The herald., 1897-01-31


gardens" to the adjoining street. Hav-
ing studied the object of his investiga- i
ton sufficiently, he closed the blind ana
turning, gaZed at the room and It's
furniture. Slowly he took from the
table the strange-I looking vial he had
brought with him, into the neck OF whlch
he inserted large spray. With II ne
| squirted shower of minute drops over
| the walls and furniture facing the gar
den. This he did with assiduous care,
| until every inch was covered with a fne,
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 doorpost with deep at
tention. Rising, he crept softly down
| stairs to the hall door, opened ii gentiy
and adjusted something with great care
near the left-hand doorpost. This DONE
| Prof. Owen returned to his study.
The following evening at 6:30 precisely
Blatant arrived, and after few vague
words to Mrs. Owen, he and the profess
sor started. The little woman gave
sigh of relief as the door closed behind
them, and, stepping on to the balcony,
with a happy smile on her lips, Watcheu
them out of sight.
Helois gardens. where Prof. Owen re-
sided, was dull and little frequented, es-
pecially after dark. Ii was an emlnently
respectable and quiet neisIhborhood:
noise and frivolity were not encouraged
But on that evening the drawing room
of the professors house was brilliantly
lighted and thence issued, weird, un-
usual sounds OF merry dance music, or
the refrain of wild, popular ditty was
waited upon the breeze and made the
dull responsibility of the encircling
gloom shiver with shocked surprise.
Beneath the shadow of the ghostly
sleleton-like trees, facing the house,
man, enveloped in a large cloak. stood
watching the lighted window far
reaching, prolonged hiss sounded, ard
the watching figure drew a curious,
pear-shaped glass globe from beneath
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 SUNK 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 pos
sible. but not probable, policeman.
The man beneath the trees saw the
window suddenly darken; still he gazed
steadily, holding the globe jealously.
Five minutes or more passed; the Win
dow was again brilliantly lighted, and
8 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. owens little dinner had passed
off pleasantly. The parti care had re-
turned to the drawing room Gay chat
n Of ha onf
fee cups, music and merry song sue
ceeded the clatter; two of the four
amused themselves at the piano. the
others conversed confidentially on the
sofa.
Suddenly the brilliant light was ex-
tinguisheQ and the room was plunged In
darkness. So startling was the abrupt
change that the occupants of the room
sat motionless. breathless, dumb. Then
Mrs. Owens voice rose in little trem-
ulous cry of annoyance:
This horrible electric light! 1t did
the same thing the other night, and yet
Aristotle says they are the best burn
ers. feel so frightened, or 1 would ring
for lightsl''
1T is very jolly as 1t is said mans
voice. Il rather like the dark"
"Oh. but see what ghostly light is
playing over the wall. believe there is
something uncanny in the room." said
Lefty Golghtly in a quivering voice, and |
in trembling expectation the four
waited.
With equal suddenness the light |
blaZed forth again, and their nervous |
fear relieved Itself in burst of laugh |
ter
'Is it not stupid" said Mrs Owen
Rather embarrassing, when the light
is turned up so quick" muttered the |
hussar Ought to ring a bell don't |
you know"
At 1880 the door of the professors
house opened, a shrill whistle was heard
which was again repeated, then two
light motor-coupes glided up. Into one
two figures, Woman's and mans, |
entered, a single man mounted the other
and the phantom-like vehicles disap- |
peared into the night.
The lights in the drawing room went |
out and reappeared in the room above |!
and as neighboring clock struck u
another motor-car glided swiftly up to |
the door. and out of it Aristotle Owen |
and Blatant stepped. They paused
moment on the porch, then, entering.
passed into the study. After some min
uteS the professor came out alone; he |
ascerded the stairs noselessly, and |
paused outside his wife's door. All was
ailent-as still as death.
He crept down softly. opened the
llllbS IOUlll uOCi, eillSteu, anu cIOSeC
again. Then, turning on the light, stood |
still. his face quivering, his hands shak-
ing with excitement.
He went to the wall and stripped from
1t a film-like paper. which coiled itself |
up in snaky folds; peeling the same
curious tissue like stuff from a high
backed sofa he held the long rolls with
greatest care, and pressing the electric
button left the room and returned to his
study.
Through the silent hours of the night
le and his brother scientist worked
The first ray of early daylight peeping
through the half drawn curtains found
them bending over two X rays radio
graphs, and lit up Aristotles face, full
If STANCE perplexity and horrible dis
appointment.
His experiment was perfect There had
lot been a single hitch in his elaborate
From his own doorstep
le had extiaguished the electric light at
tached the induction coil to the tube for
producing the Roentgen rays. The ap-
)aratus being directed at the first floor
he figures in the drawing room had been
thus placed between the rays and the
prepared walls and furniture.
By this clever arrangement Professor
owen had obtained two photographs OF
he unconscious occupants of the room.
Here on the table they lay. Yet,
though they in part confirmed his sus-
picions they helped him not in the least
TO ascertain with pOsitiVe accUracV fha |