The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-06-27
CHAPTER i.--fcontInued.l

whose eminence is only appreciated by
a small number Of learned people and
stamped by an almost unregarded of,
fetal appreciation. These are the peo-
pie who, however good their services
may be. are never in any sense popu'
lar anne until many years after they
are dead, and their labors for humani.
ty have passed into history and so be-
come recognized by the crowd. But
there are other celebrities who are
popular and known to the man in the
street" Sir William Gouldesbrough
belonged to the latter class. Every
body knew the name Of the famous
scientist. His picture was constantly
in the papers. His name was a house
hold word, and with all his arduous
n successful scientific work he still
found time to be a frequent figure in
the best society, and a man without
whom no large social function, wheth-
er public or private, was considered to
be complete. He was the sort of per-
son, In short, of whom one read In the
newspapers: "and among the other
distinguished guests were Sir Henry
Irving, Sir l.. Alma-Tadema, Mr.. Rud-
yard Kipling and Sir William Gouldes-
brough."
He had caught the popular attention
By the fact that he was still a COM
paratively young man of fv~e-and-forty.
He had caught the ear and attention
OF the scientific world by his extraor-
hinarU rnCno rnIAn ..t@ 49, iAaAN~
known powers Of electric currents.
Moreover-and 1t Is an unusual COM
bination-he was not only an investi-
gator of the lesser-known attributes OF
electricity who could be ranked with
Tessler, Edison or Marconi, but he
was a psychologist and pathologist Of
European reputation. He was said, by
those who knew, to have probed more
deeply into mental processes than al.
most any man Of his time, and for two
or three years now every one who was
on the inside track Of things knew
that Sir William Gouldesbrough was
on the verge of some ~stupendous dis
covery which was to astonish the
world as nothing else had astonished
1t In modern times.
/; Eustace ~Charliewood appeared TO be
an intimate friend Of this great man.
He was often at his house, they were
frequently seen together, and the
reason for this strange combination
was always a fruitful subject Of gos-
sip.
Serious people could not understand
what Gouldesbrough saw In a mere
pleasant hammered and idle clubman,
OF no particular distinction or impor-
lance. Frivolous society people could
not understand how Mr.. Charliewood
cared to spend his time with a man
who took life seriously and was al
ways bothering about stupid electric
ity; while in the same breath they
rather admired Charliewood for being
intimate with such a very important
person In England as Sir William
Gouldesbrough undoubtedly was.
For two or three years now this
curious friendship had been a piquant
subject of discussion, and both Sir
Williams and Mr.. Charliewood's most
intimate friends had spent many pleas
ant hours in inventing this or that
base and ~disgraceful reason for such
a combination.
Yet, as the cab rolled smoothly up
Portland Place. Mr.. Charllewood did
not look happy. He threw his cigar
away with a p~etulant gesture. and
watched a street arab dive for it
among the traffic with a sheer of dis
gust.
He unbottoned his heavy astrachan
coat. 1t felt tight across his chest, and
he realized that his nerves were still
u%nstrung, despite the efforts Of the
morning. Then he took a checkbook
from his pocket and turned over the
counterfoils till he came to the last
balance. He frowned again, put it
away, and once more leant back with
sigh of resignation.
In a few mere minutes the cab drew
NY at a wall which encircled a fair.
sized house OF red brick, a house built
in the Georgian period.
Only the top of the place could be
from the street, as the walls
were somewhat unusually high, while
the only means of entrance was q
green door let into the brickwork,
with a brass bell-pull at one side.
In a moment or two the door opened
TO Charliewood's ring, and a man
servant of the discreet and ordinary
type stood there waiting.
Good afternoon. SIR" he said; "Sir
fWilliam expects you"
Charliewood entered and walked
lalong a wide gravel path toward the
,portico OF the house. chatting casually
Ito the butler as he went.
II could now be seen that Sir Will
lam Gouldesbrough's residence was q
typical mansion Of George la reign.
The brick was mellowed to q pleasant
,autumnal tint. the windows with their
white frames and small panes were
net In mathematical lines down the
facade. and q flight of stone steps led
up to the square pillared porch. on
each side OF which q clumsy stone
Hon. with q distinctly Teutonic express
slon. was crouching. The heavy PAN
elled door was open. and together the
guest and the butler passed into the
hall.
Il was q large place. with : tsssella-
Ted floor and high white painted doors
III round. Two or three great br-ze