Charlevoix county herald., 1912-07-20
Strange Experienced IN Sbs Life
Of q Doctor.
Copyright. by w. q. Chapman.)

During the autumn of 1900 l was
busy In my laboratory with a series
OF important experiments. l believed
that was In a fair way to the discov-
cry Of new explosive which would
put gunpowder. dynamite. and all
other explosives completely in the
shade. II 1t turned out as l expected,
IT would prove a most important fac
tor in case of war, and Of immense
use to America as nation.
My experiments were progressing
favorably, but wanted still one link.
would produce the desired result, and
l was beginning to wonder II, after
ALL 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 clean
shaven little man with a bald head.
The elder Of the two came forward
with outstretched hands.
Pardon me-" he said: 'I 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 il 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
if you will cooperate with us"
II don't quite understand" I said.
ITO what discovery do you allude?"
ITO that Of the great explosive, "
returned Kruse.
You must be mistaken" I said. 81
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 were 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 i 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 extern
sive laboratories in England, off 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 tt
you. The discovery will be a mag
nificent one, and when absolutely com
plete we intended to sell it to the
German government. But there is {
possibility that you will be first II
the field. VIII you join forces will
us, naming your own price, orr"
He stopped for lack Of breath anC
Kruse took up the subject
There is a big wad Of money IL
this matter, DR.. Halifax" he said
1--WE don't mean to give up our share
without struggle, but we are WILLING
to go hand In glove with you. Viii
you visit us in Cornwall and help us
We will gladly impart to you all W.
know on condition that you in turf
give us information. Without ou
united efforts 1t may be a long tim,
before the discovery is complete. lie
us go shares in the deal"
I'm not working at this thing 70
money" l said. 81 am unmarrie,
and have as much money as / need
When my discovery Is complete
ernment-they can do what the.
please with II; my reward will be tn
protection which 1t will give to m.
country. This explosive promises L
be most important factor in time o
war"
Kruse laughed somewhat nervously
WELL" he said. Il have q wife an,
Levin has certain claims upon hin
which render 1t necessary that b
should improve his financial condition
all he can. Now, will you come I
terms or not? Our knowledge Is In
dispensable to you; your knowledge |
equally indispensable to u.s."
l reflected a moment "Your visl
has astonished me-" l said at las
of you call upon me to morrow ma
be in a position to decide what shal
do"
My visitors took the hint and lef
After thinking the matter over care