The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-08-25
A MYSTERIOUS INVENTION.


when the servant announced visitor.
The door opened, and there entered a
plainly dressed young man of about
twenty.four.
"Have l the honor of addressing the
Privy Councillor B. ?" inquired the young
man, with marked South German &C
ent.
"My name is B"
"I have heard of your extensive bust
ness dealings | know you spend yearly
thousands on experiments in machinery,
and have been Informed that you have
influence with the Minister of War. l
have, therefore, come to you"
Then B. laid aside the N0rd Deutsche
Zeitung, fixed his gold e-glasses on
the ridge of his nose, and cast search
ing glance at his visitor.
~ am" proceeded the latter, an in
ventor-even dlscoverer, if you will. |
have wrested from Nature one of her
greatest secrets, and made discovery
which must completely revolutiOnizc the
world, cause an entire change in our
social life. The consequences of it will
be so far-reaching that they can as yet
to overcome the law of gravitation."
This preposterous assertion made Herr
B. suspect that he had here to deal with
a mailman. He felt uneasy, and CURLY
said: "That may be; but, as | do not I'M
dertake to utilize this class of inventions,
/ beg you to apply elsewhere"
Every WE'LL" replied the young man.
"With this little finger can lift out of
the water the largest iron-clad in Will
helmshaven. | can raise one of KrupD's
mon ter guns into the air like cork"
81 know! know" exclaimed Herr B.,
hastily rising and Selling hold Of the bell.
"Stay, just for another minute, Mr..
Privy Councillor" entreated the visitor
with impressive earnestness and in a tone
of the profoundest conviction. 81 am
not mad | can easily understand that
you don't believe me; it is perfectly
natural. But you shall be convinced by
me without delay"
Having said these words, he drew from
his breast-pocket shining metallic wire,
and approached an iron mass weighing
several tons, which had been brought to
the Office to be tested. Slipping his wire
under one end of the iron, he laid another
wire, twisted into something like hoop,
on the first, and with this fragile lever
lifted the pOnderous mass like a feather
from the floor.
Were we to say that Herr B. was struck
speeches. with amaZement, we should
still be very far from the actual
truth. He was paralyzed with terror;
his eyes literally protruded from their
sockets; he stared, now at the iron sus-
pended in mid air, now at the unknown.
When he had somewhat composed him
self, he exclaimed: "Ah, well, you may
certainly compete with Bellachini; but |
am not in a mood for such juggling"
Bellachini, indeed" repeated the I'M
known, and, detaching at the same in
slant the loop of the wire, the iron mass
dropped with deafening crash, break
ing board in the office floor into
spliuters. Pardon me-" he modestly
said; " merely wished to convince yoa
that there is no juggling in this matter.
Herr b. was now convinced, and a
long and earnest conversation ensued.
The pulse of the former beat feverishly;
he perceived that the unknown had not
VOlved an invention of the most mo-
mentous importance, a discovery which
promised to work even greater changes
than the introduction of the railroad and
the electric telegraph, or of any other of
our boosted modern achievements. The
upshot of the conversation was that a
conference for the next day was agreed
on, and that Herr B. would invite to il
a select party of distinguished and intlu-
entail people, before whom the unknown
should repeat his experiments.
Accordingly, on the 23d of November,
a select party assembled at Herr BIS
residence. Besides some high officers of
the army and navy, there were in attend
ance an eminent scientist and promi-
nent member of the Imperial Diet. 1t
was owing to the latter's personal influ.
ence that the rest had attended, for to
him alone the real object of the confer.
ence had been made known. His word
that it related to & discovery whose adj
vantages should by all means be secured
for the country had sutficed.
In the spacious and lofty apartment
selected for the conference stood raised
platform, on which rested the barrel of
cannon and two ponderous cast-iron
wheels, the purpose of which puzzled
all the invited except Herr B. and the
deputy. At precisely half-past eight
the young man made his appearance,
and, as he persistently refused to re-
veal his name, Herr B. introduced him
to those present simply as "South
German" The unknown had evidently
not been accustomed to mingle with
such aristocratic company as now met
him, for his manner betrayed certain
constraint. He had fine, blonde hair, a
pair of honest, truthful blue eyes, the
rosy complexion of girl, and his chin
and cheeks were just beginning to show
signs of a beard. Though apparently
not at ease at first, he regained his self.
possession, and those who observed him
more closely were struck with the energy
and firmness expressed in his face.
After the doors had been carefully
locked the small party preserved solemn
silence in expectation of the things tc
come, until Herr B. rose to explain. But
ne, too, appeared to be rather ill at ease
for the suspicion that he might after al
have been imposed upon, and thus bt
compromised himself, once more pos
sessed his mind. But these misgivings
were shOrt.liyed Did he not know Wha'