The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-09-13
or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance Of
Gerald RathbOne.
CHAPTER X. (continued.)
0y oUr THoRNG.

Yes; but little now remained to be
done before absolute perfection Of the
invention val obtained. A few lore
experiments, more delicate and de-
cisive than any that had gone before,
still remained to be made. The ap-
paratus itself was completed. Its work
ing under certain conditions was GER
tain. It was still necessary, however,
to test 1t by means of continuous ex-
periments upon a living human brain.
During the last year of their work
Gouldesbrough and Wilson Guest had
begun to realize this last necessity
with increasing conviction. They saw
that the copingstone of the marvellous
edifce which they had slowly built up
through the years was now resolving
itself into this. and this alone. Neither
had said as much to each other in SO
many words until some four months
ago. Then, upon one memorable night.
when excited by drink to an unusual
freedom and openness of speech, Guest
had voiced the unspoken thought Of his
master and himself.
A human brain, . living human
brain. In a living human body was an
absolute and final requirement.
There were not wanting-there nev-
q have been wanting-scientifc en-
thusiasts who will submit themselves
to experiment. But in this case a VOL
untary subject was impossible, for
reasons which will presently appear.
It became a definite problem with the
two men as to how and by what means
they should obtain a living creature
who should be absolutely subject to
their will.
And then chance had provided Sir
William with the unique opportunity.
He had e e his way to rid himself Of
a hated rival and to provide a subject
for experiment at one and the same
time. He had not hesitated; brains to
far removed from the ordinary sphere
Of humanity as his hesitate at
anything.
Gerald Rathbone had disappeared.
The motor stopped at the door in
the great, grim wall which surround
ed Sir Williams house. He said good
night to the chauffeur who looked after
his two ars at a garage some half a
mile away. and opened the wicket with
his key.
As he walked through the dark
garden and saw the great square block
of the house looming up before him, 1t
was with a quickening sense Of antic-
ipation and pleasure. All the worries
of his life were ~momentarily over and
done with, he was coming back to his
great passion, to his life work, the
service of science.
It was about 10 o'clock, and as he
opened the front door and came into
the hall everything was silent and still.
He lifted up the padded stick which
hung beside the dinner gong and
struck the metal, standing still while
the deep, booming note echoed mourn.
fully through the house.
The butler did not answer the sum-
mons. Sir William realized that the
man must be out. Wilson Guest had
probably given the servants an even
ing's holiday for some purpose Of his
own.
He crossed the dimly-lit hall, pushed
open the baize door which led to the
study, and entered his own room.
The IRE was burning brightly, the
electric lights glowed. but the place
was quite empty. On his writing table
was q pile Of letters; on q round table
set beside the fire we're q cold chicken
and a bottle Of claret. Obviously his
first surmiss had been right, and the
servants were out.
He left the study. proceeded onward
down the passage. and unlocked anoth.
or door-a door through which no one
but himself and Guest were allowed
to penetrate, q door that was always
kept locked, and which led to the lab
oratories. mechanical rooms, and in.
vention studios, which had been built
out at the back Of the house over
what were once the tennis lawns, occu.
pied a considerable area.
Locking the door behind him. Sir
william went on down a short passage.
The first door on the right had the let
ter "A" painted on it in white.
He opened this door and looked in.
The room was empty, though It was
brilliantly lit. It was a place Allied
with large tables. on which were draw.
ing instruments, sheets Of figures and
tracings.
Guest was not there.
Closing the door again and passing
onward, Sir William entered the chem.
ical laboratory. q long, low place, lit
by a skylight in day and by electricity
at night. AS he opened the door quiet.
ly he heard sounds Of movement, and
then Immediately, at the far end of
the laboratory, saw the nan he was
looking for.
The place was In entire darkness
save at a end, where two incan-
descent bulbs glowed above an expert
menting table.
The assistant vas bending over a
Bunsen burner, above which 4 large
glass tube wal clamped. In which some
liquid was boiling.
Suddenly he heard Sir williams i'd