Elmer caught up a bit of rubber pipe, secured one end to the iron chest and inserted the other in a mouthpiece having the proper inhalation and exhalation valves.
"Put that in your mouth for a moment."
Alma, with beautiful confidence, put the tube in her mouth, and in a moment her pretty head fell back against the back of the chair in deep sleep. With wonderful speed and skill Elmer rolled a larger camera that stood in a corner out into the centre of the room, ran in a slide, adjusted the focus, and before the brief slumber passed had a negative of the sleeping one.
"Oh, how odd! What a queer sensation to feel yourself going and going, off and off, till you don't know where you are!"
"It is rather queer. I've often taken the gas myself—just for fun. Now, Alma, if you will let down the curtains, and close the shutters, and make the room dark, I'll light the lantern and show you the picture."
Alma shut the blinds, drew down the curtains, and closed all the shutters save one.
"Won't it be too dark?"
"No. It must be quite dark. You can stand here in the middle of the room and look at that bit of bare wall between the windows. I left that space clear for a screen."
Alma eagerly took her place, and said with a laugh:
"If this is the pursuit of pure science, it is very amusing. I'd like to study science—in this way."