Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-16
Copyright, 1903. by Edward Mumtord

LOOKING Dack on IL now, WOnQer Il
was not surprised. Yet 1t all seemed
in keeping with the character Of the
man and with that desolate day that
I should be reading note from Muir
doch, whom l had last seen ten years
before, and on the other side of the
world. There were but two lines and
no signature, but knew the hand:
will need you tonight at 10. The bear
er will direct you. Be discreet.
smiled at the tone of it, imperious
and mysterious as Murdoch ever was.
1 could learn nothing from the messen-
ger, simple lad, who evidently knew
no more than the way to the house
where he had received the note. Yet
I believe / did not once think of re-
fusing to go, and that because the one
man in the world to whom I could re-
fuse nothing was Angus Murdoch.
suppose none knew Murdoch better
than I, yet what knew was but lit
tie, for 1t was only what he chose to
show me. In the university there were
among his fellows many who admired
him, some who feared him, none who
loved him. My affection, indeed, he
might have had, but he would not
Colby, almost contemptuously, he went
his way, among us easily the strongest
body and the kcenest mind, yet utter
| ~ without influence, for he was utter
lily Indifferent. Well nigh half of his
twenty -four hours he spent in the lab
oratories, and the fame Of his work
there spread abroad, but the honors 1t
brought him he put aside, saying that
he would be beholden to no man. Those
who offered him kindness found his
eyes forbidding; those who opposed
him found them terribly compelling.
Once he happened to save my life
with the tranquil manner Of one who.
lifts fly from his wineglass. He was
quite brusque when l made much Of
it, but afterward he began 10 spend.
with me his infrequent periods of lei
sure AT hines i brolso through IFS re-
serve, and he was almost genial, but
Mt the slightest touch of affection he
froze and held me off. 'He is all
mind" said to myself, piqued, "all
mind, and stone for heart" And
that shows how little knew the man
after oil.
He quilted the university with a
strange suddenness, leaving for me a
message that was little more than a
/ cold farewell. Within q few months
received by foreign express box with
card on which was written: .sYou
wished to be kind to me, and would
not let you, for which am sorry. Sell
these and use the money" Inside were
diamonds Of some value. was badly
In need of funds to finish my uni.
versity course. and he knew 1t. There
was no address. and so again I could
offer no words of thanks. Once after
that saw him. 1t was on the street II
Buenos Ayres, but could hardly be
lieve 1t was Murdoch, for he wal
smiling into the face Of a beautiful
woman, and had not thought Muir
doch could smile like that. He caugh'
sight of me, waved his hand gayly ant
afterward left his card at my hote
during my absence. The next day
returned his call, but found he had lief
the city within the hour. It was yer,
like Murdoch. And now, after anothe
ten years, his note lay in my hand, AMI
was not surprised.
n spent the evening wondering wha
might lie at the end Of it. Shortly be
fore 10 o'clock l set out, purposel,
choosing circuitous route. 1t was
wild night. The snowy, bitter blast
nearly swept me of my feet as turn
ed the corner Of the narrow street tina
had been named to me. The house wa
easily found. ! waited cautiously Il
the shadow Of the gateway, peering III
and down to make sure was no
spied upon. But l had no sooner give
the signal than the gate swung oper
closing Immediately behind me.
servant led me across the court and Vi
dark stair to room where he NUT
tered something and left me.
I looked about me inquisitively. TIL
apartment had more the air of labc
ratory than living room. EVIDENT
Murdoch was still devoted to his SC
ence. At the far end Of the roor
doomed shadowy irregular masses tina
aroused my curiosity, and l found the
were the dark cloth covers of piece
Of apparatus-two strange woode
frames, bearing polished steel reflex
tors, and, connected with these wireI
yellow revolving disk, set upright, II
lower half covered with silk baf
Clearly the whole was some sort Q
electric device, but could make nott
ing of its purpose. | was still examir
ing it when the door opened to adm
Murdoch. lie grasped me by the ham
and drew me close to him with Al
eagerness that was like caress. Ye
all he said was Il am right glad to Sc
you. John!" 1t was as though we ha
met but yesterday, but he called me b,
my Christian name, which he ha,
never used before. So he stood clasp
ing my hand in both Of his and gain,
at me and at him.
"You have not changed, John" b.
said at length"
"Nor you" returned. Yet even a
l spoke was trying to determine WHY
he was SO different. Afterward real
lied that the eyes were franker thar
they had been and the mouth more
mobile. The subtle lines, too. on brow
and lips seemed to cut through the
mask his face once was. All this, ]
say, l was aware of later. At the time
I could only say, Though you are old.
er, Murdoch"
colder? Yes" he said. II think
have lived forty years since l saw
{, you" He turned from me to I. line
candle, and ] noticed IT. "