Page:The achievements of Luther Trant - Balmer and MacHarg - 1910.djvu/123

Rh had taken his own watch from his pocket and timed the brief interval, stared at Trant in astonishment. But without giving the wife time to compose herself, Trant went on quickly:

"Look again at the little window, Mrs. Eldredge. I shall expose to you a photograph; and if you are to help me recover your husband's son, I hope you can recognize it. Who was it?" the psychologist demanded as the shutter dropped.

"That was a photograph of Edward!" the woman cried. "But I never saw that picture before!" She sat back, palpitating with uneasiness.

Mrs. Murray quickly took up the picture which had just been recognized as her grandson. "That is not Edward, Mr. Trant," she said.

Trant laid a finger on his lips to silence her.

"Mrs. Murray," he said in quick appeal, "I wished, as you probably noted, to use this instrument, the automatograph, a moment ago: I will try it now. Will you be good enough to test it for me? Merely rest your fingers lightly—as lightly as you please—upon this upper glass plate." Mrs. Murray complied, willingly. "Now please hold your hand there while I lay out these about you." He swiftly distributed the photographic views of the surrounding blocks which Eldredge had collected for him.

Mrs. Murray watched him curiously as he placed about a dozen in a circle upon the table; and, almost as swiftly, swept them away and distributed others in their place. Again, after glancing at her hand to see that it was held in position, he set out a third lot, his eyes fixed, as before, on the smoked paper under the