The Columbus journal., 1909-04-07

The coas, OF Florida and Norma Roberts
arrives on scene.
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Great Discovery.
From the shore came a dull. moan
ing sound. now rising, now falling. but
incessaEt. as If some gigantic animal
stricken and suffering. was shriekins
he anguish of its death throes to the
solitudes of the keys and the waste
nf waters round them. The fright
ened birds took fight 10 the north to
escape the weird monotone, and the
.imid animals of tina forest covered
in fear; hut the men Of the island
looked at one another exultantly, with
mutual congratulations on the rapiGity
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 addi-
,ional supplies had been received;
and another gunbOat, the Columbia.
augmented the patrol which passed
ceaselessly round the keys. guarding
their secret and warming inquisitve
fishermen 10 avoid the waters: corps
Of expert smelling men from the
mines Of the west had Joined the
colony-and all fer this, the casting
Of the first plate, which was 10 take
place this day
In the assay rooms there had been
the constant testing of crude metals.
and apportiOning them and discardinS
those which were inferior. Trained
hands were those that worked over the
huclling boards and manipulated the
delicate scales which would register
the tinies' mark of a lead pencil with
as great accuracy as they would Il
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
hut theirs to touch its complicated
mechanism. With the love of a ere
s,or 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 a 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 at hand. gathered round the
door Of the innermOSt room, until in
vited in by the inventor. and then
slowly entered and found standing
tricate mass. whose polished knobs.
twisted bars and cleaning tubes
seemed to them Il tangled riddle.
Norma. CARRIED in the stained khaki
wrapper which she wore in the lab
orstory at home, lowered here and
ing an adjustment or closely inspect
ing Joint. her face grave. calm. and
seIf-possesSed. Her father. his thin
niC face drawn into a scowl of con-
cestraticn. busted himself likewise.
:;nG made tho final connections. So
careful was he that he even inspected
The duplicate apparatus which stood
as Il reserve al the other end of a
casting mold. but which it 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
Dosite plate and deposited it in its
ned. He made the connection with
he electrodes in few minutes def
work. and then Strengthened up and
looked about the room, where all was
still and cxpectant.
The wondering engineers saw him
wave his daughter back short dis
lance as though fearing for her safety. |
watched him take final look over his |
appliance. and then throw a switch.
Brilliant streaks of purple, of unknown
reds AMI giaring whites. raced each
other in caieS succession tnraISn he
tubes. Ett.S indicators here ard there |
spanked out IcaIevoieItly. anG tae ma |
chine seemed tn Leap. strain and
throb With q life of sts cwn. uncanny |
and mysterious because 1T It's silence. |
The greun Of EeE reereo cursousay It !