The Washington herald., 1908-05-13

eral fortunes far and away bigger than
VaRdrakens. but they all belonged to
elderly men; and there is nothing thrill
ing about a rich old H,ah, except his tes-
tamentary dispositions. But the thought
of youth and wealth combined is differ
ent: men speculated on what they would
do II they were Vandraken. One paper
offered a prize competition for the most
original answer. Arether paper, more
economical, asked for answers to the
question. Would any woman refuse TO
marry him7" and, Of course, a great
many Womsa wrote To say they would
refuse, and bought the paper to see their
NJ mes in pant
Vandraken had become blase about be
ing advertised the yellow papers in
America had given him a surfeit of it:
but all the samoa small crowd in Pic
cadilly!-he knew It generally took roy
atty to gather that. He heard one man
say, Wouldn't mind being run over by
that motor. A juryd give proper dam
ages against i'm"
Another man hazarded the opiiiOR that
E was going down to the bank 20 see
if is coin ad arrived from Ar Ierica-"
Vandraken smiled TO himself as he
thought of their astonishment if they
knew his real errand.
Abdul Won Tarsenheim was at home,
and VandTaken was ushered into a
dingy room which smelt of chemicals.
An object Ike a large cupboard Occu-
pied one corner; 1t was concealed by
curtains.
Much more Ike a blackmailer's den
than a scientists laboratory" thought
Vandraken. only slightly reassUred by
the smell Of chemicals, Won Tarsenheim
did not keep him waiting long, but he
stood at the door and scrutinized his
guest, instead OF speaking. His long
neck, thrust outward and upward from
his rounded shoulders, made his visitor
think Of a vulture. He was tail and very
swarthy. His hooked nose, and long,
dark, pointed beard. suggested an At
CHAN. His eyes, piercing and dominant,
were meshed in a network OF speculative
lines. His general expression was a
mocking smile. as though he regarded
all the world from a point of tremendous
superiority. His accent was only slight
ly foreign. cut he had peculiar modes OF
expression. suggesting the foreigner.
without giving any clew TO his national
ity. His age might have been anything
over forty. There was something ire
mendously forcible about him which did
not go with age: but while his hair was
black, his face had the wrinkles Of q
wise old man who has lived a life of con-
centrated thought.
He kept his steady gaze at Vandraken.
as though he could do It forever.
THE beggar's doing it for effect. %
thought the young man, growing rest
less under that silent scrutiny. It's up
10 him 10 speak first" But, being un-
able TO stand the situation any longer.
he burst out: I suppose you speak
English?"
"Oh, yes. I speak the English, also. I
understand the American. / have lived in
that country
Vandraken laughed "Then we will get
along all right. came TO see you about
your invention
All yes. my invention"
''The one you wrote TO Mr. Dutton-
worth about. The letter was passed on
TO me-
so. Let us sit" answered this SOM
ber host. coming forward from the door,
waving Vandraken 10 a chair as he took
one facing him. and rested his open
hands on his outspread knees. "This Mr.
! Duttonworth never answered my letter;
| he thinks 7 am a fraud But It is natural.
| Oh. yes. that is quite natural And you
do not think it a fraud? You wish to
| buy it? The terms you know from the
/ letter-yes
1T may be fraud. for all I know-it
| probably is; but ! am willing to know
more about IL. I understand you claim
/ TO be able TO make one man take the con-
/ sequences Of the excesses-and-er-d dis
4 sipations OF another"
The physical conseqUences-yes
& sf7Fh1TrE q no hrr NC Al
! consequences can look after themselves. -
Yes, my friend, the moral conse-
| quences can look after themselves" Won
| Tarsenheim said Il solemnly, looking
right through Vandraken and on beyond
him.
well, Herr Won Tarsenheirn, all you
have TO do is 10 convince me Of your abil-
ity 10 do as you say, and / VIII pay
your price"
'All you have 10 do. my friend. is to
pay me 2l000 and / viii convince you.
But when you have pouched my one
thousand" said Eandraken. anXiously
what shall have TO show for it?''
Nothing: nothing whatever"
Il think YOU ought 10 make some pre-
/ liminary explarations-I do. really
My terms are in the letter you refer
to- He rose You do not like them
Well I did not invite this interview. %
He moved toward the door. as though to
open it,
"Oh. come! say. don't be so quick
A thousand pounds"
Are nothing to the kind Of man who
would buy my invention. They are nOlh-
ing TO you
VandTaken took some notes out Of his
pocket. You are right. What's eI. I.0001
Only wanted to be business-Ike." He
counted out ten of them. There you
are. Now. then, 60 ahead. and explain
your invention"
Won Tarsenheim looked through the
Lotes and stuffed them careIessly into
his trousers pocket. Good We can
now talk. Draw your chair to the table. S
The two men faced each other across
that table, the one young, eager, ex-
cited, expecting some miracle: the other
calm, with the calmness of great force.
very convincing, with his slow, certain
gestures. a hint of contemptuous super
ioTity in his voice and in the irritating
moekery of his smile.
you would not be here, Mr." He
paused, as though expecting Vandraken
TO supply the name but the young man
only laughed in an embarrassed manner.
I see you do not wish TO tell me your
name That is natural. I say you would
not be here if you were-what you call
it-skeptiCaI
No. I don't think am skeptical.
Some things are more improbable than
others-that's the way look at it"
And the life of the fish, il is not un-
derstood by the blackbird. So the bird
thinks the water is to drink; he does not
believe it is for fish to live in, because
he himself would not breathe in it. On.
it is hard to believe in what you cannot
see or hear or touch"
Damned hard" murmured Vandraken.
'Yet you viii have to do this thing. if
you believe in my so wonderful invention.
An, but I must not say it is all mine
It was first thought of by Ormuz, the
Chaldean, thousands of years ago; but.
alas! it was not perfect, and that was
not good for OTmuz, the Chaldean, be-
I