The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-04

soif. at the same instant aiming stealthy ktek
at the topmost round OF the ladder. and
scramblinR ostentatiously over the edge Of the
trap. The ladder went down thirty or forty
feet with racket. Gathering and banging
against the walls OF tho tower
DR.. Rapporschwyll Immediately appreciated
the situation. He turned sharply around. and
remarked with a sneer Monsieur is unac-
countably awkward" Then he scowled and
showed HE teeth. for he recognized Fisher.
1t is rather unfortunate" said tho Bos-
tonian with imperturbable GOODNESS. I'VE
shall be Imprisoned here a couple OF hours ut
the shortest Let us congratulate ourselves
that we each have intelligent company. besides
a charming landscape to contemplate"
The Swiss coldly bowed. and resumed HIS
Typographical studies. Fisher lighted a cigar.
81 also DESIRE" continued Fisher. putting
clouds Of smoke in the direction OF the Teufel-
mnhle. to avail myself OF the opportunity to
return forty marks OF yours. which reached
me. presume. by n mistake"
" II Monsieur the American physician was
not satisfied with his fee" rejoined Rapper-
schwyn venomously. "he can without doubt
have the matter adjusted by applying to the
Barons valet"
Fisher paid no attention to this thrust but
calmly laid tho gold pieces upon the parapet
directly under the noee of the Swiss.
=" could not think OF accepting any fee" he
said with deliberate emphasis. was album
dainty rewarded for my trifling services by the
novelty and interest OF tho case"
The SWISS scanned the Americans counte-
nance long and steadily with his keen little
gray eyes. At length he said. carelessy:
Monsieur Ia a man Of science2"
Yes" replied Fisher. with mental reserva-
ton In favor OF all sciences save that which
A a 4 a..
Then" continued DIR. Rapperschwyll.
Monsieur will perhaps acknowledge that a
more beautiful or more extensive case OF tre-
panning has rarely come under his obscrva-
ton"
Fisher slightly raised his eyebrows.
And Monsieur will also understand. being a
physician" continued DIR. Rapperschwyll," tho
senstiveness OF the Baron himself. aud OF his
friends. upon tho subject. He will therefore
pardon my seeming rudeness ut the time OF his
discovery"
He Is smarter than I supposed" thought
Fisher. ." He holds ali the cards while have
nothing-nothing. except u toerably strong
nerve when IL comes 10 game OF bluff so here
goes"
Il deeply regret that sensitivenoss," he con-
tinued. aloud. for IL had occurred TO me that a
accurate account Of what saw published in
oho VI tuo sNiohNiuu louEuhlb Oh IsnklAnu
America. would excite wide attention and no
doubt be received with interest on the CONT
nent."
What you sawi" cried the Swiss. quickly and
sharply. II is false. You saw nothng-when
/ entered you had not even removed the -"
Here he stopped short and muttered to him
self IA II cursing his own impetuosty. Fisher
celebrated his advantage by tossing away his
half-burnod cigar and lighting u fresh one.
Since you compel me to be frank" DR.. Rap
perschwyll went on. with visibly increasing
nervousness. will inform you that the Baron
has assured me that you saw nothing. inter-
rupted YOU In the act Of removing tho silver
cap"
Il will be equally frank" replied Fisher.
stiffening his face for anal effort. On that
point. tho Baron is not "a competent witness. He
was In state OF Inconsistencies for some
time before you entered Perhaps l was re-
moving the silver cap when you Interrupted
mo-"
DR.. Bapperschwyll turned pale.
And. perhaps" continued Fisher. coolly. Il
was replacing IT,"
The suggestion OF this possibility seemed to
strike Rapperschwyll like "a sudden thunder
bolt from tho clouds. His knees parted. and no
almost sank to the floor. He put his hands be-
fore his eyes and wept like "A child. or. rather
like broken old man. He will publish III
He will publish II TO the court and to the world /"
he cried. Historically. And at this crisis -"
Then. by n desperate effort. the Swiss ap-
peared 10 recover 20 some extent his self-con-
troll. He paced the diameter Of the platform for
several minutes with his head bent and his
arms folded across the breast. Turning again
10 his companion. he said:
IT any sum that you may name will -"
Eiaher eut tina abort ,.tth A la,,..L
"Tnen." said Rapperschwyll. Tiff throw
myself on your generosity -"
"Well?" said Fisher.
And ask a promise. on your honor. OF abso-
Lutte silence concerning what you have seen 2"
Silence until such time as the Baron Savitch
shall have ceased to exist?"
That will sunlce" said Rapperschwyn.
For when he ceases 10 exist die. And your
conditions 2"
The whole story. here and now. and with
out reservation"
1t is terrible price to ask OF me-" said
Rnpperschwyl. but larger interests than my
pride are at stake. You shall hear the story.
was bred matchmaker" he continued
after long pause. " in tho canton OF Zurich
1t is not matter OF vanity when | say that |
achieved marvellous degree OF skill In the
craft ! developed faculty OF invention that
the capabilities OF purely mechanical combina-
tons. / studied and improved upon the best
automatic over constructed by human inge-
nuty. Babbages calculating machine especial
ly Interested me- / saw In Babbage's idea the
germ OF something infinitely more important to
the world.
Then threw up my business and went 10
Paris to study physiology. spent three years
at the Sorbonne and perfected myself in that
branch OF knowledge. Meanwhile my pursuits
had extended far beyond tho purely physical
sciences. Psychology engaged me for n time /;
and then | assembled into the domain OF socio-
logy which. when adequately Understood. il
the summary and final application of all knowl-
edge.
IL was after years of preparation and as the
outcome OF all my studies. that the great idea Of
my life. which had vaguely haunted me ever
since the Zurich days, assumed at last a we'll
defined and perfect form"
Tho manner OF DR.. Rapperschwyll had
changed from dstrustful reluctance to frank
enthusiasm. The man himself seemed trans
formed. Fisher listened attentivcly and without
nterrupting the relation. He could not help
fancying that the necessity of yielding the secret.
80 long and so jealousy guarded by the physi-