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14
THE LAST ADVENTURE.
By Howard Flatting.
(Copyright, lu©, by Howard Flatting )
A brief nolo summoned me to Hollis
ter's apartments. Ha lived at that lima
In a building whoea tenants never mad
one another's acquaintance#, and where
ona might Indulge In pistol pni'llca in the
corridor without vloiattug any known
rule. 1 hod sometime* suspected that
Hollister aas the osmer. which would
have accounted for any Indifference to
conventionalities.
J thrust my card under hie door, and
prraenily 1 heard bis cold and steady
voice bidding me enter.
“You are changed," ha said, taking my
band “You have grown much older in
these few mom he "
Hollister never changes. The expression
In tits gray ayea la alwaya the same. He
has not a lute the more upon his face
(>or a hair the less upon his head for the
lifteen yoara that I have known hint Ills
tail figure lias always the mm lightness
•nl slow grace of movement
“I have notlfhd Corwin,” ha continued,
•'and when he comes 1 will tell you what
la In my mind. It Is a plan to taka your
fancy and hM"
We throe had had some singular ex
periences together In various quarters of
the globe, and the mutuel enjoyment of
desperate hasards was lha lattul that
united ua. lot thert was no pratansa of
friendship. Hemming to our ordinary
modes of life, after such adventures, we
had always eeparsled with no show of
fsailng. Thera was, however, an agree
ment that whenever one of tie should con
ceive a project sufficiently reckless, h#
would ’omnium ate with the others I
had rightly taken Hollister s misssfs for
such a notification
As I pa-sed beyond him Into the loom
I perceived upon a kaig I side of black o.tk
the body of a spauiel. and I renw mitered
having seen the creature often. Hollister
yiTVi UjHj Nl Fif \ f \J si
Re extended his powerful arm, ar.d Hal pin dropp* <| arrow It like a man arlckio
from Ok* rlriiiilo
kad ohown for It an much affection as war
In him, a truer sentiment, I brllovr, than
bo had aver felt for man or woman.
I uprtMxl Borrow that the brute wan
•lead, a fart that nr patent to m*\
though the manner of It:* end wur not
apparent. I hail a suspi* lon that Hollls
ter had poisoned the dog In the oourae
of one of hta experiments. The room
smelled like a chemical laboratory, aa It
usually did, hut In thin Instance, above
the complex harmony of familiar reag
ent*, a nubile and agreeable odor, vary
ing like a melody, claimed primary at
tention.
"Home cur from the atrecta." mild J,
"nkKht have •hmutbl tha purpose of a
•nan with a heart."
"I hired our engineer to (deal one," re
fdi< 1 llolliater blandly, "but lie did not
come In lime."
I remembered the man to whom he re
ferred. a ehifty-cyed felloe, who wu em
ployed lu the building.
"Why didn't you experiment with the
•ngltKrr?" I asked; and he retir'd with
out a change of lota* or the movement of
an eyai.Mii. "I have”
"With the thing that killed this dog?"
X cried.
"With lie mum thing." he answered,
•‘end the name dose, re* knned In the pro
portion!* of the weight# of the two ani
mal* Tat the man la not dead, nor In
the dog Tht* creature has merely gone
where you and Col will and I aro going.
It will return."
1 had had Instruction In medicine and
•urgrry. and had even nusdo eome spts-lal
gtudy of condition* simulating death,
•nierefore, I felt comiietent to f etn my
own opinion upon this nastier I exam
in'd the dog closely. Kvvry vital process
•esmxd to tie totally su|*endcd. I would
hove had some faint hope of restoring
4#--^
aitmadn h- nwhinlnl means. hut non*
whatever that the animal anuH develop
trtial eeterrv bjr Ua own Internal processes.
FVoot previous exp*-eten,je I would hove
•aid that death always proclaims Its
•reaenca. though the method la not to | M
described In the exact term* of science.
The High* of a eoul (Nan human body
may be perceived, though by a hut sense
w* cannot aur.lv aay. and even In tho
oaaa of a lower animal there should lie
acme imntfsi.ikahle ■ hange when It liaa
run lbitu i*ii the period of organic ti
toteno* and hu turned again toward ihi
dual.
"The dog la dead," aald I. "It will
never move gatn.”
’Heforw your cigar la burned oul," aald
Hulllat-T, "you will know 1 tetter."
A peculiar rattling auund upon the door
thtalTUlNed ua.
"That'a the engineer." aald Hollister,
“Thu private rap he use* la prolxtbly a
durvival of the deya when stoalhig wax
ht* regular bualneaa. Ha has brought an
other dog. I suppose.”
Tha gutta proved accurate. Halptn. the
englnaer. brought with him. In a gunny
bag. a yellow mongrel obvioualy long In
ured to U 1 usage, but withal an engag
ing beuat. wrhoite affectionate and ronftd-
Ing nature hud made It eauy prey for tba
•poller, aa naturally aa If It had been hu
man
Jtaleased from Imprisonment. It ehook
Itaetf. looked Inquiringly around, and
then a|>ptoHctiert nte with timid demon*
etiatlona of good will Almost Immedi
ately. however, ll turned toward the ta
ble, where It etood anllling the air and
whining faintly for a little white; thou
H alunfc behind mv chair and toy down.
