The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-02-21
The Chemist Of
the Refinery
By s. RTzETT ROMAN

III
hz1zrsa.
THE chemist stood watching a blue
fluid boiling in a glass tube over
a spirit lamp, rs il turned to a deep
purple, then violet, then settled to
a pure white and the test being over,
poured out the liquid, carefully eX-
tinguished his light, washed the thin
crystal receptacle, placed il method
ically in a rack, where others of curl
Gus forms were ranged upside down,
and walking over TO a desk began
ciphering out the analysis of sucrosc
and glucose in the cane juice, being
converted into various grades of
sugars in the Central refinery.
And all the while an undercurrent
of thought took him 10 other times
and other scenes and turned back the
calendar Of years which represented
early ambitions and hopes. and was
glorificd by romance, and the all but
possession Of youths dearest attain
ments.
The chemist sighed unconsciously
while his eye ran over the figures,
and his brain made its rapid calcula-
tions, and he gave orders TO n lad
who was there TO do his bidding. TO
go into the house for other samples
of juice.
The laboratory stood n short dis
tance from the refinery.
1t was n small room filed with
chemical apparatus, a wooden chair
and n desk, and the chemist slept in
an adjoining one, which was neat
and clean and bare,
The chemist was a young man ana
/ handsome. He was clcan-shaven AMI
emincntly aristocratic in face and
\ bearing. He had firm set mouth
and large brown eyes, profoundly
melancholy, just then, but with a red
light in them which indicated n dan
/ ger signal 60 he cautious. a warning
TO the wise not TO get into his way.
Quiet and talking very little 90 the
other men, yet always courteous, the
chemist had managed TO Impress the
conviction on the superintendent, the
manager and the lesser lights in the
Belleona refinery that he knew his
own business thoroughly. would i'm
terfere with no one, nor would put
mp with any intermeddling with his
affairs.
To his directions, given in quiet
tones, TO cline" or not TO lime. to
add or reduce the sulphur and others
necessary 10 convert the ugly graz
fluid pouring from the rollers into
clarified cane juice sugar, whitcned
in whirling turbines, then packed in
TO long rows of barrels i'm the finish
ing room. wee listened 20 end
obeyed with promptitude which
elected much approval from Will
liams, the superintendent.
The whistle OF the refinery told
that IL was II o'clock and time for q
change OF watch.
The lad, Jean Batiste, yawned audi.
bly,. and with an air Of relief depos-
tied his last row of samples 20 be
given that night on the table, and
went out
THE monotouous rumble Of the ma
chirery. the heavy role and rattle OF
the cane. as II was let down noisily
on the carrier. an occasional order
shouted out under tbs shed. and the
morotouous singing. in the melun
choly minor tones, Of some Of the
hands, AS they worked at the cane
spreading IL out so as TO facilitate
the grinding OF the great rollers oil
the mill were the sounds which
came 20 the chemist as he made hi,
tests. and the slow hours passed.
There was no curtain; over tho
wide window Of the laboratory, lool,
ing eastward and the scene outside
bathed by the light OF November
moon, was calmly seductive.
The dull rumble of the machinery
was monotonous, and there were M
more samples go test just then.
The chemist sat down.
There was sound of quickly trot
and call rolling of wheels. ant
an animated hustle before the rein
cry door.
"Wc'vc come TO sec you. Do sn,
YOU nre glad" q rich mellow voic,
called to the chemist, laughingly.
or course, il was Aurore. Nobod,
but Aurorc ever had that wonderful
vibrant voice. How cleverly she ha,
wheeled the bayG ard pulled them M
short az the step, while Fanni
Flierton screamed and the men ap
plauded.
miss Aurore says you Louisiana
sugar people always brew puncl
when callers come 60 sec you Will
ycr are grinding
Ii was John Hartley who spoke