The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-17

'fhlr"H"f pthAS31l9N54 ft4ln q Z Eo4t
bFatod chemist whose profound
knowledge Of tbxicology had more
than once BEEN placed at the dis.
posal Of the authorities u the
solution Of crime. tugged e HIS
buHhy white hlde.whiskars and
Eazed at Sergeant John Barry from
tho Homicide Bureau.
The prcteBsprs head with It's
shock Of whste hair nodded slowly
and his bhTeHd eyes tWinlled.
You tell me that there 81 now
caimncsB upon the Waterg? No
crime Of NOSE importance than the
Average petty misdemeanor en-
cages the attention of your bureau
10 that Why you have baaored me
innisbt With an unexpected but
most Welcome ea1l and In your civ:
linn clofhes2s
You've Got me, Professor Semy.
onov'" The detective laughed
again frankly. There's no crime
wave threatening TO break over Us
that \ know ot; but q rather curl.
GUS case ii1s come TO our atten-
ton at headquarters"
The roll oeS distant but approach.
ing thunder broke IN upon his
words.
"Wo arc going 70 have a storm. I"
Tho professor rose from his
chair and waddiing over to the
windows pulled down the shades.
Ife moved with astonishing rapid.
ity and yigor
II do not like to watch It ap-
proaca; IL fillsstne with q sense Of
snspense. 81 forebo dtng. It Is the
electricity HI the air, suppose. .
fou Shall tell me ali about your
cnse. but first you must see my
apartment Ny iastoratories are
quite on the other side Of the city,
you know, but here on tits old
square Where the aristocracy Of
forgotten genera lions lived once
upon a time / find the absolutely
different atnlosph which brings
relaxation . (! N n
Barry followed his host through
r spacious, Old fashioned dressing
room and bath 10 the bedroom at
the back.
Here too, the professor paused
TO pull down the shades and then
openirg 4 door at tho right dis
playod q modern htchenette.
This house, You perceive, must
once have bean o family mansion
but u has now been made over. an
apartment 10 each floor" Profes.
BOT Semyonoy explained. "a shop
OF hammered brasses and other
atrocities occupies the street level.
young gentleman whom / do not
know has but lately arrived on the
second hocr His apartment is
larger than mine. however, for an
ertra room Is built out over the
strip 81 garden but the extension
ends on the floor above his In a
studio with q skylight. It is oecu-
pied, that third floor, by a woman
who Paints portraits, Mrs. MOS
GFath tells me.
The four apartment, that di.
rectiy below mine hero, houses q
crotehety gentleman with NO Ga I
FOR music he raps on his ceiling
when I play my violin at unseason-
able hours.
Above me in an attic studio
lives one OF the feminine freaks
peculiar toatlies neig hbothood In its
Eleelining years; q smoked thin.
wratthaike creature with bobbed
hair and q pointed chin. She might
be 20 OF 40, and It IS understood
that she writes for the eccentric
little magazines which spring up
sroradie ally hereabout. So now.
my dear sergeant, you are &C.
quainted with my home and Tia
surroundings What do you think
He chuciled az he led the way
back % thesliYing room and Barry
followed. 81 q loss what to reply.
The professof was known on three
continents his scientific discover.
les had made him rich; he might
have hysd IN solitary state in a
house % his own or occupied the
most expensive bachelor apart-
nent itown Why had he chosen
TO hide htriselt away in such
dinsy dreay quarters?
ION seem to be mighty comfor-
table, Professor semyonov." The
detectiye spoke as heartily as he
could and his host laughed out.
That tss the point" he exclaim.
ed y saw that you were s1lrpris-
ed wien You came, but my wants
are simple and here. You see / an
must queer old foreigner named
Ser,yonoy, who minds his business
and goes hts way in peace: / am
not Professor Semyonoy, the
chemist to whose laboratories nh
Inc world comes. No one knows
Of my abode except the few like
ye'iiself 70 whom have given my
Address and 4 am undisturbed. But
now YOU must tell mo about your
enae. isitap affair OF poIsoninr ?o
Betore Sergeant Barry could re-
ply another flash Of lightning az
keen as q knife thrust swept be-
neath the edges Of the window
shades and for an instant dullel
The electric lights into an angry
orange glow.
Prnfessor semyonoT started
then shrugged.
That was nearer, eli? I am as
mad perhapa as Q historical house.
mad but does u not seem as