" My dear Frank .sx When you hear this , I shall be dead .sx It is now ten o'clock and I am quite alone in the laboratory .sx I have fastened the door and am now seated before the recorder .sx Frank , I have invented a weapon which I call Liquid Glass .sx The atom bomb causes death by fire .sx My invention causes death by freezing .sx Liquid Glass is in the form of small crystals .sx Five of these crystals enclosed within a glass cylinder are sufficient , when dropped from a plane , to reduce the land beneath to a thick crust of ice .sx All people caught within the belt are frozen to death instantly .sx Therefore , should a free nation be threatened by another , they can meet the menace of their enemy's atomic fire with the introduction of a new Ice Age .sx I have placed my formula in a secret cache for greater safety , for I fear , Frank- I very much fear- that I am shadowed and that some person may have more than a faint inkling as to what I have brought into being .sx Have you ever heard talk concerning three men who are known as the Terrible Three , who have managed so far to elude capture .sx Their field of operation is world wide , but there is a rumour that they are at present in the States .sx These three men have the reputation of possessing superb nerve and cunning .sx I know many inside stories of the happenings under cover within Europe .sx The merest glimpse of a man's face is sufficient warning to the initiated , but I have no proof .sx Therefore be on your guard .sx " Now for your instructions .sx " Snatch a moment when the house is unoccupied- but don't send the servants out too obviously- then go upstairs to the attic .sx In the second room you will find a line of pictures resting against the wall .sx Choose Psyche and Pan , and take off the back .sx Between this outer covering you will see a sealed packet .sx The words 'Liquid Glass' are written upon the envelope .sx Take it to Professor Slade , 'Carmel,' Balfour Crescent , New York .sx Once it is in his possession your task is completed .sx But whilst this operation is in progress I beg you to use the utmost discretion .sx Trust no one ; neither a friend nor a beloved one .sx Remember- you will be holding dynamite .sx " There remains nothing more for me to say , I think .sx " Thank you , Frank .sx I know you will do it .sx . well .sx " The tape ran on soundlessly until Frank , breaking the spell , pressed the fast-wind switch .sx Now he understood the Professor's agony of indecision .sx This was , indeed , the answer to the atomic bomb , but what a fearful answer .sx He felt the mantle of responsibility descending upon his own shoulders .sx Lifting off the tape , he hesitated over what he should do with it .sx He could of course remove the message , but he naturally preferred to carry it with the sealed packet to Slade .sx In the meanwhile where could he keep the tape ?sx He dared not leave it about , so he decided to carry it perpetually around with him .sx This point settled , he reflected he wanted to take a shower .sx When he'd tied the belt of his bathrobe he slipped the tape into the pocket .sx Within the shower compartment his brain ran riot , in company with the falling jets of water .sx He ran his fingers through his hair while he figured .sx " I only need the right opportunity to snatch the packet , then carry it to New York and my part is over .sx " When he returned to his room he found he was again looking around for the unexpected .sx " It's too darned easy to let your imagination take the reins , " he admonished himself .sx He did not really believe Zinnerman's secret was known .sx He didn't credit the Professor's notion that he'd been trailed .sx " No- just a sick man weaving fantasies , and you'd better watch out for yourself , " he warned , " or you will be starting on the same road , too .sx " He turned the key softly in the lock for the first time since he'd slept in this house .sx Half an hour later Frank lay on his bed in the inner room .sx He was smoking and flicking over the pages of a book .sx The tape now reposed beneath his pillow .sx It seemed to him that the night was endless .sx Had he the least hope that he'd sleep ?sx At length he laid aside his cigarette end in a silver tray and turned out the light .sx In retrospect he saw again Zinnerman's face close to his , and felt the Professor's hands gripping his shoulders .sx He relived the scene in the laboratory , then he drifted into sleep .sx What was that !sx Frank sat up and listened .sx He heard a sharp click-click .sx He switched on the table lamp , swung his feet to the floor and reached for his robe .sx " Is anyone there ?sx " he called .sx In the next room he groped for the light button and flooded the apartment with illumination .sx He had to wait a minute to adjust his own vision .sx Then going over to the door he released it .sx The passage was empty .sx " Is someone there ?sx " he queried .sx No one replied .sx No sound disturbed the heavy silence which now ruled the house .sx He closed his door .sx His watch registered two o'clock .sx He extinguished the lamp and pulled back the heavy drapes from the window .sx The dark sky was lit by a silver moon boat .sx The trees were scarcely discernible ; a serene autumnal scene .sx He wandered back into his bedroom .sx Here , he shook out a Stuyvesant from the packet on the small table and used his lighter .sx Seated on the side of the bed he commenced to evolve plans for the morrow .sx CHAPTER TWO .sx FRENZIED WEB .sx THE NEW DAY proved a whirlpool of activity .sx Frank had to cope with dozens of letters , attend to callers , and take each phone call which occurred about every fifteen minutes .sx At mid-day Benn entered Frank's study carrying a tray .sx Frank wanted only a sandwich and a glass of milk for luncheon , and as the butler deposited the tray