Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 132: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

602 my secret research—and why is a man of science seeking to destroy instead of to create? I believe you have a right to an ‘explanation, doctor, since, you will be here ‘with me to fight the good fight.” His head sank on his chest. “T have an only son, doctor—he leit here three weeks ago,” Robinson continued. “Tt shames me to admit it, but he is that lowest of slaves, a dope fiend—and I am both sure and afraid of two things: that he has gone back to the shackles of the drug, and betrayed the end toward which my ex- periments are directed to some person con- nected with the Inner Ring. Now you know why I am suspicious of danger fol- lowing these so uncalled for visits of stran- gers who talk and peer and peer.” “There was no need of your personal confidences, Mr, Robinson,” I stammered. “¥ could not bear to tell Mr. Merritt, even though we are old friends, perhaps because of that reason,”’*he murmured. “ You can naturally see how I connect my son’s continued and unexplained absence with the calls of these men, supposedly to try to buy my island. “The excuse is absurd. And they tried to pump and bribe my servant. My boy had broken away from the narcotic habit again, but, as usual, I believe him to have been sucked back. How he happened to tell of my scientific endeavors I do not know. But I feel sure that these so-called campers are here with purposes directly connected with opium—and mean no good to me.” “ What did they say to Bigelow?” “Nothing much — stopped him on the way to town—and mentioned they would take care of him if he would aid them and tell all he knew. Instead of entering into their schemes the honest fellow broke away from them indignantly.” “ Where are they camped?” “ Somewhere near the landing, he says. I haven’t left the island myself, you know, in months. Sam glimpsed their camp fire this morning going for the mail. He must be told to tow that rowboat back to shore, by the way. We always leave one there— my son might—” His voice trailed into silence. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. At that moment there came an interrup- tion—a weird scratching at the front door as of the claws of an animal. Robinson arose and advanced fearfully, then turned the knob. And a figure fell forward on hands and knees into the room, that of a young man about my own age, whose unkempt appearance, I saw, shocked the old scientist deeply. ‘Father, my father, what have you done?’ he moaned. ‘‘ The word has gone out putting me-under a ban, and all because of you. I can’t buy—beg—or steal any dope, and I must have it—I must—I must —I must!” The screaming voice of a maniac faltered, and then he fainted at our feet. CHAPTER XXI. THE DOPE RING’S CREATURES. NAIDED I picked up the body from the floor and deposited the frail form on a davenport, noticing the faint froth at the mouth from the fit of excite- ment that had been too much for him, to- gether with exhaustion. I loosened the col- lar at the neck and chafed the wrists. In a few minutes he opened his eyes, but he lay motionless looking up at the ceiling and breathing spasmodically. It didn’t take a doctor to tell the lad was in a mighty weakened condition, ‘Fortunately, Mr. Robinson,” I said, to quiet the excited father, “I brought along a simple emergency kit. I'll run upstairs and get a dose of triple bromides for your son. His nerves are unstrung.” The old man looked more shocked than surprised. “You see,’ he said plaintively, “ they think it is a form of getting back at me to refuse dope to this poor victim—to show me what would happen should I succeed. Perverted fools! I’m only too glad they sent out word throughout the underworld that he must be deprived of the drug he craves.” I imagined that I saw a gleam of resent- ment flash and fade out in the eyes of the man on the davenport, but I couldn’t be sure. i comrebook (EO)