The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-25
tocu. /. entlrely corese,... he .ald, tarn:

focus Ia entirely coreect:" he said, turn
ing to me.
1 applied my eye to the instrument.
Absolutely So" l replied. stepping
back.
A smile that was more than half a
sneer curled the corners of Toedt's
mouth.
Suddenly q luminous glow filled the
apartment. 1t was In no wise like the
effect OF q fiashlight. There was moth
ing binding about its intensity, and
yet, during the few seconds while 1t
lasted. it gave you the impression OF q
penetrating intensity, incalculable and
mysterious. In that light a man might
have become 4 seer to whom the world
and its secrets were as transparent as
crystal. All this felt on the instant.
BY what mechanism Fournier had
produced this effect had not observed.
but the form of Toedt seemed to occu-
py the central point of illumination.
Then the light as suddenly went out,
and the brightness OF the sun seemed
duh 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.
~
and an indescribable dismay seized me.
His body hung limp In its bones, and his
face was set in the same half smile, half
sneer l had noted few moments
earlier. l sprang towards him and
grasped his pulse. There was not the
falntest fiutter. Never in all my eX-
perience have l known death to be so
absolutely instantaneous.
HE Is dead" l exclaimed, staring at
Fournier with an expression of horror.
II know it," replied he. You might
loosen him. II you will"
While he spoke, he was busy with his
apparatus. Without venturing to re-
ply l hastily cut the ropes and laid the
dead man upon the floor.
You had better notify some one"
continued Fournier, in the same voice.
II shall be very much occupied for the
next twenty four hours-and pray do
not judge of my sanity or commit your
self. until see you again. By-the-bye.
may 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 | got 1t
downstairs and on the sofa in the re-
ception-room I do not know. but 1t
was certainly there when | reused the
household and sent them scurrying
hither and thither to notify several or
our confreres.
These dropped in, one by one, during
the course of the next hour. II was
quite evident 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 examined the
body. however they agreed that 1t was
l>l Of hn0 =
aggravated by overwork and anxiety.
i'm which latter supposition l was more
than half inclined to concur. A post
mOrtem was not even suggested. We
were too busy to care to gratify profes-
siOnal curiosity, and there seemed TO
be no other ground for one. Fournier
had excused himself to all on the plea
OF important work which could not be
laid aside--a course whose very Sus-
piciousness might have tended to aIlay
suspicion had any existed.
Men were buried promptly at Arteuil
In those days, and the following morn
ing saw the remains Of DR.. TOedt COM
mitted to the earth. Fournier did not
attend the service, but. upon my return.
I found a message from him request
ing me to step up ito his room. ! did
80 with feelings which it would be hard
" utScTlUc.
Doctor" he began, when l had seat
ed myself. have you now amy theory
as to the nature of this eDidemic?'
| shook my head, partly because
had nothing definite to say and partly
because was anxious to learn the
truth as soon as possible
"Are you familiar with the effects
upon the human system of anthrax
bacillus?"
Il know little or nothing on the sub
ject," said l. for bacteriology was, then.
practically a closed book.
IF ] told you that the symptoms in
duced by certain very rare bacillus
closely allied to the anthrax but capa-
BILE Of attacking the mucous membrane
of human beings. would be precisely
those of this disease; that fragments
of germ tubes had been picked up in
several OF the houses whose inmates
have died: that similar tube contain
ing these bacil'i was found upon the
person of DIR. Toedt and elaborate ap-
paratus for their culture in small
laboratory in his house.
rs that latter the fact?' j interrupt
ed
II obtained entrance there last
night went on Fournier. "and made
careful investigation which resulted
as | tell you
But the object" I gasped, begin
ming at last to half catch his drift.
IF told YOU" he pursued. that this
epidemic had been practically confined
to the families of wealthy persons and
large employers of labor who inhab-
tied the most salubrlous part of the