"Step into the laboratory, gentlemen. My demonstration is ready." The speaker was a stoop-shouldered, gray-haired man of fifty years. He was garbed in a white gown. He was addressing a group of keen, intelligent-looking men who were seated in a little living room. This man, to whom the others gave close and respectful attention, was Clark Murdock, whose chemical experiments had gained him an envied reputation
The men arose and followed the chemist into his laboratory. It was the rear room on the second floor of Murdock's old house. He had chosen this secluded spot, away from the main arteries of Manhattan, that he might conduct his experiments without disturbance.
Murdock's laboratory was a remarkable place. It contained shelves of bottles, long tables strewn with appliances and pieces of oddly assorted machinery. His guests looked about them with interest, and the chemist smiled as he saw their wondering glances.
These men had come to see a practical demonstration of his new experiments in atomic disintegration. Clark Murdock had made some remarkable discoveries, but he realized that few of his visitors would understand their full significance.
Motioning the men to chairs, Murdock gazed about him with the air of an instructor about to address a class. He waited until silence had been obtained; then stared at his solemn-faced assistant in the corner.
"You may go, Stevens," he said, brusquely.
"Yes, sir," said the man, with a slight bow. "Do you wish me to wait until the truckmen come, sir?"
"That's right," declared Murdock, with a nod. "They were to return for that box they brought here by mistake. I shall attend to that, Stevens. You left it by the elevator, did you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. I shall answer their ring. Good night, Stevens." The solemn assistant left the laboratory and Murdock again smiled at his guests.
"Stevens is a good assistant, gentlemen," he said, quietly. "He knows nothing. That is much better than knowing too much — as some assistants do."
The others laughed at the chemist's witticism. Murdock looked about the group. He noted two men who impressed him more than any others. They were seated side by side.
One was Doctor Gerald Savette, a keen-visaged man who stood high in his profession.
The other was Lamont Cranston, a wealthy millionaire, who was a likely investor in promising inventions. Clark Murdock, despite his querulous disposition, had an eye to business. He was looking for financial aid in his present experiments, and it had occurred to him that Savette's approval would bring Cranston's interest. Hence it was upon these two that he centered his discourse.
"It is nearly ten o'clock," he said. "For two hours I have been discussing the value of atomic disintegration as a source of tremendous power. In that time, I have endeavored to fully outline the principles that are involved in this great subject. You have been patient, gentlemen — now I shall reward you with the actual demonstration."
Murdock went to a covered table near the center of the room. He drew aside the cloth to disclose a hollow sphere of glass. This globe, which measured more than a foot in diameter, was mounted upon a base of metal.
"Watch," said Murdock, quietly.
He pressed a switch and a motor began to hum. Tiny sparks appeared within the globe.
Then came quick soundless bursts of flame as invisible particles broke asunder.
"Atomic action," spoke the white-haired chemist.
The activity within the hollow sphere seemed like warfare in miniature. The onlookers stared in fascination, while Clark Murdock stood aside, watching the expressions on their faces.
When the chaos had reached its height and the globe seemed ready to break apart, Murdock again pressed the switch. The terrific commotion continued for a few minutes, then gradually ceased. The witnesses gazed at one another in amazement.
"That," declared Clark Murdock, "is a perfect demonstration of my discovery. You have seen the results of atomic disintegration conducted in a vacuum. Now imagine, gentlemen" — the chemist's face took on a visionary stare — "the same activity on a much larger scale — within a steel-walled chamber. There is power here that surpasses all dreams—"
He stopped suddenly as he heard the sound of a telephone bell in another room.
Carefully, Murdock disconnected the apparatus and went from the laboratory. He returned in a few minutes and spoke to Doctor Savette.
"You are wanted on the telephone, doctor," he said.
The physician went into the other room. When he returned a short while afterward he found Murdock again explaining the important points of his discovery.
"I have learned the secrets of the atom," the chemist was saying. "More than that, I have discovered a method of atomic control. Within a few months, I shall have complete success.
"As some of you have remarked, I do run a risk in my experiments; but that risk is in the interests of science. Often, I have been tempted to let the electric charge continue until the last possible moment; but I have always resisted that temptation."
He paused and smiled wanly at his listeners.
"Here, in this laboratory," he said, "a bursting of the crystal sphere would prove disastrous. The atomic energy would be quickly dispelled, but it might start explosions among certain of the chemicals you see upon these shelves and benches.
"Twice I have barely prevented fires, here. I have never been able to obtain insurance, and I have chosen this obscure place because there are comparatively few neighbors who could be harmed should things go wrong."
