The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-11-12
CHAPTER vI--continued.

I'VE photograph a spurious bank
note. 1t is m~agnihed, and by the alb
sence of a tiny dot the proof OF the al
iteration Is found. on account Of the
lack OF q dot the forger is detected.
The savant Helmholtz was the discov-
erer of this. method of detecting these
faults. Two bank notes, one authentic,
the other q forgery, were placed SIDE
by side in a stereoScope OF strong mag
nifying power, when the faults were at
once detected. 'Helmholtz's experiment
probably seemed fantastic to the forger
condemned by a stereoscope. Oh. we'll,
today ought not a like experiment on
the retina of n dead mans y give a
like result?
Instruments have been highly per-
fected since the time when DR.. Bourbon
made his experiments, and II the law
Of human physiology has not changed
the seekers of invisible causes must
have rapidly advanced in their
mysterious pursuits. Who knows
whether at the instant of the last
agony that the dying person does
not put all the intensity OF
life into the retina, giving a hundred
fold power to that last supreme look?'
At this point OF his reflections Ber-
nardet experienced some hesitation.
While he was not thoroughly acquaint-
ed with physiology and philosophy, he
had seen so much, SO many things; had
known so many strange occurrences
and had studied many men. He knew
for he had closely questioned wretches
who had been saved from drowning at
the very last possible moment, some. OF
whom had attempted suicide, others
who had been almost drowned through
accident. and each one had told him
that his whole life. from his earliest
recollection, had flashed through his
mind in the instant of mortal agony
yes. a whole lifetime In II instant of
cerebral excitement.
Had savants been able to solve this
wonderful mystery? The resume OF an
existence in vibration! Was 1t pos
sible? Yet-Bernardet still used the
word. 49, n" .N. a... ataN"..
And why, In an analogous sensation,
could not the look OF a dying man be
seized in an intensity lasting an In
slant, as memory brought in a single
flash so many diverse membranes?
"I know, since IT is the imagination,
and that the dead cannot see,fwhile the
image on the fretina is a fact, q fact
~contradicted by wiser men than J."
Bernardet thought on these mysteries
until his head began to ache.
II shall make myself Ill over IT," he
thought. And there is something to
be done.' .. u@.. .. ..'t....
Then in his dusty little room, his
brain over excited. he became ~enthused
with one idea. His surroundings fell
away from him: he saw nothing
everything disappeared-the books, the
papers, the walls, the visible objects,
as did also the objections, the denials,
the demonstrative Representatives,. And
absolute conviction seized him to the
exclusion of all extraneous surround
ings. This conviction was absolute,
distinctive, irresistible, powerful, filling
him with entire faith. -
''This unknown thing / will find.
What is to be done / will do" he de-
clared to himself. '.-
He threw the pamphlet on the table,
arose from his chair and descended to
the dining room, where his wife and
children were waiting for him. He
dubbed his hams with glee, and his
face looked joyous.
'Didst thou discover the traiI?" Nine.
Bernardet asked very simply as a
working woman would ask her husband
If he had had a good day. The eldest
Of the little girls rushed toward him.
Papa! My dear little papa!" .
My darling!"
The child asked her father in a
sweet voice, art thou satisfied with
thy crime, papaT""
1--WE will not talk about that" Ber-
nardet replied. IT table. After dinner
/ will develop the pictures which /
have taken with my kodak, but let us
amuse ourselves now. 1t Is my fete
day. I wish to forget all about busi-
ness. Let us dine now and be as happy
as possible"