The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-01
Chapter II
Twelve On A Chain

Twelve On A Chain
THERE was no certainty about
l. Duncan's winning. It was Bun
ny's queen of hearts that decided
in their favor.
II suppose, partner" said Mrs.
McBain, in her deep slow voice,
there was nothing we could have
done?"
Devoe smiled with a droop of
those amorous lids. Zone can do
nothing without cards." he re-
piled.
, Duncan's cold voice cut the air.
He looked straight at Devoe.
Something obviously had annoyed
him. Angered him. "That," he said,
sis where you're dead wrong. One
can"
It was an ultimatum.
= 1t was while Mrs. Deane was
gathering score cards and making
preparations to serve supper that
Michael wandered cut into the
veranda and found DR.. McBain
sitting there alone smoking.
"Have a seat" McBain said hos
pitably, pushing forth a wicker
chair.
Thanks. I found myself rather
in the way, there in the house."
"And I. Lovely night"
J They smoked in silence.
'How are you liking it out
here?" McBain asked after mo-
ment.
Great. It's like the country.
Wish we could stay here all the
time"
"It,s not so good in winter. The
University doesn't keep these back
roads open, and we have to walk
everyWhere-pretty cold. Cut off
from human society once we get
home from the Buildings"
"And / suppose there are disad-
vantageS in living in one another'S
pockets out here?"
McBain emptied his pipe. "Can't
complain" he said.
81 shouldn't think Mr.. Deane
was so easy to live with. He wasn't
always pleasant in class"
"He doesn't mean any harm. He's
been here so long he thinks he
owns the place. and if things don't
go exactly as he wishes he gets
fuSsy. His nerves aren't any too
good-although L don't like that
term. Perhaps should say his con-
troll is weakening. He's getting on.
you know"
He must be- And Devoe-Devoe
is practically a stranger, isn't he?"
yes. Only been here a year or
two. Don't know him. Don't have
much to do with him. Different de-
partments."
Duncan Murchison is Chemis-
try, isn't he? He seems a decent
chap"
"He is. Clever lad too. He's got
a future ahead of him. Brains and
ambition. He's good head in the
lab"
His brother works with you,
doesn't he, DR.. McBain? What's he
like?"
There was a moments pause.
McBain smoked steadily. Then
"He's very clever too, Edgar Muir
Gibson is. One of the best physi-
ologists we've ever had here.
Takes short cuts and gets ahead
of the old fogies every time. Our
research is going ahead by leaps
and bounds. Well have something
there to be proud of, one of these
days"
'Scandal-Mongers'
LIE gets a lot of criticism for
II his methods" Michael threw
a deliberate rock into the pool.
It struck mark. McBain
pounded his pipe angrily on the
railing. "Yes, he does. It's ridicu-
lous. The lay attitude toward
science hasn't changed visibly
since the middle ages. They de-
mand that we find cures for can
Ger, for all diseases, they furnish
money to have it done. And then
they raise a horrible row when
man goes about it his own way.
How can they expect us to be able
to perform these miracles unless
we can experiment with living
organisms first?"
Experiment with living organ
isms." Michael repeated after a
moment. That's what they got
Murchison for. wasn't it?"
'It was"
Honestly, DR.. McBain, don't
you think a man can go too far
in the name of science?"
McBain swung round on him.
"It's all the way you look at it,"
he said. 'T'm older than MurchiSon.
] was trained years ago, when
every human life seemed valuable.
When people were supposed to
have souls. When their bodies were
sacred. That's all tommyrot today.
] can't forget my training, but /
refuse to condemn a younger man
who comes in with brilliant ideas
and wants to try them out. Some
of these people-Deane, for in
stance - who condemn Murchison
SO numerically would be the first
to come to him for help if they
needed IT," He laughed shortly.
you'll pardon my outburst," he
said. "But we've had a lot of
trouble around here over the very
subject you've brought up. A lot
of hard feelings"
Michael waited. but McBain eyi-
IDENTIFY decided the matter was