The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-02-03

siE-, SSpai atiliS lhS SaSSo Vi WaNSi all
feeding npon them, until the shores o
Texas and Mexico would be wrapped
in sheet of flame.
No deluge that ever drowned ths
world could extinguish the confagra
ton, but would rather transport the
fiery legions TO the very pillars Of
the heavens. And it would spread
from shore to shore, and from ocean to
ocean, until it had embodied the globe
in its seething embrace. Every crea-
ture of the sea, the air, and the land
would perish; aye, the earth itseli
would melt into fervenl heat.
During his startling speech he had
worked himself into fearful frenzy, to
fix his intense gaze upon me as he
concluded, with light that burned
into my inmost being. telt l was in
the presence OF a madman.
Oh, well, said, with what calmness
| could command, we wont anticipate
so dreadful a catastrophe as you so
vivIdly describe, but 1t is evident you
have made remarkable discovery. l
am anxious to know just how you
accomplish it.
Which is my secret, he said, with
another smile, and l saw that my dis
passionate speech had had soothing
effect upon him. The man was
evidently sane except upon that one
subject.
You are the most sensible man l
have met, he soon resumed, and | am
gong to impart enough of my secret to
you so you will act with good faith IN
assisting me ID direction where l am
powerless.
1t needs not my words to tell you
that water is composed of two gases,
hydrogen and oxygen, in parts as one
to eight. United in that proportion
these elements are imprevious to fire.
Every schcolboy knows that. But mix
them in any proportion, and heat,
fame, combustion is the immediate
consequence.
Now l rave discovered the key
which unlocks the affinity holding
together the constituent parts of water.
A few grains of this powder is sufficient
to dismember its warlike elements,
when the funeral pyre of the human
race is kindled as far as this planet is
concerned.
Impossible | could not help ex-
claiming. God IN his infinite wisdom
never created world so beautiful as
this and then placed in the hands of its
subjects the means of its destruction.
Poor fool he said, compassionately.
You forget that the moon is but fire
extinguished world that planets and
stars without nulnber are the charred
remains of what were once scenes OF
life and beauty; that the sun is a
molten mass of heat; that he has said
in His own word in the end "the
heavens shall be folded together like a
scroll, the elements to melt with fervenl
heat"
Our greatest scientists have dreamed,
ay, even hinted, of what has been left
to me to bring to realization.
You see this phial, it contains potas-
sium. 1t needs not me to tell man
of your information the result when
this is bought into contract with water
1t ignites instantly. This powder here,
the secret of whose compound Is
known only to me, contains properties
which instantly decompose the watery
elements. The moment the oxygen is
free the potassium lgnites it and the
work of fiery destruction is begun.
You betray look of doubt. Per.
haps you think that this action will be
merely local, that the properties vii
be merely local, that the properties vii
quickly burn out, and IN consequence
the fire dies for the want of sustenance.
If SO you err. The properties Of thi:
powder are self generating and as long
as the waters last must of necessity
continue their work of decomposition
the oxygen continually feeding the
flames.
Get me another basin of water.
want to demonstrate it more clearly tt
YOU
l obeyed him without a word, my
mind busy all the while trying tc
devise the best course of action 70
me. Perhaps the man was not really
dangerous as he was then, but knew
not how his mania would develop.
AS he had done before, he turnet
the potassium into the basin and thel
sifted in a certain amount of tn
powder. The Kissing and fuminl
| quickly began, followed by sharI
report, when a column of fire agail
sprapg up, which lasted until the waite
was consumed.
You see my first trial was no Illusion
he SAID. turning to me. What hav
done once can do every time.
Il is a terrible thing! | exclaime,
with a shudder. But why have yo
come to meP
Because the secret is worth money
But when l approach men they ca
me mad and will not listen. They wi
believe you, and when you have prove
what can do they will gladly pay m
my price. Then | will divide with yo
and we shall both be rich, you TO liv
at your ease, and l to continue m
Investigations. Will you help me? an
he caught me by the arm with clutc
seem to feel now.