A rousing adventure story for boys by Bret Dawson.

Chet Price wasted no time getting to the space dame's space pad. The fifteen-year-old space detective put duty above all else, and when a client needed him he never hesitated to spring into action.

This client, he was certain, needed him more than most. As she opened the door to let him into her space pad, she winked the distinctive wink that Chet had been so carefully trained to recognize.

"The space grass is not greener on the other side," he said. "It merely absorbs red light more effectively."

The space dame smiled and pretended not to understand the code phrase.

"I beg your pardon?" she asked demurely. Then she carefully and deliberately winked again.

"The space grass," Chet repeated, "is not greener on the other side. It merely absorbs..."

"I heard you the first time," the space dame cut in, "but I don't have time to speak in code, space detective. I need your help."

"Chet Price, space detective, at your service," said Chet. "What's the problem?" Privately, he was a little disappointed that the space dame hadn't really been using the code wink. But the expression that showed on his face was all business: calm, thoughtful, ready to help.

"Well..." began the space dame, "...it's kind of embarrassing, really. Have you ever found yourself in the grip of strange powerful unfamiliar feelings?"

"All the time," replied Chet. "My strategy is usually to give in, to go where they lead me and do what they tell me."

"That's what I've done so far," the space dame said. "Which is why I've asked you to come here to my space pad."

Chet smiled a fresh-faced smile.

"I trust," the space dame continued, "that we're seeing eye-to-eye on this?" As she spoke, the pointedly directed her gaze downward, to where Chet's belt buckle would have been, had he not left his trousers back at the space haberdashery of Jackie Greenwood.

"Oh, goodness," he said, trying hard not to stammer. "Oh, golly. If you'll just give me a moment, I'm sure I can explain."

The space dame grinned conspiratorially.

"We'll see, space detective," she said. "We'll see."

* * *

Next: What the space dame saw!