Arden came running into her husband's office breathlessly. She was waving a sheet of paper and there was mingled anger and pleasure on her face as she shoved the paper under Don's eyes and waggled it. "Look!" she commanded. "Stop fanning me with that," said Channing, "and let me see it if it's so all-fired important." "I'll murder 'em in cold blood," swore Arden. Channing pried his wife's fingers apart and took the paper. He read--and his eyes bulged with amused concern-- "Dear Characters: When we were giving Venus Equilateral's advantages the up and down a coupla years ago after the sudden and warranted departure of Director Francis Burbank, we forgot one important item--a justice of the peace. So Christine and I are eloping in a time-honored fashion. Neither of us have any desire to get wedded in the midst of a Roman Holiday even though it does deprive a lot of guys the right to kiss the bride. You may give my Little Black Book to Jim Baler, Barney Carroll, and Wes--and have Arden see that they divide 'em up proportionately. Your ex-bachelor chum(p) Walt. PS: He chased me 'til I caught him-- Christine." "Well," chuckled Don good-naturedly, "that's Our Walt. He never did do anything the slow and easy way. Does Jim know?" "I dunno, let's find him and ask." They found Jim and Barney in Farrell's laboratory discussing the theories of operating a gigantic matter-transmitter affair to excavate sand from a cliff. Channing handed the note to Jim, who read it with a half smile and handed it to Barney, who shared it with Wes while they read it together. Jim said "I'm not surprised; Christine could have been talked into wedlock--holy or unholy--by a mere wink from Walt." "I hope she'll be kind to our little bucket-headed idiot," said Arden, making to wipe tears with a large sheet of emery paper from Farrell's workbench. "He's been slightly soft-skulled ever since he set eye on that scheming hussy you have for a sister." Barney shook his head sadly. "Poor guy." "We ought to toast 'em even though they aren't here," suggested Farrell. "A requiem toast." "This," chuckled Don Channing, "is one mess that Walt will have to get out of himself." "Mess is it?" demanded Arden with a glint in her eye. "Come, husband, I would have words with thee." Don reached in his hip pocket. "Here," he said, "just take my checkbook." "I'd rather have words with you." Don shook his head. "If I just give you the checkbook, you'll use it reasonably sparing, all things feminine considered. But gawd help the balance once you get to talking me into writing the check myself. Besides, we're about to hear from the Thomas boys again. They're about to land at Canalopsis." "I'll wait," said Arden, settling on a tall stool and lighting a cigarette. It took about ten minutes, and then Freddie Thomas's voice came from the speaker, loud and clear. "Well, we've landed. We're here. And where are you?"