Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-06-30
THE MAN In BLACK.

Maj Dalton was in trouble. He had
been detailed and sent to one of the largest
inland cities in the confederacy to super
intend the manufacture of bombs and tor
pedoes.
Everything moved along satisfactorily
until the chemist connected with the
works made a reckless experiment, one
day, and blew himself up The force of
the explosion was so great that not q
piece of the unfortunate man could be
found.
81 wouldn't have minded it SO much"
said the major to his friend, the provost
marshal, sif the fellow hadn't carried of
a lot of valuable papers with him. He
knew lots of chemical secrets, and he had
his formulas written out, and they were
in his pocket when he left.n
''You might advertise, suggested the
provost marshal.
Good idea," replied the major; "Tn
do it."
The next morning the city papers con-
tanned short advertisement, stating that
q first class chemist could secure employ
ment with a good salary, at the govern
ment works.
At that time there were very few idle
chemists in the confederacy, and after
waiting several days, the major began to
think that he would have to send to Rich
mond for man.
One night, when he was alone in his Of
fee, he commenced letter to the secre-
tary of war He had just penned re-
quest for the immediate detail OF an ex
perienced expert, when he became con-
scious of the presence of another person in
the room.
II didn't see him, and didn't hear
him." said the major afterward, "but l
could feel my flesh crawl, and knew that
something was up"
The major wheeled around in his chair
and saw man standing just inside the
door. The stranger was tall and thin,
and his black suit contrasted strangely
with his pale face and white hands.
Maj. Dalton noted these points. In
addition to his black attire, the mans
hair and eyes were of the same somber
shade, He even wore q black watch
chain, pair Of black trimmed eyeglasses,
and black seal ring.
The officer gave a sharp look at his
VISITORS face, but its dead whiteness was
as cxpressionless as mask.
"Ahemn' calculated the major.
81 must introduce myself" said the
stranger stepping forward. "My name is
Pellico I am II chemist, and am ia
miliar with the manufacture OF explosives.
| saw your advertisement and decided to
offer my services"
He spoke rapidly, in musical voice,
with a slight foreign accent.
s'You are not an American" said the
major.
italian" briefly responded the other;
~ belong TO family of famous chemists,
and we have served nearly every govern
ment in Europe"
Just then the major remembered that
he had sentry stationed in front of the
office.
..Confound it, sirr' he broke out
angrily; chow did you get in'"
81 beg your pardon, answered Pellico,
courteously. "When your Office was
pointed out to me walked in"
''But the sentry, the guardf'
ooh, the soldier-I simply passed him
by"
"You ran the risk Of getting shot"
growled the major.
''Not at all; there was no danger" was
the quiet reply.
Pellico's manner impressed the officer,
and he asked his visitor for his creden-
tials.
The man In black produced letter of
recommendation from Spanish officer Of
high rank in Cuba.
$50 you have not been long in this coun-
trys'' remarked the Confederate.
Ten days. 1 slipped through the
blockaders, landed in Florida and then
came here"
Further conversation did not cause him
to say anything that was inconsistent with
his first account of himself
In the course of half an hour Mai. Dali
ton was ready to admit that he was in the
presence of man of superior intellect,
and one who doubtless was master of his
profession.
The interview resulted in the engage
Inent of Pellico, and on the following
morning he went to work.
From the very outset the man in black
gave perfect satisfaction, but he made no
friends. The men called him ''Mr. Mid
night and the officers quietly agreed
among themselves that he was mystery,
very useful, no doubt, but disagreeable
companion.
1t did not take long to make the dis
covery that the Italians bombs and tor
pedoes were the best that had ever been
made
One night Pellico paid another visit to
the office of Maj. Dalton.
Major said he, after some talk about
powder, gun cotton, Greek fire and other
matters, ''the main object Of our explo-
sives is to destroy the enemy"
''Um, well yes, to certain extent" re-
piled the gallant Confederate.
What do you think, then, Of q bomb
that is capable of doing q hundred fold
more damage than any now in use.'
''It would be a big thing"
"Well," continued Pellico, 81 have in
vented it. / have a chemical compound
that can be projected into the enemy g
lines through the medium Of shell, and
when the shell bursts deadly yapor
spreads over an area of 100 yards, killing
every living thing. One shell is capable
Of killing an entire regiment.
"Why. my God, man." exclaimed the
major, ''that would be murderi'
Sand what is war;" asked Pellico in
his low, soft voice.
The subject did not drop there. The
man in black had so much to say about
his invention that the major found him.
aelf deeply interested.
'sThis little thing" said Pellico, ex.
hibiting something that looked like a pill
covered with tin foil, "would kill house
full of people"
st is hard to believe"
sLet me convince you," urged the
chemist. ''If you will walk square with
me l will show you something.
The major objected, but the italian as
sured him that his intended victims were
several hogs in the rear Of the Office
When they reached the place they
found the hogs quietly snoozing in fence
corner.
They then retired fiftv wards or so. and