CHAPTER IX
AFTER FIVE YEARS
Four men sat in the clubroom, at their ease in the luxurious leatherchairs, smoking and talking earnestly. Near the center of the room stooda huge mahogany table. On its top, directly in the glare of light froman electrolier overhead, was spread a large black silk handkerchief. Inthe center of this handkerchief lay a heavy gold band--a woman'swedding-ring.
An old-fashioned valise stood near a corner of the table. Its sides wereperforated with small brass-rimmed holes; near the top on one side was asmall square aperture covered with a wire mesh through which one mightlook into the interior. Altogether, from the outside, the bag lookedmuch like those used for carrying small animals.
As it lay on the table now its top was partly open. The inside wasbrightly lighted by a small storage battery and electric globe, fastenedto the side. Near the bottom of the bag was a tiny wire rack, heldsuspended about an inch from the bottom by transverse wires to thesides. The inside of the bag was lined with black plush.
On an arm of the Doctor's chair lay two white tin boxes three or fourinches square. In his hand he held an opened envelope and several letterpages.
"A little more than five years ago to-night, my friends," he beganslowly, "we sat in this room with that"--he indicated the ring--"undervery different circumstances." After a moment, he went on:
"I think I am right when I say that for five years the thought uppermostin our minds has always been that ring and what is going on within oneof its atoms."
"You bet," said the Very Young Man.
"For five years now we have had the ring watched," continued the Doctor,"but Rogers has never returned."
"You asked us here to-night because you had something special to tellus," began the Very Young Man, with a questioning look at the valise andthe ring.
The Doctor smiled. "I'm sorry," he said, "I don't mean to beaggravating."
"Go ahead in your own way, Frank," the Big Business Man put in. "We'llwait if we have to."
The Doctor glanced at the papers in his hand; he had just taken themfrom the envelope. "You are consumed with curiosity, naturally, to knowwhat I have to say--why I have brought the ring here to-night.Gentlemen, you have had to restrain that curiosity less than fiveminutes; I have had a far greater curiosity to endure--and restrain--forover five years.
"When Rogers left us on his last journey into the ring, he gave into mykeeping, unknown to you, this envelope." The Doctor held it up.
"He made me swear I would keep its existence secret from every livingbeing, until the date marked upon it, at which time, in the event of hisnot having returned, it was to be opened. Look at it." The Doctor laidthe envelope on the table.
"It is inscribed, as you see, 'To be opened by Dr. Frank Adams at8 P. M. on September 4th, 1923.' For five years, gentlemen, I kept thatenvelope, knowing nothing of its contents and waiting for the momentwhen I might, with honor, open it. The struggle has been a hard one.Many times I have almost been able to persuade myself, in justice to ourfriend's safety--his very life, probably--that it would be best todisregard his instructions. But I did not; I waited until the date setand then, a little more than a month ago, alone in my office, I openedthe envelope."
The Doctor leaned forward in his chair and shuffled the papers he heldin his hand. His three friends sat tense, waiting.
"The envelope contained these papers. Among them is a letter in which Iam directed to explain everything to you as soon as I succeed in doingcertain other things. Those things I have now accomplished. So I havesent for you. I'll read you the letter first."
No one spoke when the Doctor paused. The Banker drew a long breath. Thenhe bit the end off a fresh cigar and lit it with a shaking hand. TheDoctor shifted his chair closer to the table under the light.
"The letter is dated September 14th, 1918. It begins: 'This will be readat 8 P. M. on September 4th, 1923, by Dr. Frank Adams with no one elsepresent. If the envelope has been opened by him previous to that date Irequest him to read no further. If it has fallen into other hands thanhis I can only hope that the reader will immediately destroy itunread.'" The Doctor paused an instant, then went on.
"Gentlemen, we are approaching the most important events of our lives.An extraordinary duty--a tremendous responsibility, rests with us, ofall the millions of people on this earth. I ask that you listen mostcarefully."
His admonition was quite unnecessary, for no one could have been moreintent than the three men silently facing him.
