The Columbus journal., 1909-04-07

, admiral which aroused them to re
newed action. 'Pshaw. Bill! That's
nothing" he growled. Here. We've
got more plates cast. Throw another
On, and give it try-Out. Wake mp
man! Wake up! We've got to- make
it co."
Jenkins and two others rushed to the
adjoining room and brought in a sec.
Ond slab of metal. and the old inven
tor. giving himself shake as if pull
ing back from the very vortex OF lie
spair. with trembling hands placed the
sheet of insulation and made the new
connections with the plate.
Norm" he almost whispered. You
this time. Somehow my eyes seem to
have gone back on me-
Again they watched from distance
the steady movements Of the assistant
who without tremOr threw on the
current, held il in leash, and directed
it as if within her hand she held the
clutch of a friend. Once more they
saw the metal cool, the sprays turned
on. and then came dull. grinding.
irving sound. and column of dust
shot up into The air and beloved out
over the room. They saw her fall
back unconscious as if from some
sudden shock, and instinctively spranS
to her aid.
In mortal fear that some disaster
had Overtaken her, some unknown in.
jury from that apparatus whose
voltage was as deadly as that which
sweeps through murderer's chair.
they picked her up and carried her
out into one Of the draughting rooms
and laid her limp form on a table.
Her father in burst of terrible
anxiety tore open her cOrsagc and
ran his hand over her heart she's
not dead!" he whispered. hOarsely.
She's been knocked out by wild
current or something don't under
stand"
A long breath of relief encirc!ed the
room. Not until she recovered con-
seriousness and sat weakly up was he
suspense mitigated.
Feel better, little xirl?" the old ad-
miral asked. and the others pressed
forward with sOlicitous inquiries.
She looked at them for a moment,
regained her raental control, and an
swered: Yes. I'm all right now: but
don't mind me. What O: the plate?"
They smiled at one another as it
dawned upon them that the plate had
been forgotten. 1t was manifestiy un-
fair that she of all others should not
share with them the first knowledge
of what had been accomplished: so
as a guard of honor they supported
her back to where the cruel agent
stood. and then one and all started
back with EXPLANATIONS of amazemer:.
The plate on which they were build
ing their hopes had disappeared.
Where the insulated tank which held
1t had reared its squatty length was
now ragged hole i'm the floor. bor-
dered by the sliyered ends of twisted
and shattered wood. and beneath this
; ID.
broken electric wires. and the great
slab of metal.
Norma. as if the excitement of The
discovery had acted as a tonic. re-
leased herself from the supporting
arms. walked to the shining brass
structure. and leaned against it. |!
Brockton pulled of his cap and |
his head in 4 puzzled way. |
and jenkins removed the glasses from
his nose and began nervously polish
ing them. The other engineers saped |
1t each other. at the inventor and then |
back to the hole wherein to all appear.
ances was buried the thing on which
they had built all their hope. "Old |
Bill" Roberts stood by its edges, look
'oS down and examining the broken