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


enc another's acquaintance, and where
one might indulge in pistol practice In
the corridor without violating any known
rule l mad sometimes suspected that Hol-
lister was the owner, which would have ac-
counted for any Indifference to convention
alities.
| thrust my card under his door, and
presently l heard his cold and steady voice
bidding enter.
You are changed" he said, taking my
hand. You have grown much older In
these few months
HOLSTER never changes. The express
sion in his gray eyes is always the same.
He has not line the more upon his race
nor hair the less upon his head. for the
fifteen years that l have known him. His
tall figure has always the same lightness
and slow grace of movement.
AZ have notified Colwin," he continued.
"ani when he comes 1 will tell you what
is in my mind. 1t Is plan to take your
fancy and his"
We three had had some singular ex-
periences together in various quarters of
the globe. and the mutual enjoyment of
desperate hazards was the bond that united
US for there was pretense of friendship.
Returning to our ordinary modes of life
arated with no show of feeling. There was,
however. an agreement that whenever one
of us should conceive project sufficiently
reckless, he would communicate with the
others. l had rightly taken HOLSTERS
message for such a notification.
AS / passed beyond him into the room
1 perceived upon long table of black
Cak the body of a spaniel and 1 remem-
bered having seen the creature often Hol-
lister had shown for it as much affection
as was in him: truer sentiment, 1 believe,
than he had ever felt for man or woman.
| expressed sorrow that the brute was
dead, a fact that was patent to me. though
the manner of Its end was not apparent
/ had suspicion that HOllister had poison
ed the dog in the course of one of his ex-
periments. The room smelled like chem
ical laboratory, 1t usually did, but In
this instance, above the complex harmony
of familiar reagents, a subtle and agree
able odor. varying like melody, claimed
primary attention.
might have answered the purpose OF
man with a heart"
II hired our engineer to steal one re-
piled HOLSTER blandly, but he did not
come in time"
1 remembered the man to whom he refer
red, a shifty-eyed fellow, who was employ
ed In the building.
why didn't you experiment with the
a change of tone or the movement of an
tyelash: Il have"
with the thing that killed this dog?'
1 cried.
with the same thing" he answered
'and the same dose. reckoned in the pro-
portions of the weights of the two animals.
Yet the man is not dead, nor is the dog.
This creature has merely gone where you
and Colwin and l are going. 1t will re-
turn"
had had instruction in medicine and sur
gerry, and had even made sRne special
study Of conditions Stimulating death.
Therefore. felt competent to form my own
opinion upon this matter. 1 examined the
dog closely. Every vital process seemed 70
be totally suspended. l would have had
some faint hope of restoring animation by
mechanical means, but none whatever that
the animal would develop vital energy by
It's own internal processes.
From previous experience l would have
said that death always proclams It's pres
ence, though the method is not to be de-
scribed in the exact terms of science. The
flight of the soul from human body may
be perceived. though by what sense we can
not surely say. and even in the case of a
lower animal there should be some unmis-
taxable change when it has run through
the period of organic existence, and has
turned again toward the dust.
1.-The dog is dead said l. 1T will never
move again.
Before your cigar is burned out" said
Hollister, you will know better"
A peculiar rafting sound upon the door
That's the engineer" said HOLSTER.
The private rap he uses is probably a sur
NiVal Of the days when stealing was his
regular business. He has brought another
dog. l suppose"
The guess proved accurate. Halpin the
engineer brought with him. in a gunny
bag; yellow mongrel obviously long Injured
10 III usage. but withal an engaging beast
whose affectionate and confiding nature had
made 1t easy prey for the spoiler, as natu-
rally as If 1T had been human
released from imprisonment IT shook if
self, looked inquiringly around. and then
approached me with timd demonstrat tons
OF good will. Almost Immediately, how
ever; II turned toward the table, where it
STOOD smiling the air and whining family
for little while; then 1t skunk behind my
chair and lay down. any
Halpin meanwhile had received his price.
ana Hollister had intimated to him that
mis- presence was no longer necessary m orr
happiness. The man seemed disinclfned n
take this ultra-poite hint. He stood by the
door nervously twirling and twisting his
hat, while his furtive eyes shifted from ons
object 10 another in the room.
Il didn't know but you'd like to try II
with me again" he said al last
Hollister. laughing softly, said to me-. "I
had to hight with this fellow the other dav
70 prevent his taking a second dose af,sr
w NE recovered wei from the first one. If he knew
Where the stun was kept he'd steal II -
What is there about 1t that is SO attrac-
uve? | inquired.
ASK him. replied HOLSTER; "he wouldn't
Is the effect agreeable?" asked Hadn't,
Ihere amt any effect" said he. -,
just go 10 sleep. AT first Won swell IN
around the chest, and breathe deep-seayn ~
Ill yourself full OF air. But before Won
know II you're gone" 'oN
Amy dreams?"
Not dream" he replied. with a pecuI,ar
expression, the meaning OF which / could
not comprehend. N'uio
That the man had acquired an overuas
tering passion for this drug as rba rasI'I,
OF single trial Of its power. couId NOT De
doubted Yet he persisted in DENYING tbst
II produced any visions haIIucinations ar
sensations OF an agreeable character
HOW do you feel when you come ont 81
t? l asked at last ou' VI
And he answered with fierce sinceri+v.
worse than you'd believe II told Won ;,
"hue L was endeavorlng to formulate an
other line of inquiry that should nanstra.a
the mystery of this mans desire for 49,
whose sole Improbable effect was NV he
own story. painful, there was a knocL on
carpet. PPe"ieo oh the
card. pi@Aihs up the
The third member Of our little cotar,. ~
S eu' ne was a man under forty OF mo
uiua stature. and worn thin by nervons o.
tiVNy. Inc long-continued pursuit Of NJ
sonar qualification had produced ~ FL,
Ia SSit