e all celebrate. He gave
instructions over a desk telephone and almost immediately a man
entered with a small service wagon containing a wide assortment of
liquors and glasses. When we had all been served, Ward asked somewhat
hesitantly if he might propose a toast. 'To Dr. Drayle, the greatest
scientist of all time!'

* * * * *

"We were of course, already somewhat drunk with excitement as we
lifted our glasses. But Drayle would not have it.

"'Let me amend that,' he said. 'Let us drink to the future of
science.'

"'Sure!' said Farrel, very promptly. I think he was somewhat uncertain
about 'toast,' but he clung hopefully to the word 'drink.'

"We had raised our glasses again when Drayle, who was facing the door,
dropped his. It struck the floor with a little crash and the liquor
spattered my ankles. Drayle whispered 'Great God!' I saw in the
doorway another Farrel. He was grimy, disheveled, his clothing was
torn, and his expression ugly; but his identity with 'Harry' was
unescapable. For an instant I suspected Drayle of trickery, of
perpetrating some fiendishly elaborate hoax. And then I heard Mrs.
Farrel scream, heard the newcomer cry, 'Mary,' and saw two men staring
at each other in bewilderment.

"The explanation burst upon me with a horrible suddenness. Farrel had
been reconstructed in each of Drayle's distant laboratories, and there
stood before us two identities each equally authentic, each the legal
husband of the woman who, a few hours previously, had imagined herself
a widow. The situation was fantastic, nightmarish, unbelievable and
undeniable. My head reeled with the fearful possibilities.

"Drayle was the first to recover his poise. He opened a door leading
into an adjoining room and motioned for us all to enter. That is, all
but the police. He left them wisely with their liquor. 'Finish it,' he
advised them. 'You see no one has been killed.'

* * * * *

"They were not quite satisfied, but neither were they certain what
they ought to do, and for once displayed common sense by doing
nothing. When the door closed after us I saw that Buchannon, the
Washington laboratory assistant, was with us. He must have arrived
with the second Farrel, although I had not observed him during the
confusion attending the former's unexpected appearance. But Drayle had
noted him and now seized his shoulders. 'Explain!' he demanded.

"Buchannon's face went w