Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-29

horrible udtc lOl liV' ny "ho' H'i"hS'
WAYS. to what incredible ends, fate
sometimes leads us through the maze
of human life
The very night before Brodeur and
Ergazy had given me some final in
structions for use in the forthcoming
crisis when the case should reach IFS
end-a moment now expected by
them both in little over forty-eight
hours.
DIR. Bloss," Andre had said to me
at midnight of the 9th of April as we
ali three had stood by the bedside of
our precious chrysalis, before anath'
er week has passed, and very proba-
bly, before three more days are gone,
it seems quite certain the climax will
be reached.
I'VE shall then almost surely know
the full result of this careful plan
ming and preparation, of all this risk
and danger and hard labor, of all
these weary hours, days, and weeks of
watching, of anxiety, and OF care. AS
the final moment arrives you must be
prepared to act in case responsibility
devolves on you"
"Why on me, doctor?" | inquired.
zone or the other of you two will al
ways be here. won't you?'
"Yes; but in this case we are pro-
yiding against even the impossi-
Bile. Listen, therefore"
What more have | to learn?'
I'm some ways, nothing. In others,
ALL"
He waved his hand inclusively.
"At the critical moment everything
will depend on accuracy of judgment
and GOODNESS of action.
you have witnessed the birth of
the dragon-fly, perhaps the libelluh
trimaculata. For weeks it remains a
dull, drab larva at the bottom OF a
lake, groveling in the mud and slime.
Then one day some savage but resist
less impulse inspires it to crawl up on
rock, a waterplant, a twig, and in
an hour--voile. its bonds are burst
and ii energies in wholly different,
a infinitely more splendid form,
Soon its shimmering wings eX-
pand in gauzy iridescence. Present
~, wholly forgetful of the empty shell
that so short time ago housed it,
it leaps into the air, with tense wings
that suddenly learn to CULVER Behold,
a perfect thing
Thrilled by what ecstacy who can
say, it darts with marvellous strength
and beauty over the shining surface
of the pool at the bottom of which, on.
ly SO short time before, it crept in
cold and blindness
Il know | added, smiling at the
Frenchman's eXuberance, yet i'm
pressed by his imagery despite my.
self.
Vital Ereazy sat there watching us
eyes of his, drug contracted, his fin.
gers drumming unsteadily on his ema,
ciated knee.
Yes, DOCTOR | answered; Il have
seen that wonderful process, What
LOW? You are of course establishing
a parallel between that miracle and
the transformation of Alexandra"
Absolutely. Alexandra will soon
undergo her great and crucial meta,
morphosis, and the danger - if any
there be is every moment drawing
nearer.
1.-THE dragon-fly is exposed to dead.
ly peril as you know, from the second
it energies from the protecting water
until it filings itself into the air in
flight. Countless thousands perish in
transformation. Any chance breeze
that Capsizes the half-b0rn insect,
any fall, any delay or catch in the
miraculous unfolding Of the wings
which so quickly harden--and all is
over.
"One failure in the whole sequence
spells death The process must be con
tinuous and absolutely perfect, every
condition must be utterly fulfilled in
those vital moments or everything is
f., lost. A parallel situation will soon
confront us. We must be ready"
Il am here to obey orders" | put in.
Instruct me-"
Listen, them" continued Andre,
running his fingers through his thick,
black hair. "One or the other of US
will surely be here at the critical mo-
ment; both, in all probability"
i And when will that be-"
Il cannot say exactly. Tomorrow.
perhaps; in three days; even in u
week. No matter about that. 1t Is
obvious by a comparative reading of
our cages and instruments that the
process Of anabolism is nearing its
completion
He pointed at the paper strip,
marked by It's polyehromatic lines.
"You will notice here that these
lines are no longer parallel, but are
tending toward each other more and
more strongly. All, OUT? We'll, at the
moment when they all three meet at
a point, doctor, the process is com
plete."
Indeed" exclaimed, astonished.
Can that be true?'