Halpin meanwhile had received hie price,
and Hotlletcr had Intimated to him that
Ida presence war no longer tiwcaeaiy to
our happiness. Ttie man seemed disin
clined to take tilts ullrapollte hint. He
stood by the door, nervously twirling and
telstliiK his hot, while hat furtive eyes
shifted from one stijnct to another In the
room
I awin't know hut you'd like to try It
wllh me again," he euld. tit last.
Holitoter, Ittughing softy, said to me
“1 hod to flgnt with this fellow the other
d.iv, to prevent ills taking second dose
lifter he recovered from the first one. if
he knew where the *tuff was kept he and
sieal It.'*
"What Is there shout It that la so at
tr#.-tlv?" 1 Inquired.
"A-k him." replied Holllaier, “he
wouldn't tell me "
"la the ellaci. agreeable?" 1 aWttsl
Hatpin.
"There ain't any effort,” said he, "you
Jut! go to sleep. At flr.t you swell up
around the rhisl, and breath tleep—seem
to fill yourself full of air. Hut be furs you
Know It. you're gone."
“Any dreams?"
“Not dream," he replied, with a pe
culiar expression, ihe meaning of which
I could is it comprehend.
Thai the nun had acquired en over
mastering wjti for this iliur, ss the
resole of a single trial of Its power, count
not be doubted. Yet tie persisted |n fle
nylng that II produced any vialona, hal
|u< illations or setiaatiofis of an agreeable
character ,
How do you feel when you come out
of It?” I asked at ls*t.
Atsl he unswere-d wllh flcr-e sineerity:
••Worse than you'd believe If I told you "
While 1 was endeavoring to formulaic j
another line of Inquiry thal *hOU*d pene- ,
Irate t>* WU •ryd lUS mans desire for .
a drug whose sole aoprerlable f ffect was. ,
L by hi* own siory, iMinlul, there * a
knee k on the door: and titan a raid ap-
Isiod on the carpet.
"Colwln," said Hollister, picking up the
card"
The third member of our little coterie
entered. He ws- a man tinder tit. of m - '
dium Sinture. and worn thin by nnrvooa
activity. The long-continued pursutl of
perianal graltflcatlon had preshk-nl ki
him nouo of the laaModa auppoecd to at
lemt upon aUtilli: lonmcn:. The ofleftcr he
failed to tlial any satisfying form if ex
cllament Ihe more reeilrasly he nought
for It. He mmka a sharp rontrad wlUi
Hollister < oki rraMmlsm, and equally
wt:h m> own variety of recktesiaiess.
which (*.ia that at a spoiled hoy, pusMeae-
Ing energy uliliout purpose, and deelre
without ambition.
While Hollister wae admitting Oolwln.
end my attention waa naturally directed
toward them, Hatpin slipped nimbly to
cm- of HoHlstet a caMnets. from whlrO he
extracted a glate-s(opiM-rod flask, half full
of soma cokirb'S* liquid. I caught hB
Image tn a mirror, Ju*t aa he was rais
ing ih flask to bis Ups. and my sudrim
cry nrresttd hi*, hand, but did not check
hlr purpose.
"I have got It." he sakL doggedly, “aisl
Fin going It* drink It."
HoiltMvr east a keen gtance at the flaek
erst then luughtd.
. "Drink ull you want of (hat." he said
"lt'a nothing hut water. No, no, my good
fellow, I don't keep that stuff where ev
erybody can find It."
Hatpin set down the flask, muttering
tin qpth. Without paying any further at
t< n*i<i to Ihe engineer, HotlUler proceed
ed to address Colwin and myself.
"I have discovered," said he, "a curious
substance that produces effects of sus
penried animation. Impossible, aa I be
lieve, tn attuln otherwise. Bo far as my
esperiments have proceeded, I have been
unable to extend the trance beyond en
hour’s duration, but an hour Is a long
time. If rightly employed. I have a curious
(tieory about this drug, and It was wllh a
view of establishing It that 1 have asked
you two gentlemen to come here.
"I’p lo this time,” ha continued. “Ihe
He grappled with me.
only human being who hex ever been the
dUbject of an experiment U our friend
here, and unfortunately be refugee lo de
scribe the effecta. 1* haa occurred lo
me that even if he did daacrlhe them fully
no dependency could be placed upun what
ho might aay. Mr, Hul|>in, I regret lo In
form you, Ik o man of exceedingly bud
moral character. He to. and haa been for
eome ye are, a fugitive from Justice, and
hue acquired habile of deception which,
f fear, unlit him for scientific urea. What
do you aay, Hatpin?"
"I any that I'm no worae than you or
any mull would be If he'd been hounded
up and down rile world for aa lung aa I
have,” replied the engineer. "Il’ true I’m
n fugitive, though 1 don't known bow
you found it out.
“You have mid me more than you sup
pose," aald HolllaUNl.
"Well, what of It?” replied Hatpin, sul
lenly. "I might aa well talk to some body.
I've kept the aacrel inalde of me. and dla
truaied every men or woman I inol. I
haven't had a friend or dared lo have one.
Hut* you don’t care about that. What
you want to-to have me fell you what
happen* when a man take* that aiutr that
you have Invented. Now. then," he drew
a long breath, the tremulous, eobbing In
halation ehoraeterlatlc of extreme nervous
tension, "If you'll let me try It once more.
