"You don't?" Fairchild exclaimed. His eyes widened in sudden comprehension. "That fellow...." He half rose and looked toward the exit. He glanced back at their faces and saw that he had guessed right. Waiting for no more he leaped across the room, bumping into a waiter and causing him to spill a tray of drinks. Then he was out the door before anyone could stop him.
"I hope Phil had sense enough to get far away, and quick," Lin groaned. "Come on, Dorothy, let's see." He dropped enough money on the table to take care of the check and, taking her arm, hurried after Fairchild.
Twenty feet away a crowd had gathered about a central point. They ran to the crowd and pushed their way toward its center. Dorothy gasped and Lin tensed at what they saw.
Phil was getting slowly to his feet, nursing a large bruise under one eye with gentle fingers.
"The other guy just vanished!" someone said unbelieving. "I saw him! He just vanished in thin air where he was standing!"
"Did he get it?" Lin said, helping Phil to his feet.
Phil nodded, then muttered, "Let's get away from here. I think I need another drink."
Lin's legs were suddenly watery. Dorothy's lip was trembling.
"A drink," Lin said dully, then, determinedly, "Yes, a drink." He took Dorothy's arm in his fingers. "Come on, honey. Maybe we'll have time."
"A drink?" Dorothy said shrilly. "We're going to be dead in another minute and all you want is time enough to have a drink?"