They then dropped twenty consecutive quarters into the appropriately named machine without getting so much as a single quarter in return. "_It is puzzling, is it not, Brother?_" "_Yes, Sartan. From all indications it would seem to be a machine totally without purpose._" "_It does consume money._" "_But why would one build a machine whose sole purpose is to consume money?_" Sartan gave it some hard thought. "_I don't know!_" "_Remarkable!_" Toryl concluded. "_But nothing is done without a purpose._" "_Obviously we've found something that is._" "_No, I do not believe that. Let me have the electro-analyzer._" * * * * * The aliens were so engrossed in their problem as to be unaware that Okie and two men at the bar were casting suspicious eyes on them. Sartan fished around in his pocket and produced a small object in the shape of an irregular triangle. Toryl took the electro-analyzer from him, removed the cover and moved his finger around inside. He replaced the cover and slapped the electro-analyzer against the side of the one-armed bandit. When he took his hand away the small object stuck to the machine like a leech. Okie scratched his head and addressed one of the two men at the bar. "What the hell you suppose they're doin', Sam? What's that gadget for?" "Search me," replied Sam, a well dressed, stoop-shouldered gent, "but if you want my opinion it doesn't look legal." "Hey, Nugget!" yelled the barkeep. Again the little old prospector hustled himself over to the bar. "Nugget McDermott at your service! What'll it be, Okie?" "Go on over and get the sheriff. Tell him there's two queer characters here trying to jimmy one of my machines in broad daylight." The old man's feet kicked up sawdust as he scampered out the door. Okie kept his attention riveted to the two aliens. Toryl was busy adjusting the electro-analyzer to the best possible position. "_What if it does not respond to this machine?_" Sartan wanted to know. "_I do not think the machine contains any type of metal with which we are unfamiliar. We will have a reading in one minute._" The aliens took a step backward and waited. A sudden noise, like that of a television tube exploding, jolted everyone in the room, including Toryl and Sartan. The blackjack table emptied. Gamblers left their machines. A semi-circle of the curious formed around the two aliens. Okie lit out from behind the bar and elbowed his way through the crowd. The aliens' concentration was unbroken by the attention they had aroused. With all the single mindedness of religious fanatics they continued to observe the strange mechanical device.