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An hour passed And now, under the circle of light cast by the hooded lamp upon the table, there in that bare, wrecked office-ho to its birth

Already at the botto that looked like London fog on a Deceently swirled and curdled, with strange old spoon stirred it at the engineer's command

Frolycerin, out of a glass test-tube, graduated to the hundredth of an ounce Keenly, under the lamp-shine, he watched the final reaction; his face, very pale and set, reflected a little of the e before hi, his wounded arm lay useless Yet with his left hand he controlled the sleeping giant in the dish And as he dropped the glycerin, he counted

"Ten, eleven, twelve--fifteen, sixteen--twenty! No pour the water off, quick! Quick!"

Splendidly the girl obeyed The water ran, foalass jar set to receive it Her hands trembled not, nor did she hesitate Only, a line formed between her brows; and her breath, half-held, ca like a shot

"Now, decant it through this funnel, into the vials!"

Again, using both hands for steadiness, she did his bidding

And one by one as she filled the little flasks of chained death, the engineer stoppered them with his left hand

When the last was done, Stern drew a treesture of victory

Into the residue in the dish he poured a little nitric acid

"That's got no kick left in it, now, anyhow," said he relieved "The HNO3 tah But the bottles--take care--don't tip one over, as you love your life!"

He stood up, slowly, and for a moment remained there, his face in the shadow of the lae for support, with his left hand

At hian, "now--?"

The question had no time for co flicked through the , behind them

It struck the opposite ith a sharp crack! then fell slithering to the floor

Outside, against the building, they heard another and another little shock; and all at once a second rabbed the shade and steadied it Beatrice stooped and snatched up the thing from where it lay beside the table