The Argosy, August 1905 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

Bor fad as goat ‘ ’ “The idea sort of staggers me,” re- turned Blinkers. “I'd like a little more roof.” * Wo'll test the seeds ourselves, and that will be the very best kind of proof.” “Then we're off for Spain? ” “By first boat. I have already en- ged passage to Liverpool.” vs summons fell on the door at that moment. Blinkers answered it, and a thin little man in rusty black, topped with a high hat that might have been the vogue in the “60s, stepped across the threshold. “Pardon me for coming right up, gentlemen,” said the ealler, removing his hat. “ My business is very impor- tant, so you Ww ill excuse the lateness of the hour.” His hair was white and he wore large glasses, through which he looked pene- tratingly from Trenwyck to Blinkers and back again to Trenwyek. “My name is Byngs,” he proceeded, “and I hold the chair of Polynesian Flora, University of Hoboken. I under- stand that you”*—he wasnow addressing Trenwyck—* were handed a letter this morning by Mr. Tapscott. May I in- quire, sir, if that letter was for me?” Trenwyck’s face hardened. Here was the rival scientist whose attempt to hale Tapscott before the insanity court had sent that gentleman imto the past before he was ready to go. “The letter was not for you, Profes- sor Byngs,” said Trenwyck coldly. “No?” The little man evinced con- siderable disappointment. “ Was it for the imstitution with which I have the honor to be affiliated?” “It was for myself,’ replied Tren- wyck. The professor’s eyes fell on the table and a cry escaped from his lips. “There they are—the seeds of the hybrid!” He flung himself forward, but Blinkers grabbed him about the middle and deposited him in a chair. “Take it easy, professor,’ said Blinkers. “Those are the seeds, all ric/it, but we can’t allow you to tamper with them.” Byngs writhed in the chair until he was able to fish a red handkerchiet from ,. ee Bs ne 4 * 4 THE ARGOSY. «You gentlemen do not understand this matter,” said he, mopping his brow. “T believe we understand it quite thoroughly,” answered Trenwyek, fold- ing up ‘the seeds and depositing them in a drawer of the table. “ Your designs upon Mr. Tapscott’s liberty have led to deplorable results, Professor Byngs.” TT still insist that you are not ac- quainted with the ulterior aspects of the proposition,” persisted Byngs. “ The department of which I am the honorary head was left a bequest of several thou- sand dollars for research among the flora of Borneo and Tahati. “A yacht was chartered and I went to Polynesia, where I secured a single specimen of a unique plant quite un- known to the botany of the Pacific islands or any other part of the world. That plant, gentlemen, had an affinity for the passing hours, telling each one of the twenty-four accurately through color changes in the petals of the blos- som. “ Had I been allowed to make further study of this rare specimen—which [I called the tempus byngiensis—I am sure that the name of Byngs would have leaped into fame among scientists every- where. But this renown was _ basely fileched away from me.” “Stolen!” exclaimed Trenwyck. “Aye, stolen! Tapscott heard of the plant and bribed the skipper of the yacht to smuggle it ashore and give it into his hands. The theft was safely consummated and the fruits of my labor were lost to me. “Tapscott, as is very well known, is not mentally responsible. I am told he has destroyed the specimen of the tempus byngiensis, but that some seeds | still remain. Likewise I was told that — he had written a letter and enclosed | therein a packet of the seeds, entrusting same to your care.’ “I had hoped that repentance had urged him to rectify the great w he had done me and that the letter and the = packet were for myself. Inasm this is not the = ‘I consider well within my rights w. comicbooks.com