Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-05-22

IT1OR some moments Darrow sat,
gazing fixedly ut the table be-
fore him. His cigarette tip
~ glowed and failed. Some one
suggested drinks. The captain asked
barrow what he would have, but the
question went unnoted.
How l passed the next six months
I could hardly tell you," he began
again. quite abruptly. "At times was
bored-fearfully bored. Yet the ele-
ment of mystery, of uncertainty, of
underlying peril, gave certain zest
to the affair. In the periods of dull
ness found some amusement in visit
Ing the lower camp and batting the
niger. Slade will have told you about
him. He possessed quite a fund of
yoodooism. He possessed more before
got through with him. Yes; IL he
had lived to return to his country
fancy he would have added considera-
bly, to Afro-American witchlore. You
remember the vampire bats, Slade?
And the devil fires? Naturally didn't
mention to you that the devil fire
business wasn't altogether as clear to
me as pretended. 1t wasn't, though.
But at the time 1t served very we'll as
an amusement. All the while real
lied that my self entertainment was
not without Its element Of danger too.
I remember glances not altogether
friendly, but always little doubtful,
little awed. Even Handy Solomon,
practical as he was, had scruple or
two of superstition in his makeup on
which one might work. Only Eagen-
Slade, mean-was beyond me there.
You puzzled me not little in those
days, Slade. Well
did say that was sometimes an
noyed by the doctors attitude? Yes. 1t
seemed that he might have given me
little more of his confidence, but one can't
Judge such a man as he was. Among
the ordinary affairs Of life he had relied
on me for every detail. Now he was in
dependent of me. independents! doubt
II he remembered my existence at
times. Even In his blacklist moods of
depression he was sufficient unto him
self. 1t was strange. How he did
rage the day the chemicals from Wash
1ngton Went wrong! was washing
my shirt In the hot water spring when
he came boiling out of the laboratory
and keeled me over. came out pretty
indignant. Apologize? Not at all. He
just sputtered. His nearest approach
to conference seemed to indicate de-
sire that should go back to Washing
ton at once and destroy perfectly
reputable firm of chemists. Finally he
calrued down and took it out in enter
ing 1t in his daily record. He was
quite proud of that daily record and
remembered to write in it on an aver
age of once a week.
Then the chest went wrong. Wheth-
er 1t had rusted bit or whether the
chemicals had got in their work on the
hinges don't know, but one day the
professor, of his own initiative, recog-
nized my existence by Juggling his box
out In the open and asking me to fix
1t. Previously he had emptled 1t. 1t
was rather complicated thing, with
an inner compartment over which was
u AOAAOM S0NSlS OUChlliSo uiOHS Ouc ILL.,
That conjectured was designed to
hold some chemical compound or salt
There We're many minor openings, too,
each guarded by similar hollow door,
My business was with the heavy top
cover.
"'It should shut and open softly,
gently explained the professor. SO.
Not a-grating-sound-to be-accom-
panied he added, with his curious eff
feet Of linked phraseology.
Half days work fixed it. The lid
would stand open Of itself until tipped
at a considerable angle, when it would
fall and lock. Only on the outer shell
was there lock. That one was good
bit of craftsmanship.
$50, Percy, my boy said the doc
tor kindly, that will with sufficient
safety guard our treasure. When we
obtain 1t. Percy. When it entirely fin
ished and completed shall be-
"'And when will that be?' asked.
"'God knows he said cheerfully. 1T
progresses
whenever went strolling at night
he would produce his curious lights.