"Yes, a colloidal, radioactive potash. It works with extraordinary rapidity and, what is most important, it seems to stimulate all the glands in equal proportion. I believe that coördination of effects is a vital necessity to any process of rejuvenation. That's why I am not particularly in favor of grafting only one type of gland, such as the thyroid. The result may not be lasting. You may easily develop one part of the organism at the expense of the rest." This was touching Gran'pa on his tenderest spot, so to speak--his own glands (or rather Alfred's). I could see that he was annoyed. "Such has not been the case with me," he said, airily. "Not so far, perhaps," answered Dr. Martin. "You mean to suggest that it may. I disagree with you entirely, sir! I feel that you are wrong. I _know_ it!" "Please don't look on this as a personal matter, Mr. Hadley. It is merely a general observation. We know very little of the precise function of any gland at present, but we do know that the stimulation of one kind often leads to degeneration of another." "Have you told all this to the old people?" inquired Gran'pa, after a pause. "Naturally not!" "That's a pity!" "Why?" asked Dr. Martin. "Because most of them will badly need some such comforting theory. I'm sorry to inform you, doctor, that we've not done nearly as well as we expected. Instead of the eighty-seven pairs of glands promised, we've managed to get only twenty-two." Dr. Martin's expression was one of surprise and pain. In spite of his profession, he seemed to be deeply moved. "This is very bad news!" he said. "They will be terribly upset." "I am certain they will," agreed Gran'pa, almost cheerfully. "But they must make the best of it. Some of us will have to die of old age--sometime. It's not a new grievance. Men and women have been putting up with it for millions of years. Why, then, should these people complain?" Dr. Martin shrugged his shoulders. "You must remember that they have been here a long time and worked very hard at their exercises, solely in preparation for the new glands. Their enthusiasm has astounded all of us. When they find that only about a quarter of them are going to be rejuvenated, there will be trouble." An idea struck me at this point. "How would it be to distribute single glands, instead of pairs?" I suggested. "No!" said Gran'pa, firmly. "I hate makeshifts. We must have one thing or the other--either youth or old age. We can't have men who don't know _what_ they are. It would be as absurd as fitting a three-horse-power engine to a four-seater car. . . ." "I agree," murmured Dr. Martin, despondently. "The only thing is to explain matters--" "And let them draw lots," added Gran'pa. Dr. Croft joined in. "There is no reason," he said, "why we should not tell them that this is merely the first consignment of glands--the remainder to follow later."