Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-01-04
human race IS kirdled, so far SO this

I planet is concerned.
| ImpossibleT / could not help ex-
claiming. Cod in His infinite wisdom.
never created world so beautiful as
, this, and than placed in the hands of
His subjects the means of its destruc-
! ton
Poor fool" he said compassionate
ly. You forget that the moon is but a
| fire eXtinguished world; that planets
without number are the charred re-
mains of what were once scenes of life
and beauty; that the sun il :. molten
mass Of heat; that lie has said in His
own word. in the end THE heavens
shall be folded together like n scroll.
the elements to melt with fervid
heat
You see this vial, ii contains no.
taSSlum. 1t needs not me to tell q man
of your information the result when
this is brought into contact with oXv-
gen. 1t iSnites instantly. This powder
/ here, the secret of whose compound is
known only to me. contains properties
which instantly decOmpose the water
elements. The moment the oxygen is
/ free the potassium ignites II. 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 will
! quickly burn out. and in consequence.
the fire die for want Of sustenance. If
so. YOU err The properties Of this pow
| der are Safeguarding. and as long as
| the water lasts must of necessity CON
tinue their work Of decomposition. the
oxygen continually feeding the flames.
Get me another basin of water: /
want to demonstrate it more clearly to
you
AS he had done before he turned the
potassium into the basin and then s;ft-
ed in certain amount OF the powder
The kissing and Tuning began follow
ed by Il sharp report when a column
of fire again sprang up, which lasted
| until the water was consumed
You see. my first trial was no illu-
SION he said, turning to me- VIVA,
have done once | can DO every time
1T is Il terrible thing. | exclaimed
with shudder. But why have you
come to me-:
Because the secret is worth much
to me. But when approach men they
call ME mad and will not listen They
viii believe you, and when sou have
proved what | can do they will gladly
pay my price. Then | will divide with
you and we shall both De rich-y0u to
live at your ease and to continue my
Investigations. VIII You help mef
And he caught me by the arm with q
clutch seem to feel now.
"IIoip YOU i asked. in husky
voice. Would you ieopardizc the lives
of the whole human race for Il few
paltry thousands? \ man of your great
intellect and research should be
above
You still doubt my ability To do
what l claim?' lie interrupted. Per
haps in the open air YOU think | would
fail? | saw to-day grand sheet of
water for a trial. Come with me and
| will astonish even YOU. See. the
storm has cleared away and the day
is BREAKING
Il was puzzled what to do. There
call for assistance, but outdoors
might escape from the man whom. |
must confess. feared. So | consented
to accompany him.
1.-THE morning light was fast dispell-
ing the shadows Of the night and storm,
and we had no difficulty in mailing our
way to little body of water hammed
in by the mountains and the forest
My companion. as if fearing WOULD at
tempt TO escape. had not taken lis gaze
from me since we had left the house.
"'There is n good place to t:st our
work he declared. pointing To :. small
pool Of water. formed in a del.ession
of the earth b. the late storm.
without waiting for my reilly he
threw some of the potassium an.i pow
DER into the water. The result WAS
startling to me, though l had antici-
pated the consequences.
"The report was dcafening, and the
flames seemed 10 leap 10 the Sky, ilijl-
minatiig the night scene with Il ghast-
ly light; but startling as was the light
of the burning water the appearance
of my companion, who seemed 30 be
suddenly transformed into demon.
was more horrible.
See! See. he cried, dancing to and
fro with fiendish glee. 1t burns, VIII
burn till the pool is dry. What Go you
think Of my secret now? Do not hold
the key to all life. oh. feel like god.
and all men are but worms crawling at
my feet. See the flames leap higher
and higher.
Now, let me drop the same agents
which set that pool OH fire into the lake.
and the result will be the same; aye.
the same, only million times more
grand, for the fire will follow the river
to the gulf, and thence To the ocean. To
envelOp the entire world in its blazing
sheets. What n sight for the god; to
witness!