The Death-in-Fear.

Opunake Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1081, 12 May 1908, Page 4

The Death-in-Fear.

What Is th* future of radium, that mysterious substance whose internal fire must have been at work when xhe earth itself was a sun, and will continue after many bodies, now suns, have grown cold ? Dr. Sheldon put down the popular " Review ” he had been reading and sat lost in thought, staring straight before him with blank, unseeing eyes. ‘ * What future ? 1 ’ ha muttered, ( "A marvelous one, beyond a doubt. The' curing of what we now call incurable diseases, the restoring of sight to the blind, the power of life and death—all these may lie within reach of this insignificant looking yellow atom. Science has as yet done no more than touch the fringe of the possibilities of radium. "And I—I,” ha continued, a sullen fire burning in his eyes, “ might have taken my share in working these miracles but for the curse of poverty. I have given up everything to learn and to know—to watch each new and strange development in the wonder-world of science, and now lam left stranded on the threshold of success. It is not to be borne 1 I have a right to what I have earned.” He got up, shook himself and went out, walking across Kensington Gardoii to Lancaster Gate. His spare, upright figure and measured stride suggested the soldier rather than the scientist, but his pale, intellectual face showed the man of thought. He stopped at a large house, nodded to the servant who opened the door and made his way, unannounced, to the library, where an elderly gentleman sat surrounded by books. "Ah, Sheldon,” with a look of pleasure, •* what brings you out so early ? You are generally at work, in your laboratory at tnis hour, and about as easy to get at as a lion in his den.”, " The laboratory will soon have to be closed for lack of funds," was the abrupt reply. " Scientific experiments are very costly, as you know, and I have nearly reached the end of my resources.' To stop my investigations now—when any day I may discover a great truth—will be like stopping my life. I know you would help me if you could, and I would take your help—as, indeed,” with a harsh laugh, “ I would clutch at even the widow’s mite to keep the work going—but, unfortunately, the money is not yours, but your stepdaughter’s.” “ And she is out of your reach and mine. It is quite hopeless to think of her now. She and young Follett have settled matters between them.”

]" What a blind fool I was to wait so long 1 She would have married me readily enough six months ago. But my life was so full, I had no thought of a wife until ruin and despair stared me in the face. She would have had good value for her money! I could be■tow almost as much as I received. With the help she could give me, in a few months I should win wealth, fame, and honor."

" But she prefers to dance in, the sun with other midgets,” was the contemptuous reply. •** This Follett has changed her completely, ■he had ceased to take any interest in serious things. She says she has never been yourig before, and she wants to be happy. Such folly I ” "He is the stumbling block, then? He stands between me and all that I have given my life to win. If he were out of the way' she would return to the old thoughts and ways.” Possibly, but there’s no getting rid of him. She is hopelessly infatuated. Nothing I could say would have any effect. ” . " But perhaps something I might do would not be without results.” Dr. Sheldon said to himself as he left the house. And his face was hard and cold as'a mask. '

On his way home he passed a bank with a a well-known name, and the gilt letters caught his attention, bearing, as they did, on the subject in his mind. " Twenty thousand pounds,” he muttered, " that is the amount she has safely locked up there. Twenty thousand pounds !”' His hand opened and closed. " Half of it vyonld force the gates of knowledge behind which I ■tond. * The greatest- good of ths greatest number’—that is a wise saying. Why should one life block the way when thousands are waiting to be healed and saved? If he were removed the rest would be only a question of time.” ■

His eyes had the flare of a monomaniac’s. Science was a master to whom he could refuse nothing; the desire to learn the hidden 1 things om earth and air possessed him like a madness. He must satisfy the craving at all costs.

That night he wrote to Mr. Follett, devising some feasible excuse for asking him to call the following evening. Ho was very busy all the next day, visiting venous hospitals and medical friends, and when ho entered his laboratory again there was a look of evil triumph on his set face. The house was empty, for he had sent the old woman who waited on him home an hour earlier than usual.

