"What are you going to do with us?" Shelton was asking, his voice bravely defiant. Game old sport at that, he was. "Don't fret over your daughter. Al Cadorna's her protector now, and she'll be taken care of better'n she's ever been. But you--that's somethin' else again. First off, you're goin' to give Carlos the dope on these trick metals in your machines. He couldn't analyze 'em, or whatever you call it. Then you're goin' to have a nice long ride with your friend over there." "You'll go to the chair for this, Cadorna. And I'll never tell you the secret of the alloys." "Tell him, Dad," Lina was crying. "He'll let us go if you do." "The hell I will, girlie. What I said, goes. We'll make him talk first, too," Cadorna snarled. "Never!" Shelton shouted. * * * * * Lina had seen Eddie and, with a little cry, she bounded across the room. Carlos was after her like a panther. "Hands off that dame!" Cadorna yelled. "Let her cry over the boy friend if she wants to. Won't do her any good. You get busy and set one of the tin soldiers goin'. Make the old buzzard talk." Carlos muttered sullenly as he started the motor-generator. Give him a chance and he'd knife Cadorna in the back--for Lina. The girl was kneeling at Eddie's side now, examining his bleeding scalp. He opened one eye and gazed at her solemnly, pursing his lips in a warning to silence. She caught her breath and nodded in understanding. Cadorna was shouting like a madman. "Keep the damn thing so I can see it, you spig! They make me bug-house when you blink 'em off. Besides, I don't trust you." The bold Cadorna was afraid of something he couldn't see! An idea flashed across Eddie's quickening mind. But he was helpless--bound so tightly that the cords cut his wrists. One of the robots was clanking across the room. Lina looked up in momentary terror and Eddie saw her eyes stray over the table top where Carlos was working. "Want to grab the old one?" the Chilean called. "Yes. Pick him up and squeeze him till his ribs crack. He'll talk." Lina let a little moan escape her lips. Eddie was watching as the iron monster approached the scientist and flung its tentacles around his madly struggling form. Lina was fussing with him, trying to turn him over. Cadorna's back was to them, his face thrust into that of Shelton, who was fighting desperately to avoid the crushing grip of the robot. "Give him a squeeze, Carlos." * * * * * Shelton's yell brought another low moan from the girl's set lips. She was working furiously at Eddie's bonds. Lord, she had a knife! Good girl! Must have found it on the table. His hands were free and he wriggled his fingers to bring them to life. Then his feet. He was able to move. Lina whispered in his ear. "All right?" she asked anxiously. "Yes," he whispered. Somehow their lips touched and Eddie felt his heart pound at his temples. New life came to him with a rush of exaltation.