted to be firmly locked. CHAPTER V. Teddy put his hand comfortingly on Evelyn's shoulder. "There isn't anything I can say, Evelyn," he said awkwardly, "except that I couldn't have loved him more if he'd been my own father, and it hurts me terribly to have him go like this." Evelyn looked up. "Teddy," she said bravely, trying to hold back her sobs, "I've been fearing this for a long time, but--I can't believe it wasn't caused by that fearful Varrhus." "The professor did work very hard over that problem," admitted Teddy. "I don't mean that the work he did caused his heart to fail. I mean I think Varrhus killed father." Evelyn's eyes were dark and troubled as she looked at Teddy Gerrod. "But, Evelyn, why do you think such a thing? You knew his heart was weak." Tears came again into Evelyn's eyes, but she forced them back determinedly. "Will you go upstairs and look at his fingers--inside? I was--crossing his hands--on his breast. Please look." Teddy went soberly up the stairs to where the professor lay quietly on the bed he was occupying for the last time. Teddy turned back the sheet that covered the figure and looked at the gentle old face. A lump came in his throat, and he hastily turned his eyes away. He lifted the sheet until the professor's thin hands came into view. He looked, at the fingers, then lifted one of the white hands and examined the inside. Small but deep burns disfigured the finger tips. When Teddy went down-stairs his face was white and set, and a great anger burned in him. "You are right, Evelyn," he said grimly. "Where is the bracelet he was holding when he was found?" "On the acids table. He was lying beside it when--when I saw him." Evelyn was grief-stricken, but she forced herself to be calm. "Do you think you know what happened?" "I'm not sure." Teddy went quietly into the laboratory and found the massive silver bracelet lying where Evelyn had said. He looked at it carefully before he touched it, and when he lifted it it was in a pair of wooden tongs. "That thermo-couple, Evelyn, please. And start the small generator, won't you?" The two worked on the bracelet for half an hour, then stopped and stared at each other, their suspicions confirmed. "Varrhus," said Teddy slowly. "Varrhus caused your father's death. This earth has gotten too small for both Varrhus and me to live on." "He knew father could wreck his plans," Evelyn said in a hard voice, "and he wished to rule the world. So he killed my father." Teddy's lips were compressed. "Before God," he burst out, "before God, I'm going to kill Varrhus!" The bell rang, and in a moment the commandant of the forts was ushered in.