The Girl in the Golden Atom | Page 8

it. When I have diminished to about a quarter of
an inch, I shall climb upon it, and, as I get smaller, will follow its
surface until I come to the scratch.
"I want you to watch me very closely. I may miscalculate the time and
wait until I am too small to climb upon the ring. Or I may fall off. In
either case, you will place that spoon beside me and I will climb into it.
You will then do your best to help me get on the ring. Is all this quite
clear?"
The Doctor nodded assent.
"Very well, watch me as long as I remain visible. If I have an accident,
I shall take the other drug and endeavor to return to you at once. This
you must expect at any moment during the next forty-eight hours.
Under all circumstances, if I am alive, I shall return at the expiration of
that time.
"And, gentlemen, let me caution you most solemnly, do not allow that
ring to be touched until that length of time has expired. Can I depend
on you?"
"Yes," they answered breathlessly.
"After I have taken the pills," the Chemist continued, "I shall not speak
unless it is absolutely necessary. I do not know what my sensations will
be, and I want to follow them as closely as possible." He then turned
out all the lights in the room with the exception of the center electrolier,
that shone down directly on the handkerchief and ring.
The Chemist looked about him. "Good-by, gentlemen," he said,

shaking hands all round. "Wish me luck," and without hesitation he
placed the four pills in his mouth and washed them down with a
swallow of water.
Silence fell on the group as the Chemist seated himself and covered his
face with his hands. For perhaps two minutes the tenseness of the
silence was unbroken, save by the heavy breathing of the Banker as he
lay huddled in his chair.
"Oh, my God! He is growing smaller!" whispered the Big Business
Man in a horrified tone to the Doctor. The Chemist raised his head and
smiled at them. Then he stood up, steadying himself against a chair. He
was less than four feet high. Steadily he grew smaller before their
horrified eyes. Once he made, as if to speak, and the Doctor knelt down
beside him. "It's all right, good-by," he said in a tiny voice.
Then he stepped upon the handkerchief. The Doctor knelt on the floor
beside it, the wooden spoon ready in his hand, while the others, except
the Banker, stood behind him. The figure of the Chemist, standing
motionless near the edge of the handkerchief, seemed now like a little
white wooden toy, hardly more than an inch in height.
Waving his hand and smiling, he suddenly started to walk and then ran
swiftly over to the ring. By the time he reached it, somewhat out of
breath, he was little more than twice as high as the width of its band.
Without pausing, he leaped up, and sat astraddle, leaning over and
holding to it tightly with his hands. In another moment he was on his
feet, on the upper edge of the ring, walking carefully along its
circumference towards the scratch.
The Big Business Man touched the Doctor on the shoulder and tried to
smile. "He's making it," he whispered. As if in answer the little figure
turned and waved its arms. They could just distinguish its white outline
against the gold surface underneath.
"I don't see him," said the Very Young Man in a scared voice.
"He's right near the scratch," answered the Doctor, bending closer.

Then, after a moment, "He's gone." He rose to his feet. "Good Lord!
Why haven't we a microscope!"
"I never thought of that," said the Big Business Man, "we could have
watched him for a long time yet."
"Well, he's gone now," returned the Doctor, "and there is nothing for us
to do but wait."
"I hope he finds that girl," sighed the Very Young Man, as he sat chin
in hand beside the handkerchief.
CHAPTER III
AFTER FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
The Banker snored stertorously from his mattress in a corner of the
room. In an easy-chair near by, with his feet on the table, lay the Very
Young Man, sleeping also.
The Doctor and the Big Business Man sat by the handkerchief
conversing in low tones.
"How long has it been now?" asked the latter.
"Just forty hours," answered the Doctor; "and he said that forty-eight
hours was the limit. He should come back at about ten to-night."
"I wonder if he will come back," questioned the Big Business Man
nervously. "Lord, I wish he wouldn't snore so loud," he added irritably,
nodding in the direction of the