Evening star., 1901-09-07

sixteen preparatory years, was no criterion
of his powers He was merely analyst in
q brewery. Officially. that may argue GER
tain niceties of manipulation and an ele
mentary knowledge of organic work, but
no operations are required which are not
eXhaustively remarked upon in the text
books. Original research Is entirely for
eisn to that branch of the trade
For the style of work he drew good in
COme-few journeymen analysts could boast
a better-but the eXoteric public failed to
see how he spent it. He Jared on Spanish
Claret, Camembert cheese. brown biscuit
and plug tobacco entirely; bought one in
ferior suit of black per annum. which be-
came many-hued with bleach and acid be-
fore the day of discarding; never pur-
chased letterpress, amusement of new hats,
and yet wore his money down TO the break
ing strain. The local bank manager, while
sending him uncivil letters about overdraw-
ing his account, used to- wonder whether
Macdonald was supporting invalid
mother in luxury elsewhere.
Macdonald knew very few people outside
the brewery. Myself and one other man
made up his list of callers. AS the other
man pinned himself to travel 5000 miles
per annum, mostly on foot horseback
he did not often turn up at Burton-on-
TreTt; and-also because of wanderlust-
my own visits rarely amounted to the BIZ
annual. Neither Macdonald's residence nor
his menage were attractive enough to draw
more respectable visitors.
He Inhabited then a large rectangular
Originally been grain store, possessed no
chimney, and had windows only in the
roof When necessary, Macdonald pro-
cured heat by exalting a brick over two
roaring Bunsen burners: light. by inducing
tie said Bunsens to cast forth yellow,
smoky flames. A canvas hammock slung
across one angle. and blanket sleeping
sack, saved the formality of bedmaking:
the floor was seat which never required
dragging into position. These things, when
reported in Burton-on-Trent. were looked
upon as The adJuncts of a savage. More
over, there was usually free chlorine In
the air. which. with the other stinks of
the place, bit heavily into strangers lung
Consequently, Macdonald became a pariah
and was left severely alone: which was
what he wanted, He naturally earned the
reputation or being mad. which he was not.
ana or being unClean, which was only
true with modification For instance he
had a tank in his barn. and dived there
thrice daily
The other attribute which limited at as
being his was his business talent which
enabled him to bring off the biggest black
mailing coup of the century So cunningly
had he kept this up his sleeve that not even
/ and the other man knew anything about
H. He had exhibited himself up TIL then
In all matters commercial as the most
unmethodical creature Imaginable.
AS 1t chanced did not see him till after
the Dlackmailing scheme had been laid be-
lore the Diamond Ring, and they were be-
ginning 10 show their distaste for its pro-
posals in violent form
He answered my kick on the door panel
with a sharp "Qui yiyeY' recoenized nv
voice and let me In.
| drew, 10 my surprise. an easy breath,
aud commented with point upon the un-
Wonted ciearness of the atmosphere He
asked II had pistol.
NO. i said: never carry one. ALWAYS
too much afraid of shooting myself. And
what the deuce do you want a pistol for
anyway
II have one for myself, but thought you
might find II convenient TO be armed also
'heeled don't you call II in your slang?"
But why? What bee have you got In
your bonnet now? Why ever should YOU of
all people. take to manslaughter?'
because. my good McHinnie. as you re-
marked for yourself, the atmosphere of this
place has changed. The day OF evil smells
is past, thank goodness. There's been no
free chlorine on the roam round this barn
Tor three mortal months. Here, don't light
your pipe at the Bunsen: try SPILL
he tore leaf from a valuable German
work on crystallography and twisted II up
stared at him with puckered head He
flung the book with a crash at a rack of
test tubes, and laughed
I'm not mad, or anywhere near it" he
explained But I've done with original re-
search in chemistry and chemical physics
Tor ever and ever, amen. At the present
moment I'm trying to levy my fee and IT. 8
not an easy job. There's a strong prob
ability that shan't earn more than a cof-
nm and a coroner's inquest. BY the way.
where nave you been these last eight
months?''
collecting birds and aye-ayes in NADIA
gascar; but never mind that. Try and tell
me saneiy and eoncisely what you've been
at recently. 1t isn't the marrying tack, i
supposeT
mot much. Look, It's this" He took