The door opened and footsteps moved into the room. There was a long moment of silence and then a throat anxiously cleared itself nearby. Marc turned around. A small boy, about twelve, regarded him from the other side of the desk ... a small boy with eager eyes and a hawk-featured face. "Culpepper!" Marc yelled. The boy twisted his cap nervously. "Yes," he said. "It's me, Mr. Pillsworth. Your secretary kept throwing me out." "I told her to." The boyish Culpepper nodded. "That's why I took the pills. It was the only way I could get in." "There are several ways you can get out," Marc said menacingly. "One of them is with a broken neck." Mr. Culpepper started waving his small hands. "You must listen to me, Mr. Pillsworth. I have something sensational to show you. You remember we were talking about something that would make people immortal? Well...." He paused to fish a small green bottle out of his pocket. "Well...." "Out!" Marc was on his feet, yelling. "Out! OUT!" The boy's eyes widened with alarm. He turned and scurried for the door like a frightened rat. "Don't!" he shrieked. "Don't throw that paper weight, Mr. Pillsworth! I'm leaving, Mr. Pillsworth! I'm _leaving_!" He scooted through the door and slammed it after him. Marc replaced the paper weight on the desk and sank back into his chair. For a long time he just sat there, staring blankly across the room. Then, slowly, a smile crept into his face. Somewhere in the back of his mind there was laughter. THE END