Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28

preston OF penetrating intensity, meal
culable and mysterious In that light a
man might have become a seer to when
the world and its secrets were trans
parent as crystal. All this I felt on the
instant.
BY what mechanism Fourier had pro-
duced this effect had not Observed but
the form of Toedt seemed to occupy the
central point Of illumination. Then the
light as suddenly went out, and the bright
ness or the sun seemed dull and dingy.
The professor had merely touched a short
lever and placed the cap over the lens.
That much l saw, for my eyes were upon
him at The moment.
"A second later 1 turned toward Toedt,
and an indescribable dismay seized me-
His body hung Imp in it's bonds, and his
lace was set in the same half smile, half
sneer l had noted few moments earlier
l sprang towards him and CRASHED his
pulse. There vas not the faintest fiutter
Never in all my experience have 1 known
death to be so absolutely instantaneous.
He is dead!' l exclaimed, staring at
Fourier. with an expression of horror:
Il know it, replied he. You might
loosen him, if you will
asu peep eul pieI pue s9doI aul lno EIlseu
sIq ulLM Asnq seM gu 'eHods gu sIIuM
AIdsI o. suIInauoA lnoulIM 'snae1edde
upon the floor.
You had better notify some one," con-
tinued Fournier. in the same voice Il
shall be very much occupied for the next
tWenty-four hours-and pray do not judge
VI my sanity UT commit yonrselI, until L
see you again. By-the-hye, may 1 ask you
to call upon my patients today?"
he placed the now detached camera
under his arm and hurried out, leaving
me alone with the corpse. How 1 got it
downstairs and on the sofa in the recep-
ton room l do not know, but it was GER
talnly there when l reused the household
and sent them scurrying hitler and thither
to notify several of our confreres
These dropped in, one by one, during the
course OF the next hour. 1t was quite evil
dent that no suspicion crossed their minds
When they heard the news they naturally
assumed that the plague had claimed
another victim. When they viewed and ex-
amned the body, however. they agreed
that it was unquestionably a case of heart
disease aggravated by overwork and anx-
iety, in which latter supposition ] was
more than half inclined to concur A post
mortem was not even suggested. We were
too busy to care to crafty professional
curiosity, and there seemed to be no other
ground for one. Fourier had excused
himself to all on the plea of important
work which could not be laid aside-a
course whose very suspiciousness might
rave tended to allay suspicion had any
existed.
Men were buried promptly at Arteuil in
those days, and the following morning saw
the remains of DR.. Toedt committed to the
but, upon my return, l found message
from him requesting ME to step up to his
room. I did so with feelings which it
would be hard to describe.
Doctor he began, when I had seated
myself, have you cow any theory as TO
the nature of this epidemic?'
l shook my head, partly because I had
nothing definite to say and partly because
1 was anxious to learn the truth as soon as
possible.
Are you familiar with the effects upon
the human system of anthrax bac:lus?'
Il know little or nothing on the subject"