Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-13

| letter to my man, Austin, when you call,
as he has to take every precaution to
| shield me from the intrusive rascals who
call themselves Journalists" Yours faith
| fully,
GEORGE EDWARD CHALLENGER.
It was nearly half past 10 before 1
had received my message, but taxi
cab took me round in good time for
my appointment 1t was an imposing
pOrticOed house at which we stopped,
and the heavily curtained windows
gave every indication of wealth on the
part of this formidable professor. The
door was opened by an odd, swarthy,
dried up person Of uncertain age,
with a dark pilot jacket and brown
leather CATERS. 1 found afterward
that he was the chauffeur who filed
the gaps left by a succession Of fugi-
tive buffers. He looked me up and
down with a searching light blue eye.
"Expected?" he asked.
can appointment"
Got your letterY
produced the envelope.
"RightW He seemed to be a person
of few words. Following him down
the passage, l was suddenly interrupt
ed by a small woman, who stepped out
from what proved to be the dining
room door. She was a bright viva
cious, dark eyed lady, more French
than English in her type.
zone moment" she said. "You can
wait, Austin. Step in here, sir. May
ask if you have met my husband be-
foreY
"No, madam; have not had the
honor"
"Then l apologize to you in advance.
must tell you that he is a perfectly
/ impossible person-absOlutely impossi
BILE. If you are forewarned you will be
the more ready to make allowances"
at is most considerate of you, mad
am"
"Get quickly out of the room if he
seems inclined to be violent. Don't
wait to argue with him. Several peO-
pie have been injured through doing
that Afterward there is a public scan
dal, and it reflects upon me and all OF
us. suppose it wasn't about South
America you wanted to see him?"
/ could not lie to a lady.
Dear mel That is his most danger
GUS subject You won't believe word
he says. Pm sure don't wonder But
don't tell him so, for it makes him very
violent. Pretend to believe him and
you may get through all right. Re
member he believes it himself. OF
that you may be assured. A more hon
est man never lived. Don't wait any
longer or he may suspect. If you find
him dangerous-really ring
the bell and hold him off until l come.
Even at his worst l can usually con-
troll him"
With these encouraging words the
lady handed me over to the taciturn
Austin, who had waited like bronze
statue of discretion during our short in
terview, and was conducted to the end
of the passage. There was tap at
door, a bulls below from within, and
was face to face with the professor
Ee sat in a rotating chair behind a
broad table, which was covered with
books, maps and diagrams. AS ! en-
tered his seat spun round to face me.
Els appearance made me gasp l was
prepared for something strange, but
not for so oyerpowering a personality
as this. 1t was his size which took
ones breath away-his size and his
imposing presence. His head was
enormous, the largest have ever seen
upon a human being. l am sure that
his top hat, had ever ventured to don
it, would have slipped over me entire
ly ana rested on my shoulders. He
had the face and beard which l as
sociate with an Assyrian bull - the
former 1orid, the latter so black rs
almost to have a suspicion of blue,
spade shaped and ripping down over
his chest. The hair was peculiar, plas-
tered down In front in a long, curving
wisp over his massive forehead. The
eyes were blue gray under great black
tufts, very clear, very critical and very
masterful A huge spread of shoul-
ders and n chest like barrel were
the other parts Of him which appeared
above the table, save for two enor-
nous hands covered with long black
hair This and a believing, roaring,
rumbling voice made up my first im-
preston Of the notorious Professor
Challenger
"Well?' said he, with a most lnso-
lent stare. What now?'
must keep up my deception for at
least little time longer, otherwise
here was evidently an end Of the inter
view.
"You were good enough to give me
an appointment, sir" said l. humbly,
producing his envelope.
lie took my letter from his desk and
laid ii out before him.
ooh, you are the young person who
cannot understand plain English, are