San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-09
I'm here. Come in"
Alma, the bright one. entered.

y
your steps--feel quite at home--thank
you"
II should say as much. Do look at
the dust. must have Mary mp mere at
once"
Madam, never allow any female per-
son to touch my traps. Mary may make
the bed, but she must not sweep. nor
dust, nor touch anything"
ooh! really. Then I'll go at once"
Better not"
"Why?"
Because I've many things to show''-
sob, Elmer! What is that-that queer
thing on the table? May look at it,''
That's my new camera"
GLOW stupid. / might have known
that. Do you take pictures>"
"Photos? Yes. VIII you sit?'
"Oh dear, no, hate photographs. It's
SO disagreeable to see oneself staring with
some impossible expression, and sitting in
an impossible palace, with n distant land
scape and drapery curtains
Then III take Il view for you. Find n
seat somewhere while ! rig things. See
those two people sitting on the little bridge
that crosses the race beyond the mill? I'll
photograph them without their permits
son.n
Alma looked out of the window when
Elmer had raised the curtain, but de-
clared she couldn't see anything.
"They are very far off. Take the field
glass, and yoU II see them"
Alma took the glass from the table
emil looked out on the sunny landscape.
II see what you mean, but | can't
make out who they are, even with the
that's as much as l can see"
''You shall see them plain enough in a
moment"
So saying, Elmer placed long brass
telescope upon stand by the open win
dow, and through it he examined the
couple on the bridge Meanwhile Alma
gazed round the room and examined its
strange contents with the greatest in
terest.
The moment the focus OF the glass was
secured, Elmer hastily took the little
camera, and adjusting slide in it from
a table drawer, he placed it before the
telescope on the table and close to the eye
hole Then, by throwing a black cloth
over his head, he looked into it, turned a
screw or two and in a moment had a
negative of the distant Ouple.
aren't you almost readyi'
SIN one moment, Alma. | must fix
this first. I'll be right back
So saying he took the slide from the
little camera, and went out of the room
into dark closet in the entry.
Alma waited patiently for a few mo-
ments, and then she took up the field
glass, and looked out of the window.
Who could they be? They seemed to be
having coy time together; but
beyond the fact that one figure was a
woman she could learn nothing. She
wanted to take look through the tele-
scope, but did not dare to move the little
camera that stood before it.
Here's the picture, said Elmer, as he
entered the room.
Alma took the bit of glass he offered
her, but declared she couldn't see any
thing but a dirty spot on the glass.
That's the negative. Let me copy it,
and then I'll throw it up with the stere.
optican."
He selected another bit of glass from a
box, and in few minutes had it prepared
and the two put together and laid in the
sun on the window seat.
whats in that irCn box, Elmer"
Nitrous oxide"
Eyes. Would you like to try whiffi
It's rather jolly, and will not hurt you in
the least"
Elmer caught up bit of rubber pipe,
secured one end to the iron chest and in.
the proper inhalation and eXhalation
valves.
Put that in your mouth for n mo-
ment"
Alma, with beautiful confidence, put
the tube in her mouth, and in a moment
her pretty head fell back against the back
Of the chair in deep sleep. With wonder
full speed and skill Elmer rolled a
larger camera that stood in a corner out
into the center of the room, ran in slide,
adjusted the focus, and before the brief
slumber passed had negative of the
sleeping one.
"Oh, how odd! What a queer sensa-
ton to feel yourself going and going, off
and off, till you don't know where you
arer'
at is rather queer. I've often taken
the gas myself-just for fun. Now,
Alma, if you will let down the curtains,
and close the shutters, and make the
room dark, III light the lantern and show
you the picture"
Alma shut the blinds, drew down the
one.
won't it be too dark2'
'No. 1t must be quite dark. You can
stand here in the middle of the room and
look at that bit of bare wall between the
windows. | left that space clear for a
SCREEN
Alma eagerly took her place, and said
with laugh:
''If this is the pursuit of pure science, it
is very amusing. I'd like to study sci
ence-in this way"
Eyes, it is rather interesting''-
"Oh, Elmer, it's pitch dark.
'Never mind. Stand perfectly still and
watch the wall. There-there's the spot
of light. Now I'll run in the positive"
A round spot of white light fell on the
unpapered wall, and then two dusky
shadows slid over it, vague, obscure and
gigantic.
There are your people. Now I'll adj
just the focus. There-look"
A heavy sob startled him.
"Ohl It's that hateful Alice Greenr'
Elmer opened the door of the lantern,
and the light streamed full upon Alma,
one was OdOheu III tedrs, ana ner SnOul-
ders, visible through her light summer
dress, shook with sobs.
whats the matterfr
Nothing! Oh, it's nothing-let me
go''-
With an impatient gesture she tried to
brush the tears from her eyes, and then,
without word, she hastily ran out of the
room.
The student of pure science was sur
prised beyond measure. What had hap
pened? What new blunder had he COM
mittedS With all his deem stT,dv of tI,inoru