The Washington critic., 1890-02-21


once | am out Of the island. There's no |
extrndtion for olfcnscs Of my sort.
oWhat can that mcauY" thought the won /
dering listener
4. | advise you to make the theft secure |
before you begin to boast. But come along. |
| came TO fetch YOU for a stroll. You must |
not vonturo out by day, you know; aud |
you will be beside yourself by to-morrow !
night If you stay shut up all the time In this !
dull room.
The professor sat before the silent pho
nograph and ga2ed blankly Its stationary
works. lie even forgot in the amazement
and horror Of these revelations to rejoice IN
the success Of his invention. lie was like
the legendary possessor OF some supernat-
ural power who invariably finds curse
wrapped up in his gift.
Was this indeed Skipwith to whose voice
his familiar had listened? And If SO, was
the wretched young man plotting yet fur
thcr crimes? What was II that his accom-
plice had said2 az would not complain of
the laws delay II were you, when YOU are
mcditating lagrant breach of them with
indefinite penalties to follow Indefinite
penalties? OF what crime In civilized
country are the penalties indefinite? The
professor was as ignorant rs any other law
abiding Briton of the intricacies'of his
country's criminal law; but he had n con-
hrmed impression that 10 was only offenses
of political character for which there was
no extradition, Plots and explosions and
rumUrs Of plots and explosions were rife at
that time, Was this misguided young man
(the professor perceived clearly that the
man who could call him "old Alrdn must
be young) taking part In some conspir-
acy! Was it some dynamite outrage that
these young ruiilans were Matching? And
in what manner ought he, Professor Arid,
to intervene Could he, in fairness, make
use of knowledge obtained by an elaborate
process Of mechanical cavesdropping Aud
yet, on the other hand, could he, as an hon
est man, permit the planning and execution
Of fagrant breach Of the lawY
"Oh, IL ] had never set up the thing at
ALL sighed the unhappy professor. And
he resolved to stop his phOnograph from re-
porting any more of his fellow lodger's CON
versations. lie took a box of matches, and
stepped lightly to Mr.. Johnson's dark and
empty room.
He had just struck match, and was on
his knees between the feet of the piano,
when sound came to his ears and sent u
chill of alarm to his inmost heart. Some
one had opened the house door with o latch
key. The professor blew out the match and
listened brcathlessly. In the silence he re-
marked that rain was pattering sharply on
the windows. No doubt Mr.. johnson had
been driven back by stress of weather aud
would come In to discover him. And IL he
went out Mr.. johnson would meet him on
the upper flight of stairs aud would know
when he came. But there was second
door leading to an adjoining room. There
he might wait till his neighbor should
come up, and thence steal down unob-
served. With furitive speed the professor
accordingly withdrew TO Mr.. Johnson Is
bedroom, and noiselessly closed the door of
communication.
A step came up the stairs, and he felt n
horrible certainty that Mr.. johnson would
make his entrance here. OF course he
would; he would be wet, he would come to
change his clothes. What horrible, com
promising, inexplicab BILE situation for a
peaceful professor of science!
Mr.. johnson however passed into the
next room and struck light. The profes-
sor heard him utter quick inarticulate eX-
clamation. a sound followed which might
be the tearing open Of letter. a new and
even greater dread had by this time taken
possession of the professor. How ii tho
outer door of the bedroom should be fast
ened? Could il be reserved for him to pass
the night shut into cupboard or crouched
beneath Il bed ? And Mr.. Johnson, he recol-
lected, did not dare to go out by daylight
At that moment the professor was almost
ready to regret that he had ever had the
idea of inventing a phonograph. Slowly
step by step, guided by what little light
shone in ut the window he made his way to
the door and laid his hand upon the handle
1t turned with faint squeak that sounded
in HIS ears thunder-loud, -and the dool
opened. lie slipped out and crept back
thankfully to his own domains, vowine
never again to trespuss on those of hi;
neighhor
Next morning he had arrived at a rcsolu
ton. He would not denounce Slpwith tc
the authorities, but he would make al
effort to see Mrs. Skipwith (who was clearly
in Saltburgh), and would warn her, wifi
threats of exposure, that the projected
crime of Thursday. whatever it might be
must be abandoned. He set forth accord
ingly to call on Professor Drayson, who
could probably give him the addresses oi
| her friends in Saltburgh. Professor Dray
son was out, and his sister, Il severe lady 0i
whom Professor Arid stood in some awe
received him. Miss Hall was also present
"Can you tell me-" the professor asked
presently, 'the address of some people
called, If remember rightly, Carroll, o.
whom your brother was speaking the othe
eyening-relations of that poor Mrs. skip
withg'
"That poor Mrs. skipwith!" repeated
| Miss Dnyson. "You are too charitable
| DIR. Aird. No, ] don't know their ad
/ dress"
~ do,n said Miss Hall. "They live a
Is King street. But they are gone away t
| the Highlands for fortnight
! "a fortnight"' echoed the professor II
! dismay "Dear me, how very awkward.
And he fell into browner study than usua
| so that he scarcely remarked the coming o
servant to the door, and the summonins
away of Miss Drayson by. means of TIN
| portentous formula, "can ! speak to yol
/ moment nIpnsn lam ~
AS soon as the door was well closed upor
her aunt, Miss Hall rose, came across t.
the professor and said in hurried, low
cred voice: CDR. Arid, will you do me
great favor? VIII you post letter 70
me without looking at it, and never tel
| anybody about it?"
| "But my dear---n eXpostulated tn
| professor family.
at is to Mr.. Ashley. They won't let m
! see him or hear from him. fhey hav
been so cruel to him. And you know
you know, DR.. Arid, that he is not the sor
| Of person to deserve that"
At the name of Ashley the professor soft
ened. Young Ashley was to his mind q
most deserving and promising young man
And lie was on the eve of crossing the At
lantic to that American appointment
This could only be a letter Of farewell
''llere cones my aunt" whispered she.
lie held out MS hanu, received and s,
creted the letter.
In two minutes time he had already be
gun to repent; but Miss Drayson was /
the room and 1t was impossible to Civ
back the letter. So he posted 1t withou
looking at the address, and went home re
ilecting what he in his turn should write {
Mrs. Skipwith. IL took him the whol
afternoon to compose letter which shoul
not betray the secret TO any outsider, an
yet should serve as an effective warning {
desist from the contemplated crime {
Thursday.
At lostthe letterw finished and posted
and he had nothing TO do but to medltat
upon this extraordinary chain Of events an
listen to the footsteps of Mr.. johnson owe
head. When the darkness had fully gatl
cred Mr.. johnson went out, and the PR