"It would mean a great loss to science," someone remarked. "You should be careful—"
"I must be careful of myself, yes," replied Murdock. "All the apparatus which you see here could all be replaced with ease — under my supervision. I carry all my plans here" — he tapped his forehead significantly — "and while my brain exists, these results can always be obtained.
"But it is a fact, gentlemen, that should I die, my discoveries would be lost. I do not say forever — for what one has learned, another may learn. But I do say that there is no other man alive who could duplicate what you have seen tonight!"
There was no braggadocio in Murdock's manner as he looked about the group. He had the air of a man who has stated a simple fact. This was not lost upon the visitors. They knew that they had heard the truth.
Doctor Savette advanced with out-stretched hand. Clark Murdock received his clasp.
"Let me congratulate you, Mr. Murdock," said the physician. "This is the most remarkable demonstration that I have ever witnessed. I predict the highest success. You have proven the value of your discoveries."
The man who had harnessed the atom beamed at these words of approval. The others of the group were visibly impressed by Doctor Savette's enthusiasm.
"My only regret," declared Doctor Savette, "is that I must leave you now. This second telephone call was more urgent than the first that I received tonight. I shall look forward to your next demonstration with eagerness, Mr. Murdock."
Good night, doctor," said Murdock warmly. "It has been a privilege to have you here. Upon your next visit, I shall show you how atomic energy works. By then I expect to have a globe of steel in which the atoms will explode to furnish driving power which can be utilized."
Doctor Savette shook hands with the other men in the group and left the laboratory. Murdock continued with his discussion; then evidenced that his demonstrations were finished for the night.
He ushered his guests from the laboratory.
"I shall continue to work tonight," he said as the visitors departed. "I work best when I am alone." Back in his laboratory, Clark Murdock sat down and smiled thoughtfully. He was pleased with tonight's results. Doctor Savette had been commending. Lamont Cranston and the others who had gone with him had also expressed their approval.
The chemist looked about the laboratory and gazed at the crystal sphere. Then his thoughts changed and he arose suddenly to step toward a door at the far corner of the room. He had remembered that two truckmen were coming to remove a huge box that they had left that afternoon. They had called up immediately afterward to state that there had been a mistake.
Another box should have been brought instead. It would be delivered later; in the meantime, the men would come to take away the original box.
Murdock wondered why the men had not yet arrived. He reached a small room outside his laboratory. On one side was a flight of stairs leading to the ground floor. Straight ahead was the elevator which had been installed for the lifting of heavy apparatus. The box was pushed in a corner near the elevator. The chemist shouted down the stairway. There was no response.
Evidently the expected men were still on their way.
Murdock started back toward the laboratory. Then, suddenly curious, he stopped to look at the box. It was a large, oblong contrivance. It was set on end, and the front of the box was hinged, like a door. Murdock studied the box. He could see no address upon it. He wondered if the truckmen had actually made a mistake. This box was twice as large as the one he had expected, nevertheless, it might contain the apparatus that was coming.
The chemist saw a heavy hammer hanging on the wall. His curiosity increased. He suddenly decided to open the box and view its contents.
Prying the front of the box with the hammer, Murdock gradually loosened the side which was securely nailed. He gained an opening for his fingers and tried to pull open the front. It was not an easy task, for the nails were still partly in position. But Murdock kept on at the work, resolved to complete it.
The box tilted forward as the chemist pulled at it. Then, at an unexpected moment, the door-like front yielded. Clark Murdock staggered backward and caught himself before he fell Then, leaning against the wall, he stared in utter bewilderment at an object that tumbled from the box and flattened upon the floor.
It was the form of a man — a lifeless, inert shape, that lay in a twisted, huddled pose. It was a man clad in white — a man with gray hair — whose shoulders were hunched up against his neck. Clark Murdock plucked his own coat with his hands. His garb and that of the dead man were identical. More than that, the size and shape of that body were the same as the chemist's own form!
Stepping slowly forward, Murdock bent down and-lifted the body back toward the box.
He noted that the interior of the wooden case was thickly padded to prevent its contents from being tossed about. But the chemist gave no second thought to that matter. He was interested in this form on the floor, with its bent-down head.
He turned the body sideways to get a glimpse of the face. The light was dim, here in the landing of the stairway. Yet even in the gloom, Clark Murdock saw a sight that startled him. His hands were holding the lifeless head. He was staring at the features of this person who had been the victim of some foul play. The sight of the features filled him with amazement. For Clark Murdock was looking at a countenance which he could not fail to recognize. The face of the dead man was almost an exact counterpart of his own!