The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-28


My name is Schmidt. But by educa-
lion am quite as much an Englishman
as "Deutscher." and by affection much
more the former. My life has been
spent pretty equally between the two
countries. and I latter myself 1 speak
both languages without any foreign ac-
cent.
1 count England my headquarters
Row; it is home" to me. But a few
years ago 1 was resident in Germany.
only going over to London now and then
on business. / will not mention the
town where I lived. 1t is unnecessary
10 do so, and in the peculiar experience
I am about to relete I think real names
of people and places are just as well or
better, avoided.
was connected with a large and i'm
portant firm Of engineers. I had been
bred up to the profession. and was cred
tied with a certain amount of talent;
and I was considered-and, with all mod
esty, 1 think I deserved the opinion
steady and reliable, so that I had al
ready attained a fair position in the
house and was looked upon as rising
man." But I was still young, and not
quite so wise as 1 thought myself. 1
came very near once to making great
mess of a certain affair 1t is this
story which I am going to tell.
Our house went in largely for patents
rather too largely, some thought. But
the head partners son was a bit of
genius in his way, and his father was
growing old. and let Herr Wilhelm
Moritz we will call the family name
do pretty much as he chose. And on
the whole Herr Wilhelm did well. He
was cautious, and he had the benefit of
the still greater caution and larger ex-
perience of Herr Gerhardt. the second
partner in the firm.
Patents ana the laws which regulate
them are queer things To have TO do
with. No one who has not had personal
experience of the complications that
arise could believe how far these spread
and how entangied they become. Great
acuteness as we'll as caution is called
for If you would guide your patent bark
safely to portland. perhaps more than
anything. a power of holding your
tongue. I was no chatterbox. nor. when
on a mission of Importance. did I go
about looking as if | were bursting with
secrets. which is. IN my opinion almost
as dangerous as revealing them. No
one. TO meet me on the journeys which
IL often fell to my lot to undertake
would have guessed that l had any
thing my mind but an easy-going
young fellows natural interest in his
surroundings though many a time 1
have stayed awake through a whole
night Of railway travel if at all doubt
full about my fellow passengers or not
dared to go to sleep in a hotel without
n ready-lOaded revolver by my pillow.
For now and then-thOugh not through
me-our secrets cid ooZe out. And it,
as has happened, they were secrets con-
nected with government orders or con-
tracts, there was, or, but for the exer-
ton Of the greatest energy and tact on
the part Of my superiors. there would
have been, TO put il plainly, the devil TO
pay.
One morning-it was nearing the end
of November was sent for To Herr
Wilhelm's private room. There 1 found
him and Herr Gerhardt before a table
spread with papers covered with fig
ures and calculations, and sheets of
beautifully executed diagrams.
"LutZ," said Herr Wilhelm. He had
known me from childhood, and often
called me by the Authorization of my
Christian name, which is Ludwig or
Louis. "Lutz. we are going To confde
10 you matter of extreme Importance.
You must be prepared to start for
London tomorrow
"Al right. sir" I said. q shall be
ready"
You will take the express through TO
Calais-on the whole it is the best route
especially at this season. By travelling
all night you will catch the boat there
and arrive in London so as TO have a
good nights rest and be clear-headed
for work the next morning"
bowed agreement, but ventured TO
make suggestion.
IF. as I infer, the matter is one of
great Importance" 1 said would it
not be well for me to start sooner? L
can-yes," throwing a rapid survey over
the work I had before me for the next
two days, II can be ready tonight"
Herr Wilhelm looked at Herr Ger
hardt. Herr Gerhardt shook his head
NO he replied, tomorrow il must
be-" and then he proceeded TO explain
10 me why.
need not attempt to give all the de-
tails of the matter with which l was
Entrusted. Indeed. TO lay readers it
would be impossible. Suffice it to say
the whole concerned a patent-that of
very remarkable and wonderful inven-
ton, which it was hoped and believed
the governments of both countries would
take up. But to secure this being done
in a thoroughly satisfactory manner il
was necessary that our firm should go
about ii in concert with an English
house of first-rate standing. To this
house-the firm of Messrs. Bluestone &
Fagg, I will call them-I was to be
sent with full explanations. And the
next half-hour or more passed in my
superiors going minutely into the de-
tails, so as to satisfy themselves that I
understood. The mastering of the
whole was not difficult, for L was we'll
grounded technically; and, like many Of
the best things, the idea was essentially
simple, and the diagrams We're perfect.
When the explanations were over and
my instructions duly noted I began to
gather together the various sheets,
which were all numbered. But, to my
surprise Herr Gerhardt looking over
me. Withdrew two of the most important
diagrams, without which the others were
valueless, because inexplicable.
Stay" he said; these two, Ludwig
must be kept separate. These we send
today. by registered post, direct to Blue
stone & Fagg. They will receive them a
day before they see you, and with them
a letter announcing your arrival"
/ looked up in some disappointment. I
had known of precautions Of the kind
being taken, but usually when the en-
plOye sent was less reliable than / be-
lieved myself to be. Still, L scarcely
dared to demur.
do you think that necessary I said
respectfully. Il can assure you that
from the moment you intrust me with
the papers they shall never quit me. day
or night. And if there We're any postal
dpJaV-VOu saw time 10 valffa hIe in, THE