Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-06-30
Pellico blew his little pill through a hol-

Pellico blew his little pill through hol-
low cane.
.sWait three minutes,n he said
At the expiration Of the time the two
approached the fence corner.
Four large hogs lay stretched out on
the ground 1t required only glance to
see that they were all dead.
ssNow," said the chemist as they walked
away, this experiment Is on very small
scale, but you can form an idea from
what you have SEEM
st is astonishing commented the
major.
Nothing to what have done, )" said
the man in black "In Cuba took sling
and threw ball OF this stuff Us big as my
fist into a village. The next morning it
was found that all the inhabitants, some
800 or 400 were dead. People outside
supposed that it was some mysterious epi-
demic, but it was not"
Mai Dalton drew himself aloof from his
companion.
'sAnd you killed those innocent people
for nothingsn he asked Indignantly.
''In the interests OF science, my dear
major Besides, they were native Gu
bans. / would not have treated genuine
Spaniards that way"
The major pulled his Inustache and
walked on in silence for few minutes.
What do you propose? he asked, after
some reflection.
MY scheme is big one, +" replied Pei
leo. "a few little pellets thrown into
Libby, Salisbury and Andersonville will
rid us of all the Yankee prisoners, and
save our government no end of expense.
Then you must use my invention in the
field The armies of Sherman and Grant
will melt away before 1t, and few hun
dred such projectiles fired from long range
guns into New York will turn that me-
tropolis into city of the dead. What do
you say!'
Hello, corporal, come herei' yelled the
major.
Several soldiers ran to the spot in
hurry.
"Seize himp shouted the officer, "and
take him to the guard house. He Is an
enemy, murderer, the devil himself, l
believe. But, hold on-search him."
''Only some papers and these pills."
said the corporal.
''I'll take Them" said the major. "Now
hustle him off to the guard house."
The major walked with rapid strides to
the Office of the commander of the post.
The provost marshal was summoned as a
party to the conference, and other officers
were also called in.
The council lasted until q very late hour.
Never in their whole military experience
had the officers been confronted with so
serious problem.
When they dispersed the sentinel out
side heard one of them say:
"He Is q monster, an enemy to the
whole human race. We cannot accept his
aid, and il we let him go he may at any
time turn against us and against our
people,"
There is but one thing to do" said the
major.
The next morning the man in black was
found dead on the floor of the guard house.
BY his side lay shred of tin foil.
81 searched him." said the corporal,
land took all those shiny pills away from
him. How did that get there, wonder,
and what In the mischief Is 1t anyhow
The commander of the post, the provost
marshal and Maj. Dalton showed little
surprise when they heard of Pellico's
death The corporal, however, heard the
provost marshal speaking in an undertone
to the major.
what did you do with the other pei
lets?" he said.
81 rode out to the river and threw them
in." answered the major.
.'Au right" responded the marshal.
"This has been strange piece of business
from first to last, but don't think that
our consciences will ever hurt US for our
part in it"
Long years afterwards q gray haired
Confederate veteran mentioned some Of
the facts of the case to circle of inter-