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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 Cures Dandruff, Falling Hair, Brittle Hair and all Scalp Troubles, such as Itching, Eczema, Eruptions, etc. Purely Vegetable, harmless and reliable. CURE GUARANTEED etch offer nil other retard (r* hooe /ailed, or rami eg refumbd. A CHICACO MAP WRITES: •M l'ernslt Avw.. f%leeee, War I*. WM | „.„l ••Coke Iratul rod for.' 1 tor lial.loaae and afire two week# oiiu teehsir togrun. 1 seise Of all w**<k mr l'—vl va. sowerwl with hair Alan oe l W) faushler of thenurat eaaaol a *"' lr "?'{,Yguigi: For Hale by all t>ru*{T>U and Karl era T rea Use ou hair and Scalp Troubles /roe on request t. *. SHt SKR Itl.. - thlcago Beware of Imltatlona. The only hair preparation admitted to the Faria Exposition. For sal* by Elppman Bros.. Columbia Drug 00. and Knight’# Pharmacy, Savan nah. Oa. mnmm a " . Blood Cure ob aolutely cures acrid n In. tvxctns, spots, Mote lieu, eruptions, ay pit Hit- VW ■ : ■ r IV enrial tnints. etc. Vk aji ftpecially effica- X cions in ail bloutl JW diseases common to a hot dimale. I", , I'rcc medical ad- I T Tice. ISOS Arch ** at.. Phi la. • 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. 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SWIFT SPECIFIC COMPANY, ATLANTA. Ci 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^. LIPPMIN BROS.. PrapHetor*. Otoßlta. Llppman’t Block, MBBWMH. g| iCM*gTß’q grtatidH ,as IVROyA^fILI-S a riIIt'HKHTKK’S KHt-USB la HH> aa4 bet* "““Tfa toiih Wm rlfcWa 1 tok# •** rr . , lt# . CSto*iTh.’araaeets?ull‘aJl*wie*to*•*