* * * * * Three eminent scientists were gathered in an untidy suite that looked as though it belonged to a drunken sultan. "This transcends the meta-physical. It impinges on the quantum continuum. In some ways it obsoletes Boff," said Dr. Velikof Vonk. "The contingence on the intransigence is the most mystifying aspect," said Arpad Arkabaranan. "Yes," said Willy McGilly. "Who would have thought that you could do it with a beer can and two pieces of cardboard? When I was a boy I used an oatmeal box and red crayola." "I do not always follow you," said Dr. Vonk. "I wish you would speak plainer." So far no human had been injured or disappeared--except for a little blood on the pate of Ozzie Murphy, on the lobes of Conchita when her gaudy earrings disappeared from her very ears, a clipped finger or so when a house vanished as the front door knob was touched, a lost toe when a neighborhood boy kicked at a can and the can was not; probably not more than a pint of blood and three or four ounces of flesh all together. Now, however, Mr. Buckle the grocery man disappeared before witnesses. This was serious. Some mean-looking investigators from downtown came out to the Willoughbys. The meanest-looking one was the mayor. In happier days he had not been a mean man, but the terror had now reigned for seven days. "There have been ugly rumors," said one of the mean investigators, "that link certain events to this household. Do any of you know anything about them?" "I started most of them," said Clarissa. "But I didn't consider them ugly. Cryptic, rather. But if you want to get to the bottom of this just ask me a question." "Did you make those things disappear?" asked the investigator. "That isn't the question," said Clarissa. "Do you know where they have gone?" asked the investigator. "That isn't the question either," said Clarissa. "Can you make them come back?" "Why, of course I can. Anybody can. Can't you?" "I cannot. If you can, please do so at once." "I need some stuff. Get me a gold watch and a hammer. Then go down to the drug store and get me this list of chemicals. And I need a yard of black velvet and a pound of rock candy." "Shall we?" asked one of the investigators. "Yes," said the mayor, "it's our only hope. Get her anything she wants." And it was all assembled. * * * * * "Why does she get all the attention?" asked Clarence. "I was the one that made all the things disappear. How does she know how to get them back?" "I knew it!" cried Clarissa with hate. "I knew he was the one that did it. He read in my diary how to make a disappearer. If I was his mother I'd whip him for reading his little sister's diary. That's what happens when things like that fall into irresponsible hands." She poised the hammer over the gold watch of the mayor on the floor. "I have to wait a few seconds. This can't be hurried. It'll be only a little while."