The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-04-03
CHAPTER XIV.

From the shore came ouii' moon
ing sound, now rising. now falling, put
incessant, ~ II some gigantic animal
stricken and suffering, was snrlekins
the anguish OF its death throes to the
solitudes Of the keys and the waste
~ waters round them. The fright
ened birds took hight to the north TO
sescape the Weird monotone, and the
fimid animals q thu forest covered
In fear: but che men Of the Island
locked NJ ono 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
mad 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
sceaselessly round the keys, guarding
their secret and warning inquisitve
yishermen 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 apportioning them and discarding
Those which were inferior. Trained
hands were those that worked over the
bucking boards and Manipulated the
,deIscate scales which would register
vhe tiniest mark Of q lead pencil with
as great accuracy as they would q
pound weight. Everywhere about the
nlant were men who wrought with pre-
scision and interest, bound together In
sthe great enterprise until differences
fin station were forgotten and all were
s.as q family praying for success.
.'O7d Bill' Roberts. assisted by hi:
daughter, had permitted no fo0t bu
rtheirs to enter the room where his ap
Nparatus was installed. and no hant
fbus theirs to touch fits complicated
mechanism. With the love Of . ere
ator he had spent the last hour
fnndling its cold. unresp0nsive part
and adjusting It. and then stood ant
watched, - . mother watches he
flrstborn, the initial movements Of tn
great masterpiece which was . myi
sery to al the world but him an
NORMA.
+.
Eaglneers and oGlcers from all part
Of the plant warned that the crucii
test was ct hand. gathered round tn
door Of tho innermost room. until II
vited In by the inventor. and the
slowly entered and found standin
places at a safe distance from the II
sricate mass, whose polished knob
twisted bars and cleaning tubt
seemed to them a tangled riddl
Norma, CARRIED IN the stained kha
wrapper which she wore IL the la
oratory at home. lowered here az
there round the apparatus. lightly tr
ing an adjustment or closely inspet
ing q Joint, her face grave. calm. al
self possessed Her father, his tn
old face drawn into scowl OF CO
<centration. busted himself fikewis
and made the final connections.
careful was he that he even inspect
the duplicate apparatus which sto
as a reserve at the other end Of
casting mold. but which 1t was not
Intention to use except In case
emergency. Satisfied that all was
readiness. he beckoned to two ass
ssants. who trundled in the first CO
posite plate and deposited 1T in
bed. He made the connection W
the electrodes in a few minutes
work, and then Strengthened up q
looked about the room. where all '
= stin and expectant.
The wondering engineers saw I
wave his daughter nack = short
lance as though fearing for her SAT-
watched him tske nnsi look over
appliance, and then throw swi
brilliant streAks Of purple, Of mknt
s.ds and KlartnE whites. raced .