Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-06

en the labor of busy man. The table, filtered with books and papers, stood near a small safe and almost directly opposite the hall door, Speaking and electric call but tons were within reach of the occu- pant of the easy chair, and probably placed him in communication With the various portions of the house hold; while a telephone on one side and . typewriter 9on the other showed that the chemist kept in touch also with the outside world.
 Murdocks interlocutor, whoever he had been, had disappeared. But how? The question interested Sturgis, and his mind at once began to seek an answer to it.
 There were three doors leading from the study. One of these was the one by which Murdock and Sturgis had just entered from the hall. No one could have passed out that way without meeting them.
 Then there were the folding doors leading into the library; but, as the door leading from the library to the hall had remained slightly ajar, Stur- gis felt sure that he would have heard the man had he gone out by that way.
 The third door led to small ex- tension.
 He must have gone into the ex- tension" thought Sturgis.
 The only alternative was an exit through the windows. This in itself would not have presented any special difficulty; for the distance to the Tagging below was hardly more than 12 or 13 feet But the yard, which was of diminutive size on account of the space allotted to the garden on the street, was inclosed by an un- usually high fence. protected by row of sharp and closely set spikes. These looked so formida ble that the thought of anyone attempting to scale the fence instantly suggested visions of impaled wretches writhing in oriental tortures. The only pos sible exit from the yard, therefore, seemed to be through the basement: that is to say, past the kitchen and the servants department.
 All these thoughts flashed through the reporters brain in a small frac- tion of the time which is required to record them. They occurred to him unbidden, while his conscious efforts were centered upon discovering how Chatham had managed to escape from the rear of the Manhattan Chemical company's building.
 This Sturgis recognized without much difficulty. It was directly in line with the house in which he now was, and it's yard aid not differ from the neighboring ones, the fences of which could be scaled without much trouble. Chatham evidently might have passed into any one of several buildings which lacked the protection of the formidable spikes that so eff fectually guarded the approach to Murdock's house from the rear. | One point, however, was puzzling. | Why should Chatham take the trou- ble and the risk of sealing fences in | broad daylight, only to return a few hours later by the street door under | the very noses of the detectives from whom he had presumably wished to escape? There seemed to be no plaus- 1ble answer to this question.
 But Sturgis was not given much 1 time in which to consider it; for Mur- dock, who had waited for him to broach the subject of his interview, now coldly remarked:
 Perhaps, NJ. Sturgis, you will be good enough to inform me to what I owe the honor of this visit?'' ! Sturgis took as a preteXt the first subject which came into his mind Doctor" said he, 1T have been told that you were engaged in series of brilliant chemical researches; that you had proved, or were on the point of proving, that several, at least, of the so-called elementary metals are compounds; thus ushering in the ! realization of the dream of the al- chemists-the transmutation of met als-''
 You have not come here to inter view me on the subject of my chemical researches?" laughed Murdock.
 Why not?"
 Because I gave you credit for pos sessing the scientific spirit. A man spends years in making series of ex- hsustiye experiments, and refrains from advancing any theory until he has built up an elaborate monument ot cold facts; and you ask him to make a premature report, to be spread broad cast in a sensational sheet, with all the bellishments which an unbridled re portorial imagination can add to it No, sir, my report, when it is ready will be made through the proper chan nels. l am surprised that one who passes for man of science should b. willing to make such request"
 If Murdock intended to gall the re porter, he succeeded; for, modest as he was, Sturgis prided himself above al things upon the scientific value of hi work in all it's aspects. He manifested no external sign of annoyance, how ever, as he answered, with a smile:
 "I am not a man of science now, bu
 only a reporter"
 "In that case" replied Murdock, Gle
 us talk of something else. I should b. pleased to discuss my chemical re searches with MT. Sturgis, the scientist
 but with MT. Sturgis, the reporter,
 should prefer to talk about somethin.
 in his line of knowledge; let me see shall we say the Knickerbocker ban]
 mystery, for instance?'
 The reporters ear detected the ven omous sarcasm to which he was nov