The calm eyes flicked over his contrite expression.
"Skip it, pal. You look like a right guy. I'll put you next to somethin'. Only keep your lip buttoned, see?"
"Oh, absolutely."
"I'm Mike Eagen—head of the Strato Rovers."
"No!" Marden was plainly awed. "The Strato Rovers, eh? I've heard of them, all right."
The other nodded complacently.
"Yeah. We're about the toughest mob this side of Mars. We don't bother honest people, though. We get ours from the crooks and racketeers. They can't squeal to the Interplanetary Police."
"There's a lot in what you say," agreed Marden. "And of course that puts your ... mob in the Robin Hood class."
"Robin Hood—nuts! That guy was a dope! Runnin' around with bows and arrows. Why, we got a mystery ray that paralyzes anybody that starts up with us. They're all right when it wears off, but by that time we get away."