The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-12-12

"Glycerin 2" queried the doctor, whose
quick ear had caught the word. What
glycerin?"
"Tvc been taking some along with the
medicine" Mr.. Cutter explained, in con-
fusion, knowing how medical men dis
like any departure from the treatment
they order.
There was a momentary twinkle In
the doctors eye. It might have passed
for amusement, but there was every ap-
pearance of CONSERVATION in his man.
ner as he jumped to his feet and ex-
claimed:
"What? Glycerin and nitric acidl
Great heavens, man, do you know what
you have done? Thank God, cannot
be held responsible for the conse-
quences, no matter what may happenl"
"Why," cried his patient, in alarmed
surprise, whats the matter?'
Matter? Why, man, you have sat-
urated your system with nitroglycerin.
That's what's the matter. Don't jump
like thatl The least shock may make
you 10 off in a twinkling. You must
avoid a jar as you would poison.
Couldn't you see that the acid and the
| glycerin would chemically unite and
make you explosive? How much
| glycerin have you taken?"
"About two ounces, think" was the
dismayed answer.
"Is it possible? You are positively
dangerous to be at large. You must
practice the utmost caution. Don't
ride on the cars; the least conclusion
might be fatal. You must get rubber
soles put on your shoes Immediately. Be
careful not to jump, even off a doorstep.
OF course, you must not shoot, or ex-
pose yourself in any way to shocks or
explosions of any kind. Even the snap
ping of cap might make you vanish
in second, and there would be moth
ing but loud report to tell the tale of
your disappearance"
But, DOCTOR" implored the trem.
bling patient, "can your science do moth
ing for lneP Cannot you get this dread.
full explosive out of my system?"
POSSIBLY might render it less dan
gerous, at least" responded the doctor,
thoughtfully. Its case without
precedent, but I'll do what can for
you. The first step will be to change
the nitroglycerin into dynamite. That,
you know, is far less apt to explode by
concussion. In fact, it is nothing more
than nitroglycerin held in a solid form
by an absorbent substance. shall
prescribe for you a little infusorial
earth, to be taken three times day.
That will gradually draw out the nitro
glycerin from your circulation, change
it into dynamite, and in the course of a
few weeks you may be SAFE"
This assurance alleviated the fears of
Mr.. Cutter to some extent, but he re-
paired to the Red Dog druggist in an
anxious frame of mind. The rumbling
Of passing dray filed him with appre-
hension, and he made a long detour to
aviod passing q new building where
the carpenters were still busy with their
hammers. His alarm was excited when
the druggist began to pound up some
thing in q mortar, and so his critical
condition was explained to the pharma-
cist. Mr.. Cutter went home by devious
route in order that he might not be ex.
posed to any jar from the anvils of a
blacksmith shop which he was accus.
toned to pass every day.
On the evening of the same day DR.
Slick attended meeting of the Red Dog
Medical society. 1t was a private gath.
ering, as usual, and sounds of unwonted
hilarity were heard before the Assem-
blage dispersed.
No one knew how the strange condi
tion of Mr.. Cutter became known, bu,
the next day it was the talk of Red Dog
He noticed that everybody avoided hin
as though he were pestilence, an6
even the clerks in his Office shudderet
whenever they had occasion to be neal
him. He cautioned them against sud
den closing of the doors of the huge safe
that contained the public moneys, ant
with his own hands he pinned upon the
outer door of the Office placard read
ing: "Do not SIAM
,, AS the days went by Mr.. Cutter be-
, came more and more Respondent. L
was evident, DR.. Slick assured him, thai
the nitroglycerin was as yet imperfect
ly converted into dynamite. He be
, gan taking long and solitary walk.
, over the hills near the town of Red Dog
partly to distract his mind and partly
to escape the dangers incident to hu
! man companionship to a man who was
, loaded with nitroglycerin.
One afternoon he was walking ovel
the hill in which the Ground Hog Quart;
, Mining company was boring a tunnel
, There can be no doubt about the fac
that Mr.. Cutter was seen walking ovel
the brow of the hill just before a bias
, was fired in the depths below. 1t wa
only "shot," and did nothing to dis
turb the surface of the hill, although
. of course, much rock was loosened il
: the tunnel. But the sound of the bias
in the tunnel was followed by peculiar
muffled detonation from the hill. I
, was noticed particularly at the time
because the miners feared that some o
the blast had been "slow in going off.
a But the next day it was found tina
. Mr.. Cutter was missing. The clerks il
: his Office waited vainly for him to ap
a pear and open the vault, of which h
alone knew the combination Day,