The Doctor continued reading: "'From Dr. Frank Adams, I exact thefollowing oath, before he reads further. You, Dr. Adams, will divulge tono one, for a period of thirty days, the formulas set down in thesepapers; you will follow implicitly the directions given you; you will donothing that is not expressly stated here. Should you be unable to carryout these directions, you will destroy this letter and the formulas, andtell no one of their ever having been in existence. I must have youroath, Dr. Adams, before you proceed further.'"
The Doctor's voice died away, and he laid the papers on the table.
"Gentlemen," he went on, "later on in the letter I am directed toconsult with you three, setting before you this whole matter. But beforeI do so I must exact a similar oath from each of you. I must have yourword of honor, gentlemen, that you will not attempt to transgress theinstructions given us, and that you will never, by word or action, allowa suggestion of what passes between us here in this room to-night, toreach any other person. Have I your promise?"
Each of his three hearers found voice to agree. The Banker's face wasvery red, and he mopped his forehead nervously with his handkerchief.
The Doctor picked up the papers. "The letter goes on: 'I am about toventure back into the unknown world of the ring. What will befall methere I cannot foretell. If by September 4th, 1923, I have not returned,or no other mortal has come out of the ring, it is my desire that youand the three gentlemen with you at the time of my departure, use thisdiscovery of mine for the benefit of humanity in your world, or theworld in the ring, exactly as I myself would have used it were I there.
"'Should the European war be in progress at that time, I direct that youfour throw your power on the side of the United States for the defeat ofthe Central Powers. That you will be able to accomplish that defeat Icannot doubt.
"'If, on September 4th, 1923, the United States is formally at peacewith the powers of the world, you are forbidden to use these chemicalsfor any purpose other than joining me in the world of the ring. If anyamong you wish to make the venture, which I hope may be the case, Irequest that you do so.
"'Among these pages you will find a list of fourteen chemicals to beused by Dr. Frank Adams during the month following September 4, 1923,for the compounding of my powders. Seven of these chemicals (marked A),are employed in the drug used to diminish bodily size. Those sevenmarked B are for the drug of opposite action.
"'You will find here a separate description of each chemical. Nine arewell known and fairly common. Dr. Adams will be able to purchase each ofthem separately without difficulty. Three others will have to beespecially compounded and I have so stated in the directions for each ofthem. Dr. Adams can have them prepared by any large chemicalmanufacturer; I suggest that he have not more than one of themcompounded by the same company.
"'The two remaining chemicals must be prepared by Dr. Adams personally.Their preparation, while intricate, demands no complicated or extensiveapparatus. I have tried to explain thoroughly the making of these twochemicals, and I believe no insurmountable obstacle will be met incompleting them.
"'When Dr. Adams has the specified quantities of each of these fourteenchemicals in his possession, he will proceed according to my furtherdirections to compound the two drugs. If he is successful in makingthese drugs, I direct that he make known to the three other men referredto, the contents of this letter, after first exacting an oath from eachthat its provisions will be carried out.
"'I think it probable that Dr. Adams will succeed in compounding thesetw
o drugs. It also seems probable that at that time the United States nolonger will be at war. I make the additional assumption that one or moreof you gentlemen will desire to join me in the ring. Therefore, you willfind herewith memoranda of my first journey into the ring which I havealready described to you; I give also the quantities of each drug to betaken at various stages of the trip. These notes will refresh yourmemory and will assist you in your journey.
"'I intend to suggest to Dr. Adams to-day when I hand him this letter,that in the event of my failure to return within a week, he make someadequate provision for guarding the ring in safety. And I must cautionyou now, before starting to join me, if you conclude to do so, that youcontinue this provision, so as to make possible your safe return to yourown world.
"'If our country is at war at the time you read this, your duty isplain. I have no fears regarding your course of action. But if not, I donot care to influence unduly your decision about venturing into thisunknown other world. The danger into which I personally may have fallenmust count for little with you, in a decision to hazard your own lives.I may point out, however, that such a journey successfully accomplishedcannot fail but be the greatest contribution to science that has everbeen made. Nor can I doubt but that your coming may prove of tremendousbenefit to the humanity of this other equally important, though, in oureyes, infinitesimal world.
"'I therefore suggest, gentlemen, that you start your journey into thering at 8 P. M. on the evening of November 4, 1923. You will do yourbest to find your way direct to the city of Arite, where, if I am alive,I will be awaiting you.'"