Villanova Digital Library - The Boys' world, v. 21, no. 27, July 8, 1922.

Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience. Next Page

Full Title	The Boys' world, v. 21, no. 27, July 8, 1922.
Contributor	Martyn, Ruby Holmes.
Date Added	10 March 2020
Format	Journal
Language	English
Publish Date	1922-07-08
Publisher	Elgin, Ill. : David C. Cook Publishing Co.
Source	Dime Novels and Popular Literature
Alternate Title	The Deadly germ / by Ruby Holmes Martyn.
Topic	Children's literature > Periodicals. Christian life > Juvenile literature. Story papers > Specimens.
About	More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers	Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement

OCR a ene ate _ the smell of experiments. ~ stomach 27. { PUBLISHED UD top floor laboratory where Alec Royce was working that evening. He liked to have others around when he was busy, and spending long hours without human [' seemed more Jonely than usual in that | companionship was the single flaw in his special employment with Doctor Leonard. Now, with his evening work done, the test tubes and electric.ovens and medical materials in orderly array on the wall bench, Alee stretched his long arms and went to the open window for a breath of The laboratory was stuffy with It was decidedly uncertain how long he might have to wait for Doctor Leonard’s return from a fac- fresh air. - ulty consultation, and the doctor's orders were, for Alec to be found here at whatever hour that might be. Alec flung a leg over ~ the wide sill and sat there with his back “to the sash, peering down at the wide- ‘ awake city streets from which the clamor of traffic rosd to him with a muffled blend- ing of sound! Dots of lights outlined the streets in the distance. The dark medical school building across the way seemed rest- ing after its day of rushing activity. The residential district beyond was spangled with lighted windows. The dial of the city clock in its lofty tower shone yellow against the dark night sky, its hands marking the hour of eleven. . Lt Evening after evening spent here had made the scene sufficiently familiar for ‘Alec to find_ several places of personal’. interest. So now as his eye rested on a lighted window several blocks away, he visualized the top floor.room where Ray sat at work, probably on ‘that difficult pone lesson for the morning recitation, And Alec smiled at the remembrance of Ray’s fussy dependability. «What a precautionary he is! Add what detective imagination to keep an eye on this sky parlor with its treasures, But unless I’m a dud that Jast test is a treas- ure! Ray’ll make a diagnostician of note one of these days when I’m a successful specialist,” | rambled Alec's thoughts. The blare of an auto horn from the nearest street corner was sufficiently like ’ nthe doctor’s to interrupt Alec’s: reverie. Tle arose and went to the desk and began to look over a list of formulas made from ‘Rig rough notes of the test tube experi- ments, The doctor's key might click in the door ‘lock at any moment, and he wanted. to make sure that everything was * talking,” Copyright, 1922, by David C. Cook Publishing Company. DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY, Etaoin, ILtrnors. The Deadly Germ _2y Ruby Flolmes/taryn copied right. Alec worked with concen- trated speed to have the last symbol checked before Doctor Leonard arrived. “Then we can get right busy on the grand finale!” he thought eagerly. Ye was so intensely occupied with’ the formulas and so accustomed to the jumble of noises that came up from the city, that not until:a step sounded behind him did he look up. To his amazement, Kemuel Barnes was standing near the wall bench. “Towdy, Kem!” he greeted, pluckily attempting to conceal his alarm. The laboratory door was kept locked, and only Doctor Leonard carried its key. Tlad Kemnuel underhandedly secured. that? Alec did not doubt but the purpose that brought Kem here was sinister, Had he come up over the shadowy roofs and cor- nices and gutters to creep in at the win- dow, intending by his presence to ruin Alec’s reputation when the doctor came? * “ Some little sky parlor you have here, “Alec!” yolunteered Kemuel looking around as he closed the large single paned win- . “Might ag well be- cozy.” . “Wei need that air. No adjustments called. for,” snapped Alec. But instead of interfering at the win- dow, Alec went over to the wall bench and stood with his back to it. pivotal point of the room, if Kemuel was after professional secrets. Although Alec did not know why Kemuel had been un- conditionally dismissed from their classes at the medical school, there was a rumor of his connection with certain missing cultures and dangerous germs. And Alec -had_ personal reasons’ for mistrusting IKXem's honesty and courage. Kemuel Barnes had seldom dealt fairly with bis mates, and discovered in a fault was cow- _ardly vengeful, “Might as well be cozy while we're repeated Kemuel pulling the shade over the closed, window. It was a perfectly opaque shade, and Alec had never seen it drawn before. Instantly Alec