The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-01
CHAPTERI

the reason, but / am convinced thatsI
know the reason why he takes 1t so
nght-heartedly. It is not because he
Is old, but because he has already won
from life all the reward he wants. In
his own department of science-ap-
piled psychology-he has achieved
about as high place as it Is possible
for a man to reach. In this field his
reputation does not have to lower Its
colors to any other In the world; and
II In his periods Of relaxation he
chooses to be frivolous, no one can
afford frivolity any better than he. |
suppose that the very idea Of frivolity
used In connection with Prof. Ronald
McAlister's name would make most
people laugh because Of the grotesque
unfitness Of it; and the people who
know him only as gaunt, gray old
bachelor, with rugged. homely, deep
~ lined Scotch face and big rough
voice, would be right to laugh.
But I am more an adopted son of
his than mere assistant. and after
spending the daily number. of hours in
his laboratory. watching him work his
miracles. l see his great mind relax.
and find that he is just a boy, more of
boy than ever was in my life.
He likes the daily papers-the vel
lower they are, the better; and he
deyours perfectly Incredible number
Of detective stories, good and bad.
His delight over a good one is almost
pathetic.
SO when read the headlines in the
morning papers that day. ] knew per-
fectly well that when work was over
and we met at our special little table
In corner of the brilliant dining
room of The Meredith, should he
RECALLED with thrilling and enthusl,
astic account of the Oak Ridge murder.
1t was easy indeed to prefigure the
whole scene. Similar ones had been
enacted so many times before. didn't
altogether relish the prospect. for
hate to see people smiling and nod.
ding behind my old chiefs back, peo-
pie who. Intellectually or socially, or
ia Ntly VluCl ways al Ch III w liC Ills
shoes. lie doesn't mind their smiles,
and the light-hearted emptiness Of
their lives has a mysterious sort of
attraction for him.
And when I see him across our little
table, his twinkling gray eyes glowing
with excitement, his long ungainly
arms and expressive hands working
away in enthusiastic gesticulation, his
big voice booming out the story of
some sensational crime, l can't really
wonder that a good many people nod
and wink and giggle.
The thing did wonder at some
times was, that Wilkins, the obsequi.
Gus, omnipresent. Invaluable head
waiter, contrived to preserve his re-
spectful mask Of professional imper-
durability.
had sneaking fondness for viii.
kins, based upon the fact that he at
least did not underrate Doctor Nc
Alister. Tonight, for instance, it was
Wilkins himself whom saw conduct
ing him down the long lane of tables,
to the corner of the room where we al
ways sat.
Tell our man what to bring us,
WILKINS" he said. waving away the
menu which that irreproachable func-
tionary offered him. "You know what
we want to eat. better than wo do"
Then he turned to ne. "Well. have
you read about it?''
"The Oak Ridge murder?" l asked
smiling. mo, I've waited to get the
account of It from you"
'You really haven't read word of
IT," he asked.
"Not q word. know that Oak
Ridge is one of our more remote and
less fashionable suburbs, and that
there has been murder there within
the past forty-eight hours. Beyond
that my ignorance is complete"
youth! Youth!' cried the doctor
In mock dismay. "What is it coming
to? Fancy being under thirty and
waiting all day for such story as
that, rather than read an account of II
in bad English. Well. you shall have
the story now from the beginning
Wait bit, though. Wilkins"
The head-waiter looked up from a
low-voiced discussion of the menu with
the man who had special charge of our
table. "Yes, SIR"
HAS Ashton come in yet?"
''Not yet,' sir, but he should be here
before long. He's seldom later than
this, SIR
Serve for three at this table, then"
said the doctor, land when Ashton
comes in, ask him to dine with u.s.;
then. turning to me. ''There are some
points which the newspapers don't
cover that he'll be likely to know
about"
Ashton, / may say, was rising
young assistant In the district at
torney's office, and | will add that he
worked at the detection and prosecu-
ton of crime. con amore; 1t was not
upon his salary that be lived at The
Meredith.
The doctor leaned his elbows on the
table and pointed n long finger at me.