The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-01-22

PROFESSOR SEMYONOV,s thu
celebrated chemist whose profounc
knowledge of tcxicology had NOR,
than once been placed at the dispose
of the authorities in the solution o.
crime, tugged at his bushy white
side-whiskers and gazed at Sergeant
John Barry from the Homicide Blu
reau.
The professors head with IT'S shoca
of white hair nodded slowly and his
shrewd eyes twinkled. :
"You tell me that there is now
calmness upon the watrs? No crime
of more Importance than the aver.
age petty misdemeanor engages the
attention of your bureau? Is tina,
why you have honored me tonight
with an unexpected but most wel-
come call, and in your civilian
clothes ."
you've got me, Professor Semy-
anov!" The detective laughed again
frankly. "There's no crime wave
threatening to break over us that I
know of, but rather curious case
has come to our attention at he'd
quarters"
The roll of distant but approach
ing thunder broke in upon his words.
we are going to have y stern"
The professor rose from his char
and waddling over. to the windows;
pulled down the shades. He moved
with astonishing rapidity and vigor.
II do not like to watch 1t APP
proach; it fills me win y sense of
suspense, of foreboding. 1t is the
electricity in the air, I 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 arstocracy of for
gotten generations lived once upon
time | find the absolutely differ
ent atmosphere which brings relax
alton"
Barry followed his host through n
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 a
modern kitchenettc.
This house. you perceive, must
once have been family mansion
but it has now been made over, an
apartment to each floor" Professor
Semyonov explained "A shop of
hammered brasses and other atroci-
ties occupies the street level,
young gentleman whom l do not
know has but lately arrived on the
second floor. His apartment 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. 1t is occupied, that
third floor, by woman who paints
Mrs. McGrath tells me.
"The fourth apartment, that d.
rectly below mine here houses
crotchety gent with no ear for
music; he raps on his ceiling when
play my violin at unseaso nable
hours.
Above me in an attic studio lives
one of the feminine freaks peculiar
to the neighhorhood in it's declining
years; smoked, thin, wraith-like
creature with bobbed hair and a.
pointed chin. She might be 20 or
40, and it is understood that she
writes for the eccentric little maya
zines who spring up sporadically
hereabout. So now, my dear SER
geant, you are acquainted with my
home and it's surroundings. What
DO YOU think of it?"
He ohuckled as he led the way
back to the living room and Barry
followed, at loss what to reply.
The professor was known on three
continents, his scientific discoveries
had made him rich; he might have
lived in solitary state in house Of
. 4 . d b T.. !