Evening star., 1925-08-09

NO, For Heavens sake, no.
Just as you like, of course. Now
| have made another discovery which
| am anxious to try" he continued
leaning back.
Il can make you insane like me
l could give you a draught tonight
and you would awake tomorrow, &c
all appearances exactly the same per
SON., but you yourself would be con
scious of the change.
You would be lighter hearted
gayer, happier and, in some things
such as gambling, for instance-your
success would be extraordinary"
Brookes looked around him, dazed
| What do | have to do about it?'
You submit to a slight injection
before you leave this house" Londe
explained, ''and you take a draught
| which l shall prepare for you
The young man rose from his seat
and walked to the window. His heart
was pounding.
Somehow or other, although he had
affected incredulity, he felt curious
conviction that this amazing offer was
a perfectly genuine one. Suddenly he
swung around.
Il consent" he announced
Londe accepted his decision as a
matter of course.
Il shall now go to prepare the
drug" he declared
1T takes careful mixing. Do me
the favor to entertain my wife for a
quarter of an hour. You will find her
IN the salon"
The young man, in a state now of
fierce excitement, haStened TO obey his
host.
Judith was half sitting, half reclin-
ing upon the sofa as he entered. The
hash or her white arm as she mo-
tloned him to seat by her side mad
dened him. He leaned toward her
Silly boy" she murmured
i love YOU" he broke in.
Il adore YOU. Judith. Come back to
Ceylon with me-
Il like you. | have affection to
give" she told him.
II will love you a little when you
give me a present like this"
She held up her arm, from which
dropped strange bracelet, a thin
band of platinum and a single rose
United pearl
Il win do it," he promised. "One
kiss, Judith; one kiss
She leaned toward him, then sud
denly drew back with a warning ges-
ture. The door had opened noiseless-
ly. Londe stood upon the threshold.
Il have liqueur 1 am anxious for
you to try, Mr.. Brookes,' he said.
The young man hesitated. For a
single moment queer divination of
ecil seemed TO oppress him.
a black gulf yawned at his feet
on the other side OF it Londe, i'm
penetrable yet menacing.
He had an impulse to fly from the
house. Then he heard Judith's whis-
per. low and caressing, carrying with
1t the spice of promise.
GO with him now and return"
He followed his host into the dining
room. An old dust-covered brandy
bottle stood upon the table and two
Napoleon glasses. Londe served the
liqueurs with meticulous care.
Eighteen eighteen" he murmured
Gold and sunshine. The best things
III Brookes 5ilS drained the contents of his
glass. He felt a delicious sense of
fragrant warmth steal through his
veins
Londe drew another bottle from be-
hind a bowl of roses, poured out a
wine glass full into fresh glass and
passed it over.
His guest did not hesitate He
raised the glass to his lips and drained
| its contents. He saw Londe's face,
sinister but triumphant, and then a
hundred faces. A mist and roar
Afterward nothing.
x x
THE morning was full of surprises
to Brookes. He woke with an
unusual sense of buoyancy, to find
himself in his hotel bedroom, the valet
moving about the room laying out his
clothes.
"Hullo" he exclaimed. How did I
get here?"
Monsieur arrived home soon after
l o'clock The man confided He was
accompanied by an older gentleman" >"
Brookes felt absolutely no more
curiosity about the events of the night
before. He sprang out of bed, whis-
Ting lightly to himself.
From the moment he stepped into
his bath he was conscious of a new
ight-heartedness which he seemed to
accept as a matter of course. He
shouted for his breakfast, which he
devoured eagerly, dressed with inter
est and Strolled out afterWard on the
terrace, full of an eXhilaration such
as he had not experienced for years.
He talked to all his neighbors in
the famous bar where he took his
morning cocktail and made several
new acquaintances, and before lunch
had won a trif1e over 40 miles.
Four o'clock found him at the Sport
ing Club. He played for a short time
with a curious loss of all sense of eX-
element, but left the tables directly
Londe and Judith entered.
"Winning?" Londe inquired.
Yes, I've won," he admitted. What
about some tea, Nurse Judith? Or
shall we go somewhere and dance?"
I've come to play" she told him.
Wen have some tea first, though" I"
Londe strolled off, and the young man
eagerly carried Judith away to a cor
ner table in the bar.
He had lost all his nervous inco-
herence of the night before. He made
open and unabaShed love to her. He