The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-07-03

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seeing With lnttospsccfve eye" alf' the
great events of his life. Then, recall
ing himself from this review, he turned
to Jenkins as a kindred spirit, and to
a boyish officer who stood near at
hand.
"You two" he said, indicating them
with his hand, may have the honor OF
picking up those plates"
There was an instant Of GREATNESS
establishment. Jenkins was the first to
recover, and unhesitatingly walked
forward. The younger man drew
back as though he had received an
order from an insane man consigning
him to inglorious death. The voice OF
the admiral put an end to the wait.
go ahead!" he said quietly. "Those
plates may weigh tons; but II DR.. Rob-
erts tells you to pick them up, you
go and try it."
With the absolute precision of train
ing, the officers heels came together
and his hand to his cap in ,quick sa-
lutte. He strobe to the plates, and
stood opposite jenkins, while the spec
tators craned forward, sp%aculatfng as
to what freak of madness was to be
demonstrated. jenkins, grave and I'M
questioning, looked across at his COM
panion, nodded to him, and together
they stopped and caught a handhold.
Together they gathered their muscles
as II for some prodigious exercise OF
strength, and simultaneously strained
upward. ~.
To the amazemeat Of those within
the room the great masses Of metal
came up with such ase that they were
lifted breast high without perceptible
effort. :
Higher, higher!" called the old IN
ventor, springing toward them and
gesturing with his hands. The plates
rose until they were held with finger
tips, and breathless suspense en-
chained the spectators
NOW stand from under! Let go Of
them! Let go Of them!" yelled Rob-
erts, dancing up and down in excite
ment; but the men still held or as II
rendered powerIess by establishment.
"Stand from under!" commanded
the admiral; and discipline again mas.
tering them they obeyed, springtng
back in the apprehension that the two
immense plates might BY some NEGRO
NANCY come crashing down and disap-
pear through the floor. With some
thing almost like q sob, 10 great had
been his mental strain, Jenkins stood
trans6xed. The admiral gave q. gasp,
and with one hand poised in the air
stood. like a statue. A hammer fell
from the hand Of one Of the engineers
standing behind, and the man who
had been tightly clutching the test
tube opened his fingers and. let It
crash to the floor. In this tinkling
sound Of broken glass on cement, an
other. gave a sharp ejaculation and
took an involuntary step forward.
They had witnessed the first posi-
tive exhibition Of true deviation, .
solid body suspended in the air with
out support. They had seen in. times
past with complacency, knowing that
It was dependent upon optical illusion,
the conjurer's trick, mystifying to the
outward sense but readily exp1ainable
In the light Of investigation; but here
before them. bev0nd the range of
charlatanry, in perversion Of all known
physical laws, there hung motionless
in the air, dependent upon itself for
its Notation. a great mass of metal
that but q short time before would
have been beyond the power Of their
combined strength to lift.
And standing placidly beneath II,
enjoying their surprise and supremely
triumphant, stood q quiet little old
man smiling up at his daughter, whose
hand he was holding.