Good God! Was
I going mad? Surely this was some awful nightmare! Professor Wroxton had
disappeared - but in the bottom of the mysterious crystal cage lay the diamond
from his ring.
"Why,
John!" Involuntarily I halted at the entrance to my snug bachelor quarters
as the flood of light my turning of the switch produced revealed a huddled
figure slumped in an easy chair.
"Aye,
sir, 'tis me." The man got to his feet, gnarled hands rubbing at his eyes.
"An' 'tis all day that I've been waiting for you, sir. The caretaker said
you'd be back soon so let me in. I must have fell asleep, an' no wonder, what
with the strain an' no sleep or rest all last night."
"Strain?
No rest?" I stared my bewilderment, trying at the same time to conceal the
vague apprehensions occasioned by the fact that the trusted servitor of my
friend, Professor Wroxton, should wait all day for me.
Hastily
shedding my outer things, I bade him again be seated, sat down facing him, and
asked him to explain.
"'Tis
the professor, sir." The old chap peered at me with anxious, wrinkled
eyes. "'Tis common enough for him to send me here on messages, sir, but
to-day I've come on my own, because, sir," answering the question in my eyes,
"I haven't seen sight of him since last night."
"Why
-" I began.
"That's
just it, sir." John took the words out of my mouth. "For twenty years
my wife an' me have looked after the professor at The Grange. In all that time
he's never been away at night. Whenever he had to come to town he'd tell us.
Most times I'd drive him myself in the old car. But that was very seldom, sir,
for Professor Wroxton had few interests outside."
"But,
John," I protested "is there no other reason for your agitation? He
might have had an urgent call, or gone out for a walk or drive by
himself."
"No,
sir. If you'll pardon me, sir, you're wrong. The professor was fixed in his
habits. He would not go away without tellin' me. Think back, sir, you know the
professor as well as me. Better, because you are his friend and I am only a
servant. Although, sir," this proudly, "he always treated me as a
friend."
"Go
on," I urged, seeing he was not finished.
"Well,
sir, a few minutes back you asked me if there was no other reason for my being
upset like. There is, sir. You know, sir, that for more'n twenty years the
professor has led a retired sort of life; the life of a – a -"
"Recluse,"
I suggested.
"That's
it, sir. He only left The Grange when he had to. He was all wrapped up in some
weird-like thing he was inventing. In all those years, sir, you were the only
visitor who ever went into his laboratory, or stayed at The Grange for a night
or more. That is, sir, until three days ago."
"Go
on," I again urged, some of his perturbation communicating itself to me.
"The
Grange, sir, lying as it does, fifteen miles from town an' back in its own
grounds away from the road, isn't noted by many. When strangers do get into the
grounds I usually gets 'em out again in short order. Three days ago, sir, a
stranger drove up to the door in a fine car. He told me he was wantin' to
purchase a country home. I told him The Grange was not for sale an' turned 'im
away. He was turning his car to leave when my master came out. To my surprise,
sir, he invited the stranger in. An' I'm sure, sir, because he looked so taken
aback like, that the stranger had never seen the professor before."
"And
after that?" I asked, now feeling decidedly uneasy.
"The
stranger, sir - a Mr. Lathom he called himself - stayed on. He was in the study
with the master last night. This morning there was no trace of either of
them."
"But
- good God, John!" I jerked to my feet, a fresh dread clutching at my
heart. "What are you trying to get at? The professor and Mr. Lathom might
possibly have driven away somewhere last night."
"Both
cars, sir," the servant answered, "are in the garage. I bolt all the
doors in the house myself every night. They were still fastened this morning.
My wife an' me searched the house from cellar to garret an' hunted all over the
grounds. We couldn't find a trace of the master or his guest."
"You
mean to suggest then," I shot at him, "that two full grown men have
completely vanished? It's absurd, John, absurd!"
I
paced the floor thinking desperately for a few minutes, conscious of the
ancient's anxious eyes. I half smiled. The thing was too ridiculous for
anything. Old John had grown morbid from living away from the outer world.
Also, I had to admit that the atmosphere of The Grange, impregnated as it was
with the lethal scientific dabblings of my friend, was exactly suited to the
conjuring up of unhealthy forebodings in uneducated minds. I'd drive out to the
home of my friend at once. No doubt I'd find him fit and well. He had refused
to install a phone, so drive it had to be.
"John."
