Page:Weird Tales Volume 10 Number 2 (1927-08).djvu/104

 poison: the cans by it are ether cans—sufficient material there to make enough 511 to immunize the world to cancer—Saul and I were getting ready for the world. The stuff may be worthless—and it may be the answer to Saul's dream after all. Suppose that bunch of fanatics in town should get up a mob and come out here in the next few days, before we have time to determine the value of the solution"

"Yes, you're right," Whittly cut in, turning with businesslike briskness to Mrs. Blauvette. "John's got a wise idea, and we'd better act on it. If you'll help us, we'll carry the 511 and all the raw materials out of here and lock up the laboratory. But where the devil are we going to put the stuff?"

"Out in the garage," John Cloud offered quickly. "It stands back a hundred yards in the trees—Saul wouldn't have the stink of the gasoline near the laboratory. As if a fellow could ever smell it in this stench! But the 511 would probably be safe back there. If they did come out here and attack the laboratory they'd never think of going out to wreck the garage, too. Frankly, I don't think we've got a thing to worry about. I don't think they'll ever come near here. It's all talk."

"Well, I rather look at it that way myself, but caching the solution is a wise precaution." Whittly stepped to the table and began filling his arms with the bottles numbered 511. "We'll carry it into the house first, and then move it on to the garage."

They worked quickly and efficiently, anxious to have the task off their hands, and in short time the bottles were moved to the living rooms, the lights extinguished in the big laboratory, and the door locked between. Henry Arn lay in the dark hush of the place where he had done his life's mad work, at peace, alone. Then the three began carrying the solution on to the garage. They had moved all of it but one last small armful which Cloud was gathering up, when they heard the footsteps of Saul and Helene running up the path outside. All of them turned to glance at the door, startled, as the scientist and the girl burst into their presence.

"Mother!" Saul stared imploringly into the eyes of the tall, gaunt woman who had been silently praying for his return, and his hand gripped the girl's arm. "Mother, I have brought you Helene."

Tense silence fell over the room, the silence seeming to belong to that grim place. The two women looked into each other's eyes, and the three men stood hushed and waiting as Helene spoke.

"I have come to you in the hour of death, and in the hour of life. We both so love your son—we both must see him through. I will not believe that Saul has failed. There must be some terrible mistake."

"No. There can be no mistake." Mrs. Blauvette shook her head in a slow gesture of denial, and something like relief lit her eyes as she studied the girl's face. "I am glad that you have come. I have wanted to see the woman who will stand by my son—when I shall have passed. I am content. But there can be no mistake. Henry Arn gave himself the solution 511. Saul gave it to me. And Henry Arn is dead."

"Do you believe in God?" Helene's mouth quivered. She took a step toward Saul's mother, holding her gaze with desperate calmness. "I tell you God has been leading Saul. He will not fail him now. He sent Saul to save the world!"

"Maybe He sent you here, to save us all," Mrs. Blauvette answered steadily. "He works in mysterious ways. And if He sent you here, He will lead you on. Still your mind and think—does it come to you what we may do?"