by H G Wells

"This again," said the Bacteriologist, slipping glass slide under the microscope, "is well,--a preparation Bacillus of cholera--the cholera germ "

The pale-faced man peered down the microscope evidently not accustomed kind of thing, and held limp white hand over his disengaged eye " very little,"

"Touch this screw," said the Bacteriologist; "perhaps the microscope is out of focus Eyes vary Just the fraction of turn or that "

"Ah ! now ," said the visitor "Not so after all Little streaks and shreds of pink And yet those little particles, those mere atomies, might multiply and devastate city ! Wonderful ! "

He stood up, and releasing the glass slip microscope, held it hand towards the window "Scarcely visible," , scrutinising the preparation He hesitated "Are these--alive ? Are they dangerous now ? "

"Those stained and killed," said the Bacteriologist " , own part, kill and stain universe "

"I suppose," the pale man said, with slight smile, 'that you scarcely care such things about you living-- active state ? "

" contrary, obliged to," said the Bacteriologist "Here, for instance--" He walked across the room and took up one of several sealed tubes " living thing cultivation actual living disease bacteria " He hesitated "Bottled cholera, so "

slight gleam of satisfaction appeared momentarily face pale man "It's deadly thing in your possession," , devouring the little tube eyes The Bacteriologist watched the morbid pleasure visitor's expression This man, who had visited him that afternoon with note of introduction from an old friend, interested him very contrast dispositions The lank black hair and deep grey eyes, the haggard expression and nervous manner, the fitful yet keen interest visitor were novel change phlegmatic deliberations ordinary scientific worker the Bacteriologist chiefly associated perhaps natural, with hearer evidently so impressionable lethal nature of; his topic, to most effective aspect matter

He held the tube hand thoughtfully "Yes, pestilence imprisoned Only break such little tube into supply of drinking-water, say minute particles of life that one must needs stain and examine highest powers microscope even , one can neither smell nor taste--say , 'Go forth, increase and multiply, and replenish the cisterns,' and death--mysterious, untraceable death, death swift and terrible, death full of pain and indignity-- released city, and go hither and thither seeking his victims Here husband wife, here the child from its mother, here the statesman duty, and here the toiler trouble follow the water-mains, creeping along streets, picking out and punishing house here and house there where boil their drinking-water, creeping wells mineral water makers, getting washed into salad, and lying dormant in ices wait ready drunk horse-troughs, and by unwary children public fountains soak soil, to reappear in springs and wells at thousand unexpected places Once start him water supply, and before ring him in, and catch him again, decimated the metropolis "

He stopped abruptly He told rhetoric was his weakness

"But quite safe here, --quite safe "

The pale-faced man nodded His eyes shone He cleared his throat "These Anarchist--rascals," said he, "are fools, blind fools--to use bombs kind of thing is attainable ----"

gentle rap, mere light touch finger-nails, was heard door The Bacteriologist opened if "Just minute, dear," whispered his wife

When he re-entered the laboratory his visitor was looking at his watch "I had no idea I had wasted an hour of your time," "Twelve minutes to four I left here by half-past three But your things were really too interesting No, positively stop moment longer an engagement at four "

He passed room reiterating his thanks, Bacteriologist accompanied him door, and then returned thoughtfully along the passage laboratory musing ethnology visitor Certainly the man was not Teutonic type nor common Latin one "A morbid product, anyhow, afraid," said the Bacteriologist to himself "How he gloated over those cultivations of disease germs ! " disturbing thought struck him He turned bench vapour bath, and then very quickly writing-table Then hastily pockets and then rushed door " put it down hall table,"

"Minnie ! " he shouted hoarsely hall

"Yes, dear," came remote voice

"Had I anything in my hand when I spoke , dear, just now ? "

Pause

"Nothing, dear, because I remember----"

"Blue ruin ! " cried the Bacteriologist, and incontinently ran front door and down the steps house street

Minnie, hearing the door slam violently, ran in alarm window Down the street slender man was getting into cab The Bacteriologist, hatless, and carpet slippers, was running and gesticulating wildly towards this group One slipper came off, but wait "He has gone mad ! " said Minnie; "it's that horrid science "; and, opening the window, called after him The slender man, suddenly glancing round, seemed struck same idea of mental disorder He pointed hastily Bacteriologist, said something cabman, the apron cab slammed, the whip swished, the horse's feet clattered, and in moment cab and Bacteriologist hotly in pursuit, had receded up the vista roadway and disappeared round the corner

Minnie remained straining window for minute Then she drew her head back room again She was dumbfounded " eccentric," she meditated "But running about London-- height season, too-- socks ! " happy thought struck her She hastily put her bonnet on, seized his shoes, went hall, took down his hat and light overcoat pegs, emerged doorstep, and hailed cab that opportunely crawled by "Drive me up the road and round Havelock Crescent, find gentleman running about in velveteen coat and no hat "

"Velveteen coat, ma'am, and no 'at , ma'am " cabman whipped up at once most matter-of-fact way, he drove address every day life

Some later the little group of cabmen and loafers that collects round the cabman's shelter at Haverstock Hill were startled passing of cab with ginger-coloured screw of horse, driven furiously

They were silent as it went by, and then as it receded--"That's 'Arry 'Icks Wot's he got ? " said the stout gentleman known as Old Tootles

"He's a-using his whip, , to rights," said the ostler boy

"Hullo ! " said poor old Tommy Byles; "here's another bloomin' loonatic Blowed if there ain't "

"It's old George," said Old Tootles, "and he's drivin' loonatic, _as you say Ain't he a-clawin' keb ? Wonder if he's after 'Arry 'Icks ? "

The group round the cabman's shelter became animated Chorus: "Go it, George ! " "It's race " "You'll ketch 'em ! " "Whip up ! "

"She's goer, ! " said the ostler boy

"Strike me giddy ! " cried Old Tootles "Here ! I'm a-goin' in minute Here's another comin' If all the cabs in Hampstead ain't gone mad ! "

"It's fieldmale ," said the ostler boy

"She's a-followin' him_," said Old Tootles "Usually the other way about "

"What's she got in her 'and ? "

"Looks like 'igh 'at "

"What bloomin' lark ! Three to one on old George," said the ostler boy "Nexst ! "

Minnie went by in perfect roar of applause She like it, but she felt that she was doing her duty, and whirled on down Haverstock Hill and Camden Town High Street with her eyes ever intent animated back view of old George, who was driving her vagrant husband so incomprehensibly away from her