Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-10-10
CHAPTER xiv.
Donald Meeble Sees Possibilities.

passed through the crowds of friends
| and ecquaintances who focked round
him In weller Of curiosity and con
graduation, and came into the inner
room where Lord Malvin, Sir Harold
Oliver and Mr.. Donald Megbie were
waiting for him.
Tall, slave and self-contained, he
bowed and shook hands. Then there
was a moments pause-thcy were
waiting for him to speak, expectant OF
what he should say.
II am sorry, Lord Malvin," he be-
gan, that have arrived SO late at
your party. But was conducting an
experiment. and when I was half
through l found that 1t was going to
lead me much farther than I thought.
You know how that happens some
times?"
Precisely, Sir William, and the
fact is scientists greatest pleasure
very often. Now, may ask you-you
will excuse an old mans impatience-
may ask you if you have finally sue
ceeded? When l last saw you the
composition of the spectrum present
ed difficulty"
THAT have now completely over
come, Lord Malvln."
Lord Malvin trembled, actually
|trem5led with excitement. "Then the
series Of experiments is complete?"
quite. And more than that, I
have done, not once or twice, but
many times, exactly what I told you
/ hoped to do. The thing, my lord, is
an accomplished fact, indisputable,
certain!''
Lord Malvin turned to Sir Harold
Oliver and Megbie.
Gentlemen" he said, in a clear
voice, but full of profound emotion,
''the history of life is changed. We
all must stand In new relation to-
each other, to society, and to the
world"
Donald Megbie knew that here was
the chance of his literary lifetime.
Lord Malvin would never have spoken
in this way without due consideration
and absolute conviction. Something.
Something very big, indeed, was in
the air. But what was it? The jour
nalist had not an idea as yet.
He looked eagerly at the aquiline,
ascetic face Of the inventor, marked
the slight smile Of triumph that ling
cred round the lips, and noted how
the eyes brilliantly, steadily,
as If they were lighted from behind.
Me e,tshie had seen many men In many
countries. Before everything he was
the complete student of contemporary
humans, and as he looked keenly at
Sir William Gouldesbrough two
thoughts came into his mind. One was:
something like this: You are certain
ly one Of the most intellectual and re-
markable men now living; you are
unique, and you stand upon pedestal
of fame that only one man In several
generations ever reaches; all the
same, shouldn't like to be in your
power or to stand in your way. Aid
moreover, the question came to the
quick, analytic brain of the writer
whether the brilliance Of those lamp
lit eyes was wholly natural was
wholly sane.
These twin thoughts were born
and over in flash, and even as he
thought them Megbie began to speak.
Now that Lord Malvin has told us
SO much, Sir William he said, won't
you tell US some more? suppose
you know that all the, world is waiting
for pronouncement2"
"The world will know very soon.
Mr.. Megbie," Gouldesbrough answer
ed, pleasantly. en- about fortnisht's
time am sending out invitations to
some Of our leading people to witness
the result of my experiments in my
laboratories. I hope may have the
pleasure Of seeing you there also. But
IL you wish It, will certainly give
you a slight idea OF the work. Since
the public seem interested In what
l am doing, and something seems to
have leaked out, am quite willing
that they should know more. And, Of
course, there is no one to whom j
would rather say anything than your
Iself.''
Megbie bowed. He was tremendous
lily excited. Brother writer's who did
not make q tenth 6f his income, and
had not 9 quarter OF his eminence
were wont to say that his ears
EA, :. chez -. N the .roae.. 80 - J.
great celebrity. This no doub. wa.
calumny. but the Journalist stood Il
an attitude Of strained attention--a,
i well man might stand when the &c
cret OF the hour was about to be re
i vealsd to him IN preference to all 9th
OF men. 5;3 71
uldesbroush bowed to Lord Maj
win. So
I'm going to have half an hour,
Il conversation with Mr.. Megb,e,' = b,
said. Meanwhile. my lord, wonde,
i you would give Sir Harold oliver !,
slight technical outline &c nv mn,
cesses. And, Of course. al / under
4 stand this Ii to be III some sense
q night on which your friends are % il
4 given some general information. q