I swear to you that when I wake I will
tell you the truth."
"What do you aay. gentlemen?" said
Hollister, turning to us.
"lal him try It, If he wants to." an
swered Colwiti
"You don't ki ow what you’re saying!”
I exctalmed. **ls>ok at this dog."’
"Weil m!I H itmly, 'look at
him.’’
At hi* word! we all gathered around
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER ltf, 1900.
For HURRY'UP COOKING
is fhcre anything to equal
LIEBIG
COMPANY’S EXTRACT
or betr.
chorus of housewives
'
the table, and n we did So. the animal
that had acennsj stark dead, began to
stir. H* spiral ton, slow .kut easy and reg
ular, la-gaii to lie observable. The eyes
aliened, seemingly sightless, at hrsl. hut
rapidly taking on a lo.sk of IntaWlgem*
In ten minutes lha action of heart and
lungs was nearly normal, the creature
was able to stand, and there was ho sign
of any Injury resulting from Us brief de
sent inlo the shadow.
It exhibited lassitude, and a queer sort
of discomfort. There wos no Indication
of |uiin. Tne animal seemed merely in
capable of faking any Initiative Finally.
However. It strayed toward Hollister, rub
bed against his leg atsl put Us mussie
into his outstretched hand, while unmis
tak-iMe tears gathered In its eyes. Hot
lister took the brute into hts arms, where
li lay, licking bis hand, and seemed to
be comforted.
"Thera, you see." mid Hatpin. "The dog
Is well enough."
"Quite so," replied Hollister; "and since
you Insist. I'm willing to give you an
other trial. But remember, the truth, (he
whole truth, ami nothing but the truth
this time.'*
11 alp! n raised hl hand and promised
solemnly, whereupon Hollister poured from
that very flask which Halptn had taken
from the cabinet a draft that 1 Judge
would marly have tilled an after-dinner
coffee cup of the average sige. He showed
no great care In measuring the dose
The Jailbird took the glass In his hand,
hesitated a moment, and then hastily
drank to the last drop He tossed the
glass upon the table, and t ctsughl It as
It was rolling over the edge
"This has no odor,” (aid I.
•'After It hae been exp sed to the air
for a while,” said Hollister, "It develop*
the odor tlutl you doubtless noticed In the
room. The ta.-te Is faint, but quite agree
able. Weli, H.dpln. how do you feel?"
"Happy.” wos ihe answer, “for 1 am
done with It all."
Ilia voice had undergone a surprising
change. It was deep, round and manly,
strongly contrasting with hts usual surly
lone. This change became even more
marked, and Was sccompnnled by an al
tered manner quite In harmony. In the
rinsing moments he spoke with dtgulty and
force.
"I have given you a promise,'' he said,
"but I shall not he ablo to keep It. 1
shall sleep, hut 1 shall not wake. ldoten
lo me, Mr. Hollister. You have killed an
imate with this drug, haven't you?”
"Several,“ waa the reply, "but 1 used
an overdose."
"It wasn't shat,” rejoined Halptn. “I
have taken notice, for 1 hove got most of
the creatures for you. It Is not the
overdosa (hut kills; It Is the second dose!
Tell me, have you ever given this twice
to any animal and had ll live?"
I saw that even Ihe Imperturbable Hol
lister was shaken by this question. He
did not answer M.
“I know shat If* the truth,” (aid Hal
ptn, “and (hot Is why I wanted the second
dose. I wanted to die.”
"There were other wiyi," said Hollis
ter, mildly.
“Hoar do I know?" exclaimed Halptn
“How do I know that when a man puts
a bullet through hla brain he's depd? I've
never tried It. I've never tried the pit sons
that druggists sell. But this I have tried.
This I eon trust. It has taken the soul
out of my body once, and this time It will
not bring K hack. 1 am at the end of this
world, thank tiod!"
The extraordinary resonance of his
voice, due. I suppose, to the greatly stim
ulated respiration and nervous excitation,
softened in Ihe lust sentence, and became
almost like mimic.
I saw Hollister quietly take poet ft th*
man's side. In another Instant he extend
ed his powerful arm. and Halpln dropped
nernsa It like a man atrteken from the
clouds. '*■
We laid Halpln upon a couch, and I Im
mediately proceeded so examine his condl
tlnn. Hla word had flllud me with alarm,
and aa I ticnl over Ihe unconscioti* form,
t asked Hollister anxiously what he
thought of Halpln's theory thus anlmnl
life could not withstand two trials of this
drug.
“There msr he someshlng In It," he re
plied In a dreamily sperulatlve tone
Whatever the explanation may have
lieen. the fact 1* that Halpln was dead. 1
shall make no mystery there (lur ut
most efforts, continued for hours, failed
to restore him. From 4 o'clock In the
afternoon till 10 In the evening we work
ed without cessation, but without result
Then we summoned nn ambulance from
Ht'llevue Hn*plt*l and delivered the body
Into the care of a surgeon to whom we
declared that t>ie engineer had taken some
aort of poison In our presencs, that w# did
not know the nature of It, and that we
had done our ties! to restore him. A*
I uni a duly qualified physician, the story
passed Inspection 1 secured a promise
that nothing should he left undone n* the
hospital: and. Indeed. Ihe moot extraord
inary and persistent effort* nt resuscita
tion were there made, but vainly.