It is an experiment, of course,” ho said, when, his preparations completed, he at last sat down, 11 but I see no reason why it should not succeed. If lean kill a small animal with a small amount, why should I not be able to kill a larger animal with the considerable quantity I have borrowed to-day ? And what a trustworthy servant it is I There will be nothing to excite anyone’s suspicions. Paralysis of the cerebral nervous system, followed by complete suspension of all the functions—and death. A perfectly natural death according to all appearances.” “What a devil’s workshfp it looks 1” young Follett exclaimed, as he entered the laboratory that evening. “ I never saw such ' a,Jot of evil-looking things—you can’t think oMhem as mere machines, they might be half alive.” He laughed as he spoke, but he was evidently interested and impressed. “ They are alive to a certain extent,” was the reply. “I believe in the theory that ‘if ✓ spirits, thought waves, or any other of the so-called psychic manifestations can influence human beings, they can also influence delicate machines in’a far greater degree.’ These things have been my companions for so long it is only reasonable to suppose that there is some communion between us.”

‘ 1 What a ghastly idea! One does not like to think that it is possible for silch deadlylooking instruments to have any will power of their'own. Even as mere machines, they must be hard enough to control.” To himself he thought: " The doctor looks deuced queer, he’ll go out of his mind if he encourages such fancies. I, should think he is pretty near the boundary line now.” “ Then if you will sit down a minute, I’ll fetch those Indian jewels I was telling you about,” Doctor Sheldon said in the commonplace tone of ordinary conversation, as he placed the only chair in the room for his visitor, ", I should he glad of your advice; you will understand such things better than I do,” with a pleasant laugh. "Your fiancee and I are old sriends, and I should like my gift to her to be something out of the coihmon.”

As the doctor went out of the laboratory, he locked the door noiselessly behind him.

“ How cold it seems to have turned,” Mr. Follett thought, as he leant idly back in the xhair, waiting, “ and what a long time he is gone !” He shivered as though with a sudden chill, and was impressed by a curious sensation of vague discomfort and fear. “ If it were not sc preposterous I might imagine that there was something antagonistic to me in this room,” he muttered; that one of -r’those horrible-looking machines had taken a dislike to me. Pshaw I what non■ense I am talking,” with an attempt to

laugh. " This place is getting on my nerv* He would have liked to got up—to ro, himself in some way, so as to throw oil th disagreeable sensations, hut he did not se< to have the energy to move. Then as he sat, gazing vacantly bef. him like a man but half awake, he saw mouse run out into the middle of the flowIt stopped a moment, listening, but eviderwly reassured by the silence, it darted abot” picking up some crumbs that the doctor hn let fall. He would often munch a biscuit * appease his hunger when he was too busy 1 take his food properly. Follett idly watched the little creature, playing at his feet, but, as he watched, tl darting movements suddenly ceased. For t moment it was quite still, its bright ey«; ; glancing about uneasily, as though wondering what was wrong. Then it grew stiff and motionless, the eyes glazed, and it fell over—dead. The sight of that body, in which ths quick life had been quenched so suddenly, startled the young man into action. He sprang to his feet, as though roused from a dream, and looked round, alert and suspicious.

“ There’s something wrong here ; I felt it myself, and that poor little beast lies dead to prove it,” he muttered. " There’s -some deviltry at work; I’ll get out of it while I can.”

He rushed to the door. It was locked. He shook it violently, calling loudly for help, but there was no voice or sound in reply. The deadly torpor was creeping over him again ; he must escape from this baleful influence, whatever it was at any cost. He .flung up the window ; it was a dangerous leap, but to remain in that room meant death —he was convinced of it now—a strange, horrible death, from which only a little animal had saved him.

Fortunately he was a trained athlete, and gathering himself together he jumped clear of obstacles. The next moment he had reached the ground in safety, and was running madly away, as though afraid that the mysterious power might still overtake him. Dr. Sheldon was discovered lying dead in the laboratory next day. He must have gone back after Follett’s escape, and, whether intentionally, or oblivious of the danger in his rage and disap" hutment, he had remained within reach of the mysterious metal, whose rays are so potent to kill as to cure. There was radium enough in the room to destroy human life, and lying in wait—more deadly, more silent than any beast of the jungle—when baulked of ‘one victim, it had sought for and found another.—London "Outlook.” 1