The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-05
4 SCIENTIFIC TRIUMPH.

The professor was happy at last. After
years OF thought. experiment and bitter
disappointment. be believed that he had
finally succeeded IN periecting his inyen-
ton. lie had como 50 very near success
scores OF times. only 10 fail, but now he
felt assured that everything was com.
pletc, aud the final test was to be made
This idea Of the professors was curl
Gus one, and he had labored patiently over
il for years in secret, lis faith in ultimate
triumph serving to carry him through his
many dismal failures The device, as
have said, was q curious one 1t was a
contrivance which. when placed in the
hat Of man and worn on his head, would
indicate truthfully that persons thoughts.
II was simple inofensive looking arti-
Gle closely resembling sheet Of white
paper, and so very innocent was its up
pearancc that it could be placed in the
hat of even the most wary without Great
ing any suspicion. But this must neces-
sarily be done with caution. and when eX
tracted by the initiated only could be
read the hieroglyp'tics on the white sheet
tho thoughts o; the wearer OF the hat.
What advantage the realization Of his
idea would be 10 mankind in general the
professor did not stop 10 inquire lie had
been too much absorbed for that but he
vas not the kind of a man who would
utilize his newly acquired power to
neighbours disadvantage He was too re
fined 10 be indelicately inquisitive and
too Indifferent ~ his neighbors to care
much about them in any way His inven-
ton must be a success first, and after
wards he might possibly stop to consider
how it might benefit the human race.
Now. however. that everything was
really finished, and he felt that he was
about to be successful, lac was in a fever
to experiment on some One-and yet he
was loath to unearth any one secrets.
The first person who occurred to him as
a convenient subject ior experiment was
Adele, his nephew daughter who danced
and sang about the house from morning
till night like yoritable fairy The pro
fessOrs spirits rose as he thought OF her
and almost instantly sank again 1t would
be so easy TO secrete the paper III her large
garden hat, where it lay on the table in
the hall, but the professor had qualms Of
conscience. Would it be quite fair or
honorable 10 read the innermost thoughts
of young girl just blooming into woman
hOOdY The professor had old fashioned
ideas of honor and delicacy where women
were concerned. and he decided that it
would not bc right Then there was that
adorable woman Bertha Adeles mother |
and his nephews wife who had been |
driven from her husbands side by his |
cruelty and brutality who looked scarcely |
older than her tall G.year-old daughter) |
and had for five Years taken charge of the |
professors house Ho would like well |
enough TO know Eer secret thoughts on |
many subjects. himself included, but she |
was IA woman and he could not honor !
ably, pry into "a woman's thoughts.
Clearly the professor was i'll u dilemma
He must experiment upon some man !
that was certain; but whom? And when |
the man was found. there would be more |
or less difficulty ia secreting the paper III |
his hat, and in getting il again The pro
fessor had lived so much 10 himself de
voted 10 his studies ana experiments, and
had gone so little into society, that he
was not learned in the art of small talk
and little subterfUges. neither had he any
acquaintance with the art known as
sleiglt Of hand. a little knowledge Of
which would have been of great advan-
tagc a. him just at present
I.tn coming to the house TO call-and
plentS came. for, although the professor
had few visitors, Bertha had many ad
Inirers. IN spite of her being neither a
dirt nor a widow-wouid, of course. leave
his hat in the hall 1t would be an easy
thing for the professor TO pass through
the hall and slip the paper in the hat un
but the difficulty would be in
getting ii again. for the man would natu
rally wear his hat home. The professor
feared it would be too long to wait until
be should call again; fhe impression
might he blurred or worn of, for he was
uncertain how long they would remain,
or, the man might discover the paper and
throw 1t away. at the idea OF such reck
lessness the professor actually sbuddered;
butthe shudder only strengthened his re-
solve The experiment must be made,
and made it should be Oh the very next
man who called at the house.
The very next maj" proved TO be an
Did friend and classmate Of the professors,
)ne whom he had not seen for long time, |
bat to whom he was deeply attached An
opportunity offering the paper was
slipped into his hat The professor then |
walk around the garden, as
ho evening was warm, and his guest
eadily assented But once out in the
yarden. the professors nervousness and
excitement were so great that conversation
and conscious that he was not
citing like himself he soon proposed that
hey should return TO the house To this
proposition his guest responded with
lacrity. and on entering the hall they
9th laid their hats on the table AT that
noment Bertha appeared and the profess O
or's friend turned to her with relief, leav- !
1g tho professor TO return to his study. I
there he sat listening at the door. feeling 9
5 guilty as any thief. Tho distant sound 1
( their voices soon convinced him that il G
'ould bc safe 10 venture forth and take j
10 paper from its hiding place. which he
did trembling with JOY and t
xpectation. Once more in his study, no I
osed and locked the door. and seating him o
IF at the table he drew the shaded lamp S
,ward him, and. confident and eager, v
roceeded to deciplcr the hieroglyphics d
II. Naof IL. nj |