When we threo were left alone Hollis
ter asked Whether anything that wo had
seen would deter un from th advent uro
which he had planned, the nature of
Which was. of course, quite clear. B
llevlng that he had aecnred a drug which
-as tho unfortunate Halpln had said
look the soul out of the body. It was hla
intent that we ntlempl tha royaler** of
another world together.
"it produces," said ha "what may be
called a temporary death. In tha case
of man. I believe that the interval Is oc
cupied with a dual experiences of a fu
lure—er at least another—state, and that
this miserable inuu, when he stood here
before ua to-night, possessed knowledge
that did not exist elsewhere In this world,
unless the fable* of eastern occultism be
true.”
"It 1* perfect certainty." sold Col
win, "that our late friend l*elleved that
he knew what death I*. and that he had
found It agreeable. I *e your scheme,
Molltetter, and I Bpphmd it. We three will
take thli dritg. nd pa*a an loiur to
gether tvho know* where! I nm with you.
tasty-and soul, end the phrase lias anew
meaning In this adventure."
Hollister blew a cloud of smoke into
the air. and watched H melt and van
lab Tlien he throw ht* elgar away; and.
rising, nited three small glasses from the
tame flask which had furnished Halpln
, with Ihe draft he had so much desired
Colwtn'e eye* sparkled with eagerness,
but his body trembled with fear. He was
pecullarl) ssnsltlve to peril, yet he de
lighted tn It. Hts nature was such that
nothing ho possew-td a-Mimed n value till
he feared its lose, and the presence of
death that mean* the loss of all this
world, turned the dross of his existence to
pure gold. His frame ebook with the ter
ror and the joy of this laat hazard.
Hollister, on Ihe contrary, was quite
: calm, though by no mean* Indifferent,
' For my part. I was struggling with an
emotion which neither of them could
guess or ever understand.
"Well. Alnslee?” said Hollister, looking
slwirply at ms.
"Walt! Watt!" I exclaimed. "If my life
belonged to me—"
“If your life belonged to you?" cried
Cotwin. "How long since It didn't?”
"Not long." raid 1, "sod when I tell
you what I mean bv this, you will be
Itnore surprise,! than you will be by any
thing that another world can show you.
Oerdicm* ii. I am in lovo. I have pledged
rr> *rlf to a woman, •(! my Ilf* brlonjr*
to
Thor* wm a faint clinkln* of orvl
thrn a Th two m n *fnr**l at
m.* with launful tfitxurtty, It jrraiUiod
tn* to obMrrve that 1 hu<i flvii) HoUiater
u urar Pt-iioutior*.
la a Kiri of tuy him! of culll
vxilon.” I an Id. atng like a flrrxph.
unit the liae the aott! of an I love
her to much—how cot 1 tty ll in a way
to moke you undrraland? It wouJ4 lx*
entirely ur leea to tell you (hut I am hap
py. You wmiWl .innwer. "no la a pun*tic
who lunch* himeeif a kin*.’
•'There are. * you Intlmite.” takl C?nl
wtn. “no limiftt to Ih* hallu uiationa of
Ihe human mat*] I rupfuw. f*r inatancu*
that you lo nuike tier happy?”
“If 1 did not I Khoultl never *•** hor
.•Main." 1 repftenl. "To l**Klr U|*Al tht*
low eft level, ahe lit |*x*r. You will admit
that I rati *rt.i!ly alter her Rurroumllnjft*.
Uunu*n. .a wt-il o m* n, have a van; va
riety if deMre* aini lho-e thal w- uh
tan gi itify are of the least importance,
yet they exlaf. If I cannot answer the re
<jult • n>'-ni of her hJjrhrr nature, let me
nerve in my own snide and be ont nt
>tn*e It is she win tin I nerve, and If It
affords her a* much pleasure to give me
a li* w heart and *hjl. new alms and a
n* w lift*, am it affords m* to buy a ring
for her flutter. she will be happy.”
"It l .ill over with you.” *aid Colwin.
•’And yf. old man. there's no reason why
you shouldn’t keep ua company. We’re
tomlrtff lw<-k. you know, and she’ll never
find out about It.”
"Colwlfi,” I rejoined.*‘you are even a
lower animal than I supposed you to he.
1 refuse to talk with you on subjects
above your comprehension. But I *i>;hu!
to you, liuliiader. In (hi tiwtler. Am 1
not right In refusing lo risk my life?”
livery naan Is
ploMaec.” said llollut<rr, "prim pally tx
iaUht‘ he • an't in Ip It. lie Is m marioii
rile of nature ititd the toy l.> worked with
a single trinp—uratiricatlon. If ii |4eaaes
you to be In love, who can venture to
criticise? It is infernal nonm*nse and It
docao't pay. Bui what Isn’t nonsense?
And what docs pay? Colwin, 1 guess
Well have to leave Atnle* out. lie ha.H
made ids choke, end that is his privilege;
but I can't help remaikuig (hat if love
i? the best thing he can nod in hi life
it's *t strong reason for taking a chanae
wllh another.”
"1 am ready.” said Colwin, taking up
his gias.-c *’By hiriven, this stuff smells
like ail ihe blosMXit- of paradise.”
