I had no inkling of what Dan had been thinking during the long night since his wife had been pronounced without a chance .sx We had not undressed or slept .sx We had scarcely exchanged a word .sx With a box of cigars within handstretch we had sat with a grim pretence of normality , listening to the clock ticking , but in reality waiting for the summons .sx Of the two of us you would have supposed that he was the less threatened .sx I can see him now beneath the tent of lamp-light , composed , immobile , his ashen face carved against the black walnut of the library .sx Then dawn groping and at last meadows steaming billowy in the sunrise .sx I can even recall the book he was reading , " Thirty Strange Stories , " by H. G. Wells .sx Since the news that there was no hope he had sat there turning the pages in a fury of concentration as though by ignoring he could avert catastrophe .sx The butler tapped , announcing breakfast .sx " I'll take mine here , " Dan spoke unemotionally .sx " All I need is a cup of coffee .sx " The man returned , bearing a tray and beneath his arm the morning paper .sx I seized the excuse to escape .sx The strain of watching , thinking , planning comfort which never got uttered , had been awful .sx In the hall I met one of the nurses .sx " How is she ?sx " Sinking .sx " " Does she suffer ?sx " .sx " I don't think so .sx " " Thank God .sx " Then I frowned , rebellious at finding that I was still capable of thanking God for anything .sx LETTING myself out of the house , I walked rapidly .sx It couldn't be true the tragedy that was happening .sx Every sight and sound did its best to reassure me .sx The May morning gushed and palpitated with merriment .sx Birds in tree-tops were twittering .sx Flowering shrubs were nod-ding .sx A random breeze blew irresponsibly .sx A short distance from the house Elsie's fox-terrier came bounding , wagging his tail and apologising for accompanying me .sx " You're lonely , too .sx " I stopped to pat his head .sx " Can't face the future is that it ?sx Death is a bit frightening .sx " I slowed down .sx Here in the health ofgreen things growing the possession of life seemed a pledge of immortality .sx And yet , I knew it wasn't .sx At this moment in the house behind me , shades might be in process of being lowered .sx I refused to gaze back .sx In spite of doctors , while there was life there was hope .sx As I strolled through my fool's paradise I asked myself questions , Was death an accident or was it a full stop signal prearranged at birth ?sx If Elsie had married me , for instance , would she be dying ?sx But then , she could never have married me , if for each of us every detail of our pilgrimage was predestined .sx IF death did not happen haphazard and the hour of our departure was written on our palm , there was an invisible Power , greater than ourselves , who wished us well ; presumably He wished us well to have gone to so much trouble for us .sx But Jesus had altered the full-stop signals had advanced them .sx He had raised people from the dead .sx How had he done it without causing collision ?sx What had been his motive , if he had known that every individual life , like the units of a marching army , had been divinely routed ?sx I mustn't leave Dan .sx Reluctantly I turned back .sx The house was still smiling .sx as though secure in its happiness , the shades still up , the windows varnished by sunshine .sx " Not yet , " I thought .sx " If she can hang on like this " Then I sobered myself .sx " What's the use of prolonging her suffering ?sx With dread , I hesitated outside the library .sx Had he , too , been told she was sinking ?sx I mustered courage .sx As I entered , Dan staggered from his choir .sx " Where have you been ?sx She's not going to die .sx I've been burning to tell you !sx " He shouted the news at me , and quivered as if with palsy .sx The suspense had been too much for him .sx " Isn't she ?sx " I questioned soothingly .sx " What makes you so sure ?sx Grabbing my arm , he thrust the morning paper into my hand .sx " Look at that .sx Read it , you Doubting Thomas .sx " Across the top of the page in scare head-lines I read :sx " There shall be no more Death .sx " Beneath them followed .sx column after column of sensationalism .sx I ran my eye down the text , trying to discriminate between facts and jargon .sx A good deal of what was printed was wildest speculation romantic twaddle .sx If there was to be no more death , the difference it would make to us !sx Immortality in this life , that was what it meant , the heaven we had postponed , dragged down from the clouds , made present and personal .sx No more hospitals .sx No more funerals .sx Sorrow and crying ended .sx A scientist had landed in New York .sx He had come direct from the research laboratories in Vienna .sx Apparently he had saved the news of his discovery for America .sx No word had proceeded him , he had arrived unheralded .sx On the dock quite casually to a chance reporter he had made the startling announcement that he was master of the secret by which death could be abolished .sx Before his claim had been made public , he had been invited to submit his data to a hastily summoned council of experts .sx Stripped of scientific technicalities , the report of their investigation sounded promising .sx Working on the theory that all germs are species or sub-species of a genus-germ , he had traced back , breaking down the germ-categories , till he had segregated the parent germ of them all , the death-germ with the result that he had invented the anti-death serum .sx His claim was that by administering his serum , he could restore to health those who were in the last stages of dissolution .sx More than that , he could prolong life indefinitely .sx If the Pharaohs had possessed his know-ledge , they would be walking the world , instead of sleeping beneath sand in gilded coffins .sx If he chose to employ his skill indiscriminately , he held the power of making the human body eternal .sx " YOU'VE read enough to get the gist ?sx " Dan wrested the paper from me .sx " What do you think of it ?sx " A good story .sx " " It's more than that .sx " He dared me to undermine his optimism , " I've sent for him !sx " .sx Pity for Iris credulity overcame me .sx I turned away , staring through the window .sx " How did you send for him ?sx I wired .sx For God's sake help me .sx My wife is dying .sx Not a minute to lose .sx Ifyou cure her will pay you everything I possess .sx " Silence .sx He was waiting for my approval .sx " Everything you possess ?sx How much is that ?sx " .sx The coarseness of my question was intended .sx To my surprise it caused him no resentment .sx " Millions .sx " " But will he know you ?sx " .sx " You're right , " he burst out .sx " Any American would know me .sx But he's a foreigner .sx I ought to have been explicit .sx " He was at the telephone , ringing up Western Union .sx The second telegram he sent was a detailed assurance of his financial standing , to which he appended banks as references .sx The promise was repeated that as a reward he would strip himself of all he possessed .sx The plea for haste was reiterated .sx HE swung round from his desk with a triumphant expression :sx " What do I care how much I lose , if I can only keep her ?sx I caught him by the shoulder , appalled and astounded .sx " You really believe , Dan , that any man born of woman can achieve this miracle ?sx " It's an answer to prayer .sx " At sight of my scepticism he buried his face in his hands .sx " If I don't believe in this , what else have I to believe in ?sx " .sx Suddenly I had the vision of thousands of other homes in which the same spark of hope had been recklessly kindled .sx The news seemed incredible , but if it had no foundation the men responsible for printing it deserved to be electrocuted .sx No editor in his senses would have published such an item unless he himself had been convinced of its sincerity .sx What if I were a Doubting Thomas , so intellectually obstinate that I was refusing happiness by demanding proof ?sx I began to hedge .sx " The fellow whoever he is may have made the discovery .sx But for heaven's sake , Dan , don't bank too much on it .sx He mayn't be able to make the trip ; there'll be plenty of people in New York who'll be clamouring for him !sx " " But think what I've offered him !sx " He thumped the desk .sx " All my fortune .sx It was the reason I did it to outbid the rest .sx " .sx " If he comes merely for that , he brands himself a charlatan .sx " " What do I care what he brands himself ?sx " Dan rose to his feet .sx " He won't come , unless he knows that he can cure her .sx " " Then he won't come , " was my thought .sx Before I could utter it Dan had flung himself from the room .sx I guessed where he was seated on the stairs , where he could waylay the nurses for the latest word of his wife's progress .sx Left alone , I picked up the paper .sx " There Shall Be No More Death .sx " The assertion challenged me .sx I re-read all the information , weighing and judging it .sx I was still reading when the telephone rang .sx " Western Union .sx A wire for Mr. Daniel Lippiat .sx Starting at once .sx The signature is difficult to pronounce .sx It's some foreign name .sx I'll have to spell it .sx " My answer was to deliver the telegram by messenger .sx That he was starting was at least proof that he was confident of his own power , else why should he risk visiting a dying woman .sx I battled to retain my mental balance , but everything was toppling .sx An insane faith was sweeping away my caution .sx What if this stranger with the unpronounceable name could actually achieve the miracle he promised ?sx From outside myself , as though a spirit-voice were pronouncing , persuading , the certainty dinned in my ears that he could .sx HURRYING into the hall , I tiptoed up the stairs .sx Dan was emerging from the sick-room .sx " He's started , " I whispered .sx He turned on his heel .sx " I must tell her .sx If she can keep alive till he comes , she's cured .sx " The second time he emerged , his face was shining .sx He was radiantly calm as if the danger was ended .sx " She's fighting .sx She's given me her word to go on fighting .sx The nurses , too , they've caught the inspiration .sx I don't think there's a doubt now .sx " Throwing his arm about my shoulder , he shook me boyishly .sx " Didn't I tell you that for Elsie to die is impossible ?sx From the start I knew some rescue was preparing .sx " In the library , as he was flinging widethe windows , letting spring in and sorrow out , I inquired :sx " What made you so certain ?sx " .sx " All last night , when I was pretending to be reading , what do you think I was doing ?sx Praying .sx Repeating over and over :sx ` Oh , God , whether it be Thy will or not , let this cup pass from me !sx ' I became so sure my prayer had been answered that I wouldn't have been surprised if " .sx " If what ?sx " I prompted .sx " If Jesus had entered .sx " His glance fell away shyly .sx WE set to work hunting time-tables , striving to estimate the earliest hour at which we could expect the healer .sx His quickest route would be to leave the train at Providence and come on by automobile .sx But if we tried to meet him , we had no description of him .sx Since he was already travelling , there was no way in which we could communicate with him .sx Dan tossed the time-tables aside with a grin of confidence .sx " I'm not worrying , so why should you ?sx I feel in my bones that everything's going to be all right .sx " His face went solemn .sx " Would you like to know what I really feel ?sx I feel that I'm in God's hands .sx It sounds almost blasphemy from one who's paid God so little attention .sx " A strange day , that first of May a day of elated waiting .sx " When she's better , " Dan kept saying , rebuilding his future .sx When she was better , he would do absolutely anything she wanted .sx He'd never leave her not for a second .sx Before this had happened , he had been willing to see her off to Europe .sx He'd made business an excuse for not accompanying her .sx If he'd suffered he'd at least learned values .sx