The Swoop of the Vulture.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 27 September 1912, Page 2

The Swoop of the Vulture.

OUF SERIAL;)

| CMAi'TKi?. X.\. (•('-oiitinuod.) 'Vi ;!■!( i MP gn/iig to sr.v is that thin experiment is ;,orr.oth.':ig so completely outside human experience ! must ;iss(mh the right to such <4:<>r<ticism ;im must be exercised by r ve-v independent observer. I cannot and will not bind myself to accept anythin p; that 1 may see this evening, as tho truth, no matter how wonderful it may wom, without some oorcfusive proof. At the farac rime," hr went on. rather mere quickly, thinkI u>g that tho princess wa.s abrail. to interrupt him again, "1 want to b<> honest, with you as I know you are with mo. So far as you have gone, f take it that .Tenner Halkine found yn> by some moans, a million starling to dovolopc this scheme. -Now. I should like to -say, l>cfore I havo seen anything of its working, that I .simply want to be convinced that it is really practical', and I take it thai the shr>rtcsfc and tho easiest way of getting that proof is to make the experiment which Princess Natiefl has boon kind enough to propose to me. If I am satisfied every sorcrign that I own in at your service."

155«.h.-H4»:!isu!'s oyos looked across at him witli a glance which lie had some difficulty in meeting steadily, ar.d his lips moved until they shaped themselves into a smile that had just a suspicion of .mockery in it. Then, as ho still kept silent, tho princess said, with a note of elation in her voice: "I knew that you would say that, or something like it, Mr Siemens. I knew you would, and that is why I made the challenge in the first place. I believe, if you don't now, that you will yet bo convinced." "My dear princess, only prove the possibility to me," said Siemens. "There is one condition T am obliged to make before we go any further, but I don't think you will find it a very difficult one," said Doctor Eamal. "What is it?" "That you shall never make any, attempt, direct or indirect, to discover tho construction or method of working tho apparatus with which the experiment will Ik> made."

"My dear Doctor Enmal," replied the millionaire, with a laugh, "all that I want is conviction."

'"Then," said the director, rising, "if you will come with nu> yn shall be convinced ; but, ov-cn now, I think it only riVlit to tell you that

sh'ouTd prepare yourself for wh-' u,. y prove a very considerable shocV

"Thank.-, for the warn in sr. ''octm*." "NVnv," sjaid Eainal. "follow me, both of you."

Rama I led the way down a long pas&age,' heavily curtained at both ends, into an apartment which neither of them had ever seen before. Tt was an oiojhtr-sided room, alwmt twenty feet in diameter, witih no window's or other means of admitting natural light. The walls wore draped with dull-red and gold-embroidered hangings, evidently of Oriental workmanship, and the coiling was similarly hung in a fashion which gave the room the appearence of a splendidly appointed marquee. A cluster of electric lights lurng from tho center, and just filled the room with a soft, clear light that mado everything distinct,ly visible, without making its source at all conspicuous.

There was an oval table in the center of the room, and on it stood a somewhat complicated series of apparatus. At each end was what looked liko a highly elaborated stereoscope, with two eyepieces composed of almost priceless lenses, magnifying several thousand times .Between them were connected rows of vacuum tubes, something like those which, are used in the production of X-rays. All these wero connected with the stereoscopes and each other by slender insulated wires; and in front of each pair of lenses was a round mirror, about ten inches in diameter, intensely bright, but shining with a faint blue luster, instead of the silver sheet of ordinary mirrors. There appeared to be other portions of the curiously complicated instrument under the table, as wires led from the mirrors and tubes over the edges, and possibly through the floor.

There was an a nucha ir at each end of the table, and when they had. taken their places Izah-Ramal said : "You will be good enough to put your eyes to the eyepieces before you —so. Look straight through at the mirror. Now give me yuor hands. Let your arms rest on the cushions. Ye,s, that will do," he went on, as he joined their hands —right to left and left to right. "Now I am going to put out tho electric light; not because this is anything like a dark seance, but because because you will have

BYOVV'biM MASTERS.

Author of "Ris Heart's Desir o," "One Impassioned Hour," "Capthin Emlvn's Bride." "The Devereli Heritage," "Tho Ironmaster's Daughter " etc.

ample I.) »-.•<» without it.. A:..; oi.<i t,<> couur.iii■.t.n•ng gravt-iy, sr.cmi:.. ; "n elL,iiCJ' <;! y,,ft y ; l;t«l U> Cllcl i;i.- eipuniiiOi.x-, \uu. c<iu ii.) >o at any i'..;n>eiit by pimply unjoining hau.'i.s. ' idi turhcd oii tiKJ elector, ai:a touched ;t. iittlo Mvixcli («i iji.' uible. 1 hey iieard a- very soft, purring sound, tliu source of wh:eh u a.s uiuliMiuguistiabk. The mirrors began to g.\> ,%■ v. ith such a light i;i v s neither ol thejii had ever seen before, and the next instant tlioy began 'to experience a total!}' difierent form of consciousness, | separate sense, entirely diii'c-ring : 1 i*oin the ordinary scsistw, iaiid yet most strangely i Humiliating and exalting all of them. -Neither spoke, yet each seemed to hear the other's I voice, low and distinct', and saying unj utterable tilings. Their eyes were fixed on the glasses, yet they could J see each other with more than a physical distinctness.. Their faces seemed to grow semitransparent, and to become enormously magnified. Thien their bra ins came into view, and they could see them working. The blood circulated, and the atoms composing the cells revolved about- each other with varying hue rhythmic motion; and presently their revolutions began to havo a definite moaning for thorn, as the emotions of a marvelously complicated machine would have a inclining for a skilled engineer. After a few seconds, as it seemed to him, Hedley Siemens felt the hands of tho princess begin to tremble and twitch. They were suddenly wrenched away, in spite of his efforts to retain them, and u low cry, which sounded to him like the voice of a soul in torment, rang through the . room : J "Enough! Rnough!" j Izah-Eamal instantly s-ritehed on jtlio electric light again, and Siemens I saw tho princess, her face gray white, her jaw dropped, her eyes . staring blankly at tho ceiling. She was lying iiuddled in tho chair, beer anus hanging down, and her head drooping on jlier right shoulder. .His first thought [was one of wonder that anything so (exquisitely beautiful could have i;i- ---! stanfcly become repulsive, j "I was afraid that something like | that was going to -happen," said TmhRa.mal. "I suppose T needn't tell you what wo saw?" said Siemens. "T am very sorry that the experiment ended as it did, not only for my own sake, but for that of tho princess. I seo your treatment it; beginning to hai'e a good effect." "Yes." replied Jzah-Rnmal, "So far, iti wan only a shock which resulted in a fainting fit, but I do not wish her, for her own sake, to return /to consciousness before she sleeps." ) "I had no idea that it was such a serious matter," exclaimed Siemens, rising from his chair. "I must admit, doctor, that I went into this thing ( with a very considerable amount of skepticism; but I need (hardly tell you now that 1 am quite convinced, and have no doubt that, the priucass jwill be, when she recovers." | "She can bo moved very soon now. ■ If you will press tho button beside the | door there, Earn l>ass will come. • then we will take her to another room, and his wife shall do everything that is necessary for her. I assure yoij that she cannot bo left in better hand; and if my treatment lias he-en successful, T shall hope, for her own interest, that she will awake, thinking nothing more of this experience than if it had bee-iv an evil dream." (To be Continued.)