Evening star., 1925-08-09

! was the earnest reply, except you
| and your Wife
| Good Londe exclaimed. Il have
reasons for wishing to preserve my
| incognito."
sir" Brookes said, firmly, II am
not likely TO forget that you saved
my life. You have only to hint at
a request"
Under those conditions" Londe as
sured him, my wife and I-you real
iZe, of course, that / married Nurse
Judith-will be happy to renew our
acquaintance with you. If my
memory serves me right. you were not
in the Regular Army" he went on.
Brookes shook his head.
Il am tea and rubber planter in
small way, sir" he announced. Il
came home to join up and I've been
back in Ceylon two years. l got off
the p. &. O. boat at Marseille to take
a fortnight of my holiday here-the
first since the war"
Then you have no friends in the
place Londe persisted.
II haven't come across a soul
know yet" the young man answered,
a little disconsolately.
You will dine with us, / trust to-
night" Londe invited
I'VE have small villa al Cap Mar
tin. A carriage will take you there in
a very short time. The Villa Violette
at o'clock, if that hour is agreeable :"
Il shall be delighted" was the en-
thusiastic assent.
x x 4
TT was. in its way, wonderful din
ner. Brookes expanded with the
wine and the glamour of his surround
ings. He told them both his story.
After the war he had gone back to
10 nd &c
parlous condition. Then the price of
rubber, of which half his planting con-
sisted had fallen to nothing.
In despair, after two years of I'M
successful toiling, he had closed down
the estate, collected all the money he
could, which amounted only to about
nine hundred pounds, and come to
England, for a holiday first and then
to make a fresh start. That nine
hundred pounds he had lost at the
tables that afternoon.
Il must make money somehow" he
declared. Il can't think why ! can't
win at the tables like you do. Every
thing you back seems to turn up
Londe's smile became more evident.
There is reason for that" Londe
remarked
What do you mean?~ Do you play
on a SYSTEM
We need no system Londe con
fided
I'VE win always because neither
my wife nor l are perfectly sane. A
mad person, as you know, will win at
any game of chance
Il beg your pardon" the young
man ventured.
You, yourself, know something of
our activities during the war. In the
end. small portion of my brain be-
came affected. Ny wife. curiously
enough, developed sympathetic symp-
toms"
Bless my SOUL" the young man
gasped.
"A small spot in my brain became
discolored; it became, in fact, red in
stead of the ordinary gray, which. you
may be aware, is the color of a normal
persons brain.
AN operation was indicated. All
that l needed was d small atom of
healthy matter to be annexed to mine.
l advertised for subject. Shall I
tell you the result"
Yes, yes, certainly"
Il was incarcerated in a lunatic
asylum-my wife and for over a
year"
Brookes was past speech.
When they let me out" Londe con-
tinued, Il tried again TO find a sub
ject, only this time l knew better than
to advertise. ! investigated the brains
of several persons who happened to
come my way, but in each case l
found a small red discoloration just
in the same position as my own. My
efforts seem TO have created an alb
surd prejudice against me on the part
of the police
"You really believe that you are
both a little mad still, then?' Brookes
faltered.
without a doubt" his host as
sented.
Judith's hand rested on the young
mans arm.
Il shall go to my salon. she muir
INJURED, moving toward the door.
please come soon
4 \ x
RROOKES resumed his place at
- the table. II have a proposition
to make to you. Mr.. Brookes,' Londe
announced.
You know, of your own experience,
that l am great surgeon"
II have heard it said that you are
the greatest surgeon in the world"
1T is possibly true" Londe ac-
quiesced.
Il am also a great scientist. | have
invented a new anesthetic which has
marvellous properties.
Il have a tube in my pocket now.
| could take the strength from your
limbs with a single whiff, while leav-
ing your brain normal. Or 1 have an
other one with which l could entirely
reverse the process. Would YOU like