Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-29
CHAPTER XIV.

laboratory. Dinner had been laid on a
round table at one end of the room. This
was now pushed into a corner; they sat
in deep leather chairs with slim liquor
glasses of green creme de menthe on a
stand between them, with a methyl lamp
and cigars
Bersonin spoke. His voice was cold and
measured; the only sign of agitation was
in the slow, spasmodic working OF the
great white fingers against the dark wood
81 have brought you here tonight" he
said. ito make you a proposition. have
need of help-of a klnd-that you can give
me. 1t viii require certain qualities which
think you possess-which we possess in
common. l have chosen you because you
have daring and because you are not trou-
bled with what the coward calls conscience
that FOOLS name for fear!"
Phil touched his dry lips with his tongue.
Il have as little Of that as the next man"
he replied. II never found 1 needed much"
Bersonoin continued
What I have to say 1 can say without
misgiving. For II you told it before the
fact there is a possibility but one man in
Japan who would think you sane; and If
you told after-well, for your own safety,
you will not tell it then, Your acceptance
of my proposition will have a definite eff
feet on your prospects. which, 1 believe,
can scarcely be looked on as bright"
Phil muttered an oath. You needn't
remin me of that" he said with surly en-
phasis. I've got about much prospects
as a coolie stevedore. Well what OF it?'
Bersonin leaned forward, his hands on
the stand. 1t rocked under his weight II
have talked of money. l will show you a
quick way to gain it-not by years, but by
daysl-suoh wealth as you have never
dreamed, enough TO make your brother
poor beside you! Not only money, but
power and place and honors. Is the stake
big enough to play for?'
Phil stared at him, fascinated.
What do you-want me to dor" He
almost gasped the words.
Tho expert looked him in the eye full
moment in silence, his fingers crawling and
twitching Then, with a quick, leopard-like
movement, ne went to the wall safe,
opened It and took out what seemed to be
a square metal box. In It's top was set an
Indicator. like the rangefinder of a camera.
Its very touch seemed to melt his icy con-
troll. His paleness flushed; his hand trem-
bled as he set It upon the desk.
Waltz" he said. watt"
He looked swiftly about the room. His
eye rested on the bamboo cage and quick
CLEAN shot across his face. He opened the
wire door and the little bird hoped to his
finger. He moved q metal pen rack to the
very center of the desk and perched the
tiny creature on 1t. 1t burst into song
warblng full-throated, packed with melody.
Bersonin set the metal case little distance
away and adjusted it with minutest care.
Sing Dick!" he cried loudly; Sing,
singi-"
The song stopped. There had come a
thrill in the ARA puff of icy wind on
Phil's face-a thin Ginning like a fairy
cymbal Phil sprang up with a cry. The
fluffy ball, with it's metal perch. had ut
terly disappeared; only in the center of the
desk was pinch Of reddish-brown powder
like the dust Of an emery wheel, laid in
feathery whorls.
He stared transfixed. What does It
mean?" he asked hOarsey.
The doctors voice was no longer tone
less. 1t leaped now with an evil exultation.
1T means that I-Bersonin-have found
what physicists have dreamed Of for fifty
years. have solved the secret of the love
and hatred of atomsi That box is the har-
ness of a force beside which the engines
Of modern war are children's toys"
He grasped Phils arm with force that
made him vince. The amber eyes gilt
tered.
AT first / planned to sell It to the high
est bidder among the powers was
fool to think Of that The nation that
buys Il. to guard the secret for itself,
must wall me in a fortress! That would
be the reward off Bersonin-the great Ber-
sonin, who had wrested from nature the
most subtle of her secrets! But / am too
clever for that II must be II alone
who holds the key! 1t shall bring me many
things, but first Of these is money.
must have funds-unlimited funds. The
money 1 despise, except as a stepping
stone, but the money you love and must
have! Wen, offer 1t to you!"
Phil's heart was beating fast. The ten
sion Of the room had increased; a hundred
suffocating atmospheres seemed pressing
on It. 'How-how-" he stammered.
Bersonin took a paper from his pocket,
unfolded It and laid It on the stand. II
was a chart Of Yokohama harbor red
' square was drawn In the margin, and from
t this a fine, needle-like ray pointed out
| across the anchorage. With his pencil the
doctor wrote two words on the red square
: The Roost."
. Fhil shrank trembling into his chair. He
seemed to see the other looking at him
E over clinking glasses at the club, while
voices spoke from the next room. What
. II one OF those Dreadnaughts should go
down in this friendly harbor" 1t came
e from his lips in a thin whisper, almost
r without his voliton-the answer 10 the
D question that had haunted him that day.
q A CLEAN like the fire OF unholy affairs
came in Bersonin's eyes.
, Not one-two! A bolt from a blue sky
that will echo over Europe And what
> then? a fury Of popular passion in one
country; suspicion and alarm in all Ru-
mors OF war, famed by the yellow press
The bottom dropping out OF the market
1t means millions at a single coup for IN
spite of diplomatic bubbles the market Is
!. Ike a cork The Paris bourse is soaring
. Wall Street will make a new record TO-
morrow. In London. consols are at g. Ny
agents are awaiting my word. have many
for that Is safer, l shall spread selling
orders over five cOuntries-British bonds II
g Vienna and New York, and steel and Amer
e lean railroads In London I risk all and
y you-nothing. Yet II you Join hands will
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