Franklin. "The only thing we have to worry about is getting the germanium. That stuff is scarce, but I think if we take the cash, I know where we can lay hands on a couple of hundred pounds. It will take about ten thousand to swing that end of the deal."

Just about then Tommie felt his father was beginning to squirm. "What do you think?" he asked Tommie's mother.

She shook her head. "You're the business man, Howard. That is for you to decide."

Mr. Franklin laughed pleasantly, "That is a very wise observation, madam. Too many women try to run their husbands' affairs. I say you are very wise."

But Tommie felt something else. His mother was troubled, too. Tommie slowed the chlorophyl cycle so he could watch the light reflect from the nitrogen molecules at the bottom. He wondered why his mother was troubled. Tommie frowned.

Then Mr. Franklin took some papers from his inside coat pocket. "I have the contract, the way your attorney approved it," he said casually. "We might as well get that part of it settled. You don't need to put up any money till tomorrow." He laughed, and Tommie's ears pricked up. That laugh sounded strange. "I'll take you on faith," Mr. Franklin said, and handed the papers to his father.

Mr. Bassford frowned and began to read. Tommie got up and stood against one knee. There were a lot of typewritten pages, mostly with 'whereases' and 'parties of the second part.' Tommie squeezed close, looking at Mr. Franklin, but his father didn't put his arms around him. "Go away, Tommie. Go play," he said.

Tommie was hurt. He stared at Mr. Franklin and he was puzzled at the strange look in Mr. Franklin's eyes as Mr. Franklin stared at him.

Presently Tommie's father looked up. "I guess that's it," he said.

Mr. Franklin was already handing him a pen. It was one of those new eternity pens with a built-in radiant light. Tommie edged closer. His father took it. He laid the papers on the writing-arm of the chair and poised the pen for an instant, made a flourish in the air, and started to write.

Tommie was bending over to watch the little light. His dad stared at him in that contemplative way and said, "You're jiggling me, Tommie. Why don't you go over and sit on Mr. Franklin's lap while I sign the papers?" Tommie didn't want to sit on Mr. Franklin's lap, but from the look in his 

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