Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-09

been holding on to. Vandraken took
a turn up and down the room, then
stopped in front of Dare.
| IT don't want to take any advant-
age of your position. Won larsen
4 helm thinks you ought not to know
the exact results of this experiment to
yourself, but l tell you this much-it
will affect your future. 1t is a mort
gage on your future-one which you
will not be able to pay off,
THE manned guinea-pig after the
experiment. said Fabian, tensely.
IF I understand right, you will be
as sound after the experiment as you
are before. Isn't that so?" He turn
ed to Won Tarsenheim.
ITS most probable" he answered.
''This young man has sold himself,
body and soul, asking no questions,
expecting the worst; but if you tell
him, l shall have to get another sub
ject, and 1t is not so easy-that is,
the suitable young man-and he will
lose ten thousand pounds!"
| you hear?" he said to the young
man. Can you imagine any conse-
quences SO bad that you would rather
not go on with this? If you can, we
will call 1t off. I'll give you How
much time can we give him, Won Tar
senheim?''
The occultist looked at his watch.
| -Four minutes" he replied; "but it is
a pity" And he left the room, look
ing back craftily at the two young
men.
"You hear? Four minutes! You
have four minutes to decided" cried
| Vandraken, impatiently. He was feel
ing annoyed at the turn things were
taking.
Let me think" answered the
youth, his face buried in his hands.
| my God! It's a frightful decision
and I've spent ten pounds already"
| Don't let that worry you," said
Vandraken, hastily "That part of It
is all right"
| There was no sound in the room for
the next two minutes, while Fabian
Dare sat with his head bowed down
on the table. What was that word
he had heard? "Scapegoat" the
future! What could it be that he
mustn't know? Oh. it was all too
CHASTITY to 60 on with! He was re-
leased-he would go!
The door opened, and Won larsen
helm entered, smiling, as usual.
Fabian rose to his feet. 81 can't"
Behind her father came Elsa, with a
tray and decanter.
Give back that ten thousand
pounds" he finished, and sat down
again. His eyes were full Of Elsas
beauty, and in his ears rang those
words of Won -Tarsenheim's Before
the shops are shut"
You see, said the occulist to Van
| draken, "he has made his decision.
He consents" There was rising ex-
citement in his voice. He looked more
human
Elsa put down the tray She looked
anxiously at Fabian, and seemed to
be trying to nerve herself to speak.
Vandraken was looking at her with
hungry admiration
Thank you Elsa. We, ourselves,
can pour out the wine. We will not
give you the trouble Her father was
looking at her menacingly. "You may
CO."
Under his gaze Elsa shuddered
gave one plying glance at Fabian, and
left the room. Her father held the
door open, and bolted it behind her.
Vandraken poured out a drink and
gulped part of it down.
Won Tarsenheim came over to Fab
Ian Dare. Come! Pour yourself out
glass" He filled one for himself.
and poured one out for the other.
Let us drink to the success of the
experiment. It is a great moment
II Will be great victory-the first
triumph of man over the law of the
universe-the conquest of the twin
enemies Of pleasure-co ami
remorse! To the moment when the
gods shall cease laughing at men,
Come! drink" He raised his glass
to his lips. Vandraken did the same.
ITO the devil with consequences,
To a hundred million dollars worth
of pleasure and dimes worth of
paint" he cried, excitedly.
Fabian was the only one sitting
down. He looked from the man who
was masked with motor goggles, en-
lowing him with suggestion of re-
lentlessness, to the man who masked
himself behind that overpowering
smile.
God help the guinea-pig!" he nut
tered, and took a drink.
Won Tarsenheim went to the corner
of the room and drew back the cur
tains from the glass case with the
partition in the middle. He turned
switch, and the colored lights began
to flash in the vacuum tubes which
ran across the top of the case. A wire
ran through each tube, and the ends
hung down on each side of the parti-
ton and were carried into a collar.
On the outer side of the collar were
sWitch-keys, on the inner small
sponges.
The inventor looked lovingly at the
apparatus, and ran his hand caress-
lngly down the glass sides. "Come."
he called to Fabian 81 wish that
you take your place on this seat" in
dicating the metal stool. The youth
collected himself, walked over to the
apparatus, with assumed nonchalance,
and took his seat as Won Tarsenheim
indicated
You must take off your collar
The words sounded peculiar to him.
Why, 1t might be hairdresser's shop,
he thought, with that whimsical turn
mans thoughts take on momentous
occasions Vandraken was again mo