The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-05


 that Afterward there is public scan
 dal, and it reflects upon me and all of
 us. I suppose, it wasn't about South
 America you wanted to see him ?" could not lie to a lady.
 eADear me! That is his most danger
 ous subj4ct. You won't believe word he sayss Y'm 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 hfm dangerous-really dangerous-ring the bell and hold him off until come
 Even at his worst I can usually con- trol him.
 With these encouraging words the lady handed me over to the taciturn Austin, who had waited like a bronze statue of discretion during our short 1n- terview, and was conducted to the end of the passage. There was tap at door, bulls below from within, and I was face to face with the professor.
 He sat in rotating chair behind broad table, which was covered with books, maps and diagrams As Ten tered his seat spun round to face ne. His appearance made me gasp. was prepared for something strange, but not for so overpowering 8 personality as this. It was his size which took ones breath away-hls size and his imposing presence. His head was enormous the largest have ever seen upon human being I am sure that his top hat. had I ever ventured to don it, would have slipped over me entire ly and rested on my shoulders, He had the face and beard which as sociate with an Assyrian bull - the form horid, the latter so black as a1Inoat to have 8 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 anG very masterful. A huge spread of shoul- ders and a chest like a 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 believing, roaring. rumb1ing voice made up my first i'm pression of the notorious Professor Challenger.
 ,sWelI?s said he, with a most inso- lent stare. What now ?''
 I must keep up my deception for at least a little time longer, otherwise here was evidently an end of the inter view.
 "You were good enough to give me an appointment, sir," said I, humbly, producing his envelope.
 He took my letter from his desk and laid it out before him.
 'sOh, you are the young person who cannot understand plain English, are you? My general conclusions you are good enough to approve. as under stand ?''
 Entirely, ir-entirely!' I was em- phatics
 Dear me! That strengthens my po- sition very much, does it not? Your age and appearance make your support doubly valuable. We'll, at least you are ! better than that herd of swine. in Vien- ne, whose gregarious grunt is, how ever, not more offensive than the iso- lated effort of the British hog" He glared at me as the present representa- 1 tive of the beast.
 ~They seem to have behaved aborni- 1 nably.'' said I.
 'sI assure you that. I can fight my | own battles and that have no possible 1 need of your sympathy. Put me alone, l sir, and with my back to the wall. e. i B. c. is happiest then. Well, sir, let us do what we can to curtal this visit, | which can hardly be agreeable to you and is inexpressibly irksome to me. 1 You had. as I have been led to believe, ] some comments to make upon the prop 1 osition which I advanced in my thesis
 There was a brutal directness about 1 his methods which made evasion diff cult. I must stin make play and wait l for better opening. It had seemed { simple enough at a distance. Oh, my Irish wits, could they not help me now? !?
 EFI an, of course, a mere student" said I, with a tatuous smile. hardly more, might say, than an earnest in quirer At the same time, it seemed to me that you were little severe upon l Weissmann in this matter. Has not the general evidence since that date tend 1 ed to-weIl, to strengthen his posi-. tion?o
 What eviGence?" He spoke with a calm.
 Well, of course I am aware that there is not any what you might call definite evidence. I alluded merely to the trend of modern thought and the general scientific point of view, if I might so express it.''
 He leaned forward with great ear nestness-
 T suppose you are aware said he, off points upon his fingers. that the cranial index is a constant factor?"
 Naturally" said I.
 "And that telegony is still sub ju- dfce?''
 Undoubtedly"
 And that the germ plasm is dfffer- ent from the parthenogenetic egg?"
 '|Why, sure1yv' I cried and gloried in my own audacity.
 But what does that prove?" he asked in a gentle, persuasive voice.