The Springdale news., 1909-05-25
tCoNTINUED.l
CHAPTER XXXIv.


 E10R some moments Darrow sat,
 K l gazing fixedly at the table be. lA fore him. His cigarette tip 1J glowed and failed. Some one suggested drinks. The captain asked Darrow what he would have, but the question went unnoted
 How passed the next six months l could hardly tell you" he began again. quite abruptly. At times was bored fearfully bored Yet the ele, ment of mystery. of uncertainty, oi underlying peril, gave q certain zest to the affair In the periods of dull- ness 1 found some amusement in visit. ing the lower camp and batting the nigger. slade will have told you about him He possessed quite fund Of voodooism. He possessed more before 1 got through with him Yes; fl he had lived 10 return To his country 1 fancy he would have added considera biy to Afro American witehlore You remember the vampire bats. Slade ? And the devil fires? Naturally I didn't mention h you that the devil fire business wasn't altogether as clear to me as l pretended. IL wasn't, though But at the time it served very well IS an amusement All the while l real ized that ny self entertainment WAS not without its element of danger too I remember glances not altogether friendly. hnt always q little doubtful. little a8ed. EeeH HaHdy Solomon, practical as he was. had n sprHpIe or two of superstition in his makeup on which nne might work Only Eagen- Slade. I mean-was beyond me there You puzzled me not q little in those days, Slade We'll
 Did 1 sdy that 1 was sometimes an- moved bY the doctors attitude? Yes t seemed that he might have given ne littlemefe of his confidence. but ole cdh.t | judge such man as he was Among the ordinary affairs If lie he had relied sn me for every detail. Now he was in kependent of me. Independent I doubt f he remembered my existence at times. Even in his blaekest moods Of depression he was sufficient unto him self II Was strange How he did rage the day the chemicals from Wash ington went wrongi Was washing my shirt in the hot water spring when he came boiling out of the laboratory and keeled He over, eame out pretty indignant. Apologize7 Not at all He just sputtered. His nearest approach 10 coherenee seemed te indicate de- sire that I should % baef to Washing ton at once and destroy perfectly reputable firm of chemists Finally lie caimed down and took II out in enter ing it in his daily record. He was quite proud of that daily record and remembered to write in il on an aver age of once a week
 ''Then the chest went @EaHg Nheth- CT it had rusted a hit or whether the chemicals had got i'll their work on the hinges l don't know. bat one day the professor, Of his own initiative, reeog nized my existence bY iasging his box out in the open and asking lie te fix it. Previously he had empied Ii. IL was rather complicated thing. with an inner compartment over which Was q hollow cover, opening along one rim.  That I eonieetured Was designed tn hold some chemical compound or salt. There were 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 with-a- grating sound to be-aeeom. panied lie added. with his curious eff feet of linked PhrRseologs.
 "Half days work fixed il The Id would stand open of itself until tipped at considerable angie when 1t would fall and lock only on the outer shell was there q lock That one was good bit Of craftsmanship.
 t' So. Percy, my boy said the doe tor kindly. that will with sufficient safety guard our treasure When We obtain 1t, Percy. When # entirely in ished and completed shali be-
 "tAnd when will that be-? 1 asked.
 "'God knows he said eheerfully. It progresses
 'Wheneyer I went steoIling at night he would produce his curious lights