"Of course not," Joe assured her. "He's sound as a bell. I merely meant I hoped he wasn't having a nightmare." * * * * * But as he put Jimmy down on the bed to which Grandmother led him, he was frowning slightly. It should not be like a small boy to dream of the Devil, especially if he didn't know he was the Devil. It didn't seem that the afternoon's experience should have created so deep an impression upon him that it would recur in his dreams. Did it mean that somehow Jimmy was sensing the Devil, and his possible nearness? Was the Devil really on their trail, homing in on them with some occult sense peculiarly his own? Out in the living room, Pearl was engaging in animated conversation with her mother. Already they were inspecting pictures of the other seventy-seven grandchildren, and gossiping like mad. Joe interrupted. "Mother," he said, "I've always admired your common sense, and I just know you want us all to go to bed immediately, and save all the visiting for tomorrow. Please don't let us keep you from your beauty rest." "You're always so tactful," she said in return. "I've always said you were a wonderful son-in-law. A wonderful husband and father. A fine...." "Thank you, Mother. Now show us where we sleep, and we'll let you get back into your comfy bed." "You'll sleep in our bed, and Dad and I will take the couch and the davenport." "Oh, no," protested Joe. "Pearl and I can sleep on the couch and davenport. No use you giving up your bed. Besides Dad doesn't like those broken springs on the couch ... do you, Dad?" His father-in-law grinned. "Of course not, son. But you are dealing with your mother-in-law, and there's no arguing. For thirty years she has made a practice of making herself--and me--uncomfortable when the kids come home. She couldn't sleep if she wasn't putting herself out!" "Yeah, I know," agreed Joe. "The Mother-Martyr complex. She's got the worst case I ever saw!" "Joe, you're the greatest kidder ..." said Grandmother. "Who's kidding?" asked Joe, grinning at her. "Show me to my bedroom before you change your mind." Long after the house was silent, he lay beside Pearl, thinking. "Are you asleep?" she asked finally. "You're awake too?" he asked. "Yes." "I keep thinking of the Devil looking for us," said Joe. "And I keep thinking he'll find us," said Pearl. "Somehow, I have a feeling we're not fooling him at all." "Go to sleep," said Joe. "He'd have to have radar to find us." "You know," said Pearl, "that's a good name for it! And right now I feel like a blip on a radar screen." "But a mighty pretty blip," said Joe. He kissed her good night and then turned on his shoulder to go to sleep. In the morning he awoke to find Pearl already up. He climbed into his clothes and went out into the kitchen. Pearl was sitting at the table, eating a grapefruit. "Where's your mother?" asked Joe. "Out in the driveway, talking to somebody--a neighbor, I suppose."