Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15

you, is a man of exceedingly bad moral
| character. He is, and has been for some
years, a fugitive from justice and has
| quired habits of deception which, l fear,
! unfit him for scientific uses. What do you
| say, Halpin?"
Il say that I'm no worse than you or any
| man would be if he'd been bounded up and
down the world for as long as have, re-
| tive, though 1 don't know how you found
| it out
You have told me more than you sup
| pose" said Holliston.
well, what of it?" replied Halpin, sui
lenly. II might well talk to somebody.
! I've kept the secret inside Of me, and dis
| trusted every man or woman l met l
| haven't had friend or dared to have one.
| But you don't care about that. What you
want is to have me tell you what happens
| when a man takes that stuff that you have
| invented. Now, them he drew q long
breath, the tremuous, sobbing inhalation
| characteristic OF extreme nervous tension,
| IF you'll let me try it once more 1 swear
| to you that when l wake 1 will tell you the
| truth"
What do you say, gentlemen?' said Hol-
| lister, turning TO US.
Let him try it, if he wants to-" answered
Colwin.
| You don't know what you're saying!' /
| exclaimed Look at this dog"
well, said HOLSTER, calmly, look at him."
AT his words we all gathered round the
table, and as We did so the animal that had
| seemed stark and dead began to stir. Res
| piration. slow but easy and regular, began
| to be observable. The eyes opened, seem
| ngly sightless at first, but rapidly taking
on look Of intelligence. In ten minutes
| the action of the heart and lungs was near
| ly normal; the creature able to stand,
and there was no sign of any injury result
| ing from its brief descent into the shadow
| 1t exhibited lassitude and queer sort of
| discomfort. There was no indication of
pain. The animal seemed merely incapable
| OF taking any initiative. Finally, however.
| Gtrayei
| his leg and put its muzzle into his out
| stretched hand while unmistakable tears
gathered In its eyes. HOLSTER took the
| brute into his arms where it lay, licking
| his hand, and seemed to be comforted
There, you see" said Halpin. THE dog
is well enough"
Quite So replied Hollister; land since
you insist, I'm willing to give you another
| trial. But, remember, the truth, the whole
truth. and nothing but the truth this time"
Halpin raised his hand and promised SOL
| EMMY. whereupon HOLSTER poured from
| that very flask which Halpin had taken
| from the cabinet draft that Judge would
nearly have filled an after-dinner coffee
| cup Of the average size He showed no
great care In measuring the dose.
| The jailbird took the glass in his hand,
hesitated moment. and then hastily drank
| TO the last drop. He tossed the glass upon
the table, and l caught it as it was rolling
| over the edge.
This has no odor." said l.
| AFTER II has been exposed to the air for
a while" said HOLSTER. ut develops the
odor that you doubtless noticed in the
| room The taste Is faint. but quite agree
able: Well. Halpin, how do you feel?''
| Happy, was the answer, for 1 am
done with it ALL
| His voice had undergone surprising
change 1t was deep, round and manly
| strongly contrasting with his usual suriy
| tone This change became even more mark
ed, and was accompanied by an altered
manner quite In harmony. In the closing
moments he spoke with dignity and force
Il nave given you promise" he said
| but l shall not be able to keep IT. 7 shall
sleep but shall not wake Listen to me
Mr.. Hollister. You have killed animals
with this drug, haven't your"
Several, was the reply; but used an
| overdose"
1T wasn't that" rejoined Halpin. II have
taken notice, for / have got most of the
creatures for you. 1t is not the overdose
that kills; 1t is the second dose! Tell me.
may and had 1t live?"
saw that even the imperturbable Ho-
lister was shaken by this question. He did
| not answer it,
Il know that it's the truth" said Halpin.
and that Is why 1 wanted the second dose
| ! wanted to die
There were other ways" said HolIister
mildly.
How do 1 know" exclaimed Ha,ntn
How do l know that when a man puts a
bullet through his brain he's dead? I've
| never tried 1T. I've never tried the poisons
| that druggists sell. But this / have tried
| This can trust. 1t has taken the soul out
Of my body once and this time 1t will not
bring 1t back. / am at the end of this
| world, thank Cod!
| The extraordinary resonance Of his voice
| due L suppose. to the greatly stimulated
| respiration and nervous excitation, soften
ed in the last sentence and became almost
| like music.
! l saw Hollister quietly take post at the
mans side. In another instant he extended
his powerful arm and Halpin dropped
across 1t like man stricken from the
clouds
| We laid Halpin upon a couch, and 1 i'm
mediately proceeded to examine his condi-
tion His word had filled me with alarm,
and as bent over the unconscious form
| asked HOLSTER anxiously what he thought
| of Halpin's theory that animal life could
not withstand two trials of this drug
There may be something in It." he re-
piled in a dreamily speculative tone.
Whatever the explanation may have been,