Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01

evidently the edge of the forest. The car went
steadily on and out into the open clear Of the
There isn't any road here" he remarked.
60 on!' commanded The Thinking Ma
chine tensely. Road or no road-straight
ahead!"
The chauffeur took a new grip on his wheel
and went straight ahead, over plowed ground,
apparently for the humping and jolting were
| terrific, and the steering gear tore at the
sockets of his arms viciously: For two or three
minutes they proceeded this way, while the
scientists light still played on Fairbanks
face and the squint eyes unwaveringly watched
every tiny change in it.
"fhere!" shrieked Fairbanks suddenly, and
he came to his feet. "There!'
Hatch and Dr. Pollock saw it at the same in
The Thinking Machine didn't alter the direction
of his gaze.
Straight for the light" he commanded.
the room showed every evidence of
occupancy log fire was burning, and
its Pickering light showed books strewn about
here and there . directly in front of
them stood man, tall, angular, aged and a
little bent hands were knotted, toll
eyes white and CLASSY
With a choking, cultural exclamation of
some sort, Fairbanks darted forward and
placed the grinning god upon the mantel beside
Thinking Machine and seized him by the arm,
as child might have sought protection. The
Thinking Machine nodded at him, and
grin of foolish delight overspread the pallid
face
Meanwhile, the strange old man, who seemed
utterly oblivious of their presence, stood beside
the fire gazing into it with sightless eyes. The
| scientist moved toward him slowly, Fairbanks
staring as if fascinated. Finally the scientist
extended his hand, which held that of Fair
~ nod fba al he
der. He started violently and stretched out
both hands instinctively
Then, while Hatch and DR.. Pollock looked
on silently, The Thinking Machine stood
ran up his arm, and the fingers touched his
face The right fore-hnger paused for an in
slant at the eyes, then was laid lightly across
the thin lips. 1t remained there.
"You are blind?" asked the scientist.
The strange old man nodded.
"You are deaf?"
| Again the old man nodded His forefnger
still rested lightly on The Thinking Machines
lips?
You are dumb" the scientist went on.
| Again the nod.
Deafness, dumbness, blindness, result of
disease?"
The nod again.
| The Thinking Machine turned and lifted
Fairbanks hand till it rested on the old mans
shoulder, then slowly down the arm, while his
eyes studied the changed expression on the
pallid face.
Real, real!" said The Thinking Machine
slowly to Fairbanks. "a man-you under
stand?"
| Fairbanks merely started back; but it was
evident that some great struggle was going on
| in his mind. There was growing interest in
his face, the mouth was no longer fabby, the
eyes were fixed.
then there came another sound
| curdling, nerve racking scream
| . a scream of agony, of pain, of fear,
| a hideous, awful thing sud-
denly all was silent again.
| At the first sound Fairbanks had straight
ened up. then slowly he started forward.
Three steps, and he fell Hatch and DR..
Pollock turned him over and found on his face
an expression of utter, cringing fear The
eyes were ro-ing glittering, and he was bah
bling again. Only his weakness had prevented
fight.
Machine hurriedly, and ran out of the room.
Hatch heard him as he went up the steps:
| then after moment there came more screams,
rather a sharp, intermittent wailing. Fair
banks struggled feebly then lay still. fiat on
his back A minute more, and The Thinking
Machine reentered the room, leading woman