Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-21
Strange Experiences IN fbe Life
of a Doctor.
Copyright. by W. G. Chapman.)
By A. T. MEAD


of important experiments. / believed
that was in fair way to the discov-
cry Of a new explosive which would
put gunpowder, dynamite, and all
other explosives completely in the
shade. IL 1t turned out as / expected,
it would prove most important fac
tor in case of war, and of immense
use to America as a nation-
My experiments were progressing
favorably, but l wanted str, one link.
No combinations that attempted
would produce the desired rNsult, and
was beginning to wonder II. after
all, l was doomed to failure, When on
a certain afternoon the door OF my
laboratory opened and two Visitors
were announced. A tall man entered
the room; he was dark, heavily beard
ed, with the complexion of a
gypsy. Following him was a clean
shaver little man with a bald head.
The elder OF the two came forward
with outstretched hands.
Pardon me-" he said; IT know we
are intruding. My name is Paul
levin; this is my friend, Carl Kruse.
We are from England and had the
pleasure Of listening to your lecture
before the National Chemists society
the other night. From hints you let
drop II became clear to us both that
you were on the track of a discov-
cry which has occupied us the best
part Of our lives. We had hoped not
to ask for outside assistance, but time
Is precious-any moment you may per-
feet your process. In that case the
patent and the honor would be yours,
and We would be out in the cold So
we have come here to ask you frankly
II you will cooperate with u.s."
Il don't quite understand" said.
To what discovery do you allude?"
ITO that of the great explosive"
returned Kruse.
You must be mistaken" said II
have not spoken of that to anyone"
We'll. you dropped hints at your
lecture" said Kruse. Listen to my
proofs" He took a note book out of
his pocket and read certain extracts
which made 1t clear to me that these
men we're certainly working on my
own lines, and that it was highly prob
able that they would be first in the
field.
"The fact is" said Levin. my friend
and have really been advancing with
you step by step without knowing IT.
While you have been perfecting the
explosive In your New York labora-
tory. we have been conducting matters
on large scale in our more exten.
sive laboratories in England, of the
Cornish coast. The solitude of the
place enables US to test our explo-
sives in the open air. We know ex-
actly the point to which you have
come. Your present difficulty is that
you are trying to combine certain
gases to produce a certain result We
have discovered what you require, but
our explosive Is still far from perfect.
You can help us, for you have certain
information which we lack. On the
other hand, we have mastered details
which would be of immense benefit to
you. The discovery will be a mag
nifcent one. and when absolutely com
plete we intended to sell It to the |
German government But there Is a
possibility that you will be first in
the field. Will you join forces with |
us. naming your own price, or-Y
He stopped for lack of breath and |
Kruse took up the subject.
There is a big wad of money in |
this matter. DR.. Halifax" he said. |
We don't mean to give up our share /
without struggle. but we are willing |
to go hand In glove with you. Will !
you visit us In Cornwall and help us? |
We viii gladly impart to you all we |
know on condition that you IN turn
give us information. Without our |
united efforts it may be a long time
before the discovery is complete. Let
us go shares in the deal"
Tn not working at this thing for |
money" ! said. II am unmarried |
and have as much money as I need. |
When my discovery is complete / |
mean to offer II to the American gov
ernment-they can do what they
please with 1t; my reward will be the
protection which II will give to my
country THIS explosive promises to
be most important factor in time of
war"
kruse laughed somewhat nervously.
Well he said. Il have a wife and
Levin has certain claims upon him
which render 1t necessary that he
should improve his financial condition
all he can. Now. will you come to
terms or not? Our knowledge is in
dispensable to you; your knowledge is
equally indispensable to u.s."
1 reflected a moment. your visit
has astonished me-" / said at last.
IF you call upon me to morrow may
be in position to decide what shall
do"
Ny visitors took the hint and left.
After thinking the matter over care
fully ] resolved to make terms with
them. At ten o'clock Levin and
Kruse again made their appearance,
accompanied by pretty young wom-
an. whom Kruse introduced as his
wife.
Il have thought carefully over this
matter" said. "and believe that we
can come to mutual agreement. But
1t must be on the distinct understand
ing that II this explosive is completed
1t is not to be offered to a foreign ma
ton except in the event OF the Ameri- ,
can government refusing it. | am