University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD ii whither I was going, and that though the secret was known to several of the native priests, they failed to utilize their knowledge except for purposes of magic. Thus a vehement desire to study the wonders of the drug seized on me and with little thought of my wireless telegraphy, I reflected night and day on the possibil- ities of ' Thoeba. The night before we reached Calcutta, I was introduced to a certain Major Brigham Hudson, a retired officer of the English Lancers, who, desirous to set up a wireless telegraphic station at Port Arthur, and unable to gain an entrance, had determined to while away his time in India. As we were both of a scientific temperament, we passed many hours discussing the various prob- lems confronting the world today. He was all wireless telegraphy, I was all ' Thoeba, and the result of our many conversations was this: that if I succeeded in getting into Port Arthurhe would pay me the sum of ten thousand dollars and defray all my incidental ex- penses, i agreed, of course, and added that, if in twenty days he did not hear from me, he could call the bargain off. He was to await the result at Bosia, where the English had already estab- lished a station in the hope of receiving messages from the seat of war. So much for the Major; I had now to arrange matters with my American companions. This was easily done however, for when I explained the nature of my coming venture, they agreed to do my share of the work and to await with patience for my return. I accordingly left them for Berga, where, rumor had it, the cele- brated priest Raba performed his wonderful preternatural feats. If there was such a thing as Phoeba it would surely be found here and I determined to watch the priest. One night as I wan- dered down to the hedge that surrounded the magician ' s home and gazed through a window on the ground floor I could see, by the dim light of an oriental lamp, a number of glass tubes, jars, mortars, and other chemical instruments that made it evident to me that I was gazing into Raba ' s laboratory. The light was to me a sufficient indication that he was about to experiment, and curi- osity urged me to conceal myself behind the hedge and to await developments. As I was thus gazing into the lighted chamber, a tall figure

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lo THE REDWOOD THE ADVENTURER INVISIBLE, (An Orientai, Extravaganza) In looking over last evening ' s mail I came across a most re- markable letter bearing the post mark of Port Arthur and dated June 25, 1904. The writing on the envelope was unfamiliar and, when I opened the letter and read the signature, I found that the writer also was unknown to me. His name was Roger Wilkins Dodge and had it not been for my personal interest in the matter I would have thrown the epistle aside and have voted Mr. Dodge a thoroughbred crank. As it was I read the letter through several times and I have determined to give the contents to the public just as they are, fearing that I would be accused of insincerity were I to narrate the substance in my own words. The letter runs as follows: Port Arthur, June 25, 1904. Mr. Sampson Gables, New York City, New York. My Dear Sir: Having read several accounts of your wonderful discoveries, I take the liberty of addressing these lines to you, in order to re- late the marvellous experience I have had. To begin with, my name is Roger Wilkins Dodge. By profession I am an operator in the employ of the American Wireless Telegraphy Co. On the twenty-first of last April I was sent with two others on an expedi- tion to India for experimental purposes. One evening on board the steamer I wandered into the smoking salon and picked up a copy of The Scientific World, which contained one of your articles on Phceba and its remarkable transforming properties. I became interested in it at once, for though it seemed strange and fanciful at first to think that a colorless fluid made up of but a few chemicals could produce the wonderful effects mentioned by you, yet I was convinced after serious thought that there was some- thing in your discovery, and determined to give it more than pass- ing thought. To add to my interest you wrote that the chemicals of the compound were to be procured only in India, the very country

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12 THE REDWOOD with turbaned head and loose flowing robes glided from a dark room at the other end of the building into the laboratory before me. The figure paused for a moment, then moved quietly to the door and stood framed there in the narrow archway. It was the priest; a man of years, with a great long white beard, and deep dark eyes set beneath overhanging brows that gave him a preter- natural aspect. Satisfying himself that no one was about, he went back into the room and stood before a large, queerly constructed cage. I had not noticed the cage before, but now, that it seemed to be a thing of interest, I looked attentively and saw that it contained a monkey of more than ordinary size. What part a monkey could play in Raba ' s laboratory puzzled me and I crossed the hedge and moved closer to the window through which I now had a perfect view of the room. The priest drew a small vial from beneath his robes and at the same time opening the cage he seized the monkey, and poured the contents of the vial into his mouth. In a few moments the poor dumb creature disappeared, and the priest with a smile of contentment closed the cage and gazed at the vial wonderingly. A cold nervous perspiration covered my face, my hair stood on ends, I was excited but it was the excitement of victory. I knew the Raba ' s secret. It was Phceba! Quicker than thought I formed my plan. Running noiselessly over the grass to the window which opened into the closet on the other end of the building, I gazed anxiously into the interior. The light in the laboratory had been extinguished; all now was dark and as I softly lifted the window I heard the retiring footsteps of the chemist. Then in all haste I climbed into the room, struck a match and held it high over my head. By a strange piece of good fortune, my eyes fell directly on a small narrow bottle containing a colorless fluid. I examined it carefully. Just enough was missing to account for the contents of the vial, the cork was but half pressed into the neck and I perceived several drops of the liquid on the table. It was evident to me that this was the mysterious Phceba or that I was as near to it as I could ever hope to be. I accordingly seized the bottle (in the interest of science, I thought at the time, though