The Columbus journal., 1909-04-07

the plate. saw it glow 4 dull red. pass
blue. and then suddenly burst into a
cleaning mass of iridescent white.
'FusiOn!" one of the engineers
whispered 70 man beside him. He
has fused that plate in less time than
ii could he done by any means I ever
heard of. That is the way he meta
morphOses his metal
The rays died out. the apparatus
stopped its quivering. and the inven-
tor with hands clasped behind him
stood intently watching the now cool
ing metal. Within the laboratory all
was silence. From the adjoining
buildings came the regular sound of
hammers. and frGm somewhere OF to
ward the cabins mans voice was
raised in a song of soldiery. The
sheet of metal lost its color and be-
came dark. Old Bill" Roberts
pressed Il button above his head. and
cooling sprays began dissipating them
selves over the surface. sending up
brief splutterinGs and clouds of rapid
ly diminishing steam
It's cool enough now to handle" he
said in an oddly constrained tone of
voice. turning to the engineers. land
if some of you vii! help me carry it
to the testing tank you may see me,
prove the first plate on which hangs
the fate of our country a..
In an awed hush of expectancy they
all volunteered: but only three men
were needed to hold it while it was
attached to the great arms which were
to revolve it in the water and demon
strate its resistance. The inventor
threw switch. and the sheet began to
move. Before him was a dial, and be-
meath it scale of friction pulls
showing the resistance offered by nor
NAL metal. He fastened his eyes On
the indicator with a look of strained
watchfulness. Slowly the needle
point swung round as the arms gained
the maximum of speed. and then it
came to a standstiii. while a look of
doubt and perplexity crept over the
scientists face.
Norm. he called. huskily-
Norm! Was everything all right?
Is everything working true:"
She took 4 step behind him. and
with a look no less worried than his
own stared at the dialS indicating the
speed of revolution and the scale of
resistance. Yes, father she re-
piled. gently. everything is all right"
She put her arm over his shoulder as
if TO shield him. But something
must have gone wrong somewhere
else. Conc away now and let us think
il over"
She turned to the waiting officers
behind and looked them calmly in
their faces. while the inventor, dazed |
and uncomprehending. ran his fingers |
his shock Of white hair and |
gaZed at the telltale dials as if hyp- |
Noticed by two staring eyes.
Gentlemen" she said. the first ex-
pertinent is a failure!"
Those among them who had been |
slightly skeptical smiled at one an
other. while these whose belief had /
been more firm looked sympatheticai-
IL at this slip of a girl. who faced them
all in steady defiance. her trust in her
father. herself and their invention I'M
shaken and unfaltering.
You. Mr.. Jenkins" she said. ad-
dressing one of. the engineers, ARE
scientist and an expert
You of all present know
how easy il is for tiny mistake to
rob delicate work of definite result"
There was a note OF appeal in her
voice that reached them all.
As if with one accord they rushed
forward. srasping her hand and sur
rounding her father. giving them
words of encouragement.
It was the gru6 voice Of the old