The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-01

4
gardens to the adjoining street.
Having studied the object of his inves-
1 tigation sufficiently. he closed the
blind, and, turning, gazed at the room
and its furniture. Slowly he took from
the table the strange looking vial he
had brought with him, into the neck
of which he inserted a large spray.
With it he squirted shower of minute
drops over the walls and furniture fac
ing the garden. This he did with as
siduous care, until every inch was
covered with a fine, but perfectly
even, surface of moisture, and the air
reeked with the fumes of potassium
platino cyanide.
He then approached the electric but
ton, and, kneeling down. studied the
carpet near the door post with deep
attention. Rising, he crept softly
downstairs to the hall door, opened it
gently and adjusted something with
great care near the left-hand door
post. This done, Professor Owen re-
turned TO his study
The following evening, at $3.50 pre-
clsely, Blatant arrived, and, after a
few vague words to Mrs. Owen, he and
the professor started. The little wo-
man gave sigh Of relief as the door
closed behind them, and stepping on TO
the balcony, with a happy smile on
her lips, watched them out of sight.
Helios gardens, where Professor
Owen resided, was dull and little fire.
quented, especially after dark. 1t was
an eminentiy respectable and quiet
neighborhood: noise and frivolity were
not encouraged. But on that evening
the drawing-room of the professors
house was brilliantly lighted, and
thence issued weird unusual sounds
of merry dance music, or the refrain
of wild, popular ditty was waited
out upon the breeze, and made the
dull responsibility of the encircling
gloom SILVER with, shocked surprise.
Beneath the shadow of the ghostly
skeleton-like trees facing the house
a man, enveloped in a large cloak,
stood watching the lighted window
far-reaching prolonged hiss sounded,
and the watching figure drew Curl
Gus pear-shaped glass globe from be-
meath his cloak. Holding it carefully
in his left hand, he manipulated some
hidden machinery with his right, and
a strange, green glow shone forth.
At the same time another man,
crouching in the shadow of the house,
crept nearer and nearer to the en-
trance, then skunk softly up the steps
and stood pressed close against the
hall door. The deep obScurity of the
porch hid him from the curious eyes
of possible, but not probable, police
man.
L ne HldH D6Hedln the trees saw the
window suddenly darken; still he gazed
steadily. holding the globe jealousy.
Five minutes or more passed: the win
dow was again brilliantly lighted and
a peal of gay laughter sounded on the |
startled air.
The Sinking form glided from the
porch and turning the corner of the |
block, was Joined by the cloaked |
figure, and both disappeared in the /
darkness.
Mrs. Ovens little dinner had passed
off pleasantly. The parti carre had !
TO the drawing-room. Gay |
chatter mingled with the clatter of the |
coffee cups music and merry songs |
succeeded the clatter; two of the four /
amused themselves at tine piano, the |
others conversed confidentially on the |
sofa.
Suddenly the brilliant light was ex-
and the room was plunged
in darkness. So startling was this alb
rupt change that the occupants of the
room sat motionless, breathless. dumb.
Then Mrs. Owens voice rose III a little
tremulous cry of annoyance
This horrible electric light 1t did
the same thing the other night, and
yet Aristotle says these are the best
burners. I feel so frightened or l
would ring for lights!"
TT is very jolly as Il is. said
mans voice. Il rather like the dark
oh, but see what a ghostly light is
playing over the wall. l believe there
s something uncanny in the room"
said Lefty Golightly in a quivering
Toice, and in trembling expectation the
our waited.
With equal suddenness the light
)lazed forth again and their nervous
ear relieved itself in a burst of
aughter.
is it not stupid?" said Mrs. Owen.
Rather embarrassing, when the
light is turned up quite so quick"
the hussar. Ought to ring
| bell, don't you know"
At 11:30 the door OF the professors
house opened, d shriH whistle was
leard, which was again repeated; then
wO light motorcoupes glided up. In
o one two figures, a Woman'S and a
mans, entered, single man mounted
he other, and the phantOm-like We
iicle disappeared into the night.
The lights in the drawingroom went
'ut and reappeared in the room above;
md, as a neighboring clock struck i,
mother motor car glided swiftly up to
he door, ana out of il Aristotle owen
nd Blatant stepped. They paused ;
moment in the porch. then. entering.
,assed into the study. After some
minutes the professor came out alone:
Ie assembled the stairs noiselessly. and
'2used outside his wifeS door. All was !
. silent, as still as death.
He crept down softly, opening the
door, entered, and closed
again. Then turning on the light :
TODD still, his face quivering, his hands
baking with excitement
He went to the wall and stripped .
rom it q film-iike paper, which coiled {
self UP in snaky folds; peeling the
anne curious tissue-i.i.e substance /
rom a high-backed sofa, ne held the
)ng rolls with greatest care. and press
lg the electric button left ihe room and :
eturned to his study !
Through the silent hours of the night {
e and his brother scientist worked. [
The first ray of early daylight peep I
lg through the half-drawn curtains Z
lund them bending over two X-rays '
and lit up Aristotles face, :
Ill of strange perplexity and horrible
isappointment.
His experiment was perfect There
ad not been a single hitch in his elab- {
rate arrangements. From his own
oorstep he had extinguished the elac- l
tic light at the exact moment his
lend had attached the induction coil
} the tube for producing the Roentgen l
ays. The apparatus being directed at =
le first floor, the figures in the draw
groom had been thus placed between
le RAYS and the carefully prepared Y
alls and furniture.
By this clever arrangement Professor [
wen had obtained two photographs of
lie unconscious occupants of the room.
Here on the table they lay. Yet,
OH in ~ aod n &c