The Blue Germ

unusual. I turned aside to see what it was. About twenty persons, mostly errand boys, were standing round a sandwich-board man. At the out

ter?" I asked o

reaks from Birming

h a gap in the crowd. It was a thin, unshaven face with straightened features and gaunt cheeks. The eyes were deeply sunken and at that moment turned downwards. His complexion was pale, but I could see a faint bluish tinge

y," I heard him saying. "There a

to a fever hospit

blue stuff in Lond

tching," said th

ly a wave of rage seemed to possess him. He shook his fist in the air, and even as he shook it, his eyes caught the blue sheen of

muttered. "If t

from the pavement I saw that the man's n

ank and incredulous, staring stupidly at his hands; the crowd standing well back in a wide semi-circle; I further forward, peering through my spectacles and

ked in an undertone. "I am a doct

ized Dr. Symington-Tearle. T

ut them

my card with the address. I'll expect you in half-an

hat glittering down the street in the strong sunlight. Why should Symington-Tearle be given an opportunit

. The man jumped with surprise. "Very we

telephone to the hospital to say I would b

rstanding of suitable compensation, and was shown into my study. Sarakoff was present, and he p

e," said the man. "I was saying to

u were drunk?" asked

y, I feel as if I'd 'ad a good gla

naturally

ession ain't a very cheery one, not

ly more cheerful this

ike when that crowd drew away from me as if I'd got th

carefully. He told him once or twice not to speak, but the man seemed in a

a very fine place Trafalgar Square was and 'ow I'd never seemed to notice it before, though I've known it all my life. And up Regent Street I begun to notice all sort o' little things I'd never seen before, thoug

ada

and." He looked round suddenly. "What's that noise?" h

ut neither I nor Sarako

went and opened it and stood listening. In a corner by the window

from Birmingham. "I knew it wasn'

nced signifi

seeing." He took a bottle from the laboratory and uncorked

g ten feet away

d. "This 'ere Blue Disease," said the m

our faded. He frowned to find it fixed. I was standing at the window, my b

e of the writing-table, swinging his legs and staring medit

ith a jerky, imp

right? 'Ave people a right to give me the shove-to put me in a 'orspital? That crowd round me in the street-it

m-a ba

at gives co

But this germ is h

in't goin

n't going to die," said the Russian

ound from

"There's no proof. It's all theory s

nge anxiety, with his forehead damp and shining, his spectacles aslant on hi

aking my fist in the air. "How do

behave in this manner. His mind was sharpened to perceive things. Yesterday, had he been present at a similar scene, he would probably have sat dully, finding n

die?" he said. "

t going to die," was S

t die of the

die a

ew force was alive in him and he was carried on by it in spite of himself. He felt strung up to a pitch of nervous irritation. He got up from his chair and came forward, pointing at Sarakoff. "What's this?" he demanded. "Why don't you speak out? Yer cawn't hide it from

of the sparrow-egg bl

wished to examine you," I said sh

ket. His thoughts were temporarily diverted by the prospect of an immediate future with plenty of money, and he picked up his hat and went t

is, remember, because I seed it on the door." He twisted his hat round several times in his hands and drew his br

oke was responsible for it. Good day to yer." He opened the door slowly, and glanced back at us standing in the middle of the room watching him. "Look 'ere," he said swiftly, "what did 'e mean, saying I was never going to die and--" The light from the

off s

... you understand?... Never going to die, u

my hand to s

en he burst into a roar of la

he tears ran down his cheeks and he paused to wipe them away. "If I was to believe what you say," he went on, "it would

ing with laughter, a thin, ragged, tattered f