ossible. The atomic
theory that likens the atom to our solar system, with planets revolving
round a central nucleus, is very interesting. But I shall never be
content, for one, until I can see such an atomic system in operation.'

"Now I had every admiration for the capacity and genius of my teacher,
but I couldn't forebear exclaiming:

"'Is that possible?'

"'Of course it's possible,' he cried irritably. 'Do you think I should
be pursuing my experiments if I didn't think it possible? Only
numbskulls think anything impossible!'

"I felt rather hurt at his retort and a certain coolness sprang up
between us. The summer holidays came and I went away without bidding
him good-by. But returning for the new semester, my first act was to
hurry to the laboratory. He greeted me as if there had never been any
difference between us.

"'Come,' he cried; 'you must see what I have accomplished. It is
marvelous, marvelous.'

"In his workshop stood a mechanism perhaps three feet square and four
feet high. It was made of polished steel and looked not unlike an
Edison music box.

"'You are the first I have shown it to,' he said excitedly. 'Here, look
into this.'

"Stooping over the top of the box I peered into the eye-piece
indicated. It was so fashioned that it fitted the contour of the face
snugly.

"'Now hold steady,' warned the Professor. 'This machine makes quite a
noise, but it won't harm you at all.'

"I sensed that he was fingering and arranging dials and levers on the
side of the contrivance. Suddenly an engine in the box began to throb
with a steady rhythm. This gradually increased in tempo until the
vibration of it shook the room.

"'Don't move,' shouted the Professor.

"At first I could see nothing. Everything was intensely dark. Then the
darkness began to clarify. Or rather I should say it seemed as if the
darkness increased to such a pitch that it became--oh, I can't describe
it! But of a sudden I had the sensation of looking into the utter
bleakness and desolation of interstellar space. Coldness,
emptiness--that was the feeling. And in this coldness and emptiness
flamed a distant sun, around which twelve darker bodies the size of
peas revolved. They revolved in various ellipses. And far off--millions
of light years away (the thought came to me involuntarily at the
time)--I could glimpse infinitesimal specks of light, a myriad of them.
With a cry I jerked back my head.

"'That,' shouted the Professor in