Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-02

w. a. Mclntire, President.
c. D. Evans, Cashier.
watch the young life go by-no!
Death in any form, eh?'
Eyes, you're right; death in any
form. I've had all can stand of the
gutter But how? What do you sug-
gest?" He looked questioningly at the
other man.
"You smoker" said Won larsen
helm producing two long, black CT
gars from his vest pocket. Good"
as the young man took one mechan-
ically.
''It helps one to forget the gutter, the
good smoke. A man can see the stars
through the good smoke-yes."
Fabian lit the cigar The whole sit
uation began to appear thoroughly
natural He did not speak, so Won Tar
senheim continued.
"But how? That was what you ask
when | interrupt with the cigar. How
you get this death or this richness,
my friend? Well, l tell you. l have
need for very desperate mana
man, in fact, as desperate as yourself;
man who would allow himself to be
killed if the experiment fail; to be
made so rich that he can throw his
arms around the beautiful young life
if the experiment succeed"
81 see," murmured Dare, as the
other man paused, evidently expect
ing him to say something.
''Oh, the English sang-froid," NUT
tered Won Tarsenheim impatiently.
~ offer you the chance to get one Or
other of your so great wishes, and
you say, 4 see'!"
II tell you what" said Fabian,
rousing himself, you're bit start.
ling; but you get through talking and
then I'll talk. You want me to be the
human guinea-pig in some surgical
experiment. that Itch? And a
flyer if l survivor"
Ten thousand pounds, my friend,
Tff you survive" corrected the other
man.
The young man sat up straight.
"Ten thousand pounds-ten thousand
pounds" He said it reverently, as
men refer to money who have had it
and lost it.
MAY be more" said Won larsen
helm. But you would give yourself
into my hands, body and soul--there
would be no backing out"
II don't think I'd funk pain. What
are the odds?"
Won Tarsenheim looked puzzled.
'The chances, you know, one way
or the other?"
"Oh!-the chances. They are about
even. No!--they are in your favor"
and the pain?'
There would be no pain, unless to
be killed by lightning is pain. 1t is
with new electric wave expert
ment, and hypnotism- much hypno
tism."
'Ten thousand pounds! It's lot OF
money, and you're stranger to me
What guarantee"
"The money will be paid before the
experiment, my friend
II see; and you take it back off my
dead body"
ooh, but quite easily
"Then 1t is to your interest that ]
die?"
mo; it is to your interest that you
| live-oh, for many years."
with the MANNED body of the
guinea-pig, I suppose?'
mo" Won Tarsenheim looked al
him refiectively. s'Your body would
not be MANNED"
| "You must tell me more
II tell you | am in search of a des
perate man. l thought find one; but
+, desperate men ask not so many ques
tons. Perhaps l make mistake; yor
prefer to muddle yourself into the
next world. Very well. l find someone
else to spend that ten thousand
Won Tarsenheim rose to his feet
But it is a pity" He moved away 6
couple of PAGES.
Here: Hold on" cried the youns
man. Il haven't refused yet"
MOP said Won Tarsenheim turn
ing around, and leaning forward ovel
his stick as he spoke "But unles.
you are a desperate man, willing, fol
| ten thousand pounds, to put yourself
/ body and soul, into my hands for one
great experiment, asking no ques
tions, and blaming no one for the re
suit, I waste my time-very valuable
my time No, no. Drown yourself
my friend Drown yourself. Be kind tt
/ llc SSlS- luis, ldI SlllHy SSlo
who wait for you in the mud"
Won Tarsenheim turned away
Then, looking back again at Fabia1
Dare: COR, if your courage fail, an,
you go to cheat the cells, there is tn,
workhouse, now so comfortable made
Or to run behind the cabs, to carr,
the portmanteaux up the stairs int
the houses-the beautiful ladies
houses, where you would be going tt
dinner, had you the ten thousant
pounds"
Again Won Tarsenheim turned
away. He walked with slight limp.
The young man rose to his fee
and caught up with him. 81 tell you
accept" he cried, putting his hant
eagerly on Won Tarsenheim' arm
Cant you see I'm desperate a
desperate as any man could be! pu
myself in your hands absolutely"
/ and you ask no more questions?
81 will question nothing"
"Then come home with me- We liv'