the monster men-第4章

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s　can　only　lead　to　one　inference；　and　that；　that　his　present　work；　if　successful；　would　have　results　that　would　not　be　countenanced　by　civilized　society　or　government。　Am　I　right？〃

Von　Horn　had　attempted　to　sound　the　girl　that　he　might；　if　possible；　discover　her　attitude　toward　the　work　in　which　her　father　and　he　were　engaged。　　He　had　succeeded　beyond　his　hopes；　for　he　had　not　intended　that　she　should　guess　so　much　of　the　truth　as　she　had。　　Should　her　interest　in　the　work　have　proved　favorable　it　had　been　his　intention　to　acquaint　her　fully　with　the　marvellous　success　which　already　had　attended　their　experiments；　and　to　explain　their　hopes　and　plans　for　the　future；　for　he　had　seen　how　her　father's　attitude　had　hurt　her　and　hoped　to　profit　himself　by　reposing　in　her　the　trust　and　confidence　that　her　father　denied　her。

And　so　it　was　that　her　direct　question　left　him　floundering　in　a　sea　of　embarrassment；　for　to　tell　her　the　truth　now　would　gain　him　no　favor　in　her　eyes；　while　it　certainly　would　lay　him　open　to　the　suspicion　and　distrust　of　her　father　should　he　learn　of　it。

〃I　cannot　answer　your　question；　Miss　Maxon；〃　he　said；　finally；　〃for　your　father's　strictest　injunction　has　been　that　I　divulge　to　no　one　the　slightest　happening　within　the　court　of　mystery。　　Remember　that　I　am　in　your　father's　employ；　and　that　no　matter　what　my　personal　convictions　may　be　regarding　the　work　he　has　been　doing　I　may　only　act　with　loyalty　to　his　lightest　command　while　I　remain　upon　his　payroll。　　That　you　are　here；〃　he　added；　〃is　my　excuse　for　continuing　my　connection　with　certain　things　of　which　my　conscience　does　not　approve。〃

The　girl　glanced　at　him　quickly。　　She　did　not　fully　understand　the　motive　for　his　final　avowal；　and　a　sudden　intuition　kept　her　from　questioning　him。　　She　had　learned　to　look　upon　von　Horn　as　a　very　pleasant　companion　and　a　good　friendshe　was　not　quite　certain　that　she　would　care　for　any　change　in　their　relations；　but　his　remark　had　sowed　the　seed　of　a　new　thought　in　her　mind　as　he　had　intended　that　it　should。

When　von　Horn　returned　to　the　court　of　mystery；　he　narrated　to　Professor　Maxon　the　gist　of　his　conversation　with　Virginia；　wishing　to　forestall　anything　which　the　girl　might　say　to　her　father　that　would　give　him　an　impression　that　von　Horn　had　been　talking　more　than　he　should。　　Professor　Maxon　listened　to　the　narration　in　silence。　　When　von　Horn　had　finished；　he　cautioned　him　against　divulging　to　Virginia　anything　that　took　place　within　the　inner　campong。

〃She　is　only　a　child；〃　he　said；　〃and　would　not　understand　the　importance　of　the　work　we　are　doing。　All　that　she　would　be　able　to　see　is　the　immediate　moral　effect　of　these　experiments　upon　the　subjects　themselvesshe　would　not　look　into　the　future　and　appreciate　the　immense　advantage　to　mankind　that　must　accrue　from　a　successful　termination　of　our　research。　The　future　of　the　world　will　be　assured　when　once　we　have　demonstrated　the　possibility　of　the　chemical　production　of　a　perfect　race。〃

〃Number　One；　for　example；〃　suggested　von　Horn。

Professor　Maxon　glanced　at　him　sharply。

〃Levity；　Doctor；　is　entirely　out　of　place　in　the　contemplation　of　the　magnificent　work　I　have　already　accomplished；〃　said　the　professor　tartly。　　〃I　admit　that　Number　One　leaves　much　to　be　desiredmuch　to　be　desired；　but　Number　Two　shows　a　marked　advance　along　certain　lines；　and　I　am　sure　that　tomorrow　will　divulge　in　experiment　Number　Three　such　strides　as　will　forever　silence　any　propensity　toward　scoffing　which　you　may　now　entertain。〃

〃Forgive　me；　Professor；〃　von　Horn　hastened　to　urge。　〃I　did　not　intend　to　deride　the　wonderful　discoveries　which　you　have　made；　but　it　is　only　natural　that　we　should　both　realize　that　Number　One　is　not　beautiful。　To　one　another　we　may　say　what　we　would　not　think　of　suggesting　to　outsiders。〃

