The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-12-19
ALIVE or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald Rathbone.
~ GUY THoRNk Z
CHAPTER xiII.-fcontlnuedl.

CHAPTER xiii.-(Continued).
He ran his eye rapidly along the de
canters. His throat felt as though II
was packed with hot -four. His mouth
tasted as IL he had been sucking o
brass tap. His tongue was swollen
and his lips were hard, cracked, and
feyerish. He snatched the brandy bot.
tie from a spirit case, and poured al
that was In II into a heavy cut-glass
for the tantalus had only been about
o~re-fourth part full, he saw a long,
wickercovered bottle of curacao, and
began to pour from II into the brandy.
Then. without water or minerals, he
began to guip down this astonishing
and powerful mixture. which, in a
fourth Of It's quantity. would probably
have struck down the ordinary man
as a tree snaps and falls In a sudden
wind.
1t had been Guests intention to
take enough alcohol to put him into
something like a normal condition, and
then to return to the laboratory to as
sist at the concluding scenes of the
demonstration, and to enjoy In his own
malicious and sinister fashion. But
rs the liquor seemed to course through
his veins and to relieve them Of the in
toieratle strain, as he felt his whole
body respond TO the dose of poison to
which he had accustomed Il, thoughts
OF returning to the laboratory became
very dim and misty.
Here was this large, comfortable
room. with Its ~panelled walls, its old
Family portraits In their massive gilt
frames, this fire Of wood logs in a great
open hearth, sending out so pleasant
and hospitable an invitation to remain.
Hvery fiber ofsthe wretch's body urged
him to take the twilight hour and en-
Joy It.
Guest sat down In a great arm chair.
padded with crimson leather, and gaz-
cd dreamiIy into the white heart Of
the fire. He felt at peace. and for Eve
minutes sat there without movement,
looking. In the Pickering freight, like
some g~r0tesdue Chinese sculpture
some god OF darkness made by a silent,
moonfaced man on the far shores Of
the Y~angtseidang.
Then Mr.. Guest began to move
again the fuel that he had taken was
burning out. The mans organism had
become like one OF those toy engines
Cor children which have for furnace a
little methyi lamp, and which must
constantly be renewed IL the wheels Of
the mechanism are To continue to 10
vcive.
Mr.. Guest rose from the arm chair
and shambled over to the sideboard
again. The bottle of al was still
almost full. though there did not APP
pear to be any more brandy.
That would do. he thought, and he
poured from the bottle into his glass
as n ne had been pouring beer. The
wretched man had forgotten that In
his present state-a state upon the
very verge OF swift and hidden parox-
ysm and OF death-the long abstention
OF the morning and afternoon had mod
lied his physiological condition. More
over. the suddenness of these stealthy
potatiof1s In the dining room began to
have their way with him. He was a
whom It was almost impossible to
make intoxicated. as the ordinary per.
son understands intoxication. When
Guest was drunk his mind became sew
erai shades more evil; that was all.
But at this moment the man sue
cumbed. and In half an hour his brain
absolutely crowded and confused.
He had forgotten both time and oc-
cesion. and could not think coherently.
At last he seemed to realize this him
self. He rose to his feet and. clutch
ing hold Of the dining table, swayed
and lurched toward the dining room
door. There was q dim consciousness
within him OF something which was
1mminently necessary to be done, but
which he had forgotten or-was unable
20 recall.
"What was 1T" he kept asking him.
self. with q thick indistinctness. II
knew I had somethin' to do--somethin'
important. Can't think what It was"
At that moment his hand. which he
had thrust into his pocket, touched q
key.
rive got It'll" he said. "'Course. I
know now. I must go down and put
the cap ON Rathbone. after I have in
jected the alcohol preparation. Will
lam and I want to set In front Of the
screen and follow his thoughts-they
are funnier than they ever used to be
before we told him what we were do
Eng to him. I'll just take one o
drink. then I'll 90 downstairs to the
cellar ut once"
CHAPTER XIV.
A. lasff