The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-01-28
ACuriious
Revival
BY F. A. mitchell

One day u man of uncertain appear
nnce. so far as age was concerned.
called at a dwelling that Is considered
u landmark on the northern end OF
Manhattan Island and asked for the
lady Of the house. Mrs. Van valkin-
burgh, the occupant. asked her daugh-
ter Edith to go down and see what he
wanted. She did SO, and the moment
she looked ut him she started.
He was of medium height. very thin
and Of a Ieathery complexion. His
eyes were deep set in his head and had
a peculiar glitter. such as is seen In
the eyes Of one who has gone long
while without sleep. As to his age, he
might have been twenty-five, and he
might have been seventy-fve.
Pardon the intrusion" be said.
"N1any years ago ! left this house.
which was then my home. to attend
lectures at Il university in Germany.
] have not been here since"
It seemed 10 Miss Van Valkinburgh
that she listened to Punch and Judy
figure. Never had she heard or dream
ed Of such Il voice. The vocal tubes
seemed to be dry and stiff. The lady
involuntarily cleared her throat. as If
to Timber that Of her visitor.
Twill yon be seated?" she said.
THANK yon." replied the man. who
was dressed like gentleman Of fash
ion Of half century ago. AS he spoke
he looked about him.
You rent the house. do you not?" he
said.
"Yes, but why do you infer that?"
The furniture is changed. but some
of the pictures that were hung on the
walls hang there now. That"-point-
ing to portrait-"is my father"
The picture referred to represented
a man Of sixty.
"Indeed." said the lady beginning
to quake inwardly at being alone with
this singular person.
Yes; when | went abroad babe
him goodby in this very room. We
little thought that we should never
meet again"
These last words were intended to
be spoken in sad tone. They sound
ed like street organ playing "Annie
Laurie the pipes refusing to respond
at the words I'D lay me doom and
dee" giving instead series Of croaks
Miss Van valkinburgh was glued to
her chair in terror.
1T was my craze for science" he
continued in tones something like those
of a boy whose voice was changing
the first part a high squeak. the last
a subterranean rumble. ''That was q
time when thinkers were beginning to
wonder IL life might not be preserved
in a subconscious condition. The man
with whom l studied. DR.. Schnickel-
friedheim"-
The last syllable of this extended
name was cut of by violent fit Of
coughing 1t sounded to Miss Van
valkinburgh as If cat had been caught
in leather pipe and was stranSling.
She did not know whether to cry for
help or to take up bellows that stood
beside the fireplace and blow passage
through his windpipe. Before she
could decide the paroxysm was over.
The gentleman leaned back in his chair.
holding his handkerchief to his mouth.
There was every evidence Of tears from
the violent coughing except the tears.
His eyes seemed as dry as his throat.
II was speaking" he said presently.
sOf Professor Schnick"-
Yes. yes. know whom you mean:
don't try it again" interposed the lis
tener. :
''He was wonderful man."
He must have BEEN Miss Van Val
kinburgh FASTENED to put in. dreading
lest another mention Of his name might
bring about another paroxysm.
Half a century before our wonder
workers Of the Institute For Original
Research learned how to introduce the
organs of one living being into another.
Professor
II know whom you mean
Succeeded in extracting LIES po-
tentialities from the human system.
leaving life itself to resume those po'-
At the difficult word the visitors vo-
cal organs again showed signs of col
lapse.
"Potentialities." supplied the lady.
whenever a successful process Of
revival was applied"
There was weird look in the mans
eyes, the look of one about to tumble
into grave. that proved the limit OF
Miss Van valkinburgh's endurance.
Excuse me for one moment" she
said and hurried out of the room.
She hunted for the butler to go and
get the visitor out of the house before
he collapsed. bnt the butler had gone
out on I'm Grand She spent some
time telephoning for assistance: but.
not knowing just what she wanted.
there was no result. Then she took a
peep into the parlor to find It vacant
mi 80 4