The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

nt, with singular irrelevance, "tha

ed Chillingford gloomily. "What in th

a horse. Won the Nobel Stake

resident. "I was remarking on the probability of a

ly, as Professor Blyth has discovered a method of obtaining this remarkable element from a substance other than pitch-blende. He has already isolated o

is sufficient to warm the dining-room of an average ratepayer for something like two thousand years, we shall no doubt find in this element the motive power of the future. The smoke nui

is from the Dail

Carried nem. con.," and sundry othe

Everett Anstruther is now due. It is suggested that he should produce this ￡56,000 worth of radium at our next

ett Anstruther climbed the wall at the bac

back the catch of one of the windows, drew up the sash, a

y, a one-storeyed building joined t

cientific laboratory, surrounded by induction coils, Crookes' tubes, balances, prismatic and opt

had read up the subject, and had learnt of its power to penetrate almos

hing but abso

r gently. In front of him was the passage leading

it in mute surpr

ow with a dancing, scintillating light. The rest of the room was in darkness, sav

it was there that it had been exhibited to the scientists-but ￡56,000 worth left o

ar methods of learned men, and with a cheerful

k. The Major paused. "That's queer," he thought. "I

some minutes to reassure himself; then he stepped back to the door and gently turned the knob, without result. He pushed; pul

ts knob its surface was absolutely p

unpleasant situation dawned upon him he felt more uncomfortable than

isn't as bad as all that. I don't know why it should bo

searching the floor for a trap-door. There was none. Save for a

occurred to him that he, Everett Anstruther, late a major of his Majesty's Horse Guards Blue, and now member of Parliamen

earth did it mean? He had been in tight places before-once in Italy, when his l

A THIEF.

telephone bell, and it was still ringing. He watched it in dismay. It would rouse the whole hous

here?" a v

o need. While the receiver wa

ke the house," came the voice,

inwardly. "Yes, I'

ow do yo

" he answered. "Must be

is you

jor, with a sudden insp

slow response. "Thank yo

nce," thought the Major. "Lucky I caught on so well. But what an extra

, please," came do

. "Nothing like the truth in an

hirty-five," was repea

ldi

ate occupation, sol

es

are to risk it fo

n sheer amazement. "What

risk your pension f

ow what y

hief, locked up in Professor Bl

" asked the M

ssor B

" Anstruthe

sor Blyth," cam

you?" asked

can observe the door of your room from where I

you goin

ce, and give you in charge, or I can take scientific o

an by scientifi

room twelve feet square

el

your sensations would be of scientific value. If you care to describe them to me by telephone so long as you are cons

r me the alternative. I think I

that you will be put to great personal inconvenience. If you decide to try the experiment I shall

my choice," said

ugh. What sort of

ron

l need it. G

es

take yo

es

I'm glad you called. You've been fifteen

nty-t

you read a clini

es

you will find a tube. Got it? There's a thermomete

ven," said

e papers do deceive us! Now put the thermometer under your to

came the even

se or foot sold

or

hank you.

N

one dependent upon you, I

e me one, answering

and not attempt to diagnose

es

your

irreg

it will. R

. Can't you let me have

ch a thing. That will do for the present. I'll ring up again shortly, and I

d in intensity. He advanced towards the radium, and was immediately conscious that his discomfort increased. There was a smarting sensation on the front of his

would feel very much worse. The particles would fly all over, and you would inhale them. The symptoms would be intensely interesting if you would care to experience them, but I won't answer for the cons

ply. He hung up his

c., etc., etc., a little red-haired man, whose researches on th

the successful progress of an experiment, did he wax cheerful. He did this now as he surveyed

itution, he's scarcely felt anything yet; but now he'll have trouble. John Smithers, you are going to have an exceedingly bad time of it. If you weren't a criminal I sh

ably crumple up with one hand. It was a stroke of genius to advertise my discovery in the papers. The criminal classes all read them now, and I thought I should probably attract a thief. I placed the radium in th

a, Smithers, you are gr

hristian?" c

pe so

al block of fire? I tell you, man, it's poisoning me. It's choking me. It

got to be punished. Pull yourself together, and show what you are made of. You don't know what a lot of good your sufferings may do to humani

n't read your jibberings. I tell you that if you

you'll only make things worse for yourself, and if you damage the telephone you cut off your only link with the outside world.

pire-a howling chemical b

ound. You might put the thermometer under your tongue again, and let me have

oride killed eight mice in three days; how long will it take an ounce of radium bromide to render a strong

n reply t

If you won't have pity on me as a Christian, I appeal to you as

ted the Professor.

appeal to you a

ientific observations, and I wish you'd keep to

kick you into eternity. Blyth, if I die, I'll haunt you and your family to the fifth generat

y to such ravings, whatever situation I was in. That's the advantage of birth and education. Yet, judging from the way in which Smithers expresses hi

essor did so, but there was no reply. "He can't have collapsed already-a horse-

e before?" said the

t this infernal heap of fire. Those moving specks of light behind are all alive, Blyth. They're grinning at me. They're choking me. And there you sit like a scientific panjandrum with a l

like a nurserymaid! I shall not send for the police. You agreed to this experi

cking like a clock. I bel

rs. Have your hand

em to be

Prepos

lue really. I'

urprised at you. I suspect they're only dirty

at my toe-

And your t

, I'm in a fever. I can't b

re just beginning to get acclimatised, Smithers," said

corpuscles, followed by coma.' Bah! Radium acts on the nerve centres, and

If you don't let me out, I'll swallow the radium. It can

a fool. It would only add to any-er-i

e what it wo

hn Smithers," he thought. "He has no stamina. A man of low bir

response. The gasps sounded like, "Sit on her head, Blyth-keep her down, man. Whoa, mare

rofessor. "I want some more observations. Don't lose

Russians. Get home, lads! Give it 'em hot! Hurrah! I've killed a sergeant-maj

there an hour and a half, and he had calculated on a much longer time. But the symptoms were, on the whole,

response. Once more, and yet

'm afraid I shall have to go to him. He's uncon

n absolute darkness. The Professor was intensely surprised. "What on earth has he don

. He started. The door had closed behind him with a loud click. He switched on the light, and pe

ent the tel

here?" cam

s?" said the Professo

ure? You'll find the thermometer o

onsummate scoundrel!

' sake, Blyth

e immediately I'll hand

, old man. You can

ou done with

se, with a smaller one fixed inside, and the half-inch of intervening space made up with quicksilver. I've had the radium in the inner case most of the time, and it's as quiet as

or, "you are an insolent fellow a

e over ninety-nine, and wouldn't have done that if I'd bottled the radium at once instead of stopping to chatter with you. But you really ought to have kept a smarter look-out as you went in. I nearly brushed against you as I closed the door behind me

BRUSHED AGA

10

op of his voice. The Major hurried through the window, climbed the garden wall, and had found his bicycle b

struther was able to renew his s