The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1908-12-05

! he finally asked, In conhdentlal
manner.
replied that had read a good
deal on tho subject. as u was n sci
ence which interested me very much.
Can you spare time. when we get
TO Boston, to come with mo TO my
laboratory? I will show you some
: thing which / am sure you Will TO-.
gard as the wonder OF the century.
You will have time enough "a get
your train. will not keep you long
I readily agreed to accompany Jim,
as would have an hour to spare, and
this was chance OF seeing some
marvel recently discovered.
Upon our arrival at Boston we
made orr way through the crowded
station to the street Tho professor
hailed a South End trolley car; his
place. he said was on Dover street.
AS VIC rode. he informed ne that he
had discovered new explosive
which would in a short time be used
throughout the world.
Dynamite and gunpowder," he
said, will no longer be in use when
my new product is given a chance to
show what Il can do"
Upon reaching his home he showed
me upstairs TO n small room, which
appeared TO be in the centre of the
building, as there were no windows
opening from It, light being furnished
by means of a single gas jet, which
was kept burning at all times.
This Is my laboratory" said my
host, with pride. This Is where my
idea first came to me. and where |
have worked out all the details. See
here IS the Destroyer Itself. That's
the name I have given my invention.
I have perfected It, so that it only
requires the addition of the contents
OF this bottle to start it," he explain
ed ut the same time taking a bottle
filled with some liquid from a shelf.
Three minues after this is added
nothing can stop an explosion, which
would have force enough to totally
demollsh this entire building"
But, professor" l said, you have
not given me the names of the ingre-
dents which go to make up the ex-
plosive."
"And you could hardly expect me
TO do that-yet. ] must first protect
my patent right and in the meantime
must keep my secret" replied the
professor.
AS he spoke, he walked toward the
machine, which appeared similar to
a large clock, and was constructed of
heavy iron. He still held the bottle
in his hand. Suddenly, his foot
catching in a torn place in the car
pet. he was thrown violently; the
bottle fell from his hand and was
dashed to pieces against the top or
the machine.
He arose, pale as death, and ap'
peared to be terribly excited.
go! Get out Of here!" he cried.
''The contents OF that bottle have
gone in with the rest Come! No
time to explain now-run for your
life! This building will be a wreck
in three mlnutes!" And without
waiting TO see whether | followed or
not, he dashed from the room, slam
ming the door after him.
started to follow, but found to-
my horror that the door on which
was a spring lock was fast. It was
of solid oak--I could not force II. /
was locked into the room with an
explosive about to go off, and had no
power to hinder the catastrophe.
turned to the machine. II was
iron covered and resisted my every
effort TO reach the inside. II the pro
fessor spoke the truth, / had less than
two minutes to live.
The old farmhouse. the meadows,
the brook where used TO fish, the
schoolhouse, all came back TO me In
that short time. ! thought OF my