Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-06-26
INCONSISTENCIES yzlLNLllNlNNAllGNIlliLN
4 HERR STEINHARDTS NEMESIS 5
81 BY J. MAcLAREN coBBAN Is
Observation-Disclosures Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER IX-Continued.
~ 7. MACLAREN COBBAN.

one 10 ask such questions. | answered
at once, No; but Mr.. Unwin has. /
wish l had not said that; for he said
at once, 'Oh; Unwin; I'll make short
work OF him So, please do be care
ful, l could see in his eyes how cruel
he might be. said, Surely there is
no harm in trying to find out what has
become OF my poor ,father?' 'Oh, said
he, no harm at all-none at all, and
went away"
I could not but regret this very much.
1t was, therefore, with some anxiety
that received and accepted an invita-
tion TO an interview had almost
said, collisiOn-with Steinhardt that
evening at seven O'Clock in the labora-
tory OF the Chemical Works. l had
never yet been within the mysterious,
tainted precincts, and it was with some
thing OF shudder that l 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 himself and the watch
man. l went, however, with the stern
est courage l could summon.
I cannot describe the laboratory, for
clearly saw only Steinhardt, red as a
Mephistopheles; all else was a tumble
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 am
watching an experiment which l cannot
leave, and wanted to see you at once.
You have not taken my word for it 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 ii expecting me to Esay
something. l 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, know
but she has no money-nothing tC
speak Of. Your time here will be NJ
in another week or so; you have beer
trying to get place near here, but yor
cannot; it will not do to stay about il
this neighborhood. will help you Il
get good place in the south--a living
OF your own-I know where l can, anC
you must go away tomorrow. There i:
a cheque have written for your quar-
ter's salary"
81 am sorry, Mr.. Steinhardt," sale
l, 81 cannot 90 away tomorrow; and
cannot promise to leave the neighbor
hood"
ooh; you cannot. Think again: i
you do not 90, must send away my
family"
"My mind quite made up" said
"It is? Very WELL" He rose, as i
to end the interview, and | rose also
You had better take the cheque," sale
he, pushing it toward me; "it is al
most due, and l shall not want to Sc,
you again"
l took it, and was going. Involun
tarily l glanced about for any vat o.
vessel which could think OF as tha
which had figured in Dicks confession
He seemed to notice my curiou
glances.
"You have never been in here be
FORE" said he. "That is the most in
teresting place"-pointing to small
door-"would you like to look in?
call it the Experiment Bath"
l said l would; and my heart bea
wildly.
"You must let me tie up your moutl
and nose them" he said, taking som,
kind Of mufiler from drawer.
| wondered whether this were tn,
place, ard whether he was going t
show it me out OF bravado, or whethe
he was quite unconscious OF my suspi
cion. determined to go through will
it. was muffied, and he mufiied him
self. He opened the door; and l say
a small chamber, filled with purplsh
led vapor, in which gas jet burnet
duly, and with an unwonted tint
ENTER" said he.
l entered, and he followed.
"This," said he, raising a lid b.
tome arrangement, sis my expert
ment."
Vapor rose more densely from tn
vessel, whose outlines l could not dis
Germ. felt stifled; l gasped 70
breath. [ tugged at the muffier;
COulu IOI Hel II. Teeleu, L Ielt nj
hand on me-whether to snatch or t,
push me / cannot now say-but
thought then the former; with a vio
lent effort | recovered myself anC
turned at once to look at him, and saw
great heavens!-the very counterpart
on the wall behind him OF that shadow
with head and hands outstretched
which Dicks delirious figure had cast
only wagner, because Of the vaporl
"What Againr' / involuntaril,
cried, and dashed from the chamber
had to sit down to recover myself
tremb'ed violently. thought, wher
he undid his muffier, he looked paler
and more open-eyed. Did he suspect
now my suspicion?
at is very risky, you see," he said
calmly enough, but with very keer
look, that longed, no doubt, to reac
me, Every risky to enter my bath"
said not word, but after moment
or two rose with a "Good-night, anC
wnet out into the air.
Had he intended to suffocate me-
ThinkinC calmly of fha adventure nou