The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-09-03

to revolutionize humanity by in
Producing more metal and less ga
into its anatomy.
As a matter of course I was anx
ious to learn the result of his expe
riment, believing in my own mine
that he was doubtless at the tim
confined in some lunatic asylum.
| rode up to his dwelling-place
which was a beautiful spot by .
mountain stream and near a water
fall. The only person visible was ,
man engaged in stringing coppe
wires on poles in the yard. in
quired of him if the owner of tn,
place was at home. He said he wal
in the house and asked me to aligh'
and walk in. l did so and, to my
surprise, met my friend Of FIVE years
before. He did not look a day
older, and except that he was in
tensely pale and that his features
appeared as if they had been cas-
in a mold, he seemed to be particu
larly strong and supple. He knew
me at once, and his greeting was
exceedingly kind. He said he was
very glad to see me, and l noticed
that his voice had a peculiar metal
lie, bell-like sound that was pleas.
ing to the ear. He was dressed in 8
working suit and stated that he had
just been experimenting with some
electrical apparatus of his own in.
vention. His electricity, he said
cost him nothing, as he secured all
he wanted by utilizing the waterfall
Surely, thought he must be still
on the old hobby. Apparently di.
vining my thoughts he smiled, but
offered no explanation.
We chatted for some time upon
different subjects, but the thought
that was uppermost in my mind
was the experiment. At last l could
no longer curb my curiosity, SO !
asked him how be had succeeded
in his attempt at strengthening the
human form.
"Most admirably" said he with
out any attempt at evasion. II am
now, thanks to discoveries in elec-
tricity and metallurgy, a free and
independent being, no longer ham,
pered with cares; neither am I
subject to disease or death itself,
unless, perchance, it comes in the
shape of some untoward accident. F"
/ asked him upon whom or what
he had experimental.
Myself" he said with the great
est sole,nnity. ''It was four years
before | penetrated the secret and
then all was plain saA.-ng. secured
100 pounds of aluminium and with
that and my electric apparatus,
which is most complete, succeed
ed; but it was a hard struggle.
Many times l was ready to give up
in despair. The variety of electric
currents is almost limitless. 1t was
/ question of discovering the right
one, and | thought at times | never
could succeed. l succeeded in re-
placing most of the oxygen, carbon
ind hydrogen in my body with that
pure and incorruptible metal alu-
ninium, which l am abundantly
Ible to prove. Aluminium, you will
understand, is almost precisely the
weight of water, So that my weight
8 now nearly the same as before
md, what is infinitely better, L
possess the strength impaired by
his wonderful material and am
low ten times stronger than l was
'efore. No bacteria can enter my
ystem. I am forever free from all
ches and pains. l take an electro
luminium bath once q day and
at scarcely anything at all. I am
ndeavoring to overcome the laws
f gravitation, SO that | may float
trough space at will, and eventu-
lily | hope to be able to visit the
aoon when / have perfected myself
little further, so that the breath
ng apparatus may be dispensed
nth and / can subsist entirely |
pom electricity"
That I was dumfounded at this
tatement can we'll be imagined. I
id not dare ask any further ques-
ons, but sat gazing in stupid awe
this man who talked of things
eemed unknowable as if they were
8 familiar to him as a b c.
"You seem to doubt me-" he said.
| will convince you, and you are
1e only man l will ever take the
'ouble to convince, for they are
OF worth it." And with that he
alked out of the room, and re-
lrned presently with q carbine
lily loaded.
"Take that" said he, and he
lrust the weapon into my hands
nd walked to the other side of the
,om. He turned, facing me and
ared his breast, which was as white
, the driven snow and shone like
lver. Nov take good aim and
re directly at my heart"
"Oh, no, my friend" replied, in
eat distress, for l thought the man
as surely crazy. But he insisted.
still refused, and he touched q
alton on the wall and I heard q
,ng sound. In q moment the