The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho HrAa$ niReovAPv


From the shore came a dull, moan
Ing sound, 10 rising, now falling, but
incessant, as if some gigantic animal,
stricken and suffering, was shrieking
the anguish of it's death throes to the
solitudes of the keys and the waste
of waters round them. The fright
ened birds took flight to the north to
escape the weird monotone, and the
timid animals of the forest covered
in fear; but the men of the island
looked at one another exultantly, with
mutual congratulations on the rapidity
of their work. The blast furnace
which was to cast the plates was be-
ing blown in. .
Days and nights Of unremitting toll
had followed that first landing; ma.
chine shops had been completely in.
stalled, power plants perfected, and
buildings for the men erected; add.
tional supplies had been received;
and another gunboat, the Columbia,
augmented the patrol which passed
ceaselessly round the keys, guarding
their secret and warning inquisitve
fishermen to avoid the waters; corps
Of expert smelling men from the
mines of the west had joined the
colony-and all for this, the casting
of the first plate, which was to take
place this day.
In the assay rooms there had been
the constant testing of crude metals,
and app%ortioning them and %discarding
those which were inferior. Trained
hands were those that worked over the
bucking boards and manipulated the
delicate scales which would register
the tiniest mark Of a lead pencil with
as great accuracy as they would a
pound weight. Everywhere about the
plant were men who wrought with pre-.
cision and interest, bound together in
the great enterprise until differences
in station were forgotten and all were
as a family praying for success.
"Old Bill" Roberts, assisted by his
daughter, had permitted no. foot but
theirs to enter the room where his ap-
paratus was installed, and no hand
but theirs to touch its complicated
mechanism. With the love of a ere
ator he had spent the last hours
fondling its cold, unresponsive parts
and adjusting it, and then stood and
watched, as a mother watches her
firstborn, the initial movements Of the
great masterpiece which was q mys-
terry to all the world but him and
Norma.
Engineers and officers from all parts
Of the plant, warned that the crucial
test WAS ct hand, gathered round tho
door Of the innermost room. until IN
vited In By the inventor, and then
slowly entered and found standing
places It . safe distance from the IN
trtcate mass. whose polished KNOBS
twisted bars and cleaning tubes
seemed to them . tangled riddle.
Norma, CARRIED in the stained max
wrapper which she wore in the lab
oratory ct home, lowered here and
there round the apparatus. lightly try
ing an adjustment or closely inspect
ing q Joint, her face grave, calm, and
self.possessed. Her father. his thin
old face drawn into . scowl OF con-
c~entration, busted himself likewise,
and made the final connections. So
careful was he that he even inspected
the duplicate apparatus which stood
as a eserv at the other end OF .
casting mold, but which 1t was not his
intention to use except In case OF
emergency. Satisfied that all was In
readiness, he beckoned to two assis-
SAINTS, who trundled in the first COM
iposits plate. and deposited It in its
bed. He made the connection with
the electrodes In . few minutes deft
work, and then Strengthened up and
looked about the room. where all was
still and expectant.
The wondering engineers saw him
wave his daughter back . short dis
tancs az though fearing for her safety,
watched him take . hnal look over his
appliance, and then throw . switch.
Brilliant. streaks Of purple. OF unknown
reds nd glazing whites. raced each
Continued next week