The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-01
CHAPTER v.
A Scientist I'm Pink SILK.

A Scientist I'm Pink SILK.
The next morning promptly at s
O'Clock Jack Warford, in response tc
a muttered invitation, burst exeitedly
into Percy Darrow's room. He found
the scientist. draped in pale-pink silk
kimono embroidered with hght-blue
butterflies. scraping methodieally al
his face with a safety-razor. At the
sight the young fellow came to an
abrupt stop, as though some one had
met him with a dash of cold water in
the face.
Hello" said he, in a constrained
voice. Just up:"
barrow cast a glance through his
long silky lashes at the newcomer:
Yes. my amiable young canine, just
up"
Jack looked somewhat puzzled al
the appellation, but seated himself. =,
Helen said you wanted to see me,
he suggested.
Darrpw leisurely cleaned the COM
ponent parts of his safety-razor,
washed and anointed his face, and
turned.
Il do" said he, IF you're game"
of course I'm game! cried the boy
indignantly.
Darrow surveyed his fresh, young,
eager face and the trim taut bulk OF
him with dispassionate eyes.
Are you:" he remarked simply.
Possibly. But you're not the man
TO be sure of it"
Il didn't mean it as Dragging" cried
Jack, flushing.
Surely not" drawled Darrow,
stretching out his long legs. But no
man can tell whether or not he's game
until he's tried out That's no refec-
ton on him, either. | remember once
! went through seeing my best friend
murdered; being shot at dozen times
himself as | climbed cliff; seeing a
pirate ship destroyed with all on board,
apparently by the hand of Providence /;
escaping from a big volcanic bust-up
into cave, and having the cave en-
trance drop down shut behind me. l
was as cool as cucumber all through
it. | remember congratulating myself
that anyhow, | was going to die
game"
BY Jove!" murmured Jack War
ford. staring at him, fascinated. Evil
IDENTIFY. the super-beautiful garment
had been forgotten.
Then a .warship's crew rescued me /;
and | broke down completely. and act
ed like a silly ass | wasn't game at
all; I'd just managed TO postpone find
ing it out for while" .
1T was just the reaction" cried
Jack.
well, if that sort of reaction hap
pens along before the trouble is all
over. it looks uncommonly like loss of
nerve" Percy Darrow pointed out. No
man knows whether or not he's game"
he repeated. However" he smiled
whimsically, Il imagine you're likely
to postpone your reactions as well as
the next"
What's ups What do you want me
to do" -,
barrow.
What's up"
Did you notice anything in the pa
pers this morning?"
They're full Of this electrical fail
ure last night. Haven't you seen
them?"
Not yet. While I dress, tell me
what they say"
The worst was in the tubes"
Warford began, but barrow interrupt
ed him. =
Il could tell you exactly what must
have happened" said he, eff the fail
ure was complete. Never mind that.
Was the condition general, or only
local? How far did it extend?"
1T seemed to be confined to New
York. and only about to Highbridge."
Long Island? Jersey"
Yes; it hit them, too"
What are the theories"
81 couldn't see that they had any
that | could understand" said Jack.
There's some talk of the influence of
comet"
Rubbish! Who sprung that?"
Prof. Aitken, think"
-. He ought to know better. Any
others."
81 couldn't understand them all.
There was one OF polsrizing the island
because OF the steel structures; and
the"
No human agency"
WHAT"
No man or men are suspected of
bringing this about?"
oh, no! You don't think"
No, / don't think | only imagine;
and / haven't much basis for mag
lining. But if my imaginations come
out right, we'll have plenty to do"
Where, now?' asked. Jack, as the
scientist finished dressing and reached
for his hat. Breakfast"
mo, ] ate that before / dressed
Wen make call on the Atlas Build
ing"
AN right" agreed Jack cheerfulIy.
What for?"