Her eyes traveled suddenly beyond him, toward the car entrance. Blake turned and his face lighted at the sight of the tall, elderly man coming toward them. Walter Ferrell had aged since he last saw him, but the snow-white head, slim waist and wiry legs were the same. Ferrell came forward, a look of cold hostility in his eyes. Then he recognized the easy figure slouched in the chair opposite his daughter. A keen smile lighted his features.
"Jeff Blake!" His hand shot out. "My God, boy, you're good to look at."
Blake was on his feet, one hand in Ferrell's, the other on the older man's shoulder.
"And you!" he said. "The man who went to riches while I was kicking around as a space tramp in every port of the universe."
Dauna moved gracefully, swiftly to her father's side.
"Tell Dad how I greeted you," she blushed prettily. "Dad, I think Jeff had better go back to the moon. He and Wade will be quarreling over me if I go on acting the same way I started out today."
Ferrell paid no attention to Dauna's outburst. Yet, the mention of Wade's name sent smouldering fires into his eyes. He changed the subject abruptly. Drawing Blake down to the chair beside him he said.
"Tell me boy, what's happened since you left? I want to hear the whole story."
Blake talked. As he related the story of his past ten years away from earth, he watched O'Toole and Dauna, seated together a few seats away. They were discussing Wade, he knew. Although he talked with Walter Ferrell, Blake's thoughts were with O'Toole, Wade and the girl, Dauna.
"Walter," he asked suddenly. "What's wrong with Wade? Has he been in trouble?"