New Britain herald., 1922-01-16


 toxicology had more than once been placed at the disposal of the authori- ties in the solution of crime, tugged at his bushy white side whiskers and gazed at Sergeant John Barry from the Homicide Bureau,
 The professors head with its shock of white hair nodded slowly and his shrewd eyes twinkled.
 You tell me that there Is now calmness upon the waters? No crime of more importance than the average petty misdemeanor engages the at tention of your bureau? Is that why you have honored me tonight with an unexpected but most welcome call, and in your civilian clothes?"
 You've got me, Professor Semy- onov!" The detective laughed again frankly. "There's no crime wave threatening to break over us that I know of. but rather curious case has como to our attention at head quarters"
 The roll of distant but approach ing thunder broke in upon his words.
 We are going to have a storm.'
 The professor rose from his chair and waddling over to the windows pulled down the shades. He moved with astonishing rapidity and xigor,
 T do not like to watch it ap- proach; it fills me with sense of suspense, of foreboding. It is the electricity in the air, suppose. You shall tell me all about your case, but first you must see my apartment. My laboratories are quite on the other side Of the city. you know, but here on this old square where the aris- tocracy of forgotten generations lived once upon time I find the absolute ly different atmosphere which brings relaxation"
 Barry followed his host through spacious, old-fashioned dressing room and bath to the bedroom at the back.
 Here. too, the professor paused to pull down the shades and then open ing door at the right displayed modern kitchenette.
 This house, you perceive. must once have been family mansion but 1t has now been made over, an apart ment to each floor" Professor Semy- onov explained. "A shop of hammered brasses and other atrocities occupies the street level, a young gentleman whom I do not know has but lately arrived on the second floor. His apart ment Is larger than mine, however, for an extra room is built out over the strip of garden but the extension ends on the floor above his in a studio with a skylight. It is occupied, that third floor, by woman who paints DOT traits, Mrs, McGratb tells me.
 The fourth apartment, that direct iy below mine here, houses crotchety gentleman with no ear for music; he raps on his ceiling when l play my violin at unreasonable hours. N Above me in the attic studio lives one of the feminine freaks peculiar to tho neighborhocd in its declining years: smocked, thin, wraith-like creature with bobbea hair and a pointed chin. She might be 20 or 4A and it is understood that she writes for the eccentric little magazines which spring up sporadically here about. So now, my dear, sergeant you are acquainted with my home and it's surroundings. What do you think of it?"
 He chuckled as ne led the way back to the living room and Barry fol- lowed, at loss what to reply The professor was known on three con- tinents, his scientific discoveries had made him rich; he might have lived in solitary state in 8 house of his own or occupied the most expensive bache- Tor apartment in town. Why had he chosen to hide himself away in such dingy, dreary quarters?
 You seem to be mighty comforta- hle, Professor Semyonov." The de- tective spoke as heartily as he could and his host laughed outright.
 That is the point" he exclaimed. T saw that you were surprised when you came, but my wants are simple and here, you see, am just a queer, old foreigner named Semyonov. who minds his business and goes his way in peace; I am not Professor Semyo- nov, the chemist, to whose laborator ies all the world comes. No one knows of my abode except the few like your self to whom have given my address and l am undisturbed. But now you must tell me about your case. Is it | an affair of poisoning?"
  another flash of lightning as keen as knife thrust swept beneath the edges of the window shades and for an instant dulled the electric lights into an angry orange glow.
 Professor Semyonov started, then | shrugged.
 That was nearer. eh? am as bad | perhaps as a hysterical housemaid but does it not seem as though the very | atmosphere waited for the breaking of the storm?
 "1t is like the report of guns" The professor pulled his worn. gorgeously- hued dressing gown more closely about him as he sank once more into his chair. II have heard them in my own country many years before the late war and the memory of them Is with me always But let us forget the storm if we can. The case you mentioned: Is it murder?"
 Frankly. I don't know" Barry re- sponded. Tt Is similar to that Tudor affair at Sandy Cove last summer A sudden. sharp detonation burst cracking upon their ears and both men leaped to their feet and stood for the fraction of a second staring at each other. The professors nervous ness had fallen from him and ne spoke with the calmness of fatalism: "There was no lightning. That was not thunder, but shot! Come!