The Man Who Ended War by Hollis Godfrey

Author:Hollis Godfrey [Godfrey, Hollis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Suspense
Publisher: Feedbooks
Published: 1908-12-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

I THREW up my curtain next morning to find London settling down into a sea of fog. Already the Thames was wholly hidden, and the water side of the embankment showed only faint, twinkling lights, just on the point of complete extinguishment. The caped policeman, the hurrying butcher's boy, the laborers and the charwomen passing through the garden below, had all completely lost their individuality and became, in place of common London types, misty twentieth century Niobes. But dismal though it was without, my spirits were cheerful enough within as I started down to meet Tom and Dorothy.

We were half through breakfast when Hamerly's card was brought in, to be followed a few moments later by the man himself. I looked with delighted interest at the involuntary start that he gave when he met Dorothy. How I wish I might rightly describe her as she stood there, lighting by her very presence the gray interior of the dining-room, shrouded as it was by the "London particular." Everything else was gloom, save in the circle where Dorothy gave the radiance of her presence.

Hamerly's silent tribute was no more than she exacted from all who met her. Again and again I marvelled at my audacity in believing I might have this incarnation of youth, of power, and beauty for my own.

Such thoughts raced through my head as I sat watching the swift interchange of question and answer between Tom, Dorothy and Hamerly. In response to their inquiries, Hamerly related the story he had told me the day before, and as he ended, asked, " What are you going to do next ? How are you planning to use your man Swenton ? "

Dorothy answered for Tom and myself. " We are going straight to Dr. Heidenmuller's laboratory, taking Swenton along. I want to have the whole scene before my eyes to see what can be made out of it. We should be very glad to have you come with us, Mr. Hamerly."

Tom bent towards me with a look of mock anguish on his brow. " How I had hoped for a peaceful Sunday morning," he said, in a low aside, " and now we've got to plunge out into a nasty fog, and chase all over this benighted city. Never mind, I might have known. I never can have my own way."

Despite his plaint, Tom was the first one ready, clothed in raincoat and slouch hat, as our little party gathered under the shelter of the glass awning inside the court. The massive dignity of the carriage porter, shrouded in a white ghstening rubber coat, loomed bulkier than ever, as, with an elephantine grace, he whistled shrilly twice. Out of a dim background two hansoms dashed into the circle of light where the arcs of the entrance fought bravely against the encroaching fog.

" I'm going with Mr. Hamerly," said Tom. " You take Dorothy in the other hansom, Jim, and drive straight. We'll pick up Swenton on the way. Give the

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