I stopped my pacing and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm coming out to The
Grange at once." His face showed his thankfulness. "I am sure,"
I went on as I struggled into my coat, "that we shall find the professor
and his guest awaiting us. Anyway, it's time you got back to your wife and had
some food."
"I
hope to Heaven, sir, that you're right." With that we left the building
and entered my car.
Although
I had tried to dispel my fears, although I had tried to banter John out of his
dread, I drove that evening as I had never driven before or since. Barely
fifteen minutes later I halted my roadster at the short flight of steps leading
to the main door of The Grange. Even as we stepped from the machine the door
flung open and an agitated woman hurried towards us. She was Mary, John's wife.
"Sir!"
She gripped my arm and stared anxiously into my face. "'Tis glad I am that
you've come. The Grange is a house of death."
In
spite of myself a chill shook my whole body. Gently handing her to John, I
strode up the steps.
At
the open doorway I halted, the aged couple crowding on my heels, the woman
still babbling about death. I couldn't blame her. All day she had been alone in
that gloomy, rambling old building, wondering, no doubt, why John and I had not
returned sooner.
And
gloomy the house was. Always, even when staying there at the professor's
request, I had found it to be somber and depressing, as if there lurked within
its walls the shadowy wings of the years-old tragedy that had caused my friend
to retire to such a God-forsaken place, and there become absorbed in his
scientific experiments.
Even
now, as I gazed into the dimly-lighted hallway, the air seemed charged with
that same malignant something I cannot describe.
Pulling
myself together I strode quickly along the corridor, and flung open the study
door. The lights being full on, one glance sufficed to show me that my friend
was not there. Swinging on my heel, the horror I saw in the eyes of the
servants, honest, healthy folks not easily frightened, conveyed itself to me.
Somehow, the sight of that room, lights on, chairs drawn up to the burnt-out
fire, brought home to me the fact that something serious was amiss. I chided
myself for thinking John had been unduly agitated.
For
a moment I stood, trying to conceal the chill coursing through my veins,
puzzling what to do next. I decided to search the house thoroughly. If I found
no sign of the professor or his guest, I would call in the police.
Fearfully
yet willingly the aged couple led me from room to room, from attic to basement,
until but one place remained - the laboratory. I hesitated for several seconds
at the closed door of my friend's workroom. Not that I had never entered the - to
a layman's eyes - weirdly-appointed place. I had been in many times with the
professor. But this time I dreaded what I might find.
Pulling
myself together, I gently tried the door. To my horror it yielded to my touch.
Alive, the professor always kept it locked. A new dread assailed me, as,
flinging the door wide open, I blinked in the sudden glare of powerful globes.
Someone had left the lights full on!
Horrified
I stood and stared, knowing by their heavy breathing that the aged couple were
also staring with fright-widened eyes. Afraid of what? I did not know. I only
knew that the atmosphere had become even more sinister. I knew that something
dreadful had taken place in that room.
Trembling
with consternation I forced myself to take a few steps forward, then I again
stared about me. At one end of the large room something shone brightly in the
glow of the lights. Slowly I walked across to examine it: it appeared to be a
glass case, almost like a show-case, about eight feet square and seven feet in
height. With the mechanical actions of the mentally distraught I walked all
around it. Not the slightest sign of an entrance could I see. The fact
intrigued me. I tapped lightly on the highly polished surface with my fingers.
It rang to my touch like cut glass.
Through
the transparent surface I could see John and his wife. They were watching me
furtively, wondering, no doubt, why I lingered. As I looked at them John
suddenly lumbered up to the case on the opposite side. Dropping to his knees,
he stared. Turning an imploring gaze to me, he pointed. His lips moved
soundlessly. I followed the pointing finger with my eyes; gasped at what I saw.
Near
the center of the cage, on the floor constructed of the same crystalline
substance, something glittered, its brilliance almost dazzling as the light
rays struck it. My face pressed close to the cold outer surface of the
structure, my shocked intelligence gradually realized what that small sparkling
object was. It was a magnificent diamond - and the professor had always worn a
diamond ring!
In
a sudden frenzy of horror I pawed my way around the cage to where John still
knelt. As I reached him he jerked his head in a numb way as he croaked,
"It's a diamond, sir! The professor's!"
"But
how?" I implored. "How can it be? There's no way into this thing.
Perhaps he was working here, and the stone came loose from its setting. He
couldn't have dropped it after the cage was completed."
"It's
his diamond, sir," intoned the old man, dully. "I know it is."
