The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27

English Government"
Why should I?''
Il understood you to say that you were
an Englishman."
Japsley laughed with some relief. He
4 felt that Don Q. was impressed.
II am one-when need nationality
But have long outgrown such parochial
1 distinctions. / have emerged from the
narrow kennel of patriotism. I am be-
come a cosmopolitan. therefore / shall
sell my discovery to the highest bidder" "
! Don @. looked at Japsley very intently.
"And with what motive have you told me
this secret?''
''If you will spare my life 1 will give
you ten per cent of the amount I re-
ceive for it-in gold-gold if you will.'
'Ten per cent?" repeated Don Q. in a
slow voice.
"It will be an immense sum-" urged
Japsley with wild eagerness- See" he
continued Il shall bide my time. 1 shall
wait till European crisis arises, then
will make terms-hard terms"
Two more questions said Don Q.
First. does this agent of destruction de-
mand a brave man to handle it?''
NO no. cried Japsley. "A coward
need not fear to use it,
'.Ahl And where do you carry your
secret?"
Japsley raised his hand and tapped the
dome of his forehead.
Here, said he.
Don @. rose. 1.-The evening grows
chilly" he remarked. permit me to sug-
gest a return to the cave
Japsely followed him without a word.
The brigand threw log upon the fire,
and sitting down beside it stared at the
little leaping flames. The cave grew
dark; only that half-shadowed. motionless
| figure, like some huge brooding bird. re-
manned visible. and in Japsley's mind as
he gazed upon it. rose a terrible doubt as
to the sanity of this man. Could IL be
possible-could it be conceivable that he
would refuse such an offer.
! At length Japsley with his shaking
heart could endure the stiffness of sus-
pense no longer. The hour had passed,
and yet Don Q. sat on, motionless. by
/ the dying fire. The scientist rose up
noiselessly and walked out into the night.
A heavy shower had followed upon sun
set, and still through the evening calm
he could hear the sad drip of rain-laden
pine trees. He began to wander aim
4 1essly up and down the terrace, and. prob
ably due to the excitement of the past
few hours. his mind rose upon a rare
and short-winged flight of ina gination
A picture of the future paiNted Itself
before hIm there on the gloomy cliff side
! He saw himself the courted of Kings
and Ministers. arbiter of life and deatf
to nations. Wealth was within his grip;
all his life he had toiled toward that goa
with singleness of purpose and a heart
hardened against the appeals of human
/ ity. Now-now he was about to grasr
his reward High rose his heart in thai
flight of fancy. the more Intoxicating be-
cause so rare with him. And upon these
followed other visions; cravings arose ir
him which had lain dormant. ground un-
der the heel of necessity, sacrificed to the
one great passion of his life Lurid were
the dreams that came to him on the ter
race. inarticulate, monstrous.
He was startled by the voice of Dor
O.. and note rang in it that cut hi.
fancy to ribbons and left him once more
face to face with fear
Some hour or so ago you were good
enough to make me an Offer began
Don u. II have taken time TO consider
il, senor.''
And you accept, of course2' Japsle,
was going on, but the brigand cut hin
snort.
mo. cannot"
The scientist put his hand to his head