The physician went into the other room. When he returned a short while afterward he found Murdock again explaining the important points of his discovery.
"I have learned the secrets of the atom," the chemist was saying. "More than that, I have discovered a method of atomic control. Within a few months, I shall have complete success.
"As some of you have remarked, I do run a risk in my experiments; but that risk is in the interests of science. Often, I have been tempted to let the electric charge continue until the last possible moment; but I have always resisted that temptation."
He paused and smiled wanly at his listeners.
"Here, in this laboratory," he said, "a bursting of the crystal sphere would prove disastrous. The atomic energy would be quickly dispelled, but it might start explosions among certain of the chemicals you see upon these shelves and benches.
"Twice I have barely prevented fires, here. I have never been able to obtain insurance, and I have chosen this obscure place because there are comparatively few neighbors who could be harmed should things go wrong."
"It would mean a great loss to science," someone remarked. "You should be careful—"
"I must be careful of myself, yes," replied Murdock. "All the apparatus which you see here could all be replaced with ease — under my supervision. I carry all my plans here" — he tapped his forehead significantly — "and while my brain exists, these results can always be obtained.
"But it is a fact, gentlemen, that should I die, my discoveries would be lost. I do not say forever — for what one has learned, another may learn. But I do say that there is no other man alive who could duplicate what you have seen tonight!"
There was no braggadocio in Murdock's manner as he looked about the group. He had the air of a man who has stated a simple fact. This was not lost upon the visitors. They knew that they had heard the truth.
Doctor Savette advanced with out-stretched hand. Clark Murdock received his clasp.
"Let me congratulate you, Mr. Murdock," said the physician. "This is the most remarkable demonstration that I have ever witnessed. I predict the highest success. You have proven the value of your discoveries."
The man who had harnessed the atom beamed at these words of approval. The others of the group were visibly impressed by Doctor Savette's enthusiasm.
"My only regret," declared Doctor Savette, "is that I must leave you now. This second telephone call was more urgent than the first that I received tonight. I shall look forward to your next demonstration with eagerness, Mr. Murdock."
Good night, doctor," said Murdock warmly. "It has been a privilege to have you here. Upon your next visit, I shall show you how atomic energy works. By then I expect to have a globe of steel in which the atoms will explode to furnish driving power which can be utilized."
Doctor Savette shook hands with the other men in the group and left the laboratory. Murdock continued with his discussion; then evidenced that his demonstrations were finished for the night.
He ushered his guests from the laboratory.
"I shall continue to work tonight," he said as the visitors departed. "I work best when I am alone." Back in his laboratory, Clark Murdock sat down and smiled thoughtfully. He was pleased with tonight's results. Doctor Savette had been commending. Lamont Cranston and the others who had gone with him had also expressed their approval.
The chemist looked about the laboratory and gazed at the crystal sphere. Then his thoughts changed and he arose suddenly to step toward a door at the far corner of the room. He had remembered that two truckmen were coming to remove a huge box that they had left that afternoon. They had called up immediately afterward to state that there had been a mistake.
Another box should have been brought instead. It would be delivered later; in the meantime, the men would come to take away the original box.
Murdock wondered why the men had not yet arrived. He reached a small room outside his laboratory. On one side was a flight of stairs leading to the ground floor. Straight ahead was the elevator which had been installed for the lifting of heavy apparatus. The box was pushed in a corner near the elevator. The chemist shouted down the stairway. There was no response.
Evidently the expected men were still on their way.
Murdock started back toward the laboratory. Then, suddenly curious, he stopped to look at the box. It was a large, oblong contrivance. It was set on end, and the front of the box was hinged, like a door. Murdock studied the box. He could see no address upon it. He wondered if the truckmen had actually made a mistake. This box was twice as large as the one he had expected, nevertheless, it might contain the apparatus that was coming.
The chemist saw a heavy hammer hanging on the wall. His curiosity increased. He suddenly decided to open the box and view its contents.
Prying the front of the box with the hammer, Murdock gradually loosened the side which was securely nailed. He gained an opening for his fingers and tried to pull open the front. It was not an easy task, for the nails were still partly in position. But Murdock kept on at the work, resolved to complete it.
The box tilted forward as the chemist pulled at it. Then, at an unexpected moment, the door-like front yielded. Clark Murdock staggered backward and caught himself before he fell Then, leaning against the wall, he stared in utter bewilderment at an object that tumbled from the box and flattened upon the floor.
It was the form of a man — a lifeless, inert shape, that lay in a twisted, huddled pose. It was a man clad in white — a man with gray hair — whose shoulders were hunched up against his neck. Clark Murdock plucked his own coat with his hands. His garb and that of the dead man were identical. More than that, the size and shape of that body were the same as the chemist's own form!
Stepping slowly forward, Murdock bent down and-lifted the body back toward the box.
He noted that the interior of the wooden case was thickly padded to prevent its contents from being tossed about. But the chemist gave no second thought to that matter. He was interested in this form on the floor, with its bent-down head.
He turned the body sideways to get a glimpse of the face. The light was dim, here in the landing of the stairway. Yet even in the gloom, Clark Murdock saw a sight that startled him. His hands were holding the lifeless head. He was staring at the features of this person who had been the victim of some foul play. The sight of the features filled him with amazement. For Clark Murdock was looking at a countenance which he could not fail to recognize. The face of the dead man was almost an exact counterpart of his own!
Chapter III — A Visitor Returns
When Clark Murdock recovered from his bewilderment that followed his strange discovery, he stood with his chin resting in one hand and surveyed the body on the floor before him. A keen analyst, Murdock sought to fathom the mystery that lay here. But his mind was schooled to chemistry, not crime. The longer he surveyed the gruesome form, the more did he become perplexed. He was tempted at first to replace the body in the box and inclose it so that it could be taken away when the truckmen came. Then the thought occurred to him that the men were long overdue, that in all probability they had been instructed not to come back for the box.
The upshot was that Clark Murdock had in his possession the dead body of an unknown man, whose garb and features were characteristic of his own. This was something that seemed too amazing to be merely coincidence.
What should he do? Call the police? That would be the proper course, yet Murdock hesitated to take it. He realized that he would be subjected to a most undesirable cross-examination, and that it would be difficult for him to explain matters in a satisfactory way.
He had not seen the box come in. Stevens had been here, but Murdock knew the stupidity of his assistant. He doubted that either he or Stevens could give the police any information that would enable them to trace the owner of the box.