The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-01

ed bv his government of all kinds of
queer things and should like to know
what he is doing over here"
do you think he is plotting against
us?'' I asked.
Il do not know what to think de is a
queer character, that is certain, and 1t is
lust as well TO know what he is about.
He is very learned man and devoted to
science He has helped the nihilists more
than once by his clever inventions, but |
I'm not In a position to say that he has
adopted their principles. His work takes
money. and 1t may have been questlon
of being handsomely paid; he mas the
reputation of a miser. If he is really
scientist, pure and simple, and nothing
more. he may go his own way, but that
is what [ want you to find out for me.
went down to Sussex that same night
and discovered the retreat of the OLD
Russian-but the nest was cold, the bird
had flown. Whether he really was
dangerous political person l shall never
know, but he had evidently had some
reason for going in great haste, for his
personal belongings, Including even some
papers, were scattered allzoyer the place.
The following strange story was one OF
the documents he left behind him, and 1t
has led me to think that with him sci
ence came first, though to satisfy its de-
rlands he may have sold his talents TO
the highest bidder
The document was written in clear,
fine hand. and was evidently meant to
be preserved l took it up carelessly,
but [ was soon reading the contents with
the greatest eagerness.
'rhe great ambition of alchemists of
all times has been to discover the I'M
known The modern worker in science,
in spite of repeated failures, still strives.
as his predecessors did, to solve the rid
die of life and death; to proiong one
and to conquer the other. In short, to
produce the magic elixir vitae. The
man who eventually shall learn this Won
derful secret will be worshiped a god
and his power will exceed that of any
monarch who has ever reigned.
After years of toll, long days and
nights spent over my stills, retorts and
other appliances in making myself ia
miliar with the hidden Knowledge Of the
old world and the new, 1 had at length
made preparation of which | hoped and
expected great things. Then l looked
round for suitable subject for expert
ment. Fate, laughing in her sleeve, put
what seemed just what ] wanted in my
way when l had almost begun TO despair
of finding 1t.
! was walking one winter evening UP
and down outside my house for exercise,
LOI ldQ UOSI SllllIlS dI WOlh oil uoyJ
when, by the light of a crescent moon,
saw something dark lying little ahead
of me on the rough, chalky road. 1t was
an old man, who looked like tramp
judging from his wretched appearance.
He was lying face downward, as though
he had fallen from exhaustion and when
/ turned him over he was quite uncon-
scious. / felt his pulse; it was beating
family, but probably the cold and ex-
posure would have stilled it before morn
ing had l left him lying there.
The day came when / wished 1 had.
AS I stood looking down on him, the
thought Of my waiting elixir came to me.
1t was never long absent from my mind.
] thrilled at what it suggested and bent
over him, trembling with eagerness.
Here, surely, was the very subject 1 re-
CURED! "A piece of human wreckage,
without doubt, who had no one to
trouble about him, or he would not be
lying out on the moors to die of neg
iect. / might safely take him; was he
not mine? Mine by the right of rescue.
If he lived he owed it to me; therefore,
l had the first claim on his life. 1t might
appear to be taking an unfair advantage
of an UNCONSCIOUS man, but why should
he object? Was 1 not offering him youth
and health in exchange for misery and
decay?
l looked round cautiously but there
was little danger Of my being seen in this
lonely spot; not sound broke the
silence. 1 took the unconscious figure
under the arms and dragged it slowly and
laboriously to the house. He must have
been a fine man in his prime; so much the
better for my purpose. My old servant
had gone to bed and no noise disturbed
her slumbers, or she might have Won
dered at the flop-fop on the stairs, as I
nj IN fha
my burden after me.
l laid it at full length on the couch
face upward, and then I dropped ex-
hausted into chair, but my eyes never
left the motionless form. could not
have had better subject for my opera
ton; the condition was almost perfect
II my elixir animated this nearly lifeless
clay, flushed that withered cheek with
youth and health, gave fresh strength 10
those shrunken limbs. surely it would be
putting it to the severeSt test? The man
was not only old, but practically dying;
there We're signs of exhausted nature
everywhere. Even if he could be brought
round for time by natural means, I'M
less something else interviewed, the end
was not far off.
had everything in readiness for the
experiment, and as soon as l had re-
covered my strength and eomposure, l
prepared my patient for the ordeal
took the phial containing the magic liquid
out OF secret drawer and held 1t up 70
the light. Not a fieck defiled its marvel
Gus purity; 1t shone like molten silver
Its strength was immense, which was
fortunate, as it was almost priceless IN
value AT. present, at all events there
was no danger of it becoming common;
II would be only a privileged few VINO
would be able to afford to use it. Length
OF years would be purchased at great
price
reused the sick man to consciousness
the warmth Of the room had made him
open his eyes-and then I poured the
eh&lr INTO a glass and gave it him to
drink l steadied his hand as he raised
1t TO his lips, for feared lest he should
spill drop; l had no more. He has not
fuily recovered his senses and he gazeo
round with vacant eyes, emptying the
glass mechanically. replaced it on the
table and sat down to watch him NV
heart beating as it had not beat ,or
years.
Was I to stand out for all ages as
wonder figure; man with the gift of
god? Was 1t possible that l should
fevoiutionize the world-the whole Of nu-
mainly? Or-or was this to be another
FAILURE added to the many which had
broken the hearts and frenzied the brains
OF my brethren of all times? NV ewes
Were glued to his face and 1 held nv
breath, lest should miss the first muir
mur that would tell me whether II was
NE or-death. For If my mixture could
not fan the spark of life in that feeble
form INTO a flame, it would extinguish it
altogether -
Then-o. marvel of marvels!-slowlv I
saw something at work under the gray
SKIN making it fair and soft, smoothing
OUT the wrinkles. giving firmness and
roundness to what was loose and worn.
the limbs filed out and even in repose
suggested the elasticity of youth. From