"Leave? Oh, you think I--" He laughed at the gloomy expression on my face. "Now that you mention it, Bill, you _are_ leaving. I've had you in mind for the Venusian Branch. We need a good man there to get things organized. You're taking over on the first." I had another picture in my hand to tear up, but my heart was making flip-flops. Manager of the Venusian Branch! Why, that meant I'd be able to offer Margie a real home! "Uh--Mr. Ames," I said, "Margie and I are in love. We want to get married." He shrugged, his face suddenly gloomy. "Margie's told me that, Bill. But her mother--Well, you're not blind. You know how much say so I--Hey, don't tear _those_ up!" * * * * * The yell was so sudden and unexpected that I jumped and dropped the rack from which I'd been peeling the pictures while we talked. I'd torn up only a few. Fleming Ames picked up the rack, his eyes gleaming. He looked it over eagerly and picked off four pictures. I walked around to see which they were, and grinned as I suddenly understood. One was Mrs. Ames seated with her feet on the coffee table smoking a big black cigar. Another was Mrs. Ames, her hair in wild disarray and her mouth open, trying to swim across the room. A third was Mrs. Ames--but why go into details? "Bill," said Mr. Ames, his face happier than I'd ever seen it before, "your wedding day is next Saturday. And that's from a man who knows--from the present and future boss of the Ames household. And you can take my new space-cruiser for your honeymoon." He stood up and stuck out his hand and I shook it. "And Bill," he added wistfully. "If you should stop on any planetoids, and see any peculiar-looking species of lichen--"