thought of possible communication with Ray who might be suspicious of the unex- pectedly darkened window. “ a social call?” Are you paying. me asked Alee mildly. “Guess again,” said Kemuel slouching That was the, _the table into the swivel chair Alec had vacated. “Do you want to see Doctor Leonard?” “Guess again!” repeated Kemuel pock- eting his:thin hands insolently, while he eyed Alec with appraising shrewdness, - “Perhaps Doctor Leonard will come be- fore you go,” suggested the unwilling host, preventing any tone of apprehension from creeping into his voice. . “Not if I know myself. bor!" flashed the other, narrowing ‘his eyes. ‘‘ Ah-ha, that relieves you some!” “Tt surely does,” admitted Alec, “I want to hold down this job, and your being found here would queer it quick.” “Then let’s get to business, old man! Here’s a tidy yellowback for a squint at those test tubes behind you.” “Nothing doing,” smiled Alec Telieved to know the purpose of Kemuel’s unwel- come presence. _ Kemuel drew another crackling bill from his pocket. - “ Ilow’s this?” he asked. “ Doesn’t look good to me!” “Ain't so cheap as you look, eh, kid? How about-doubling the price?” 9 “Nothing doing,” repeated Alee though ‘ his eyes stayed on the money Kemuel held temptingly toward him. Taking it would mean the books and recreation for which he Ionged. “It would take him home for vacation with some new clothes and pres- ents for the family—no one knew how homesick he was nor how he hated his old suit. But during the long minute when the only sound was the tempting rustle of those bills in Nemuel's outstretched hands, Alec did not put forth his own hand to take them. ‘* Nothing doing!” he said with dull finality. “Wise guy!” laughed Kemuel breaking the tension by withdrawing the bills to finger in another pocket for’ some gold pieces which he rang one after enother on until-full ten yellow disks gleamed under the shaded light. Alee’s fingers clinched over the edge of the wall bench. retty as the yellow pieces looked, they did not dazzle him as had the rustling bills during those snaky moments of contemplation. The larger, boldly expressed amount was more fabu- lous than real to bis comprehension, and meant more emphatically a payment for sin, IJlis thought had left them and was busy with those dark curtains, turning over the possibility of signaling to Ray. He fenced-for time in the wild hope that even at the expense of his position Doctor Leonard's arrival would offset the danger. Alec did not for one moment minimize the fact that alone in that room, at the top , “You're going to have s dose.” snarled Kemuet July 8, 1922. -of the highest of the darkened buildings. bis situation was dangerous, _ “Tt would be good luck for you to trot right off the way you came in,” he told Kemuel. An ugly glitter burned in Kemuel’s nar- Tow eyes, but he managed to control bis words, “ Not without what I came for— a squint at ‘those test tubes!” “Start along with the heavy weights you brought,” returned Alec, “Ton't be a fool!’ flared “T surely won't!” declared Alec. surely be.a fool to make myself that kind of a sneak to live with. Trot out the way you got ins Ken.” ~“When I get what [I came for,” per- sisted Kemuel. The intruder had got to his feet and was stealthily shifting his position toward the end of the bench. Alee shifted, too, Kemuel. “rd ES zt fi bd “Man alive! Have you been through an earth- . quake [" managing to keep face to face with him. Kemuel’s jaw was set at an ugly angle. Alee seemed vonchalant, but in reality be was never more alert physically and men- tally—ten paces sidewise to the luminous paint on another bench. and he must put his hand on the can without a fumble; five paces from there to the left to reach the big window, and he must move the curtain aside and get his signal for help on behind it: twelve paces. back to his present position, and very little time for the maneuvers in which surprise must aug- ment his own adroitness. With a swift movement Alec reached for the wall butten that controlled the room lights. Instantly the laboratory was plunged into a darkness that seemed to be full of sounds. Kemuel was slow to react to the unexpected; he lost a moment fumbling for his pocket torch and then dropped it on the floor, He was feeling for it when the lights were flashed: on again and he saw Alec standing at the mach. “Think you can scare me with a bag of tricks?” scorned Kemue} angrily. “I've come for that test tube. Fake up what- ever story you want to for the doctor and pocket your coin!” ~ “The tube stays here,” said Alec. Kemuel’s grin was more menacing. He took a small hypodermic needle from a a pocket case and fingered it gingerly. “Going to dope me?” asked Alee con- tinuing to fence for time. “You're going to have a dose!” snarled Kemuel, striding toward him. Alec made a spring, but though he missed the hold he had meant to secure on the instrument he came up with his back still to’ that wall bench, Kemuel flourished the needle. “See this, you fool? It is loaded with some of those germs they missed from over.)