Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-05-22
HERR STEINHARDT'S NEMESIS /
BY 4 MAcLAREN coBBAN
CHAPTER Ix-ContInued.

Mr.. Steinhafdl looked terrlhlel lie
asked mo II had written telling some
ono 20 ask such questions. answered
az once, NO; but Mr.. unwin has
wish had not said that: Tor he said
At once, oh; Unwin; TIL make shorl
work Of him. So, plcasel do be care
full could see Ia his eyes how cruel
he might he, said. surely there Il
no harm In trying 70 end out what hal
become Of my poor siaiherf' oh. said
he, no harm at all--none at all, and
went away"
! could not but regret this very much.
II was, therefore, with some anxiety
that ! received and accepted an invita-.
tion 20 an inteFview--I had almost
said, collislon--with Stelnhardt that
evening at seven o'clock In the lAbora.
tory OF the Chemical Works. / had
never yet beon within the mysterious,
tainted precincts, and II vas with some
thing Of ahudder that asked myself
why he should have invited mo 10 call
upon him there, and at an hour when
probably there would be no one In the
place except himself and tho watch.
man. went, however, with the stern-
est courage could summon.
cannot describe the laboratory, for
clearly saw only Steinhardt, red a. a
Mephistopheles; all else was a tumble
OF retorts, taps, tubs Of raw color and
what not. Ho was very civil.
~ asked you 10 come and sce mo here,
Mr.. Unwln," he began. "hccause am
watching on experiment which cannot
leave, and I wanted 20 see you At once.
You have not taken my word for II that
Niss Lacroix is not for you; you have
been seeing her at times and places
when you should not" lie paused and
looked at me, AZ II expecting me 10 bay
something. | was silent, and he went
on, "MlAa IAcroix ID not girl 10 be
the wife Of q clergyman who has his
way 70 make; she Il beautiful, I know,
but she has no money--nothing 10
speak Of, Your time here will be up
in another week OF so; you have been
trying 10 got q place near hero, but you
cannot; il will not do 10 stay about in
this neighborhood. / will help you 10
get good place In The south--a living
Of your own--T know where can, and
you must 70 away tomorrow. There Ia
cheque | have written for your quar-
ter's salary,
~ am sorry, Mr.. stsinhardt," aaid
], 81 cannot 10 away tomorrow and
cannot promise to leave the neighbor-
hood
"oh; you cannot. Think again; II
you do not 90, ] must send away my
family"
"My mind isquite made up," said /.
ut is7 Very WE'LL" He rose, a. II
TO end the interview, and rose also.
You had better take the cheque," said
he, pushing IL toward me; "it is al.
most due, and | shall not want TO SEQ
you again"
took 1t, and was going. Involun-
tarily glanced about for any vat or
vessel which could think Of as that
which had figured In Dicks confession.
He seemed to notice my curious
glances.
"You have never been in here be-.
fore, said he. "That is the most in-
teresting place"--pointing 10 small
door would you like to look int
call II the Experiment Bath"
l said | would; and my heart beat
wildly.
"You must let me tie up your mouth
and nose them" he said. taking some
kind Of muflier from drawer,
wondered whether this were the
place, and whether he was going TO
show II me out OF bravado, or whether
he was quite unconscious OF my suspi.
cion. l determined to go through with
1t. was muiiled, and he mufiied him
self. He opened the door; and l cav
small chamber, filled with purplish-
Ied vapor, in which gas jet burned
DULY, and with an unwonted tint.
Enter" said he.
entered, and he followed.
"This," said he, raising q lid by
some arrangement, sis my expert.
mentn
vapor rose more densely from the
vessel, whose outlines could not dis.
cern. l felt stihed; | gasped for
breath. tugGed at the mufiier;
could not help IL. I reeled; l felt his
hand ON me---whether to snatch or to
push me I cannot now say--but
thought then the former; with a vio-
lent effort | recovered myself and
turned at once to look at him, and saw
great heavensl--the very counterpart
on the wall behind him Of that shadow,
with head and hands ontstretched,
which Dick's-deliriou figure had cast,
only yaguer, because OF the vaporl
"Whatl Againl" | involuntarily
cried, and dashed from the chamber.
had TO sit down to recover myself;
! trembled violently. / thought, when
he undid his muller, he looked paler,
: and more open.eyed. Did he suppyct
now my suspicionT
ut is very risky, you see," he said,
calmly enough, but with very keen
look, that longed, no doubt, to read
me, Every isky to enter my bathl"
said not word, but after moment
or two rose with Goodnight and
wnet out into the air.
Had he intended to suffocate meY
Thinking calmly Of the adventure now
do not think 90. ! think The danger
escaped was altogether owing to my
own raahnBBs and folly.
----@--------s
CHAPTER X.