"It has been x|tosel socno minutes
now.” remarked Hollister.
You don't supjtoso that makes and dif
ference, do you?” a .'kid anxious
ly.
“I have not detected any in Ihe course
of my experiments,” was the calm re
uty,” but you must rememl>er that my in
vest Igatlona an* stUI in progress. The next
step seems to be this—,” and he drained
Ills glass.
When Colwin raised the goblet to his
blw 1 heard It rattle against his teeth.
Few men of my acquaintance, I believe,
could have shown so much emotion in this
adventure, and not one could have been
so surely depended upon *o go through
with It. Though tie believed that death
lurked In the glass and feared It heart
ily, wild horses could not have pulled
him away from It.
The draft seemed to steady him, but
only for a few seconds. Then he turned
to me und besought ms not to neglect him
when he should boeotnv unconscious. A
moment later he ran up to Hollister, who
had seated himself on the piano stool.
’’You don’t a hoar any effect yet,” he
cried with that strangely resonant tone
which I hove already noted as a symptom
of the new poison. **\Yhat If It should not
act on you? You will not leave me to go
thnmgh with this alone?”
“Go and lie down on the divan.” said
Hollister calmly. •’You're all right, and
so am I. And. by the way, old mon.
what do you expect to see? These opium
dreams, or something really genuine?”
Col win’s eyes shone with enthusiasm.
His mind had been suddenly turned upon
the true Interest of the adventure.
"I ahull sec my own body lying there
dead." he cried. "My soul will rise out
of W, and I shall look down and see my
self. Nobody ever did that before. It
will be worth taking a chance for."
Hollister's hands strayed over the keys
of the piano. Music with him was an in
tellectual pursuit, having nothing to do
with the emotions. The works I hud heard
him play were more like the formulae of
the calculus than the expressions of a hu
man soul: and It was the coldest harmony
that he brought from the strings ou this
occasion when nn ordinary man might
have drifted Into sentiment. If he had had
Ihe nerve to play at all.
d-turned to f'olwin, and only Jiurt In time,
lie was falling aa I sprang toward Idm,
and It was partly the Impact of my body
that carried hts to the divan. As I laid
him tn nn easy posture upon the dull red
covering of the couch, there was no sign
of Ufn In him. except tha warmth that
lingered In tho stagnant blood.
"Throw a couple of those cushions on
tha floor behind me," said Hollister over
his shoulder. "I'll lie them comfortable
enough white the wing of the dark angel
shadows me. By the way. Alnslee. It oc
curs to me that you'll be In ruther an Ml
harrusMiig position If neither ol us wakes
up. What will you do?"
"Tell the truth," said I. "Who can con
tradict me?"
"And whal will the girl say?"
"That she Is sorry two men should
have thrown away their lives Instead of
doing •*! with them," sal-1 I. "Anil
sorry that I should not have been strong
enough to prevent It."
"That Is one way to look at It." saki
Hollister. "I'erhap* the volition Idea of
life la the more agreeable, but even as u
child I could not accept It."
Doubtless the rctroepe live suggestion
In his last words Influenced him more
strongly than would have been possible
In his normal condition, and with sin
gular result. Unconsciously to himself, l
dare say. hla Ungers on I lie keys strayed
into simple harmony of a sweet old song
■ hat lu- must have learned In childhood
Certainly I had nnl heard It In twenty
year*. In the midst of It I saw the soul
go out of him. and 1 caught his lJy as
ii sank backward, limp and nerveless. Im
mediately Ihe spaniel that we had shut
into atHMher room la-gan to scratch upon
the panel of Ihe door and to howl piteous
ly-
It was lie- canary to quiet the animal, and
so I brought hint out into the room, ami
let him aland beside Ihe body of hi* mas
ter. Ilia action* convinced me that the
I rare# produced by the drug was deep
enough to deceive the Instinct of a dug.
which la supposed to be very avUie. I
1 ' ' 11
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IBLOOP CURE
had lht> icreat#(t •tlffi. ulty In prcvratlnß
hi* .tiMurbiiiK the ttl.-ep of the tenant*
In adjoining tullr,.
Meanwhile 1 had two nun upon my
hund* whu* deep waa beyond dt-lurb
■*i I have no natural horror of the dead
and bad Round In my rnidiral sludK- n
midlUonul Immunity, yni 1 round the llo
alton liUTMiinfl)’ di*qul*ttas. After a
short Interval I began to employ ordinary
restorative meadtre* upon Colwin, whone
appearance seined to me somewhat more
alarming than Holltster'*.
ti may be Hint Hie event* of Ihe night
liud unsteadied my nerve*. Certainly I
hegnn lo be cons lous of a loss of self -
control. I became *o fremuhMM as lo be
almost Incapable of performing the* man
ual labor necessary, and perspiration drip
ped from my forehead.
Time, aw measured by the clock, seemed
alternately 10 leap ahead and to stand
■•111. 1 thought day most be far advanc
ed, and the next moment 1 was
startled by the light of dawn at the
ed*ses of the heavy curiam that covered
the windows.