Then
a sudden unreasoning terror filled me. I shrank away from that shining box. It
seemed to be mocking me, gloatingly, malevolently.
"Quickly!"
I threw at the aged couple. "Let us get out of here! Now! At once!"
They needed no second urging. I knew that they felt as I felt: the laboratory
was a sepulcher!
Five
minutes later I was guiding my car over the narrow road to town. I did not
pause until I drew up at police headquarters. I suppose my appearance was
distraught, for I was ushered into the presence of the chief without delay. In
a few moments I had poured out my story. He listened with a polite calmness I
found almost maddening. Leaning back in his chair, he reviewed, audibly, the
facts.
"Some
twenty-odd years ago your friend, Professor Wroxton, married. He was so
absorbed in the pursuit of some weird invention that he neglected his bride.
She ran away with another man. This man deserted her, and disappeared. The
professor found her many months later, in desperate health. Shortly afterwards
she died. Your friend tried to trail the man, but failed. Shocked and saddened
beyond measure, he retired to a place known as The Grange."
He
suddenly straightened up in his seat, and pointed at me a thick forefinger.
"How
long have you known Professor Wroxton?"
"About
ten years," I answered.
"What
was he trying to invent?"
"I
don't know," I replied.
"And
yet you had his confidence in other matters?"
"But
what has all this to do with finding out what has become of my friend?" I
blurted out. "Perhaps every moment counts."
"A
lot." The chief eyed me in a way I did not like. "Solely because your
friend has not been seen by his servants for nearly twenty-four hours, merely
because you saw what you believe to be his diamond in some kind of a glass
compartment in his laboratory, you come here as distraught as a man who has
something terrible on his mind. Why?"
"I
can't say." I shifted uneasily under that direct stare. "Somehow I
feel that something dreadful has happened to my friend."
"We
do not go by feelings." The chief got to his feet. "But you have told
me enough to warrant action. I want you to guide me and a couple of men to this
house. Please wait here until I return." He left the room.
Sitting
there awaiting his return, I tried to ponder the matter reasonably. After all,
perhaps the chief was right. Merely because the professor had been absent for a
few hours and I had seen what I thought to be his diamond in the laboratory, I
had worked myself into a perfect fever of anxiety. I almost smiled to myself.
In that businesslike office the whole affair did seem absurd. After all the
professor did not have to answer to his servants for his actions.
Heavy
footsteps, announcing the chief's return, caused me to rise to my feet. A few
minutes later, in company with the three officers, I was driving again towards
The Grange.
We
made the return journey in almost complete silence. Occasionally the chief
would shoot a question at me; but, the night air cooling my fevered brain, my
replies were guarded. He realized that fact, for I felt his eyes upon me all
the way. What was going on behind that broad forehead, I wondered.
Then
we reached The Grange. As we mounted the steps, John, his wife herding behind
him, flung wide the door. He answered the question in my eyes with a negative
shake of his head, and the words, "Nothing fresh, sir."
The
chief eyed him keenly, then curtly bade him lead the way to the laboratory.
John hung back, his face blanched. "I can't, sir," he faltered. The
chief turned to me, and, although I wanted to follow John's example, although
the atmosphere of the house had again filled me with an unshakable dread, I led
the way, standing back at the door to allow the officers to enter first.
With
calculating gaze the chief slowly took in every detail of the stone apartment.
He turned to me.
"What
is there here to be afraid of?" I pointed hesitatingly towards the
crystalline cage. The chief and his men strode across to it.
"You
don't know how to open this?" the chief shot at me after a brief
examination.
"No,"
I replied. "It was not here on my last visit."
"When
was that?"
"Some
two or three months ago", I answered. "My work occasions much
traveling on my part."
The
chief and his men turned again to the cage, talking in undertones. He turned
again to me.
"You
notice that this thing is built in sections. One of them must be movable.
Perhaps -" He paused as his eyes fell upon some wires and tubes that
trailed across the floor from underneath the cage to a switchboard fastened to
the wall.
"Perhaps,"
he repeated, "it is worked from that board." He crossed over, stared
thoughtfully at the shining levers for some seconds, and moved one slightly.
The result was astounding. All four of us stared with unbelieving eyes as
slowly, without the faintest sound, a section of one wall slid inwards, as if
guided by invisible tracks on floor and ceiling.
"Guess
that's enough for now." With the words the chief backed away, almost
timidly, I thought, from the switchboard, and walked to the cage. For a moment
he hesitated, but he entered, and emerged with the sparkling object in his
hand.
