The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-12-26
.Hydrogen's
Discovery.
By M. Downey.
Rs25lE5a515aR52RS152Rs


| sat in my Office in New York, ont
afternoon late in November, with {
letter on my desk. It was from my
sister.
Come home,' she said, and spenG
Thanksgiving with US. You have
made excuses before, but don't do sc
this time. Drop business for a few
days, and write that you will be here
Let us have an old-fashioned Thanks.
giving once more"
How could l go? 1 would have to
start on the day before the holiday,
and, with us, that was always a busy
day. Then there were other reasons
why / should remain in New York.
But the more l reflected, the more
plainly pictured in my mind the
old home. Some one could take my
place for day or two; the engage
ments could be put over for a time.
felt longing for the scenes of my
childhood. . 1 had stayed away too
long. | resolved to go home.
The morning before Thanksgiving
Day found me a passenger on the day
express for Boston. / had calculated
to arrive there about mid afternoon.
and to reach Beverly, my destination,
about six o'clock Then for a brisk
drive, or sleigh ride, three miles over
the hills to the well remembered
farmhouse.
As the train whirled along I set
tied back In my seat, and, forgetting
the cares OF business, gave myself up
to pleasant anticipation. A fine, driv-
ing snowstorm had set in, and bid
fair to continue all day.
A tall man, wearing glasses, and
having scholarly appearance, occu.
pied the seat across the aisle from
me. My attention had been drawn
to him by his asking me for a match
just before the train started, as he
made some remark upon the snow
storm. After We had got under way,
l noticed him two or three times re-
garding me intently, as though anxi-
GUS to engage in conversation.
lay back in my seat, with my
head resting on the cushions, lazily
watching the driving snowhakes, and |
listening to the humming Of the
wheels as we rode along, preferring
to be left to my reflections. Present
ly he rose and came over to where |
was sitting. Seating himself in the |
vacant place beside me he asked:
"How far are you going?"
Boston, / replied.
That's my destination also" he
said do you stay there?"
No. I answered II go on to Bev-
erly"
He then handed me a card. which
read: Professor Hydrogen, Chemist
and Inventor" This aroused N, in
terest, and / gave the professor NV
card. We talked for while about
chemistry, on which he seemed well
posted.
Are you interested in explosive?"
ne finally asked, in a confidential
manner.
l replied that I had read a good
deal on the subject, as it was a sci
ence which interested me very much.
Can you spare time, when we get
to Boston, to come with me to nv
laboratory? I will show you some
thing which l am sure you will re-.
gard as the wonder of the century
You will have time enough to get
your train. I will not keep you long
l readily agreed to accompany aim,
as l would have an hour to spare, and
this was a chance of seeing some !
marvel recently discovered
Upon our arrival 1T Bosto. we
made our way through the crowded
staten to the street. The professor
JAILED a South End trolley car: his
place. he said, was on Dover street.
As we rode, he informed me that he
had discovered new explosive
which would in a short time be used \
throughout the world.
Dynamite and gunpowder," he t
'aid, will no longer be in use when
ny new product is given a chance to I
show what it can do
Upon reaching his home he showed
ne upstairs to small room. which
appeared to be in the centre OF the :
as there were no windows
opening from it, light being furnished a
" means OF single gas jet. which
vas kept burning at all times.
This is my laboratory" said nv i
lost, with pride. This is where nv h
dea hrst came to me, and where ! a
ave worked out all the details Soc o,
mere is the Destroyer itself That's =;
ne name l have given my invention W
have perfected it, so that II on,v -
eqrires the addition of the contents II,
l thls bottle to start it." he explain b.
d, at the same time taking bottle N
ned viii some liquid from a shelf
Ihree minues after this ., added n
o1hing can stop an explosion. which :,
'ouid have force enough to totally ~
this entire building" %
But. professor" I said. won have -
ot given me the names of the ingre. ~
ents which go to make up the ex. ~,
osiye." =.
And you could hardly expect mo no
do fhat--yet, must first protect -,
patent right and In the meantime wJ