St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-02
10000
\ THE REMARKABLE CASE
( ,. H. 9 WELLS. OF DAYIDSON'S EYES. <
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iIne urd0S1tOry mental aDerrdllOn OF
Sidney Davidson, remarkable enough
in itself, is still more remarkable il
Wade's explanation is to be credited
1t sets one dreaming of the oldest pos
sibilities of intercommunication in the
future, of spending an intercalary five
minutes on the other side of the world,
or being watched in our most secret
operations by unsuspected eyes. 1t
happened that l was the immediate
witness of Davidson's seizure, and SO
story upon paper.
When 1 say that [ was the immedi-
ate witness of his seizure / mean that
I was the first upon the scene. : The
thing happened at the Technical col
lege in Cover street. He was alone in
the larger laboratory When the thing
happened. I was in the smaller
room, where the balances are, writ
ing up some notes. The thunder
storm had completely upset my work.
of course. 1t was just after one of
the louder peals that l though l
heard some glass smash in the other
room. I stopped writing and turned
round to listen. For moment heard
nothing; the hail was playing the
DEVILS tattoo on the corrugated zine
of the roof. Then came another sound,
a smash = no doubt of it this time.
Something heavy had been knocked
off the bench. 1 jumped UP at once
and went and opened the door lead
ing into the big laboratory.
1 was surprised to hear a queer
sort Of a laugh and saw Davidson
standing unsteadily in the middle of
the room, with dazzed look on his
face. My first impression was that
he was drunk: He did not notice me.
He was clawing out at something in
visible a yard in front of his face.
He put out his hand slowly, rather
hesitatingly, and then clutched moth
ing. Whats come to it," he said.
He held up his hands to his face, fin
gers spread out. "Great Scott he
said. The thing happened three or
four years ago, when every one swore
by that parsonage. Then he began
raising his feet clumsily, as though
he had expected to find them glued to
the floor.
'Davidsonv cried I, what is the
matter with you?" He turned around
in my direction, and looked about for
me. He looked over me and at
me and on either side of me without
the slightest sign of seeing me.
Waves, said he, land remarkably
neat schooner. I'd swear that was
Bellows voice. Hullo!' he shouted
suddenly at the top of his voice.
I thought he was up to some fool.
cry. Then I saw Uttered about his,
feet the shattered remains of the best
Of our electrometers. Whats up.
man?" said I. you've smashed the
eIectrometer."
Bellows again. said he. Friends
left, if my hands are gone. Some
thing about electrometers. Which way
are you, Bellows?'' He suddenly came
staggering toward me- "The damned
stuff cuts like butter" he said. He
walked straight into the bench and re-
coiled. tNone 50 buttery that" he
said, and stood swaying.
I felt scared. Davidson" said I,
What on earth has come over your
He looked round him in every direc-
ton 81 could swear that was Bel
lows. Why don't you show yourself
like a man, Bellows?"
It occurred to me that he must be
suddenly struck blind. / walked
around the table and laid my hand
upon his arm. I never saw a man
more startled in my life. He jumped
away from me and came around into
an attitude of self-defense, his face
fairly distorted with terror. Good
Godr' he cried what was that?"
Its bellows. Confodnd it, Da-
vidsonw
He jumped when answered him,
and sared-how can I express it?-
right through me. He began talking,
not to me, but to himself. Here in
broad daylight on clear beach. No.
a place to hide in." He looked about
him wildly. "Here! Pm Off. He
suddenly turned and ran headlong into
the big electro magnet-so violently
thar, ,as we found afterwards, he bruised
his Shoulder and jawbone cruelty. AT
that he stepped back pace, and cried
out with almost a whimper, What,
in heavens name, has come over me?''
He stood, blanched with terror and
violently, with his right arm
his left, where that had
collided with the magnet,
By that time I was fairly scared
and excited. Davidson said I, don't
be afraid"
He was startled at my voice, but
not so excessively as before. I re-
peated my words in as clear and
firm tone as I could assume. "Bel-
lows" he said, sis that you?"
Cant you see me?"
He laughed. 81 can't even see it's
myself. Where the devil are we?''
Here" said I, sin the laboratory"
''The laboratory, he answered, in
puzzled tone, and put his hand to his
forehead. 'I was in the labora tory
till that flash came, but I'm hanged
If I'm there now. What ship is that?''
There's no Ship" said L. do be
old chap"
mo ship!" he repeated, and seemed
to forget my denial forthwith. 81 sup
pose," said he, slowly, we're botn
dead. But the rummy part is I feel
Just as though I still had body. Don't
get used to it all at once, I suppose.
The old shop was struck by lightning,
suppose. jolly quick thing, Bellows
Don't talk nonsense You're very
much alive. You are in the laboratory
about. You've just smashed
4 new electrometer. 1 don't envy you
when Boyce arrives"
He started away from me toward
the diagrams of cryohydrates. ST
must be deaf" said he. They've
fired a gun, for there goes the puff
Of smoke and I never heard sound y |
I put my hand on his arm again,
and this time he was less alarmed.
1--WE seem to have sort of invis-