The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-23

nB III was, affected me more than The
first discovered indications of life. A
cold wave swept along my spine, and
my heart paused until l thought it
would never resume it's p~ulsations.
On what prehistoric scenes had those
inscrutable eyes last gazed before they
looked into mine? What awful events,
forgotten ere yet a pyramid was found
ed, what mystic rites, what mighty
men Of old long sunk into oblivion, had
been mirrored in those hideously ancient
orbs?
1t was as though the sphinx had
awakened from her granite sleep and
looked upon me. Luckily for me / was
not called upon TO long endure that
awesome gaze. The eyelids fell, and, as
if exhausted by the effort Of opening his
eyes, the Egyptians respiration soon
evidenced that he was again sleeping.
/ laid his head upon q fold of the can
vas and arose to my feet. AS l did SO n
cry from the doctor attracted my atten-
ton. He had arisen and was pacing
feverishly about the tomb.
"Oh, fools and madmonr' he cried.
"Oh, blind and more than blindl Idiots
and imbeciles! What have we done,
asses that we are? What have we done2"
l stared at my friend in ten ror and
amazement. His words were those Of q
mailman, and the glitter of his eye and
the frenzy of his manner were in keep
ing. While l still stared he continued
his CALCULATIONS iii a half dozen Ian
guages, ge~sticulating wildly, throwing
his hands aloft, tearing his hair and
darting about the chamber.
do you know what this is?" at
length he cried in q terrible voice, ad-
v~ancing toward me with the flask held
aloft.
"Of course not" l replied, striving
to appear calm and self possessed.
"Of course you do not" he answered
with q sneer. "Of course you do not.
How should an imbecile like you know
what it IL? What should it be? What is
1t but the real elixir vitae, the elixir
Of life, the wine of youth, the medicine
OF Immortality, SO long sought and
never foundi That's what it IT,. and
that's what we have been wasting OH
that muddy carcass there instead Of
treasuring 1t for the preservation of our
own lives through countless ages. And
why not" he cried, his voice rising to
O. scream, as ne turned fiercely to me,
why not for all eternity, for, in the
long ages Of existence that this will
give us shall we not be able to discove,
the ingredients of which it j. made
and the in which it is concoct.
cd! Eternity! Eternity !" he screamed.
IAN eternity Of life is ours!''
A nDll ,a- - . ~,
could be no doubt Of my companion.
insanity. He vas a raving maniac. Tht
exciting events of the last few hour,
had been too much for his highly
wrought nervous system. was alon,
with him, far from human aid, anc
where no sound or cry of mine coulc
reach the ear Of man. To what ex
tremity might not this insanity driv,
him? ] was unarmed, and, though
stronger man than he, yet | knew tina
insanity lends a strength almost super
human There was nothing to do bu
to strive to appear calm and if possible
quiet him.
$50 you really think this must b.
the elixir Of life?" / inquired calmly.
"Of course it is, he cried. "Do 70,
eupposc ~ Will lcSlOIC lie 10 tlluJ car
rion there after 30 centuries or NOR
and not p~rolong the life of one ulrcad,
living? Yes, it is the true elixir, tn
true fountain of youth" Here his raw
lngs became incohcrent and SO contin
ued for some time.
We'll, 1t may be as you say, doctor,
/ said at length. "But let us first &c
this fellow fully resuscitated and &c
out of here az o O as we can. Heavens
Think what fame will be ours when w
Introduce to the world II living prizes
OF the eighteenth dynastyr'
'Resuscitnte that dog!" he screamed
Waste on him any more of the pre-
cious fluid which means thousands O
years of life to us! No, no! Let hin
sleep rs he has slept. All that u MAJ
has will he give for his life, and her
Is life, life, life-thousands of year
Of it!
"Why should you have any of it," h
continued, casting Il look of deep ma
Lightly upon me. "Why should you en-
Joy what you did not discover? Yor
would never have suspected tho tru
nature of the liquor. You would hav
wasted it all on that carcass there. Nc
no! You have no right to it. 1t is al
mine. Millions Of years Of life, and al
mino!'
"You aro welcome to it all, doctor
II you wish it," l managed to say. ("
ar not enamorcd with life enough t
desire to prolong it indefinitely. l an
satisfied with my allotted length O
days. But now let us get out of here j
o do not Wish to ""rrv nnr nrnnri
Very well, Them he cried. ct i
all mine. Eternity is mine. I must be
gin upon it now, before | am n momen
older, From this moment | become n
one OF tho gods. l drink" no snid
lifting tho flask to his lips, ito immor
talltyl' A bright green glare shot from
tho vase as he held it aloft.
Forgctful of danger / sprahg forward
to intercept his draft, fully believin,
that a medicine sc powerful as we ha(
round this to be wonld be fatal to n liy
ing man, and, determined to save IN,
friends lifo at whatever risk to my
own. l leaped forward, snatchcd the
mask from his hands and flung it ia,
down one of the unexplored corridors.
For an instant he stood as If thunder.