Professor　Maxon　was　mollified　by　this　apology；　and　turned　to　resume　his　watch　beside　a　large；　coffin…shaped　vat。　　For　a　while　von　Horn　was　silent。　There　was　that　upon　his　mind　which　he　had　wished　to　discuss　with　his　employer　since　months　ago；　but　the　moment　had　never　arrived　which　seemed　at　all　propitious；　nor　did　it　appear　likely　ever　to　arrive。　　So　the　doctor　decided　to　broach　the　subject　now；　as　being　psychologically　as　favorable　a　time　as　any。

〃Your　daughter　is　far　from　happy；　Professor；〃　he　said；　〃nor　do　I　feel　that；　surrounded　as　we　are　by　semi…savage　men；　she　is　entirely　safe。〃

Professor　Maxon　looked　up　from　his　vigil　by　the　vat；　eyeing　von　Horn　closely。

〃Well？〃　he　asked。

〃It　seemed　to　me　that　had　I　a　closer　relationship　I　might　better　assist　in　adding　to　her　happiness　and　safetyin　short；　Professor；　I　should　like　your　permission　to　ask　Virginia　to　marry　me。〃

There　had　been　no　indication　in　von　Horn's　attitude　toward　the　girl　that　he　loved　her。　　That　she　was　beautiful　and　intelligent　could　not　be　denied；　and　so　it　was　small　wonder　that　she　might　appeal　strongly　to　any　man；　but　von　Horn　was　quite　evidently　not　of　the　marrying　type。　　For　years　he　had　roved　the　world　in　search　of　adventure　and　excitement。　　Just　why　he　had　left　America　and　his　high　place　in　the　navy　he　never　had　divulged；　nor　why　it　was　that　for　seven　years　he　had　not　set　his　foot　upon　ground　which　lay　beneath　the　authority　of　Uncle　Sam。

Sing　Lee　who　stood　just　without　the　trap　door　through　which　he　was　about　to　pass　Professor　Maxon's　evening　meal　to　him　could　not　be　blamed　for　overhearing　the　conversation；　though　it　may　have　been　culpable　in　him　in　making　no　effort　to　divulge　his　presence；　and　possibly　equally　unpraiseworthy；　as　well　as　lacking　in　romance；　to　attribute　the　doctor's　avowal　to　his　knowledge　of　the　heavy　chest。

As　Professor　Maxon　eyed　the　man　before　replying　to　his　abrupt　request；　von　Horn　noted　a　strange　and　sudden　light　in　the　older　man's　eyesa　something　which　he　never　before　had　seen　there　and　which　caused　an　uncomfortable　sensation　to　creep　over　hima　manner　of　bristling　that　was　akin　either　to　fear　or　horror；　von　Horn　could　not　tell　which。

Then　the　professor　arose　from　his　seat　and　came　very　close　to　the　younger　man；　until　his　face　was　only　a　few　inches　from　von　Horn's。

〃Doctor；〃　he　whispered　in　a　strange；　tense　voice；　〃you　are　mad。　　You　do　not　know　what　you　ask。　　Virginia　is　not　for　such　as　you。　　Tell　me　that　she　does　not　know　of　your　feelings　toward　her。　　Tell　me　that　she　does　not　reciprocate　your　love。　　Tell　me　the　truth；　man。〃　Professor　Maxon　seized　von　Horn　roughly　by　both　shoulders；　his　glittering　eyes　glaring　terribly　into　the　other's。

〃I　have　never　spoken　to　her　of　love；　Professor；〃　replied　von　Horn　quietly；　〃nor　do　I　know　what　her　sentiments　toward　me　may　be。　　Nor　do　I　understand；　sir；　what　objections　you　may　have　to　meI　am　of　a　very　old　and　noble　family。〃　　His　tone　was　haughty　but　respectful。

Professor　Maxon　released　his　hold　upon　his　assistant；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃I　am　glad；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　has　gone　no　further；　for　it　must　not　be。　　I　have　other；　nobler　aspirations　for　my　daughter。　She　must　wed　a　perfect　mannone　such　now　exists。　It　remains　for　me　to　bring　forth　the　ideal　mate　for　her　nor　is　the　time　far　distant。　　A　few　more　weeks　and　we　shall　see　such　a　being　as　I　have　long　dreamed。〃　Again　the　queer　light　flickered　for　a　moment　in　the　once　kindly　and　jovial　eyes　of　the　scientist。

Von　Horn　was　horrified。　　He　was　a　man　of　little　sentiment。　He　could　in　cold　blood　have　married　this　girl　for　the　wealth　he　knew　that　she　would　inherit；　but　the　thought　that　she　was　to　be　united　with　such　a　THING　〃Lord！　　It　is　horrible；〃　and　his　mind　pictured　the　fearful　atrocity　which　was　known　as　Number　One。

