Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-29

yet, he said; perhaps you would not
care for him as a constant companion" !"
"Why, what is there against him?"
"Oh,I didn't say there was anything
against him. He is little queer in
his ideas-an enthusiast in some
branches of science. AS far as know,
he is decent fellow enough"
GA medical student, I suppose" [
said.
"No; 1 have no idea what he intends
to 60 in for. I believe he is we'll UP
in anatomy, and he is a first class
chemist; but, as far as I know, he has
never taken out any systematic medical
classes. His studies are very desultory
and eccentric, but he has amassed lot
of out-of-the-way knowledge which
would astonish his professors"
'Did you ever ask him what he was
going in for" asked.
"No; he is not man that it is easy
to draw out, though he can be commu-
nicative enough when the fancy seizes
him."
81 should like to meet him." said.
"It am to lodge with any one,
should prefer a man of studious and
quiet habits. 1 am not strong enough
yet to stand much noise or excitement.
1 had enough of 10th in Afghanistan to
last me for the remainder of my natural
existence. How could meet this
friend of yours?'
"He is sure to be at the laboratory.
He either avoids the place for weeks or
else he works there from morning to
night. If you like we shall drive round
together after luncheon"
Certainly" answered; and the
conversation drifted away into other
channels.
AS we made our way into the hos
pital after leaving the Holborn Siam,
ford gave me few more particulars
about the gentleman whom 1 proposed
to take as fellow lodger.
"You mustn't blame me if you don't
get ON with him." he said; "I know
nothing more of him than I have
learned from meeting him occasionally
in the laboratory. You proposed-th ar
rangement, SO you must not hold me
responsible"
''If we don't get on it will be easy to
part company" I answered. ''It
seems to me, Stamford" added, look
ing hard at my companion, "that you
have some reasons for washing your
hands of the matter. Is this fellows
temper SO formidable, or what is it.
Don't be mealy-mouthed about it,"
''It is not easy to express the mex
pressible," he answered, with a laugh.
u11y I,%klo %oo f1,.
tastes-it approaches to cold blooded-
ness. 1 could imagine his giving a
friend little pinch of the latest vege-
table alkaloid, not out of malevolence,
you understand, but simply out of a
spirit of inquiry, in order to have an
accurate idea of the effects. To do him
justice, think he would take it him
self with the same readiness. He ap.
pears to have passion for exact and
definite knowledge"
"Very right, too"
eyes, but it may be pushed to ex-
cess. When it comes to beating the
subjects in the dissecting rooms with a
stick, it is certainly taking rather a
bizarre shape"
"Beating the subjects?"
"Yes, to verify how far bruises may
be produced after death. I saw him at
it with my own eyes"
''And yet you say he is not medical
student?''
"No. Heaven knows what the OBJ
jects of his studies are! But here we
are, and you must form your own inn
pressions about him."
As he spoke we turned down narrow
lane and passed through small door,
which opened into a wing of the great
hospital.
1t was familiar ground to me, and 1
needed no guiding as we ascended the
bleak stone staircase and made our way
down the long corridor, with its vista
of whitewashed walls and dun colored
doors. Near the farther end low
arched passage branched away from it
and led to the chemical laboratory.
This was lofty chamber, lined and
Uttered with countless bottles. Broad,
low tables were scattered about, which
bristled with retorts, test tubes and lit
tie Bunsen lamps, with their blue,
fiickering flames.
There was only one student in the
room, who was bending over a distant
table absorbed in his work. At the
sound of our steps he glanced around
and sprang to his feet with a cry OF
pleasure.
"I've found it! I've found lit" he
shouted to my companion, running to-
ward us with test tube in his hand.
"I have found reagent which is preci-
pitated by haemogoblin, and by moth
ing else."
Had he discovered gold mine great
er delight could not have shone upon
his features.
"Doctor Watson - Mr.. Sherlock
Holiness" said STANFORD, introducing US.
elbow are you?" he said, cordially,
gripping my hand with a strength for
which should hardly have given him
credit. "You have been in Afghanis-
tan, perceive"
"How on earth did you know that"
l asked in astonishment.
"Never mind" said he, chuckling
to himself. ''The question now is
about haemogoblin. No doubt you see
the significance of this discovery OF
mine?''
'Tt is interesting, chemically, no
doubt" I answered; 'but prac-
tically-"
"Why man, it is the most practical
medico-legal discovery for years.