"My—my brother!" she sobbed, as she buried her head on Quentin's shoulder.
Both turned to Doctor Q—Doctor Q no longer, but really Quentin Locke, senior, whence had come the "Q."
His eyes filled with tears and his voice choked.
"My—children," he murmured, "I see that it is not too late for me to find happiness, after all. Our enemy is dead. It was Balcom, of course, who was in that frame of armor, who used that terrible poison that stole away Brent's mind. The iron monster will walk no more. Henceforth Peter Brent and Miss Eva and you, Quentin—will—"
Doctor Q had not time to finish the sentence.
The door burst inward.
The Automaton, its eyes aflame, stalked in among them!
CHAPTER XXV
As the Automaton crashed its way into the room all sprang back terrified, aghast.
For this monster, they had felt sure, was now nothing but an inanimate shell of armor, since Balcom was dead.