The Girl in the Golden Atom | Page 7

first stage of growth. As you may have noticed, it
was constantly accelerated. This acceleration attains a speed of possibly
fifty thousand times that you observed. Beyond that, it is my theory, the
change is at a uniform rate." He looked at the body of the fly, lying
inert on the floor. "You can appreciate now, gentlemen, the importance
of having this growth cease after death."
"Good Lord, I should say so!" murmured the Big Business Man,
mopping his forehead. The Chemist took the lump of sugar and threw it
into the open fire.
"Gosh!" said the Very Young Man, "suppose when we were not

looking, another fly had----"
"Shut up!" growled the Banker.
"Not so skeptical now, eh, George?" said the Big Business Man.
"Can you catch me another fly?" asked the Chemist. The Very Young
Man hastened to do so. "The second demonstration, gentlemen," said
the Chemist, "is less spectacular, but far more pertinent than the one
you have just witnessed." He took the fly by the wings, and prepared
another lump of sugar, sprinkling a crushed pill from the other vial
upon it.
"When he is small enough I am going to try to put him on the ring, if he
will stay still," said the Chemist.
The Doctor pulled the plate containing the ring forward until it was
directly under the light, and every one crowded closer to watch; already
the fly was almost too small to be held. The Chemist tried to set it on
the ring, but could not; so with his other hand he brushed it lightly into
the plate, where it lay, a tiny black speck against the gleaming
whiteness of the china.
"Watch it carefully, gentlemen," he said, as they bent closer.
"It's gone," said the Big Business Man.
"No, I can still see it," said the Doctor. Then he raised the plate closer
to his face. "Now it's gone," he said.
The Chemist sat down in his chair. "It's probably still there, only too
small for you to see. In a few minutes, if it took a sufficient amount of
the drug, it will be small enough to fall between the molecules of the
plate."
"Do you suppose it will find another inhabited universe down there?"
asked the Very Young Man.
"Who knows," smiled the Chemist. "Very possibly it will. But the one

we are interested in is here," he added, touching the ring.
"Is it your intention to take this stuff yourself to-night?" asked the Big
Business Man.
"If you will give me your help, I think so, yes. I have made all
arrangements. The club has given us this room in absolute privacy for
forty-eight hours. Your meals will be served here when you want them,
and I am going to ask you, gentlemen, to take turns watching and
guarding the ring during that time. Will you do it?"
"I should say we would," cried the Doctor, and the others nodded
assent.
"It is because I wanted you to be convinced of my entire sincerity that I
have taken you so thoroughly into my confidence. Are those doors
locked?" The Very Young Man locked them.
"Thank you," said the Chemist, starting to disrobe. In a moment he
stood before them attired in a woolen bathing-suit of pure white. Over
his shoulders was strapped tightly a narrow leather harness, supporting
two silken pockets, one under each armpit. Into each of these he placed
one of the vials, first laying four pills from one of them upon the table.
At this point the Banker rose from his chair and selected another in the
further corner of the room. He sank into it a crumpled heap and wiped
the beads of perspiration from his face with a shaking hand.
"I have every expectation," said the Chemist, "that this suit and harness
will contract in size uniformly with me. If the harness should not, then I
shall have to hold the vials in my hand."
On the table, directly under the light, he spread a large silk
handkerchief, upon which he placed the ring. He then produced a
teaspoon, which he handed to the Doctor.
"Please listen carefully," he said, "for perhaps the whole success of my
adventure, and my life itself, may depend upon your actions during the

next few minutes. You will realize, of course, that when I am still large
enough to be visible to you I shall be so small that my voice may be
inaudible. Therefore, I want you to know, now, just what to expect.
"When I am something under a foot high, I shall step upon that
handkerchief, where you will see my white suit plainly against its black
surface. When I become less than an inch high, I shall run over to the
ring and stand beside