The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-10


Mn. - TO sVsak. although not often ~
vited 20 his rooms. He spoke little and
smiled never. Hts bad reminded ous q
Och1neF. only With . Mephistopbsssan
cast He had written Things thst haA
- Oh Germany salling sos . tine. bse
nis "Anseer Estur." subsequently pub
iishsd. had injured his reputation. He
Vas evidently cutting outside the peri-
phery allowed 70 the human intelligence.
In other words. to express X In our home
" American phrase. ne was getting on
his hose"
Gutenberg had strange way of dis
appearing. Twas said he had labora-
tory somewhere about the building No
body. - Tar a. known to the rest OF u.
had ever been In Il. A drunken student
said ne saw . parsonage IN red. wearing
2 caudal sppendage. traversing the CORR
dor IN which EulenberGs laboratory was
supposed 20 b.. A the student In Ques-
tion was. known to be frequently on the
brink OF "a. ts." his story was smiled at
This same fellow told many marvellous
tales. and ooasted much In his cups Al
knstpe. where Eulsnberg happened 10
be present, he exhibited q small gold key,
which he said could open the door 20
vast treasure. His deceased father was
known TO have been formerly q rich
Smuggler but stiii no particular attention
demands Tor moro beer at his expense.
! missed Gutenberg soon after that, and
one evening. rambling about the corridors.
found myself unexpectedly In that one
where the laboratory was said 10 be-
looked In vain for q door. but only after
close inspection Of the wallis did I discover
keynote In . narrow panel. ingeniousIy
concealed. II was locked. and. contsmplat-
Ing II thoughtfuily. I became aware Of an
m nj
looked into the court No one vas
there. Again the murmuring. looked In
vain through the keyhole. AL WAS black.
applied my ear. a voice within unmistak-
ably. What could Il BE-? Gutenberg VAS
away. This must be the laboratory. I
thought Of the drunkards story and slanc.
ca With SILVER over my shoulder.
The sound ceased. ! paced the corridor.
consumed with curiosity. In one OF my
trips observed ~ the further end Of the
corridor narrow stone staircase. Being
In an Investigating frame Of mind grooed
my way up II. through q network Of dusty
SPIDERS webs. the denixens Of which ran
over my face and hands.
AZ length perceived feeble i,xht.
which. growing brighter as I advanced
guided me into the moonlight. out upon a
narrow ledge OF tho roof. overlooking the
river. Up at my side rose a great sky
light. dim and weather stained. THROUGH
tho half obscured panes became aware OF
a duii red glow. IN striking contrast with
the BLUSH moonlight.
Bending over and rubbing away the
dirt. saw what was indeed lamplight
and my eyes became glued 10 the pane.
as ] sank upon one knee and grapsed the
stone work TO steady my shaking nerves
God spare my reason! Was I awake7
Al the end Of a long vauited chamber
filled with aiI tho complicated appliances
OF thu chemists art, lighted by rows OF
tail students lamps. stood q pedestal Of
what seemed rcd glistening stone. from
either side Of which ran tubes, communi
eating with great stills ~ glass ana cop.
per. On the top Of this pedestal. the eyes
open. living. was human headi
Seated In front Of this CHASTITY object at
some distance. In an open armchair,
speaking In measured tones 10 II, was Eu-
lenbcrg. His eyes were directed 20 the
lips. which. though uttering no sound.
were framing words. which Gutenberg.
with bated breath. was studying out. and
repeating aloud. There was somethins
strangely familiar In the features Of ths
head. Yes. II vast was Busch! God
OF heaven! how came II there?
A temporary blindness camc upon mo.
! felt was fainting. I mastered myself
by "A great effort. and. looking down. saw
oh. horror'-~that tho eyes Of the head
were directed at me. and Gutenberg. with
levclcd revolver. was reckoning me 10
come down.
Mechanically obeyed. a. under spell.
Euienbcrg Nas waiting for me at the foot
Of the staircase, and. still covering me
with the revolver. bade me walk through
the open panel. which closed with . click
behind us
"You have by accident and meddling."
said he s,ernly. "bccn made q party to
what was not intended for you. and am
strongly tempted IN put n cut Of your
power 10 NEEDLE further. DO you see
yondcr retort7 In II n an acid strong
enough 20 destroy you. your finger rings
and even the diamond In your scarf pin.
I'll consider the matter. In tho mean
time you arc my prisoner"
A faint smile 81 recognition lighted up
the features OF the head. I stared pstri-
fed.
What you sec IL the elimination 81 \
series OF experiments begun years ago"
continued Gutenberg. II hnvc long known
that n human head recently detached
from the body n taken before the cells
were emptied ~ the life principle could
he restored 10 Intelligence and nourished
indefinitely by a huid which I have dis
covered. closely resembling human blood
but far moro vivifyin1 ! experimental.
with tho consent ~ tho authorities. upon
the head % n criminal who perished un.
der the blade 81 the rcharfrichter. The
result 7 kept 20 myself That IL the head
~ Busch which was severed from his
body IN the duel ~ that night. IN the
court below by the uniswfuliy sharrened
rchlaser ~ my accompiice. Hofbauer
The schlnger II only supposed 20 disfruse
not 20 Kill. ~ IL only shsrr M the point
"a rule In this instance n was sharp
ened on the side. 7 appeared In the rniSs,
~ tho arrighs~d students ara demanded
the head for scientific purposes. threat
enirg them With the police unless they
compiled Hotbau~r disappeared. you 70.
member That's hts skull ur there. Thai
pedestal II glass tank containing the
vitaiising ru'a spoke 81
"Rer,orei n intelligence. tho iips have
s0ugh, 20 speak. but necessarily car only
%har~ words From closely studying these
rno'lcrs for week. have gathered sha
knowledge ~ the wher~a bouts ~ ,hN
treasure hoa~ef ~ during NE Ne offers
,hi- apoa condition that will release him
and return him - death when have