This was the state of matters, when on the fourth of March last, our textile company ordered me to France to straighten out some orders with the France house, the situation being such that they preferred to send a man. Why they did not use radio-vision I do not care to state, as this is my company's business. Therefore, upon entering my apartment, I was in the midst of packing when the television phone called me. The jovial features of "Dutch" Higgins, my one-time college room-mate and now one of the much-maligned engineers of the Undersea Tube, smiled back at me from the disk. "Where are you? I thought we had a sort of dinner engagement at my apartment, Bob." "By gollies I forgot, Dutch. I'll be right over--before it gets cold." Then immediately I turned the knob to the Municipal Aerial-car yards, and ordered my motor, as I grabbed my hat and hurried to the roof. In due time, of course, I sprang the big surprise of the evening, adding: "And, of course, I'm going by the Tube, I feel sort of a half-partnership in it because you were one of the designers." A curious half-pained look crossed his face. We had finished our meal, and were smoking with pushed-back chairs. He finished filling his pipe, and scowled. "Well? Why don't you say something? Thought you'd be--well, sort of pleased." He struck his automatic lighter and drew in a long puff of smoke before answering. "Wish you'd take another route, Bob." "Take another route?" "Yes. If you want it straight, the Tube is not safe." "You are joking." But as I looked into his cold, thoughtful blue eyes, I knew he had never been more serious. "I wish that you would go by the Trans-Atlantic Air Liners. They are just as fast." "But you used to be so enthusiastic about the Tube, Dutch! Why I remember when it was being drilled that you would call me up at all kinds of wild hours to tell me the latest bits of news." He nodded slowly. "Yes, that was in the days before the crack." "Yet you expected to take care of possible leaks, you know," I countered. "But this crack opened after the tunnel had been dug past it, and lately it has opened more." "Are the other engineers alarmed?" "No. We are easily taking care of the extra water and again the opening seems to remain at a stationary width as it has for the past three years. But we cannot caulk it." "Are you going to publish these views?" "No. I made out a minority report. I can do no more." "Dutch, you are becoming over-cautious. First sign of old age." "Perhaps," with the old smile. "But after all it is now more than three years since we have had a talk on the Tube. After it began to function as well as the Air-Express you sort of lost interest in it." "And the world did too." "Certainly--but the public ever was a fickle mistress. Who said that before me?" He laughed and blew out a long puff of smoke. "Everyone, Bob."