San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-08-07
THE CHEMISTS STORY.

nm chemist. am the occupant OF
this responsible and important position
in the medical college of P.
It was about o'clock on a stormy
evening that bade good night to my
student, Tom Richards, at the door of
my laboratory, at the south end Of the
college buildings.
Tom was very anxious to know what
would keep me up after l2 o'clock, 30 l
told him was about to commence an
alyzing tho stomach of Mrs. johnson,
whose husband lay in P jail, just
across the road from tho college, on sus-
picion that he was the murderer.
As Tom was passing out Of the college
yard through the gate, his head turned,
and bidding me good night, he brushed
against man standing with his back to
tho college and his face to the prison.
The street lamp showed me that the
man wss in police uniform.
Re-entering my laboratory l took
down glass jar from the shelf and sat
down behind my sink to examine it. An
hour had passed since the departure Of
young Richards. had labored hard to
discover traces of the poison in all this,
but had been unsuccessful. Joe John
son. the suspected man, had been Il stu
dent Of mine q few years before.
thought him good hearted, intelligent
fellow, only little wild, and really be-
gan TO hope that he might prove inno-
cent, when, among the macerated food,
came upon small, ininitesimal white
grain. By careful manipulation and the
use of my magnifying glass l managed
to get this upon piece Of smoked glass
and examined it.
was then certain had discovered ar
senic. but to make assurance doubly sure
determined to apply well known test
for that poison.
Eyes" exclaimed, as saw the fatal
blazon, "Joc johnson is the murderer of
his wife! With the evidence of that
mark to back me no power can save
him."
"Do you really think so?" said calm
voice behind me.
turned quickly and discovered tall,
lank policeman, having red, watery eyes,
standing at my Office door and staring
In. His body looked as if it had been
rolled out long before his hands like Il
molasses candy stick. He had no OK
preston at all in his face, and his police
mans hat was so large that 1t threatened
to settle down on his shoulders. His uni
form reassured me and addressed him
with some impatience.
my friend, suppose l am wanted to
attend an inquest, or what is your pur-
pose"
Twas police surgeon as well rs coroner
"Don't bother, professor; the man amt
dead yet. but they say he will be before
morning."
"What's the matter with him?"
brain disorder, l mean something
wrong here"
I touched my forehead, AMI 80 did he
as ho said: Gay, as thought I'd drop in
and tell You if you were going to the
station tomorrow to tnke look and
see if it is post morton or not. Besides
wanted 10 see where could always
find you in case Of need"
bowed, and attributed his visit to a
feeling of curiosity. He sat on the sink,
and while his eyes wandered about like
one who felt himself called upon to say
something. he said:
Professor, there has been an accident
this afternoon-terrible, too"
"What was it"
nitro glycerine explosion mp in the
iron mills-a hundred fellow mortals
busted"
"Sadr'
affecting, very" Here he rubbed
his mouth with the back Of his hand.
Professor, what is that nitro glycerine?-
ats a very dangerous article" an
swered, happy TO display my knowledge.
'It has nearly twice the destructiveness
Of gunpowder. but. unlike it, does not
explode ON the application Of heat. A
red hot coal dropped into IL will not ex-
plode it. 1t will freeze. 1t is yellow and
greasy"
you doa't mean TO say 30" said the
officer. interrupting me IN disagreeable
tones in the middle Of a choice extract
from one Of my lectures. why, but
Won haven't told me how il goes of. II
the fire won't burst IL. what in-lheml-
will
Itold him IL il were pressed, OF any
thing fell on il. It would explode.
place it under the crushsr Of a cider
mill. strike IL with a hammer, let
vreizht fan on IL from height
"Yes.- sid the nan. ''and that rOuses
its voicansr. does it,
I suPPose, professor, that ere c4o
world make a mighty hig noise II al
lo--r-d % erulo6e here At a. onoeN