The dog. Imprisoned In a closet, did
not cease to tvhine. but I had beeoax
accustomed (o the sound. Yet when I
heard the tremulous breath of a suth 1
sprang dear to the wall with panto ter
ror, and lae.a| about, expecting to see I
knew not
It was Hollister, who was stirring upon
the cußhtoisi. lit* eye# were open, ami
were staring straight upward. I could see
hts chest rising tint falling, and present
ly lie moved tils liml* as one wlio labors
with a dream.
Itunnlng to hi* side, I lifted him up
ami addressed some wools to film, tvhl n
he ccm id not to understand. I got him
Into an easy chair, and offered him
hsandy. He stru k the glass out of my
hand, not ungrily, hut unfeelingly, a* If
(he glass had come there by .1 mechanical
prooeos, wliieiut btKnan agency.
For several minute# he lay heavily |n
the btg chair, while I stood before him.
uttering wonts that made no more |m
liremloa upon liim than upon the wall
behind him. Hts Intelligence, however,
was awake, as (he expression of his eyes
showed plainly enough. He was suffer
ing. but not as J ha<F-seen any one else
'htfer. There irraa neither mental nor
physical lain. He seemed to endure the
ue-igbt of some strange bunten. mere
Ir-nvlnrsH wnhout tha spur of pain.
Presently ble countenance la-can to ehov
a gteater animation, jHini.-rhltg more
> pacific in Its expression. There was a
light In h|s eye* that presaged action.
■'"P'S tile window wide," he sold, *1
want tm-re air.”
i dimly susivted (hst It was * rum-,
aid ao was no wholly unprc|wtrtd for
tvn.U orvurreil. When I turned toward
the airflow tie suddenly sprang up an I
darted toward the cabinet whereon mooil
the flask that held the drug. I was too
quick (or him. Just as he lakt bis
band upon ft J struck tt violently and the
fragile glass wns shattered aguhuK the
floor.
Without a moment * hesitation he grap
pled with me. trying with one hand to
posh me awsy. that be might oiteti the
door of the r.iMnet with the other. M*
strength had not fully returned, and 1
wae able to defeat his pitrpoee by a great
exertion. I locked the heavy door of the
cabinet, and put the key tnio roy pocket.
Keeing himself defeated he sank back Into
the chair.
W ith the Idea of changing the current
of hts thought. I begged him to assist me
in restoring Colwin, saying that our friend
seemed to he dying. Hollister glanced In
differently nt the rigid form upon the
couch, and turned his head nway.
Feeling secure for a moment. I devoted
myself to f'olwin. It ie probable that mv
efforts had little, tf anything, to do with
the result; but within ten minutes she
reemlng dead man was upon his /eet and
clamoring for the drug. He was excited,
whereos Hollister had been calm, but both
men's minds were upon the same track
Each wish'd with Idenserthahle Intensity
to return Into the sleep from which he
had Just wakened.
Neft her would utier one word In ex
planation; not that they refused In set
terms, but rslher that they seemed wholly
Indifferent to my desire to know. And that
desire became stronger and stronger with
in me ns 1 vainly strove to extort from
them the seeret of their adventure
Hurely there was nothing enticing In
w-hsi I had witnessed that nlgtw. and I
marveled nt the Impulse that Impelled me
to follow ihe path these men had trod
Perhaps the same subtle Influence ema
nated from the air. now heavily charred
with the Odor of the drug that had been
sidlled: perhaps the sight of other men's
desire for something wholly heyqnd my
faney awake mv envy. Whatever the
cause. I felt the comtng defeat of my res.
ol tutor. I knew that I should try the
hazard of the draft.
Aside from my desire to tempt the ad
venture. another consideration pressed up
on my mind It was evident that I could
not much longer hold out against the
madness of mv companions. They would
soon be Masters of their usual strength
and could then easily overpower me and
take awny the key of the rnhinet. Kven
tf 1 kept It from them they could event
ually secure the drug otherwise. for
though the cabinet was of oak and aa
strong as a safe. It could not resist their
effort* very long.
I had the natural Impulse that would
have eome to any man tn pgrvent my
comrades from destroying themselves, and
I no longer doubted the fntal efficacy of
a second potion. It might be possible to
restrain them for n time by no-no** of a
compromise, and even a small delay might
he enough In turn the scale, for whatever
was the Influence that moved them. It was
not In the nature of mortality that It
should hold Its power undlmlnished. It
might la* that from my own trial I should
derive the decisive argument against their
purpose.
I did not helleare myself capable of
yielding abeolutely to the self-destructive
Impulse; ai l It might he that the sight of
my reslatenee would d*-ternilne the action
of my roni|*nnions Thus I gave desire
the name of duty, os If It were for their
rakes that I faced the risk; but In the
depths of my heart I knew that It was
the wish, old a* Ihe race, to penetrate
the mysteries of another life.
The hope that I could do It will seem
fantastical to every one who reeds m, .
words, but to my mind In that hour. It
was a proven truth. For rememb* r this,
by all the teetlmony In the case, this
drug gave pleasure to no bodily sense,
except that Its odor was agreeable, and
thal could be better enjoyed by one who
did not taste It. Before the period of un
consciousness the effects were trivial: af
ter it, they wt re miserably distressing.
There remained" only the experience In
the trance stale to account for the ex
traordinary fascination, and that exper
ience I resolved to lest.
