Sandy and Phyl had to leave soon afterward. Bud offered to escort them to the gate.
Tom, who was eager to continue work on one of his experiments, asked his friend to take the devil doll to his office in the main building.
A short time later Bud deposited the strange figure alongside Tom’s blotter. On impulse, Bud grinned, plucked out the pen, and began writing a message.
Suddenly he felt dizzy. Bud tried to rub his hand over his eyes, but his muscles refused to respond! He could scarcely lift his arm!
“H-h-help!” Bud gasped hoarsely. Then he swayed and collapsed in the chair!
CHAPTER II
AIRPORT RUSE
TOM, busy testing his sky-paint gas in a magnetic field, heard the lab intercom buzz.
“Please come to your office quickly!” Miss Trent begged. “Something has happened to Bud!”
“Be right there!”
Hurriedly, Tom jeeped to the main building and dashed through the lobby to the big double office he shared with his father.
Bud was slumped in a chair behind Tom’s desk, unconscious. Miss Trent and several other employees were leaning weakly against the walls. All of them seemed about to keel over.
“I-I managed to call the doctor,” Miss Trent stammered.
Tom acted on a suspicion. Holding a handkerchief over his nose, he darted across the room and flicked on the air-conditioning exhaust fan. Then he called for help over the intercom.
In moments other employees appeared and assisted the victims out to the lounge chairs and
11
12 REPELATRON SKYWAY
settees in the lobby. By this time Doc Simpson, Enterprises’ young medic, had arrived. He quickly administered first aid.