Without　a　word　he　turned　and　left　the　campong。　　A　moment　later　Sing's　knock　aroused　Professor　Maxon　from　the　reverie　into　which　he　had　fallen；　and　he　stepped　to　the　trap　door　to　receive　his　evening　meal。　


3

BEAUTY　AND　THE　BEAST


One　day；　about　two　weeks　later；　von　Horn　and　the　professor　were　occupied　closely　with　their　work　in　the　court　of　mystery。　　Developments　were　coming　in　riotous　confusion。　　A　recent　startling　discovery　bade　fare　to　simplify　and　expedite　the　work　far　beyond　the　fondest　dreams　of　the　scientist。

Von　Horn's　interest　in　the　marvellous　results　that　had　been　obtained　was　little　short　of　the　professor's　but　he　foresaw　a　very　different　outcome　of　it　all；　and　by　day　never　moved　without　a　gun　at　either　hip；　and　by　night　both　of　them　were　beside　him。

Sing　Lee；　the　noonday　meal　having　been　disposed　of；　set　forth　with　rod；　string　and　bait　to　snare　gulls　upon　the　beach。　　He　moved　quietly　through　the　jungle；　his　sharp　eyes　and　ears　always　alert　for　anything　that　might　savor　of　the　unusual；　and　so　it　was　that　he　saw　the　two　men　upon　the　beach；　while　they　did　not　see　him　at　all。

They　were　Bududreen　and　the　same　tall　Malay　whom　Sing　had　seen　twice　beforeonce　in　splendid　raiment　and　commanding　the　pirate　prahu；　and　again　as　a　simple　boatman　come　to　the　Ithaca　to　trade；　but　without　the　goods　to　carry　out　his　professed　intentions。

The　two　squatted　on　the　beach　at　the　edge　of　the　jungle　a　short　distance　above　the　point　at　which　Sing　had　been　about　to　emerge　when　he　discovered　them；　so　that　it　was　but　the　work　of　a　moment　or　two　for　the　Chinaman　to　creep　stealthily　through　the　dense　underbrush　to　a　point　directly　above　them　and　not　three　yards　from　where　they　conversed　in　low　tonesyet　sufficiently　loud　that　Sing　missed　not　a　word。

〃I　tell　you；　Bududreen；　that　it　will　be　quite　safe；〃　the　tall　Malay　was　saying。　　〃You　yourself　tell　me　that　none　knows　of　the　whereabouts　of　these　white　men；　and　if　they　do　not　return　your　word　will　be　accepted　as　to　their　fate。　　Your　reward　will　be　great　if　you　bring　the　girl　to　me；　and　if　you　doubt　the　loyalty　of　any　of　your　own　people　a　kris　will　silence　them　as　effectually　as　it　will　silence　the　white　men。〃

〃It　is　not　fear　of　the　white　men；　oh；　Rajah　Muda　Saffir；　that　deters　me；〃　said　Bududreen；　〃but　how　shall　I　know　that　after　I　have　come　to　your　country　with　the　girl　I　shall　not　myself　be　set　upon　and　silenced　with　a　golden　kristhere　be　many　that　will　be　jealous　of　the　great　service　I　have　done　for　the　mighty　rajah。〃

Muda　Saffir　knew　perfectly　well　that　Bududreen　had　but　diplomatically　expressed　a　fear　as　to　his　own　royal　trustworthiness；　but　it　did　not　anger　him；　since　the　charge　was　not　a　direct　one；　but　what　he　did　not　know　was　of　the　heavy　chest　and　Bududreen's　desire　to　win　the　price　of　the　girl　and　yet　be　able　to　save　for　himself　a　chance　at　the　far　greater　fortune　which　he　knew　lay　beneath　that　heavy　oaken　lid。

Both　men　had　arisen　now　and　were　walking　across　the　beach　toward　a　small；　native　canoe　in　which　Muda　Saffir　had　come　to　the　meeting　place。　　They　were　out　of　earshot　before　either　spoke　again；　so　that　what　further　passed　between　them　Sing　could　not　even　guess；　but　he　had　heard　enough　to　confirm　the　suspicions　he　had　entertained　for　a　long　while。

He　did　not　fish　for　gulls　that　day。　　Bududreen　and　Muda　Saffir　stood　talking　upon　the　beach；　and　the　Chinaman　did　not　dare　venture　forth　for　fear　they　might　suspect　that　he　had　overheard　them。　　If　old　Sing　Lee　knew　his　Malays；　he　was　also　wise　enough　to　give　them　credit　for　knowing　their　Chinamen；　so　he　waited　quietly　in　hiding　until　Muda　Saffir　had　left；　and　Bududreen　returned　to　camp。


Professor　Maxon　and　vo