Therefore I appealed In the strongest
terms to Holllater ahd Coiwln that they
should give me the chance to know
whal they knew, and then we three, if
such should tie our choice, would lake
the Anal step together.
As 1 spoke. U seemed to me that my
wards made little Impiesslun upon them,
and I think they yielded through weak
ness of the will resulting from the drug
and not to rational persuasion. What
ever the motive, they promised to await
the result of my own trial, t'pon that
1 unlocked the cabinet and found, by Hol
lister's direction, another flask contain
ing ihe solution. I poured out enough, re
p. .. ..I the Disk and locket the cabinet.
Coinin'* eye* were on me as 1 put the
key Inlo my pocket, and I read hi* pur
pose In hts glance. He would have taken
the key as soon a# I became helplem. I
knew that 1 should wake, If indeed I
waked at all. to And him dead. Hollts
ter, I feel sure, had not the same fluent,
yt-i for fear that be might yield, I hid the
key, distracting Colwin'# attention by a
ruse while doing so. lie wa* palpably
eager that I should drink at once, hut to
niv surprise. Holtbtcr rose suddenly as I
put the glass to roy lips and endeavored
to restrain mo Ho waa not quick
enough; hts hand touched roy arm Just
too late.
"I nnt sorry," he aald, simply. And 1
read in hi# eyes the only sign of friend
ship that he had ever displayed In the
year# of our coni|xtnion#hlp. Had I wait
ed another moment he would have told me
Ihe secret.
Seeing that I had drunk, he resumed hi#
ordinary demeanor, tul lha change In
him had started a train of emotion In my
own soul. A woman's face came sudden
ly before me with startling distinctness
I saw her ns she would have looked could
ahe have known that t was staking her
happiness and mine upon a foolish haa
ard; that for a glimpse at some unnatural
amt valu< less rv. lalion I was resdy to
forgot my word to her snd the roost
sacred obligation of honor.
Hollister was watching me narrowly.
Hts peculiar Insight, which often revealed
to him the thoughl* of others, though
they were wholly n* variance with the
line of his own inward experiences, pen
etrated my brain at that moment.
"I think there is no question that you
wilt come through this all right," said he.
kindly; “but. in view of the hundredth
chanco. you may wish to leave a written
message. There may still be time "
He opened the lid of a quaint old desk
that stood ngalnM the wall, and set a
chair for me before tt. I hastily took my
plnce and found a pen. I was conscious
of a considerable exaltation of spirit, but
principally of a deep sincerity that should
have fitted me to lay my heart In word#
upon the paper. 1 ha<l ih* lroprw*loii of
writing rapidly; (hen suddenly T was In
terrupted by ft strange sound that seem
ed to come from a great distance. It
must have been tlio crash of my own
body fulling forward op the ltd of the
desk.
••*•••*
I was aw-ure of a pulsating force that
connected Itself presently with me. It
was necessary, but why I did not know
or ask. that I should keep this force In
action. I felt. IndLritncHy, the burden
of th.s meaningless task
A voiceless command that had no source
compelled me to perform other tabor also
Fore, s were at work In me and I must
guide them nil and be the spring of th*m
They worked without purpose and with
weary repetition
I had no memory of anvlltlng tike Ode
no memory whatever, Indeed, until my
eyes that strained to sec without desir
ing to do so. excited tn my brain n eense
of familiarity In an object that moved be
fore mo It was Hollister, though I did
not known him. or even wonder whnt he
was. When he spoke, the sound of his
voice annoyed me. without producing nnv
Impression of Intelligence, until three
w-orda touched the *prtng of real con
sciousness.
"This 1* life." said he.
Then I began to understand I knew
that I had labored at these tasks before,
and stmt something hail freed roe from
them. I wished to be free again.
The dull mechanics of this pr-ieesa that
h.- had called life weighed upon me In
tolerably. My thought Clothed IDelf tn
work, and rang In my brain; "Why
should I do Ill's? Why should I do this?"
Ilolllstsr was speaking again I rould
not foil .w him. but his word* registered
themselves upon my mind *o that I now
perfectly remember them, and nt the time
they secured a partial understands
"You have tried o find out what death
la." sold he. "and you have failed. You
know no more about death than you dtd
before, but you know a great deal more
about life A chnsm of complete uncon
sciousness separat* a you from all the old
impression* and prejudice a, The habit of
living I* broken off All the labor of
living that use had taught you to bear
j* now apparent You perceive that
what you had been taught to call the
Involuntary processes of existence are
really j* rformed with effort. You see
life a* a mere a'rtiggle to live. Is It worth
the labor?"
I burled my face In my hands, resting
tip ai the desk, for I had passed my pe
riod of dreamless sleep In the place where
It had begun The weight of my body,
even thu supported, tortured me, being
toll without motive.
A hand was la‘d upon my shoulder, and
I hearths voice say. "Where did you put
th<- key of the cabinet?"
It was Coiwln. IHirlng my sleep, as I
afterward learned, he had tried to get
the key, and had discovered despite Hol
lister’* resistance. that tt was not tn ray
pocket
The word brought the reedlectlon of the
event* Immediately preceding my sleep
I had not prsvlously remembered the
drug or given any real thought to the
question of how I came to be In the state
In which I found myself I bad wished,
blindly, to be rid of life. Colwln's word*
showed the way.
