"I don't think he buys his cigars at my store," responded Miller. "No, he probably doesn't," responded Baker, significantly. "Humperdink doesn't indulge in ordinary tobacco; he smokes the root of snake plants found in the wilds of Africa. One whiff of it for an ordinary man is fatal." Miller stared in a way that showed he believed every word. He was not in a condition to doubt anything that was told to him. That is one of the effects of hasheesh, but even without the drug it is more than likely that he would have believed everything said to him on this occasion. "Humperdink," continued Baker, "knows all the mysteries of nature. He has experimented with all poisons, and eats them as readily as the rest of us do ordinary food. In the old days he would have been called a magician. Really he's a very great scientist, and if there's any possible hope for Merriwell he'll know it. Ah! here he is." At the moment when Miller had been taken into the room where Merriwell lay apparently dead, another student had slipped into the dressing-room of the little theatre, which was a part of the society's quarters, and had put on a long gown, white wig and beard, and concealed his eyes with dark glasses. He now came tottering feebly across the room toward the students. "What have ye here?" he asked in a high, cracked voice. "One of the students has died, professor," responded Baker, in a tone of deep respect, "and the circumstances were so peculiar----" "Dead, eh?" returned the "professor," stopping short in his walk, "then I can't do anything for him." He turned about as if he would go away. "Oh! don't give it up!" screamed Miller, "come in and give him something to bring him back to life; do it, I beg you, for my sake!" "Your sake," sneered the "professor," "you are not worth the turn of a thumb!" "Oh, but you don't know how much depends on it!" cried Miller. "I don't know!" fairly shouted the professor. "I know everything! I know that you caused that young man's death; I know that you pushed him in front of a moving car; I know that you didn't mean to kill him, but that you would be glad to do so if you could do it safely; I know that you're a cold-hearted wretch!" Miller again beat his hands upon the floor helplessly. "Yes! Yes!" he groaned, "I'm all that, but I don't want him to die! Do save him if you can, professor." "It's this way, professor," said Baker, quietly. "This man groveling on the floor is not worth the turn of a thumb, but the rest of us are very fond of Merriwell, and would like to have him restored to life if such a thing can be done. "Do it for our sakes, and the sake of science, professor." "Well," grumbled the "professor," after hesitating a moment, "for the sake of science I'll take a look at him. The rest of you clear out." He turned slowly into the dark room, while the rest of the students withdrew, taking Miller with them; then a long ten minutes passed.