The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-09-21
see that they were all dead.

eee butJ tney WeTe all uedu.
"Now," said the chemist as they
walked away. "this experiment il on
very small scale but you can form an
idea from what you have seem"
at is astonishing" commenced the
major.
"Nothing to what / have DONE" said
the man in black. "In Cuba / took
sling and threw ball of that stuff as
big as my fist into village. The next
mo, ming it was found that all the in
habitants, some 800 or 400, were dead
People outside supposed that it was
some mysterious epidemic, but it was
not"
Maj. Dalton drew himself aloof from
his companion.
"And you killed those innocent peo-
pie for nothing9" he asked Indignantly.
'1n the interest of science, my dear
major. Besides they were native
Cubans. I would not have treated
genuine Spaniards that way"
The major pulled his mustache and
walked on in silence for few minutes.
"What do you propose :" he asked,
after some reflection
"My scheme is big one,' replied
Pellico. "a few little pellets thrown
into Libby, Salisbury, and Anderson.
vile will rid us of all the Yankee
prisoners and save our government no
end Of expense. Then they must use
my invention in the field. The armies
of Sherman and Grant will melt away
before it, and few hundred projectiles
fred from long-range guns into New
York will turn that metropolis into a
city of the dead. What do you say 2"
"Hello, corporal come here !" yelled
the major.
Several soldiers ran to the spot in a
hurry.
"SeiEe him !" shouted the officer,
'and take him to the guard-house.
He is an enemy, murderer, the devil
himself, believe. But hold on
search him."
"Only some papers and these pills, "
said the corporal.
"Ill take them," said the major.
SNOW 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 sum-
moned as party to the conference,
and other officers were called in.
The council lasted until a very late
hour. Never in their whole military
experience had the officers been con
fronted with so serious problem.
When they dispersed the sentinel
outside heard one of them say:
''He is monster, an enemy to the
whole human race. We cannot accept
his aid, and if 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 day 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
Sand took all those shiny pills away
from him. How did that get there ]
wonder, and what in the mischief is it.
anyhow p
The commander of the post, the
provost-marshall and Maj. Dalton
showed little surprise when they heard
of Pellico's death. The corporal, how
ever, heard the provost-marshal speak
in an undertone to the major.
"What did you do with the Other
pellets ?" he said.
81 rode out to the river and threw
them in," answered the major.
"All right, responded the marshal
This has been strange piece of bust
ness from first to last, but l don't think
that our consciences will ever hurt III
for our part in it.
Long years afterward gray-hsireG
confed rate veteran mentioned some o.
the facts of the case to circle of in
terested listeners.
| 81 have always thought that he wa
the devil replied the veteran.
"Did the major really kill him'' in
quired lady.
The veteran shut one eye and twist
ed his mustache.
"We had better not talk about that,
he said. "But you may rest assured
that if he did kill the wretch he ha
never regretted it.'-Atlarata Consti
tuition.