The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-27

other laboratory, twice, thrice as large
as the GEe we had left-a splendid
place, lofty, and furnished with every
sort Of thing that the heart of a chem
list could desire. There was an cX-
traurdiEary sort of dome in one Of the
corners. standing up out Of the floor.
MarOusSa and | noticed it the moment
we entered the room. We were dread
fully afraid Of being banishcl, and we
slipped at Cnce behind u big screen and
waited there While father and the saw
ants talked their secrets together. Sud
dclly MaTouGsa who is always up tC a
hit of fun, sue gested to me that we
should stay behind and examine the
place for ourselves after father ana the
Germans had gone. l do not know how
We could really think of such q daring
sCnerCe for, Of course, father would lock
us in, but I think we forgot that part
After a time he seemed to satisfy the
gentlemen, and they left the room as
quickly as they had come in. Then ia
ther turned off the electric light and we
We're in darkness.
I'VE heard his footsteps and the foot.
steps of the men dying away down the
long corridors. We felt full of fun and
mischief, and J said to MarOussa: Now
let us turn on the light
I'VE had not gone half way across the
room, when oh! Madeline, what do you
| think happened: There came "a knock
which sounded as if it proceeded from
the floor under our feet, and was in the
direction of the queer dome which |
have already mentioned to you. a voice
cried ptcOusly three times: Help
/ help, heipn We We're terrified; all our
little spirit of bravado ran out of us.
think MarOussa fell fiat on the floor,
and ! know | gave the lOudest scream
that could come from a human throat
1t was so loud that it reached fathers
ears. The knocking underneath ceased
and we heard fathers footsteps hurry
ing back There was Maroussa moan
ing on the floor and pointing at the
dome. She was too frightened 10 speak,
but | said: There is some one under
meath away by that dome in the corner.
! heard some one knocking distinctly,
and a voice cried Help three times
Folly said father, there is moth
| ing underneath. Come away this mo-
ment. You had no right to follow me
| into this room. Come, not another word
! of this nonsense
Father hurried us out of the room,
| and locked the door, and told us to go
up to mother. We told mother all about
! it, but she said we We're talking nom
| sense, and seemed quite angry, and
! Maroussa could not help crying and
| had to comfort her.
But, Madeline, that night we heard
that cry again in our dreams. and it
| has haunted US ever since. Madeline,
II you go on helping father he will cer-
| talnly take you into the Blue Labora-
tory. If ever he does, pray listen and
watch and tell us, oh, tell us, if you
hear that terrible, awful voice again"
Olga stopped speaking; her face was
white, and there We're drops of moist
| ure on her forehead
why, child" l said, "the telling of
| that story seems quite to have alarmed
| you"
YES" she answered, 81 cannot bear
to speak of it'll shall never forget the
awful terror of that cry"
"Nor either" said Moroussa. "But
hush, Olga, not another word Just now.
l hear mamma coming"
From that hour / felt that l had a
mission in life. / determined 10 be
wary and watchful, to act cautiously,
and, If possible, to discover the secret
of the Blue Laboratory. For this pur-
pose 1 made myself agreeable and use
full to Dr. Chance. At meals l talked
to him on scientific subjects, and al
though my knowledge was undoubt-
edly that Of the smatterer and his OF
the profound and deep scientist, yet
compared to the conversation Of his
wife and daughters. he doubtless found
II pleasant to listen to me. Many,
many times when he complained of his
eyes he asked me TO be his secretary,
and on each of these occasions he
paid me ten rubles for my trouble,