my ear, 'was an atomic universe.'

"It never entered my head to doubt him. The realness, the vividness,
the overwhelming loneliness and vastness of the sight I had seen--yes,
and the suggestion of cosmic grandeur and aloofness that was
conveyed--banished any other feeling but that of belief.

"'Inside that box,' said Professor Reubens quietly, 'and directly
underneath the special crystal-ray medium I have perfected, is a piece
of matter no larger than a pin-head. But viewed through the magnifying
medium of the crystal-ray that insignificant piece of matter becomes as
vast and as empty as all space, and in that space you saw--an atomic
system.'

"An atomic system! Imagine my emotions. The tremendousness of the
assertion took away my breath. I could only seize the Professor's hand
and hold to it tightly.

"'Softly, my boy, softly,' he said, smiling at my emotion. 'What you
have seen is but the least part of the invention. There is more to it
than that.'

"'More?'

"'Yes. Did you think I would be content with merely viewing at a
distance? No. Consider that revolving round a central nucleus similar
to our sun are twelve planets, any one of which may be inhabited by
intelligent creatures.'

"I stared at him dumbly.

"'You mean--'

"'Why not? Size is only relative. Besides in this case I can
demonstrate. Please look again.'

"Not without trepidation, I did as he bade. Once more I saw the black
emptiness of atomic space, saw the blazing nucleus with its whirling
satellites. Above the roaring noise of the machine came Professor
Reubens' voice. 'I am now intensifying the magnifying medium and
focusing it on one of the planets you see. The magnifying crystal-ray
is mounted on a revolving device which follows this particular planet
in its orbit. Now ... now....'

"I gazed, enthralled. Only one atomic planet--the size of a pea and
seemingly motionless in space--now lay in my field of vision. And this
planet began to grow, to expand, until beneath my staring eyes it
looked like the full moon in all its glory.

"'I am gradually increasing the magnifying power of the crystal-ray,'
came the voice of the Professor.

"The huge mass of the planet filled the sub-atomic sky. My hands
gripped the rim of the box with excitement. On its surface began to
form continents, seas. Good God! was all this really materializing from
a speck of matter under the lens of a super-microscope? I was looking
down from an immense height