Evening star., 1922-06-23
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
By Arthur b. Reeve.
One Of The Stars Weekend Fiction Series.
Each story complete in three installments.

Kennedy had hired after exhausting
the city institutions. We came to a
small private asylum up In West
to give 1t up for the day to start
,afresh on the morrow. but Kennedy
seemed to feel that the case was too
urgent to lose even twelve hours over.
1t was peculiar place-isolated.
out OF the way and guarded by a
good sized garden.
A ring at the bell brought a sharp
eyed maid to the door.
Thornton-er-T Kennedy paused in
such a way that il it were the last
name he might come to a full stop
and II 1t were a first name he could
go on.
There is a MIR. Thornton who came
but you cannot see him. It's against
the rules"
"Yes-yesterday," repeated Ken
nedy eagerly, ignoring her tartness.
lCould The slipped a crumpled
treasury sassE - note Ms into her 2 handmsould
The note seemed to render the
acidity OF the girl slightly alkaline.
she opened the door q little farther.
and we found ourselves in 4 plainly
furnished reception room alone.
we might have been in the recep-
ton room of = prosperous country
gentleman. SO quiet was It. There
was none OF the raving, as far as ]
could make out. that I should have
expected even in twentieth century
| bedlam, no material for a Poe story
of DIR. Tarr and Prof. Feather
At length the hall door opened and
a man entered, not a prepossessing
man. It is true. with his large and
powerful hands and arms and slightly
bowed. almost bulldog legs Yet h.
would make O show of physical
strength without good and sunlcient
cause.
You have charge Of Mr.. Thornton!
inquired Kennedy.
Yes" was the curt response.
Il trust he is all right here?"
He wouldn't be here il he was all
might you be?'
Piled k9sx cTsk him ev.1ysIs in ,hs old %1 S1sr FRIEND
here does not know him. but l was
IN this part Of Winchester visiting
and having heard he was here
thought I would drop In. just for oio
times sake: That is all"
How did you know he was here?"
asked the man suspiciously-
Il heard indirectly from a friend of
mine, Mrs. Pitts"
| "Oh."
The man seemed to accept the ex-
PLANTATION at its face value.
rs he very-very badiy?" asked
Craig with well feigned interest.
Well" replied the man, q little
molltfied by good cigar which pro-
duced, don't you go a-telling her.
hut If he says the name Minna once
a day 1t is u thousand times. Them
drue-dopes has some strange delu-
sions"
Strange delusions?" queried Craig
why. what do YOU mean?"
Say" calculated the man. Il don't
you're friends Of Mr.. Thornton's.
How do know what you are?"
Well" ventured Kennedy. sup
pose I should also tell you am a
n, friend Of the man who committed
"of DR.. Thompson Lord?"
Exactly. My friend here knows
DR.. Lord very well. don't you. Wal
ter?"
Thus appealed to. hastened to
add: "Ineed. I do" Then. improving
the opening. I hastened: rs this Mr..
Thornton violent? I think this is one
Of the most quiet institutions ] ever
saw in so small place"
Because" added. Il thought
some drug fiends were violent and
had to be restrained by force often
You won't find a mark or a scratch
y on him. sir" replied the man. That
ain't our system
mot mark or scratch on him.
repeated Kennedy thoughtfully. Il
wonder IL he'd recognize meT'
Cant say" concluded the man.
the rules. Only your knowing so
/ many he knows has got you this far.
You'll have to call on a regular day or
by appointment to see him. GENTLE
men,"
There was an air Of fnality about
nedy rise and move toward the door
with a hearty Thank you for your
Kindness" and a wish to be remem-
| bered to poor old Thornton"
AS we climbed into the car he
for the present as il we had seen
him. he exclaimed. Drug fiend.
| friend Of Mrs. Pitts; committed by
Dr. Lord, no wounds"
Then he lapsed into silence as We
THE Pitts house" ordered Ken
nedy as we bowled along. after not
ing by his watch that It was after
9. Then to me he added: I'VE must
see Mrs. Pitts once more, and alone"
| We waited some time after Ken
nedy sent up word that he would like
tpeared- I thought she avoided Ken
Intuition told her that he had some
| revelation to make. against which
she was steeling herself
Craig greeted her as reassurfng!y
as he could. but as she sat nervous1y
before us. could see that she was
| in reality pale, worn. and anxious.
| I'VE have had a rather hard day."
began Kennedy after the usual polite
Inquiries about her own and her hus-
bands health had been, l thought, a
"Indeed?" she asked. Have you