Avon Fantasy Reader No. 14 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

paraphernalia such as Tubby had noticed in the operating room of the hos- pital. He shuddered and looked away. The professor closed the door behind them and lighted a small electric bulb. It was red; it threw a weird reddish glare over the lower part of the room beneath the horizontal beams of the white searchlights, Simultaneously, two little violet beams of light darted out from the wall and slanted upward to the ceiling. “This is my workshop,” explained the professor, casting an appreciative glance about the room. “There is only one absolutely complete and modern optical laboratory in the world. This is it. Sit down, Tubby.” Tubby sat down in a chair near at hand. He wanted to ask about those three-eyed glasses, but decided it would not be gentlemanly. And didn’t the professor ever open that third eye? “You said we're goin’ to get rich, professor,” he ventured. “Tell me how.” The professor stood before him with folded arms, regarding him thought- fully with his two opened eyes. “I have selected you,” he began slowly, “because of your wonderfully clever scientific mind, You have a scientific mind, haven’t you?” “No—yes,” answered Tubby. “So have I,” said the professor. “But I have been studying optics so many years I have neglected everything else. It is your knowledge in the other departments of science that I need now. Together we will become rich, marvelously, fabulously rich.” “Right,” assented Tubby. “Tell me how.” The professor sat down. “I have made a wonderful discovery,” he went on after a moment. “His voice was deeper than ever; he seemed awe-struck by what he was about to say. “I have made the most wonderful optical discovery since the beginning of the world.” “Right,” said Tubby. “It’s a big discovery. Ain’t I right? Tell me what it is.” The professor drew a long breath. “I have located more than a hundred tons of twenty-dollar gold pieces! I can see them. I’m going to let you see them in a moment.” Tubby’s heart leaped into his throat; -he swallowed it hastily. “Fine,” he declared. “Let’s see ’em.” The professor sighed. “First I shall have to tell you how I found them, so that you will understand our problem.” He sighed again, more heavily. “Ic is a terrible, scientific problem. I hope you can solve it.” Tubby stood up. “You give me a look at them twenty-dollar gold pieces. That's all I ask—just give me a look.” The professor smiled sorrowfully. “I will. I'll show them to you right here. I'll let you stand right among them. But sit down now. I have much to tell you first.” Tubby sat down reluctantly. “You do not understand the theory of stereoscopic vision, I assume?” the professor asked. “Yes—no,” said Tubby. “Stereoscopic vision means what you sec by using two cyes simultaneously. Now—” 34 comicloooks. conn