With no thought for him. I rose and
began to search for the key. The In
stinct of r-petition which Is the basis of
unconscious memory led me to the place
where 1 had hidden It. I would have gone
at ones to the cabinet, but from weakness
1 sank down a moment In the chair before
the desk. Directly In my line of vision
was a sheet of paper nn which appeared
in m>- own hand, two words: "My belov
ed " •
They were all that I had written In
that message which had seemed so lona
and so complete. Instantly I saw her con
demned to this dull slavery of life Asa
alck nuin rannot pcure h'-alth. so I was
unnhle to roropr-hend that life could b
to her a different thing from what it was
to me How could I hear the thought
Hint she must walk the weary round of
Hie. and I l*e free’ 1 would not have her
thus to suffer It alone. What help was
possible from one m -rtal creature to an
other I was not In a condition to under
otnnd. nor did I rare to struggle with that
prohbm. lt was *nough that our Instinct,
stronger than death, took hold upon me,
bidding me to share her burden. And In
that tnaiant I forgot my own.
I rose to my feet without a irac* of the
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deadly oppression that had weighed taa
down.
"Holltster.” said I, "your puzzle tt easy.
I have toived It. and the answer is as
old as the hill*.”
There wae something tn my espect
which Impressed them. Even Colwin*
mind was turned for a moment ftom Its
one Ides of flight out of oxlstcnce.
“I know what you arc going to t*y,“
and Holltster wearily. “It is In all the
•took* that e man must not liv* for him
self alone."
"And It remained for a eyttlc like your
self to prove It tn anew way," said I.
"Look at the record of this experiment.
What was I‘fe to that miserable fellow
Halptn, cut off by lit* crime from human
companionship? A thing l i b cast sslds
the Instant that he found what h be
lieved to he e sure way. What ts It ti
Colwin. who tn his Insane pursuit of
pbasure for himself nlone has outran
every sober thought of human sympathy’
What ts it to you. blinded by unceaalng
Introspect ton?
"Fo you know wh ch I* the only partici
pator In your experiment* that hors the
test? It was the dog I*> you remember
hi# disgust when he awoke? tt was so
absolutely human, so like your own, and
mine and any man's, that I could laugh
at tt. In straits lees serious. And what
consoled him? Affection for your un
worthy Self. Holltster. I>o you recall how
he had laid hts mussie tn your hand, how
he was comfortol In your arms? 1 won
der tlwit we did not have some Inkling of
the meaning at that time "
"You may he right," aald Hollister; "In
deed. I bcileve you are, and (he experi
ment my hove been Instructive, But. aft
er all. It ha* only revealed 10 us a trick
of nature for keeping us (Ulvt. Shall I
fall Into #0 plain a trap?”
"The pride of intellect ruin# many a
man whom the irorilnct* of the heart
would save," I replied. “Aa for me, I
thank Mother Nature for her share, and
I wish most heartily that I hud fallen Into
It long ago. There nre others equally
plain In the same path-parental pride and
the labor of guiding tho groping mind*
of children; ambition reaching far be
yond the span of a single life. Ihe thou
sand allurement# of home. 1 shall fail Into
them nil If I can."
"Very wise and laudable." said Hollla
ter. hut unhappily I can’t.”
•‘You nearly f**ll Inlo the enxr*
friendship." I remted; “you would have
prevented my taking the drug at the last
moment."
"A fleeting weaknes*." he replied, and
there wea actually color In Ihe man*
cheek*.
"It la day," aald TANARUS, "and my tlm# la
promised i must leave you. Shall we
meet again this evening "
"If you wish," replied Hollister.
Colwin mode no answer. He wss stretch
ed upon (he couch, and looked like *
man In a nightmare.
"Have n care for him,” T whispered to
Hollister, os I took my leave.
When I returned tn the evening after *
day of childlike happlnea# I had ne an
swer to my rap. The door, however,
yielded to my hand; fla lock hod bee
broken.
Within Cotwin lny dead upon the couch
Holltster was not there, Kvtdently the two
had gone out together, and Colwin h*
returned atone, forcing an entrance both
to the room and to the cabinet
I wne ob'lged to report tha occur rente
to the authorin'*, twit I aald a* tltfl* ••
possible of Hollister, who** *bno*
alarmed me. On returning to my apart
ment*. however. I found him there. (
The man had come 10 take care of m*
Armoring a* that may aeem. It Is the train
which I extorted from him with true!
difficulty. He. also, had found Colwt"
dead, but without delaying *0 notify ?
one. he hud hastened to my rooms far
ing for my safety. 1 firmly believe that
that nnxiety was the only thing thal sa™
hts own life. "The fleeting wesknea*
which he had confessed had proven
stronger than either of ua Imagin'd
We were together during the futile !(
Investigation In'o tho tragedies of iw
last adventure, and he behaved tike a hu
man being—like a friend. Indeed- through
tt nil What will be Ihe end of him 1
know not. but I will swear ho t h '"' r
man le-day—and n happier— through the
magic of that one touch of nature, l"• ,,
I had ever hoped he would be.
(hills & Fever
L dumb AGUE and
MALARIA^.
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Otoßlta. Llppman’t Block, MBBWMH.
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CSto*iTh.’araaeets?ull‘aJl*wie*to*•*