Blake stared "Why, I've never even seen you before!" "Granted," Smith said. "But you used to know me. As a matter of fact, you and I used to get along together famously." He reached around and got a cup off the wall-rack. "Pull up a chair and have a drink. I've been expecting you." Bewildered, Blake sat but shoved the cup aside. "I don't drink," he said. "That's right," Smith said. "Stupid of me to forget." He took a swig out of the bottle, set it back down. "Let's see, it's been seven years now. Right?" "How the devil did you know?" Smith sighed. "Who should know better than I? Who indeed? But I guess I can't kick too much. You certainly materialized enough of the stuff in your--shall we say 'wilder'?--days." He shook his head. "No, I can't say I've suffered in that respect." Comprehension came to Blake then. He had heard of the parasites who lived in other person's minds, but this was the first time he had ever happened to run across one. "Why, you're nothing but a mind-comber," he said. "I should have guessed!" Smith looked hurt. "You do me a grave injustice, friend. A very grave injustice. And after my being so considerate of this cottage and using the back door and everything! The young lady who stopped by a little while ago was much more understanding than you are." "You talked with her then?" Blake asked. He suppressed a shudder. For some reason it horrified him that his quarry should be aware that so despicable a creature inhabited his mind. "What--what does she look like?" "_You_ know what she looks like." "But I don't. I took the case on such short notice that I didn't have a chance to get a picture or even a description of her." Smith regarded him shrewdly. "What did she do?" "She murdered her father," Blake said. Smith guffawed. "I should have known it would be something like that. Ties in perfectly. By the way, what's her name?" "Sabrina York--not that it's any of your business." "Oh, but it is my business--as much my business as yours. As a matter of fact, I'm going to help you find her." Blake stood up. "No, you're not," he said. "You're going to get out of my mind and you're going to stay out--" He paused as a knock sounded on the door. Smith answered it, and a moment later Miss Stoddart, Officer Finch and Vera Velvetskin filed into the room and arrayed themselves before Blake. Again three arms were raised; again three forefingers were pointed accusingly at his chest. "Wretched creature!" said Miss Stoddart. "Consorting with so foul a fiend!" said Officer Finch. "And in so vile a den of iniquity!" said Vera Velvetskin. * * * * *