, 1916-07-20
mentions Cor thls investisatlon.r

course. world famous" said the chair
a A the same time 1t would
certainly be as well to have a member
u the press upon such al expedition"
Then | move" said Professor Chal
lenSer. that both these gentlemen be
elected AK representatives of this meet
lug 10 accompany Professor Summer
lee upon his journey to investigate and
10 report upon the truth of my state
Inents.
And so, mid shouting and cheering.
our fate was decided, and | found my
self borne away in the human current
which swirled toward the door, with
my mind half stunned by the vast new
project which had risen so suddenly
before it A. ! emerged from the hall
! was conscious for a moment of a
rush of laughing students down the
pavement and of an arm welding a
heavy umbrella. which rose and fell in
the midst of them. Then. amid a mix
ture of groans and cheers. Professor
ChalIenger's electric brougham slid
from the curb. and | found myself
walking under the silvery lights of
Regent street. full of thoughts of
Gladys and of wonder as to my fu-
tire.
Suddenly there was a touch at my
elbow. | turned and found myself
looking into the humorous, masterful
eyes of the tall. thin man who had
volunteered to be my companion on
this strange quest.
Mr.. Malone. ! understand" said he.
we are to be companions-what? My
rooms are just over the road in the
Albany. Perhaps you would have the
kindness to spare me half an hour, for
there are n or two things that | BAD
ly want to say to you"
Lord John Roxton and l turned down
Vigo street together and through the
dingy portals of the famous aristocrat.
ic rookery. At the end of a long drab
passage my new acquaintance pushed
open q door and turned on an electric
switch A number of lamps shining
through tinted shades bathed the whole
great room before us In a ruddy radi-
ance. Standing in the doorway and
glancing ound me. l had a general i'm
preston of extraordinary comfort and
elegance combined with an atmos-
phCit VI hldSNu1llt NIllly. HNelN-
where there were mingled the luxury
Of the wealthy man OF taste and the
careless untidiness of the bachelor.
One by n he took out a succession
of beautiful rifles, opening and shut
ting them with a snap and a clang
and then patting them as he put them
back into the rack as tenderly as a
mother would fondle her children.
This is "A BANDS SIT axite express"
said he. II got that big fellow with
IT." He glanced up at a stuffed white
rhinoceros. Ten more yards and he
would have added me to his collection.
On that conical bullet his one chance
hangs.
It's the weak ones advantage fair.
Hope you now your Gordon. for
he's the poet of the horse and the gun
and the man that handles both. Now,
here's a useful tool-.470. telescope
sight. double ejector. point blank up
to three-ffty. That's the rifle I used
against Peruvian slave drivers three
years ago. | was the fail of the Lord
up in those parts, | may tell you.
though you won't find 1t in n blue
book. There are times. young fellah.
when every one of us must make a
stand for human right and justice or
you never feel clean again. That's why
| made a little war on my own. De
clared it myself. waged it myself, end
ed It myself. Each of those hicks Is
for a slave murderer good row OF
them what? That big one IL for Pc
dro Lopez. the king of them all. hat I
killed in a backwater OF the Putomayo
river. Now. here's something that
would do for you" He took out a
beautiful brown and silver rifle. We'll
rubbered ar the stock. sharply sighted.
FIVE cartridges to the clip You can
trust your life to that" He handed 1t
Il me and closed the door of his oak
cabinet.
BY the way" he continued. coming
hack to his chair, "what do you know
of this Professor Challenger
~ never saw him till today"
"Well. neither did l.. It's funny we
should both sail under sealed orders
from a man we don't know. He seem.
ed an uppish old bird. His brothers of
science don't seem too fond of him.
either. How came you to take an in
terest in the AFFAIR."
| told him shortly my experiences of
the morning. and he listened ~intently.
Then he drew out a map of South
America and laid 1t on the table.
81 believe every single word he said
to you was the truth" said he earnest
ly, and, mind you, | have something
to go on when | speak like hat. South
America is n place | love, and | think.
IL rnn tnkn IL right fhrnnrh from Da-