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 lying, she knew, but she realized that he had something to say to Corrigan so, when the little diamond buyer rose from the table, bowing, she went with him to the dance floor.

The two men watched the tall girl and the little man as they danced. There was a great deal of resemblance between the criminologist and the ex-gambler. Both of them were near the same age, and they were both well-built physical specimens. In addition, they habitually wore an expression of amused tolerance about their faces. Seeing them together would have made one believe that they might be engaged in the same profession.

Tappan said casually: "Strange little character, Van der Bush, isn't he?"

The ex-gambler glanced sharply at the criminologist. "I really hadn't noticed anything unusual about him. Seems pretty commonplace to me."

Tappan continued to watch the dancers. "As a matter of fact," he went on, "I suspect that he's unique among the population of Station Seven. I think he'd be interesting to watch, since he's a little out of the ordinary, don't you?"

Corrigan laughed, "Since you mention it, he might be at that. But I don't imagine he'll be around long enough for us to really get to know him. What do you think?"

Tappan's "Perhaps" was noncommittal. The dancers rejoined them, and shortly afterwards, the two men left.

Shelia looked inquiringly at Tappan. "I don't get it, Chief. What went on that I missed?"

Tappan chuckled. "Business is over. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

He dodged the subject the rest of the evening, and when he finally said good night at the door of her apartment, the girl was still in the dark about the whole business.

Next morning, as Tappan was finishing a leisurely breakfast in the administrative office's restaurant, Van der Bush entered and sat down at the counter beside him. "Ah, good morning, Mr. Tappan. Business brings me here, but I haff not had my coffee. Would you be so kind as to join me in a cup?"

Tappan nodded and motioned to the counterman. The little man went on. "I haff decided to go prospecting, Mr. Tappan. I am not a geologist, but I haff some knowledge of the business, and an excellent vein of diamond bearing clay hass been discovered just beyond the spaceship landing ramps, I am told this morning. I will seek a permit to go out and examine it."

Tappan turned to face him. "Very interesting, Mr. Van der Bush. I had not heard of it. Of course," he smiled, "Mr. Corrigan would know of it before any of us up here, I'm sure."

Van der Bush chuckled gleefully, "Oh, no, Mr. Tappan. Efen Mr. Corrigan does not know yet of this one. I haff contacted the prospector who discovered it. I haff not seen 30