The Death-in-Fear.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 293, 5 December 1908, Page 4

The Death-in-Fear.

What is tru future of radium, that mysterious substance whoso internal fire muut have benn at work when the earth itself was a sun, and will continue ifter many bodies, now suns, have grown cold? Dr. Sheldon put down tha popular "Beview " he had been reading and sat lost in thought, staring straight before him with blank, unseeing eyes.

" What future ?" he muttered, " A marvelous one, beyond a doubt, The ouring 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," he oontlnued, 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 tin threshold of success. It is not to be borne I I have a right to what I have earned." Ho got up, shook himsßlf and went out, walking across Kensington Gardon to Lancaster Gate. His spare, upright figure and moasured stride suggested the soldier rather than the soientist, but Ms 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 Burrounded by books. "Ah, Sheldon," with a look of ploasure, "what brings you out so early? You are generally at work in your laboratory at this 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 lire very costly, as you know, and I have nearly reached the end of my resources. To stop my investigations now—when any ibiy I may d'iseover a great truth—will be like stopping my lite. 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 I 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 staiod nic in the face. She would have had good value for her money I I could beBtow almost as much a.i 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 sho has never been young before, and she wants to be happy. Such folly I " "He is the stumbling block, then? He stands between me and nil 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 nim. 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 bis way homo ho pissed 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 I" His hand opened and closed. " Half of it would force the gates of knowledge behind whi-h I stand. 'Thegreatest gobd of the greatest number'—that is a wise saying. Wiiy should que 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."

Mis oyes bud the flare of a monomaniac's. Scieuce was a muster to whom be could refuse nothing; the desire to lenrn the hidden things on earth and air possessed him like a madness. He must satisfy the craving at all costs.

Tlmt niglit he wrote to Mr. Follett, devising some feasible excuse for asking him to call.the following evening. He was very busy all the next day, visiting vcrious hospitals and medical friends, and when he entered bis laboratory again there was a look of evil triumph on his set face. The house vvr.s empty, for be had sent the old woman ivho waited on him home an hour earlier than usual.

t 1 It is an experiment, of course," he said, .'.'hen, his preparations completed, be at last, sat down, " but Isee no reason why it should not succeed. If lean kill a small animal with a nmall 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. I'i.rp.lysis 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 workship it looks I" 7oung Follett exclaimed, as he entered the laboratory that evening. " I never saw such 4 lot of evil looking things-von can't think oflkcm as mure machines.. il:ev might be half alive." He laugued as he spoke, but he was evidently interested imd impressed. " They are alive to a certain extent," was the reply. '•! believe in the theory that 'if spirits, thought waves, or any other of the io-callcd psychic manifestations can influence human beings, they can also influence delicate machines in a far greater degree.' These things have been iny companions for so long it is only- reasonable to suppose that there Is some communion between us." "What 11 ghastly idea I One does not like to think that it is possihle for such deadlylooking instruments to have any will power of their own. Even as mere machines, they must be bard enough to control." To himself he thought: "The doctor looks deuced queer, he'll go out of his uiind if ho encourages such fancies. I should think he is pretty near the boundary lino 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 ho placed the only chair in the room for his visitor. " I should be 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 common."

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 ihair, 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 so preposterous I might imagine that there was something antagonistic to me in this room," he muttered; that one o/jj)hose horrible-looking maohines had taken a disllks to me. Jshaw 1 what nonMnse I am talking," with an attempt to

laugh. '' Thii plus is getting on my nervtt He would have to get up—to row himself in some way, so as to throw off tbr disagreeable sensations, but he did not sei '' to have the energy to move. Then as he sat, gazing vacantly beft ■•: him like a man but half awake, he saw ■ mouse run ant into the middle of the flocfc It stopped a moment, listening, but evider;ly reassured by the silence, it darted abor* picking up some crumbs that the doctor hi i. let fall. He would often munch a biscuit % appease his hunger when he was too busy take his food properly. Follett idly watched the little creating playing at hisTeet, but, as he watched, ttf darting movements suddenly ceased. For s 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 tin 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 domo 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 ; ho must escape from this baleful influence, whatever it was at any cost. He Hung up the window ; it was a dangerous leap, but to remain in that room meant death—he was convinced of itnow—astrange, 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 manly away, as though a fin id that the mysterious power might still overlake him.

Dr. Sheldon was discovered lying dead in the laboratory next day. He must bnvo gone back after Follett's escape, and, whether intentionally, or oblivious of the danger in his rage and disap-ointment, 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."