having bedroom issues

llers ramblings were terminated by the consciousness that he had anacute headache. His mouth tasted, as Herman used to say after a bignight, as if an army had camped in it. Coffee and a bromo were what heneeded. But it was a great awakening to him when he found a restaurant andlearned that he could neither drink the coffee nor get the lid off thebromo bottle. Fragrant coffeesteam hung over the glass percolator, buteven this steam was as a brick wall to his probing touch. Miller startedgloomily to thread his way through the waiters in back of the counteragain. Moments later he stood in the street and there were tears swimming inhis eyes. Helen His voice was a pleading whisper. Helen, honey, where areyou? There was no answer but the pitiful palpitation of utter silence. Andthen, there was movement at Dave Millers right Something shot from between the parked cars and crashed against him;something brown and hairy and soft. It knocked him down. Before he couldget his breath, a red, wet tongue was licking his face and hands, and hewas looking up into the face of a police dog Frantic with joy at seeing another in this city of death, the dog wouldscarcely let Miller rise. It stood up to plant big paws on his shouldersand try to lick his face. Miller laughed out loud, a laugh with athroaty catch in it. Whered you come from, ? he asked. t they talk to you, either?Whats your name, ? There was a heavy, brassstudded collar about the animals neck, andDave Miller read on its little nameplate: Major. Well, Major, at least weve got company now, was Millers sigh ofrelief.

For a long time he was too busy with the dog to bother about the sobbingnoises. Apparently the dog failed to hear them, for he gave no sign. Miller scratched him behind the ear. What shall we do now, Major? Walk? Maybe your nose can smell outanother friend for us. They had gone hardly two blocks when it came to him that there was amore useful way of spending their time. The library Half convinced thatthe whole trouble stemmed from his suicide shot in the headwhich wasconspicuously absent nowhe decided that a perusal of the surgery booksin the public library might yield something he could use. That way they bent their steps, and were soon mounting the broad cementstairs of the building. As they went beneath the brass turnstile, thelibrarian caught Millers attention with a smiling glance. He smiledback. Im trying to find something on brain surgery, he explained. I With a shock, then, he realized he had been talking to himself. In the next instant, Dave Miller whirled. A voice from the bookcaseschuckled: If you find anything, I wish youd let me know. Im stumped myself From a corner of the room came an elderly, halfbald man with tangledgray brows and a rueful smile. A pencil was balanced over his ear, and anotebook was clutched in his hand. You, too he said. I had hoped I was the only one Miller went forward hurriedly to grip his hand. Im afraid Im not so unselfish, he admitted. Ive been hoping fortwo hours that Id run into some other poor soul. Quite understandable, the stranger murmured sympathetically. But inmy case it is different. You seeI am responsible for this whole tragicbusiness You Dave Miller gulped the word. II thought The man wagged his head, staring at his note pad, which was litteredwith jumbled calculations. Miller had a chance to study him. He wastall, heavily built, with wide, sturdy shoulders despite his sixtyyears. Oddly, he wore a graygreen smock. His eyes, narrowed and intent, looked gimletsharp beneath those toothbrush brows of his, as he staredat the pad.

Theres the trouble, right there, he muttered. I provided only threestages of amplification, whereas four would have been barely enough. Noder the phase didnt carry through I guess I dont follow you, Miller faltered. You meansomething youdid I should think it was something I did The baldish stranger scratchedhis head with the tip of his pencil. Im John Ericksonyou know, theWanamaker Institute. Miller said: Oh in an understanding voice. Erickson was head ofWanamaker Institute, first laboratory of them all when it came toexploding atoms and blazing trails into the wildernesses of science. Ericksons piercing eyes were suddenly boring into the younger man. Youve been sick, havent you? he demanded. Wellnonot really sick. The druggist colored. Ill have to admitto being drunk a few hours ago, though. Drunk Erickson stuck his tongue in his cheek, shook his head, scowled. No, that would hardly do it. There must have been somethingelse. The impulsor isnt that powerful. I can understand about thedog, poor fellow. He must have been run over, and I caught him just atthe instant of passing from life to death. Oh Dave Miller lifted his head, knog now what Erickson was drivingat. Well, I may as well be frank. ImI committed suicide. Thats howdrunk I was. There hasnt been a suicide in the Miller family incenturies. It took a skinful of liquor to set the precedent. Erickson nodded wisely. Perhaps we will find the precedent hasntreally been set But no matter His lifted hand stopped Millerseager, dering exclamation. The point is, young man, we three are ina tough spot, and its up to us to get out of it. And not only we, butheaven knows how many others the world over Would youmaybe you can explain to my lay mind whats happened, Miller suggested.