d of which
were beginning to show bloom. "Here another task will begin next month,"
the doctor observed. "These are salvias, pentstemons, and antirrhinums,
or snapdragons, planted very thick for the purpose. Humble-bees bore
holes through their base, to save the labor of climbing in and out of
the flowers, and we don't quite know yet why some hive-bees discover and
utilize these holes at once, while others never do. It may be merely the
old-fogy conservatism of the individual, or there may be a law in it."

These seemed very paltry things for a man of such wisdom to bother
his head about. Theron looked, as he was bidden, at the rows of hives
shining in the hot sun on a bench along the wall, but offered no comment
beyond a casual, "My mother was always going to keep bees, but somehow
she never got around to it. They say it pays very well, though."

"The discovery of the reason why no bee will touch the nectar of the
EPIPACTIS LATIFOLIA, though it is sweet to our taste, and wasps are
greedy for it, WOULD pay," commented the doctor. "Not like a blue
rhododendron, in mere money, but in recognition. Lots of men have
achieved a half-column in the 'Encyclopedia Britannica' on a smaller
basis than that."

They stood now at the end of the garden, before a small, dilapidated
summer-house. On the bench inside, facing him, Theron saw a strange
recumbent figure stretched at full length, apparently sound asleep, or
it might be dead. Looking closer, with a startled surprise, he made out
the shaven skull and outlandish garb of a Chinaman. He turned toward his
guide in the expectation of a scene.

The doctor had already taken out a note-book and pencil, and was drawing
his watch from his pocket. He stepped into the summer-house, and,
lifting the Oriental's limp arm, took account of his pulse. Then, with
head bowed low, side-wise, he listened for the heart-action. Finally, he
somewhat brusquely pushed back one of the Chinaman's eyelids, and made
a minute inspection of what the operation disclosed. Returning to the
light, he inscribed some notes in his book, put it back in his pocket,
and came out. In answer to Theron's marvelling stare, he pointed toward
a pipe of odd construction lying on the floor beneath the sleeper.

"This is one of my regular afternoon duties," he explained, again with
the whimsical half-smile. "I am increasing his dose monthly by regular
stages, and the results promise to be rather remarkable. Heretofore,
obse