BURNSIDE CORNERED STARRE and some sort of an argument ensued. Starre was insisting that she dress for the wedding, and finally her grandfather gave in. Starre flung a final, pleading look at Bob, and then disappeared toward the great white house with the Georgian pillars. Most of the guests trailed after her, and Burnside came stomping up to Bob. He thrust a slip of green paper into his hands.
“There’s your check, young man!” he puffed. “Now you can get your greasy ship out of here. What do you mean by waiting until the last minute to bring the asteroid?”
Bob didn’t answer. He said politely, “I’d like very much to stay for the wedding, sir.”
The old man looked distastefully at his dirty coveralls. “You may,” he said testily. “But please view it from a distance.”
He started away, then s
