Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-05-27
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

asked me if l had written telling some
one to ask such questions. | answered
at once, no; but Mr.. Unwin has. 1
wish had not said that; for he said
at once, 'Oh; Unwin; I'll make short
work of him. So, please! do be care
full. l could see in his eyes how cruel
he might be. l said, Surely there is
no harm in trying to find out what has
become of my poor ,fatherf' Oh said
he, mo harm at all-none at all, and
went away"
1 could not but regret this very much.
1t was, therefore, with some anxiety
that l received and accepted an invita-
tion to an Interview had almost
said, a collision-with Steinhardt that
evening at seven o'clock in the labora-
tory of the Chemical Works. had
never vet been within the mysterious,
tainted precincts, and it was with some
thing of shudder that asked myself
why he should have invited me to call
upon him there, and at an hour when
probably there would be no one in the
place except ihimself and the watch
man. went, however, with the stern
est courage could summon.
l cannot describe tile laboratory, for
I clearly saw only Steinhardt, red as a
Mephistopheles; all else was a jumble
of retorts, taps, tubs of raw color and
what not. He was very civil.
81 asked you to come and see me here,
Mr.. Unwin," he began, "because l am
watching an experiment which cannot
leave, and I wanted to see you at once.
You have not taken my word for 1t that
Miss Lacroix is not for you; you have
been seeing her at times and places
when you should not" He paused and
looked at me, as if expecting me to Esay
something. was silent, and he went
on, "Miss Lacroix is not girl to be
the wife of clergyman who has his
way to make; she is beautiful, l know,
but she has no money-nothlng to
speak of. Your time here will be up
in another week or so; you have been
trying to get place near here, but you
cannot; it will not do to stay about in
this neighborhood. I will help you tc
get a good place in the south-a living
of your own-I know where can, and
you must go away tomorrow. There il
a cheque l have written for your quar-
ter's salary"
'I am sorry, Mr.. steinhardt," saie
I, 81 cannot go away tomorrow; and
cannot promise to leave the neighbor
hood.'
"Oh; you cannot. Think again:
you do not go, must send away m.
family"
"My mind is quite made up" said |
"It is? Very well.' He rose, as
to end the interview, and rose also
You had better take the cheque,' sal,
he, pushing it toward me; sit is al
most due, and shall not want to sc
you again"
l took it, and was going. Involun
tarily l glanced about for any vat Q
vessel which could think of as tina
which had figured in Dicks confession
He seemed to notice my curiou
glances.
"You have never been in here bt
fore," said he. "That is the most IL
teresting place''-pointing to sma
door-"would you like to look in?
call it the Experiment Bath
said would; and my heart bea
wildly.
"You must let me tie up your mout
and nose them" he said. taking SON
kind of mutfler from drawer.
wondered whether this were tn
place, ,|and whether he was going
show it me out of bravado, or whethe
he was quite unconscious OF my susp
cion. 1 determined to go through wit
it. was muffied, and he muffled hin
self He opened the door; and sa
small chamber, filed with purplisl
led vapor, in which a gas jet burne
duly, and with an unwonted tint.
ENTER" said he.
entered, and he followed.
"This," said he, raising lid
some arrangement, sis my expel
ment."
Vapor rose more densely from Il
vessel, whose outlines could not di
Germ. felt stihed; 1 gasped f
breath. I tugged at the mutfler;
could not help it. 1 reeled; l felt h
hand on me-whether to snatch or
push me I cannot now say-but
thought then the former; with vi
lent effort I recovered myself Al
turned at once to look at him, and sd
great heavens!-the very counterpa
on the wall behind him of that shado'
with head and hands outstretche
which Dick's delirious figure had cas-
only wagner, because of the vapor!
"What! Again." 1 involuntari
cried, and dashed from the chamber.
l had to sit down to recover myse
! trembled violently. l thought, VIII
he undid his muffier, he looked pale
and more open-eyed. Did he suspe
now my suspicion?
''It is very risky, you see," he sal
calmly enough. but with a very ke
look, that longed, no doubt. to re
me, livery risky to enter my bath"
said not word, but after nome
or two rose with Goodnight, a
wnet out into the air.
Had he intended to suffocate II
Thinking calmly of the adventure n
! do not think so. think the dang
escaped was altogether owing to !
own rashness and folly.
HuApTER