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Hands were shaken ahter and much talk

Captain Wilder sniffed the air "Is that gingerbread?"

"Will you have some?"

Everyonetables were hurried out while hot foods were rushed forth and plates and fine daood silverere laid Captain Wilder stood looking first at Mrs Hathaway and then at her son and her two tall, quiet-hters He looked into their faces as they darted past and he followed every move of their youthful hands and every expression of their wrinkleless faces He sat upon a chair the son brought "How old are you, John?"

The son replied, "Twenty-three"

Wilder shifted his silverware clumsily His face was suddenly pale The ht"

The sonmore cha

irs

"What's that, Williamson?"

"I'm forty-threeJohn Hathaway there, twenty years ago He says he's only twenty-three now; he only looks twenty-three But that's wrong He should be forty-two, at least What's it mean, sir?"

"I don't know"

"You look kind of sick, sir"

"I don't feel well The daughters, too, I saw theed, not a wrinkle Will you do me a favor? I want you to run an errand, Williao and what to check Late in the breakfast, slip away It should take you only ten minutes The place isn't far from here I saw it from the rocket as we landed"

"Here! What are you talking about so seriously?" Mrs Hathaway ladled quick spoons of soup into their bowls "Sether, the trip's over, and it's like home!"

"Yes" Captain Wilder laughed "You certainly look very well and young Mrs Hathaway!"