The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-11

| together what Mrs. Zant had already told him,
and what he had himself observed, Mr. Rayburn
was inclined to believe that the motive might be
found in the housekeepers jealousy of her mas
/ ter.
The suggestive events of the day were not at
an end yet.
| AT the moment when John Zants door closed
behind him, Mr.. Rayburn was recognized by an
old friend, passing in the street-a person of
celebrity in the world of science, who was pro-
fessor of chemistry at one of the London
hospitals
What Have you been submitting your
feet to Mr.. Zantl" asked the Professor, pointing
to the brass plate on the door.
Mr.. Rayburn explained that he had only been
paying an ordinary visit.
"Ah. you know him9 Well, as an operator.
cannot speak too highly of your friend. He has
set right rather serious mistake made in my
case, by the corn-cutter whom am accustomed
to employ in London. In other respects he is
one of the queerest characters have met with
for many long day past"
I'm what way, may ask"
| The Professor took his friends arm. They
walked along the esplanade together.
I'VE live, said the chemist, lin an age when
literature. art and science are all alike invaded
| by the omnipresent amateur. Mr.. John Zant IL
| an amateur who practices what he calls occult
chemistry in his leisure hours. While he was
| operating on my foot he applied the soothing in
| fiuence of fattery deicately laid on; and VIXEN
he had done (if | may use coarse expresson)
he had pumped me in my scientific capacity
without mercy. The fellow-I beg your pardon;
I forgot he was friend of yours; let us say the
accomplished amateur-has collected some curl
| Gus old books relating to chemistry, and has
founded on them some absurd theories of his
| own. One OF these theories is, that the old SUI
perstiton, which once believed in the The Elk
er OF Love-, actually rests on basis of chemical
truth. There are drugs (he was good enough to
| remind mel which affect the mind through the
| body, and which may so influence the ntellectu-
al powers to place the will of one person at the
| mercy of the will of another In that way, says
| Mr. John Zant, L account for the wonders said
| to have been performed by the love draughts
mentioned in this old book! He turned over few
| pages and pointed to recipe Tor prescription
which. as he thought. justified his opinion. But
he would like to know, he informed me. if my
wonderful, etcetera, etcetera. confirmed him in
in his own view. HIS plausible impu-
say his thirst for knowledgemxsas really
as good as play. But there was
one serious side to the nonsense that he talked.
led him on, l am ashamed to say. for my own
| amusement until 1 made discovery which
had not bargained for. The man is ignorantly
meddling with two chemical ingredients which
may produce disastrous results if he attempts
to put his theories to the test He denies that he
| has an intention of doing this, excepting. per-
haps, in the case of some unfortunate animal.
| Whether there is any good reason to believe him
| we won't stop to inquire. My last words at part
| ing gave him warning which hope will have
its effect. 1t might not be amiss if you exerted
your influence over your friend Tell him to
take that small metal case which he brought
with him from London out in boat, and when
he gets into deep water to throw it overheard.
Are you staying at St Anns9 I'm here in lodg-
| ines with my wife, till the end of the week.
| There is the address; come and see u.s."
| Rejecting in the solitude of his own ROOM Mr..
Rayburn felt that the one prudent course to take
would be to remove Mrs. Zant from st. AIMS:
He tried to prepare her cautiously for this strong
proceeding, when she came the next day to take
| Lucy out for walk.
elf yo1 still regret having forced yourself to
| accept your brotherinaw's invitation" was all
he ventured to say, don't forget that you are
perfect mistress of your own actions You have
only to come to me at the hotel, and will take
you back to London by the next train"
| She positively refused to entertain the idea
| Il should be thankless creature, indeed" she
| said, ''f l accepted your proposal Do you
a personal quarrel with John Zantl No! If
find myself forced to leave the house, will go
away alone"
There was no moving her from this resolu-
|
Mr.. Rayburn remained at the hotel, with a mind
| ill at ease. A man of reader mental resources
might have felt at loss how to act for the best
| in the emergency that now confronted him.
| While he was still as far as ever from arriving
at decision. some person knocked at the door
Had Mrs. Zant returnedl He looked up AS the
door was opened and saw to his astonishment-
Mr.. John Zant's housekeeper
II hope have not done wrong she said; II
have allowed your little GIRL sir, to 90 to the
beach with a plsyfellow. We met the child,
with her mother, at the door of the hotel The
lady said she was sure you would not object"
1.-THE lady is quite right" Mr.. Rayburn inter
posed But how is it that you are in charge of
Lucy? Where is Mrs. Zant2"
Mrs. Zant is not well, sir. At least so am
told. 1t happened, as hear, while she was pass
ing our house door; and had my masters orders
to bring Miss Lucy back Before I 60 away, 4"
word in Mrs. Zaut's interests Take the lady
out of our house, and lose no time in doing it,"
Mr. Rayburn was on his guard He merely
asked: "WhvW
The housekeeper answered in curiously in
direct municipality in jest, as it seemed, and
partly in earnest.
when man has lost his wife" she said,
there's some difference of opinion in Parlia-
ment, as hear, whether he does right wrong
if he marries his wifes sister, Wait bit! I'm
coming to the point. Ny master is one who has
/ long head on his shoulders; he sees conse-
quences which escape the notice of people like
me- In his way of thinking if one man may
marry his wifes sister, and no harm done,
where's the objection if another man pays o
compliment to the family, and marres his
brothers widow. My master, if you please, is
that other man. Take the widow away before
she marries him."
This was beyond endurance ''You insult Mrs.
Zant" Mr.. Rayburn answered, IF you suppose
that such thing is possible"
''Oh! insult her, do l? Listen to me. One of
three things will happen She will be entrapped
into consenting to t-or frightened into consent
ing to it or drugged into consentpg to it"
Mr.. Rayburn was too indignant to let her go
| OF. You are talking nonsense, he said There
can be no marriage; the law foroids it."
Are you one of the people who see no further
than their nosesa" she asked insolently. Wont
the law take his money! Is he obliged to men
ton that he is related to her by marriage, when