upon the desk he asked if he might slip out for half an hour .sx " Sure , " Frank agreed absently .sx Then as the man departed realisation dawned .sx With Benn removed , the house would be virtually empty .sx The other two servants had gone out a while since .sx Johnson was in the laboratory with sufficient work to occupy him for an hour at least .sx He'd been very late the previous night and was trying desperately to make up the time he'd lost .sx He had hinted to Frank that he'd had a lot of fun and consumed quite a number of highballs .sx Possibly he'd been responsible for the noise that had woken him , Frank had decided ; and now within a short span of time he would have his chance within his grasp .sx He waited until he heard the front door slam ; made a quick check to ascertain that the house really was untenanted , then he swiftly mounted the stairs which led to the next storey .sx He opened a door .sx The first room looked rather eerie in the faint light filtering in from the lowered shades .sx Frank crossed to the second door and turned the handle .sx There were several pieces of furniture stored in here .sx Resting against the opposite wall were a row of pictures , gilded frames turned towards the wall .sx He examined each in turn , then as the fifth picture passed through his hands he knew with quickening pulses that this was the one he sought .sx A lovely study of the kneeling Psyche imploring the aid of Pan who , in his genial way , was apparently giving advice to the stricken girl who had lost her lover through her own imprudence and mistrust .sx Frank produced his penknife and gently attacked the back of the picture .sx He was aware that the task must be delicately done .sx He owed that to Zinnerman .sx At length it was finished and the square piece of plywood fell away .sx There , resting against the canvas was a small sealed packet , measuring not more than six inches by four .sx He lifted it up and read 'Liquid Glass' inscribed in the Professor's neat script .sx He slipped the package into his pocket , and then commenced the work of restoring the picture in as perfect a condition as before .sx When he was at last satisfied he came away and descended the staircase .sx He strode swiftly into his room- and stopped- eyes riveted upon his black jacket lying across a chair .sx Within the right hand pocket reposed the tape .sx How could he have been so careless as to leave it here ?sx But it was all right , he reflected the next instant .sx The dwelling was deserted .sx Nevertheless his conscience troubled him as he slid his hand into the pocket to recover it .sx The tape was not there .sx He explored the left side pocket , and again drew blank .sx Where was it ?sx He was certain beyond a shadow of doubt that he placed it there this morning .sx His gaze flashed around .sx There was a tape on the recorder which he'd left bare last night .sx He bounded over to the machine .sx The tape was a quarter wound off .sx He switched on , fast-wound , and pressed the playback button .sx With an indescribable shock he heard Zinnerman's voice saying the first words of his message .sx Frank stopped the machine and stood taut .sx Someone had been in this room during his absence .sx For a moment he could not move as realisation flooded his brain , then he fled into the corridor .sx " Who is there ?sx " he shouted .sx His voice echoed- and there was no reply .sx He made a swift search of the first floor rooms and rushed down the stairs to explore the rest .sx He found no one .sx He ran across the lawn to the laboratory and threw the door wide .sx Johnson , who seemed to be terribly busy , glanced up at him in an apparently startled fashion .sx " Hello , Frank , " he greeted .sx " Have you come to give me a hand ?sx That sure would be acceptable .sx " Frank ignored this .sx " Did you come into the house just now ?sx " he demanded abruptly .sx Johnson ruffled up his hair .sx " Who , me ?sx " he exclaimed .sx " Good God , no .sx I've far too much to do , but if you were thinking of brewing coffee , I'd love some .sx Better make it black though .sx I went out on the town last night .sx " Frank stared at him , trying to read within Johnson's eyes whether he was speaking the truth or not .sx Then Frank withdrew , closing the door after him .sx He went swiftly back up to his room and removing the tape , slid it into his pocket .sx He thought wretchedly , " How much harm have I caused already ?sx " It was abundantly clear to him than an intruder had been here , but just how far that person had advanced in knowledge was open to speculation .sx He might only have had time to hear a part of the tape , or- he was now as wise as Frank was .sx How could he tell ?sx There just wasn't time to waste in self-reproach for this criminal carelessness on his part .sx There was only one thing to do- think fast , and decide just how the situation should be remedied .sx He moved over to the window and looked down upon the garden .sx Johnson , of course , was the most probable candidate for the unknown intruder .sx If only there was some way of checking up on him .sx The tall trees stood sentinel below dressed in their garlands of russet leaves .sx Autumn .sx The loveliest season of the year .sx A figure was crossing the stone courtyard below .sx Benn , returning from his errand no doubt .sx Frank turned away .sx Then a new line of thought arrested him .sx Could this have been the work of a stranger ?sx A person Frank had never seen ?sx A creature well adapted in the art of a quiet unnoticed entry and a swift melting away afterwards when the task had been completed ?sx A saboteur perhaps ?sx One of the Terrible Three ?sx But let him deal with facts known .sx However much his enemy had learned there was one point he couldn't be aware of , namely that Frank had already secured the packet .sx