The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

142 THE GOLD DELUGE, This, then, was the end of it all! The threat which the President of the French republic had hinted was realized. | While he was incarcerated here—of course for life—or until he was old and- gray and perhaps really crazy,a nation profited by his discovery and subjugated all other nations; in fact, placed the entire world under it as vassals. ‘That was enough to set him crazy. Had the discovery only re- mained his property—his very own—then he could still have hoped. But now? Slowly he rose and began pacing up and down his cell, like an imprisoned lion. He raised himself on tiptoe and tried to get a glimpse of the sea, but it was futile. Only a small piece of the westerly sky, reddened by the sink- ing sun, could be seen, and he sank back discouraged on the bench once more. ; ‘He is a monomaniac and imagines he can make gold,’’ the orderly explained to some one in the hall. A short time afterwards, the second physician, a young man whose frank, friendly face would inspire confidence in any one, entered the cell, felt Erik’s pulse and examined him critically. | ‘Do you really believe me insane ?’’ Erik inquired earnestly as he looked the doctor squarely in the eye. “Not a bit of it!’’ the latter replied. ‘‘ You are only a little nervous and excited. You need proper treatment—a few shower baths ; then you'll be all right again.”’ ‘I have been confined here because I claimed I could make gold,’’ Erik ventured, to test the physician. ‘‘ How now, if it were really true that I ad made this discovery? As a physician you surely must have sufficient knowledge of chemistry not to deny the possibility of such a discovery?” “I must confess that my knowledge of chemistry is limited to pharma- cology, and therefore I cannot form an opinion. Keep yourself very quiet for a while, try to get some sleep; read a little. I brought you a few illus- trated newspapers to look through and pass time pleasantly. I will see you again tomorrow. Until then, good by.”’ | Before Erik could say any more the door had closed on the doctor. ‘That visit appeared to him like a ray of light in Stygian darkness. ‘The physician seemed to be honest, and surely would not deny it if he knew Erik was of insane. Shower baths! ‘The doctor certainly meant that. Erik determined to test him further at his next visit. Time passed slowly. Twice each day Erik was led forth into an open courtyard for exercise under the watchful eye of a keeper. The shower bath followed, and then confinement in his cell. The young doctor saw him daily fora week and the little chat$ with his patient grew more interesting and longer, until finally Erik was gladdened by noticing that the physician seemed to be worried and nonplussed as to what to think of his mental condition. x One day he intimated that he would ask the chief physician to grant Erik the freedom of the prison corridors and rooms. ‘The next day and day after, however, he did not appear. The fourth day the chief physician appeared Eomichook (E@)