"It's
the professor's," I choked, crowding close to him.
"How'd
you know?" he shot back. "All unset stones look pretty much
alike."
"I
just know," was all I could falter.
"You
'just know'." The chief sat down on a stool and regarded me searchingly.
"Mr. Thornton, when I started out with you, I thought I was on a wild
goose chase or the trail of a confession. You looked exactly like a man who had
either committed a serious crime, or was getting over a bad drunk. I feel sure
now" - he again regarded the diamond - "that your story was not the
product of an alcohol-crazed brain. Come on!" He lurched to his feet, and
grasped me by the shoulder. "Come through!"
Without
answering, I wrenched myself free. Over my shoulder I saw one of the policemen
at the door. In the hand of the other a revolver suddenly appeared. Good God! I
glared in bewilderment from one to another. Was I going mad? Surely this was
some awful nightmare! What had I said to make them suspect me of having
committed a revolting crime?
"Sit
down!" The command came from the chief. Mechanically I found a stool, and
obeyed him. "Hold your stations, boys, and listen carefully," he
ordered his men. Then he turned to me.
"Professor
Wroxton was a wealthy man without kith or kin?"
"Yes."
"Do
you know the nature of his will?"
"Yes."
Chilled to the heart, I felt the circumstantial net tightening.
"What
is its nature?"
"This
house and an annuity to John and his wife," I explained. "The residue
of his wealth to me."
"Humph!"
The chief stared at me piercingly. "And how has business been with you
lately?"
Damn
the man! What right had he to put me through the third degree? I felt my state
of dazed horror slowly giving way to anger. I glanced around. The pistol still
menaced; the man at the door had not moved. It was useless to try and evade the
questions.
"For the past year," I
replied, "business has been very poor. In fact, the professor advanced me
some money."
"Humph!"
Again that irritating, non-committal grunt.
The
chief turned in his seat and stared thoughtfully at the crystalline cage.
"And
you don't know what the professor was trying to invent?"
"Only
its nature," I began.
"Ah!
That's better. Why didn't you tell me that before?" The chief leaned
forward.
"Well,"
I explained, "the whole thing seems so absurd. When the professor told me
how his married life had been broken up, he told me that at that time he
reached the utmost depths of human suffering. Absolute zero, he called
it."
"Ah!"
"The
experiments he indulged in," I continued, trying to hide the shiver
pimpling my flesh, "were to produce an actual state of absolute zero. It
is years since he told me this. I had almost forgotten it."
"And
exactly what is an absolute zero?" The chief's eyes never left mine.
"Well,"
I protested, "please understand that I also am a layman in these matters.
According to my friend, an absolute zero has been the dream of scientists for
ages. Once upon a time it was attained, but the secret became lost."
"And
exactly what is an absolute zero?"
Curse
the man! I could have struck him down for the chilling level of his tone. I
forced myself to go on, realizing that I was damning myself at every step.
"An
absolute zero is a cold so intense it will destroy flesh, bone and tissue.
Remove them," my voice rose in spite of myself, "leaving absolutely
no trace."
No
trace! Something attracted my eyes. The chief had opened his hand. The diamond
there flashed and sparkled as if mocking me. I pulled myself together, and went
on.
"It
all comes back to me now. One day I came out here and found the professor
terribly distraught. He told me that, with the aid of electric currents he had
been able to invent the absolute zero, but he could not invent a
container."
"Why?"
Those eyes continued to bore into mine.
"Because
- remember it is years since he told me this - there was difficulty in
controlling the power. Besides destroying living things, it would destroy
bricks and mortar, stone and iron. Only one substance it could not wipe out - crystalline
of diamond hardness.
"I
know, now!" I jumped to my feet and grabbed the chief's arm. "I know
now what he meant. Fool, fool! Why did I not think of it before? This -" I
swung towards the cage -"is compensation." Almost panting in my
eagerness I went on:
"My
friend told me that the law of compensation would atone to him for the tragedy
of his youth. Absolute zero in suffering would be atoned for by a real state of
absolute zero. Chief!" I whirled on him. "Don't you understand? This
is the perfected dream of my friend. It is the absolute zero."
"Humph!
Plausible but not convincing." I slumped back at the officer's words.
"That does not explain the professor's disappearance. Even if it did, what
about Mr. Lathom? And don't forget this contrivance is worked from outside. We
found the diamond inside. Of course, he might have placed it there himself to
test the machine," he concluded.
