Evening star., 1939-01-01

morrow evening, Eli Harneker is coming here
for minor brain operation. The operation
will be strictly private. So "
ELI Harneker" gasped. ELI Harneker.
I'm still talking as your lawyer You take
any illicit liberties with him and you will wish
you'd never been born. He's not only the
richest man in this part of the country. but
the meanest. cruelest, stingiest and most
vengeful."
And also the greatest publicity seeker"
added Dr. Perrault thoughtfully. But you
forget that while he will still be one of the
country's rich men, he will no longer have
any of those other characteristics when get
through with him
Amonth went by; and worried. couldn't
find any news in the papers at all about Har-
neker, even with the aid of clipping bureau.
Perrault didn't seem to want to talk to me.
Then, on New Years Eve, the doctor called
me. He said must join him at a downtown
hotel at half past eleven, and gave me room
number 1t seemed just about the oldest
place and time to meet an eminent scientist,
but went.
So now it's beginning to dawn on some Of
you! Yes, it's been mystery for five years.
But please = let me finish - let me finish
this,
Remember had to fight my way, that
New Years Eve, through packed mass Of
of good feeling. A few people were sober and
some were tipsy and some were drunk They
all threw their confetti and footed their horns,
elbow to elbow over the half-dozen acres of
the square fronting the hotel. A stranger
shook my hand and woman tried to kiss me-
On one side of the square they were singing.
He's A Jolly Good Fellow and near the
hotel entrance. Aud Lang Syne" remen,-
Der thinking that while much of the emotion
was Just alcoholic. the friendly lines we're more
what people should be like. but that they
were only that way for few hours just once
each long year.
found Bryce Perrault all alone in fourth
floor room that faced east over the square.
No confetti. no whisky. no we'll Wishers.
What is this?" asked.
Il have no more idea than you have" he
said This morning got telegram from
IL
had engaged this room for me and was to be
in it, | suppose he means that he will meet me
here, so thought you had better be along
too"
We sat and watched from the window the
gayety of a hundred thousand people. could
see that the doctor was a little nervous A
light snow began to fall suddenly ilumined
as it entered the sharply edged zone of too
bright light 1t was very close to midnight,
and the million human sounds below swiftly
worked toward the annual crescendo. to
which was added suddenly the thrilling drone
of an approaching aeroplane. flying low. As
we heard the planes sound begin to diminish.
something began to dance down with the
snowflakes. We rushed to the window unable
to believe our eyes.
What in heck is that" we asked each
other felt scared, though had no notion
why Too dark for snow, too large for con-
fetti Well, of course you know, the whole
world remembers but only the doctor and
could guess where they came from - those
hundreds of thousands of greenbaCks 1t was
some time. of course, before We knew what
they were.
But as the first deluge of them gently
settled, we heard the gayety throttle in all the
throats, as though it were gas that was falling
so lightly. First individual shouts of surprise.
or %r,,,pv,l, h,,t co d;fferent from the SO,,ndS