He made a crushing gesture, which somehow suggested an ultimate cruelty and tyranny beyond anything which Drayton, even, had encountered in his own proper century.
'The Penn Service will give you a free hand,' continued the man. 'I can promise that as no other living man save one could do. I am-But never mind that now. Will you take me on as a friend?'
Viola was eying him curiously.
'And this Loveliest-you say she must take her choice in marriage of just those two, Strongest or Cleverest? But Terry will be one of those, and he is my brother!'
'I am not your brother,' said Cleverest insinuatingly.
Drayton sprang to his feet, and Trenmore, already standing, made a sudden forward motion. But to their surprise Viola herself waved them to be quiet and smiled very sweetly upon this foxy-faced and cold-blooded suitor.
'I think I may thank you, sir, and accept your alternative. If you are sure that I shall win in this strange competition. And now I am thinking, what do you do with the people who lose their high office? I suppose they go back among the Numbers again?
The man laughed. 'That would never do. Penn Service could never allow that. Any one who fails at a competition, whether he is a candidate or an actual incumbent of office, goes into the pit!'
'Gee!' muttered Bertram succinctly. Then aloud, 'Say, Mister, I shouldn't think these here Super-what-you- may-call-'em jobs would ever get to be real popular!'
'We are not exactly crowded with applicants,' acknowledged the Superlative. 'But do not allow yourselves to be troubled on that score. I have excellent reasons for prophesying your success. And now I had best leave you, before her worn-out Loveliness catches me here. She might just possibly upset the apple cart yet! May I rely on you?'
He looked from one to the other with a shifty, yet piercing gaze.
'I think you may.' Again Viola smiled upon him in a way that made Drayton writhe inwardly. What hidden side of this beautiful, innocent, girl-child's nature was now being brought to the surface? Did she realize the implications of this thing to which she was so sweetly agreeing? Her brother stood glum and silent, eyes fixed on the floor. Cleverest, however, his ax having been produced and successfully ground, extended a thin, cold hand to Viola.
'It is refreshing,' he declared, 'to find brains and the faculty of decision in conjunction with such beauty!'
Viola accepted the hand and the crude compliment with equal cordiality. 'May we hope to see you soon again?'
'As early as circumstances allow. Don't let Lovely suspect what's in the wind. Just let her imagine that everything is drifting her way. I'll look after you. Be sure of that!'
And the Superlative departed, leaving behind him a brewing storm which broke almost as quickly as the door closed on his retreating back.
'Viola,' growled her brother, and it said much for his anger that there was no endearment in his tone, 'is it crazy you have gone? Or is it your intention to offer me that for a brother-in-law? Can you not see-'
'Now, just a minute, Terry. What is the title and position of the pleasant-faced gentleman who was here?'
'Cleverest, of course, the cunning-eyed rat! And he said he was at the head of the lawyers, bad luck to the lot of them-begging your sole pardon, Bobby, my boy!'
'Exactly. And is there no one of us who is better fitted for that same office than he that was just now here? Who is it that you've told me was the cleverest lad you ever met, Terry, and the prince of all lawyers?' She smiled mischievously at Drayton. 'And why,' she continued, 'should Loveliest be the only one to receive a surprise on Wednesday? Let Mr. Drayton try for the office he's best trained for. I have faith that this Cleverest of theirs is not the man to win against him.'
'I might try-' began Drayton. Then as the full inference struck him he started, staring with incredulous eyes at Trenmore's sister.
Though a slow flush mounted in her delicate cheeks, she returned his gaze unwaveringly.
'And why not, Mr. Drayton? Would you have me give myself to the present incumbent of that office? And I am asking of you only the protection betrothal would offer me until we may escape from these unkindly folk. Are you not my brother's trusted friend, and may I not trust you also?'
'Before Heaven, you may, Miss Viola,' said Drayton simply, but with all the intensity of one taking a holy vow. 'Terry, are you willing that I should attempt this thing?'
Trenmore nodded. 'As a possible brother-in-law, Bobby, I do certainly prefer you to the other candidate. And by the powers, 'twill be worth all the troubles we've had to see that sly rat's face when you oust him from his precious job!'
'If I oust him,' corrected Drayton.
'You'll do it. You've the brains of three of him packed in that handsome skull of yours. But Bertram, man, wherever did you get that watch? 'Tis a beautiful timepiece and all, but never the one you had last night!'
'It is, though.' The most recent addition to their party turned away, at the same time sliding the watch in his pocket.
'It is not! Let me see it.' The Irishman held out his hand with a peremptory gesture.
Somewhat sullenly the little round man obeyed the command. It was, as Trenmore had said, a beautiful watch; a thin hunting-case model and engraved 'J. S. to C. June 16, 2114.' The watch was attached to a plain fob of black silk, terminating in a ruby of remarkable size and brilliance, set in platinum. Trenmore looked up from his examination sternly.
'Who is 'C'? Never mind. I can guess! I remember how you brushed against the man as you went to open the door for him to go out.'
'Well, and what if I did?' grumbled Bertram. 'That Cleverest guy ain't no real friend of yours, is he?'
To Drayton's surprise, Viola laughed outright. 'Mr. Burglar, you should change your habits once in two thousand years at least! Had you looked into that pit of theirs, as we did, you'd not be lifting things from a man who can send you there. Terry, how would it do to let Mr. Bertram try for the office of Quickest? He is that, by this piece of work, and on the police force he'd be-'
Her brother drowned the sentence in a great shout of mirth.
'You've the right of it, little sister! 'Tis the very post for him. Bertram, my round little lad, would that keep you out of mischief, do you think?'
Bertram grinned sheepishly. 'It ain't such a bad idea,' he conceded. 'They tell me there's lots of graft to be picked up on the force. And say, it would be some fun to be ordering a bunch of cops around! I'm on, Mr. Trenmore!'
CHAPTER 12: THE NEW CITY
BY the evening of that day the four castaways of Time had acquired a better knowledge of the city, its odd customs and odder laws, than had been theirs during Cleverest's morning call. The Loveliest had kept her word and more than kept it. She had called for them in her car, amiably accepted their rather lame excuses for Bertram's presence, and insisted on an immediate shopping expedition to supply their more pressing needs in the way of clothing and toilette necessities.
On leaving the hotel she bestowed upon each of her proteges a plain green button. These, she explained, denoted that the wearer was of the immediate family of a Superlative. She had arranged with 'Virty' to stretch a point for convenience sake, and so protect her wards pro tempore. Connections of Penn Servants, it seemed, wore similar buttons, but purple in color. No wearer of a button of either hue, she assured them, would ever be troubled by the police unless at the direct command of a Servant. This seemed a sweeping assertion, but they assumed that it did not cover such a person in the commission of actual crime. Later they were not so sure.
The most curious impression which Drayton received upon this brief expedition was that of the intense, commonplace familiarity of everything he saw, complicated by a secret undercurrent of differences too deep to be
