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best, Suzy. Those rules, well, they're not only forhis protection, you know. What are you going to do when Whit Claybornelands, and comes in here to claim his bride? Had you thought of that?"

  "Honestly, Miss Graham, I didn't think of anything, except that heneeded me at the time. But of course I'll let him go. I'd let him goeven if the rules didn't say I had to."

  Miss Graham's voice was unexpectedly gentle. "You want to get married,don't you? We _could_ break a rule, just this once."

  "Not like that, Miss Graham. Not like that. It wouldn't be fair to holdhim to a promise that he made in space. Even if you'd let me do it, Iwouldn't marry him. I couldn't live with myself. He doesn't know, well,about me. He wouldn't have loved me if I'd told him. He's never seen me;all he's in love with is a voice that understands how to keep him sane.I wouldn't hold him to that promise, Miss Graham, if he was the lastchance to marry that I'd ever have."

  * * * * *

  Miss Graham was silent for a few moments, then turned to the door.

  "You've figured out how to let him know that you won't marry him?"

  "I'll tell him when he comes down."

  "And you think that just telling him will do the trick, Suzy?"

  "The way I'll tell him, it'll stick, oh it'll stick all right." Suzychoked off the last words, and blinked back the tears that seemed tocome into her eyes.

  "I'm glad you've got it figured out, dear." Miss Graham saidapprovingly. "His orbit got knocked loose somehow, and he'll be in thisevening, to talk things over."

  Suzy gasped. "So soon? I mean, well, I've got it sort of figured, but,well," she paused, collecting her thoughts. "As well now as ever, Iguess. I'll wait for him."

  "Do you think he'd get violent? I could leave a couple of engineers inthe closet, or maybe you'd like to have Sheila...."

  "No, I can handle him, and I'd rather not have Sheila here when he comesin. I'll handle him. And thank you, Miss Graham."

  The door closed on Miss Graham's back, and Suzy began to think of WhitClayborne.

  * * * * *

  The door opened slowly, and the pale young airman came into the officeon unsteady feet, his hat in his left hand, and a small package tuckedunder his arm.

  "Is this Suzy's office? I mean, will she be in soon? Where can I findher?" The questions came eagerly.

  "I'm Suzy."

  For a minute the words meant nothing to him. He looked, blankly, roundthe office, then back to the seated figure.

  "You recognize the voice, don't you, Whit?"

  He gulped, and the expression drained from his face, leaving it blank,and helpless. Suzy's heart went out to him, as her voice had gone to himthrough space.

  "I know, the wheel chair, the rug to cover my knees, the brace on myarm. There wasn't any other way, Whit. I couldn't tell you. My voice,Whit, was all that counted, up there. Down on earth, other things count,too. Forgive me, Whit."

  His head seemed to swim, and his unsteady feet fumbled with the floor ashe came to her.

  "You could have told me. I'd have loved you, I'd have loved you anyway."

  "Would you?" Her face turned away from him as he came to her. "Wouldyou, Whit? Would you have stayed alive for a broken girl like me? Wouldyou have waited out your trip for the sake of a cripple in a wheelchair? I know you, Whit, I know your heart and your soul, and I knowyou'd have never loved me if I had told you what I was from thebeginning."

  Whit didn't speak, and Suzy continued.

  "It was a job for me, Whit. I had to bring you down. I lied to you and Ideceived you, and now you're free, and you can go away, to live a betterlife than I can give you."

  "Suzy, you're saying that. You've thought it out, and you've written itdown, and it's what you planned to say to me. Is it the truth, Suzy?"

  "Whit, go away. I've said my piece. I've turned you loose. Now go! Goaway, and don't ever come back to me again."

  Whit's body seemed to straighten up, and he put his little green packagedown on the desk in front of her, then moved away.

  "Open it up, Suzy. It's a gardenia that I brought you. Sick or well,crippled or sound, I'll bring you another every day, until you say youlove me."

  Then he went away.

  Suzy rose slowly, kicking the rug from her knees. She folded the wheelchair into a compact bundle, and stretching up on her toes, put it backon the highest shelf in the closet. Quietly, she put her hat and coaton, and went out of the office, locking the door behind her. The clickof her high heels echoed bravely in the silence as she felt her wayalong the vacant hallway.

  "Sheila, Sheila, come to me, girl," she called.

  The big German shepherd shook herself as she rose from her bed besidethe doorway, and with the practiced skill of years brought the handle ofher harness beneath her mistress's groping hand.

  Suzy knelt beside the big dog, and put her arms around her furry neck,weeping softly into the thick fur.

  "Sheila, Sheila, I think he's going to marry me!" she said.

  THE END