White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-07
CHAPTERii II.
Face to Face With Professor.

West kensington postmark
upon ii and my name scrawl-
ed across the envelope in a handwrit-
ing which looked like a barbed wire
railing. The contents were as fol-
lows:
Enmore Park, w.
Sir-I have duly received your note. in
which you claim to indorse my views, al
though / am not aware that they are de-
pendent upon Endorsement either from you
OF any one else. You have yentured to
use the word speculation with regard to
my statement upon the subject of Darwin
ism, and | would call your attention to
the fact that suoh a word in such "A con-
nection is offensive to u degree. The con-
text conyinees me, however. that you have
sinned rather acknowledgements and tact
lessness than through malice, SO | am con-
tent to pass the matter by. You quote an
Isolated sentence from my lecture and ap-
pear to have some difficulty In understand
ing it. | should have thought that only
a subhuman intelligence could have failed
to grasp the point. but If 1t really needs
amplification | shall consent 10 see you at
the hour named. though visits and visitors
of every sort are exceeding distasteful TO
me. As to your suggestion that | may
modify my opinion | would have you know
that IL is not my habit to do so after a
deliberate expression of my mature views.
You will kindly show the envelope of this
letter TO my man. Austin, when You call.
as h9 has to take every precaution 10
shield me from the intrusive raseals who
call themselves journalists Yours faith
fully.
GEORGE EDWARD CHALLENGER.
1t was nearly half past 10 before |
had received my message. but a tax
cab took me round in good time for
my appointment. 1t was an imposing
portieoed house at which we stopped.
and the heavily curtained windows
ave 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. | found afterward
that he was the chauffeur who filled
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.
An appointment
Got your letter.
[ produced the envelope.
Right He seemed to be a person
of few words. Following him down
the passage. | 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
l ask If you have met my husband be
fore?"
mo, madam: l have not had the
honor
'Then l apologize to you in advance.
l 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"
ut is most considerable 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 heen injured through doing
that. Afterward there is a public scan
dial. and IL 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 me- That is his most danger
Gus subject. You won't believe a word
he says. I'm sure | don't wonder. But
don't tell him so. for 1t makes him very
violent. Pretend to believe him and
you may get through all right. Re
member he believes ii himself. OF
that you may be assured. a more hon
| est man never lived. Don't wait II
longer or he may suspect. If you find
him dangerous-really dangerous-ring
the bell and hold him off until l come.
Even Mt lbs worst | can usually con
troll 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 In
terview. and | was conducted to the end
! of the passage. There was a tap at a
door, "a bulls below from within. and
l was face to fac with the professor.
Tie sat IN a rotating chair behind a
broad table. which WAS covered with
books, maps and diagrams. As l en-
tcicu uhc Stut spun iouiiu W iutc mS-
His appearance made me gasp. l was
prepared for something strange. but
not for so overpoweriug a personality
as this. Ii was his size which took
ones breath away-his size and his
imposing presence. His head was
enormous. the largest | have yer seen
upon a human being. l an sure that
his top hat, hHd | ever yentured to don
ii, would have slipped over me entire
ly and rested on my shoulders. He
had the face and heard which | rs
sociate with an Assyrian bull = the
former fiorid. the latter SO black as
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 Il long. curying
wlsp over his massive forehead. The
eyes Were blue gray under great black
tufts, very clear. very critical and very