The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

190 my researches, the next step was natu- rally to try to reduce this force to a substance which might be handled and applied to the renew val of exhausted vi- talitv. In this, also, 1 was successtul beyond my hopes. “T discovered a drug which. injected hypodermically into the =ystem, holds the vitic either in suspense, and, imme- diately after the death of the subject, permits its distillation by means of a combination of extreme heat and pow- erful electric currents. “In this little bottle “—he held up the vial—“ are three hundred years of life, calculating on the basis that every drop means five vears. It does not rejuvenate, but it checks decay and instills vitality. My only regret is that I did not discover the secret thirty years ago. As it is, however, I have betore me a longer, if not more uscful, life than others, provided that no accident be- falls me.” “JT pray to God that you may get run over on the first sireet corner,’ interjected Allan bitterly. “Thank you,” rephed ‘the other with a genial smile. “ Under the circum- stances, your sentiments are naturally antagonistic. I suppose it would be useless to ask you any questions about your ancestors—as to longevity, I mean? The information would be ex- tremely useful, and would assist me materially in my calculations.” * Quite useless,” Allan rephed short- lv. “And now, Hf this is not some ghastly practical joke, go on with vour devil's work, and do not torture me further. Whv not have drugged my drink, as you suggested, and saved me from this hell of anticipation? Do vou delight in cruelty for its own sake? ” Dr. Armitage lifted a deprecating hand. “You do me wrong,” he said. ‘‘ My nature is rather kindly than otherwise. And you must forgive me that my pleas- ure as a scientist In imparting a valua- ble secret which can never he revealed hy the one who learns it has perhaps obscured my natural impulses. “ As to drugging your whisky, I mav tell you that I have tried that plan, and found it a c.mplete failure. The pres- ence of any other drug in the system rere gle THE ARGOSY. counteracts the effects of that which I inject. It was in consequence of two successive failures and a most regretta- ble sacrifice of human life needlessly, that I invented that chair. “To relieve vour apprehensions as far as possible, | may mention that your death will be absolutely painless. You will simply fall asleep like a child, and —never waken.” There was a long silence. The little doctor, his legs crossed and his elbows resting on the arms of his chair, sat playing tunes with one thin white hand on the finger tips of the other, and re- garding his victim much after the fash- ion of a butcher estimating the mutton capacities of a tat sheep Allan hardly looked at lim. — His thoughts were busy with past scenes and incidents of the life he was about to leave. He realized that he was absolutely in the power of the fiend before him, and that the end was only a matter of a few how's at most. JTe remembcred read- “ing an account of an execution in the —_—s pay that very morning and specula- ting on the feelings of the doomed man. Then he fell to wondering what his friends would say about his disappear- anee, and what theories would be ad- vanced. He had listened to many in the ease of Allerlee, and some of them had been decidedly uncharitable. Thank God he had no wifc! There Was a girl who would perhaps feel sorry. He hoped so, at any rate. The swift train of thought broken by Dr. wateh. * J} can spare vou half an hour,” the doctor said. “In the meanwhile, let me ask you whether vou have any one dependent on you. One of my subjects had a wife and two children. They are now in reecipt of a small annuity, which [ send them regularly, anonvmously of course. Tam sorry that I cannot offer to communieate any last wishes or fare- well messages, but so far as pecuniary assixtanee is concerned - “Blast vou!” interrupted Allan. “Tf I knew that everv relative I have in the world would starve within a week, they should not be beholden to vou for one copper.” was Armitage taking out his Colin ©O ElLOOO SS (COL