Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

604 tinued. “I saw two of them playing about with it as I rowed back. I wish that I knew what they were up to. If they are sportsmen I’m an acrobat.” “Will you help me with my things, Sam?” I asked, maybe somewhat familiar. “ Quite a member of the family,” sneered Peter, his first attempt at conversation. “That will be enough from you,” reproved his father. “I’m glad that our family is a small one—and your sainted mother not alive to suffer at the sight of you. If you were not so selfish you would never speak like that.” “Well, he had better watch his step!” Peter exclaimed vindictively. “Just what do you mean by that?” I asked. “Oh, nothing,” he returned, as.if sorry that he had spoken. I would have given something to know of what his actual knowledge consisted. In any case I was sorry that young Robinson had returned. The whelp threatened to be a disturbing influence, to say the least; and now that I had met the old scientist and talked to him I had changed my mind entirely regarding his fears. He was de- cidedly not the type to jump at shadows, and that he would continue to be left alone to solve his scientific problem I did not for a moment believe. Also a second sense told me that the re- turn of his son meant something as yet un- explained. I didn’t doubt that the word had gone out to prohibit morphine reaching him through illicit channels, but there was more behind his coming back to his father’s roof than the mere absence of somewhere else to go. Sam beckoned me and I followed him upstairs. We carried my stuff into a kind of attic that he showed me with apologies. But there was a bed and a bureau and several chairs, and I told him I’d be quite snug. “T wish that young viper hadn’t come back—he always shows up like a bad penny,” said Sam. “ He has already added ten years to my master’s life. Lazy, he hasn’t stirred a hand since college got too hot to hold him, yet continually whining for his father to commercialize his genius.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Old Robinson seems a good sort,” I put it. “ Best in the world, and what he doesn’t know about things that grow simply isn’t known. Never spectacular, he has worked mostly on government problems—and then dodged the praise. But only charlatans seek the center of the stage. You should study my master, sir, he is a truly great man.” I warmed to the loyal old fellow, who fussed about to put me at ease. Not until he had assisted in unpacking my suitcase and boxes was he satisfied, and then we went downstairs together to that divided household, Night comes quickly in the country, and I certainly didn’t expect any further excite- ment that first evening of my stay on Terry Island. But sensation was not to be doled out now and again but to come in bunches, for I acted as a magnet as soon as I put in an appearance in that place of isolation. Shortly after we entered the sitting room young Peter gruffly excused himself and _ went upstairs. The prospect of being in the same house with a creature of his low moral character was not a pleasant one. The best move under the circumstances would be to ignore him entirely. Robinson didn’t seem in the mood for conversation. Like most men whose minds are set on large problems, he could express himself well when the occasion demanded it, but he had no small talk. Sam had quickly retreated to the kitchen, and I sat smoking quietly in the unfamiliar lamplight that was yellow and dim. One does not feel real silence in the city, here it hemmed us about, heavy and oppressive, and the windows were black openings into a pitch, dark night. Hermits could have my share of this sort of existence. If there was any pleasure in being buried above ground far from habitual sounds and sights, I couldn’t see it. Perhaps a man with great inner powers to draw upon might find life possible in that detached, out of the way isle, but my idea was to be nearer where life in all its phases was pulsing and beating. (€(0) DOOKS ANCE (EO)