"Of
course, that's it," I commenced. But I regretted the words when I saw
suspicion flicker again in the chief's eyes. Lamely I finished, "And he
has probably rushed off, in an ecstasy of triumph, to acquaint professional
colleagues."
"Without
unlocking any doors or taking a car, eh?
"Mr.
Thornton." The chief stood up and regarded me sternly. "As a sensible
man, don't you think yourself that your story is a bit thin? The professor has
disappeared. Here is a strange-looking case which you say is an absolute zero
container. Whether you know, or are just jumping at conclusions, remains to be
proved. But even if it is, do you think that, after perfecting such a
tremendous invention, the professor would commit suicide?"
"On
the contrary," I gasped, "my friend was a man of gentle, kindly
disposition, but strong purpose. I should think his first action on attaining
his life's ambition would be to notify me, his closest friend."
"And
he didn't." Every word condemned me, and roused me to retaliate.
"Chief,
I know enough of the law to know that, before you can try a man for murder, you
must prove that murder has been committed." I grinned savagely. "You
must have the corpus delicti. Go ahead! Find my friend or his remains, or else
withdraw your charges." I grinned again, with shocked mirthlessness.
Then
I buried my head in my hands. I had called in the police to help find the
professor, and they had only blundered around and asked a lot of stupid
questions. The chief had practically accused me of murder - something I knew he
could not prove, yet feared he might. Because I had told the chief of the
locked doors and unused cars, he had confined his investigations to the house
itself.
He
interrupted my thoughts.
"Mr.
Thornton, I am going back to town. You will remain here with my men. I advise
you to get some sleep, as I shall not be able to carry out certain
investigations until the morning. One of my men will spend his time searching
the house and patrolling the grounds, the other one will stay here with
you."
He
turned away, whispered some instructions to his men, and, followed by one of
them, silently left the laboratory. I started to protest, tried to follow him;
the man at the door stopped me. Silently, almost grimly, he indicated a narrow
cot at one end of the room. For a moment I hesitated, feeling the man's eyes
upon me.
Sleep
on my dead - I felt sure he was dead - friend's cot! Sleep in that fearful
place! My whole being crawled with horror. I turned again to the man. His
features were unyielding. Perhaps this was more third degree. Limp with
weakness and weariness, I dragged my lagging feet towards the cot.
As
long as I live I shall never forget my awakening. A uniformed figure, the
chief, shaking me by the shoulder. Two other uniformed men silently watching. I
sat up and gazed about me, dazedly. Bright sunlight streamed through the
windows. A stray gleam struck the cage. I shrank back, trembling. And yet I had
slept soundly.
"Mr.
Thornton," the chief said, "I have serious news for you. I have
positive proof your friend is dead."
"Dear
God!" The exclamation was wrung from me as recollection returned with a
rush. "Where? You can't have!"
"Here."
He thrust a bundle of letters into my hands. "You acted so strangely last
night you caused me to suspect you of a serious crime. Also, you overlooked
several important points. You got back from a trip only last night."
Last
night! Surely it was years.
"You
had left instructions to have your mail forwarded," the level voice went
on. "These letters were evidently one day behind you. I picked them up at
your rooms this morning. I took the liberty of opening them. Read this
one." He selected it.
With
trembling fingers I extracted from the envelope a single written page. I
recognized the handwriting as the professor's. I read with feverish intensity,
each single word burning itself into my consciousness:
Dear Thornton:
I
am writing this in anticipation. I will see that it is mailed when my plans are
completed. Too late, dear friend, for you to attempt, with the best intentions
in the world, to frustrate them.
You will, perhaps, recall that many years ago, when I gave you my full
confidence, I told you that I felt sure that the law of compensation would
atone in some measure for my loss. Thornton, old friend, I believe that, in
more ways than one, my hour has arrived. Two days ago I completed the absolute
zero. But even better!
A
man called here to-day. Although he did not recognize me, I saw through the
veneer of added years with ease. Fate, call it what you will, my visitor is the
man who wrecked my happiness.
Under pretext I shall detain him. I shall induce him to enter the
crystalline cage. I have already arranged a dual control which the power will
destroy when I apply it from the inside of the cage.
Please destroy the cage. It will have brought compensation to me before
you read this.
Good-by, dear friend!
Wroxton.
"I
apologize, Mr. Thornton." The chief offered a hand which I clutched in
mingled sorrow and relief. The world had lost a genius. I had lost a dear
friend. But he was right. It was
compensation.
