The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-24

first time that the door between this
room and the next was open, and at
the same instant the distinct noise Of
breaking glass came to my ears
Pardon me d moment said Lock-
hart. my secretary is in the next room
and You would rather that no one OYER
heard US. ] will just go to her and ask
her TO do some work in my study.
Still retaining the copy of the Times
in mis- hand. he entered a large iabora-
tory, where doubtless his own import
ant discoveries were made.
"Ah, Miss Ward he exclaimed, so
you have broken that culture tube
Wen, never mind now: DON'T wait to
pick up the fragments. / am particu-
larry engaged. There are letters which
| want YOU to copy in my study; you
can go there until I send for you"
The light steps Of young woman
were heard leaving the room: a door
was opened at the farther end and
closed again softly. Lockhart returned
To us
4 am fortunate" he said, .'in having
secured as my secretary a most intelli-
gent and clever girl. one in a thousand.
At one time she thought of embracing
the medical profession, and has studied
bacteriology a little herself. but what
possessed her to break a valuable eul-
ture tube just now IS more than | can
understand. Poor girl, she was quite
white and trembling when | went into
the room. and yet / am never harsh
to her Her name is Falentia Ward,
pretty creature, and a better secretary
than any man have ever come across.
But there, gentlemen. you must par
don my abiding to my own private af-
fairs. The loss of that culture tube has
upset me a trifle, but | shall soon put
matters right. and Miss Ward need not
have looked 50 stricken. You speak Of
an advertisement IN this paper-where
is it? Is it today's editiOn?"
NO, the edition of a week back"
replied Il have reason to know, Mr..
LOckhart, that you have answered this
advertisement. Pray glance your eye
over IT again-it is in your own inter
ests that my friend and have come
here today"
I fail to understand" said Lockhart.
a tTif1e cOldly.
Il win gladly explain" I said 1--WE
have the strongest reasons for suspect
ing that these words were inserted by
a well known lady doctor called Nine.
Koluchy"
Still, I do not perceive your mean
ing" he replied. Even granted that
such is the case. may | ask what bust
ness this is of yours
You certainly may. Our business is
to warn you against any dealings with
that woman"
Indeed, But the lady in question is
well known and her scientific attain
ments are respected by every scientist
in the kingdom. ! think we must either
close our interview or I must beg of you
TO give me a further explanation"
As honorable men we can speak
quite plainly" l replied. However
impossible it may seem TO you. I am
now prepared to tell you that Mime.
Koluehy is the head of a gang. or Sc
cret society, whose headquarters are
at present in London. This society is
perpetrating some of the most terrible
crimes the century has known. / could
mention half a dozen which would be
familiar to YOU. Up till now madame
has eluded justice with a most remark
able ingenuity, but she cannot do so
much longer. All my friend and beg
of you IS to have nothing to do with
her. and. beyond all other things. not
TO put into her hands or into the hands
of any of her confederates one or more
of the great secrets of bacteriology.
You know as well as I do how omni-
potent such powers would be in the
hands of the INSCRIPTIONS"
While l was speaking Lockhart's red
face became troubled. He wrinkled his
forehead and knit his brows.
What you have told me sounds al
most incredible" he said. at last. 81
suppose I ought to be Obliged to Won.
but l scarcely know that L am. You
have upset my confidence and sown
doubt where ] must frankly say l had
absolute faith. Since. however. Won
have spoken to me so frankly. il is hut
fair that I should tell you what I know
OF this matter. It is true that I did
see that advertisement in the Times.
and replied to it. Famoiis bacteriolo-
gist as L doubtless am, I am also a
poor man. Pure science, as You know
Mr.. Head, brings riches to none. I an.
swered the advertisement and received
almost Immediately afterward a letter
from Nine. Koluchy asking me to call
upon her at her house in Welbeck
street She received me in her consult
ing room, and put q few questions to
me. | found her frank and agreeable
and there was nothing in the least sim
lister, either in her manner or in the
disclosures which she was Obliged TO
make to me- She soon perceived that
L was admirably adapted to carry ont
her requirements; said that she would
give me the work If / cared TO under
take it, and on my promising to do so.
proceeded at once to business. / cannot
ulNulSe the nature of the research
which I am about to make on her he
half. as / am under solemn VOW not
to do so, but I can at least assure Won
that ii is perfectly honorable mat
ter, and the pay-well the pay is so
good that l cannot afford to lose il.
Nine. Koluchy is prepared 70 give me
what may mean a small fortune But
I will tell You this. Mr.. Head: If I find
out that what you have lust said is
really the case. and / see the smallest
likelihood of my information being used
for dishonorabIe purposes, shall with
draw"
You cannot do more" I answered.
land / am much obliged to you for lis
tening to US so patiently"
81 respect the honesty of your pur-
pose,1 he said,
May / also beg that you will regard
what / have just said as strictly con-
The ghost of a smile lifted across
bis face; it passed almost Immediately.
"It will, he replied.
TT seems hard to press you still
further" said Dufraver but. short of
abusing any confidence you may have
made with Nine. Koluchy, would It be
possible for YOU to keep us posted in
what goes on?"
Il think l may promise that. also